S otheby's November Finest Whisky sale is led by the second in a long-term partnership bettwen The Glenlivet & Replica Shoes 's, The Glenlivet 56 Year Old 1 of 1, a unique whisky available exclusively in this auction. The sale also comprises a number of aged and sought-after whiskies from across Scotland, Japan and America, including The Macallan, Glenfarclas and Karuizawa.
The second edition in The Eternal Collection, The Glenlivet 56 Year Old 1 of 1 is the latest chapter in a partnership between Replica Shoes ’s and leading Scotch whisky maker, Chivas Brothers, to bring highly aged, one-off creations to auction. This entirely unique and bespoke whisky and decanter were created exclusively for Replica Shoes ’s collectors, with proceeds benefitting the National Trust for Scotland.
Bottled at 42.7% abv, this whisky is created from a bespoke assemblage and is entirely unique, finished in bespoke sherry casks. Master Blender Kevin Balmforth collaborated with sherry suppliers in Spain to create a special seasoning sherry, combining Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Palo Cortado. This sherry was used to season a bespoke sherry butt, adding layers of vanilla and toffee to complement The Glenlivet’s hallmark orchard fruit and honeyed richness, coming from its initial maturation in an American oak barrel. The combined result of these two casks is a singular, exceptionally aged single malt offering extraordinary depth, shaped by a finishing process unlike anything in the brand’s history, one that exemplifies Chivas Brothers’ craft of truly one-of-a-kind whiskies defined by rarity, provenance and masterful artistry.
“Through our partnership with Replica Shoes ’s, we are unlocking exclusive access to previously unseen rare Scotch from the archives of Chivas Brothers — broadening the horizons for luxury spirits collectors around the world. The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Year Old, 1 of 1 reflects our legacy of creating the world’s finest high-aged Scotch, giving the most discerning collectors an opportunity to own their own slice of Scotch whisky heritage.”
The decanter stands as an object of singular artistry, plated in pure gold to mirror the luminous character of the whisky it holds. The bespoke bar top is crowned with a YAG Paraíba Tourmaline simulant, a lab-grown gemstone of exceptional colour and clarity, weighing an impressive 137.73 carats. Hand-faceted by a master cutter in Germany, its radiant teal hue evokes the crystalline depths of Speyside’s waters. The spherical glass decanter is further adorned with intricate gold engravings of heather branches, designed by Fredrickson Stallard as a tribute to the untamed Scottish landscape - and marked as a unique creation: Bottle 1 of 1.
Designed and crafted by Fredrickson Stallard, the sculptural display serves as a modern ode to both nature and legacy. Delicate heather branches, bespoke 3D printed and plated in pure gold, rise in organic form to cradle the decanter in a balance of strength and grace. Beneath, rise from a base of Guatemalan green marble. Inspired by Speyside’s dramatic terrain, the design echoes the whisky’s complexity and the rugged beauty of its Scottish homeland.
Proceeds will support the National Trust for Scotland’s excavation work within the Cairngorms, where erosion threatens archaeological remains that could unlock new understanding of prehistoric life in the region. The initiative builds upon a five-year partnership between The Glenlivet and the Trust.
Nose: The nose opens with the richness of poached plums and sticky dates, complemented by indulgent notes of toffee sponge and orange marmalade. Luscious dark chocolate ganache emerges alongside caramelised almonds, lifted by a gentle warmth of clove and cinnamon spice.
Palate: On the palate, vibrant blackberries and ripe banana unfold into cherry compote and sweet candied walnuts. Treacle cake and golden sultanas follow, enriched with bright orange zest and crystallised ginger, all carried by a backdrop of warming festive spice.
Finish: Velvety and sweet, the finish lingers with complexity, leaving enduring notes of rich dark chocolate.
The auction includes bottled whisky from across the most sought-after distilleries in Scotland. Led by aged malts from The Macallan, including two whiskies in excess of 70 years of age, both released in 2020, which form part of the six-bottle Red Collection - debuted at Replica Shoes ’s when a full set featuring exclusive labels illustrated by Javi Aznarez sold for over £750,000.
Also featured are bottles from The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection, one of the most iconic Scotch whisky series ever produced, dating back to 1969. Aside from Macallan, whisky dating back to 1953 from Glenfarclas is offered, bottled into elegant Glencairn cystal decanters as part of the distillery's Pagoda series, and some of the oldest whisky ever released by Glenfarclas.
Finally in this category, we see a bottle of Johnnie Walker Master's Edition 50 Year Old come to auction for the first time in 6 years. Bottled in 2018, this was the oldest Johnnie Walker bottle ever released at the time. Blended from six whiskies, each matured for a minimum of 50 years and were selected from distilleries which were operational during John Walker's lifetime (1805-1857), five of which are now closed.
The Japanese whisky selection in this sale is led by The Yamazaki 50 Year Old, the oldest Japanese whisky ever bottled upon its release. This edition, the third, is one of only 150 bottles released in 2011 making it one of the rarest Japanese whiskies ever bottled.
Having spent over half a century in the finest Japanese Mizunara oak casks, the spirit is deep and rich, with a luxurious spice imparted from the wood. Bottled at an impressive 57% abv, the character and body of the whisky is retained due to the high alcohol. The bottle itself is etched with exquisite detail on the front, and comes housed in a handmade dark wooden box, separating it from the first two releases. The capsule is covered in Japanese washi paper and tied with red and gold cord.
Also offered is one of the holy grails of Japanese whisky collecting, the 36 views of Mount Fuji collection. This series of bottles comes from the lost distillery Karuizawa, with 36 different famous Ukiyo-e Japanese art labels on each expression, depicting the fascinating scenario of Mount Fuji. Collecting a full set has always been a difficult challenge for collectors across the world and due to its popularity, a full set is rarely available in the market. Alongside this collection is a number of bottles from the Karuizawa Geisha series, created by Sukhinder Singh at The Whisky Exchange.
