GLASSTORM at The Distillers One of One Auction 2025
We are honoured to be part of The Distillers One of One Auction 2025, Scotland's most prestigious showcase of rare and remarkable Scotch whisky. Taking place on 10th October at Hopetoun House and livestreamed in partnership with Sotheby's, this extraordinary event brings together one-off, never-to-be-repeated single malts from Scotland's finest distilleries, with all proceeds supporting The Distillers' Charity's Youth Action Fund.
Glasstorm has crafted three of the hand-blown vessels for these exceptional lots in this year's auction: Old Pulteney's Polaris 47 Year Old 1978, The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965, and The Glen Grant Eternal 77 Year Old 1948. Each magnum-sized decanter has been individually crafted at our studio in the north of Scotland, translating the unique character and provenance of these rare whiskies into glass. From the deep blue maritime tones of the Old Pulteney bottle to the elegant spiral of The Glenlivet's SPIRA and the organic design of The Glen Grant's Eternal, these pieces represent the meeting point of traditional glassmaking craft and contemporary design—a celebration of Scotland's exceptional creative heritage.
Old Pulteney Polaris 47 Year Old 1978
A rare 47-year-old single malt presented as a unique sculptural piece, which achieved £62,500 at the 2025 auction.
Polaris, Old Pulteney’s oldest released whisky to date, is inspired, crafted, distilled and shaped by the Caithness coastline from the ‘Maritime Malt’.
Distilled in 1978, this luxurious single malt rested for four decades in American oak ex-bourbon casks before an extended period of refinement in a single first-fill Spanish oak butt and finally bottling at 43.6% abv.
The whisky is housed within a hand-blown, 1.5L deep blue glass bottle, designed and crafted by Glasstorm.
The bottle is then encased within a Caithness slate structure from Norse Stone, symbolising the enduring cliffs that guard the distillery.
Silver and copper detailing by local jeweller Lucy Woodley completes this striking tribute to place and provenance.
The lot includes a 10cl sample for the winning bidder.
Tasting Notes:
by Jonny McCormick
Rich amber with burnished gold highlights. The first wave of aromas breaks from the glass to invigorate the senses with sea spray, molasses cake, nutmeg, leather, oak char, and cacao. Like plunging your nose deep inside the cask, notes of ozone, vanilla pod, resinous oak, Brazil nut, and espresso foam emerge, backed with hints of baked apple, barmbrack, and peppermint. It’s a perfect fusion of the elements, bringing together the heart of the ocean with a heart of oak. With hallmarks of great maturity, such surefooted and memorable olfactory pleasures cannot be rushed.
This dram dances on the tongue, silky smooth and fine-textured, a melange of Scottish tablet, soft oak, and vibrant, tangy citrus peel, teasing the taste buds with little bursts of fruit that ebb and flow amid a rolling tide of ocean-lashed oak. Roasted citrus notes evolve, anchored by a firm minerality that enriches the flavour, plotting a course between grilled pineapple, cherry and almond cake, and a hint of gingersnap, before gliding into a deep pool of dark chocolate, coffee, supple oak, and chopped nuts, and sinking into a satisfying finish of clotted cream, white chocolate, and nutmeg.
1 bottle 1.5 litre + 1 sample 10cl (presentation case)
The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965
The Spira broke records at Sotheby’s, as it shattered its £110,000 high estimate, achieving a record-breaking £650,000 hammer price. This made it the highest-selling lot of the 2025 auction.
The Glenlivet introduces SPIRA, the oldest and most distinctive expression from the distillery to-date.
This 60 Year Old Glenlivet Single Malt is presented in the timeless Spira decanter (‘spiral’ in Latin), an artistic, 1.5 litre vessel inspired by the dance of the vapours within The Glenlivet's iconic stills and the flowing River Livet.
Within the stunning decanter lies a 60 Year Old whisky, distilled on 1.10.1965 and matured for six decades in a single hogshead cask.
The striking, magnum-sized SPIRA One of One is the culmination of collaboration between a number of highly skilled artists and craftspeople.
