A Michter’s Private Barrel Busts Auction Records
Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon is generally thought of as a middleweight favorite in the annual run of limited edition American whiskeys. When it comes out, it typically retails for about $130 a bottle, but the on-demand market value with online retailers is closer to $300. It’s a precious, hard-to-get item, but neither as scarce or as dear as certain others on the annual, limited edition list.
Rocking general expectations to their core, however, is word that a private barrel selection bottling of Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon sold for £166,000 (US$209,462) at a charity auction in London on Sunday, July 12th.
“This is the highest price ever paid at an auction for a single barrel of Bourbon anywhere in the world, far exceeding previous records,” said Justin Sloan, Co-Founder of Justins’ House of Bourbon and one of the world’s foremost expert on rare and exclusive Kentucky Bourbon.
In total, Michter’s-related items and experiences raised £215,450 (US$271,859) for 50 Best for Recovery, an auction benefiting the global hospitality industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the private barrel, the Louisville-based whiskey distiller donated several unique experiences and extraordinary bottles to raise money for the charity drive, which was organized by William Reed, the parent company of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars.
“At William Reed, we are grateful to be able to work with terrific donors like Michter’s and raise funds to benefit the restaurant and bar community in this historically challenging period. The highlight of the auction was the Michter’s private barrel bottling,” commented Charles Reed, CEO of William Reed.
“Michter’s is committed to doing everything possible to support bar and restaurant professionals during this unimaginably difficult time,” said Matt Magliocco, Michter’s Executive Vice President, adding, “While we do not offer private barrel selections as a standard policy, we made an exception for this immensely important initiative. The results are a testament to the global community of Michter’s collectors, who stepped up massively to support the hospitality sector in its period of greatest need. We commend the organizers of 50 Best for Recovery for their extraordinary efforts to make this auction so impactful.”
