Whisky Focus - St Columba’s Hospice Auctions AOIBHINN A Rare 1974 Ardbeg Whisky

St Columba is the most important saint in Scottish history. His well-documented monastic life, spent mostly on the island of Iona during the 6th Century, marked the beginning of a new era. He travelled widely and fearlessly, promoting unity and peace at a time of great unrest, and the miracles he is said to have performed became legendary. His legacy was so revered that more Scottish Kings are buried on Iona than any other place.

Following St Columba's death, there came many centuries of war and invasion. Treasured monastic objects were hidden and lost, stolen or destroyed by invaders. Few relics survived. One such object discovered intact is the Ardagh chalice, made over 1000 years ago, buried and lost, then discovered by a boy digging for potatoes in 1868.

The St Columba's whisky bottle design was inspired by this exquisite chalice and its chance discovery. It is finished to feel as precious as if made by a King's silversmith many centuries ago - buried to survive a Viking raid, and discovered centuries later.

This unique bottle is indeed fit for a King. Made from hallmarked sterling silver, it is hand-raised, chased, pierced and engraved, using ancient silversmithing techniques. The edging is traditional silver gilt and stone set. All the stones are hand-carved and polished from beach pebbles collected from St Columba's Bay on Iona. The geology of Iona is amongst the oldest in the world, so these stones may have been present as Columba himself landed in that Bay for the first time. The single teardrop stone on the front of the bottle, suspended by the blue enamel doves of the Hospice, has been cut from rare green Iona 'marble'. Pebbles of this green stone, unique to Iona, are treasured to this day by sailors and pilgrims as a ‘tear of St Columba’, which legend tells will keep them safe when travelling over water.

The Celtic bordering detail is hand-chased and oxidised, to convey the sense of age and treasure. Inside is a rare 1974 Islay single malt whisky from Ardbeg, itself considered the 'jewel of Islay'.

The ‘AOIBHINN’ name is pierced straight through the silver to reveal the whisky inside. On the back, a pattern inspired by St Martin's Cross on Iona is also pierced through. When held up to the sunlight, the Celtic cross allows light to flood through the logo and name on the front - as if rays of sunshine piercing through clouds.
 

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