The Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s have announced the continuation of their partnership for the biennial Distillers One of One Auction, the world’s leading charity whisky auction. Sotheby’s, which has hosted the sale since its inception in 2021, will work with the charity on the next four editions, extending the partnership through 2033.
Across the first three auctions, the event has raised £6.6 million ($8.4 million) for The Distillers’ Charity, supporting 4,582 disadvantaged young people across Scotland as of the end of March 2026. The three sales held so far have set 72 brand auction records and attracted bidders from more than 20 countries, with 49 companies donating 120 lots to date.
The inaugural 2021 auction remains the most valuable charity whisky auction ever held, achieving £3.1 million ($4.1 million). Highlights included a four-bottle set of Glenfiddich from the 1950s, which sold for £1 million ($1.4 million), a record for Glenfiddich. In 2023, Bowmore topped the sale with STAC 55 Years Old, the oldest whisky ever released by the distillery, at £562,500 ($679.3k). In 2025, The Glenlivet led with SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965, the distillery’s oldest expression to date, presented in a 1.5 litre spiral decanter, which sold for £650,000 ($871.4k) and set a new benchmark for the brand.
Donors have come from across the Scotch whisky industry, including Bacardi, John Dewar & Sons, Brown Forman, Campari Group, Chivas Brothers, Diageo, Gleann Mór, Gordon & Mac Phail, International Beverage, KANDOBLANC, Suntory Global Spirits, The Last Drop, and William Grant & Sons, among others.
Founded more than 70 years ago, The Distillers’ Charity is the philanthropic arm of The Worshipful Company of Distillers. Following the 2021 sale, it launched the Youth Action Fund, supported exclusively through auction proceeds, with 100 percent of the hammer proceeds going directly to charitable causes. During 2025 alone, 1,007 young people achieved a successful employability outcome, with more than 3,100 such outcomes since the fund’s inception.
The fourth edition of the Distillers One of One Auction will take place in Scotland in October 2027, with further details to be announced.
(Press Release)
