NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Coachbuilt Whisky, a premium blended Scotch whisky brand, will unveil a rare Atlassian Williams Racing 50-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky at The Distillers One of One Auction on October 10th at the historic Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Coachbuilt Whisky is co-founded by George Koutsakis, whisky entrepreneur and curator of some of the world’s most exclusive casks, and 2009 F1 World Champion and Atlassian Williams Racing Brand Ambassador Jenson Button.
Presented in collaboration with The Distillers One of One and Sotheby’s, the biennial auction is now in its third edition and raises funds to support The Distillers’ Charity, principally the Youth Action Fund, to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people in Scotland.
The bottle is housed in a jaw-dropping sculpture forged entirely from the reclaimed metal of the legendary race-winning 1979 Williams Racing FW07 Formula 1 car and anchored on a slab of polished black granite. Individually sand-cast and sculpted by hand over hundreds of hours, acclaimed artist Mike O’Connor has applied traditional coachbuilding techniques to transform Formula 1 engineering into fine art.
Its sweeping form captures the dramatic profile of the FW07’s rear wing, a silhouette that defined a golden era of motorsport innovation. Resting on a solid black granite base, the piece is at once sculpture, artefact and tribute: to Williams’ storied legacy, to the artistry of coachbuilding and to the partnership with Coachbuilt Whisky. Created to honor the 50-year-old sherry-cask Scotch of equal rarity, this work transcends category — it is history, distilled and reimagined as timeless art.
“The Atlassian Williams Racing 50-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky represents the pinnacle of our craft—a rare whisky distilled five decades ago and matured to perfection,” says George Koutsakis, Founder of Coachbuilt Whisky. “We’re thrilled to offer this extraordinary release at The Distillers One of One Auction, knowing that the money raised will make a meaningful impact through The Distillers’ Charity.”
“We are delighted to be able to celebrate the iconic FWO7 through this one-of-a-kind lot,” said Luke Timmins, Director of Merchandise and Licensing. “Collaborations like this help bring to life Atlassian Williams Racing’s Championship-winning legacy for a new generation of F1 fans, as we continue on our mission to return to winning ways.”
The Atlassian Williams Racing 50-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky is a one-of-a-kind release, distilled in 1973 in The Lowlands and matured entirely in sherry casks, with its final four years spent in Oloroso. The whisky contains a 35% malt content at 46.6% ABV and comes in a 700ml size bottle. The estimate for the whisky is £6,000 – £10,000 ($7,043 – $11,738).
On the nose, rich layers of leather, tobacco, figs, dates, red fruits, chocolate, caramel, honey and boxed cigars unfold. The palate is opulent and textural, delivering notes of dark berries, baked bread, caramel, burnt orange peel and almond butter. The finish is extraordinarily long, leaving lasting impressions of mocha, dark chocolate and vanilla pods.
The one-of-a-kind product is the latest offering from the ongoing collaboration between Atlassian Williams Racing and Coachbuilt. The collaboration celebrates the brands’ rich heritage and innovative visions for the future – something previously showcased in their Coachbuilt 18yo FW18, a limited edition blend celebrating one of the most successful F1 car models of all time.
Follow Coachbuilt Whisky on social media to keep up with the latest news and announcements: Instagram: @coachbuiltwhisky
ABOUT COACHBUILT WHISKY:
Coachbuilt stands as a modern expression of timeless values — heritage, craftsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence without compromise. Inspired by the artistry of coachbuilding, where master craftsmen once shaped raw metal and wood into the world’s most iconic automobiles, Coachbuilt brings the same philosophy to Scotch whisky: uniting rare spirits from across Scotland’s five regions into a creation greater than the sum of its parts.
The brand was conceived through the partnership of Jenson Button, Formula One World Champion, and George Koutsakis, whisky entrepreneur and curator of some of the world’s most exclusive casks. Jenson’s career was defined by precision, design and performance at the highest level — principles that echo through every detail of Coachbuilt. George contributes unparalleled expertise in whisky, ensuring authenticity and refinement at every stage. Together, they embody a meeting of disciplines: the innovation of modern motorsport aligned with the enduring tradition of Scotch.
From its name to its design, Coachbuilt pays homage to the great houses of craftsmanship — those who shaped materials not only to serve a purpose, but to transcend it. Each bottle reflects that legacy, not as fleeting luxury, but as something enduring: a statement of provenance, artistry and timeless character. Coachbuilt is more than whisky. It is a philosophy, a celebration of tradition reimagined for a new generation of collectors, connoisseurs and visionaries.
ABOUT THE DISTILLERS’ CHARITY:
Established by The Worshipful Company of Distillers, The Distillers’ Charity is dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people, primarily in Scotland, by providing support, mentorship, and skills development that help them build confidence, resilience, and career opportunities. Through initiatives like the Youth Action Fund, vocational training programs, and industry-focused mentoring, the charity empowers young people to overcome barriers and reach their potential. Its work is funded largely through the biennial Distillers One of One Auction, which showcases rare Scotch whiskies, with 100% of proceeds supporting these life-changing programs.
ABOUT MIKE O’CONNOR:
Mike O’Connor is a sculptural artist who works exclusively with race-used Formula One materials, transforming engineering into art with rare authenticity. His debut exhibition, The Noise, opened on Cork Street, Mayfair — the historic heart of London’s art world — and featured works created from Ferrari V8 Formula One exhausts. The collection sold out in the summer of 2017, marking the arrival of a bold new voice in contemporary sculpture.
Since then, O’Connor has continued to elevate motorsport into fine art, collaborating with F1 The Exhibition, F1 Arcade, and exhibiting at Escapade, Silverstone. An ex-Formula One demonstration driver, he brings a perspective that is both deeply technical and profoundly personal, ensuring every piece resonates with the energy and spirit of the sport at its pinnacle.
Beyond sculpture, O’Connor is the founder of RESS Jewellery, a house dedicated to creating fine pieces from genuine race-used materials. Whether cast in metal, carved as form, or refined as jewellery, his philosophy remains constant: to distill the drama, innovation and legacy of Formula One into timeless objects of beauty.
Each work stands as more than art. It is history recast — a bridge between the spectacle of racing and the permanence of sculpture, created for collectors who seek the rare, the authentic, and the extraordinary.
ABOUT ATLASSIAN WILLIAMS RACING:
For almost 50 years, Atlassian Williams Racing has been at the forefront of one of the fastest sports on the planet, being one of the top three most successful teams in history competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. With an almost unrivalled heritage of engineering and racing F1 cars and unforgettable eras that demonstrate it is a force to be reckoned with, the British squad boasts 16 F1 World Championship titles to its name. Since its foundation in 1977 by the eminent, late Sir Frank Williams and engineering pioneer Sir Patrick Head, the team has won nine Constructors’ Championships, in association with Cosworth, Honda and Renault. Its roll call of drivers is legendary, with its seven Drivers’ Championship trophies being lifted by true icons of the sport: Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. The team has made history before and is out to make it again with a long-term mission to evolve and return to the front of the grid.
