Brewgooder, Vault City and Bruichladdich have joined forces to create a whisky sour beer with purpose
A collaborative ‘whisky sour’ beer is aiming to become one of the most expensive bottles of beer ever auctioned, with all the proceeds going towards supporting clean water charity projects.
Brewgooder has joined forces with sour beer heroes Vault City and B Corp distillers Bruichladdich to create the whisky sour beer, inspired by the iconic whisky sour cocktail. All proceeds from the auction will raise funds for charity: water, an organisation which has already unlocked more than 100m litres of clean drinking water in developing countries.
The first four bottles from the project, which were hand sampled and personally labelled and signed by Vault City’s Head Brewer, will be auctioned by Whisky Auctioneer, the world’s leading online platform for buying and selling whisky and spirits at auction.
The 11% ABV brew has been aged for nine months in Bruichladdich casks prior to bottling. This collaboration also marks the first time that the Classic Laddie casks have left Islay to be used for beer maturation as part of a joint project directly between distillery and brewery.
Alan Mahon, Founder of Brewgooder, said:
“This beer is not only innovative, unique and delicious, it also has the potential at auction to be the most impactful beer ever made for a good cause, producing literally thousands of litres of water for those who need it. The craft and love that went into this beer from Vault City and Bruichladdich is evident from the finished product and we know that this lot will make one lucky beer and whisky enthusiast, and possibly hundreds of other less fortunate people very happy.”
All proceeds will go towards funding thousands of litres of clean water in developing countries via the Brewgooder Foundation and charity: water – an organisation committed to solving the global water crisis in our lifetime. Brewgooder’s Billion Pint Pledge is on track to deliver 150m litres of clean water by the end of 2022. £1,000 has the power to unlock over 500,000 litres of clean water.
Joe Wilson, Head Curator and Spirits Specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said:
“This is the first time that Bruichladdich casks have been used in a direct partnership with a brewery, making this not only an unprecedented collaboration for the distillery, but an exciting opportunity for Islay whisky fans and beer enthusiasts to support a huge number of people who do not have access to clean and safe water.
“The four bottles offered at auction have been exclusively selected to create this unique lot. Each bottle is individually numbered and signed by Vault City’s Head Brewer, Ravi Bos, which sets them apart from the rest of the release.
“It is my hope that we can collectively raise a significant amount of funds which will help those most in need. We have agreed to waive our selling fees and donate the 10% buyer’s commission in addition to the hammer price raised to charity.”
Richard Wardrop, Head of Marketing at Vault City added:
“After nine months of barrel-ageing in casks previously used to create the iconic ‘Laddie’, Vault City Head Brewer sampled the whisky sour beer from each individual cask, choosing his personal favourite based on flavour profile to create the first four bottles from this unique collaboration.”
The auction will take place from January 28 to February 7 and along with securing these unique bottles of Whisky Sour Beer, the highest bidder will gain exclusive access to the Vault City brewery and taproom as well as a host of other exclusive extras including a tour and tank tasting session led by the company’s co-founder and Head Brewer. It is hoped that the lot will fetch over £1,000.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Vault City x Bruichladdich x Brewgooder partnership:
Brewed in Portobello, Edinburgh, using a mixed fermentation base sour and a barrel-aged in Bruichladdich casks for nine months to infuse it with the ionic character of Bruichladdich’s unpeated Islay single malt. The depth of flavour from the casks provides delicate notes of sweet oak and barley, while the addition of hand-picked lemon balm foraged locally from Islay and Scottish heather honey create a perfect balance of tart acidity and smoky-sweetness.
In a combined effort to strive for a better future, every litre of beer sold will fund 1,000 litres of clean water to communities around the world through Brewgooder’s ‘Billion Pint Pledge’ which aims to produce one billion pints of clean water in the next three years. The initiative is in partnership with Charity: Water – an organisation committed to solving the global water crisis in our lifetime – is set to tangibly support projects in 22 countries where reliable nationwide access to clean water continues to be a challenge.
About Whisky Auctioneer:
Whisky Auctioneer is the global market leader and trusted authority on the buying and selling of whisky and spirits at online auction. Founded in 2013 and located in Perth, Whisky Auctioneer utilises its expertise and knowledge combined with its auction platform to increase interest and passion in the whisky and spirits community
Whisky Auctioneer endeavours to make the market more accessible for buyers and sellers of any background and geography. Its monthly global auctions feature the most comprehensive selection of old, rare, and collectible whiskies and spirits available online. Whisky Auctioneer is passionate about connecting these bottles with those who share their passion and actively supporting their customers in their aims, whether consuming, collecting, or investing
Whisky Auctioneer became the first online auction house to sell a million-pound bottle and outperformed the nearest traditional auction house by 200% in value from spirits sales in 2020. This showcases the move that whisky collectors, investors, and drinkers have already made online and firmly establishes their leading position within the modern secondary whisky market.
The business currently sees over 100,000 bids per month and has conducted deliveries to 74 countries across the globe. It also opened its first European base in Germany last year. The business’ founder, Iain McClune, was listed as ‘One to Watch’ in The Telegraph’s Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2020 programme.
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About Brewgooder:
Brewgooder is Scotland’s first and only purpose-driven beer brand, and a B Corp certified brewer. Founded in 2016, its “People Positive” mission has unlocked more than 100m litres of clean drinking water in developing countries, as well as creating impact closer to home with innovative campaigns. Each of Brewgooder’s core beers unlock 100 pints of clean water for every pint sold. In 2019 and 2021 Brewgooder was recognised by B Corp as a “Best for the World” company, an accolade awarded to the top 5% of B Corp Certified businesses and includes the likes of Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s.
About Vault City:
Vault City is an independent craft brewery making modern sour beers in Portobello, Edinburgh. Since 2018, they have focussed on relentless exploration when it comes to making fruit-forward beers, priding themselves on working with local producers and fresh fruit. You can find Vault City around the world in specialist bottle shops, bars and in Tesco.
About Bruichladdich:
Situated on the southwestern tip of the remote Hebridean island of Islay, Bruichladdich Distillery is home to four unique spirits; unpeated Bruichladdich, heavily peated Port Charlotte and super heavily peated Octomore single malts and The Botanist Islay dry gin. Originally founded in 1881, shuttered in 1994, and resurrected in 2001, the distillery applies traditional production methods with a progressive mindset.
In 2020, Bruichladdich became the first single malt Scotch distillery to be B Corp certified. Amid an holistic sustainability strategy, the distillery aims to decarbonise distillation (within Scope 1 and 2) by 2025.
Press release from Brewgooder
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