Whisky ambassadors and industry veterans are holding a second annual online charity auction to benefit the Ben, a Scottish drinks industry charity, from 18-27 August.
Hosted by online spirits auctioneer Whisky.Auction, the line-up of bottles available in the Whisky Ambassadors’ Collection Auction includes a 43-year-old Ladyburn from independent bottler Blackadder, a 25-year-old Glen Scotia signed by malt master Michael Henry and a one-of-a-kind Glenfarclas 1981 Family Casks Special Release.
A mystery bottle of malt whisky said to be ‘a must for any serious whisky collector out there’ has also been donated by independent bottler Elixir Distillers.
The bottles have been donated by industry friends of Isle of Arran Distillers’ sales manager Andy Bell and former Brown-Forman business development manager Craig Johnstone, both of whom co-founded the annual auction in 2018.
Bell said: ‘The way that everyone heard the call-to-arms and collaborated on this, from managing directors and master blenders to sales people and ambassadors, really highlighted the cooperative nature of the Scotch whisky industry at large.
‘We realised that as well as raising cash for a good cause, auctioning the Ambassadors’ Collection would allow us to show our collaborative nature to the world.’
Bell and Johnstone’s chosen charity the Ben supports struggling drinks industry professionals in Scotland with financial grants, subsidised accommodation and resources to improve recipients’ mental health.
In August 2018, the first annual Whisky Ambassadors’ Collection Auction raised £10,150 for the charity.
Whisky.Auction has previously hosted other charity auctions, notably a sale of ‘exceptional spirits’ in November 2018 which raised more than £350,000 for environmental charity Plastic Oceans.
