Founded in 1886, WILLIAM GRANT & SONS recently made history by donating three unique and prized spirits to the inaugural Distillers One of One charity auction, including the Glenfiddich collection that their family is most proud of, sharing 135 years of whisky craftsmanship with the world, and aiming to raise over £1 million for Scottish charities.
This time, in addition to bringing the iconic collection of Glenfiddich whiskies, this leading global whisky estate will also showcase the top collections of The Balvenie and the legendary distillery Ladyburn, which is now extinct. Each distillery will present its own signature whiskies, and the three rare whiskies up for auction are distilled in the 1950s, a set of four unparalleled bottled Glenfiddich whiskies, a special 1964 bottle of The Balvenie, and a unique Ladyburn bottle from 1966 featuring the late legendary music icon John Lennon’s autograph.
At the same time, this auction WILLIAM GRANT & SONS also announced the official launch of the Private Client business, providing international connoisseurs and collectors with an unprecedented experience to enjoy, collect, or invest in the world’s finest and rarest whisky collections, experiencing the six generations of whisky brewing tradition. In this auction, WILLIAM GRANT & SONS, this new business will make a significant contribution to the joint auction total, with estimated total sales exceeding £285,000.
As one of the oldest independent family-owned whisky distilleries in the world, WILLIAM GRANT & SONS aims to showcase its distillery values through this private client business. This joint auction marks how the 1950s and 1960s established the most crucial two decades in the world of Scottish whisky, reflecting the long-standing cultural value of whisky. As for the three globally rare items up for auction this time, you may first get to know them from the introduction below.
A set of four unparalleled 1950s Glenfiddich bottled whiskies
A set of four bottles, one of the most historic collections of WILLIAM GRANT & SONS, distilled in 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1959 respectively. These spirits were directly crafted by the William Grant family and master distillers, stored in a cabinet equipped with high-precision temperature and humidity gauges produced by the world-renowned instrument manufacturer Fischer to carefully monitor the internal environment. Each spirit is bottled in Baccarat crystal decanters with a 24K gold neck and stored in cabinets designed and manufactured by the Royal-certified cabinet maker NEJ Stevenson.
The wine cabinet is made of American tulipwood, maple, and hardwood, with innovative design to allow whiskey to lie flat and prevent cork from drying out. Inside the cabinet, there are cushioned pads made of some of the softest natural materials, such as lambskin and suede leather.
1966 Ladyburn, a rare piece by David Bailey, the limited edition John Lennon version
Following the success of the limited edition David Bailey bottle in early 2021, here is another unique bottling from the legendary distillery Ladyburn. A 54-year-old whisky distilled in 1966, with the modern master photographer David Bailey, known for capturing the most natural side of personalities, at the helm. This whisky features a personally signed photo of the former Beatles frontman and legendary icon John Lennon, originally released in Bailey’s iconic poster box in 1965.
As Ladyburn no longer exists, any remaining casks obtained from this historically short-lived distillery are considered valuable. It is seen as a pioneer of expertise and technology at the time, with its whiskies marking an extraordinary moment in the history of Scottish whisky in the 1960s.
1964 The Balvenie Original Single Bottle Special Edition
This is one of the most precious and rare aged whiskies ever produced by The Balvenie. Hand-selected by the Master Maltster David C. Stewart MBE, this unique Balvenie single barrel special edition comes from cask number 10379 distilled on November 18, 1964. It has matured for 56 years in Warehouse 24, developing extraordinary complexity during the aging process.
Made by Dartington Crystal, these unique hand-blown crystal decanters are paired with wine labels hand-drawn by world-renowned illustrator Peter Horridge in calligraphy. They are housed in black walnut boxes designed by furniture craftsman Sam Chinnery in Morayshire, and then packaged in walnut cases made by royal-certified cabinet maker NEJ Stevenson, complete with solid brass stoppers and corner braces, making them truly a work of art.
Jonathan Driver, a leading authority in the whisky field and also the Master of the Scottish Distillers Association and Global Director of Private Clients at WILLIAM GRANT & SONS, shared: “For many years, WILLIAM GRANT & SONS has been dedicated to giving back to society, which is an essential part of business development. The Distillers One of One auction is of great significance, as it is the first time such precious whisky has been publicly released. These whiskies are extremely rare and unique, and their auction will be historically significant because it represents the future value of these fine spirits.”
資料及圖片來源：WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
