The Art of Bourbon Auction, the annual event held at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, takes place tonight (September 12th), from 7:30 pm until 9 pm. On offer will be some of the finest and rarest bourbons and American whiskeys ever to hit the secondary market. All proceeds from the auction go directly to the Speed Art Museum, supporting educational programs and exhibitions.
Attendees will enjoy a cocktail hour, bourbon tastings, a bourbon-inspired dinner menu, and (of course) some exciting live bidding. You can place bids on any of the fantastic lots for free by registering here. Happy bidding!
About The Art of Bourbon Auction
The Art of Bourbon Auction was founded seven years ago by Steven Riley, the former CEO of Speed Art Museum. With the help of Event Chair/bourbon appraiser, Marc Abrams, and bourbon expert and event curator, Fred Minnick, the auction became an annual event showcasing some of the best bourbons in the world.
The auction presents extremely unique opportunities for bourbon lovers and collectors to purchase some of the rarest whiskeys in the world.
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Every bottle in the auction is donated by members of the local community and by distilleries. This year, the lots on offer are extremely exciting. “It’s the best lineup we’ve had to date,” says Marc Abrams during a phone call with me. “We have a combination of experiences, unique bottles, dusties, bottles of the day, and barrels. I speak from personal experience when I say that doing a barrel pick with a group of friends is a cherished memory for life.”
The Lots On Offer
Some of the auction highlights this year include:
- An entire Pappy Van Winkle vertical signed by Julian Van Winkle III – Estimate: $30,000
- A 1976 Bicentennial Commemorative Bourbon 16 Year Old, distilled in 1959 at the original Willet Distillery. – Estimate: $30,000-$50,000
The Bicentennial bottle is the one that event chair, Marc Abrams is most excited about. “This is actually a bottle that I donated to the auction. It has so much history attached to it including direct links to A.H. Hirsch and Pappy Van Winkle. It is considered the bottle that started it all” says Marc. “Also, it was released in 1976. Most people probably drank it. I would guess there are only a couple of bottles in existence. I would be surprised if it went for less than $30,000.”
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- A “dusty” Old Forester from 1947 – Estimate: $20,000
- Maker’s Mark Private Selection Barrel Experience with the Speed Art Museum – “Six guests partake in a personal tour of the National Historic Landmark distillery on Star Hill Farm led by a Private Select team member where you will go through the entire Private Selection process, reserved for only the most elite customers of Maker’s Mark. When the barrel matures nine weeks later, the bottle labels will feature the Speed Art Museum’s selection recipe. The winning bidder receives three cases, and the remaining bottles will be given to the museum and used by local artists and students to raise money for the museum.”
These Bids Make A Difference
As mentioned above, all proceeds from the Art of Bourbon Auction go to the Speed Art Museum in Louisville. Fred Minnick, who has been involved with the auction since its inception, knows all too well how much difference the funds can make to the museum.
“Since 2018, I’ve worked closely with the Speed to auction the rarest whiskey bottles and experiences ever, raising millions of dollars for this institution,” says Minnick. “These rare whiskeys can make a huge impact on one of our country’s best art museums. We have the vintage and rare, and the new and unique. These sort of in-the-know bourbons don’t come up very often.”
“It’s not every day you can get your hands on these. You’re buying a piece of history in a bottle,” added Abrams. “And over the years, our auction followers have come to expect these iconic bourbons at this auction. After all, the Speed Art Museum is in bourbon country.”
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