SB and Lux Row to auction barrel for Ukraine

Lux Row Distillers and The Spirits Business have partnered to auction a barrel of Rebel Bourbon to raise funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Ukrainian supermarket chain Silpo had personally picked a barrel of Rebel Bourbon to be bottled and sold at its stores in Ukraine.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Silpo was no longer able to sell the barrel, and the retailer and Lux Row came to a mutual agreement to end the agreement, with no money exchanging hands.

The Rebel Bourbon barrel pick has now been donated to The Spirits Business for auction.

Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business, said: “Like so many people, I’ve been saddened to see the impact the war has had in Ukraine.

“After careful consideration, the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal felt like the right charity to receive the money raised through this auction.

“Rebel Bourbon is known for its top-quality whiskey; this will be a fantastic bottling for the winning bidder, while supporting an important cause.”

The winning bidder will receive between 200-240 750ml bottles of Rebel Bourbon, which sits at 56.5% ABV. The barrel will be bottled and shipped to the UK in September 2022.

A ‘conservative’ reserve price of £5,000 (US$5,967) has been set for the auction, with the retail value of these barrel picks usually topping £8,000 (US$9,550).

Greg Mefford, international sales director at Luxco, said: “It is a wonderful opportunity to team up with The Spirits Business to reach an international audience of drinks industry professionals.

“We’re hopeful this will drive interest in the auction that gives the Rebel Bourbon barrel pick a new home and raises funds for people affected by the war in Ukraine.”

The auction will close on Friday 29 July. The winning bidder will be contacted within 48 hours of the live auction finishing.

Here are further details on how to bid for the Rebel Bourbon barrel pick.