Torabhaig: Across the Atlantic by Balloon, Around €2,034 at Auction

Bottle 001 of 100 sold at auction

A bottle of whisky that crossed the Atlantic in an open balloon basket in June sold at auction on 2 November 2026 for around €2,034 (£1,700). It is the Torabhaig Founder's Reserve, number 001 of 100, and reports call it the most valuable Torabhaig single malt sold to date.

The full hammer price goes to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college a few miles from the distillery on the Isle of Skye. The auction house waived its seller's commission. "That bottle went a very long way to support us at home," says senior brand manager Emma Sprackling.

70 hours from Maine to Luxembourg

The bottle flew aboard the Atlantic Explorer. The balloon lifted off from Presque Isle, Maine, at about 2am on 4 June 2026 and landed in Luxembourg on 7 June, after 70 hours and 11 minutes and around 2,850 miles (about 4,590 km).

It is reported as the first crewed Atlantic crossing by gas balloon to use only hydrogen for lift. Three earlier attempts had fallen short: because of weather in 2023, poor conditions in 2024 and a suspected gas leak in 2025.

All three pilots, Alicia Hempleman-Adams, Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo, signed the bottle after landing. Torabhaig backed several of those attempts, says Hempleman-Adams, who is "over the moon that the expedition was successful this year".

The whisky

The Founder's Reserve was distilled in April 2018, matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and new American oak, and bottled on 14 August 2023 at 60.1% ABV. The label gives cask number 601. There are 100 bottles, and no more will be made.

What the price tells us

The 99 bottles that stayed on the ground cost around €239 (£200). The hammer price is therefore eight and a half times that, around €1,795 (£1,500) more for the same release. That premium presumably reflects the journey, the three signatures and the number 001.

In our view, that makes it no benchmark for the value of the other 99 bottles. This was a one-off, and the sale was held to raise money for the college. The figure says more about the story of this one bottle than about the market for Torabhaig.

The other 99 bottles

After a pre-sale to members of The Torabhaig Club, the remaining bottles go on general sale at torabhaig.com from Monday 9 November 2026, at around €239 (£200).

Each comes with a postcard of the flown bottle, signed by the three pilots. Here too, all proceeds go to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Torabhaig on Skye

Torabhaig sits on the Sleat Peninsula and has been distilling since 2017. Alongside Talisker, it is one of only two single malt distilleries on Skye. It has supported Sabhal Mòr Ostaig with charity auctions before.

On Spiritory you can find the Torabhaig Taigh, the distillery's first core range whisky, the Torabhaig Sound of Sleat, and the two first editions of The Distillers' Series, Niall's First Edition and Iona's First Edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did the balloon bottle sell for?

Around €2,034 (£1,700) at auction on 2 November 2026. Reports call it the most valuable Torabhaig single malt sold to date.

Where does the money go?

To Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college near the distillery on Skye. That applies to the hammer price and to the proceeds from the other 99 bottles.

When and where can the other bottles be bought?

After a pre-sale for members of The Torabhaig Club, from 9 November 2026 at torabhaig.com, at around €239 (£200).

What kind of whisky is it?

A single malt from the Isle of Skye, distilled in April 2018, matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and new American oak, and bottled on 14 August 2023 at 60.1% ABV. There are 100 bottles.