Rare bottle of 29-year-old Balblair whisky displayed on unique plinth created by Black Isle Bronze foundry goes on tour to mark Highland Rugby Football Club's centenary
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A unique bronze plinth housing a rare bottle of whisky is on tour as part of Highland Rugby Football Club's (RFC) centenary celebrations.
The 29-year-old Balblair whisky, donated by malt whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail, sits in a plinth created for the club by fine art, architectural and memorial bronze foundry, Black Isle Bronze.
The tour comes ahead of the club’s centenary dinner in Inverness on August 13 where the one-of-a-kind package will be auctioned for charity.
The whisky, valued at around £800, it is expected to be a much sought-after bottle which is hard to come by while the plinth is valued at £4000.
The exclusive piece has already been displayed at the Whisky Shop in Inverness and made a trip to the Balblair Distillery.
It is currently at Castle Stuart Golf Links, with visits to Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Skibo Castle and the whisky shop belonging to Gordon & MacPhail.
Just 469 bottles of the Balblair Highland single malt whisky were created from a single sherry butt filled in 1990.
It is part of Gordon & MacPhail’s famous Connoisseur’s Choice collection. Cask strength, it is described as having a soft cinnamon spice which leads to stewed plum and delicate sherbet aromas.
The initial toasted malt flavours give way to light fruitcake with a hint of cashew nut. Traces of aniseed and dried ginger linger on the finish.
The plinth was created by Farquhar Laing and his team at Black Isle Bronze based near Inverness.
It took about four months to make and recreates a traditional rugby ball placed on a kicking tee and set in bronze.
Designed specifically to display a bottle of whisky, one of the segments of the ball is removed, creating space for the bottle.
Roy Dinnes, vice president of Highland RFC, said the club is inviting people to be photographed with it.
"This is a unique item, bespoke to Highland RFC, and we are extremely grateful to Gordon & MacPhail and Black Isle Bronze for allowing us to auction something very special in our centenary year and hopefully raise money to support charities particularly close to our hearts at the club," he said.
"We are delighted to take this unique item on tour so that as many people across the Highlands get to see it.
"Any organisations interested in displaying the plinth should get in touch with us via social media.
"We are more than happy for people to have their photos with it and tag Highland RFC."
Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, said company was delighted to be part of the centenary celebrations at Highland RFC.
"Roy and the team do a phenomenal job promoting the game and coaching and supporting schools throughout communities in the Highlands," he said.
"I hope this special bottle of Balblair helps raise funds for worthwhile charities, allowing them to continue their excellent work."
Farquhar Laing, director at Black Isle Bronze, is a member and volunteer coach at Highland RFC and his son plays for the under-16s team.
"You can see our work all over the world, from Dallas in Texas to Dubai and, of course, here in the UK," he said.
"Having created the line-out sculpture for Twickenham, we were only too happy to create something special for Highland RFC which we hope goes to a good home and raises a lot of money."
It is already open for bids and the money raised will support charities Mikeysline, Alzheimer Scotland, My Name’s Doddie and Highland RFC so that the club can continue to promote and deliver rugby to communities across the Highlands.
Anyone wishing to bid for the plinth and the bottle of Balblair whisky can do so by visiting Givergy.comHRCAuction, or by attending the centenary dinner in Inverness on August 13. Tickets for the dinner can be bought via the HRC. The are on sale until August 1.
