At a Glance: June No Reserves II

With over 3,900 lots, here’s a closer look at the standout bottles and category highlights from our June No Reserves II Auction.

Headline Bottles

We’ve got several remarkable bottles in this auction:

Michter's 25 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (1st Release, 2008) | est. $12,500-$15,000

The original and only true “single barrel” M25, this was bottled in Bardstown at 108.6 proof before the shift to “limited release” labeling and higher proof. Believed by many to be Stitzel-Weller distillate, it remains the darkest and most distinctive M25 ever bottled.

Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey (2016, U.K. Export, 700 ml) | est. $10,000-$12,500

This 700ml UK export clocks in at 116.8 proof and was limited to just 256 bottles. The blend—selected by Willie Pratt—included six barrels of Kentucky straight rye and bourbon aged from just over 10 to more than 30 years. Originally released at a $5,000 MSRP.

Michter's 20 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (2013) | est. $6,000-$8,000

One of the early “Single Barrel”-labeled M20s, this 2013 bottling is rumored to be Stitzel-Weller sourced. With bottle counts exceeding 200 at 114.6 proof, collectors questioned the true single barrel status—prompting Michter’s to switch future labels to “Limited Release.” A prime example from the era when Michter’s ultra-aged stock first drew serious attention.

Bourbon Highlights

Wild Turkey – This auction has multiple releases of the legendary 12-Year “Cheesy Gold Foil,” bottled during the glut era between 1985 and 1992. Believed to be significantly older than stated, CGF is widely regarded as some of the best bourbon Wild Turkey ever produced. Clean examples are increasingly rare.

Booker’s Seijo Ishii – All three ultra-limited private bottlings selected by Fred Noe for Japanese retailer Seijo Ishii are included in this auction. These special batches—300, 700, and 1,000 bottles respectively—came in distinctive barrel-themed boxes and unique labels.

Bourbon Valley – A 24-Year bourbon bottled by Heaven Hill exclusively for Japan in the late 1990s. Just 5,000 bottles were produced, making it one of the earliest ultra-aged Heaven Hill exports and a benchmark for pre-fire HH whiskey.

William Larue Weller – Highlights include the 2006 release, the oldest in the BTAC series at 15 years and 3 months. Distilled in 1991, it remains one of the most debated and coveted WLW bottlings, with speculation swirling for years over whether it came from the last of the Stitzel-Weller barrels or early Bernheim stock. Its deep age and distinctive profile have made it a standout among collectors.

Berghoff Bottlings – A historic private label line commissioned by Chicago’s Berghoff Restaurant, featuring decades of Stitzel-Weller bourbon in varying age statements and styles. The partnership continued into the Van Winkle era at Old Commonwealth, resulting in an eclectic and sought-after range. Fun fact: The Berghoff was issued Chicago’s first liquor license after Prohibition, still on display in the restaurant today.

Rye Highlights

Rittenhouse Rye – We have a full lineup of ultra-aged, single-barrel releases distilled in 1984 and bottled by Heaven Hill between 2005 and 2010. These legendary expressions came in at 21, 23, and 25 years old—each non-chill filtered, bottled at 100 proof, and individually labeled with barrel and bottle numbers. With only 100 barrels ever released, this series stands among the most iconic aged ryes ever produced.

Booker’s Rye – Booker’s Rye – The only rye ever released under the Booker’s label. Believed to have yielded just over 9,000 bottles, this one-time release has become a cornerstone of collectible American whiskey, with no follow-up release confirmed by Beam to date.

Japanese Highlights 

Karuizawa – Have a look at the 30 Year 'First Geisha'. Distilled in 1983 and matured over three decades in ex-bourbon cask 8606, it was the very first release in the now-iconic Geisha series created by Sukhinder Singh to honor the beauty and tradition of both geisha and Karuizawa whisky. Also in this auction is the 29 Year 'Noh' Single Cask (2013 bottling), part of the acclaimed series showcasing traditional Japanese Noh masks along with rare 1983-distilled liquid.

Hibiki – The 30 Year is a clear standout, one of Suntory’s oldest age-stated releases still in production. This luxurious blend incorporates rare malt whiskies from Yamazaki and Hakushu, alongside grain whisky from Chita. Only the recently-introduced 40 Year is older.

Rare Finds and Good Values

J.W. Dant Bottled-in-Bond (1/2 Gallon, 1960s) - Distilled at George T. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace) and bottled at Bernheim (Heaven Hill). A rare large-format dusty from two iconic Kentucky DSPs. Estimated at $300–$500.

Four Roses 'Black Label' (Japanese Export, 4.5L) - A massive 4.5-liter export bottle with original packaging. A collector’s oddity from one of Japan’s favorite bourbon labels. Estimated at $400–$600.

Old Forester Decanters (1950s–60s) - Stylish decanters containing 5–6-year bourbon that drinks far older—these are rich, mature, and full of vintage charm. Estimated at $250–$400.

Recap: $1.16M Hammer Sales

June’s No Reserves II Auction closed with a total hammer value of $1.16M—driven by the highest number of unique bidders we’ve ever seen in a single auction on Unicorn.

Category Performance

Bourbon led with $724,665 in hammer sales, while Scotch ($113,890) and Rye ($90,200) showed continued strength. Scotch was led by Macallan, Ardbeg, and Springbank; Rye by Sazerac, Willett, Michter’s, Booker’s, and Rittenhouse.

Brand Performance

Van Winkle led hammer sales with a strong lineup of 15-, 20-, and 23-Year Family Reserve bottlings. Weller saw strong volume from 12 Year, Antique 107, and William Larue Weller. Willett saw competitive bidding across Family Estate Private Barrels, especially 24- and 25-Year single barrels. Wild Turkey was anchored by rare Japanese exports like Cheesy Gold Foil and Beyond Duplication.

Bid Volume & Demand

High engagement around Van Winkle, Willett, and George T. Stagg underscored demand for heritage-rich American whiskey. Interest in Blood Oath, and Compass Box points to growing momentum in modern blends and Scotch independents.

The chart below highlights the brands that drove the most competitive bidding activity, based on average number of bids per lot.

The Leaderboards

The highest priced bottles of the week:

1. $15,200: Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey (2016, U.K. Export, 700 ml) (146 bids)
2. $11,600: Michter's 25 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (1st Release, 2008) (86 bids)
3. $7,550: Michter's 20 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (2013) (68 bids)
4. $6,200: Weller's 10 Year Antique Reserve Original Barrel Proof Bourbon (55 bids)
5. $5,600:Michter's 25 Year Limited Release Bourbon (2020) (61 bids)

The most competitive bottles of the week:

1. 146 bids:  Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey (2016, U.K. Export, 700 ml) ($15,200)
2. 111 bids:  Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Rye (4K-2) ($3,150)
3. 111 bids: Old Forester 8 Year 125 Proof 125th Anniversary Bourbon (1995) ($2,075)
4. 102 bids: Buffalo Trace 'Old Fashioned Copper 1994' Bourbon (2019) ($3,450)
5. 100 bids: Compass Box 'The General' Blended Scotch ($4,300)