The third edition of the Distillers One of One Auction is set to take place on Friday 10th October at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. In anticipation of the event, Sothebys - the auction house running the charity auction - have revealed 15 of the 40 lots that will be on offer.

Each lot of in one of a kind bottle or unique event, highlighting some of the finest spirit from the biggest names in the whisky world. 100% of the hammer price is donated to the Youth Action Fund and the previous auctions have raised £4.3 million for charity.

Below we’ll shine a light on some of the recently revealed lots.

THE GLEN GRANT

The title of the oldest whisky in this year’s line-up goes to The Glen Grant, who have donated a 77 year old single malt called Eternal. The Campari-backed distillery selected a single Sherry seasoned European oak butt filled in 1948 for this release.

Bottled at 43%, The Glen Grant Eternal is presented in a hand-blown magnum decanter. The decanter itself is self aloft in a tall, cage-like silver structure. Just one of many eye-catching bottles in the collection.

THE GLENLIVET

The first of two lots donated by Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky arm Chivas Brothers, The Glenlivet present Spira - the oldest whisky released by the distillery to date (a theme we’ll see again in this list).

As the name suggests, Spira is presented in a spiral-effect decanter. Within the decanter lies a 1965 vintage, 60 year old single malt matured in a single hogshead.

ABERLOUR

Joining their Pernod stablemate Glenlivet in releasing their oldest ever whisky is Aberlour. The Banffshire distillery have selected a 1967 single cask that had been bottled once the spirit hit 53 years old.

This one of a kind bottle has been named The Mouth of the Chattering Burn and is expected to fetch between £20,000 and £40,000.

PORT ELLEN

Diageo have donated a bottle of single malt from the recently reopened Islay distillery. Little has been revealed about the whisky itself, though we do know it ties into Port Ellen’s 200th anniversary celebrations.

In addition to the bottle, the lot includes an invitation to an exclusive event at the distillery for the buyer and three guests.

LAPHROAIG

One of Islay’s most iconic distilleries has offered up a fascinatingly presented 40 year old single malt. The Laphroaig Capsule is just as the name suggests - a capsule full of Laphroaig. Imagine your typical paracetamol capsule, only bigger, coloured green and silver, and containing delicious Laphroaig liquid.

This whisky has been crafted from spirit distilled in 1980 and 1981, matured separately in Oloroso-seasoned and American oak bourbon casks for 26 years, before being married together in hogsheads until June 2022.

GORDON & MACPHAIL

Why settle for one bottle of whisky when you can have three? Legendary bottler Gordon & MacPhail have offered a set of three unique whiskies. Headlining the set are two well-aged whiskies - a 75 year old from Glen Grant and a 52 year old from Benromach.

At the other end of the age spectrum - but by no means any less intriguing - is the very first single malt to be released by the group’s Cairn Distillery. This is a three year old single malt and, as a one-off piece of whisky history, no doubt holds its own among the other, older whiskies at this auction.

GLEANN MOR

Fellow indie bottlers Gleann Mor have also contributed a trio of single malts for the auction: Littlemill 1990 34 year old; Miltonduff 1981 43 year old; and Springbank 1992 32 year old.

Titled Rare Find - The Age of Change, the collection takes inspiration from the 1823 Excise Act.

THE GLENDRONACH

Not to be outdone in the ‘number of bottles per lot’ game, Brown Forman have offered up four stunning whiskies from Glendronach. The Glendronach Arias in Time is a collection of four whiskies crafted from spirit distilled in four different decades. In classic Glendronach fashion, the four vintages - 1968, 1972, 1989, and 1993 - were matured in different Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez casks.

Early estimates predict these bottles will go for £60,000 to £100,000 when the auction goes live.

KANDOBLANC

Having debuted in the 2023 Distillers One of One Auction, Dhavall Gandhi’s KANDOBLANC returns with Dragon in the Clouds.

This is a specially selected 60 year old Scotch single malt and promises to be as artistically presented as the brand’s previous releases.

LADYBURN

William Grant & Sons have contributed two lots to the auction, and the first is a stunning bottle of Ladyburn. This particular release from the closed distillery is a 58 year old, 1966 vintage drawn from one of the few sherry casks filled that year.

The decanter’s label features a picture of legendary actress Marilyn Monroe captured by photographer Sam Shaw.

HAZELBURN

The second William Grants lot features not one but two once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Firstly, the buyer will have the opportunity to work with the House of Hazelwood master blenders to craft their own whisky from malts and grains aged up to 60 years.

The second element is a collaboration with bespoke tailor Huntsman of Savile Row. The successful bidder will work with their head cutter and creative director to create their own bespoke cashmere tweed jacket.

THE LAST DROP

The Last Drop are offering bidders a chance to get their hands on twelve (!) hand finished bottles of a bespoke, 30 year old blended whisky. The successful bidder will also get miniature editions of the blend, offering them an opportunity to try this unique dram.

In addition to the blend, the winner will be invited to a private guided tour by master blender Colin Scott, a celebratory dinner, and two nights’ stay at the Scone Palace. Arguably this is an absolute steal at the estimated £16,000 – £28,000.

PULTENEY

Wick’s Pulteney distillery are another distillery offering up their oldest ever expression for the auction - the Old Pulteney 47 year old Polaris.

We wrote more about this specific bottle in our recent article ‘A Very Old Pulteney: Wick Distillery Unveil Rarest Whisky’, so check that out for more information.

ABERFELDY

Bacardi’s John Dewar & Sons have donated two lots to the auction, the first being a 1975 vintage from Aberfeldy. Drawn from just a single refill cask, this single malt was bottled just before it reached 50 years of age.

This comes presented in a beautiful teardrop-shaped decanter housed in a bespoke oak presentation case.

ROYAL BRACKLA

The second offering from Bacardi is slightly older than the first, and comes presented in a similar shaped decanter and case.

The Royal Brackla is a 1974 vintage from a single refill hogshead, bottled once the spirit had hit 54 years old.