Records were shattered at the Sotheby’s Auction, when one bottle, as rare as it can get, was auctioned at the staggering price of $2,714,250. The Macallan 1926 was seen previously in 2019 at the Sotheby’s Auction and had then sold for $1.9 million. This was already a record-setting point in the whiskey’s history. This record was then broken by almost double the previous price and has even gained prominent attention.
So what exactly is in this whiskey that makes it worth so much?
What Is Macallan 1926
On November 18, 2023, the Macallan 1926 made an appearance at the Sotheby’s Auction in London. Previously seen in 2018 and 2019, this whiskey has always managed to break records. This time, the record was broken again, this time doubling in value. Crazy, right?
Experts had set some expectations on raising between $948,063 and $1.51 million but it surpassed the quote, making this a noteworthy moment in the history of vintage alcohols. It became the most expensive spirit to ever be sold at an auction.
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Tasting Before The Sotheby’s Auction
Macallan whiskey maker Kirsteen Campbell, although did not get to taste this exclusive whiskey, got to take a whiff. She describes the notes to be, “rich dark fruits, black cherry compote alongside sticky dates, followed by intense sweet antique oak.”
Jonny Fowle, head of whisky at Sotheby’s, was allowed to sample this spirit before the auction. This is how he described it, “I tasted a tiny drop – a tiny drop – of this. It’s very rich, it’s got a lot of dried fruit as you would expect, a lot of spice, a lot of wood.”
This is expected after the fact that the Macallan 1926 whiskey was aged for 60 years in European oak barrels, which has added to the color and flavor of the single malt.
What’s So Special About Macallan 1926
This whiskey is a single malt that was aged in sherry casks for sixty years before it was bottled in 1986. Only 40 bottles were made but they were not sold in the market, instead, Macallan offered these whiskeys to their top clients.
This bottle, namely the Adami 1926, was one of the 12 bottles that had their labels designed by Italian painter Valerio Adami. Out of these 12, one bottle was lost in an earthquake in Japan, making this even rarer to obtain.
What makes these bottles the highlight of every auction is that every time they surface, they have always surpassed expectations, and earned astonishing profits.
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Summing Up
This whiskey is close to completing four decades since it was first bottled, making this one of the rarest and oldest whiskies out there. Not many have gotten to taste it, even after owning the bottle. And chances are the new owner would also keep the bottle unopened, till they can auction it off again for probably double the price in the future.
What would you give to taste the whiskey that’s worth a fortune?
FAQs
How Much Is A 1926 Macallan Worth?
The 1926 Macallan Valerio Adami 60 Year Old was sold for $2.7 million at Sotheby’s Auction in London. It broke records after making almost double of its previous bid in 2019.
Why Is Macallan 1926 So Expensive?
Only 40 bottles were made and were distributed to Macallan’s top clients. The whiskey was aged for 60 years before being bottled in 1986. The rarity of this whiskey makes it so expensive.
Is Macallan A Luxury?
Macallan is considered a luxury brand because they are known to produce exclusive and premium whiskies in the world.
What Is Most Expensive Whiskey?
Isabella’s Islay is the most expensive whiskey you can purchase. This whiskey is worth more than $6 million, mainly due to the decanter it comes in. This decanter is made with 8,500 diamonds, 300 rubies, and white gold.
