Distillers raise more than £200k for charity

The Worshipful Company of Distillers hosted its Distillers’ Charity Auction this week, raising £212,000 (US$303,000).

A 46-year-old Bowmore fetched the highest bid of the auction

Held on Tuesday 10 April, the auction was overseen by David Elswood of Christie’s and sold more than 70 lots of rare whiskies.

A bottle of Bowmore 1964 Fino Cask, aged for 46 years in the Islay distillery’s No.1 Vaults warehouse, fetched the highest price of the auction – £31,000.

One of the oldest whiskies released by The Balvenie, a 50-year-old expression distilled in 1952, followed with a £30,000 successful bid.

Other leading lots in the auction include: The Dalmore 1976, aged for 41 years in a Graham’s Port Colheita 1963 Pipe (£19,000); a 50-year-old vintage Glenfiddich made from nine casks laid down in the 1930s (£18,000); a 40-year-old Macallan matured in three oloroso Sherry casks (£9,500); and a 12-year-old Lagavulin thought to have been distilled in the 1960s or ‘70s and discovered in the cellar of The Earl of Elgin (£1,500).

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Distillers’ Charity, which supports training and education; the Alcohol Education Trust, which focuses on improving alcohol education for young people in Scotland; and OnSide Youth Zones, an initiative that aims to create opportunities for young people in London, supported by the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

“As master distiller, I am proud of the extraordinary collection of rare whiskies gathered for The Distillers’ Charity Auction and its success in raising such a significant sum to support the charitable work at the heart of our Livery and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal,” said Bryan Burrough, master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers.

“We are extremely grateful to all the producers and liverymen who donated lots, to Christie’s for running the auction, and of course to those who bid so generously.”