The largest collection Johnnie Walker heads to auction soon
The largest collection Johnnie Walker has ever sent to public auction—more than 3,200 bottles and memorabilia built by Frans Op den Kamp—opens on Whisky Auctioneer on September 11. After roughly two decades chasing the Striding Man, the California-based collector is releasing “One Hundred Years of Striding.”
Key Takeaways
- Frans Op den Kamp’s haul of more than 3,200 Johnnie Walker bottles and memorabilia is billed as the largest of its kind yet offered at auction.
- Bidding opens September 11 on Whisky Auctioneer under the title “The Johnnie Walker Collection: One Hundred Years of Striding.”
- Highlights span early 20th-century Old Highland labels, Walker-linked single malts, and a rare Jenson Button Signature Blend from a set of 25.
- Op den Kamp began collecting around 1999 in London and is selling after meeting his goals—and running out of space.
For readers who follow trophy assets—from rare spirits to luxury real estate and dream homes—this sale is a clear signal that ultra-niche collections still draw serious secondary-market attention.
What is going under the hammer?
According to Robb Report, Op den Kamp’s archive includes early Old Highland Whisky bottles with red, black, and white labels, plus single malts from Cardhu, Talisker, and Mortlach that reference John Walker on the label.
One standout is the Johnnie Walker Jenson Button Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Signature Blend, drawn from a set of just 25 bottles. He long tried to buy two of every release—one to cellar, one to open—so the depth runs across blends and eras.
Why is the collector selling now?
Op den Kamp started around 1999 while living in London, with a Blue Label that cost about $130. Jewelry-business travel fed the hunt through duty-free shops and high-end liquor stores worldwide. The cache later moved from a London cellar to California.
He told Robb Report he has tasted “probably every decade from the 1920s to the 2020s,” with 1930s Black Label among his favorites. He is parting with the collection because he feels he met his goals as a collector and is short on space—though he admits a piece of himself goes with it.
When can buyers place bids?
The full offering, titled “The Johnnie Walker Collection: One Hundred Years of Striding,” goes live on Whisky Auctioneer starting September 11. Joe Wilson, the house’s head curator and spirits specialist, called the breadth a testament to Op den Kamp’s decades of dedication and said it offers an entry point for collectors at every level.
Whisky’s retail market may have cooled, but auction demand for complete, story-rich lots remains hot—and this Johnnie Walker library is built to test that appetite.