Distillers One of One unveils first lots
The Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s have announced the first 15 lots to be auctioned at the Distillers One of One auction in October.
Offering some of the rarest Scottish whiskies ever bottled, the third edition of the charity auction will take place on 10 October at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh.
The auction will feature 40 ‘ultra-rare’, never-to-be-repeated whiskies created and donated by 36 companies exclusively in the name of philanthropy. The total hammer price will be donated to charity.
Jonny Fowle, global head of spirits at Sotheby’s, commented: “Distillers One of One is the apex at which whisky meets art and luxury. It is remarkable that so many whisky brands have generously donated pieces of such high-age, high-quality and highly creative concepts, merging the most historic Scotch whiskies with breathtaking and innovative designs.
“These lots incorporate everything imaginable, from glass art and tailoring to watercolours and photography. Being entrusted, once again, to present these whiskies to the world’s most dedicated collectors, all to raise money for a worthy cause, is a privilege.”
Since the inaugural auction in 2021, the Distillers One of One has become the largest global charity auction of rare Scotch whisky. To date, the auctions have raised £4.3 million (US$5.25 million), primarily for the Youth Action Fund.
The fund is dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Since 2022, the auction has supported more than 3,300 young people, averaging around 1,000 young individuals each year. Annual funding is approximately £1 million (US$1.34 million).
Beanie Espey-Geraedts, managing director of Distillers One of One, said: “The work being done by the Youth Action Fund is truly impressive, and the results speak for themselves. The scale of impact is really incredible.
“2025 has already brought its share of surprises and uncertainties on the global stage, and the whisky industry is feeling those effects too. That’s why we are hugely grateful to all the donor brands and sponsors who have come together once again in support of this unique philanthropic endeavour, to keep raising funds for such a vital cause. Each donor is dedicating significant time, care, and resources to craft truly unique lots – and we can assure you, this year’s line-up is raising the bar once more.”
Last year, the Distillers One of One auction more than doubled its pre-sale estimate, raising £2,248,750 (US$2,715,815) for charity.
Oldest bottlings to date
Campari Group will present one of the oldest official single malt bottlings from the Glen Grant Distillery, which is this year’s oldest whisky lot.
The Glen Grant Eternal 77-year-old single malt was drawn from a single Sherry-seasoned European oak butt filled in 1948. The whisky is presented in a handblown glass magnum decanter, inspired by the distillery’s Garden of Splendours.
With an ABV of 43%, the release does not have an estimated hammer price.
Meanwhile, Chivas Brothers has donated two lots – one from The Glenlivet and another from Aberlour Distillery.
The Glenlivet Spira is the brand’s oldest expression to date. The 60-year-old whisky was laid down in a single hogshead in 1965. Its spiral decanter was inspired by ‘the dance of the vapours within The Glenlivet’s stills and the flowing River Livet’. The estimated hammer price for the lot is £60,000-£110,000 (US$80,500-US$147,600).
Aberlour The Mouth of the Chattering Burn is also the oldest release from the distillery to date. The 53-year-old single malt Scotch whisky was distilled in 1967 and matured in a single cask. Swedish master glassblower Micke Johansson, in collaboration with master mould-maker Gunnar Englund, created its handblown magnum glass decanter. The surface features intricate carvings by glass artist Simon Holm. The estimated price for the lot is £20,000-£40,000 (US$26,800-US$53,700).
International Beverage has also contributed its oldest bottling from Old Pulteney Distillery: the Polaris 47-year-old. The whisky is presented in a handblown, blue 1.5-litre glass bottle that evokes the waves of the North Sea, created by Brodie Nairn of Glasstorm. This is then encased in Caithness Slate, symbolising the enduring cliffs of the Caithness coastline, complete with silver and copper details.
Old Pulteney Polaris was aged in American oak casks for four decades and then for an additional seven years in a single first-fill Spanish oak butt. With an ABV of 43.6%, the lot includes a 100ml sample for tasting. Its estimated price is between £26,000 and £40,000 (US$34,900-US$53,700).
Bacardi-owned John Dewar & Sons has also contributed two lots. The first, Aberfeldy 49-Year-Old Single Cask, is the oldest single malt release from the distillery. Malt master Stephanie Macleod handpicked the whisky, which was laid down into refill hogshead cask No.3978 on 6 August 1975.
La Cristallerie Royale de Saint-Louis handmade its bespoke crystal decanter. The estimated hammer price for the piece is £12,000-£20,000 (US$16,100-US$26,800).
