Wines & Spirits

In the early 1880s Alfred Barnard, secretary of Harper’s Weekly Gazette (the magazine that morphed into today’s Harpers Wine & Spirit), decided to visit all distilleries in Scotland, England and Ireland.

Oliver Wiseman has joined Bonhams as a senior wine specialist in Paris.

Two bottles of 1889 Tokaji Essencia, Zimmerman Lipot will be offered in Dreweatts’ Fine and Rare Wine and Spirits sale on July 8.

MADAM – The correct term for the ‘mirror’ under discussion in Letters, ATG No 2468 is an ‘embossed glass showcard’.

MADAM – your item on the Victor Mee auction of pub memorabilia (ATG No 2467) contains a minor, yet possibly significant error.

A “10-year-old Laphroaig, something still readily available today” had a little bit of extra appeal when it came up for sale in west London, however.

Strong pre-sale interest emerged for two magnums of champagne offered separately at the Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) Sussex Interiors including Asian Works of Art, Wines & Spirits auction in Wisborough Green on October 20.

Whisky has been a booming market in recent years, says Simon Jones, associate director at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne.

This lot comprising four whiskies estimated at £30-50 ended up selling for £1050 at Sheffield Auction Gallery (20% buyer’s premium) on October 30.

Ewbank’s Fine Wines & Spirits auction in Surrey on December 17 includes this bottle of Bas Armagnac Baron de Sigognac 1951.

Whisky big and small was a winner at Hansons (20% buyer’s premium) in Bishton Hall, Staffordshire.

Bonhams’ Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky sale in Hong Kong will take place over two days from November 20-21.

Among the selection coming up in the Wine, Port & Spirits sale at Lacy Scott & Knight on December 11 is a Glen Grant, 1948 Scotch Whisky, from the Glen Grant distillery, Strathspey. Bottled in 1960 by Berry Brothers & Rudd, it is estimated at £1500-2000.

Christie’s holds its Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits sale in London on December 11.

According to Dreweatts, the 1985 Richebourg by Henri Jayer “rightly holds the hallowed status of ‘legendary’ among Burgundy collectors – the sort of wine that people will travel across the world to experience”.

Tate Ward in Shoreditch, London, was set up in 2019. Among the lots coming up in its Fine Wine and Spirits sale on December 7 is a bottle of 1893 Castarede Armagnac.

The Fine Wine & Whisky sale at Tennants on December 12 features this Macallan-Glenlivet 1937 35-year-old Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whisky.

Old Master portraits dealer Mark Weiss tells us about his love for another kind of vintage. His collection leads our special report on the wine, whisky and spirits market.

A Chateau De Pomès Pédérère Armagnac distilled in 1950 is estimated at £200-300 at McTear’s Rare & Fine Whisky Auction on December 16.