Whisky
1986 The Macallan 1926-60 Year Old
Intro
The Macallan brand was once appreciated for its blends while some of their competitors led by Glenfiddish promoted the pure malt. In the early 1980s Macallan change their strategy for the high end. Pure malt preparations that have been distilling for several decades in their reserves then generated very small editions that are among the best whiskies in the world.
The most prestigious was distilled in 1926 from a Single Highland Malt by The Macallan in the Speyside region of Scotland. It then matured for 60 years in the sherry oak cask No. 263. In 1986 The Macallan poured the liquid into 40 bottles of 75 cl. It is grading 42.8%.
I found its taste in an old article on the web : "a lot of dried fruit, a lot of spicy, a lot of woody from the Spanish oak cherry cask and a toffee sweetness". The Macallan master distiller stated that "it is one of the most powerful tasting whiskies that he has ever tried".
Its edition started with two sub-series of 12 bottles each with a printed label illustrated by Peter Blake for the first, in 1989, and by Valerio Adami for the second, in 1993. Each sub-series is serialized from 1 to 12, and each of these 24 is packaged in the tantalus brass and glass safety cabinet. Whiskies 60 years old or slightly more are the greatest prestige of Macallan, and most of them were presented to valued customers selected by the brand.
In 2003 the remaining bottles received the new standard label for the brand's Fine and Rare series, in which they represent the earliest distillation. In the meantime, two of them had been sold without a label, by McTear's, in 2001 and 2002.
The most prestigious was distilled in 1926 from a Single Highland Malt by The Macallan in the Speyside region of Scotland. It then matured for 60 years in the sherry oak cask No. 263. In 1986 The Macallan poured the liquid into 40 bottles of 75 cl. It is grading 42.8%.
I found its taste in an old article on the web : "a lot of dried fruit, a lot of spicy, a lot of woody from the Spanish oak cherry cask and a toffee sweetness". The Macallan master distiller stated that "it is one of the most powerful tasting whiskies that he has ever tried".
Its edition started with two sub-series of 12 bottles each with a printed label illustrated by Peter Blake for the first, in 1989, and by Valerio Adami for the second, in 1993. Each sub-series is serialized from 1 to 12, and each of these 24 is packaged in the tantalus brass and glass safety cabinet. Whiskies 60 years old or slightly more are the greatest prestige of Macallan, and most of them were presented to valued customers selected by the brand.
In 2003 the remaining bottles received the new standard label for the brand's Fine and Rare series, in which they represent the earliest distillation. In the meantime, two of them had been sold without a label, by McTear's, in 2001 and 2002.
1
Fine and Rare
2019 SOLD for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's
In 2002 The Macallan created the Fine and Rare collection, whose original catalog included 37 types. Collectors are invited to assemble verticals.
In 2004 the remaining bottles of the 1926 60 year old were released with the Fine and Rare pedigree. Unlike the Blake and Adami series, they do not have a commercial serialization. A Fine and Rare 700 ml 42.6% was sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's on October 24, 2019, lot 160.
In 2004 the remaining bottles of the 1926 60 year old were released with the Fine and Rare pedigree. Unlike the Blake and Adami series, they do not have a commercial serialization. A Fine and Rare 700 ml 42.6% was sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's on October 24, 2019, lot 160.
2
Fine and Rare
2021 SOLD for £ 1M before fees by Whisky Auctioneer
Three great collections of the rarest whiskies have recently surfaced. In October 2019 at Sotheby's, The Ultimate Whisky Collection fetched £ 7.6M with 467 bottles divided into 394 lots. In the following month, a Vietnamese businessman had his collection of 535 bottles of Scotch and Japanese whisky certified by Guinness World Records.
Richard Leonard Gooding made his fortune as the owner and CEO of the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Denver, Colorado, founded by his grandfather in 1936, which he sold in 1988 to the parent company Pepsi Co. Renowned for his philanthropy and for his discretion, he was known to his neighbors for his exceptional collection of Leonard ties.
Gooding made numerous trips to Scotland and Ireland in search of the best bottles, at a time when tasting rooms were not yet fashionable. One day, by visiting the Macallan distillery, undisputed leader on this market, he was presented with the most prestigious bottles. The employee asked him which one he wanted to buy. He replied : "I want them all."
The Gooding collection is The Perfect Collection, in quantity and quality. Gathering 3,900 bottles, it was revealed in December 2019 by Whisky Auctioneer, the company based in Perth in Scotland which was in charge of its dispersion. Online sales were organized in two sessions. Please watch the video shared by the auction house on Vimeo.
Any great collection must include the legendary Macallan 1926 60 year old. The Ultimate Whisky Collection included a Fine and Rare, sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's in 2019. The Vietnamese collection has three bottles including a Fine and Rare.
The Gooding collection included two bottles. The Fine and Rare was sold for £ 1M before fees in the second session, on February 22, 2021.
Richard Leonard Gooding made his fortune as the owner and CEO of the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Denver, Colorado, founded by his grandfather in 1936, which he sold in 1988 to the parent company Pepsi Co. Renowned for his philanthropy and for his discretion, he was known to his neighbors for his exceptional collection of Leonard ties.
