There were plenty of notable whiskey auctions throughout 2025, many of them featuring truly rare and highly sought after bottles of bourbon, rye, and scotch whisky. It looks like 2026 will start off with a bang, because news just arrived that Sotheby’s is holding what it is calling “the most valuable single-owner American whiskey collection ever offered at auction.” And from the looks of what’s included, it does indeed appear that there are some pretty rare offerings.

The value of the collection, which is owned by an unnamed individual who clearly knows a thing or two about rare whiskey, is estimated to be worth between $1.17 and $1.68 million. 360 individual bottles of American whiskey—specifically bourbon and rye—are included. According to Sotheby’s, many of the bottles are private labels, single barrels, and vintage expressions, some of which are making their auction debut. “Never before have we witnessed a collection of such sought after bottles come to market from a single owner,” said Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s global head of whisky and spirits, in a statement. “This is not just the most valuable American whiskey collection ever to be offered at auction, it is the most meticulously curated, featuring the hardest to find bottles in the industry. This collection is truly a first in the world of American whiskey.”

So what exactly is included in the lineup? Many are from names you’d expect to appear in an auction of this caliber—Old Rip Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald, Buffalo Trace, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey, for example. Some bottles date back to the early 20th century period before Prohibition, and there’s a pretty remarkable selection of single barrels from Pappy Van Winkle, something that you really only find on the secondary market. Some of the highlights are as follows: Old Rip Van Winkle 20 Year Old Single Barrel “Sam’s”, the highest proof Van Winkle ever released that was bottled exclusively for Sam’s Wines & Spirits in Chicago in 1982; Van Winkle 18 Year Old “Binny’s”, a single barrel pick for the Midwest liquor store; Very Very Old Fitzgerald “Blackhawk” 18 Year Old, a private bottling for the Wirtz family (owners of the Chicago Blackhawks) that recently sold for more than $80,000 at Unicorn Auctions; and LeNell’s Red Hook Rye Barrels #1–4, known as being the legendary rye whiskey ever released.

“The value, quality, and rarity of these bottles are unparalleled,” said Zev Glesta, Sotheby’s whiskey specialist, AVP, in a statement. “This is not just a great American whiskey collection—it is the collection, bringing together the very finest examples ever produced. Each bottle tells a story, captures a moment in history, and preserves the lineage of a craft that continues to grow and evolve today.” You can view the entire catalogue here to see what other bottles are in the lineup. Online bidding starts tomorrow, January 8, with a live auction will taking place on January 24 at the Breuer Building in New York City.