$107,000 Van Winkle Bourbon Breaks Auction Record

(Photo: UNICORN)

In mid-October, an $86,000 bottle of Van Winkle 18-Year-Old reportedly broke Unicorn‘s record for “most expensive bourbon ever auctioned.” After tagging on a 15% buyer’s premium and 10.25% tax, the final price for the whiskey came out at an astounding $107,715.

But why pay six figures for a single bottle?

Beyond the usual Pappy Van Winkle hype, this expression boasted a few selling points under the hood that skyrocketed its desirability among collectors. The unfiltered, barrel-proof bourbon was distilled at Stizel-Weller on June 10, 1985. The distillery, decommissioned in 1992, was founded by the eponymous Julian Van Winkle Sr. and produced the earliest iterations of the brand’s coveted products.

The 18-year-old bourbon was selected by Chicago area retailer Binny’s Beverage Depot in 2003, leading to the bottle’s unofficial moniker among enthusiasts, “Binny’s 18.”

It was a very different time for bourbon. The market was still years away from the speculative boom that birthed so-called unicorn bottles. In hindsight, it’s hard to believe that Binny’s 18 originally retailed for $119.99; these days, a standard bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year — the brand’s cheapest product— goes for $1,000 or more.

“When this was bottled, the majority of enthusiasts were not saving bottles like this for ‘speculative investment’ or ‘long term gains’ like they do with rare bottles being released today. It was bourbon, meant to be enjoyed. And most were!,” Unicorn wrote in a product description.

Binny’s 18 was bottled at 60.8% ABV, purportedly the second-highest that Van Winkle has ever released. Another distinction comes by way of the bottle itself. Unlike most releases from the era, Binny’s 18 was not individually numbered. Unicorn speculates that the total yield of the batch was between 80 to 100 bottles, though the exact figure is unknown.

“We’re excited to set a new standard with the sale of this legendary bottle,” Phil Mikhaylov, CEO of Unicorn Auctions, told The Spirits Business. “This record-breaking moment not only showcases the passion collectors have for the rarest finds but also reinforces Unicorn as the ultimate destination for discovering and trading the world’s most coveted spirits. This is just the beginning of what’s to come both across the US and internationally.”

Unicorn describes itself as “Chicago’s first year-round online rare spirits auction house.” Founded by restaurant industry veterans AJ Heindel and Cody Modeer, the platform has reportedly generated over four million bids and $85 million in sales since its inception.

Pedro Wolfe is an editor at Bottle Raiders with a specialty in agave spirits. With several years of experience writing for the New York Daily News and the Foothills Business Daily under his belt, Pedro aims to combine quality reviews and recipes with incisive articles on the cutting edge of the spirits world. Pedro has traveled to the heartland of the spirits industry in Tequila, Mexico, and has conducted interviews with agave spirits veterans throughout Mexico, South Africa and California. Through this diverse approach, Bottle Raiders aims to celebrate not only tequila but the rich tapestry of agave spirits that spans mezcal, raicilla, bacanora, pulque and so much more.