Sotheby’s prayers were answered when two rare Bourbons signed by Pope Francis achieved a combined US$27,500 at auction. On Saturday 7 December two bottles of Bourbon produced by Willett Distillery in Kentucky caused a stir when they fetched US$13,750 each at the Sotheby’s Whisky & Whiskey Seasonal Spirits auction in New York. The reason behind the frenzied bidding for these bottles was a signature scrawled on each. The pair of whiskies was autographed by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic church in 2013 and is the first Pope to come from the Americas. Now 87 years old, Pope Francis had a special interest in the bottles as each was produced to mark a holy occasion. The first Willett bottle commemorates the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ papacy, while the second celebrates the 2025 Jubilee Year, ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ according to Sotheby’s auction house. Faith-led The sale, which achieved a total sum of US$1.3 million, will see proceeds from the Pope-signed Bourbons donated to a number of charitable, faith-led organisations including: Southeast Texas Hospice in Orange, Texas; Maxwell Street Legal Immigration Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky; the Diocese of Lexington – Preaching/Giving Ministry of Fr. Jim Sichko; and PAWs 4 the Cause in Lexington, Kentucky. “These bottles are not just collector’s items—they are symbols of hope and compassion, created to do good in the world,” said Father Jim Sichko, Diocesan Evangelist and Papal Missionary of Mercy. “I am deeply moved by the generosity of the bidders, and I know
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
