PRESS RELEASE: ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST IN DEMAND BOTTLES OF JAPANESE WHISKY TO GO UNDER THE ‘WHISKY HAMMER’

ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST IN DEMAND BOTTLES OF JAPANESE WHISKY TO GO UNDER THE ‘WHISKY HAMMER’

— Yamazaki 55 Year Old expected to attract global attention at online whisky auction —

A Scottish whisky auction firm will showcase the super-rare Yamazaki 55 Year Old in its auction, starting Friday 19 November 2021 – an iconic release which has proven incredibly sought after and notoriously difficult for enthusiasts to find for purchase.

The single-malt blockbuster is the world’s oldest and rarest Japanese whisky and has been described as a ‘unicorn amongst whisky collectors’. 

First unveiled to the world in 2020, the Yamazaki 55 Year Old was limited to just 100 bottles which were sold exclusively in Japan via lottery. Over a year later, a second and final release of 100 bottles were made available to other markets around the world.

Online whisky auction business Whisky Hammer was started in 2016 by brothers Daniel and Craig Milne who are originally from Macduff, near Speyside, an area renowned for the production of Scotch whisky.

Daniel believes this is an incredibly unique opportunity for a whisky collector to bid on one of the most sought after whiskies in the world. He said: “We couldn’t be more excited to offer such an exceptionally coveted bottle of whisky.  The Yamazaki 55 Year Old is arguably the most in-demand collectable bottle of Japanese whisky in the world today – anyone who collects rare whiskies knows about Yamazaki and wants it. It is a unicorn amongst whisky collectors worldwide, particularly those with an interest in Japanese whisky.

“Only a few have appeared in world auctions in recent times, however the lot available through Whisky Hammer is even more desirable for serious collectors as it’s the first of its kind to appear at auction free from having the original owner’s name engraved on the glass and box, which featured in the first 100 bottles sold exclusively in Japan.”

This whisky is a blend of single malts, with components distilled in 1960 and aged in Mizunara casks and some distilled in 1964 and aged in White Oak casks. One of the rarest and most expensive oak species in the world, whiskies aged in Mizunara are highly prized. Mizunara wood is native to Japan and deeply-rooted in the country’s history. Scarcer than European and American oak, Mizunara is very expensive and hard to cooper due to its porous nature.

Aged at a stunning 55 years old, the 46% ABV whisky is presented in a crystal bottle with the word ‘Yamazaki’ engraved in sandblasted calligraphy featuring real gold dust and lacquer on the age marking. The bottle’s opening is wrapped in handmade Echizen washi paper and bound with a Kyo-kumihimo-plaited cord, a traditional craft from Kyoto. Each bottle comes in a bespoke box made from native Mizunara wood and coated with Suruga lacquer.

Whisky Hammer hosts monthly auctions, dedicated to whisky and other fine spirits, allowing buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe to participate. It has auctioned a wide range of whiskies, both bottles and casks, with auctions selling in excess of £1 million under the hammer each month.  

Whisky Hammer re-located in 2019 to a new, purpose-built facility in Aberdeenshire, which is also home to Still Spirit – a whisky shop, e-commerce site and dram bar offering over 100 rare whiskies to taste while overlooking the beautiful Scottish countryside.

Yamazaki 55 Year Old will go live and open for bids on Whisky Hammer from 7pm (GMT) on Friday 19 November to Sunday 28 November. To register visit https://www.whiskyhammer.com/members/register.php

HISTORIC EDINBURGH WHISKIES TO BE RESURRECTED USING 100-YEAR-OLD RECIPES

Holyrood Distillery partners with Whisky Hammer to host dedicated cask auction  

Sampling spirit directly from the cask in Holyrood Distillery’s warehouse.

Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh’s first single malt distillery for almost 100 years, is recreating historic single malt whiskies based on those once produced during the city’s rich distilling past, to be sold at a one-off online auction by leading online whisky auction platform, Whisky Hammer. 

By sourcing the ancient ingredients and using the whisky making styles of Edinburgh distilleries popular in the 1800s and early 1900s, Holyrood Distillery will distil and fill just 30 casks – 15 American oak Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads and 15 Spanish oak Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogsheads.  

The one-off dedicated auction hosted by Whisky Hammer, will run from Friday 4 December at 7pm until Sunday 13 December at 7pm. This will be the first dedicated auction of its kind for the online Aberdeenshire-based company, which normally runs monthly online auctions offering a diverse range of rare and collectible whiskies.  

The single malts will be created using two ancient barley varieties: Chevallier, originally used from the 1820s to the 1900s by distilleries such as Bonnington, Croftanrigh and Yardheads; and Plumage Archer used by many Edinburgh distilleries from the early 1900s like Dean and Glen Sciennes. Holyrood Distillery will also use old-style brewer’s yeasts, distil slowly and fill only sherry casks in the way that the now-closed Edinburgh distilleries would once have done. The majority of the city’s distilleries closed in the 19^th century with the last ones being Dean, closing in 1922 and Glen Sciennes distillery, closing in 1925. Holyrood Distillery resurrected the distilling of single malt with its opening in 2019. 

Co-founder of Holyrood Distillery, David Robertson, said:  

“Edinburgh’s distilling heritage and pedigree is long and chequered. It continues to amaze me that we have not seen a working single malt distillery in the city between 1925 and 2019! 

“This is a rare opportunity to own a single malt whisky which is based on the techniques and ingredients used by Edinburgh’s distilling forefathers. Purchasing one of these rare casks is an invitation to own a piece of history and tread in the footsteps of the people who created the city’s whisky industry.” 

Managing Director of Whisky Hammer, Daniel Milne, said:  

“Having seen increasing interest in silent stills and demand for old vintage whisky and cask purchases, this is a golden opportunity for our members to make history and fully participate in crafting a deeply personal and rare spirit. 

“Having followed Holyrood Distillery’s journey with interest, we’re excited and honoured to partner with them to offer 30 unique casks exclusively on Whisky Hammer.  This is an offer not to be missed by our members who we know love interesting and unusual whiskies. 

“As a Scottish family-run business we have seen rapid growth since our inaugural auction in 2016 and today we’re one of the largest online dedicated whisky auction platforms globally. Holyrood’s decision to work with us to offer its casks is further recognition of our growing reputation.” 

Bidding is expected to start at £3,000 for each numbered sherry hogshead (No 1 to 15 Chevallier and No 1 to 15 Plumage Archer), allowing bidders to select the barley variety, cask type (American or Spanish oak ex-sherry hogsheads) and cask number of most interest. The casks will be filled with the fledgling spirit in early 2021 and put to rest in the warehouse to become unique single malts.  

Winning bidders will be invited, Coronavirus restrictions allowing, to see their spirit being created at the distillery, cask filled at the warehouse and collect a small duty-paid sample of the spirit. They will also be invited to visit their cask annually to sample and assess the development of their whisky.  The hammer price paid will include storage for up to ten years, annual sampling and insurance. Bottling costs, customised labelling, duty and VAT are not included but illustrated costs can be provided on request. 

Holyrood Distillery started distilling in September 2019 in Edinburgh’s city centre. Located right in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic distilling district – on St. Leonard’s Lane with views over Holyrood Park – the 180-year-old building has been thoughtfully renovated to produce gin, liqueurs and whisky.  

To register to bid on the Holyrood 2021 Heritage Barley cask auction, please visitwww.whiskyhammer.com where you will find Whisky Hammer’s quick and straightforward registration process.