A Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare estimated at £1.7 million to £2.2 million, is bound to dominate the conversation. It could challenge the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold. But what has drawn me to this Sotheby’s sale at the Macallan estate is the collection around it.
Across roughly 40 lots, it offers a fascinating look at what makes a whisky valuable: rarity, condition, presentation and provenance.
The 11 lots of original Macallan cases are the ones that first caught my eye. They include six cases of 1970 18-year-old and cases of 10-year-old, including the 100 proof. From my years as an auctioneer, I know the appeal of “new old stock” in watches and other collectibles: an object preserved as it was originally supplied. Whisky collectors rarely encounter that kind of survival.
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Seeing these bottles together in their original cartons, with such impressive fill levels and condition, is extraordinary. As collecting habits mature, I suspect complete cases will attract more attention.
The Romantica Collection represents a different sort of rarity, created with collectors in mind from day one. Its three labels reunite artists associated with the celebrated 1926 release: Valerio Adami, Peter Blake and Michael Dillon. The special set in this sale is the only one of its kind available to the public, with its counterpart retained in the Macallan archive.
I find the presentation somewhat understated, but the connection to the 1926 gives it a clear place in Macallan’s story.
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The Six Pillars set has an estimate well below prices achieved by sets at the market’s height. Its condition appears to explain much of that gap: this looks like an assembled set, rather than a pristine collection. That distinction matters enormously to a buyer.
Then there is the 1926 Fine & Rare. Originally one of 14 bottles bearing that label, it has become scarcer still since one was transformed into a separate artwork. This bottle has not undergone the reconditioning given to the Adami bottle that sold for £2.18 million in 2023, a detail I would want to understand before bidding.
Even so, seeing it offered at the distillery makes this feel like Macallan’s greatest hits gathered in one room. Which lot would you most want to see in person?
For a closer look at these remarkable whiskies, you can watch my full video on the auction.
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