The primary of 40 uncommon and bespoke scotch whiskies have been unveiled forward of the third Distillers Considered one of One public sale this fall. The oldest whisky to be supplied might be a magnum of Glen Grant Everlasting 77 yr outdated distilled in 1948, whereas different highlights embody a glass sculpture incorporating a Port Ellen bottled for the distillery’s bicentenary, the oldest-ever expressions of Aberlour, Aberfeldy, and Previous Pulteney, and the Founder’s Reserve decanter by Glencairn Crystal, which accommodates a mix of whiskies created by grasp whisky maker Richard Paterson. The public sale will happen on Friday, October 10th at Hopetoun Home close to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Distillers Considered one of One is run by the Worshipful Firm of Distillers, one of many UK’s oldest livery firms (commerce guilds) that was based in 1638. It has partnered with Sotheby’s to deal with the public sale aspect. The occasion, launched as a biennial affair in 2021, allocates 100% of the hammer worth of every lot to charity. Up to now, $5.25 million has been raised for the Youth Motion Fund to assist its portfolio of charity accomplice organizations serving to younger folks in Scotland from deprived backgrounds to succeed in their full potential.
The public sale has turn into a showcase for one-off luxuries, high-concept design, large-format bottlings, uncommon casks, and an exhibition for artwork, design, sculpture, and the craft of high-end scotch. Firms make investments closely in every mission, elevating the bar by participating expert craftspeople world wide to create essentially the most compelling presentation packages for these uncommon liquids, combining model and type with rarity and taste. In an announcement, Jonny Fowle, International Head of Spirits at Sotheby’s stated, “Distillers Considered one of One is the apex at which whisky meets artwork and luxurious. It’s outstanding that so many whisky manufacturers have generously donated items of such excessive age, prime quality and extremely artistic ideas, merging essentially the most historic scotch whiskies with breathtaking and progressive designs.”
The Distillers Considered one of One sale is about to be the public sale spotlight of the yr, although will probably be intriguing to observe as the secondary market has softened for the reason that final Distillers Considered one of One sale in 2023 and the whisky business is experiencing difficult market circumstances. “2025 has already introduced its share of surprises and uncertainties on the worldwide stage, and the whisky business is feeling these results too,” stated managing director of The Distillers Considered one of One Beanie Espey-Geraedts in an announcement, “That’s why we’re vastly grateful to all of the donor manufacturers and sponsors who’ve come collectively as soon as once more in assist of this distinctive philanthropic endeavor, to maintain elevating funds for such a significant trigger.” Earlier this yr, one-off creations by Bowmore and Dalmore had been offered at public sale with combined outcomes, whereas Gordon & MacPhail plans to public sale the world’s oldest whisky this November. Not like with most collectibles, bidders hardly ever ever buy one-of-one releases with considerations about their resale worth and whereas these whiskies typically break public sale information, the initiative additionally contributes to good causes. These fascinating one-offs entice the world’s elite collectors, and with most whiskies destined to enter non-public collections, it’s unlikely that many of those expressions will ever resurface on the secondary market. With market circumstances giving the sale an added edge this yr, the 40-lot public sale, which might be streamed reside on the Sotheby’s web site, ought to be compelling, no matter your whisky finances.
Distillers Considered one of One Public sale 2025 Heaps
Here is what we all know concerning the first 16 heaps within the Distillers Considered one of One public sale 2025, and the estimates disclosed up to now:
A singular expression of Port Ellen encased in a bespoke glass sculpture as a part of its Atlas of Smoke mission, the lot consists of an in-depth distillery expertise for 4 friends.
Glen Grant Everlasting 77 yr outdated is a single cask expression matured in a sherry-seasoned European oak butt crammed in 1948 and introduced in a handblown magnum decanter impressed by a seed pod.
Glenlivet SPIRA (Est. $81,000–$150,000) is a single cask 60 yr outdated single malt distilled in 1965, the oldest launch by the distillery, introduced in a spiral decanter impressed by the rising vapors in a copper pot nonetheless.
