William Grant & Sons, the family-owned company behind Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, has launched a new private clients service that will grant its members privileged access to some of the rarest Scotch whiskies in the world.
Founded over 130 years ago, William Grant & Sons boasts some of the finest and oldest whisky reserves. Private clients will enjoy a direct-to-distillery relationship that includes tailored access to the most precious of these stocks. Designed for only the most discerning (and wealthy) collectors, they will also become party to the knowledge and expertise garnered over six generations through curated experiences.
To mark the occasion, the company has donated three incredibly rare lots from each of its distilleries (ghost distillery Ladyburn is the third) to the inaugural Distillers One of One charity auction. The contribution not only gives interested collectors a tantalizing preview of the new Private Clients business but will help One of One reach its target of raising over £1m ($1.36m) for Scottish charities.
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The Ladyburn David Bailey John Lennon edition / ©WG&S
With a high estimate of $475,000, the most significant lot is a four-decanter set of one-off bottlings from Glenfiddich. The expressions from 1955, 1957, 1958 and 1959 represent the oldest reserves in the company’s extensive stocks, making them true unicorns of the whisky world. The decanters have been handblown by Baccarat with a 24-carat gold neck and are encased in a high-tech cabinet designed and made by NEJ Stevenson. The cabinet is fitted with a high precision thermometer and hygrometer allowing for careful control of the environmental conditions. Innovative mechanisms will keep the cork from drying out, allowing for potential buyers to preserve the whisky for generations.
Its second lot is a David Bailey John Lennon edition from Ladyburn. The 54 Year Old was distilled in 1966, the first of Ladyburn’s nine years of operations. The whisky includes a sought-after hand-signed photograph by Bailey featuring the iconic Beatles star.
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The third and final lot from The Balvenie has been hand-selected by the living legend David Stewart and will be one of the rarest and oldest expressions ever released. Distilled in 1964, the complex liquid will be presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter by Dartington Crystal and a hand-made calligraphic label by world-renowned illustrator Peter Horridge.
Jonathan Driver, the managing director of Private Clients and a leading figure behind the auction, said: “The Distillers One of One is hugely significant because it is the first time that these precious whisky stocks have been made available. These liquids are beyond rare, they are truly ‘one of one’, and their sale is historic as it represents the future legacy held in these liquids.”
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The Balvenie has been hand-selected by the living legend David Stewart / ©WG&S
On the launch of the new Private Clients division, he said: “Private Clients has privileged access to exceptionally rare stocks, a curated portfolio, cask bottling, rare and collectible whiskies and limited-edition collections.
“As a family-owned company, we believe releasing ‘unseen wonders’ of the whisky world draws upon our legacy and craftsmanship, and delivers something very special to our community. Our community of collectors are connoisseurs and have great expertise and knowledge; they look to us as pioneers who provide new inspiration through the unseen wonders portfolio.”
For more information about William Grant & Sons Private Clients and to register to bid at The Distillers One of One auction, please contact privateclients@wgrant.com
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