A modern day treasure chest containing 10 bottles of 50-year-old single malt whisky from The Balvenie Distillery will make auction history at Sotheby’s London today. The ultra-rare Private Cask #16560 Trunk represents the first time any bottles from The Balvenie’s exclusive private cask program have appeared at public auction.
The wooden trunk carries an estimate of $300,000 to $562,500 (£240,000-450,000) and bidding closes 14:00 BST May 29. All proceeds will benefit WWF and The King’s Trust charities.
Exclusive Balvenie Private Cask Program
Balvenie Cask #16560 emerged from William Grant & Sons’ highly selective Private Client program, where only one cask per year receives the honor of bottling exclusively for a single collector. The Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE chose this particular Sherry Butt in 2021 for its extraordinary richness and deep color.
The cask aged for nearly 51 years at The Balvenie distillery before transformation into 220 individual bottles on December 14, 2021. One collector received every bottle, stored in 22 custom made wooden trunks, but decided to consign one tunk of ten bottles to auction to raise money for two charities.
“This unusual trunk represents not only ten fantastically old and rare bottles of whisky with exceptional presentation, but more importantly, it is a glimpse into the secret world within the upper echelons of whisky collecting,” said Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Global Head of Whisky & Spirits.
Artistic Labels Tell Unique Story
The Balvenie commissioned award-winning Scottish artist Paul Furneaux to create artwork using the actual oak staves from Sherry Butt #16560. Furneaux employed traditional lithography techniques to make paint imprints on canvas, capturing colors and hues that evoke the Speyside landscape surrounding the distillery.
The finished artwork was scanned and divided into 220 equal portions, creating individual labels for each bottle. This process ensures every bottle displays unique artwork while maintaining connection to the original cask.
Each bottle sits within a hand-carved wooden presentation case with brass hinges, numbered to match its label. The solid oak trunk features laser engraving and gold gilding of the cask number and Balvenie logo, finished with Renaissance wax.
This auction marks a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most exclusive whisky offerings ever produced. While the craftsmanship and rarity make this a pinnacle of whiskey collecting, the charitable aim adds deeper meaning for the potential buyers. With 100% of hammer proceeds going to two major charities, this trunk offers not only prestige, but purpose.
Read the full article at Treasure Chest Of Rare 50 Year Old Scotch: Charity Auction Ends Today
