Edinburgh – A rare and highly sought after Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition whisky leads Bonhams Finest Whisky & Spirits online sale from 23 September-3 October. The third in the final instalment in the Macallan Mizunara project by the East Asia Whisky Company, this edition, named 'Komorebi' meaning 'golden beams of light filtering through tree leaves', was matured for 33 years (two of which were in Mizunara) and is offered with an estimate of £6,000-9,000.

Also offered in the sale is an exceptionally rare Shirakawa 1958 whisky – the earliest known single vintage Japanese whisky ever bottled. The Shirakawa Distillery operated for nearly six and half decades before being demolished in 2003. Distilled and bottled in Japan by Takara Shuzo Co Ltd, bottle 242 of 1500, and in its original presentation case, the Japanese Single Malt is offered with an estimate of £6,000-8,000.

Other Japanese whiskies of note offered in the sale include:

• Karuizawa 1999 #671, bottled 1999 and distilled by Karuizawa Distillery. One of 394 bottles and in original presentation case. 1 bottle. Estimate: £1,600-2,200.

• Hanyu 2000 #63 La Maison du Whisky. Bottled in 2015. Distilled, matured and bottled by Hanyu Distillery. Specially selected and imported by La Maison du Whisky. In original carton. 1 bottle. Estimate £1,200-1,600.

Georgia Porteous, Bonhams Whisky Specialist in Edinburgh comments, "The sale features highly sought after rare Japanese and scotch whiskies alongside stand-out lots including a bottle of Aberfeldy 30-Year-Old 1991. A bottle of Highland Park Rebus 30-Year-Old, will also be offered, celebrating 30 years of the whisky-loving Inspector John Rebus, immortalised in Sir Ian Rankin's series of detective novels set in Edinburgh. There are some exceptional whiskies here."

The 78-lot sale features some beautifully well-balanced whiskies as well as commemorative editions including:

• Aberfeldy 30-Year-Old 1991, distilled 1991, hand bottled 2021 by Burn O' Bennie Distillery. 2nd Fill Bourbon Cask. Bottle One of One and in hand crafted Walnut presentation case by Stevie Stuart, cabinet maker. Label illustration is Peter Howsonx Burn O'Bennnie. Included in this lot is the original artwork that was used for the label design. Estimate: £6,000 - 8,000.

• Highland Park Rebus 30-Year-Old, distilled and bottled by Highland Park Distillery and in the original wooden presentation case. 1 bottle. Estimate: £3,000-4,000.

• Macallan Private Eye, selected by Whisky Maker F. A. Newlands at The Macallan Distillery, bottled to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of Private Eye. Includes cask number 1580, bonded 1961. Estimate £2,250-3,000.

18 September 2024