An operational from the brand observes that the 1926 Macallan bottled after 60 years in 1986 is one of the most powerful he has tested in his career. It is also the oldest in its category. 40 bottles of 75 cl grading 42.8% were prepared, including two series of prestige each numbered from one to twelve. The label of one of the series is an impression of a drawing by Valerio Adami, the other by Peter Blake.
These bottles are the most expensive in the world, on retail and at auction. On April 25, 2018 it was reported that an Adami and a Blake had just been sold at Dubai Airport for US $ 600K each. Bonhams was then preparing an auction of two similar bottles, estimated HK $ 3.6M each. On May 18 the Adami 2/12 was sold for HK $ 8.6M including premium and the Blake 8/12 for HK $ 8M including premium. Bonhams Magazine calculated that the price per glass exceeds US $ 40,000.
Other bottles are now surfacing with increased estimates taking into account the May 18 results. The Adami 5/12 is estimated over £ 700K for sale by Bonhams in Edinburgh on October 3, lot 86. The Blake 9/12 is estimated over $ 700K for sale by Sotheby's in New York on October 13, lot 1559. The high estimates are consistent with each other, respectively at £ 900K and $ 1.2M.
The two bottles that are coming for sale, like those of May 18, are integrated in their 'tantalus' safety cabinet. The Adami 5/12 is sold by its original owner. A very slight corrosion of the capsule is observed by Sotheby's for the Blake.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
LATER INFORMATION
Another bottle has surfaced, for sale by Christie's in London on November 29, lot 312. It does not belong to the Adami-Blake sub-series : the label of this one has been hand painted by artist Michael Dillon. It is illustrated in an article by Christie's.
RESULTS including premium :
Bonhams : SOLD for £ 850K
Sotheby's : SOLD for $ 840K
Christie's : SOLD for £ 1.2M
A bottle of the extremely rare The #Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 year old will be offered at Bonhams #Whisky Sale in Edinburgh on 3 Octoberhttps://t.co/8K3vkMG9Mm pic.twitter.com/zX2YwBh4RO
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) August 15, 2018
This autumn, #SothebysWine will offer The Macallan '1926 60 Year Old (Peter Blake Label)', with the highest estimate ever placed on a bottle of wine or whisky at auction. Learn more about this extraordinary lot: https://t.co/UeuZmI14B9 pic.twitter.com/GsYKxIrElQ
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) May 19, 2018
On 29 November 2018, our Finest & Rarest Wines &
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) October 4, 2018
Spirits auction in #London will be led by the most collectable #singlemalt
produced in the 20th century; The Macallan 1926 60-Year-Old presented in a
unique bottle painted by the Irish artist #MichaelDillon https://t.co/V3JJGVmMCU pic.twitter.com/blhXjdDFGO