On December 11, 2023, The Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, achieved a groundbreaking auction result with an impressive $200,000 bid for the artist’s proof decanter of “Eight Decades.” This extraordinary creation is a collaboration between the renowned artist James Turrell and Lalique. The entire proceeds from the sale of this unique decanter will be contributed to the Roden Crater Foundation. The auction took place as part of Sotheby’s Whisky & Whiskey Auction in New York on Saturday, December 9.
Celebrating his 80th birthday earlier in the year, James Turrell, known for his work with light and space, joined forces with The Glenturret and Lalique to design his inaugural whisky decanter, Eight Decades, limited to only 80 decanters worldwide. The decanter’s distinctive design, featuring a sleek silhouette topped with a pyramidal deep blue crystal stopper inspired by Ancient Egypt, captivated both whisky collectors and art enthusiasts during the auction. The lot included proof decanter #008, containing a specially crafted whisky by The Glenturret’s Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno, along with three hand-signed sketches by James Turrell from the decanter’s design phase. The winning bidder will also enjoy an exclusive visit to Lalique’s factory in Alsace and The Glenturret’s distillery in Crieff, culminating in a dining experience at the Michelin-starred The Glenturret Lalique restaurant.
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Post-auction, John Laurie, Managing Director at The Glenturret, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “What a way to end the year! When we first introduced Eight Decades in May, we knew it was a truly special decanter – collaborating with James Turrell was a genuine honour. The decanter beautifully intertwines art and whisky, and the auction result stands as a testament to that. We are especially delighted as all proceeds are earmarked for charity.”
A limited number of the original Eight Decades Decanter is currently available through The Glenturret’s website.
