Ian O’Malley is a busy guy.
He’s a realtor. He’s a longtime New York radio DJ. He and his wife Debbie have 2 young children.
So he can be forgiven — maybe — for forgetting that he owned a very special bottle of 1978 Macallan single malt whisky, worth thousands of dollars.
Ian bought it years ago. When his son was 2, he moved it to a top shelf because — well, you know kids. Over time he placed a couple of other bottles in front of it.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Last year, as the O’Malleys moved from Wilton to Westport, Ian discovered the bottle. He was thrilled, but had the same idea as when he first bought it: Save it for a special occasion.
That special occasion is now. But Ian won’t be drinking.
Not long ago, he told Debbie about a friend who works for Edrington — Macallan’s parent company. He raffled off a bottle; the proceeds went to charity.
And his bottle wasn’t nearly as exclusive as Ian’s. (The cheapest price Ian could find for his 1978 was $3,300 — from an Italian retailer who won’t ship to the US. For $4,600, you can buy it from a store in the UK that will.)
Ian O’Malley
Ian volunteers for a number of non-profit groups, here and in New York. He did not want to choose one to benefit, and alienate the others.
Debbie suggested Experience Camps. The Westport-based organization sponsors 1-week camps for boys and girls after the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.
Kids laugh, cry, play, remember the person who died, or forget the grief that weighs them down. They feel “normal,” because everyone there has been through something similar.
When Ian was 12, his father died of pancreatic cancer. Decades later, Ian says, “I would have loved an opportunity like Experience Camps.”
A unique raffle needs a unique price. Tickets are $104 each — because Ian is a DJ on New York’s classic rock station, Q104.3.
They’re tax-deductible, Ian notes. And available by clicking this easy link.
The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 14. The drawing takes place at 9 p.m. the next day. It will be streamed on Facebook Live, from his house. (Where the lucky bottle still sits, unopened.)
Yet Ian’s generosity does not stop there. If the winner lives within 60 minutes of Westport, he promises to deliver it personally.
Just thank him. You don’t even have to invite him in for a drink.
Incredible charity choice! Experience camps is awesome! Sara and Jon Deren are amazing great people. In the story March 14 passed already. Is that the right date?
Ian is a great guy! So generous always…
You do mean 14 April, don’t you Dan?
Loved it. Everyone got helped. No one got hurt. The natural order of life was not damaged Bravo!!!
Thanks so very much for letting folks know about this Dan. It is the best, along with one and only of its type in my collection. Any scotch drinker will tell you it is a truly epic bottle that would be very difficult, and very expensive (😱) to track down. Let’s find a great home for it and help out Experience Camps. My most sincere thanks to anyone reading this who passes along the info to their scotch loving (and charitable 😉) friends!!
I assume this is Middie’s brother ?
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Yes. Well, if it’s a good thing…😂
April 15th at 9:00pm
Why does the bottle say 1986 on it?
Because I did a search on Google Images for 1978 Macallen, this came up, and I didn’t check closely. Sorry!
it says deadline is march 14???? it passed????? I bot a ticket and they acknowledged it. hope date is wrong in your column???Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Como- Your entry is good. It was a typo that was fixed by Dan after your initial email. Thanks very much for taking part and good luck on 4/15!
The single malt drew me in, but the amazing charity held my attention. Fantastic thing to support! ❤️🦋🌀