Sotheby’s will host its first-ever live, single-owner American whiskey auction later this month, presenting what experts describe as the most valuable collection of its kind to ever appear on the market. The high-end spirits sale, dubbed “The Great American Whiskey Collection,” is estimated to fetch between $1.17 million and $1.68 million.
The covetable collection consists of 360 bottles organized into 320 lots, all sourced from a meticulously curated private cellar. This landmark event is a cornerstone of Visions of America, a week-long series of auctions and events celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary by highlighting American art, innovation, and craftsmanship.
Assembled over several decades by an unidentified private collector, the holdings feature an array of the rarest bourbon and rye whiskeys ever produced. The inventory includes numerous private labels, exclusive single-barrel releases, and historic bottlings that have become nearly impossible to find. Many of these items are making their debut at Sotheby’s, with several appearing at public auction for the very first time.
The collection spans production dates as far back as 1900. While the sale features notable bottles from Buffalo Trace, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey, it is anchored by exceptional examples from Old Rip Van Winkle and Old Fitzgerald. Sotheby’s currently holds the world record for a bottle of post-Prohibition American whiskey at $125,000, and specialists believe the top lot in this sale has the potential to challenge that figure.
“The value, quality, and rarity of these bottles are unparalleled,” said Sotheby’s Whiskey Specialist Zev Glesta. “This is not just a great American whiskey collection—it is the collection, bringing together the very finest examples ever produced. Each bottle tells a story, captures a moment in history, and preserves the lineage of a craft that continues to grow and evolve today.”
Representing the strongest lineage of the Van Winkle family heritage ever presented at auction, the sale includes single-barrel selections originally bottled for Sam’s, Binny’s, Blue Smoke, and Delilah’s. These releases were produced in extremely limited quantities, and because most were consumed shortly after their release, very few remain in existence today.
One of the top highlights is a 1982 Old Rip Van Winkle 20 Year Old Single Barrel bottled for Sam’s Wines and Spirits in Chicago. With only 60 bottles produced and a proof of 133.4, it is the highest-proof Van Winkle ever released and carries an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. Other significant lots include a 1985 Van Winkle 18 Year Old Binny’s bottling estimated at $60,000 to $80,000 and a 1950 Very Very Old Fitzgerald 18 Year Old Blackhawk, a private bottling for the Wirtz family, also estimated at up to $80,000.
The sale also features four barrels of LeNell’s Red Hook Rye, which are among the most celebrated rye whiskeys in the world. With only 852 bottles existing across all four barrels, individual bottles are expected to bring between $24,000 and $35,000. The bottles were stored in the original owner’s custom-built home bar after being acquired over many years. Select highlights from the Great American Whiskey Collection are available for viewing on Sotheby’s website, and advanced online bidding for the vaunted bottle collection kicked off on January 8, with the live sale happening January 24.
For more American whiskey news, revisit Maxim‘s Best Bourbons, Most Innovative Whiskeys, Best Ryes, Best American Single Malts, and Best Double Barrel Whiskeys of 2025.
