Having a lockdown clear-out?

If you discover a dusty old bottle of rare whiskey in a dark cupboard corner, the organisers of an upcoming charity fundraiser could help you put it to very good use.

Cork Simon Community is holding a Charity Whiskey Auction in June and the organisation is calling on the Cork public, whether you’re a whiskey connoisseur or you’ve inherited a bottle or two from a relative, to dig deep and donate.

“I’m aware that people are under increasing financial pressure and there are a lot of very worthy causes out there, even more than usual at the moment.” said publican Ernest Cantillon, a director of the Cork Simon Community.

“When all this blows over, the recovery will be slower and need more support for some people. This is what Cork Simon does, and with that in mind I wanted to devise a fundraiser to allow people to contribute without costing them money (well, kind of!).”

How to donate your bottle

While whiskey isn’t to everyone’s tastes, it does appreciate in value over time, so an unwanted gift could potentially raise a tidy sum of money for people in need.

Bottles have already started to arrive by post for the auction and organisers are hoping the selection on the day will be a true treat for whiskey fans.

“I am asking anyone with a rare or old or special edition whiskey to donate it to our Charity Whiskey Auction that will take place online in June. All proceeds will go to the Cork Simon Community,” said Mr Cantillon.

“Whether you are an avid collector, or have a bottle of Midleton Rare stashed away since your wedding, I am asking you to donate a bottle to this cause, please.”

If you know of a whiskey collector or you have a friend in the spirits business who might be able to dig out something special for a very worthy cause, email SimonWhiskeyAuction@gmail.com.