Chicago-based auction platform Unicorn has launched one of the most significant American whiskey auctions ever assembled, spotlighting a pivotal chapter of the city’s bourbon history. The auction went live on Sunday and runs through April 26, featuring several extraordinarily rare Van Winkle private barrel selections dating back to the early 2000s.
The headline lot is the "Binny’s 18" Van Winkle, widely regarded as one of the five most sought-after bourbon bottles ever produced.
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The bottle made its world auction debut on Unicorn in 2024, where it sold for $86,000. It returns this week carrying an estimate of $60,000–$80,000.
Since bidding opened at 6pm CST on Sunday, the Binny’s 18 has already reached $75,100.
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Also tracing its origins to Chicago is the Twisted Spoke 16 Year Bourbon, another Van Winkle private barrel selection. This bottle was selected for the beloved Chicago bar Twisted Spoke, which permanently closed last year after an iconic 30-year run.
The Twisted Spoke bottle carries an auction estimate of $15,000–$17,500. In less than 24 hours of bidding, the lot had already reached $17,100.
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READ THE STORYBoth bottles date back to the early 2000s, a period when several of the most valuable private barrel Van Winkle bottlings in history were produced for Chicago bars and retailers.
The auction extends beyond these two marquee lots. Additional historically significant releases include one of only three known Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year private barrel picks ever bottled.
Another lot features the only Van Winkle private bottling ever produced at exactly 16 years old and 105 proof.
The sale also includes one of the few fully custom private-label bourbons ever bottled by Willett, the acclaimed Kentucky distillery known for its single-barrel releases.
Unicorn has established itself as a prominent player in the American whiskey auction market since its founding. The platform has increasingly attracted high-value consignments of rare bourbon and rye whiskey, catering to a growing collector base willing to pay significant premiums for bottles with documented provenance.
The broader rare American whiskey market has experienced substantial growth in recent years, with private barrel selections from the Van Winkle family’s bottlings commanding particular attention from collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Bidding on all lots continues through April 26.
