Spirits giants Diageo are donating a one-of-a-kind bottle of a new 50-year-old Brora, dubbed Iris, to the Distillers One of One charity auction. The bottling is described as a piece of art and is the oldest single malt to have been bottled by the Highland distillery.
“Few distilleries in the world conjure such majesty and awe as Brora and the opportunity that this one-off art piece and incredible whisky presents puts this item as one of the top lots within the auction,” said Jonny Fowle, head of whisky at Sotheby’s. “Having tasted it myself, I can say that this is a truly exceptional Brora.”
Created in collaboration with a number of artists and craftspeople, the 1.5-litre Brora Iris decanter was designed to “capture the awakened spirit” of the distillery, and represents the eye of a Scottish wildcat. Scotland-based sculptor and artist Michelle De Bruin made the stone sculpture from the same limestone that was used to build Brora Distillery.
The single malt Scotch whisky has “a style that has come to define the Brora iconic status,” says Brora Iris master blender Dr Craig Wilson. On the nose, the whiskey offers fortified wine, treacle toffee, sea salt, and coal smoke. The palate delivers oak spice and a balance of smoky-sweet with hints of autumn wood smoke, honeycomb, and vanilla fudge. The finish is gently warming with gingery spice, black pepper, and more smoke.
Bidding for Brora Iris will open September 14 and is expected to fetch between £250,000-£500,000 ($317,000-$634,000 USD) when it goes under the hammer at the One of One auction on October 5 at Hopetoun House, Edinburgh, in partnership with Sotheby’s. The proceeds raised from the sale of the auction will be donated to the Distillers’ Charity, principally to the Youth Action Fund.
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
In May 2021, Diageo restarted production at Brora distillery after 38 years and a multi-million pound investment.