F or collectors of rare whisky, the mention of The Macallan in the same breath as the name Sir Peter Blake has for many decades proved an irresistible combination. Next month, Sotheby’s is set to offer a one-of-a-kind original bottle of 1967 whisky from The Macallan’s newly launched Anecdotes of Ages Collection, a limited-release whisky and art collection created in collaboration with the renowned pop artist.
Estimated at $125,000–750,000, the extraordinary multi-component lot, including a print donated by Sir Peter as well as a bespoke VIP experience with The Macallan, will lead Sotheby’s first dedicated spirits sale in New York on 13 March. All of The Macallan’s proceeds from the sale will benefit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Support from The Macallan will advance efforts underway at the Guggenheim to increase free access and develop engagement with a variety of audiences, in alignment with the museum’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion initiatives.
All proceeds from The Macallan’s sale will benefit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
The March auction offers collectors the first and only opportunity to acquire this original bottle from the highly anticipated release. Celebrating the legacy and history of Sir Peter Blake and The Macallan, the Anecdotes of Ages Collection comprises 13 unique bottles of exceptional 1967 whisky, selected for its classic yet distinctly colorful character as well as the year’s significance within Blake’s oeuvre. Of this group, the A New Era of Advertising bottle will be auctioned by Sotheby’s, while the 13th original bottle will be kept in The Macallan archive, leaving just 11 original bottles available for purchase. Each bottle in the collection features its own distinctly original collage art on the label inspired by the brand’s legacy and the unique stories detailing its history and community, and the natural landscape of The Macallan Estate.
“I am deeply inspired by the incredible legacy of The Macallan, and its emphasis on family, tradition, and the natural world. Each collage is inspired by The Macallan history and heritage, one that respects time and craft, two essential components of my own creative process. I meticulously worked on each collage, pulling from The Macallan Estate’s rich legacy to complete a collection that is a celebration of art and whisky.”
T he March sale also features The Bo Johnston Collection, a vast ensemble of Single Malt Scotch Whisky accrued in the 1980s by the late South Carolina collector. Many of the US import bottles from Johnston’s collection have never before appeared at auction, presenting collectors with a special opportunity to acquire these seldom seen whiskies.
Johnston’s voracious appetite for whisky led him to visit numerous distilleries in Scotland during the 1980s, and the wide range of bottles on offer encapsulates his breadth of knowledge of Scotch Whisky. Featuring 550 bottles with a combined low estimate of $450,000, the collection is characterized by its extensive selection from Scotland’s most prolific independent bottlers, including 184 Cadenhead’s dumpy bottlings distilled in the 1950s and 1960s and Gordon & MacPhail bottles largely comprised of 1950s and 1960s vintages from their Connoisseur’s Choice range.
In addition, US import Laphroaigs distinguishes some of the most iconic bottles within this group, with 11 bottles of Laphroaig 10 Julius Wile import, bottled in the late 1970s, 12 bottles of Laphroaig 12 Prime Malt #1, and 2 bottles of the markedly rare Laphroaig 21 Prime Malt #21. A bottle of The Macallan 50 Year Old Anniversary Malt 1928 rounds out the collection. Originally released at just £50 in 1983, it is one of only 500 bottles produced by the famed distillery.
There will be a window for online advance bidding ahead of the live auction on 13 March.
We are delighted to present a one-of-a-kind bottle of D’USSÉ® Cognac from the Shawn Carter Foundation, with proceeds to benefit the charity launched by the acclaimed artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur “JAY-Z” to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships further their education at institutions of higher learning.
A Cognac connoisseur, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter first tasted the unique Grand-Champagne Cognac many years ago and found it so remarkable that he noted it must be reserved for a momentous occasion. D'USSÉ surprised him with the first ever bottle in celebration of his 50th birthday on 4 December 2019. Just fifty bottles were issued to mark this milestone, the majority of which were given to his family and friends.
Estimated at $24,000-75,000 with proceeds going to benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, the bottle of D’USSE 1969 Anniversaire Limited Edition Grande Champagne Cognac comes housed in a diamond-shaped cut crystal bottle, adorned with 24 karat gold leaf wrapping on the neck and decorated with the symbol of Le Croix de Lorraine, the historic French emblem of courage, honour and perseverance.
Sotheby’s “Bottle No. 1” is the only bottle in the collection to also carry Mr. Carter’s engraved signature, and the first to be made available for public sale as part of the company’s first dedicated live Spirits sale in New York. A further limited run of the D’USSÉ Cognac will made available for consumer purchase in the spring.
The 1969 Anniversaire Edition was launched in 2019 by D’USSÉ and Mr. Carter. The liquid comes from one of the oldest and most storied Cognac houses in France, the prestigious Château de Cognac, under the supervision of one of the world’s greatest authorities on Cognac, Cellar Master Michel Casavecchia.
“When our Cellar Master, Michel Casavecchia, discovered the aged liquid at the Château de Cognac and explained how truly one of a kind it is, it was important to me to honor it by doing something that would celebrate its singularity. Once that barrel is emptied, there’s no way the liquid can be recreated. The whole process behind the 1969 Anniversaire collection reminded me why I got involved in the spirits industry in the first place – to create something that will stand the test of time. It means a lot that we’re finally able to share the D’USSÉ 1969 Anniversaire Limited Edition with the rest of the world, and we’re proud to auction the first bottle in the collection with Sotheby’s to benefit The Shawn Carter Foundation.”
The Shawn Carter Foundation (SCF) was founded as a public charity in 2003 by Gloria Carter and her son, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter. The mission of the Shawn Carter Foundation is to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships further their education at postsecondary institutions. In doing so, the goal is to significantly increase the educational, social and economic prospects of traditionally underserved students so they can fulfill their dreams and become positive contributors to the global community. Since the Foundation’s inception, over $17MM have supported initiatives to empower young adults and communities in need through the Foundation’s following programs: Scholarship Fund, College Prep and Exposure, International Exposure, Professional Development, Wealth Management, Scholar Support and Community & Goodwill Programs.
S otheby’s are delighted to offer, for charity, a very special bottle of Hennessy in collaboration with designer Frank Gehry to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Hennessy’s XO expression.
The iconic Hennessy Carafe was designed by Gerald de Geoffre, Maurice Hennessy’s grandson, and is identified by its curvature. For this special 150th anniversary celebration, Hennessy have teamed up with architect extraordinaire Frank Gehry to elevate the aesthetics of the decanter that defines the XO epoch. Gehry’s gold and glass glorifier mixes contrasting themes of movement and destructivism to clothe this bottle in a second skin.
Frank Gehry’s original moulds used to create the intricate outer casing have been made available as part of this exclusive lot at Sotheby’s. The mould was used to shape the 24 carat gold over bronze and the glass set into crumpled metal to evoke the River Charente and illuminate the deep colour of the Cognac within. To house the Masterpiece Decanter, Gehry has called on the cardboard design skills showcased in his Easy Edges furniture line to create a protective case.
The proceeds from this lot will benefit the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) as part of Hennessy’s Unfinished Business initiative. Unfinished Business, a new initiative committed to help small businesses power through the immediate financial challenges of COVID-19 and help ensure they have the resources needed to get back on their feet. Hennessy has enlisted three national organizations already working to support businesses in their respective communities. Unfinished Business will provide funds to One Hundred Black Men, the Asian American Business Development Center, and the Hispanic Federation to ensure support is distributed directly at the community-level among those who need it the most.
