Bonhams Appoints Patricia Byott to Lead Spirits in Scotland, Expands Whisky Operations
On June 13, 2025, Bonhams announced the appointment of Patricia Byott as Head of Spirits, Scotland, as part of a broader expansion of its spirits auction operations in Scotland. Byott, who joins from Edrington where she was Head of Private Clients for The Macallan brand in Hong Kong, will be based in Bonhams' Edinburgh saleroom. The auction house also appointed Jamie Connor as a Whisky Specialist in Edinburgh, formerly of The Whisky Exchange. Bonhams has secured a full Scottish licence to operate independently and a dedicated warehouse space in Glasgow, consolidating its European spirits sales in Scotland, making it the only global auction house holding spirits sales in Edinburgh.
The Signal
The appointments and infrastructure investments signal Bonhams' strategic commitment to anchoring its spirits business in Scotland, the historic home of whisky, as global demand for collectable spirits continues to rise. By placing experienced specialists like Byott and Connor in Edinburgh and securing a bonded warehouse in Glasgow, Bonhams is positioning itself to offer streamlined services to international clients from a single, expert hub. This move reflects a broader trend among auction houses to deepen regional expertise in high-growth categories like rare whisky, where provenance and local knowledge are critical to valuation and client trust.
- People: Patricia Byott, Jamie Connor, May Matthews, Amayès Aouli
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: Edinburgh, Glasgow
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