If there’s one event that lovers of rare and exceptional whiskies should have in their calendars, it’s The Distillers One of One auction. Held once every two years, it’s a sale of some of the most unusual and rarest whiskies held by Scottish distilleries.
Whisky, and in particular Scotch whisky, has overtaken Cognac as the world’s leading ‘status spirit’. As Jacques-Henri Brive, head of luxury at Chivas Brothers, says: ‘Whisky’s position as the ultimate symbol of taste, refinement and status has never been stronger.’ The charity auction – of which Chivas Brothers is a founding donor – sees an impressive collection of one-off editions go under the hammer to raise money for The Distillers’ Charity and the Youth Action Fund, charities that work to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people across Scotland.
This year, the whisky industry comes together for the auction on October 10 at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh. Among the lots will be Aberlour’s oldest ever release, a 53-year-old single malt distilled in 1967 that has matured for over half a century in a single cask. Named The Mouth of the Chattering Burn, Aberlour’s master distiller Graeme Cruickshank says it demonstrates the commitment to the craft of distillation and maturation throughout Aberlour’s history: ‘The people who made this whisky took such pride in their distillery, in how they matured the whisky and how they presented the whisky, making sure it was of the highest quality. The pride has been passed down the generations right through to this moment in time.’
The whisky is presented in a handblown magnum glass decanter, crafted by renowned Swedish master glassblower Micke Johansson in collaboration with master mould-maker Gunnar Englund, with intricate carvings on its surface by glass artist Simon Holm. The liquid inside is a snapshot of time, says Cruickshank: ‘There would have only been two pot stills at the distillery at the time, so it was very much a small craft distillery – a legacy upheld by today’s distillers.’
Also up for auction is The Glenlivet SPIRA, a 60-year-old single malt distilled in 1965 and matured for six decades in a single hogshead cask. The timings for the auction couldn’t be tighter for this bottling, which turns 60 on October 1; it will be sampled, filtered and bottled into the SPIRA decanter, intended to evoke the dance of the vapours within The Glenlivet’s stills, just in time for the auction.
‘We’ve had our eye on this cask for a long time now,’ says The Glenlivet cask master Kevin Balmforth. ‘We know it’s good. Whichever cooper built the cask must have been at the top of his game because it retained its strength incredibly well, and we’ve been lucky that the flavour has not been overpowered by the oak.’
With the unmistakable tropical-fruity hallmark of The Glenlivet’s flavour, it’s also an extremely complex and flavoursome whisky described by Balmforth as ‘aromatic with cinnamon, clove and nutmeg’, as well as an extra intensity to the fruit flavours. ‘You almost need to drink it differently, with just a small amount in the glass, because the intensity of flavour is so strong that just a few drops goes a long way.’
It’s the uniqueness of lots like these, as well as the artistry of the decanters, that makes the auction a must for whisky lovers with a thirst for a one-off. ‘When it comes to single casks, there’s always a bit of mystery involved,’ says Balmforth. ‘A similar cask in similar conditions won’t have the same balance of flavour.’ The Glenlivet SPIRA, he says, is ‘one cask in a million. The stars aligned and there’s nothing quite like it. The flavour is off the scale.’
Speaking about the 53-year-old Aberlour, Cruikshank agrees: ‘Aberlour’s founder James Fleming’s motto was let the deed show and we’ve held true to that; we’re letting this whisky speak for itself. We’ve had generations of distillers upholding that legacy and it’s culminating in this Distillers’ One of One lot. Someone is going to be the proud owner of an absolute rosary, one that epitomises all we’ve learned through the decades.’
On October 10, legacy, craftsmanship and story come together in the suspense of the bidding process. ‘Auctions featuring rare and one-of-a-kind whiskies are so compelling because they combine the thrill of exclusivity with the opportunity to own a true piece of history,’ says Brive. ‘Our lots exemplify that excitement: highly aged, exceptionally rare whisky lots from two of the world’s most iconic distilleries. It’s this blend of rarity, heritage and artistry – paired with the impact of supporting great causes – that makes these auctions truly unmissable.’
