A bottle of whisky from Skye’s Torabhaig distillery that crossed the Atlantic in the basket of a hydrogen balloon is to be auctioned, with all proceeds going back to the island of Skye.
The bottle of Torabhaig Founders Reserve, which is number 001 of 100, flew with the Atlantic Explorer from Presque Isle, Maine, to Bastendorf, Luxembourg, landing on 7 June 2026 after more than 3,280 miles (5,282 km) and 70 hours in the air.
Matured in ex-bourbon barrel and virgin American oak, the 60.1% ABV whisky was distilled in April 2018 and bottled on 14 August 2023.
The bottle was part of a record-breaking expedition: the first successful manned transatlantic balloon flight using hydrogen as its sole source of lift. On landing, the three pilots signed the bottle, which is now being auctioned by the world’s leading online whisky auction, Whisky Auctioneer, in its October auction.
The three pilots – Alicia Hempleman-Adams, Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo – travelled in an open basket, at an average altitude of 14,000 feet and speeds of up to 100 km/h, with hydrogen as their only lift.
There was no cabin and no second chance. In completing the crossing, Alicia Hempleman-Adams became only the second woman in history, and the first from Britain, to cross the Atlantic by gas balloon.
The expedition also carried Explorers Club Flag 207 – such was the ambition and achievement of the attempt.
The full hammer price from the auction will go to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college on Skye, a few miles from the distillery, which has a long-standing and close relationship with the distillery.
Emma Sprackling, senior band manager at Torabhaig, said: “We talk about our whisky being shaped by Skye. This bottle has been carried by the sky as well, across an ocean, in an open basket. There’s only one of it and, following its extraordinary journey, it’s only right that it goes back to support the island it came from.”
Alicia Hempleman-Adams added: “Torabhaig has supported several attempts to cross the Atlantic by hydrogen balloon and we’re over the moon that the expedition was successful this year. It’s surreal to think about how far we and the whisky travelled during the expedition and I’m excited to see it going to auction to raise money for charity.”
The bottle will be sold with a certificate of authenticity recording its journey and provenance, signed by the three pilots. Once the auction closes, Torabhaig will release the remaining 95 bottles of Founders Reserve.
