The Distillers One of One Auction is a biennial series of ultra-rare whisky auctions, taking place this year on the 10th of October. The auction takes place at Hopetoun House, an exceptional setting for a remarkable event. The stately house, known to be Scotland’s finest state home, is one of the gems of European architectural heritage. Every whisky lot they auction is a unique, high-end, and one-of-a-kind creation. The Distillers Auction is auctioning a total of 39 lots. The whiskies are crafted exclusively for the auction, and all proceeds go to charity.
The first two Distillers One of One auctions, in 2021 and 2023, have together generated an outstanding £4.3 million for The Distillers’ Charity, whose mission is to ‘transform the lives of young people’. The charity aims to improve the quality of life of many young people and 90% of the auction proceeds go to the Youth Action Fund, in support of disadvantaged young people in Scotland. Other donations are made for young people in London.
A sneak peek at Sotheby’s
For a limited period only, the exceptional lots of The Distillers One of One are being exhibited in London. Sotheby’s and The Distillers One of One are exhibiting a selection of extraordinary Scotch Whisky Lots that will go under the hammer. Chivas Brothers, presents two distinct lots this year, from The Glenlivet and Aberlour distilleries. We had the honour of sharing a dinner with the teams at The Glenlivet and Aberlour in London and had an exclusive audience with Kevin Balmforth and Graeme Cruickshank, tasting the magical liquids over candlelight at Claridge’s. It does not get better.
The Rare Single Malt of The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet introduces its most distinctive expression from the distillery to date: “The Glenlivet SPIRA”. This unique whisky is a single malt presented in a timeless spiral decanter. The Spira decanter -spiral in Latin- is an artistic creation inspired by the movement of the vapours within The Glenlivet’s iconic stills and the flowing River Livet. This decanter is the embodiment of the distillery’s signature elegance and smoothness. It’s the prime of craftsmanship and the determined pursuit of the immaculate single malt that make The Glenlivet and its vessel extraordinary.
This stunning decanter holds the exceptional 60-year-old whisky distilled in 1965 and matured for six decades in a single hogshead cask. It is the attention to quality and detail that makes the whisky so special. After decades, The Glenlivet Masters have deemed this whisky to be at the peak of maturation. The estimated value of the whisky is between £60,000 – £110,000.
The Cask Master, Kevin Balmforth, started his journey in Chivas Brothers back in 1999. Upon discovering that he was a natural noser, Balmforth stays in blending, now becoming one of the most important Cask Masters of the industry. It is the significance of the nose, the palate and the finish to the Glenlivet Spira that makes it so special. The expertise of Balmforth comes from experience, which is why the Glenlivet Spira is the pinnacle of all of his expertise, and many others in the distillery.
An Exceptional Whisky from Aberlour Distillery
Aberlour Distillery, renowned whisky makers with generations of experience dating back to 1879, will debut with pride its greatest and longest-awaited release to date. The distillery, famous for its long heritage of meticulous approach and impeccable care to whisky-making, makes this its most remarkable creation to date.
“Aberlour”, whose own name originates from the ancient Gaelic language, translates to “The Mouth of the Chattering Burn”. It is no wonder they have decided to name their newest treasure by this same name. Presented with the same pride and elegance, Aberlour’s primogeniture, “The Mouth of a Chattering Burn” is a 53-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The release of this creation has been long-awaited, having undergone its distillation process since 1967 and matured for over half a century in a single cask.
Aberlour’s essence has been encapsulated from the heart of this new whisky to its body. Enclosed in a handblown magnum glass decanter, its delicate craft can be attributed to unrepeatable collaboration by acclaimed master glassblowers, mould-makers, and carvers Micke Johansson, Gunnar Englund and Simon Holm, respectively. The thorough presentation continues with the presentation display case of the bottle, which is made by the authentic hand-carved tree mould the same whisky was born.
“The Mouth of the Chattering Burn” is a true, exclusive one-of-a-kind release, never to be replicated or repeated. Originating from a single cask, with a unique handcrafted decanter and the incorporation of its birthing mould, it stands as an incomparable testimony to rare, ancient craft and legacy. It is valued between an estimated £20,000 – £40,000.
Behind the scenes, we have Graeme Cruickshank, the iconic Master Distiller. His journey started with a six-month contract more than 40 years ago. He remains committed to sharing his expertise and Aberlour’s unique qualities, dedicating himself to advancing Aberlour’s legacy of artisanal craftsmanship in both spirit and cask. Graeme continues to embody the spirit James Fleming’s family motto, ‘let the deed show’. He has always said what makes Aberlour truly special is the deep sense of belonging to a local community distillery. Nestled in the heart of the village of Aberlour, the team are all passionate local craftsmen who take immense pride in their work.
The Auction
It is exceptional whisky that is created by true craftsmen who make each piece of The Distillers One of One Auction immaculate. The craftsmanship and the artistry that make the auction so impressive can be discovered in person at Sotheby’s until 30 September.
To discover more, visit: The Distillers One of One, The Glenlivet and Aberlour
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All imagery courtesy of The Distillers One of One Auction.