London-based auction house Bonhams has set a new world record by selling a 50-year-old Japanese single-malt whisky for HK$8.25 million—approximately $1.05 million USD—at its Hong Kong sale. The bottle, a Yamazaki 50-Year-Old, was originally created exclusively for Club Natsume, an elite private members’ club in Nagoya, Japan.
A New Benchmark in Whisky Auctions
The final hammer price nearly doubled the pre-sale estimate and surpassed the previous global record of HK$6.2 million (around $790,000 USD), set in 2020 for a Yamazaki 55-Year-Old. Three bidders competed intensely during the live auction, driving the price to its historic high.
A Rare Release from Suntory’s Iconic Distillery
This Yamazaki 50-Year-Old is only the second-oldest expression ever released by the distillery. Just three batches were produced—in 2005, 2007, and 2011. The bottle sold is a 700 ml edition featuring traditional Japanese washi paper labeling and a signature by Shinji Fukuyo, Master Blender at Suntory—the parent company of Yamazaki.
It is believed to have entered private hands in the mid-2000s and was aged exclusively in rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks, known for imparting delicate incense-like notes. The bottle was sold in its original wooden presentation box, accompanied by a hand-carved ceramic decanter stopper shaped like a gourd.
A Milestone for Fine Spirits Collecting
“Breaking the world record for a Japanese whisky at auction is a significant milestone,” said Amagés Aouli, Bonhams’ Global Head of Wine and Spirits. “It also underscores Bonhams’ ongoing commitment to shaping the future of fine wine and spirits auctions.”