Where can I buy Irish whisky at auction?

Irish appears most often at Scotch Whisky Auctions (12 lots in the last 24 months, median £80 hammer). Also try .

What's the average hammer price for Irish?

Across 12+ auction outcomes in the last 24 months, the median hammer price for Irish is £80. Individual bottles range widely — the live catalogue at /distillery/irish shows full price history per expression.

What's the cheapest time of year to buy Irish?

Based on 24 months of data, May tends to clear the lowest median hammer for Irish (£73). Auction calendars are sparse around major holidays — buyers and sellers both drop off, so prices often soften.

Does the hammer price include buyer's premium?

No — the prices on wsky1 are hammer prices, not the total you pay. Buyer's premium at major auction houses adds 12–28% on top: Bonhams (~27.5%), most online houses (12–15%). Always check the auction's terms before bidding.

wsky1

Buyer's guide · 2026

How to buy Irish at auction

12 recent Irish lots tracked across six major auction houses. Median hammer: £80. This page shows where it sells, when it's cheapest, and what you actually pay after buyer's premium.

Where Irish sells

Auction-house breakdown for Irish — last 24 months. Pick the house with the most lots for the best chance of finding what you want; consider buyer's premium when comparing hammer prices.

Auction house	Lots	Median hammer	Buyer's premium
Scotch Whisky Auctions	12	£80	12%

When to buy Irish

Months with the lowest median hammer prices over the last 24 months. Quiet auction months often see softer prices as fewer buyers compete.

Lower prices

May

Median £73 · 6 lots

Busiest months are also worth knowing — more lots = more inventory: May (6), Aug (3), Jun (1).

Recent Irish hammer prices

Last 12 outcomes across all houses — real evidence of what bottles cleared for. Click through for full price history.

Lot	House	Hammer	Sold
Irish Reserve 26 Year Old	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£120	12 Sept 26
Irish Single Malt 17 Year Old Creetown Distillers	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£60	30 Aug 26
Irish Reserve 26 Year Old	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£85	30 Aug 26
Irish Whisky 21 Year Old Saints & Sinners & Rebels & Rogues	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£75	8 Aug 26
Irish Reserve 26 Year Old	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£95	12 Jul 26
Irish Reserve 26 Year Old	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£90	21 Jun 26
Irish Reserve 26 Year Old	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£110	9 May 26
Irish Reserve 26 Year Old	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£110	8 May 26
Irish Spirit Drink 2006 15 Year Old Cadenhead’s Online Tasting Week 2021	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£70	8 May 26
Irish Single Malt 15 Year Old Artful Dodger 50cl	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£55	8 May 26
Irish Single Malt 14 Year Old Darkness! 50cl	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£60	8 May 26
Irish Spirit Drink 2006 15 Year Old Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop Milan	Scotch Whisky Auctions	£75	7 May 26

Buyer's checklist for Irish

Verify provenance. For bottles over £500, ask for receipts, original photos, and ideally a seller who is named on the auction house's verified accounts list.
Check fill level. Low shoulder fill on a 25+ year old bottle is normal; mid-shoulder isn't. Loss of liquid is permanent.
Inspect closures. Wax-dipped seals can hide damage. Loose corks risk evaporation. Reputable houses photograph closely — ask for higher-res images if not provided.
Compare hammer to wsky1 median. If a lot is >15% above our 12-month median, you're either bidding on something special (book, presentation case, signed) or overpaying.
Add buyer's premium + VAT. Your total is hammer × (1 + premium %) + any VAT. For a £1,000 hammer at Bonhams (27.5%) with UK VAT on the premium, your real cost is closer to £1,330.
Shipping & insurance. International shipping of spirits is restricted; many houses use specialist couriers. Get a quote before you bid, not after.

More on Irish

→ Full Irish catalog → Is Irish a good investment?→ Buyer's guides for other distilleries

Track Irish price changes — free for 3 bottles

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