The stage is set for the return of the Distillers One of One Auction on 5th October 2023. This will be the second auction to be held under this banner and will feature the sale of ‘one of a kind’ whiskies for charity.
The Worshipful Company of Distillers have partnered with Sotheby’s for the auction. Hopetoun House will host the event - a suitably impressive venue for such an occasion.
The Distillers Charity is the philanthropic arm of The Worshipful Company of Distillers and one of its primary aims is developing talent, knowledge and confidence in young people in Scotland aged 16-25 through education and vocational training. The Youth Action Fund and their portfolio of charities across Scotland are one of the main beneficiaries of these fundraising efforts.
The biennial Distillers One of One Auctions are possibly the most high profile fundraising events by the group. Held on 3rd December 2021, the inaugural auction featured 40 lots which raised over £2.4 million for the Distillers Charity and their partners.
At the time of writing, a total of 39 lots from 36 different donors have been announced for the 2023 auction and, based on provisional estimates, it is expected this year’s auction will raise at least £1 million.
Having been brought together by The Worshipful Company of Distillers, distilleries from across Scotland have contributed ultra rare and unique bottles, casks or experiences that are truly exceptional. The donors have been categorised into three tiers: Founders, Members and Associates. Whiskies within the Founders category include some of the most headline-grabbing items at the auction.
One such bottle is the oldest Brora to have ever been commercially released. Brora is one of Scotch whisky’s most fetishised brands, especially as stocks from the original distillery dwindle. Fans of the distillery have the chance to get their hands on a historic release at the auction: the 50 Year Old Iris. It’s possibly one of the most eye-catching presentations of a whisky ever. The golden spirit is held within a 1.5 litre decanter (shaped to represent the iris of a Scottish wildcat, the animal represented in the distillery’s logo) hangs from the top of a handcrafted structure crafted from the same limestone used to construct the distillery.
Not to be outdone, Bowmore have donated their own oldest ever whisky with the Bowmore STAC. This is a 1962 vintage, 55 Year Old malt from the iconic Islay distillery. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the STAC is also a sight to behold: a striking, magnum-sized, hand-blown decanter inspired by the rugged nature of Bowmore’s Islay home.
From one distillery’s oldest to another’s very first, the Founders lots also includes the inaugural release from Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery. Appropriately named Arrival, this whisky is presented in a bottle inspired by the capital’s brewing heritage and promises notes of juicy raisins, digestive biscuits and sweet vanilla.
Kandoblanc will also make their debut at the auction. Founded by ex-Lakes Distillery master distiller Dhavall Ghandi, Kandoblanc will seek to craft a range of whiskies that have more in common with one-off art pieces than your average off the shelf dram. Their debut ‘piece’ Aga is a blend of two whiskies, both distilled in 1979, and is presented in a vessel that combines elements of both Japanese and Italian art and glassmaking.
If one impressive bottle of Scotch wasn’t enough, the Members lots include a couple of interesting sets. Gordon & MacPhail have some of the most enviable whisky stores in the world, and that is on full display with their Recollection Showcase: five well-aged malts from some of Scotland’s most iconic closed distilleries, including the oldest expression of Port Ellen ever to be released by the renowned bottler.
Elsewhere, the Littlemill Decenia showcases a trio of stunning vintages from the long lost distillery while Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers offer a collection of whiskies from three of Scotland’s most well-known and well-loved distilleries.
And if that still wasn’t enough whisky, full casks are available across all lot categories. A selection of these include: a 1989 cask from William Grant & Sons’ grain distillery Girvan; a 2013 cask donated by Bruichladdich; and an Oloroso cask from Ardross, one of Scotland’s newest distilleries.
A number of lots include an experiential element as well, such as a VIP tour of the distillery or a tasting session with the master distiller.
In addition to the auctioned goods, the event is also sponsored by a number of high profile brands, including Bentley, and other companies associated with the whisky industry such as Glencairn and Forsyths.
To see such a stunning collection of rare, never to be repeated whiskies (even when just reading the details on paper) is simply incredible. The range of age statements and vintages is as jaw-dropping as the creativity and imagination in the craftsmanship behind the various decanters and presentation boxes.
Yet it’s important to remember that this all comes second to the fact that it is all for charity. It is genuinely inspiring to witness the whisky industry’s generosity in the name of such a great cause.
If you’ve spent any time following the whisky industry, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the idea of ‘premiumisation’ and, more often than not, the negative way in which the word gets thrown around. It’s easy to dismiss the latest over-priced, non-age statement release or ridiculously ornate decanter as mere gimmicks where the whisky comes second to presentation; it’s not too cynical to say it’s style over substance.
However, the Distillers One of One Auction is refreshing in its approach to and offering of ‘luxury’ releases. Premiumisation ceases to be a pejorative term when it’s in the name of charity. So here’s hoping that records are smashed and as much money is raised as possible!
More information on each of the lots is available on the Sotheby’s website, where you can also register to bid in the auction.