Distillers One of One 2023 (Part Two)

Distillers One of One 2023 (Part Two) Whisky Feature

The Distillers One of One 2023 charity takes place on the 5th of October at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. However, the online bidding has begun on ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies and whisky-related experiences. Philip Day looks at some of the lots available.

Image – Isle of Raasay Distillery Hotel together with ownership of a private cask

Online bidding has opened

As online bidding opened on Thursday, 14^th September, The Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s were pleased to reveal the details of a further fourteen one-off, ultra-rare Scotch Whiskies and experiences, to be auctioned off at the second Distillers One of One Auction, taking place at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh on the 5th October.

The official auction catalogue including a full list of all lots is now live at Sothebys.com and can be viewed on sothebys.com/distillersoneofone.

Image – Arbikie Highland Rye, Single Grain Scotch Whisky Cask

Distillers One of One 2023 – background information

Last month, The Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s revealed the first of the exceptional lots to go under the hammer at the second The Distillers One of One auction of ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies and experiences. (See previous article)

The proceeds from this remarkable auction – set to remain the largest-ever Charity Auction of Scotch Whisky – will be donated to The Distillers’ Charity, principally to the Youth Action Fund, dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland.

For this year’s Distillers One of One auction, thirty-six companies from across the Scotch Whisky industry have confirmed their participation with 15 Founder Donor brand lots; 13 Member Donor lots and 11 Associate Donor lots, many of whom donated in 2021 and will return this year due to the phenomenal success of the first auction.

Image – Scotch Malt Whisky Society Only Drop

Each brand is donating a one-off, never-to-be-repeated lot – currently ranging in estimates from £5,000 to upwards of £500,000 – with each of them showcasing the excellence in design, craftsmanship, heritage and innovation in Scotch Whisky.

The auction has wide-ranging appeal for collectors seeking the opportunity to own a genuinely unique masterpiece – whether dedicated whisky connoisseurs or collectors more generally.

Distillers One of One 2023 – Gordon & MacPhail Recollection Showcase

This year’s Member donor lots include the Gordon & MacPhail Recollection Showcase, set to be highly sought-after with an estimated auction value between £80,000 – £160,000. Five bespoke 70cl decanters, housed within a handcrafted elm and oak cabinet, cradling ultra-rare whiskies from lost distilleries, including:

• Islay’s Port Ellen’s 1979, 55.7%, 43-Year-Old single malt, the oldest expression of the whisky ever released by Gordon & MacPhail;
• From Inverness, a 56-Year-Old whisky from the long-lost Glen Mhor distillery in 1966, at 56.4%;
• From the eastern Highlands, a delightful 56-Year-Old single malt from Banff Distillery from 1966, at 45.1% and from Speyside, a sublime, ultra-rare 51-Year-Old whisky distilled at Caperdonich in 1972, at 56%.
• The fifth decanter houses a stunning 48-Year-Old Dallas Dhu from 1974, bottled at 54.5%.

The winner of the lot will also be invited to a tasting at Gordon & MacPhail’s home in Elgin, Speyside with Director of Prestige and family member, Stephen Rankin.

Image – Gordon & MacPhail Recollection Showcase

Distillers One of One 2023 – Littlemill

Loch Lomond Group’s Littlemill showcases the final drops from Scotland’s oldest licensed and now lost distillery, with a trio of whiskies presented together for the first time, in Littlemill Decennia – a story of the ages, featuring a single one-off bottle from the final casks of Littlemill’s 70s, 80s and 90s reserves. Decennia, estimated at £20,000 – £30,000, includes:

a 1977 refill American oak hogshead; a 1984 original fill refill bourbon barrel and a combination of refill American and European oak from 1990, all with a traditional Littlemill Oloroso sherry cask finish.

Meticulously selected by Master Blender, Michael Henry – the final custodian of Littlemill’s precious remaining liquid – Decennia is an unparalleled taste of this lost distillery in the Scottish Lowlands. Beautifully presented in a crafted wooden display cabinet, the liquids sit within three bespoke 70cl Glencairn decanters, made of 30% lead crystal.

