Perthshire-born Hollywood star Ewan McGregor has raised £135,000 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) after auctioning 150 bottles of malt whisky.
The 150 exclusive bottles came from his own personal 1998 cask of Arran Single Malt Whisky from the Lochranza Distillery.
They were auctioned through leading online whisky auction platform, Whisky Auctioneer,
There were 543 bidders in all from 28 countries who placed over 7000 bids on “Ewan’s Cut”.
The hammer price reached £119,893 and was further boosted by £15,107, as Whisky Auctioneer waived its seller’s commission and donated its 12.5% buyer’s commission, ensuring that the maximum possible funds reach CHAS.
Ewan McGregor said: “What a total! I just want to thank each and every one of our partners for putting the time, effort and work into this endeavour.
“CHAS has always been very close to my heart, and I am so proud that we were all able to raise such a sum for them. I know it’s the children they help and their families who will benefit a lot from this – so thank you very much to everyone involved and to those that placed generous bids in the auction.”
Bottle #1 of “Ewan’s Cut” achieved a hammer price of £4,350, setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for a bottle of Arran single malt at auction.
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.
The cask was gifted to McGregor by the distillery in 1998, with the team also generously donating their time and expertise to bottle and prepare the whisky for auction.
Markeing firm The Leith Agency worked in partnership with Ewan and 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, featuring references to 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.
CHAS CEO Rami Okasha said: “We are very grateful to Ewan McGregor, a long-standing supporter and friend of CHAS, for kindly choosing to donate all the proceeds from this special auction to CHAS so we can continue to support children with life-shortening conditions and their families, bringing us closer to our founding mission of reaching every child and family that needs our help.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in this exciting auction that enabled so much to be raised for CHAS.
“I would also like to express our sincere thanks to Isle of Arran Distillers, to Whisky Auctioneer and to the Leith Agency.
“Three children die each week in Scotland from an incurable condition.
“We can only be there for families with the support of kind donations like this.
“CHAS provides unwavering care to children who may die young and their families, at every step on this hardest of journeys.
“Proceeds received from this auction make a huge difference to children and families helping us to reach every family across Scotland who needs our help and to keep the joy alive even in the face of death.”