3 December 2021 • 13:30 GMT • Edinburgh
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otheby’s is delighted to announce the first of our biennial auctions of ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies and experiences under the name “The Distillers One of One” in partnership with The Worshipful Company Of Distillers' philanthropic arm, The Distillers' Charity.
The first Distillers’ One of One auction – comprising one-off, never-to-be-repeated lots specially created and donated by leading Scotch Whisky distilleries – will take place at Barnbougle Castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh on Friday 3 December 2021. This is a ticketed event for which all attendees must be registered. There are over 40 lots, which showcase the excellence in quality, innovation and value of Scotch Whisky, ranging in estimates from just £1,000 upwards to £500,000.
This groundbreaking auction would not be possible without the generosity of some of the most revered brands in Scotch Whisky. The Worshipful Company of Distillers have galvanized whisky brands, both new and old, from every region of Scotland to present exceptional whiskies with incredible creativity, all in the name of charity.
Distillers One of One | Groundbreaking Charity Whisky Auction
In addition to the generous bottles, casks and experiences donated for this sale, these brands also gave further support to make this event possible. The donor brands each fall into one of three tiers - Founders, Members and Associates, which are laid out below:
Founder Lots
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Member Lots
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Associate Lots
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“Our ties with the Scotch Whisky Industry have been invaluable in creating this landmark sale, and the generosity shown has been overwhelming. Across the spectrum of the industry from independents to family-owned and global companies, we have come together in a collective endeavor to support the youth of today in Scotland through practical training and education. We are also delighted to have Sotheby’s on board to help with our philanthropic mission which will have far-reaching benefits for decades to come.”
- Jonathan Driver, Master of The Worshipful Company of Distillers,
The Distillers’ Charity aims to make a difference to young people, helping them to reach their full potential, improve their life chances, and make a positive contribution to their communities. The Distillers’ Charity pursues its mission through its work across three distinctive but interrelated grant-making areas:
- Vocational Training & Education provides support to assist promising, young entrants to the UK spirits trade to develop their knowledge and skills. Being at the heart of our industry we partner with leading institutions including The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) and The International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) at Heriot-Watt University.
- Livery & City Giving reflects our position as a Livery charity with roots in the City of London. This fund helps improve the life chances for young people including those suffering from hardship. Grantees include The Drinks Trust, Alcohol Education Trust (AET) and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal for OnSide Youth Zones.
- The Youth Action Fund, which is a completely new initiative and will be funded by the proceeds raised from the series of Distillers One of One auctions. Further details of this exciting initiative are set out below.
“Working closely with The Distillers’ Charity and The Worshipful Company of Distillers, we will harness our knowledge and expertise in hosting auctions to create a regular series of sales that will not only shine a light on the Scotch Whisky industry but also raise valuable funds to support disadvantaged young people in Scotland.”
- Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine and Spirits
Youth Action Fund
Our objective with the Youth Action Fund is to transform the life chances of 16 to 25-year-old people in Scotland, empowering them to create positive change in their lives and communities. The Youth Action Fund is targeted to reach over 1,000 young people in its first two years and then grow significantly from there. Our aim is to make a positive and lasting difference to individuals who face challenges in reaching their full potential by supporting collaborative high-quality training, education, vocational and other life-enhancing opportunities which will make a real impact in their journey to employment.
To achieve this, the trustees of Distillers’ Charity commissioned Inspiring Scotland to undertake a detailed scoping report. Inspiring Scotland is a social enterprise working with people, communities, businesses, charities, philanthropists, and public bodies to develop solutions to some of the deepest social problems; since 2008, the organisation has helped to transform over 100,000 lives making Scotland a better place.
Inspiring Scotland’s work included mapping youth unemployment across Scotland, identifying gaps and opportunities, understanding existing employability initiatives, having discussions with industry and charity leaders and the development and detailed design of the Youth Action Fund.
Building on this work, Inspiring Scotland have curated, on behalf of Distillers’ Charity, a small portfolio of charities for the Youth Action Fund and will facilitate the development of close working relationships across this network. Inspiring Scotland will support the organisations, through rigorous impact evaluation, to continuously improve and develop new ways of working, and nurture partnerships through shared goals and interests to maximise the impact of their work with young people.
The Youth Action Fund Portfolio of Charities:
Aberdeen Foyer is a charitable organisation supporting people towards independent living, learning and work. Aberdeen Foyer start with people’s strengths, supporting them to build their confidence, develop their talents and make change. Services include offering supported housing, learning, training, counselling, employment support and health improvement initiatives.
