The third edition of The Distillers One of One charity whisky auction has once again proven that whisky and goodwill make a powerful blend. Held on Friday, 10 October 2025, at Edinburgh’s grand Hopetoun House, the biennial auction hosted in partnership with Sotheby’s raised an impressive £2.9 million ($3.9 million), with £2.3 million ($3.1 million) from hammer prices going to charity, more than doubling its pre-sale estimate and setting 30 new auction records in the process.
This year’s result pushes the total raised by One of One to £6.6 million ($8.4 million) since its inception in 2021, with 100% of hammer proceeds directed to charitable causes. The money raised primarily supports the Youth Action Fund, which helps disadvantaged young people across Scotland into employment, education, and training.
The One of One Whisky Auction’s Remarkable Record-Breaking Bottles
The sale featured 39 one-off Scotch whisky lots from 35 distilleries, each unique and created exclusively for the event. Bidding was animated both in the room, over the phones, and online, with some increments leaping by as much as £140,000 as bidding continued far past expectations.
Leading the pack was The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965, which fetched £650,000 ($871,358) — a new record for the brand and far beyond its £60,000–£110,000 estimate. The 1.5-litre spiral decanter, hand-blown by Glasstorm’s Brodie Nairn, became the highest-selling lot of the night.
Another standout was The Glen Grant Eternal 77 Year Old 1948, the oldest whisky ever released by the distillery. It sold for £400,000 ($536,220), five times its predicted low estimate, setting yet another record.
The revived Port Ellen also drew significant attention: its Prism 46 Year Old 1978 sold for £375,000 ($502,706), a record for the brand. The 1.5-litre decanter came encased in a striking 100-kilo glass sculpture by German artist Wilfried Grootens.
Other record-breaking sales included the Ladyburn One of One 2025 Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw 58 Year Old, which reached £225,000 ($301,624), and Laphroaig Capsule 40 Year Old, which tripled its low estimate to fetch £125,000 ($167,569). KANDOBLANC’s Dragon in Clouds 60 Year Old, a striking Murano glass creation, also set a new record for the brand at £106,250 ($142,433).
Across the sale, nearly every major distillery saw new highs — 30 in total, including Glenfarclas, The Glendronach, Bruichladdich, Glen Moray, and Tamnavulin, with 90% of listed lots surpassing their high estimates.
Christopher Coates, editor-at-large for Whisky Magazine, told me how impressed he was by the event:
“The quality of the lots were off the scale. The very rarest whiskies from Scotland’s most prestigious distillers. Presentations brought to life through thousands of hours of work by hundreds of people who live and breathe Scotch whisky. Effort invested during development processes stretching over years — some lots had been in development since before the last auction.”
He also had a front row seat watching the bidding:
“The atmosphere in the room was electric. As the hammer came down again and again, each time blowing through high estimates, you could feel the confidence in the room building with each sale.”
Very Happy One of One Whisky Auction Organizers
In the official press release, Grant Gordon OBE, Chairman of The Distillers’ Charity, said the sale showed the continued generosity and community spirit at the heart of the Scotch industry:
“What pride for me to see that the Scotch Whisky industry continues to come together to raise incredible amounts in support of young people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them achieve their ambitions and strengthen our communities,” Gordon said. “Over nearly four years, between January 2022 and the end of September 2025, the Youth Action Fund has helped 2,619 young people secure employability, meaning a job apprenticeship, training or education leading to work. We sincerely thank all those involved for their time and talent, whether they are in the industry, sponsors or craftspeople, and the buyers for their support and generosity, whose contribution together helps transform the lives of young people in Scotland.”
Distillers One of One Managing Director Beanie Espey-Geraedts called the result “a humbling demonstration of generosity”:
“We’re so humbled to see such generosity in action for this third Distillers One of One Auction. The resounding success is the result of an incredible collective endeavour across the Scotch whisky industry to create meaningful and lasting change, with much work behind the scenes from passionate individuals who care deeply about their communities. It is very special to us to know that this exceptional sum that has been raised will have a direct impact on Scotland’s disadvantaged youth.”
The auction’s success was also celebrated by Sotheby’s Global Head of Spirits, Jonny Fowle:
“The third Distillers One of One charity whisky sale has once again surpassed all expectations, delivering an exceptional result that truly reflects the passion and innovation at the heart of the Scotch whisky community,” he said. “The quality and creativity on offer were simply outstanding, showcasing the very best of the whisky world in every sense. What makes this year’s edition particularly memorable is the extraordinary number of brand records achieved.”
The One of One Whisky Auction Unites The Scotch Whisky Industry
Since 2021, The Distillers One of One has easily become the world’s most prestigious charity whisky auction, uniting distilleries large and small in a shared philanthropic effort. Among the 2025 founder donors were some of the biggest names in Scotch — from Chivas Brothers and Diageo to William Grant & Sons, Campari Group, and Suntory Global Spirits — alongside independent producers and brands.
The proceeds from this year’s auction will continue to support the Youth Action Fund’s work through six key partner organisations: Aberdeen Foyer, Action for Children, FARE Scotland, Street League, ENABLE Works, and the Talk About Trust. Together, these charities have already reached more than 3,700 young people across Scotland.
With record-breaking results and a clear focus on impact, the auction continues to prove that great whisky can do great things. For Scotsman Coates, it’s a reflection of the key values underpinning the Scotch whisky industry:
“Ultimately, great Scotch whisky is built on taking a long-term view. The industry doesn’t need to do this. The time and money invested by the distillers in these lots is significant and quite often the development process takes several iterations and failed attempts. It makes no ‘commercial’ sense, and uses their scarcest and most exceptional liquid. They do it because its the right thing to do. Not only to demonstrate that Scotch whisky is king, but to bring about meaningful change at a grassroots level, which is the essence of responsible leadership.”