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Ultra-rare whiskies up for auction
The Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s have revealed the top lots of ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies at the forthcoming The Distillers One of One auction in October.
Due to take place on 5 October in Edinburgh, the proceeds from the auction, which it claims is the largest ever charity auction of Scotch whisky – will be donated to The Distillers’ Charity and the Youth Action Fund, which is dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland.
Each partaking brand donates a one-off, never-to-be-repeated lot, with current estimates ranging from £5,000 to more than £500,000.
Rare old whiskies being auctioned include the Bowmore “STAC” with an estimate price of £300,000 – £500,000 – a 55-year-old Scotch; the Glenturret ‘Enduring Spirit’ in a set of Lalique decanters estimated at £40,000 to £80,000; The Glen Grant’s ‘The Visionary’, which is a 68-year-old single malt and one of the distillery’s oldest ever releases; and Highlands Distillery Glenglassaugh’s 55-year-old ‘Coalescence of the Coast’.
In addition, Pernod Ricard is offering a special reserve which is not commercially available: Royal Salute The Coronation of King Charles III Edition – The Distillers One of One Special Reserve, which is estimated at £14,000 – £24,000. The blend is a combination of more than 53 Scotch whiskies and features some very rare liquid from the Royal Salute 1962 Reserve Cask.
Bacardi will offer two lots: the first is the Aberfeldy 39 Years Old, drawn from cask #1, distilled on 6th December 1983 and the second lot is a MacDuff 52 Years Old, distilled on 23rd April 1971. Old Pulteney is offering “Bow Wave”: a 45-year-old single malt spent four decades in hand-selected American oak casks before resting for a further five years of maturation in a single first fill Spanish oak butt.
Many of the liquids are presented in unusual and rare bottles, crafted by a number of different artisans in one-of-a-kind presentations. Other additions include the House of Hazelwood’s ‘Christmas at Hazelwood’ advent calendar box with a collection of whiskies and Holyrood – which was established in 2019 – presenting its first bottle of whisky, ‘Arrival’, inspired by the distillery’s location in the former Innocent Railway terminal in Edinburgh.
Beanie Geraedts-Espey, Managing Director of Distillers Ventures, said “The remarkable results of the inaugural One of One auction were a testament to what can be achieved when an industry truly comes together both to celebrate and forge positive impact. The success of the 2021 auction, together with the enduring commitment of so many incredible donor brands, as well as sponsors, is driving us to create an even more memorable event this coming October. Judging by the exceptional quality and creativity of our donors’ lots, we hope to once again achieve record-breaking hammer prices in support of our charity.”
Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Spirits at Sotheby’s, said: “The second Distillers One of One auction is already generating a buzz among collectors who have been eagerly awaiting news of this year’s lots, so it is exciting to finally unveil a selection of highlights. Featuring the oldest whisky ever released from Bowmore, Glenglassaugh, Old Pulteney, MacDuff and Kilchoman, the highly anticipated event will further cement the significance of what has established itself as the biggest charity spirits auction of its kind. This is clearly an occasion for which the creativity and generosity of the Scotch whisky industry comes to the fore.”