Following one incredible idea, two years hard work and 32 years of maturation, The Intrepid - officially the world's largest bottle of Scotch whisky - sold for £1.1 million in our 25 May auction. An adventure from the start, The Intrepid project was dedicated to the spirit and experience of exploration and adventure.
Standing over 1.8m tall, the record-breaking bottle contains 311 litres of the fine single-malt whisky (43% abv), distilled at the prestigious The Macallan Distillery in Scotland in 1989. A new Guinness World Record that vastly surpasses the previous record established by The Famous Grouse Experience in 2012, by a landslide 83 litres.
Interest in The Intrepid came from across the globe with bidding taking place both live online and by telephone, eventually selling to an international collector. The bottle, which contains the equivalent of 444 standard bottles, was officially certified as the largest bottle of Scotch whisky in the world by Guinness World Records when it was filled by Duncan Taylors Scotch Whisky on 9th September 2021.
Daniel Monk and the team behind The Intrepid, a partnership between Fah Mai and Rosewin Holdings, were inspired by a passion for exploration and sought to name the project in recognition of the drive and determination of some of the world’s most pioneering individuals, including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dr. Geoff Wilson, Karen Darke MBE, Olly Hicks, Sarah Outen MBE, Dwayne Fields FRGS, Levison Wood FRGS, Felicity Aston MBE and past Scottish Adventurers of the Year Jamie Ramsay and Will Copestake. The project is supporting the explorers chosen environmental, physical and mental well-being charities.
“The Intrepid could only have been made possible by the explorers and their commitment. They showed unquestionable personal drive and through the auction we will support a wide ranging group of charities with significance to the explorers. This will become part of The Intrepid’ s legacy and leave a lasting impact.”
Olly Hicks 10% FOR THE OCEAN | Karen Darke MBE - QUEST 79 THE POLE OF POSSIBILITY | Will Copestake - ULLAPOOL SEA SAVERS | Dr. Geoff Wilson THE MCGRATH FOUNDATION | Sir Ranulph Fiennes - MARIE CURIE | Jamie Ramsay CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY (CALM) | Dwayne Fields FRGS #WETWO FOUNDATION | Felicity Aston MBE THE B.I.G (BEFORE IT’S GONE) NORTH POLE EXPEDITION 2022 | Sir Robin Knox-Johnston - CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD RACE | Sarah Outen MBE THE BLURT FOUNDATION | Levison Wood FRGS SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION SOCIETY
After maturing in two sister casks in The Macallan’s Speyside warehouse for 32 years, the exclusive liquid was bottled last year by Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky, one of the leading independent whisky bottling companies. To commemorate this momentous event, a small number of exclusive bottle sets were also produced. These comprise a collection of 12 bottles, each filled with the remaining 32-year old The Macallan whisky from the same casks used to fill the record-breaking bottle. Each set included a replica of the main bottle design along with individual versions dedicated to each of the explorers associated with the project.
The auction featured 11 lots, led by the record-breaking 311-litre bottle, including the limited edition Explorer's Edition sets of 12 50cl bottles and a selection of miniatures.
Standing over 1.8m tall, the record-breaking bottle contains 311 litres of the finest whisky, distilled at the prestigious Macallan Distillery in Scotland in 1989.
There are eleven of the world’s most pioneering individuals involved in the project, including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dr. Geoff Wilson, Karen Darke MBE, Olly Hicks, Sarah Outen MBE, Dwayne Fields FRGS, Levison Wood FRGS, Felicity Aston MBE and past Scottish Adventurers of the Year Jamie Ramsay and Will Copestake.
Sister casks 6986 and 6992 were left maturing in Macallan’s Speyside warehouse for over three decades. Last year, these two carefully selected hogsheads were married together by renowned bottlers Duncan Taylor, to bring the final stages of The Intrepid project to climax with a new world record.
In addition to the world's largest bottle of whisky, a small number of exclusive sets are available at auction on the 25th May; comprising a collection of 12 bottles, each filled with the remaining 32 year old Macallan whisky from the same casks used to fill the record breaking bottle. Each set includes a replica of the main bottle design along with individual versions dedicated to each of the explorers associated with the project.
BY ABSENTEE BID
If you are unable to attend the auction we can bid on your behalf. You can leave an absentee bid online by selecting the 'Leave a Bid' option on your chosen lot.
Alternatively you can complete an absentee bid form and either hand it to a member of staff or fax it to 0131 557 8668. Please note that our bid department may contact you for further details.
Either way, the amount you enter on the form should be your maximum limit. We will bid up to that limit for you, and remember you may end up paying less than your limit, depending on other bidding on the day.
BY TELEPHONE
If you would like to bid by telephone, our clerk will call you from the saleroom on the auction day, just before your lot(s) come up, and will then relay to you the events in the room, and bid on your behalf live at the auction when instructed to do so.
If you would like to bid by telephone please contact our team prior to the auction with your details of the lots you are interested in and your full name, mailing address, telephone number(s) and email.
Once our team have processed your bid request you will receive an email confirmation.
Please note that all absentee and telephone bid requests must be received at least an hour before the auction.
BID LIVE ONLINE
Many clients prefer bidding live online at our auctions. It’s easy to register with us online, you can watch the auction as it happens and place bids from the comfort of your computer.
Lyon & Turnbull Live is powered by Auction Mobility. There will be no additional live bidding fees applied for this service (unlike many other providers).
BIDDING LIMITS & HIGH VALUE LOTS (♦)
Clients who wish to bid on lots marked in the catalogue with a ♦ may be requested by Lyon & Turnbull to supply financial references, a deposit and/or such other security as Lyon & Turnbull may require in its absolute discretion as security for the bid.
Please note that online bidders who have provided identification will be capped at £50,000 limit.
If you wish to bid further please contact us directly to arrange at 0131 557 8844 or by email at info@lyonandturnbull.com