The decanter itself is hand-blown and shaped by Brodie Nairn at Glasstorm. It is adorned with a Verdigris copper lid, reminiscent of the copper stills at The Glenlivet, completing the elegant, curved appearance of the piece.
The lid is removed via a key mechanism, revealing the opening to the decanter and the precious whisky that lies within.
The piece proudly sits upon a carved oak plinth, meticulously hand crafted by the master craftsmen at NEJ Stevenson, cabinet makers to the British Royal family and holders of the Royal Warrant.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Bright notes of homemade orange marmalade blend with the warmth of apple and sultana cake. Hints of sweet liquorice and salted caramel are balanced by fresh lemon peel and subtle Earl Grey tea. Underneath, gentle spices of nutmeg and clove mingle with a touch of rosemary.
Palate: The palate is fresh and juicy, featuring ripe pear and sweet kiwifruit alongside smooth vanilla nougat and ripe apricot slices. Heather honey adds a soft sweetness, while roasted pistachios bring a delicate nuttiness. Orange peel and warming spices of cinnamon and cardamom provide depth and intensity.
Finish: Long and complex with enduring spice.
1 bottle 1.5 litre (presentation case)
The Glen Grant Eternal 77 Year Old 1948
The Glen Grant Eternal 77 Year Old is a one-of-a-kind rare single malt Scotch whisky and is presented in a hand-blown, 1.5 litre glass decanter. This bottle achieved £400,000 and set a new auction record for The Glen Grant.
This whisky is drawn from a Sherry seasoned European oak Butt filled in 1948 and bottled at an ABV of 43.0% abv.
This true one-of-a -kind is the oldest and rarest whisky to be released by The Glen Grant distillery.
Paying homage to the passion and legacy of forefather James 'The Major' Grant, The Glen Grant Eternal captures the true spirit of his adventures, his vision and his commitment to absolute nurture and preservation.
Taking inspiration from both the Garden of Splendours and the cask within which the spirit has matured.
Rooted in the idea of a developing seedpod, this striking glass structure appears almost organic. The whisky itself almost grows out beyond the protective silver outer cage, just as it would flourish and evolve from within the cask.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Deep Autumnal Amber
Nose: Abundantly ripe berries, giving sticky sweet aromas, together with the dry spice of cardamon pods, and deep oaky notes.
Taste: Aromatic Seville oranges, syrupy apricots, wood spice and warm, earthy smoke.
Finish: Long with notes of citrus, oak and dried fruit.
1 bottle 1.5 litre (presentation case)
GLASSTORM at The Distillers One of One Auction 2023
Bowmore STAC 55 Year Old 1962
Achieved a record-breaking £562,500 at the 2023 auction. At the time, it was the oldest whisky ever released by Bowmore.
This exceptionally rare single malt has been nurtured and shaped in second-filled American oak hogsheads within the No.1 Vaults, capturing its character from its island surroundings. A true celebration of the excellence of maturation, the whisky boasts tawny hues opening with fresh, vibrant aromas full of soft orchard fruits and honey. Vibrantly capturing the tropical flair of fresh pineapple and honeydew melon merging with pecan nuts and floral honeysuckle before notes of subtle menthol and minerality arise as the glass approaches the lips. This sensory immersion continues on the palate as liquorice, cocoa nibs and dark roasted coffee beans unite with caramel and shortbread to reveal toasted oak spices and peat smoke and onward to a mouth warming and conclusive long drying finish.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Tawny
Nose: Fresh and vibrant, full of soft orchard fruits and clover honey, with fresh pineapple, subtle honeydew melon and pecan nuts.
Floral notes of honeysuckle with menthol and vanilla along with ocean minerality on the lips.
Taste: Liquorice with cocoa nibs and dark roasted coffee beans, caramel with shortbread biscuit moving through to toasted oak spices and peat smoke.
Finish: Mouth warming to start then moving to a long drying finish.
