Bonhams auction house made a bold decision to withdraw 20 bottles of scotch from their Fine Whisky & Spirits sale in Paris, just moments before the auction was set to begin. The withdrawn bottles, primarily consisting of Islay single malts and Macallan whiskies, had an estimated value ranging from $52,000 to $72,000.

The Auction Aftermath

  • The sale was significantly reduced, leaving only 24 approved whisky lots
  • Remaining lots valued between $38,000 and $53,000
  • Additional spirits included chartreuse, cognac, armagnac, and rhum agricole

Withdrawn Whiskies

The withdrawn bottles included an impressive array of rare and valuable scotches:

  • Silver Seal bottlings: North Port, Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Laphroaig, St. Magdalene, Macallan, and Pluscarden
  • Macallan bottles from 1954 and 1957
  • Gordon & MacPhail Macallan 1937
  • Cadenhead bottlings of Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Clynelish
  • Various other notable bottlings from Ainslie & Heilbron, Charles Mackinlay, Moon Imports, and Berry Bros. & Rudd

Many of these bottles featured Italian import labels and tax strips, while the Talisker 1937 bore a U.S. Internal Revenue tax strip.

The Decision to Withdraw

Clément Gaillard, Bonhams’ whisky specialist for Europe, explained the decision: “After a thorough investigation, we have serious concerns about the authenticity of some of these bottles. They are all from the same seller and we have decided to withdraw everything from this person as a precaution”.

Implications for the Whisky Industry

This incident highlights the ongoing battle against counterfeit whiskies in the secondary market. Auction houses play a crucial role in preventing fake bottles from entering collections. While new whiskies benefit from advanced anti-counterfeiting measures, older bottles remain vulnerable due to their high value and lack of modern security features.

To maintain the integrity of the market, auction houses communicate with each other to reject suspicious bottles. However, specific details about potentially fake whiskies are not disclosed to avoid aiding counterfeiters.