Scottish actor, Ewan McGregor and Lochranza Distillery have come together to produce some very special whisky bottles for a very special purpose. They will be auctioned with funds going to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), helping it to support children with life-shortening conditions.
This is the story behind the initiative:
In 1998, Ewan McGregor, toasted the inaugural cask of Arran Single Malt at Lochranza Distillery. Now he has partnered with the distillery to bottle and auction 150 exclusive bottles from his own personal 1998 cask gifted to him by the distillery, each with a unique label created by Leith that tells a Ewan Mcgregor story. The limited-edition bottles will be auctioned by Whisky Auctioneer, the world’s leading online whisky auction platform, from September 27 to October 7. The auction is open to bidders globally. Whisky Auctioneer has generously waived the seller’s commission and will also donate its 12.5% buyer’s commission, ensuring that the maximum possible funds reach CHAS.
This rare 26-year-old Arran Single Malt, matured in an ex-Sherry Hogshead cask, is one of the oldest whiskies ever produced by the Lochranza Distillery. Bottled at 46% ABV, each bottle features a unique, specially designed label, making each bottle hugely desirable in its own right. Twenty of the bottles have been personally signed by Ewan McGregor.
The Leith Agency worked in partnership with Ewan and his brother Colin McGregor to bring Ewan’s Cut to life on a pro-bono basis. The bottle design and name were inspired by Ewan’s illustrious career, with each label featuring a reference to one of his iconic roles in films like Trainspotting and Star Wars, as well as his memorable Long Way Round adventure. Each of the 150 bottle labels reads like a mini film script, with no two labels alike. Bidding is sure to be fierce when Renton and Obi-Wan quotes go under the hammer.
The Ewan’s Cut labels were created and written by Rob Petrie, head of design at Leith and Colin Mongomery, senior copywriter at Leith, with support from senior account manager, Beth Lauder.
In 2023, Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd celebrated 25 years of whisky-making at their Lochranza Distillery, maintaining its independent status while building a global brand with their Arran Single Malt. This 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.
Ewan McGregor stated, “I have been involved with CHAS and visited their hospices many times over the years, so I know the unwavering care that both Rachel House and Robin House provide children and their families during their hardest moments. 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.”
Richard Marsham, president of Leith, commented, “We’re thrilled to have worked on this project with Ewan and feel our creative take on bringing the film world and the heritage of Arran whisky together has led to something very special and highly collectable. By taking design and copy cues from the classic movie screenplay format, Ewan’s Cut rewrites the script for whisky packaging in more ways than one…”
Rami Okasha, CEO at CHAS, added, “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 grateful too 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.”