Aberlour 53 yr outdated The Mouth of the Chattering Burn (Est. $27,000–$54,000) is a single cask bottling distilled in 1967 and introduced in a handblown magnum glass decanter by Swedish grasp glassblower Micke Johansson in collaboration with grasp mold-maker Gunnar Englund, with intricate carvings on its floor by glass artist Simon Holm.
The Glendronach Arias in Time (Est. $81,000–$135,000) is a set of 4 classic whiskies distilled in 1968, 1972, 1989, and 1993 drawn from oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and introduced on a bronze sculptural plinth by Milan-based artist Osanna Visconti.
Laphroaig Capsule 40 yr outdated (Est. $54,000–$108,000) was distilled in 1980 and 1981 and is bottled in magnum in a placing inexperienced and platinum-plated Glencairn crystal decanter. Matured in oloroso sherry-seasoned and bourbon American oak hogsheads for 26 years, these medicinal whiskies had been vatted collectively in hogsheads till June 2022.
Gordon & MacPhail whiskies, Benromach, and The Cairn is a trio of crystal decanters together with a 75 yr outdated from Glen Grant Distillery, a Benromach 52 yr outdated, and the primary single malt launch from The Cairn Distillery, bottled at 3 years outdated. The mixed age of 130 years of maturation was chosen to coincide with Gordon & MacPhail’s 130th anniversary.
KANDOBLANC Dragons in Clouds is a 60 yr outdated single malt introduced in a handblown Murano glass vessel.
Ladyburn Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw is a single bottle from the short-lived distillery drawn from a sherry butt crammed in 1966, and introduced with a Sam Shaw {photograph} of Marilyn Monroe taken in New York in 1954.
Previous Pulteney Polaris (Est. $35,000–$54,000) is a 47 yr outdated single malt, the oldest from the Highland distillery, which underwent a 7-year secondary maturation in a single first-fill Spanish oak butt after 4 many years in American oak casks. Reflecting its maritime origins, it’s supplied in a handblown magnum by Glasstorm evoking the North Sea and encased in Caithness slate, representing the cliffs of the shoreline.
The Final Drop Personal Mixing Expertise with grasp blender Colin Scott (Est. $21,500–$38,000) is an opportunity to create 12 bottles of a bespoke blended scotch aged over 30 years, with the legendary blender in Scotland. The successful bidder may even take pleasure in a personal archive tasting, a celebratory dinner, and a two-night keep at Scone Palace.
Royal Brackla 54 yr outdated (Est. $17,500–$32,000) comes from a single refill hogshead crammed in 1970 and was chosen by grasp blender Stephanie Macleod. It’s bottled in a home made bespoke crystal carafe by La Cristallerie Royale de Saint-Louis, Europe’s oldest crystal maker, based in 1586.
Aberfeldy 49 yr outdated Single Cask (Est. $16,000–$27,000) the oldest expression from the distillery, is a 1975 distillate matured in a refill hogshead, and introduced in a bespoke crystal carafe by La Cristallerie Royale de Saint-Louis, which took 3 weeks to make.
Home of Hazelwood and Huntsman of Savile Row Bespoke Tailoring and Whisky Expertise will afford the successful bidder to design the material for their very own bespoke Huntsman cashmere tweed jacket and work with Home of Hazelwood’s grasp blenders to create six bottles of a customized mix from scotch whiskies as much as 60 years outdated.
Gleann Mór Uncommon Discover – The Age of Change is a trio of whiskies created to commemorate the 1823 Excise Act, together with Littlemill 1990 34 yr outdated, Miltonduff 1981 43 yr outdated, and Springbank 1992 32 yr outdated.
Founders Reserve Decanter is a one-off piece by Glencairn Crystal that’s stuffed with a particular mix comprising whiskies from the public sale’s founding donors—Bacardi, Suntory International Spirits, Brown-Forman, Campari Group, Chivas Brothers, Diageo, Gleann Mór, Gordon & MacPhail, Worldwide Beverage, KANDOBLANC, The Final Drop, and William Grant & Sons—created by grasp blender Richard Paterson.
