Rare Whisky Auction Smashes Records, Raises $3.9 Million

Port Ellen Prism 46 Year Old 1978 during the Distillers One of One Charity Auction in partnership with Sotheby’s on Friday in Hopetoun House in South Queensferry. (Photo: Distillers One of One Charity Auction)

The third edition of The Distillers One of One charity auction raised £2.9 million ($3.9 million), surpassing its pre-sale estimate and setting 30 new auction records for rare Scotch whiskies, the auction house announced Friday.

Held at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh in partnership with Sotheby’s, the biennial auction featured 39 one-of-a-kind lots donated by 35 Scotch whisky distilleries and companies. All hammer proceeds will benefit the Youth Action Fund, which supports disadvantaged young people in Scotland.

Record-Breaking Results

The sale totaled £2,895,902 ($3,882,102), with a hammer price of £2,316,722 ($3,105,682) — far exceeding the expected range of £793,400 to £1,433,500. Ninety percent of lots exceeded their high estimates, and 100 percent of the hammer proceeds will go to charity.

Top results included:

• The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965, the oldest release from the distillery to date, sold for £650,000 ($871,358) — setting a new record for The Glenlivet.
• The Glen Grant Eternal 77 Year Old 1948 achieved £400,000 ($536,220), five times its low estimate.
• Port Ellen Prism 46 Year Old 1978 brought £375,000 ($502,706), a record for the distillery.
• Ladyburn One of One 2025 “Marilyn Monroe” 58 Year Old 1966 reached £225,000 ($301,624), breaking its previous auction record.
• Laphroaig Capsule 40 Year Old sold for £125,000 ($167,569), more than tripling its low estimate.
• KANDOBLANC Dragon In Clouds 60 Year Old achieved £106,250 ($142,433), doubling the brand’s previous record.
• The Glendronach Arias in Time, a four-bottle collection with bespoke bronze artwork, sold for £93,750 ($125,677).
• Glenfarclas 58 Year Old, in a 4.5-liter bottle, achieved £81,250 ($108,920) — a record for the distillery.
• Gordon & MacPhail 130th Anniversary Collection fetched £68,750 ($92,163).
• Mortlach 63 Year Old from The Macbeth Collection, featuring a Quentin Blake illustration, reached £67,500 ($90,487) — setting records for both Mortlach and Livingstone.

Other highlights included Old Pulteney Polaris 47 Year Old at £62,500 ($83,784), the Bruichladdich Cask of Biodynamic Single Malt 2013 at £50,000 ($67,028), and “Elementum” by Vicky Paul from The Borders Distillery at £25,000 ($33,514). Four “Mystery Malt” bottles from The Thompson Bros sold for £20,000 ($26,811), while the Distillers One of One 2025 Founders’ Reserve brought £17,500 ($23,460), with matching charitable contributions from The Ethos Foundation and The Hunter Foundation.

Supporting Young People in Scotland

Since the inaugural 2021 event, The Distillers One of One auctions have raised a total of £6.6 million ($8.4 million) for charity. Funds are primarily directed to the Youth Action Fund, which helps young people in Scotland access employment, training and education opportunities.

“What pride for me to see that the Scotch Whisky industry continues to come together to raise incredible amounts in support of young people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them achieve their ambitions and strengthen our communities,” Grant Gordon OBE, chairman of The Distillers’ Charity, said in a news release.

A Collective Industry Effort

The 2025 auction drew about 200 global guests, with bidders competing both in person and by phone. Thirty-five Scotch producers participated, from major names such as The Glenlivet, Glen Grant, Port Ellen, and Laphroaig to smaller distilleries like The Borders and Lindores Abbey.

Since its creation, the event has set 66 total auction records across all editions. The next Distillers One of One auction is scheduled for 2027.