Through the Youth Action Fund, Aberdeen Foyer’s futures team will provide flexible one to one and group support for a cohort of young people in Aberdeenshire who are at risk of not progressing into work or learning. Young people will be guided to develop resilience, confidence, networks, ambition, and self-awareness. In addition, where appropriate, support will be provided to improve nutrition, physical activity, relationships, mental health and to address alcohol and drug misuse. Each young person is also supported to achieve accredited qualifications and skills.
The Alcohol Education Trust (AET) works across the UK to keep young people safe around alcohol. AET is a leading “early intervention” charity that supports young people aged 11 – 25 in making more informed life choices. AET takes a joined-up approach to reduce alcohol-related harm through training professionals working with young people in a range of settings to improving learning and life chances, strengthening role models and boundary setting, thereby creating a sustainable legacy.
Through the Youth Action Fund, AET will provide expertise on reducing alcohol-related harm in Scotland across the Youth Action Fund portfolio, ensuring that alcohol education is an integral part of the support provided to young people on their journey to employment. This will be provided through training for staff who are delivering support through the Youth Action Fund portfolio charities, ensuring that they are able to deliver interactive workshops for young people. AET will also provide specialist resources to the staff and young people in each setting.
ENABLE Scotland delivers a range of support services across Scotland, including the ENABLE Works service which provides employment and skills support, assisting people with disabilities or other challenges into employment. Stepping Up is a school transitions programme supporting young people to explore their aspirations for the future, achieve accredited qualifications and a positive destination upon leaving school. Support through Stepping Up is personalised to each individual young person and covers all aspects of their lives that are relevant to achieving success.
Through the Youth Action Fund, ENABLE Scotland’s Stepping Up service will provide cover in selected local authority areas in Central Scotland, as well as schools in Moray, with coordinated outreach to Harris, Lewis and Islay. The delivery model is embedded in schools and delivered alongside teachers engaging young people. The staged process includes initial planning with young people aged 16-17 at school, followed by transitional support preparing young people to leave school. Post school support, in the first year after leaving, will also be provided.
Street League uses the power of sport to support young people living in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities into work. Young people are encouraged to get active, learn, plan forward and take positive life decisions, as they are supported to overcome their practical and personal barriers to employment. Street League also support young people in work with opportunities to develop further, which results in sustaining work for longer - and also career progression.
Through the Youth Action Fund, Street League will run programmes in selected secondary schools across four local authorities: Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Ayrshire. Services will be delivered in various community settings in these areas through Street League’s online ‘Head Body Future’ programme. Street League will also deliver a special project on Islay, which will involve in-person delivery and online services.
Sponsors:
As engineering design consultant and project lead acting on behalf of many of the leading whisky brands across the world, we have been providing leadership alongside innovative and sustainable design within the distilling sector for over 40 years from our Scottish offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Elgin.
Founded in 1862, Simpsons Malt is a fifth-generation family-owned business. The company’s passion is making malts with taste, flavour and consistently high quality, helping the world’s best distillers craft the finest whiskies. From grain to glass, the company’s malts are fully traceable, produced only from 100%, certified seeds of the finest UK two-row barley.
Glencairn Crystal Studio is a family business based in Scotland celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. We are the world experts in the design, creation and supply of crystal and glass containers for super premium spirits and the company behind the world’s favourite whisky glass: the Glencairn Glass.
J. C. Ribeiro was founded in 1987 and has been since the very start, exclusively devoted to designing and producing high-quality cork stoppers for the premium end of the spirits industry. We offer our customers exclusive and bespoke solutions. J. C. Ribeiro’s corporate culture is based on firm long-standing relationships, both with its customers and with its suppliers
McLaren Packaging
McLaren Packaging specialise in the design and manufacture of premium, paper-based packaging for the Scotch whisky industry. Employing approximately 260 people across 6 sites in Central Scotland, our goal is to deliver a sustainable business that has minimal impact on the environment and a positive impact on the communities that we operate in.
The Worshipful Company of Distillers
The Worshipful Company of Distillers (The Distillers) is an historic City Livery Company with a proud history and 21st century relevance. Established originally, to monitor and regulate commercial distilleries within a 21-mile radius of The City of London, The Distillers have changed with the times. Still at the heart of the distilling industry the focus is now very much on philanthropy and fellowship.
Today, the principal activity is to support relevant charitable causes, underpinned by giving back amongst the Livery, recognising the value of time and talent as well as money. Beyond this philanthropic scope, The Distillers is at the heart of the spirits industry, by inspiring the craft, understanding and enjoyment of distilled products through industry championship and fellowship.
From its formation as a corporation by Royal Charter in 1638, The Distillers were raised to the status of Livery Company in 1672, the 350th anniversary of this is in 2022. There are 110 Livery Companies in The City of London who play an active role in the life of The City.
