Oldest Glenglassaugh breaks auction record for charity

Glenglassaugh Coalescence of the Coast aged 55 Years, a one-of-a-kind expression crafted by Master Blender Rachel Barrie, has been sold as part of the Distillers One of One Auction, raising a total of £37,500*, the highest price ever achieved for a bottle of Glenglassaugh at auction.

Created exclusively for the auction to raise vital funds to help disadvantaged young people in Scotland, the expression marries three individual casks of Glenglassaugh filled in 1963, 1965 and 1967. The coalescence of these rare casks expresses the extraordinary character of Glenglassaugh after decades of coastal maturation.

The liquid is held within a custom made crystal decanter which is housed in a bespoke, hand-crafted wooden box inspired by Glenglassaugh’s coastal home. The design reflects the ripples of the shore at Sandend Bay and is adorned with the natural serpentine marble from the distillery’s neighbouring harbour town, Portsoy. The lot buyer will also receive three miniature samples, one taken from each of the three casks used for the marriage.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Glenglassaugh Distillery, said: “The elixir within this bespoke bottle of Glenglassaugh is a precise composition which captures Glenglassaugh at its quintessential peak, with seductive cassis, sublime mandarin peel and soft aromatic sherry in a caress of silken oak. One sip awakens the senses with mesmerising waves of luscious black cherry, ripe mango and tropical flora carried on an endless ocean breeze. To taste Glenglassaugh Single Malt is to experience the evocative coastal influence of Sandend Bay.

“Now is such an exciting time for Glenglassaugh. We’re still riding the wave of the new portfolio launch and we have so much to look forward to with some exquisite new releases of old and rare whisky which date back to the 60s and 70s still to come. Watch this space.”

The Distillers’ Charity hosted the second biennial One of One Auction, in partnership with Sotheby’s, in Hopetoun House near Edinburgh on Thursday 5 October, raising an outstanding total of £2.25 million / $2.7 million, doubling the pre sale low estimate. Hammer proceeds of £1.8 million from the auction, which saw 39 lots of unique whiskies and experiences donated by distilleries from across Scotland, will primarily benefit The Distillers’ Charity’s Youth Action Fund, which aims to transform the lives of young people in Scotland.

*Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

The hammer price total of the Auction will benefit The Distillers’ Charity with ninety percent going to its newly created Youth Action Fund which will be used to change the life chances of disadvantaged young people in Scotland. The remaining ten percent will be used by The Distillers’ Charity for its general charitable purposes.

About Coalescence of the Coast aged 55 Years:

Master Blender Rachel Barrie crafted Coalescence of the Coast, a one-of-a-kind 55 year old expression to celebrate the extraordinary character of Glenglassaugh after decades of coastal maturation. To create the expression, whisky at its peak was combined from rare individual casks of Glenglassaugh filled in 1963, 1965 and 1967. The highest bidder also received three miniature samples, one taken from each of the three casks used for the marriage.

COLOUR
Flame ruby gold.

NOSE
Seductively sublime notes of cassis, morello cherry and mandarin peel coalesce with mesmerising waves of caramelised fig, aromatic sherry and tropical flora.

TASTE
Luscious waves of ripe black cherry and amaretto meld into an elixir of mango and guava, seducing the palate with silken oak on an endless ocean breeze.

ABV
40.8%

About Glenglassaugh Distillery

There’s a place where the land meets the sea. Where the senses are awakened and sweet air mingles with a crack of sea salt. Where flavours ride the waves of sea and air. Until they come to rest, in a place of perfect harmony. A taste of Glenglassaugh is a pull to the lush shores of Sandend Bay. Where, in curving copper stills and dark casks of oak, a coastal single malt is born. Softly rolling surf sweeps across a scattering of ancient harbour towns here, while dolphins play, gannets dive, and spirits are renewed by the joy of life at a gentler pace. www.glenglassaugh.com

About the Distillers One of One Auction

The hammer proceeds total for the 2023 auction was £1.8 million and for the 2021 auction was £2.4m. The entire combined hammer proceeds of £4.2 million goes to The Distillers’ Charity, with 90% of that amount going to the Youth Action Fund and 10% going to the charity for its general charitable purposes.

About The Distillers’ Charity

The Distillers’ Charity (registered no. 1193683) is the philanthropic arm of The Worshipful Company of Distillers. The Charity’s vision is to make a difference especially to young people, and those within the distilled spirits trade, helping them to reach their full potential, improve their life chances and make a positive contribution to their communities. Distillers’ Charity mission is manifested through three distinctive grant-making areas:

Vocational Training & Education: to provide educational and development support to new and recent entrants to the UK spirits trade, encouraging high standards of distilling practice and service.
Livery & City giving: to fulfil our wider civic duties as a Livery, supporting the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the Master’s charity and other good causes aligned with our vision.
Youth Action Fund: created by The Distillers’ Charity to use proceeds from The Distillers One of One auctions to support young people in Scotland, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, to reach their potential and make a positive contribution to their communities.

* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.