Image – Littlemill Decennia

Distillers One of One 2023 – Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers One of One Collection

Another intriguing lot is The Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers One of One Collection, a unique collection of three exceptional whiskies from iconic distilleries; Bowmore, Dalmore and Macallan, all distilled in 1990.

Taken from Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers’ rare cask inventory, the three whiskies perfectly embody the essence of each distillery’s character. Each

whisky is presented in a Glencairn traditional crystal decanter with bespoke copper engraving.

Estimated between £8,000 – £16,000, the decanters are housed within a specially crafted and engraved natural oak display case, featuring a built-in drawer with travel decanter stoppers and a personally signed letter from Director, Brian Morrison.

Image – Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers One of One Collection

Distillers One of One 2023 – Glen Scotia

Campbeltown Distillery, Glen Scotia, is offering an extraordinary 49-Year-Old, boasting liquid taken from a 1973 cask, the oldest remaining Glen Scotia reserves, matured exclusively in American oak, for a true representation and window into the distillery’s classic and enduring character. Presented in a 70cl Glencairn decanter made of 30% lead crystal, it will be displayed in a bespoke wooden case, hand painted with original artwork from Glen Scotia’s artist-in-residence, Alice Angus. The artwork depicts a scene from the heart of the distillery, making it a truly unique and collectable item. The Glen Scotia 49-Year-Old Alice Angus 1973, estimated at £10,000 – £15,000, also includes a one-of-a-kind framed piece of artwork from Alice and Glen Scotia’s ‘Spirit Safe’ collaboration.

Image – Glen Scotia 49-Year-Old

Distillers One of One 2023 – Tomatin

Takara will offer a remarkable 47-Year-Old from the award-winning Highland distillery, Tomatin.

Exclusively selected by Master Distiller Graham Eunson, distilled in 1975, aged in a refill oak hogshead and finished for over 10 years in a first fill Oloroso Sherry cask, Tomatin 47 Year Old Single Cask 1975 is brimming with decadent aromas of milk chocolate, honeycomb, peach, and apricot. The whisky will be presented in a hand blown Glencairn crystal decanter, encased in a striking wooden box with a signed certificate from Graham Eunson.

The Lot estimated between £10,000 – £15,000 will also include an exclusive invitation to experience the magic of the Scottish Highlands, including a tour of the distillery, a private tasting with Graham Eunson and a local dining experience using the Tomatin range.

Image – Tomatin 47-Year-Old

Distillers One of One 2023 – The Only Drop

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s lot is called The Only Drop. This one-of-a-kind bottle sees a 1989 spirit from a Speyside Distillery matured for 30 years in an Oloroso Sherry Butt, then divided between a first fill Oloroso hogshead and a first fill Pedro Ximénez hogshead. Ahead of the auction, three years after the liquid was spilt, they will be reunited to create a one of a kind one bottle, estimated to sell for up to £10,000.

Distillers One of One 2023 – Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie is offering The Glenmorangie Single Cask 1995, comprising a single cask bottling selected and signed by Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation. In addition to this unique 70cl bottling, Glenmorangie is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, on the shores of the Dornoch Firth, for a full VIP private tour and tasting experience for two guests.

They will step into a sensory playground with a two-night stay at Glenmorangie’s luxurious boutique hotel, enjoying the very best of the local produce with carefully crafted menus for a truly memorable dining experience. Guests will then choose from a variety of experiences, from foraging with Glenmorangie’s chefs to stargazing or cocktail masterclasses. Breakfast and dinner (with wine) are provided for the duration of the stay, as well as return flights from the UK and private transfers whilst in Tain. Estimate: £7,000 – £12,000.

Image – Glenmorangie’s luxurious boutique hotel

Distillers One of One 2023 – Kilchoman Cask No.1

Islay’s Kilchoman Distillery is presenting the unique opportunity to own a piece of Kilchoman and perhaps whisky-making history. This auction lot, Kilchoman Cask No.1 2005, was created on the 14th of December 2005, from the first cask the distillery ever filled. It has a delicate fresh citrus sweet nose and a balance of maritime, fruit and smoke on the palate. Presented in an etched glass bottle with a bespoke layered glass box design, the lot comes with an accompanying letter of authenticity from Kilchoman Founder, Anthony Wills. Estimate: £5,000 – £10,000.

