Bonhams is proud to present The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection, an exquisite and comprehensive compilation of whiskies, boasting exceptional provenance and impeccable storage. Meticulously built over the last 25 years by a passionate collector, this collection offers more than 300 lots and represents the largest single-owner collection of spirits ever offered at Bonhams.

This one-of-a-kind assortment will be presented across two auctions. The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection live auction takes place on 26 June—it stands as the inaugural live auction held at the brand-new Bonhams Skinner saleroom at 236 Clarendon Street. Running concurrently, The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection No-Reserve Online Edition offers 250 lots, all at no reserve, from 9 - 30 June.

Ahead of these remarkable auctions, Sean Purce, Senior Specialist of Fine Wines and Rare Spirits, walks us through his best-of-the-best selections coming under the hammer.

Lots 35 & 36

The Macallan in Lalique, 62 Years Old

This listing of the “best-of-the-best” could be devoted entirely to the Six Pillars Collection. The full set of six limited release decanters created in partnership with Lalique are not only the centerpiece of this selection, but the perfect embodiment of the essence of The Encyclopedic Collection. Each one represents a different core element: Exceptional Oak Casks, Natural Colour, Finest Cut, Curiously Small Stills, The Spiritual Home, and "Peerless Spirit”.

The Spiritual Home is the penultimate release of the series at 62 years of age. At the heart of the Macallan Estate lies the Easter Elchies House, the home of John Grant, the first custodian of the acreage. The literal foundation stone is captured through the frosted crystal decanter branded with the replica of Captain John Grant’s initials etched into the date stone of the manor. In 2014, just 400 bottles were released, and amazingly this collection features two!

Lot 24

The Balvenie DCS Collection, Chapter 3

Whisky can be oversimplified into three components: the raw materials, the production process, and finally maturation. How these varied elements interact can be mysterious and unpredictable. Distillers make decisions on a daily basis to either reign in or amplify these parts to produce the desired chorus. No one has ever done that better than David C. Stewart, who in 1962, began his legendary career in Dufftown. At the forefront of the single malt revolution he was a pioneer in cask maturation introducing finishing techniques, a modern day art form, that bring an entirely new dimension to the whisky. The DCS Compendium is a fitting tribute to the man whose knowledge and nose helped elevate The Balvenie to international prestige.

Beginning in 2015, the DCS Compendium assembles five different vintages on a single theme: Distillery Style, The Influence of Oak, The Secrets of the Stock Model, Expecting the Unexpected, and finally the Malt Master’s Indulgence. True to form, The Encyclopedic Collection carries one of each Chapter. The Third Chapter holds the oldest Balvenie ever produced. The 1961 was aged for 55 years and just a microscopic 62 bottles were filled and released.

Lot 46

Karuizawa Aika Geisha Bourbon Cask, 29 Years Old

Karuizawa is the ghost distillery that haunts the dreams of its passionate collectors. A vanishing legend that proves less and less available each year. The Aika, first in the Geisha series to showcase the mirror-image labels, precedes the Golden, the Emerald, the Murasaki, the Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby & Platinum Geishas. Unlike the following releases the Aika is packaged in an original carton. Only the first Geishas were packaged in this same way.

Lot 3

Old Rip Van Winkle, 25 Years Old

The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection is not very deep in Bourbon, but where it is represented, it does not miss. In 2014, this iconic Bourbon distillery moved 11 barrels into stainless steel tanks. These, the oldest barrels to be bottled by the family distiller to date, were created in 1989. A beautiful wooden case, designed in collaboration with Heritage Handcrafted, experts in repurposing used bourbon barrels, holds the classically styled decanter engraved, individually numbered, and finished with a silver stopper. This is bottle 530 of 710.

Lot 251

The Yamazaki Mizunara Cask, 18 Years Old

Mizunara Casks are an integral part of Yamazaki’s history and their ability to amass such a loyal, global consumer base. The oak is a difficult one to work with, the trees themselves take 200 years or more to reach maturity suitable for producing barrels, but the finished product is one so uniquely “Japanese Whisky” that it is worth the labor.

This bottle is featured in The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection No Reserve Online Edition, open for bidding from 9 - 30 June.

Lot 39

The Macallan Genesis in Lalique, 72 Years Old

After the Six Pillar Collection, Macallan and Lalique continued their partnership to create the Genesis, a single malt aged for 72 Years. Where the Six Pillars are a nod to the estates’ foundations, The Genesis is a look to the future and a celebration of the new distillery in which the bottle is even shaped to resemble.

The liquid inside was distilled in the early years of World War II, and the amber hue amplified by the crystal vessel illustrates its journey through the decades. Only 600 bottles were released which at the time was the oldest whisky Macallan had ever produced.

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