The Rolex Whisky Passion Project

After collecting for nearly 40 years, collector Saul Zelmanowitz is auctioning off the vast majority of his nearly 3,900 to 4,200 miniature bottle inventory. Running from November 9th through November 12th on the WVA Whiskey Auction platform, the sale features approximately 3,200 bottles, with over 2,500 being single malt Scotches. Selected after offering the best terms, the auction house strategy includes placing selective reserves on high-value lots—such as rare Macallans—while keeping open bidding on the rest. Highlight lots include ultra-rare items like a 52-year-old Macallan Fine & Rare 1949, a 58-year-old Glenfarclas 1953 Family Cask, ceramic Glenfiddich releases, a complete 17-bottle set of Pride of Strathspey miniatures, and numerous ghost distillery bottlings.

In this episode of The Rolex Whisky Passion Project, host Gavin sits down with industry pioneer Sukhinder Singh (founder of The Whisky Exchange and Elixir Distillers) to trace his remarkable path from collecting miniature bottles as a teenager in his parents' shop to becoming the world’s defining authority on old and rare Scotch. Sukhinder reflects on the foundational eras of single malt discovery in the late 1980s and 1990s—personally touring quiet Scottish distilleries, sourcing forgotten bottles directly from retiring workers, and championing independent bottlers and watershed releases like the iconic Black Bowmore. We also learn about his strategic leap into purchasing entire parcels of legendary casks like Rosebank, Ardbeg, and Laphroaig, while offering candid insights into the market's explosive modern valuations, the pitfalls of marketing-driven "status" bottlings, the approachable precision of Japanese whisky, and his latest mission with Tormore to bring authentic quality back into everyday glasses.

Gavin highlights shifting market conditions across the whiskey industry, where overproduction and reduced consumption have lowered barrel prices and dropped high-end Scotch prices by 40% to 60%, even as high-end vintage bourbon demand stays strong and operational costs have pushed prices up by up to 30%. It warns of alternative investment scams and aggressive sales tactics, referencing a case where Cask Spirits Global Limited defrauded customers using invalid certificates and non-existent warehouses. To protect margins, distilleries are scaling back output while leaning into booming distillery tourism such as the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, alongside the expansion of English whiskey under a new geographical indication. Finally, the notes touch on recent movie box office trends and suggest hosting tasting events as a key next step to engage potential investors.

House of Suntory global brand ambassador James Bowker traces his remarkable journey from early bartending in English pubs and studying cocktail history to working alongside legendary mixologists in Ginza, Tokyo. Bowker shares expert perspectives on the art of Japanese whisky blending, exploring iconic expressions like Yamazaki and Hibiki, the evolution of the whisky market from an asset-flipping craze to a connoisseur's appreciation, and the importance of experiential deconstruction tastings.

In this episode of The Rolex Whiskey Passion Project, host and guest Teddy Joseph, Global Brand Ambassador for Suntory’s Scotch and Irish whiskies, take a nostalgic, high-spirited dive into the world of fine spirits. Teddy traces his 25-year journey from managing nightclubs and running craft cocktail programs in Edinburgh to championing iconic single malts across the globe. Together, they reflect on the massive cultural shift in whisky—from the days when blends and bourbons ruled dive bars to the modern era of single malt luxury and global distillery pilgrimages.

Gavin welcomes back Erick Ostrander, owner of the Bourbon Club in Lexington, Kentucky, to discuss a major shift in the whiskey world: the correction of the bourbon market. After years of post-COVID scarcity, grocery store shelves are suddenly overflowing with highly sought-after Buffalo Trace products like Blanton's, Stagg Jr., and E.H. Taylor. The duo rejoices over the decline of the predatory secondary flipping market, arguing that bourbon was always meant to be opened and shared socially, not hoarded in a closet like an investment asset. 

Gavin engages with Sagar Vashishta, a veteran collector and author of the coffee table book The Art of Japanese Whisky to examine the structural shifts defining the spirits industry over the past decade. The discussion traces the market's trajectory from an era of accessible, high-quality age-statement expressions to the current post-COVID climate characterized by aggressive corporate price increases, inventory saturation, and a proliferation of non-traditional distilleries looking to capitalize on the category's prestige. 

Gavin catches up with long-time friend and whiskey expert Raven Fuller to trace her remarkable journey through the evolving spirits industry. Moving from central Illinois to the heart of bourbon country in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2017, Raven shares her transition from casual cocktail drinker to industry insider at Michter's, detailing the explosive growth of whiskey tourism over the past decade. 

Gavin Linde is joined by with John Drummond, the General Manager of the Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong and a true heavyweight in the global whisky scene.John shares his evolution from sneaking sips of blended whiskies as a teenager in Scotland to curating one of the world’s most elite collections at the hotel’s famed Tiffany’s New York Bar.They also talk about their unique "shared wealth" whisky culture of Hong Kong, the rise of independent bottlings, and the rare "pinch me" moment of tasting a 78-year-old Glenlivet from Gordon & MacPhail.We also get an insider’s look at why Hong Kong has become the ultimate bucket-list destination for spirits lovers and what to expect at the upcoming Hong Kong Whisky Festival.

In a captivating transition, Howard Sacks traded international tax consulting for the spirits industry, founding Saxs Dynamic Operations to bring elite Scotch whiskey to the U.S. market. Specializing in "the good stuff," Sacks acts as a national importer for niche distilleries like Holly and Addendale, alongside high-end Independent Bottlers such as Lady of the Glenn. His business strategy leverages automation and industry expertise to navigate and solve the complexities of the American three-tier system, ensuring rare single-cask expressions reach enthusiasts. Highlighting the company's rapid growth, Sacks recently secured a significant distribution agreement with Total Wine, poised to bring his curated selection of Holly and Dale products to a national audience.