Five of the participating Member donors are donating casks for the auction: a rare chance for any collector to own their very own, unique cask of whisky.

Image – Kilchoman Cask No.1

Distillers One of One 2023 – Arran Palo Cortado Sherry Cask of Single Malt 2019

Isle of Arran Distillers is offering the Arran Palo Cortado Sherry Cask of Single Malt 2019. Originally sourced from revered producer Ximénez Spínola and filled on 25th June 2019, the cask was originally used to finish mature Arran Single Malt for two years, prior to being filled with un-peated Arran new spirit in 2019. This type of Arran Single Malt has never been offered for public sale as a cask purchase and represents a unique opportunity for the winning bidder to lay down their very own Arran Single Malt from a rare Palo Cortado cask for future bottling. Estimate: £6,000 – £12,000.

Image – Arran Palo Cortado Sherry Cask of Single Malt 2019

Distillers One of One 2023 – Arbikie Highland Rye

Arbikie, one of the world’s most innovative and sustainable Scotch whisky distilleries and creators of the first Rye Scotch whisky in over 100 years, is offering an Arbikie Highland Rye, Single Grain Scotch Whisky Cask. Grown, distilled (2020) and matured in American oak virgin cask, on the privately owned Highland estate, Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 Cask of Single Grain 2020 is estimated between £7,000 – £12,000.

Image – cask of Arkibie Highland Rye

Distillers One of One 2023 – Cask of Bere Barley 2013

B Corp-certified Bruichladdich Distillery will offer a Cask of Bere Barley 2013. Bere barley is one of the oldest grains still cultivated today, with the cereal dating back to the dawn of Scottish agriculture. Bruichladdich Distillery recognises the part it plays in the wider agricultural system and understands that genetic diversity is crucial to future-proofing land management. By supporting farmers who grow for flavour, the brand has been working with the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Agronomy Institute since 2005 to reintroduce Bere barley into distilling. Bruichladdich is just one of three distilleries in Scotland to distil Bere barley, and the only distillery in Scotland using the varietal year on year. An extremely hardy barley varietal, Bere has a unique flavour. Estimated at £10,000 – £20,000, this 2013 vintage, which is fully traceable from field to cask, imparts light and zesty notes which are bursting with fruit, giving the spirit an unctuous texture and unparalleled barley-sugar sweetness.

Image – cask of Bere Barley 2013

Distillers One of One 2023 – Isle of Raasay Distillery Hotel and a private cask

R&B Distillers will be offering an exclusive stay at the state-of-the-art Isle of Raasay Distillery Hotel together with ownership of a private cask. The winning bidder will have the choice to fill peated or unpeated spirit into their selection of one of Raasay’s recipe casks; ex Rye, ex Bordeaux red wine or chinkapin oak. With an estimate between £5,000 – £10,000 the lot includes a two-night stay at the distillery hotel – Borodale House – which boasts 6 state-of-the-art rooms. Seasonal breakfast and dinner will be served throughout the stay at the distillery’s restaurant with breathtaking views of the Cuillin Mountains on the neighbouring island of Skye. The lot winner will also be treated to a behind the scenes private tour of the production areas and warehouses, and to top it all off, will hand-fill their very own cask, which the distillery will then look after for up to 10 years maturation.

Distillers One of One 2023 – the Borders Distillery

The Borders Distillery, the first Scotch Whisky Distillery to operate in the Scottish Borders since 1837, is offering a private cask and distillery experience for the auction. The lot – The Borders Distillery 1837® Private Cask – estimated between £5,000 – £10,000 will allow the winner and three guests to spend a morning with the new generation of Borders distillers before filling their own 1837 private cask, followed by a guided tasting and lunch with one of the founders. In addition, once the cask is filled, the distillery will hold it for the maturation period which is expected to be at least ten years.

Distillers One of One 2023 – additional details

The Distillers One of One auction will begin at 14:00 GMT on 5 October 2023.

Online bidding began on 14th September, prior to the auction.

To register interest in this auction, visit the Distillers’ One of One website.