As nice as it’s to search out high quality drams for inexpensive costs, typically it’s good to shut your eyes and picture what it could be like to have the ability to buy your whisky at prestigious auctions, fairly than your native grocery store.
As you may need guessed, in the present day’s put up is one thing slightly totally different and one thing slightly extra decadent. Okay, who am I kidding, it’s much more decadent, as it’s a dram which not too long ago bought at public sale at Sotheby’s no much less, for the princely sum of £75K.
The dram in query is The Glenlivet 56 Yr Outdated 1 of 1 and is the second launch as a part of The Glenlivet Everlasting Assortment. It’s a launch as a part of a partnership with Sotheby’s and was obtainable solely via Sotheby’s Most interesting & Rarest Whisky Public sale, which ran from November 6th – November 20th.
As if that wasn’t all, from November 10th, the whisky has additionally been displayed at Sotheby’s London Gallery. What I actually cherished about this explicit public sale, nevertheless, is the truth that proceeds from the public sale have been used to help the Nationwide Belief for Scotland’s excavation work throughout the gorgeous Cairngorms.
So, sit back, seize your fanciest glass, and let’s check out what actually makes a whisky that sells for £75K.
The Glenlivet Everlasting Assortment Second Version
The Glenlivet are not any strangers with regards to distinctive whisky. The distillery, which has roots that may be traced way back to 1824, is famend for producing distinctive premium-quality Speyside drams.
Out of the drams they’ve produced over the past 12 months or so, nevertheless, there’s a group that actually stands out, and that’s their Everlasting Assortment.
Launched again in 2024, Glenlivet kicked off their Everlasting Assortment with a cracking 55 12 months previous single malt whisky. This First Version dram was launched in collaboration with architect Michael Hansmayer. It featured a casing, designed by Michael, that was impressed by, and paid homage to, the house of The Glenlivet. This sculpture completely encapsulated the agricultural landscapes surrounding the Spey Valley.
Once more, the whisky bought at Sotheby’s for £63,000, making a whopping £42,000 (hammer worth) for The Nationwide Belief of Scotland. This 12 months, The Glenlivet have gone one 12 months, and greater than £33,000 higher with their 56 Yr Outdated 1 of 1.
The second launch within the collection, was crafted by Grasp Blender Kevin Balmforth who collaborated carefully with high-end sherry suppliers in Spain to create a sherry monster like no different.
Balmforth sourced a bespoke mix of Oloroso, PX, and Palo Cortado to season a brand-new European Spanish oak cask which helped season the whisky for a number of years. This was then mixed with an American ex-bourbon cask to provide a very distinctive twin maturation course of that lasted for greater than 4 years.
As spectacular because the whisky tastes (we’ll get to that shortly), you merely can not overlook the sheer craftsmanship and aesthetics of the status spherical, 24 carat gold-plated decanter, adorned with golden engravings depicting Scottish heather branches that it’s introduced in. It even includes a bespoke bar high full with a 137.73-carat lab-grown tourmaline simulant.
However wait, as if that wasn’t sufficient, there’s extra to return. Together with this gorgeous decanter, the whisky is accompanied by a Guatemalan marble sculptural plinth with gold-plated heather branches designed by Fredrikson Stallard, a British/Swedish artwork and design studio primarily based in London. The decanter and plinth have been each designed to characterize the dramatic Scottish terrain of Speyside.
Proceeds from the public sale have been donated to The Nationwide Belief for Scotland and the excavation work they’re at present finishing up within the Cairngorms to protect archaeological stays that are at present beneath risk because of erosion. Now that’s a worthy trigger if ever there have been one.
