Sotheby’s to Supply Two Extremely-Uncommon Casks of Whisky from the Fabled
Brora and Port Ellen Distilleries
Estimated at £700,000 – 1,200,000 Every
Each Casks Offered Alongside Artist Collaborations in addition to Distinctive Experiences
Public sale in Partnership with Diageo to Take Place in London on 14 June
Throughout Sotheby’s Jubilee Season
LONDON, 31 MAY 2022 – The names of Brora and Port Ellen are sometimes referenced in the identical breath – and with distinct tones of reverence – by whisky aficionados. This summer time, Sotheby’s will provide two ultra-rare casks, one from every distillery, from Diageo’s Casks of Distinction programme.* By no means to be seen once more, these choices are among the many rarest and most precious casks in existence from Brora and Port Ellen’s dwindling shares of ghost casks, containing the liquid left behind when the distilleries fell silent. Carrying an estimate of £700,000 to £1,200,000 every, they are going to open Sotheby’s sale of Scotch Whisky in London on 14 June, with advance bidding open from 31 Might. Diageo will donate 5% of the ultimate hammer value from each casks to Care Worldwide to assist the continuing disaster in Ukraine.
Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky, North America and EMEA, mentioned “This partnership between Sotheby’s and Diageo showcases an unrivalled providing of uncommon whisky casks at public sale. On making an attempt the 1982 Brora I used to be astounded by its high quality – the wealthy cooked fruit flavours elevating its signature evenly peated character. The Port Ellen is a masterclass in Seventies Islay smoke with important cask affect, which, particularly when from a closed distillery, is exactly the model that the world’s prime whisky collectors search out.”
James Mackay, Head of Uncommon and Distinctive Spirits at Diageo, mentioned “With the assistance of two extremely completed modern artists, we’re thrilled to supply these casks on the market by Sotheby’s as true artworks.”
The sale of the casks, in partnership with Diageo, is a part of Sotheby’s month-long programme of exhibitions and occasions in its New Bond Road premises marking Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which is going down from 28 Might to fifteen June. Two casks will likely be on show within the galleries, specifically loaned for the event.
All distilleries from Diageo’s Scotch portfolio are eligible for Casks of Distinction; nevertheless, on very uncommon however cherished events, a cask taken from the diminishing inventory of casks of the fabled Brora and Port Ellen distilleries are additionally included. The profitable bidders will likely be invited to additional age their casks for as much as 5 years earlier than they’re bottled.
Representing the very pinnacle of uncommon whisky possession, every cask comes with a singular creative expertise, with the ensuing art work printed on every of the bottles of the cask yield. The brand new house owners can even be given the chance to ask as much as three visitors to affix them for a Diageo Uncommon & Distinctive expertise.
Each closed in 1983, Brora and Port Ellen turned famend for the distinctive high quality and character of whisky maturing of their shuttered warehouses. Seen because the misplaced icons of the whisky world, these two distilleries and whiskies gained legendary standing throughout their closed years. Because it was introduced in 2017 that there can be a £35 million funding into their reopening, curiosity in these whiskies has been reignited.
Brora 1982 Cask of Distinction: The Spirit of Brora in Collaboration with Trey Ratcliff
The highland distillery of Brora – positioned the place land meets sea on the north-eastern fringe of Scotland – was reawakened in Might 2021 following a three-year restoration course of. Famend photographer Trey Ratcliff, who has devoted his life to capturing the sweetness that exists on the fringe of the world, will journey to Scotland for the primary time, accompanied by the cask proprietor on an journey to seize a portfolio of photographs that convey to life the panorama that helped form this distinctive liquid. The cask proprietor’s chosen picture will grow to be a big format version print, along with getting used to create a set of bespoke labels for the bottles that will likely be drawn from the cask. Distilled in 1982, the whisky within the cask is estimated to yield 145 bottles.
Talking on the collaboration, Trey mentioned “My pictures seize moments in time and provides those that view them a chance to mirror and transport to a different place on the planet. I’ve devoted my life to capturing the sweetness that exists on the very fringe of the world, locations the place the sky meets the ocean, Brora is one such place. I’ve been longing to journey to Scotland and absorb its stunning landscapes and to do that for the primary time, accompanied by somebody who appreciates an distinctive whisky like this, will likely be an epic journey.”
Port Ellen 1979 Cask of Distinction: Capturing the Gentle in Collaboration with Ini Archibong
Situated on the western fringe of the Isle of Islay, or the “Queen of the Hebrides”, Port Ellen is a priceless jewel in Diageo’s crown. Spirit will quickly start to be made at Port Ellen once more from Spring 2023. Ini Archibong, the globally recognised designer and artist, will create a singular piece of artwork capturing the sunshine of Port Ellen and its spirit in colored glass. The one-off sculpture will likely be a bodily expression of the “Dram and the Water” – representing each the valuable nature of the liquid contained in the cask and the distillery’s most treasured useful resource. Crafted from Murano Glass and completed within the colors of Islay, the distinctive sculptural piece will likely be offered to the cask proprietor in Port Ellen as soon as the distillery has reopened. Ini can even develop and create a bespoke color gradient that will likely be used to design a set of labels for the bottles drawn from the cask. Distilled in 1979, the whisky within the cask is estimated to yield 102 bottles.
Talking concerning the art work, Archibong mentioned “This artwork piece represents the valuable nature of the liquid contained in the cask. Unified and juxtaposed with our most treasured useful resource – water – they symbolize the guts and soul of Islay and her folks. Like a treasured magic gem precariously holding a finite useful resource that gives infinite recollections; this piece is a reminder to its proprietor of the second that they captured Islay in a cask, and her spirit mirrored on the floor of colored glass. This artefact is a singular piece. There is just one.”
Brora Distillery
Port Ellen Distillery
Sotheby’s first whisky public sale of 2022 in London can even embody quite a lot of bottles of extremely collectible advantageous and uncommon whisky from each Scotland and Japan, in addition to a small number of classic Moutai from China.
Whisky of Distinction | Port Ellen & Brora: Casks From A Bygone Period
*Casks of Distinction are distinctive and uncommon casks drawn from Diageo’s intensive shares in Scotland. Every cask is hand chosen by grasp blenders and chosen on the premise of its high quality; as such, they symbolize probably the most distinctive and singular expression of the distillery’s character.