Collections
Brown-Forman has donated The Glendronach Arias in Time collection. It consists of four bottles that represent different whiskies aged in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Master blender Rachel Barrie made the selections, which date from the 1960s to the 1990s.
To highlight the importance of this collection, The Glendronach commissioned Milan-based artist Osanna Visconti to create a bespoke bronze sculpture, crafted by hand using the lost-wax casting technique. The estimated hammer price for this lot is between £60,000 and £100,000 (US$80,500-$134,200).
Gleann Mór’s Rare Find – The Age of Change is a whisky trilogy commemorating the legacy of the 1823 Excise Act. With a total maturation age of 109 years, the one-of-a-kind set includes a 34-year-old Littlemill from 1990, a 43-year-old Miltonduff from 1981, and a 32-year-old Springbank from 1992. Accompanying this trilogy is a unique glass artwork by Jo Downs.
Gordon & MacPhail is donating a set of three bottles to celebrate its 130th anniversary. These are a 75-year-old single malt from The Glen Grant Distillery, a 52-year-old Benromach, and a three-year-old from The Cairn, which is the distillery’s very first bottling. Each bottle is housed in a crystal decanter and showcased on a luminous crystal plinth.
Other single bottle lots
Suntory Global Spirits has donated a 40-year-old single malt, Laphroaig Capsule, for the charity auction. The whisky is said to represent ‘a vital chapter in Laphroaig’s story’ and is crafted from spirit distilled in 1980 and 1981. It was matured for 26 years in oloroso Sherry-seasoned hogsheads and ex-Bourbon American oak hogsheads before being vatted together in hogsheads until June 2022. The whisky is encased in a green 1.5-litre crystal decanter, handblown by Glencairn Crystal. The estimated hammer price for this lot is £40,000-£80,000 (US$53,700-US$107,350).
William Grant & Sons is contributing two unique lots for the auction. The first is the Ladyburn One of One 2025 – Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw, which is a single bottle drawn from a cask filled in 1966. The label features a personal moment of Marilyn Monroe relaxing with her friend, taken by photographer Sam Shaw on 9 September 1954 at the St Regis Hotel in New York City.
The second lot from John Dewars & Sons is a 54-year-old Royal Brackla whisky. Macleod selected the spirit, which was laid into a single refill hogshead (No.2665) on 24 March 1970. The single malt is presented in a crystal carafe handmade by La Cristallerie Royale de Saint-Louis. The lot is expected to auction for between £13,000 and £24,000 (US$17,400-US$32,200).
Kandoblanc has donated a one-of-a-kind, 60-year-old single malt titled Dragon in Clouds. Presented in hand-blown Murano glass, the whisky is the inaugural release from the bottler’s Yukari collection.
Whisky experiences
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Port Ellen Distillery, which reopened last year, Diageo is offering a unique single malt for auction as part of its Atlas of Smoke project. The whisky is presented in a bespoke glass sculpture. The auction lot also includes an exclusive experience at Port Ellen Distillery for the winning bidder and three guests.
Meanwhile, The Last Drop has donated a private blending experience, during which the winning bidder can create a personal blend under the guidance of master blender Colin Scott. At the historic Scone Palace, the winner will explore a curated selection of mature single malts, grains, and aged blends from The Last Drop’s inventory. Together with Scott, they will craft a bespoke blended Scotch whisky that has been aged for more than 30 years. The experience will culminate in 12 hand-finished bottles, each adorned with a custom green leather label. The winner will also receive miniature editions and a personalised tasting journal.
The package also includes a private archive tasting, a celebratory dinner, and a two-night stay at the Palace, featuring a guided tour of its private rooms. The estimated value of this lot is between £16,000 and £28,000 (US$21,500-US$37,600).
The second lot from William Grant & Sons is the House of Hazelwood and Huntsman of Savile Row Bespoke Tailoring and Whisky Experience. The collaboration combines the strengths of both brands to offer an exclusive, bespoke experience. The successful bidder can choose between two settings: the ‘secluded elegance’ of Hazelwood House in Speyside or the ‘refined intimacy’ of Huntsman’s Clubroom in London.
The winner will craft a custom whisky blend and design a bespoke cashmere tweed jacket. The guest will work with Huntsman’s head cutter and creative director, Campbell Carey, to design a cashmere cloth, which will be used to create a personalised jacket. Simultaneously, they will collaborate with the House of Hazelwood’s master blenders to create a unique whisky using rare malts and grains aged up to 60 years. The final blend will be bottled in six 700ml decanters, presented in bespoke packaging.
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