The 2023 Distillers One of One Auction proved an incredible success, raising £2.25 million for charity. During the auction, many new price records were achieved, one of which was courtesy of the House of Hazelwood’s unique Advent Calendar. In this feature, we look at what made the advent calendar one of the auction’s most popular lots.
In one of the most competitive and fastest bidding at this year’s Distiller’s One of One Auction, rare whisky custodians, the House of Hazelwood, saw its exceptional one-of-a-kind advent calendar, ‘Christmas at Hazelwood’, sell for £47,500/$57,366, more than three times its pre-sale low estimate.
Inspired by the Gordon family’s ancestral home, Hazelwood House and hand-crafted in sycamore, walnut, and brass by the in-house design team at LINLEY, the House of Hazelwood ‘Christmas at Hazelwood’ – a unique architectural box in the form of an Advent Calendar – truly stood out at this year’s auction with collectors and bidders from around the world saying it was a truly delightful, playful and outstanding piece.
The box contains a 50ml measure of every House of Hazelwood whisky released to date behind 24 numbered advent doors alongside a full bottle (70cl) of a unique 51-year-old sherry cask matured blend.
Prospective bidders who were given the opportunity to taste the one-of-one Christmas at Hazelwood whisky ahead of the auction described it as one of the best whiskies on offer.
Jonathan Gibson, director at House of Hazelwood, said, “We have been truly delighted by the response to our lot. The feedback from fellow distillers and bidders alike has been exceptional in the run-up to the auction. It was wonderful to see the bids coming in thick and fast from around the world and even better to know that all the proceeds will be donated to The Distillers Charity’s Youth Action Fund, helping disadvantaged children across Scotland.”
While this is a one-of-a-kind piece for the Distillers charitable auction, House of Hazelwood’s whisky concierge service is available to offer other bespoke commissions of this kind, working alongside LINLEY to create unique architectural and advent boxes containing rare whiskies.
Janet Jokat, commercial director at LINLEY, commented, “We are very proud to have been involved in this exclusive collaboration with House of Hazelwood and supporting The Distillers Charity, the Youth Action Fund. It was amazing to see and hear the surprise and delight as people interacted with the advent calendar. The feedback from the preview evening at our Belgravia showroom, the events leading to the live auction, and afterwards was incredible.
The cheer from those attending the auction when the lot was announced was heartfelt by us all at LINLEY. We hope that the advent will bring joy to the winner and future generations of the family. The house can be displayed all year, and the numbered brass disks placed back on the drawers in December to reinstate its advent status and its place as the centre of Christmas celebrations.”
Overall, the second Distillers One of One Charity auction raised an outstanding total of £2,248,750 / $2,715,815, more than double the pre-sale low estimate.
Hammer proceeds of £1.8 million from the auction will primarily benefit The Distillers’ Charity’s Youth Action Fund, which aims to transform the lives of young people in Scotland aged between 16 and 25.
Tasting notes
‘Christmas at Hazelwood’, 51-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky, 48.8% ABV
- Appearance: Dark mahogany
- Nose: Rich and indulgent, cooking apples and buttery pastry, hints of soft leather, Christmas cheer in liquid form
- Palate: Christmas cake, intense butterscotch, and rich tannins unwrap into a lasting candied finish.
The whisky, which has been matured in American and European Oak casks, is cask-strength, non-chill filtered and natural in colour.
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