1 bottle 1.5 litre + 1 sample bottle 10cl (presentation case)
The Glen Grant Visionary 68 Year Old 1955
Taking inspiration from the James ‘The Major’ Grant’s travels and passion for conservation and nature, the innovative 1.6L hand -blown battuto-cut magnum decanter and precious stone Malachite stopper, is housed within a period-inspired presentation case. The decanter design takes cues from rich Victoriana and the very vessels in which ‘The Major’ brought back exotic plant and flower discoveries to the distillery glasshouses in his beloved Garden of Splendours now at the distillery grounds.
Matured in a single sherry cask (#835) and filled in 1955.
Achieved £212,500 at the 2023 auction, significantly exceeding its highest pre-sale estimate of £50,000 - £90,000.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Autumn gold.
Nose: Soft ripe orchard fruits that merges seamlessly into buttery, toffee notes, with a delicate touch of smoke.
Taste: A good balance of fruity vanilla with sweet Sherry.
Finish: Rich and robust, making for a long and lasting mouthfeel defined by sweet dried fruits, a touch of spice and soft smokiness.
1 Bottle 1.6 litre (presentation case).
Old Pulteney Bow Wave 45 Year Old
In 2023, Old Pulteney unveiled its oldest expression to date: a 45 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky titled Bow Wave. A monumental milestone in our history, this never‑to‑be‑repeated masterpiece was released exclusively through the biennial Distillers’ One of One auction, offering an unprecedented opportunity to own a piece of Old Pulteney’s history.
A unique, one-of-one single malt and, at the time, the oldest expression released by the Wick distillery. It achieved £68,750 at the 2023 auction.
With rarity at its core, this never-to-be-repeated whisky was nurtured for forty-five years at Pulteney Distillery on the most northerly shores of Scotland, each drop breathing in the sea air as it slowly evolved its distinctive character. Spending four decades in hand-selected American oak casks before resting for a further five years of maturation in a single first fill Spanish oak butt Old Pulteney “Bow Wave” is a testament to the pride, patience, and craftsmanship of this award-winning distillery. The magnificent liquid remains true to Old Pulteney’s house style yet beneath its unmistakable coastal character, subtle wisps of sea spray and notes of sweet honey, Bow Wave boasts an unquestionably complex flavour profile delivering an exquisitely balanced rich whisky with a lavish golden hue.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Deep golden.
Nose: Hints of dried pineapple, scented sandalwood, and oxidised nutty notes.
Taste: Bursts of bright fruit, minerality, and emerging supple tannins.
Finish: Subtle wisps of sea spray and notes of sweet honey.
1 Bottle 1.5 Litre + 1 Sample Bottle 10cl (presentation case).
GLASSTORM at The Distillers One of One Auction 2021
Bowmore Onyx 51 Year Old 1970
An exceptionally rare, one-off 51 Year Old single malt, Bowmore® Onyx has been sold at the inaugural Distillers One of One auction for a record price of £400,000. Cementing the Islay distillery’s commitment to charitable giving and Bowmore’s desirability in the secondary market.
A truly striking encapsulation of time, with over half a century of craftsmanship, quality and character embedded in its creation and story, Bowmore® Onyx is a hand blown black glass vessel, containing 1.4litres of ultra-rare whisky. Inspired by the incredible terroir of our island home, specifically the distinctive black rock, or bogha mor, from which it is believed the name Bowmore is derived, this one-off rare masterpiece was highly sought after.
Matured in an American Oak refill barrel, which was filled on 17th February 1970, this single malt was the first 51 Year Old ever released by the distillery. Nurtured in the legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults, this whisky spent its long life resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault's sea-facing wall, slowly evolving its distinctive character.
The creation of the one-off glass structure celebrates Islay, but more than that, it is itself a masterpiece in glass design being the first structure of this size and style to ever house Bowmore.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Burnished gold.
Nose: Smokey with fresh and fruity aromas.
Taste: Peat smoke, alongside woody notes of polished cedarwood and burnt caramel.
Finish: Sweet orchard fruit and spices.Tobacco, earthy walnuts and pecan nuts.
1 bottle 1.4 Litre (presentation case).