Tain-based Glasstorm artists keeping close eye on £1m-plus Sotherby's whisky auction with stunning Bowmore, Old Pulteney and Glen Grant creations in global spotlight – and charity set to benefit
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STUNNING works of art produced by sought-out Easter Ross craftspeople will be showcased on a global stage later today.
Leading auction house Sotheby's today stages the second edition of its The Distillers One of One, spotlighting the world’s most distinguished ultra-rare whisky auction.
Amongst those attending a special private viewing at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh ahead of today's event was Brodie Nairn whose Tain-based Glasstorm studio is involved in no fewer than three of the sought-after lots up for grabs with a combined value of over £1m.
The highest value lot in the sale is Bowmore STAC 55 Years Old (which could do for up to £500,000), the oldest whisky ever released by the distillery.
Showcasing over half a century of exquisite and skilled maturation, the single malt "is housed in a striking and ground-breaking magnum-sized, 1.5 litre, hand-blown vessel made entirely of glass".
The concept pays homage to Bowmore's island home where its inspiring sea stacks became the starting point for the vessel’s design.
See also: Guilt-free Easter eggs will benefit charity
Dynamic duo have the bottle for historic first
Brodie Nairn's team spent the best part of a year designing and manufacturing the one-off.
Glasstorm has been in huge demand from drinks companies at the luxury end of the market and has regularly seen its one-off pieces grace film sets and at prize ceremonies.
Speaking ahead of the auction, Mr Nairn said: "Myself and two of the team are going to a private viewing to see the pieces as they will be displayed.
"We are really happy for them to leave the creative nest and obviously very pleased that the clients are happy with the work we have done and the fact it will be showcased on a world stage."
He said of the Easter Ross studio: "We've got a great team at the moment. Two of my colleagues have been instrumental in making these pieces and we have a 15-strong team. We want to celebrate for the whole team."
Proceeds from this particular auction will be donated to the Youth Action Fund, which aims to improve the life chances of disadvantaged young people in our Scotch whisky-making communities.
Sotherby's says the auctiion "brings together an unparalleled collection of one-off, never-to-be-repeated Scotch whiskies from distilleries across the length and breadth of Scotland".
Jonny Fowle, global head of spirits for the firm, said: "The second Distillers One of One auction is already generating a buzz among collectors. Featuring the oldest whisky ever released from Bowmore, Glenglassaugh, Old Pulteney, MacDuff and Kilchoman, the highly anticipated event will further cement the significance of what has established itself as the biggest charity spirits auction of its kind. This is clearly an occasion for which the creativity and generosity of the Scotch whisky industry comes to the fore.”
Also produced by Glasstorm is the vessel holding Glen Grant's The Visionary, "an exceptional one-of-a-kind creation" expected to go for up to 90,000). Sotheby's said: "This rare single malt is aged 68 years and is one of the oldest whiskies to be released by the distillery. The whisky is presented in a singular hand blown battuto-cut magnum decanter, its innovative design capturing the suspension of the spirit within the glass structure as if it was itself a rare plant or flower. A precious stone Malachite stopper and base reflect the influence of copper, celebrating the tall stills which have shaped the spirit."
And Brodie's team is also behind a stunning piece for Wick-based Old Pulteney.
The auction house says: "A never-to-be-repeated masterpiece, Old Pulteney Bow Wave 45 Year Old is the oldest expression released to date from Old Pulteney Distillery.
"Crafted with rarity at its core, Old Pulteney Bow Wave has carefully matured for more than four decades within hand-selected American oak casks before completing its voyage with a further five years maturation inside a single first-fill Spanish oak butt. Emerging deep golden in colour, Bow Wave has maritime flavours imparted from the northern sea air that laps the distillery found on the Caithness Coast in the Scottish Highlands.
"Described as 'remarkable' by renowned whisky expert and award-winning writer Dave Broom, Old Pulteney Bow Wave boasts a magnificent complexity and an unrivalled coastal character. Subtle whispers of sea spray entwine with the sweetness of honey, while delicate notes of aged oak and briny whispers of maritime air tantalise the palate. With each sip, Bow Wave bares its maritime soul, concluding with a long finish which is almost as enduring as the liquid itself.
"Presented upon a bed of Caithness slate, the bottle is crafted from hand-blown glass with complex Inciso cuts mirroring the essence of crashing waves. The deep blue hue of the bottle encapsulates the sea’s endless depths, while glimpses of the golden liquid shine through like reflections of a morning sunrise. Surrounding the glass, beautifully crafted Scottish silverware fashioned by local silversmith, Lucy Woodley encircles the finished vessel in all its splendour. The hidden cork, accessed only by a bespoke anchor key created by Glasstorm, beckons the senses, evoking the timeless rhythm of crashing waves."
The lot also includes a 10cl sample for the winning bidder.
Mr Nairn said of the piece: "Taking inspiration from a beautifully shaped pebble that my wife and I found while walking along a beach on the Caithness Coast, we settled on the Cabachon shape that you now see at the heart of the sculpture. The changing colours of the vessel, from a deep blue to clear light, reflect the ever-changing nature of the sea. At its heart, however, is the whisky itself. To reveal the liquid gold inside we used a technique of inciso cuts. This decorative cut was technique I learned during my time on the island of Murano in Italy at the hands of masters of their craft. Not only does it give a glimpse of what is inside this vessel, but the golden light that comes through the glass recalls the glinting light of a sunset as it reflects off the ripples in the sea."
