Sazerac auctions rare whiskies for hurricane relief

Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac is auctioning some of its ‘most prized’ spirits to aid recovery efforts following Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

Until 10am EST 1 November, some of Sazerac’s most sought after bottles, barrels and casks will be up for grabs on NFT marketplace BlockBar. Brands on offer include Buffalo Trace, The Last Drop Distillers, Barton 1792 and A Smith Bowman.

All funds raised from the auction will go towards the American Red Cross’ disaster relief effort, after two Hurricanes swept across the US in September and October.

Hurricane Helene’s impact in Western North Carolina and its surrounding area led to the loss of more than 200 lives, while Hurricane Milton swept Florida and Tampa Bay, causing mass flooding and widespread power outages.

“Our hearts go out to the families and communities affected by these devastating storms,” said Jake Wenz, president and CEO of Sazerac. “Our goal is to help aid the Hurricanes Milton and Helene recovery efforts in cities and states most impacted by the storms. Every dollar raised will go directly to those in need. We thank the American Red Cross for everything they do.”

Of the 10 lots featured, individual bottles incude the Double Eagle Very Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon; The Last Drop Release 28: Drew Mayville Signature Blend of Kentucky Straight Whiskeys; The Last Drop Release 32: Louise McGuane 32-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskeys; and The Last Drop Release 33: 15th Anniversary 40-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky.

Bourbon sets include the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection; Buffalo Trace Distillery Premium Bottle Collection; WL Weller Bourbon Collection; EH Taylor, Jr Collection; 1792 Bourbon Collection; and the A Smith Bowman Cask Strength Collection.

Startings bids at US$100

The auction will run as a ‘no reserve’ auction, and starting bids for each bottle will begin at US$100.

Blockbar CEO and co-founder Dov Falic said the company was “honoured” to partner with Sazarec on the auction to support the response efforts.

He added: “This represents a unique opportunity for our community to acquire exceptional bottles of some of the finest spirits from Sazerac’s esteemed distilleries and brands, while also providing an opportunity for our community to make a meaningful impact during a time of need. We invite all whiskey enthusiasts and collectors to join us in this effort and help support those affected by the hurricanes.”

Earlier in the summer, BlockBar and Sazerac also teamed up to auction the oldest Eagle Rare, which was the the first launch from Buffalo Trace’s experimental Warehouse P.

Another spirits company that has thrown its support behind the relief effort is Bacardi, which pledged US$100,000 to the American Red Cross last week.