Where can I buy Lakes whisky at auction?

Lakes appears most often at Whisky Hammer (44 lots in the last 24 months, median £93 hammer). Also try .

What's the average hammer price for Lakes?

Across 44+ auction outcomes in the last 24 months, the median hammer price for Lakes is £93. Individual bottles range widely — the live catalogue at /distillery/lakes shows full price history per expression.

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

Based on 24 months of data, Apr tends to clear the lowest median hammer for Lakes (£75). 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 Lakes at auction

44 recent Lakes lots tracked across six major auction houses. Median hammer: £93. This page shows where it sells, when it's cheapest, and what you actually pay after buyer's premium.

Where Lakes sells

Auction-house breakdown for Lakes — 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
Whisky Hammer	44	£93	12.5%

When to buy Lakes

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

Apr

Median £75 · 29 lots

Lower prices

May

Median £165 · 6 lots

Lower prices

Mar

Median £420 · 5 lots

Busiest months are also worth knowing — more lots = more inventory: Apr (29), May (6), Mar (5).

Recent Lakes 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
The Lakes - Whiskymaker's Reserve No.4	Whisky Hammer	£200	24 May 26
The Lakes - Whiskymaker's Reserve No.1	Whisky Hammer	£360	24 May 26
The Lakes - Elements (A Whiskymaker's Project) 7 x 20cl	Whisky Hammer	£170	24 May 26
The Lakes - Hope (Quatrefoil Collection)	Whisky Hammer	£160	24 May 26
The Lakes - Elements (A Whiskymaker's Project) 7 x 20cl	Whisky Hammer	£160	24 May 26
The Lakes - The Private Reserve (Connoisseurs' Edition)	Whisky Hammer	£150	24 May 26
The Lakes - The Whiskymaker's Editions (Recuerdo)	Whisky Hammer	£90	26 Apr 26
The Lakes - The Whiskymaker's Editions (Galáxia)	Whisky Hammer	£100	26 Apr 26
The Lakes - The Whiskymaker's Editions (Galáxia)	Whisky Hammer	£100	26 Apr 26
The Lakes - The Private Reserve (Connoisseurs' Edition)	Whisky Hammer	£260	26 Apr 26
The Lakes - Whiskymaker's Reserve No.2	Whisky Hammer	£190	26 Apr 26
The Lakes - The Private Reserve (Connoisseurs' Edition)	Whisky Hammer	£170	26 Apr 26

Buyer's checklist for Lakes

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 Lakes

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

Track Lakes price changes — free for 3 bottles

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