Ewan McGregor auction’s single malt for charity

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is auctioning 150 bottles from his private cask of 26-year-old single malt whisky from Lochranza Distillery for charity.

McGregor has partnered with the distillery to bottle and auction 150 exclusive bottles from his 1998 vintage single cask, which the distillery gifted to him. All proceeds will go to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), a charity that supports children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

“I have been involved with CHAS and visited their hospices many times over the years, so I know the unwavering care that both [hospices] Rachel House and Robin House provide children and their families during their hardest moments," said McGregor. “My hope is that this auction can raise a significant amount to ensure that these wonderful places are able to continue providing the service they do.”

The auction offers whisky enthusiasts and fans of Ewan McGregor 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to own a piece of whisky history and contribute to a worthy cause.

Whisky Auctioneer will auction the limited edition bottles from 27 September to 7 October. The auction is open to bidders globally, and the first 24 bottles have been signed by McGregor. Whisky Auctioneer has waived the seller’s commission and will also donate its 12.5% buyer’s commission, ensuring that the maximum possible funds reach CHAS.

Joe Wilson, head curator and spirits specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “At Whisky Auctioneer, we take great pride in supporting charitable causes, and we were honoured to be approached to bring Ewan’s Cut to auction. The launch of Isle of Arran Distillers nearly three decades ago was a landmark moment in the whisky industry, ushering in a new era of independent Scottish distilleries. We are proud to play our part in this exciting chapter of their story and look forward to sharing this remarkable whisky with enthusiasts globally."

The rare 26-year-old Arran single malt was matured in an ex-Sherry hogshead cask and is offered at 46% ABV. The expression is one of the oldest whiskies ever produced by the Lochranza Distillery.

Stewart Bowman, distillery manager of Isle of Arran Distillers, stated: “In 1998, Ewan McGregor joined us at Lochranza Distillery to toast the first cask of Arran single malt, which was the first legal cask to be laid down on Arran for over 150 years. We presented him with his own ex-Sherry hogshead that day, and it has matured in our warehouse.

“Since then, Ewan has gone on to have an amazing career, and we have built a global whisky brand while proudly maintaining our independent status. We are thrilled to invite Ewan back to the distillery, where our story began almost 30 years ago, to present him with the finished bottles of Ewan's Cut."

Bowman added: “Like Ewan, we remain close to our roots and are passionate about giving back to the community. We have looked after Ewan's cask for the last 26 years, and we are delighted to work with him, Whisky Auctioneer, and Leith to raise money for CHAS.”

Creative agency The Leith has partnered with Ewan and his brother Colin McGregor to bring Ewan’s Cut to life, pro-bono. The bottle design and name have been inspired by McGregor's career, featuring references to his roles in films including Trainspotting and Star Wars, as well as his Long Way Round television series. Each of the 150 bottle labels are said to read like a mini film script, with no two labels alike.

Rami Okasha, CEO of CHAS, expressed the charity's gratitude: “We are delighted that Ewan, who is a long-standing supporter and friend of CHAS, has kindly chosen to donate all proceeds from this exciting auction to our charity. We are also grateful to Isle of Arran Distillers for arranging this special event and to Whisky Auctioneer for waiving the seller’s commission to ensure that CHAS will benefit from the maximum funds.

“Three children a week die in Scotland from an incurable condition, and demand for our services is growing. Our ambition is that no-one should face the death of their child alone.

“Over the course of the last year, CHAS directly supported 419 babies, children and young people across the country, and hundreds more in hospital palliative care teams funded by CHAS. We provide support for the whole family – parents and siblings – and have assisted nearly 2,000 family members of seriously ill children this year. Knowing your child may die young is the hardest thing imaginable. The funds raised through the Ewan’s Cut auction will make a real difference to those families.”