Marking a historic milestone for the whisky industry, new limited edition bottling For the Dolls marks the first time a whisky has been released in direct support of a trans rights charity.
Only 300 bottles are on sale sold directly through iconic London retailer Milroy’s of Soho (with drams available exclusively in London bars 3 Greek St and DRAM), with all profits heading to trans charity Not a Phase, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to supporting trans adults.
The bottling isn’t just about flavor; it’s also a response to the UK Supreme Court’s April 2025 ruling that redefined “sex” in the Equality Act as “biological sex as noted at birth,” a change already affecting access to gendered services and protections. For the Dolls aims to push back in its own small but purposeful way while breaking new ground in whisky.
At the center of this project is a Speyside whisky, a 13-year-old Dailuaine single malt drawn from a single hogshead distilled in June 2012. By whisky standards, 300 bottles is a tiny release, and also good bang for the buck for a single cask whisky at the affordable price of £55 ($72). The official tasting notes mention aromas of lemon meringue, orange oil, green apple, pecan, and dried flowers with a savory undertone from hessian, tobacco box, and forest-floor notes. The notes on the palate point to pear, blackberry, lemon strudel, and a nostalgic hit of rhubarb and custard, followed by hazelnut, hay, black tea, and an earthy depth. The finish is medium-length, drying, and gently spiced.
For the Dolls is a collaborative project. Whisky writer Kristiane Westray teamed up with Milroy’s and also brought in photographer Josh Campbell, designer Li Simmons, and senior copywriter Rosie Mussen, all of whom donated their time and work along with Milroy’s head of marketing Laura Carl and PR firm Wonderland Comms.
To Westray, this is a project that aims to promote effective allyship:
“The Scotch industry has a reputation for being quite traditional, and there are lingering misconceptions that whisky is only for a few – most notably, wealthy, cisgender men. I’m here to say that whisky is for everyone, of all genders, and that very much includes trans+ people. I hope that For the Dolls bottling inspires greater inclusion, allyship and proactive action within the whisky industry and beyond.”
The release of For the Dolls was timed carefully, aligned with the end of Transgender Awareness Week, which itself leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance today (November 20th), a moment to honor trans people lost to violence and discrimination. Not a Phase, the charity receiving 100% of the release’s profits, focuses on improving the lives of trans adults across the UK through social projects, community initiatives, and awareness-raising campaigns.
The For the Dolls team makes clear where they stand on the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling. They make clear that they see the ruling as “damaging” and “cruel,” with cascading impacts for trans, non-binary, intersex, gender-nonconforming, and disabled people, while also restricting access to gendered facilities and fueling broader hostility.
Against that backdrop, the release of For the Dolls marks a small but significant step for the whisky industry. It reflects a growing effort within the drinks industry to reckon with its own culture. Whisky, often imagined as the domain of older men, is slowly but steadily opening up. These are the kinds of bottlings that also send a clear message about the kinds of values that should be appreciated and championed in the wider industry.
The statement from Not a Phase in the official press release certainly reflects this:
“For the Dolls is more than a whisky. It’s a statement that trans+ lives matter. We are grateful to Kristiane and Milroy’s of Soho for using their platform to support the trans+ community at a time when human rights are under threat. Every bottle sold directly funds vital services and initiatives that uplift trans+ adults across the UK, and it sends a clear message: trans+ lives matter, and allies in all spaces, including whisky, are standing with us.”
Westray’s approach, and the existence of this bottling, highlights the role of community-driven initiatives in that shift, and how whisky can play a supporting role in this regard. This release encourages whisky fans and drinkers to think about allyship not just in theory but in practice: supporting charities, showing up for trans communities, and challenging the narratives that make projects like this necessary in the first place.
Little wonder the team recommends that this whisky is “Best served alongside writing to your MP, donating to fundraisers and protecting the dolls at all costs. Because a world without trans people has never existed and never, ever will.”