The second Worshipful Company of Distillers’ Charity Auction takes place at Mercers’ Hall, Ironmonger Lane, London in the heart of the City on Tuesday 10 April 2018. Hosted by international auctioneer Christie’s, the auction will include some of the rarest and most collectable whiskies in the world. The evening opens with a drinks and canapés reception attended by The Lord Mayor of London, followed by the auction at 7pm.
More than 70 lots will be under the hammer with estimates ranging from £250 to £25,000. They include unique bottlings, memorable experiences, lots from almost every whisky producing nation and a selection of other spirts including Armagnac and Cognac.
The Worshipful Company of Distillers
Founded in 1638 the Worshipful Company of Distillers is one of the 110 Livery Companies of the City of London, and today remains at the hub of the distilling industry providing support and funds to city and industry based charities.
www.distillers.org.ukGetting involvedFull details on the Auction can be found at
www.distillers.auction where tickets to join the evening at £100 each can also be booked. Telephone bids may be made, and if you cannot make the evening a digital copy of the catalogue is also available on the web site.
A selection of these extraordinary lots are:29 Years Old Glenury Royal 1999 bottling
32 Years Old Glen Grant
5 bottle Hazelwood Collection
6 bottles of Bruichladdich & The Experience
6 bottles of Old Forester Statesman created for the Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Ardbeg 30 Years Old & Ardmore 21 Years Old
Armagnac 30th Anniversary
Arran 1995 sherry cask
Balvenie 50 Years Old
Bowmore European Fly Fishing
Championship Edition
Bowmore Fino Cask 1964
Daftmill Inaugral Bottling
Dallas Dhu 1970 Signatory Edition
Delamain Magnum
English Whisky Co. Cask Bottling
Evermore 2001, Evermore 2002 21 Years Old and Fuji-Gotemba 15 Years Old
Glendronach 25 Kingsman Bottling
Glenfarclas 175th Anniversary
Glenfarclas 50 Years Old Magnum
Glenfiddich 1973 33 Years Old
Glenfiddich 50 Years Old bottling
Glenrothes
Golden Moon Single Malt Whiskey
Gordon & MacPhail, The Archive Collection
Greenwich Meridian 2000 blend
Havana Club Union
Hedonism Retrospective Collection
Hunter Laing - The Kinship
Inchmurrin 1966
J&B 25 Years Old
Johnnie Walker Private Collection 2014-2017
Jura 30 Years Old Limited Edition 1975
Kavalan Premium Single Malt Whiskies PX
& Moscatel Sherry Cask
Keepers Historic Bottling
Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Limited Release
Ladyburn 50 Years Old
Lagavulin White Label
Laphroaig 1976
Last Drop Distillers Miniatures Set
Limited Edition Macallan 30 Years Old
Lindores Abbey 20cl New Make Spirit
and Membership
Loch Lomond Littlemill 40 Years Old
The Macallan 18 Years Old 1974
The Macallan Reflection signed by Nick Savage
Masters’ Cask Twin Pack
North British 50th Anniversary 50 Years Old
Old Parr 18 Years Old
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Years Old
Private bottling of Glenfarclas 1966
Private bottling of Glenfarclas 1989
Sheep Dip Old Hebridean 1990
Springbank 21 Years Old
Springbank Single Malt
Strathclyde 1965 (Jim Clark charity)
Teaninich 23 Years Old & Brora 20 Years Old
That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Port Ellen 33 Years Old
The Chivas Experential Lot
The Drambuie Jacobite Collection
The Glover and The E&K
Tomatin 1972 Ltd Edition
Tomintoul 40 Years Old
Wonders of the World Macallan 33 Years Old
XOP Jura 40 Years Old & XOP Cambus 40 Years Old
American IdolsIcons of Whisky America 2018 winners announcedWhisky Magazine announced the American winners of the 2018 Icons of Whisky recently.
