The Emerald Isle Collection by The Craft Irish Whiskey Company, created in partnership with Fabergé, fetched a world record $2 million at a recent auction.
This was the inaugural launch of the super rare whiskey boxed sets. The final bid and private sale of the Emerald Isle box was purchased on St. Patrick’s Day by Houston-based Fabergé collectors James and Korrine Whipkey along with a second group of private investors led by Scott H. Weissman.
The Craft Irish Whiskey Company noted at the time that proceeds from the world-record sale will go to the Correa Family Foundation, a charity supporting children affected by cancer.
The remaining six Emerald Isle “experience boxes” will be released at auctions and events in various cities throughout 2021.
Jay Bradley, founder of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., said in a prepared statement that “At The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. we share the same brand vision as Fabergé … to strive to create timeless beauty and a lasting legacy, faithful to heritage, which also embraces new methods. Collaborating with Fabergé has been a tremendous experience and together we have created an extraordinary bespoke set that truly celebrates Ireland, its craftsmanship and unique heritage.”
He added the donation of the proceeds from the sale to the Correa Family Foundation is a cause which is “very close to my heart as my own daughter was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare form cancer when she was just five months old. Thanks to charities like the Correa Family Foundation, she is now a healthy 19-year-old and I am honored to be able to support the foundation through this contribution.
For those unfamiliar with it, the Emerald Isle Collection comprises of a seven-piece custom-made whiskey set which celebrates the “Seven Wonders of Ireland.” Presented in a dark walnut experience box, each set features a bottle of ultra-rare, single cask, 30-year-old, triple-distilled, single malt Irish whiskey. And it’s accompanied by two unique and exclusive creations from Fabergé … the first-of-its-kind Fabergé Celtic Egg and bespoke one-of-one Fabergé watch.
Each collection also includes a humidor with two limited edition Cohiba Siglo VI Grand Reserva (2009) cigars, a gold-plated cigar cutter, gold plated water pipette, pure obsidian whiskey stones, a hip flask with a sample of the Emerald Isle whiskey, and a carafe filled with Irish spring water from the same region where the whiskey was made.
Inside each box is the hand-crafted whiskey bottle with the design inspired by the Imperial Fabergé Hen Egg from 1885. Each egg is handcrafted from 18k yellow gold and features Fabergé’s guilloché enamel in a pastel green; the green, white and gold colors of the egg symbolizing the Irish flag.
Inside the egg, a surprise awaits in the form of a rough, uncut Gemfields Zambian emerald. This is the first time Fabergé has ever featured an uncut gemstone as the egg’s surprise. The uncut gem can be customized by Fabergé into a one-of-a-kind piece of Fabergé jewelery.
In addition to the whiskey and one-of-a-kind Fabergé Celtic Egg, each box features another collector’s item, a one-of-one Fabergé Altruist 18k rose gold watch. Each individual piece has a unique dial, inspired by the landscape of one of the “Seven Wonders of Ireland.”