Distillers One of One unveils final lots
Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s biannual benefit auction, Distillers One of One, has revealed the final 15 lots from its associate donors, with online bidding now open.
The auction will be hosted in collaboration with Sotheby’s on 10 October at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, with 100% of hammer prices donated to charity.
In its third iteration, following the inaugural auction in 2021 and the second in 2023, Distillers One of One offers some of the world’s rarest Scotch whiskies all in the name of philanthropy.
The biannual auction has raised £4.3 million (US$5.9m) in its two previous editions, with most of the funds directed towards the Youth Action Fund.
The fund supports disadvantaged young people across Scotland, helping them unlock their potential and make positive contributions to their communities. As a result of this funding, 3,362 young people have been engaged, leading to 2,271 successful outcomes in employability.
This year’s auction includes 39 unique lots from 35 whisky companies, with all lots specifically created for charity.
Some of the lots previously revealed include The Glen Grant Eternal 77-year-old, Port Ellen Prism 46-year-old, Kandoblanc Dragon in Clouds 60-year-old, and The Glenlivet Spira 60-year-old whisky.
With less than a month to go, Distillers One of One has unveiled the last 15 lots and finally opened bidding online.
Most of the lots can be seen in person from 19-30 September at the auction’s London exhibition at Sotheby’s New Bond Street.
Over 50-year-olds
Hunter Laing & Company donated a single bottle of 51-year-old single malt from Teaninich Distillery to the auction. The whisky was distilled in 1973 and bottled in 2025 at natural cask strength of 50.4% ABV. The nose displays aromas of tulips, orange zest, and gentle Christmas spices, with notes of apple crumble, honeycomb, dark chocolate, dry oak, and cracked black pepper on the palate.
The Teaninich is presented in a hand-cut Glencairn crystal decanter with a gold-embossed stopper, accompanied by a wooden display box from Abercorn Bespoke Packaging. The expected hammer price is £3,500-£6,000 (US$4,800-$8,200).
The oldest entry in the final reveal comes from J & G Grant, the owner of Glenfarclas Distillery in Speyside. The 58-year-old expression was aged in a first-fill Sherry butt and bottled at 45.5% ABV after nearly six decades. Presented in a 4.5-litre bottle, the whisky is accompanied by a hand-carved oak box by Scottish sculptor Stuart Murdoch. The whisky has a sale estimate of £24,000-£45,000 (US$32,750-$61,400).
John Grant, chairman of Glenfarclas, noted: “It is amazing to see the difference that has already been made to the lives of so many young people, and it is my hope that this piece of Glenfarclas history will contribute to the ongoing success of the charity.”
The Artisanal Spirits Company created a 52-year-old blended grain Scotch whisky exclusively for the auction. Called Ancient Alba ‘Aon’, the whisky represents the first expression in the company’s Artisan Casks programme. Distilled in 1972 and matured in a refill American oak Bourbon barrel, the one-of-a-kind expression is presented in a 1.5-litre magnum vessel. The lot has an estimated bid of £3,000-£6,000 (US$4,100-$8,200).
The successful bidder, accompanied by three guests, will also be invited to The Vaults in Leith, Edinburgh, for a private tasting and dining experience, with the opportunity to sample Aon.
James Mackay, private client and commercial director at the Artisanal Spirits Company, commented: “The chance to acquire the first ever bottle from the first ever cask is truly a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the rare whisky collector.”
In collaboration with Ress Jewellery, Coachbuilt Spirits created a 50-year-old blend, Coachbuilt FW07, for the auction. Distilled in 1973 and matured exclusively in Sherry casks, the whisky was bottled on 22 August 2025 at 46.6% ABV. It is accompanied by a hand-sculpted piece by artist Mike O’Connor, crafted entirely from the reclaimed metal of the legendary 1979 Williams FW07 Formula One car. It is expected to fetch between £5,000-£9,000 (US$6,800-$12,300).
Rising 90s
Young Spirits Company donated one of the most visually striking items revealed in the final lot under its Ferg & Harris label. Wings Over Kintyre is a 31-year-old Springbank whisky, distilled in 1992, and finished in a 1.2-litre oak cask that previously held organic Grande Champagne Cognac made from 100% Folle Blanche grapes. It is presented at an ABV of 47.6%.
The bottle comes encased in a bespoke illuminated presentation, featuring delicate barley motifs in soft gold and is topped with an asymmetrical glass stopper. Additionally, the bottle is displayed within a hand-crafted stained-glass front created by Inverclyde artist Alec Galloway, framed in sustainable oak by Scottish woodworker Eoghan Menzies.
The winning bidder will also enjoy a private tasting with Alex Harrison at Young Spirits’ Edinburgh headquarters. They will receive the 1.2-litre cask, personalised with their details, along with hand-waxed glass ampoules for sampling. The estimated value for the lot is between £2,400-£3,500 (US$3,300-$4,800).
