Sotheby’s is binning any notion of “dry January” by betting big on whisky at the end of this month. At its new Breuer Building HQ on January 24, the house will host its first-ever live, single-owner sale devoted entirely to American whisky. Called The Great American Whisky Collection, it will be the most valuable collection of its kind to hit the market, with a high estimate of $1.7 million. A total of 360 bottles will hit the auction block, spread across 320 lots.   The auction is part of Visions of America, Sotheby’s weeklong series celebrating American art, objects, and innovation in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The house, it seems, is hoping to position the sale within a cultural moment, placing Bourbon and Rye alongside other expressions of American creativity and craft. Related Articles The collection was assembled over many years by a dedicated anonymous collector. It includes private labels, exclusive single barrels, and historic bottlings that are now, according to Sotheby’s, nearly impossible to find. Several of these bottles are appearing at …