Whisky.Auction charity auction raises £104,184.25 for the Drinks Trust Covid-19 Emergency Fund
We have seen a great many acts of kindness and generosity on the part of brands and individuals, as the bar industry has rallied to support members of the trade who have been badly impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown. We featured one such act a few weeks ago when we reported on the news that Whisky.Auction were seeking donated bottles to include in their April charity sale.
Both members of the trade and drinks companies rallied to this request, with 470 donated lots sold in an auction that closed on Tuesday 14th April, raising a total of £104,184.25 – including buyers commissions – that will be donated to The Drinks Trust.
This is a quite staggering amount of money that would have otherwise ended up in private pockets, and the generosity of the those who donated, and those who bid, should be commended.
Among the high-end bottles sold was a unique Karuizawa bottling – Karuizawa Omoiyari – blended by Elixir Distillers from samples archived from bottlings since 2011. The components were all distilled between 1963 and 1984, but the whisky was built around a heart of spirit from 1972, the most lauded of Karuizawa vintages. This was one of only six bottles created and sold for £25,000.
Isabel Graham-Yooll, Auction Director at Whisky.Auction says: “We were overwhelmed by the number and quality of the bottles donated by our friends across the drinks and hospitality industry. Everyone has pulled together to help us raise this amazing figure to support the Drinks Trust who, in turn, are supporting those who keep our hospitality industry running every day in their time of need.”