YAMAZAKI’S ONE-OFF SINGLE MALT WHISKY JUNSHIN EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATION AT BONHAMS HONG KONG SALE
Yamazaki Junshin Single Malt Whisky
Estimate: HK$250,000-300,000
Sold for HK$750,000
HONG KONG. – One of the only 200 bottles of Yamazaki Junshin, privately released this year as a special one-off single malt whisky, sold today at Bonhams Fine and Rare Whisky sale in Hong Kong for HK$750,000, tripling its estimate.
The Junshin, which means “pure” and “true” in Japanese, is marketed as Yamazaki’s special one-off single malt whisky and presented to convey the essence of Japanese whisky and its industry to globally-renowned master blender Richard Paterson. It was only available to Suntory’s VIP clients and today’s sale marks its debut at auction.
Formulated by Fukuyo Shinji, Suntory’s Chief Blender, the Junshin takes its tasters down the memory lane of the distillery’s 100 years of whisky making. A unique combination of Yamazaki single malts aged in Mizunara oak casks, Spanish sherry oak casks, and peated malt matured in an American oak Puncheon, all aged for more than 20 years with some of the oldest Yamazaki single malts in existence matured over 50 and 60 years in Japanese Mizunara casks. The label, made with the traditional Echizen washi paper, features the word Junshin by famous calligrapher Takeda Souun. This also marks the very first time calligraphy has appeared on the label of a Yamazaki bottle. The terms “pure” and “true” were chosen to describe the whisky-makers’ pure intent for their craft.
Commenting on the result, Diego Lanza, Bonhams Senior Whisky Specialist, said: “The Junshin excited a great deal of interest before the sale, resulting in spirited bidding today. Once again, the market responds robustly to fresh materials of top quality. Junshin is the perfect embodiment of that and the top price it has achieved was well deserved.”
Other notable sales include:
Lot 444. Karuizawa-1981-32 year old-#4380-竹に鶏図 (1) Karuizawa-1984-29 year old-#3662-旭日松鶴図 (1). Sold for HK$375,000.
Lot 375. Bowmore 1965-52 year old. Sold for HK$300,000.
Sale: Fine and Rare Whisky Date: 18 November 2022Location: Bonhams Hong Kong, 20/F, One Pacific Place, Admiralty
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details – www.bonhams.com