Every two years, Scotland’s premier whisky producers come together to support a charitable cause. The Distillers One of One whisky auction stands out from all others. As the title suggests, each bottle auctioned is one-of-a-kind, representing a unique creation. All carefully curated bottles are generously donated, with many being some of the oldest offerings from their respective distilleries.
Being the foremost charity auction for rare and vintage Scotch whiskies, this biennial event generates significant excitement. This year, it features 36 distilleries and brands, all competing for the most impressive hammer prices. Remarkably, every penny raised is directed towards charity.
Since its inception in 2021, the Distillers One of One auction has successfully garnered an astonishing £4.3 million (approximately US$5.25 million) for the Youth Action Fund, an organization committed to creating lasting opportunities for underprivileged youth throughout Scotland.
Each of the auctioned bottles tells a story and embodies a slice of whisky heritage. Below are eight of the most exceptional offerings from this year’s event. Such exclusivity in Scotch whisky is hard to come by.
Glendronach Arias In Time
Estimated Hammer Price: £60,000–£100,000
The distinguished Glendronach distillery introduces Arias In Time, a remarkable four-bottle collection that chronicles its whisky-making legacy over the decades.
Selected by Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, this set includes whiskies from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, all aged in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
The collection is accompanied by a unique bronze sculpture created using the ancient lost-wax casting method.
The Glen Grant Eternal
Estimated Hammer Price: £120,000–£150,000
The Glen Grant presents its oldest whisky yet: a 77-year-old single malt originated from a single ex-sherry European oak butt, distilled in 1948 and maturing in that cask for nearly eight decades.
Encased in a handblown crystal decanter designed to resemble a seed pod, Eternal commemorates the distillery’s renowned Victorian Garden of Splendours, which continues to thrive today with original plants collected from various global expeditions.
The Glenlivet SPIRA
Estimated Hammer Price: £60,000–£110,000
The Glenlivet is renowned as one of the world’s top-selling single malts, yet SPIRA represents its oldest release to date. Distilled in 1965 and matured in a single hogshead, this exceptional 60-year-old whisky has remained untouched for decades.
The name derives from the Latin word for ‘spiral,’ perfectly reflected in the artisanal, curved decanter that symbolizes the swirling vapours rising within the stills, celebrating the heritage of Speyside.
Kandoblanc Dragon In Clouds
Estimated Hammer Price: £50,000–£100,000
Kandoblanc, a bespoke bottling house established by whisky connoisseur Dhavall Gandhi, seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with world-class whisky. Dragon In Clouds is a unique creation that commemorates heritage art forms while showcasing a 60-year-old single malt.
Housed in a Murano glass decanter crafted using age-old Venetian techniques, it embodies a refined whisky symbolizing the dragon, a creature synonymous with strength and longevity.
Laphroaig Capsule
Estimated Hammer Price: £40,000–£80,000
One of the most eye-catching releases at this year’s auction, Laphroaig Capsule features a 40-year-old peated single malt from the legendary Islay distillery. This whisky is presented in a stunning green crystal ‘capsule’ decanter, handblown and adorned with a platinum-plated cap.
The spirit within blends two rare 1980s distillations — one aged in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and the other in ex-bourbon barrels — united in an American oak hogshead in 2022.
A single bottle will be solely available at this auction.
Old Pulteney Polaris
Estimated Hammer Price: £26,000–£40,000
Polaris represents the oldest release from Old Pulteney, aged for an impressive 47 years. It began its maturation in American oak ex-bourbon casks before undergoing a seven-year finish in a first-fill Spanish oak ex-sherry butt.
Inspired by its secluded northern locale, the distillery collaborated with a local glass studio to design the hand-blown decanter, which features an outer casing crafted from nearby Caithness slate and finished with copper reclaimed from an old still.
Port Ellen Prism
Estimated Hammer Price: £150,000–£300,000
The iconic Port Ellen distillery on Islay reopened its doors in March 2024, having been silent for over 40 years. To commemorate its 200th anniversary, it presents Prism — the oldest single malt ever released from the distillery.
Distilled in 1978, right before its closure, and bottled as a 46-year-old, this remarkable 1.5-litre decanter is encased in a glass sculpture crafted by esteemed artist Wilfried Grootens.
Anticipate one of the auction’s highest hammer prices for this exceptional bottle.
Royal Brackla 54 Years Old
Estimated Hammer Price: £13,000–£25,000
Royal Brackla was the first distillery in Scotland to receive a Royal Warrant, and this exclusive 54-year-old whisky pays homage to that legacy.
Drawn from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead (Cask #2665), filled on 24 March 1970, it has been hand-selected by Malt Master Stephanie Macleod. The whisky is elegantly presented in a handcrafted crystal carafe from La Cristallerie Royale de Saint-Louis, combined with a beautiful wooden casket.
This dram truly embodies regal elegance.
