Lot #20 Ladyburn - Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw 58 Year Old 1966
Estimate: £30,000—£50,000
Brand: Ladyburn — William Grant & Sons Limited Founder
Format: Bottle | 70cl
Overview
This unique homage bottling brings together the legacies of Ladyburn, the long-lost single malt distillery, and the 20th century icon Marilyn Monroe.
Details
A singular bottle from lost single malt distillery Ladyburn.
Distilled in 1966, the year Ladyburn was founded, and bottled in 2025 aged 58 years, uniquely for The Distillers One of One auction.
The bottle label features an intimate, rarely seen photograph of 20th century icon Marilyn Monroe by her friend and photographer Sam Shaw. Away from Hollywood artifices, Shaw’s spontaneous portrait captures Marilyn’s joyous, warm personality, revealing a beautiful and intelligent woman in charge of her own destiny.
The spirit selected for this exceptional bottling was hand-drawn from cask 102092, one of the very last remaining Ladyburn casks from the distillery’s foundation year.
The lost distillery was only in operation for nine years and was dismantled in 1975, making this whisky one of the rarest and most valuable.
Over five and a half decades in a Sherry butt have created a remarkably deep and complex single malt. Its rich layers of velvety toffee are intertwined with fruity accents that beautifully balance with intense oak notes.
It is presented in a satin lacquered display case and includes a 5-page folio with details of the Ladyburn story and of the lifelong friendship between Shaw and Marilyn.
43.7% ABV, bottled at cask strength and natural colour.
Size: 70cl, Product of Scotland.
Marilyn Monroe™
Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights: The Estate of Marilyn Monroe LLC.
© Shaw Family Archives.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Dark mahogany.
Aroma: A rich and indulgent aroma with notes of linseed, liquorice and antique leather. Some soft vanilla toffee notes complement the sherry oakiness.
Taste: Rich and mouth-coating with a silky texture. Layers of flavour are revealed over time stewed fruits, green leafiness, tobacco leaf and aged leather.
Finish: Slightly dry, velvety smooth and mellow.
Cask 102092 was one of a handful of Ladyburn 1966 Sherry Butts that stood out, exemplifying the character of the lost distillery while possessing the defining profile of a single malt aged for nearing on six decades in Sherry Butts.
—Brian Kinsman, Malt Master William Grant & Sons
Among the pantheon of lost distilleries, Ladyburn shines as a rare gem. We feel extraordinarily privileged to have partnered with arguably the most iconic cultural personality of her time for such a worthy cause as The Distillers One of One Auction.
—Jonathan Driver, William Grant & Sons Private Clients Managing Director
Interested in bidding?
To take part in The Distillers One of One Auction, you must register to bid with our auction partner, Sotheby's.
Visit Sotheby's website to register