From the ultra-rare reserves of William Grant & Sons emerges a singular creation: Ladyburn Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw. Drawn by hand from cask into one unique bottle, this edition is a piece of living history, an artistic statement, and a profound celebration of rarity.
At its heart lies the story of Ladyburn Distillery, a lost icon of Scotch whisky. Founded in 1966 in Girvan, Ayrshire, Ladyburn was a trailblazer of its era, embodying industrial ingenuity and pioneering design. Yet its existence was fleeting. The distillery closed in 1975 after less than a decade in operation, leaving only behind a few casks. These remnants are the final echoes of a vanished chapter in whisky history, expressions of character impossible to recreate. In the pantheon of lost distilleries, Ladyburn is a gem whose brilliance is matched only by its scarcity.
The Ladyburn Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw edition represents the oldest bottling of Ladyburn to date: a 58-year-old single malt distilled in 1966. With its deep mahogany colour and layers of flavour – stewed fruits, antique leather, tobacco leaf, and sherry-rich oak – this whisky is an extraordinary testament to time. Smooth, velvety, and complex, it is an expression as nuanced as the icon it honours.
But this bottle is more than liquid heritage. It is adorned with an intimate, rarely seen photograph of Marilyn Monroe, captured by her close friend, the acclaimed photographer Sam Shaw. This image, taken at the St. Regis Hotel in New York in September 1954, shows Monroe in a moment of ease between engagements, just days before filming her now-legendary “skirt-blowing” scene on Lexington Avenue for The Seven Year Itch publicity. It is Marilyn unguarded, radiant in her naturalness – a glimpse of the woman behind the myth.
Shaw’s relationship with Monroe began in the early 1950s when the then-unknown actress offered him rides to the set of Viva Zapata!. Their friendship blossomed, and Shaw went on to photograph her throughout her career, producing some of the most enduring images in cinema history. Yet beyond the iconic poses, Shaw sought something deeper. “I tried to show this fascinating woman with her guard down,” he reflected, “at work, at ease off stage, during those joyous moments in her life.” The chosen photograph for this Ladyburn release embodies exactly that sentiment: intimacy, trust, and authenticity.
The partnership between Ladyburn and Shaw is no coincidence. Both emerged during times of cultural transformation, challenging the conventions of their crafts. In the 1960s, Scotch whisky was undergoing industrial innovation, and Ladyburn’s groundbreaking design influenced production methods still felt today. At the same time, Shaw was redefining Hollywood photography, moving beyond staged glamour to embrace spontaneity, natural light, and emotional truth. Both carried a spirit of independence, reshaping their worlds in ways that have endured for more than half a century.
This sense of connection between rarity and artistry, heritage and iconography sits at the core of Ladyburn Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw. As with Ladyburn itself, the photograph selected for this bottling captures something seldom seen: a hidden gem enveloping a hidden gem. Together, this pairing forms a dialogue across disciplines, speaking of legacy, collectability, and the fragile beauty of fleeting moments.
This edition also continues Ladyburn’s curatorial vision of pairing its finite remaining casks with unseen or rediscovered works from iconic artists. At the inaugural Distillers’ One of One auction in 2021, a 1966 Ladyburn was offered alongside David Bailey’s portrait of John Lennon, achieving extraordinary acclaim. In 2025, the story continues with Monroe and Shaw – a pairing as evocative as it is unique.
“Ladyburn is a piece of history,” notes Brian Kinsman, Malt Master for William Grant & Sons. “It came and it went, but the legacy lives on. We have casks that literally tell a story of a bygone age of making whisky.” This bottling is that story, distilled, matured, and framed in one singular expression.
The Ladyburn Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw edition has been created exclusively for the Distillers One of One Auction, a biennial showcase of the rarest and most exceptional whiskies in the world. Since its launch in 2021, this series of once-in-a-lifetime auctions has established itself as the pinnacle of Scotch whisky collectability, with each lot a unique creation, never to be repeated. To date, eighty-one extraordinary lots have been donated, with 37 setting new world records for the distilleries who crafted them.
Yet the significance of The Distillers One of One extends beyond rarity and prestige. The auctions have so far raised £4.3 million in support of the Youth Action Fund, an initiative dedicated to empowering young people in Scotland, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to realise their potential and contribute positively to their communities. More than 3,300 young people have already benefited since 2022, with tangible outcomes: over two-thirds have entered employment, education, training, or re-engaged with school. Through partner charities such as Aberdeen Foyer, Action for Children, Enable Works, Fare, Street League and The Talk About Trust, the fund is reshaping opportunities for Scotland’s youth in profound ways.
For collectors, this is a chance to acquire a truly one-of-one piece that bridges the worlds of whisky, art, and cultural history. For Scotland’s young people, it is a catalyst for opportunity. And for the world of Scotch whisky, it is yet another reminder that rarity can be a force not only of beauty, but of change.