The evening proved successful for Buffalo Trace, who took home the award for Distiller of the year, sponsored by Glencairn Crystal, ahead of Heaven Hill Brands. Buffalo Trace would also be highly commended in the Brand Innovator and Visitor Attraction category, while its Matt Higgins took home Visitor Attraction Manager of the year.
Brand Innovator of the year, sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions, was awarded to Breckenridge Distillery, while Texas’ Balcones Distillery was presented with Craft Producer of the year, sponsored by Wade Ceramics, narrowly beating Virginia Distillery Company. The distinguished Maker’s Mark Distillery picked up another gong, being awarded Visitor Attraction of the year.
In the people awards, Matthew Hofmann of Westland Distillery celebrated success as Master Distiller/Blender of the year ahead of Castle & Key’s Marianne Barnes. Victoria MacRae-Samuels won in the Broxburn Properties sponsored, Distillery Manager category for the second year running, edging out Ryan Ashley of Four Roses.
American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the year was Adam Harris of Beam Suntory, who pipped Winston Edwards from Balcones Distillery. Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador, sponsored by Procurus went to David Laird from William Grant & Sons, with Robin Nance of Beam Suntory highly commended.
Allison Parc of Brenne Whisky won the World Whisky Brand Ambassador category for the second year in a row, ahead of Gardner Dunn from Beam Suntory.
The retailer awards say Binny’s Beverage Depot win the Multiple Outlets Retailer of the year category sponsored by Amrut Distilleries, beating Liquor Barn. In the Single Outlet Retailer category, Astor Wines & Spirits came out on top ahead of Ace Spirits.
Online Retailer was awarded to Binny’s for their second award of the evening, with Ace again highly commended.
Duty Free Americas picked up the final award for Travel Retailer of the year.
The prestigious Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame received its latest inductee – Fritz Maytag III. Seen by many as the father of craft distilling in the US, Maytag’s induction was well received by the attended industry figures.
RIP Pearse LyonsThe Alltech founder, who was born in Dundalk, Ireland and built a career in first animal feed and then the brewing and distilling industry, passed away recently.
The entrepeneur, who was instrumental in building distilleries in Kentucky and Dublin, died following complications after receiving routine heart surgery in early March.
Dr. Lyons built upon his brewing and distilling passion, and his legacy, when in 2017 he and Deirdre realised their dream of opening an Irish whiskey distillery in Dublin. Their quest to find the perfect location led them to the long-abandoned St. James’ Church in The Liberties district of the city.
Dr. Lyons is survived by his wife, Deirdre; daughter, Aoife; and son, Mark and Mark’s wife, Holly.
How THE Glenlivet became THE definitive whiskyWe recently launched our most ambitious campaign to date – THE Whisky, The Glenlivet – to celebrate our role as the definitive Speyside single malt and connect with next generation whisky consumers globally. Since 1824, The Glenlivet has pioneered the celebrated Speyside style and is regarded as the definitive whisky that stands for life definitive pleasures. It’s an unbeatable mix that all started with our founder, George Smith.
Smith was a fiercely ambitious and courageous man who overcame many hurdles to create the first licensed distillery in Scotland’s parish of the Glenlivet. His flawlessly smooth, fresh and fruity whisky came to define the Speyside character and was sought after by notable enthusiasts such as King George IV and Charles Dickens. These qualities still define our brand today, almost 200 Years later, as we continue to establish The Glenlivet as a benchmark of excellence.
‘THE Whisky, The Glenlivet’ campaign celebrates our rich history while showing how we are culturally relevant today. Built on the insight that constant, ever-expanding oversupply is making us numb, it demonstrates the beauty of the unspoilt world – whether that’s looking up at THE night sky or gathering with friends around THE fire – and encourages our drinkers to seek out definitive pleasures with the definitive whisky. By looking beyond the day to day, it’s possible to unlock something special – just as George Smith did by accomplishing his quest to create the ultimate Speyside single malt.