‘A drop of Doddie’s legacy’: Rare whisky specially selected by Doddie released by Ardnamurchan Distillery

A Scotch whisky specially selected by the late Doddie Weir has been released to raise funds for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Released today (19 April 2023), the Highland Single Malt, AD/06:17, distilled and bottled by Ardnamurchan Distillery, was chosen from a single ex-Oloroso Sherry cask on June 9, 2017 for Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir.

The 61-cap Scotland international was accompanied by friends and fellow rugby legends, including former Scotland captain and MND fundraiser Rob Wainwright; Ireland great Keith Wood; and Scotland scrum half Gary Armstrong, as they visited Ardnamurchan Distillery in Glenbeg to select the final cask, shortly before Doddie's death on 26 November 2022 after almost six-years living with MND.

Others making the trip included close friend of Doddie and ex-Scotland player Carl Hogg, and Martin Wilson, Managing Director of Thrifty.

About the Whisky

A total of 327 bottles have been labelled specially to support My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’s fundraising efforts. Four bottles (number 1, 2, 5, and 55) will be kept aside for future auctions to raise funds for the Foundation.

The release was today and sales occurred via Scotland’s leading specialist whisky retailer, Royal Mile Whiskies, who ship thousands of whiskies and fine spirits worldwide. The whisky sold out within half an hour of going on sale and all profits were donated to the Foundation.

Bottled at 59.2% ABV, it has a colour of old oak and toffee lights. On the nose there is sweet and salted toffee, sea spray, chocolate coated raisins and a hint of banoffee. The palate is said to be ‘mouth coating’ with hazelnut praline, sea salt and bonfire embers, with a finish of ‘lingering milk chocolate’.

Rob Wainwright, who has helped raise millions for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Doddie loved a dram, and it was very poignant to get the group back together for the trip to Coll and Ardnamurchan to select the final whisky with him. We didn’t know it then, but that was one of the last times many of us would spend with him."

Alex Bruce, Managing Director at Ardnamurchan Distillery said: “We were incredibly honoured to welcome Doddie to our wee distillery at the beginning of October last year. His enthusiasm for life was unmatched, and I hope that everyone who manages to grab a bottle from this cask raises a dram in his honour.

“We look forward to donations from the sale of these limited edition bottles of whisky raising more funds to support the continued efforts to find a cure for motor neuron disease.”

Paul Thompson, Director of Fundraising at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation added: “It’s particularly special to see the cask Doddie hand-selected just before he died, now packaged in these beautiful bottles featuring the My Name’5 Doddie tartan.

“We’re confident the AD/06:17 Cask will be highly sought after and raise a significant amount for our fundraising efforts, and will support our search for a cure to motor neuron disease.”