Adelphi Distillery has donated a 29-year-old single malt from the closed Imperial Distillery under its The Adelphi Collection. The whisky was distilled on 24 April 1996 and aged in a refill Bourbon barrel, resulting in notes of citrus and sweet patisserie.
Housed in a Glencairn crystal decanter at 53.8% ABV, the whisky is presented upon a bespoke walnut pedestal, crafted by Mike Buckley, with artwork by Nevis Design and Labeltec. The lot has an estimated hammer price of £2,000-£3,000 (US$2,700-$4,100).
Speyside distillery Glen Moray’s donation to the auction was distilled in 1995 and finished in a peated ex-Islay cask. Bottled as a 30-year-old single malt, the whisky presents aromas of vintage oak spice, subtle campfire smoke, and a honeyed sweetness, followed on the palate by vanilla, honey, green tea, and hints of caramelised banana.
The lot, which is estimated to go for £3,500-£7,000 (US$4,800-$9,550), includes an overnight stay and dinner with the opportunity to taste the whisky alongside Glen Moray’s head of whisky creation: Stephen Woodcock.
He shared: “Our One of One selections are always from some of the finest casks we have stored at Glen Moray, and this one is no different. Finishing in a cask that has previously held an Islay peated single malt allows Glen Moray to pick up hints of smoke, which sit wonderfully with the traditional Speyside style that Glen Moray typically embodies.”
Whisk-E’s Arran to Japan The Journey was drawn from the second cask ever filled in the Lochranza Distillery in Arran. Laid in a single Sherry hogshead on 15 August 1995, the whisky was bottled on its 30th birthday this year at 51% ABV.
This unique release was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Whisk-E in Japan. It comes in a specially engraved bottle designed by Scottish glass artist Giles Lawson Johnston, which features Mount Fuji to symbolise the Japanese market’s appreciation for Arran. The bottle is displayed in a handcrafted burr oak cabinet by Noble & Gilmour, which includes a window shaped like the island of Arran. The estimate sits between £2,000-£3,000 (US$2,700-$4,100).
Lineage by The Glenturret is a distinctive whisky that combines single malts from two casks from 1987 and two from 2005. It is presented in a jet-black Lalique crystal decanter, rated at 100 Points. The decanter is placed on a handcrafted plinth that symbolises the River Turret, created by father-and-son duo David and Callum Robinson. This piece marks their first collaborative public work, with an estimated price of £15,000-£26,000 (US$20,500-$35,500).
Casks and sets
The first of the new cask lots is Arbikie Distilling. The Highland distiller has donated a single cask of 100% malted grain Scotch whisky, column distilled with the estate’s own Odyssey barley. The 200-litre ex-Bourbon cask, 4-C, was filled on 14 November 2018. The cask is expected to sell between £7,000-£12,000 (US$9,550-$16,400).
InchDairnie Whisky’s donation this year is a KinGlassie single malt cask to be filled in December 2025. The successful bidder will hand-select the cask type, such as ex-Bourbon, ex-Rioja, ex-Port, or ex-Andalucian wine, creating a singular expression of KinGlassie whisky that will mature exclusively in a purpose-built Cask Club warehouse for 12 years.
The lot, which has an estimated value of £5,000-£10,000 (US$6,800-$13,600), includes exclusive access to the cask, featuring a private distillery tour, a whisky tasting, and the opportunity to witness the cask filling in person.
Lindores Abbey is offering one bidder the chance to fill their own rare private cask of single malt Scotch whisky, selected by the distillery’s head distiller. The cask will be filled on a date chosen by the owner and will be matured under bond until the owner requests bottling.
Additionally, up to six guests will enjoy a private tour of the distillery and the abbey ruins as part of this experience. The winning bidder will also have the chance to participate in an exclusive whisky tasting. The lot’s estimated hammer price is £5,000-£10,000 (US$6,800-$13,600).
The Tomatin Distillery Company has donated a single cask of 2014 vintage Tomatin Highland single malt Scotch whisky for the auction. This whisky was selected by the distillery’s master distiller, Graham Eunson, who retired in May 2025. It is aged in a first-fill Bourbon cask and originally contained 124.2 litres of alcohol. The estimated hammer price is £10,000-£20,000 (US$13,600-$27,300).
Continuing its Mystery Malt series, Dornoch Distillery Company by Thompson Bros is set to present a collection of four bottles for the 2025 auction. Each bottle hides its contents until opened, with the distillery and age discreetly indicated under the capsule. This unique series features whiskies aged between seven and 45 years, drawn from Thompson Bros’ finest stocks, including expressions from both emerging distilleries and established names.
London-based retailer and bottler Master of Malt ships in with The Distillers One of One Whisky Cabinet: a one-of-a-kind collection of 24 rare whiskies in 300ml bottles, selected by Dr Sam Simmons. Presented in a bespoke cabinet hand-crafted from black oak and walnut by master craftsman Simon Jewell, each dram is said to represent ‘an iconic moment in whisky history’. The lot is expected to fetch between £3,000-£6,000 (US$4,100-$8,200).
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