Gooding made numerous trips to Scotland and Ireland in search of the best bottles, at a time when tasting rooms were not yet fashionable. One day, by visiting the Macallan distillery, undisputed leader on this market, he was presented with the most prestigious bottles. The employee asked him which one he wanted to buy. He replied : "I want them all."
The Gooding collection is The Perfect Collection, in quantity and quality. Gathering 3,900 bottles, it was revealed in December 2019 by Whisky Auctioneer, the company based in Perth in Scotland which was in charge of its dispersion. Online sales were organized in two sessions. Please watch the video shared by the auction house on Vimeo.
Any great collection must include the legendary Macallan 1926 60 year old. The Ultimate Whisky Collection included a Fine and Rare, sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's in 2019. The Vietnamese collection has three bottles including a Fine and Rare.
The Gooding collection included two bottles. The Fine and Rare was sold for £ 1M before fees in the second session, on February 22, 2021.
3
Dillon
2018 SOLD for £ 1.2M by Christie's
A Macallan 1926-60 was sold for £ 1.2M by Christie's on November 29, 2018, 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 one of the two bottles auctioned by McTear's in the early 2000s before the labeling of the remaining stock as Fine and Rare. The fate of the other one is not known.
It is one of the two bottles auctioned by McTear's in the early 2000s before the labeling of the remaining stock as Fine and Rare. The fate of the other one is not known.
4
Adami 12/12
2020 SOLD for £ 825K before fees by Whisky Auctioneer
Two Macallan 1926 60 year old occupy the top positions in the Gooding collection, sold by Whisky Auctioneer.
In the first session, on February 27, 2020, the Adami 12/12 was sold for £ 825K before fees.
In the first session, on February 27, 2020, the Adami 12/12 was sold for £ 825K before fees.
5
Adami 5/12
2018 SOLD for £ 850K by Bonhams
The Adami 5/12 was sold for £ 850K by Bonhams on October 3, 2018, lot 86. The consignor was its original owner.
6
Adami 2/12
2018 SOLD for HK$ 8.6M by Bonhams
On April 25, 2018 it was reported that an Adami and a Blake had just been privately sold at Dubai Airport for US $ 600K each. Bonhams was then preparing an auction of two bottles, estimated HK $ 3.6M each.
On May 18, 2018, the Adami 2/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8.6M, lot 608 by Adami, lot 608. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.and the Blake 8/12 for HK $ 8M, lot 381. Bonhams Magazine calculated that the price per glass exceeds US $ 40,000.
On May 18, 2018, the Adami 2/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8.6M, lot 608 by Adami, lot 608. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.and the Blake 8/12 for HK $ 8M, lot 381. Bonhams Magazine calculated that the price per glass exceeds US $ 40,000.
7
Blake 8/12
2018 SOLD for HK 8M by Bonhams
The Blake 8/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8M by Bonhams on May 18, 2018, lot 381.
The Blake 9/12 in its tantalus was sold for $ 840K by Sotheby's on October 12, 2018, lot 1559. A very slight corrosion of the capsule had been observed. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Also in its tantalus, the Blake 7/12 was sold for £ 615K by Bonhams on March 6, 2019, lot 76.
The Blake 9/12 in its tantalus was sold for $ 840K by Sotheby's on October 12, 2018, lot 1559. A very slight corrosion of the capsule had been observed. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Also in its tantalus, the Blake 7/12 was sold for £ 615K by Bonhams on March 6, 2019, lot 76.
2006-2014 Hanyu
2019 SOLD for HK$ 7.2M by Bonhams
Isouji Akuto created one of the best brands of Japanese whisky in Hanyu in 1941. This small operation was not profitable and the distillery closed in 2000. Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of the founder, is a great whisky lover. He buys the remaining casks and selects the best products which he will trade under the designation of Ichiro's Malt Distilled at Hanyu's Distillery.
Each cask provides another flavor. Ichiro identifies them with a playing card. The bottle labels provide a full traceability : years of distillation and bottling, alcohol volume, cask number, serialization including the total quantity of the card.
Four cards were released in 2005 in about 120 bottles for each one. A very rare ace of spades of this first edition, bottle number 5 of 122, was sold for HK $ 85K by Bonhams on August 15, 2014.
Success exceeds all expectations. Drinkers appreciate the variety of flavors and collectors demand a full pack. The four original cards are reissued in 2006 after one additional year of maturation in the same cask. The 52 cards are available in 2011, followed in 2014 by two jokers including one final blend.
The dates of distillation are ranging from 1985 to 2000, the volume between 46 and 61%, and the production of each card between 200 and 650 bottles except the ultimate blended joker increased to 3,690 bottles.
A full set of 54 bottles with the original four in their second edition of 2006 was sold by Bonhams in Hong Kong for HK $ 3.8M on August 28, 2015. Another set identically constituted was sold for HK $ 7.2M in the same auction venue on August 16, 2019, lot 323.
The Hanyu whisky was designed for drinking, not for collecting, and complete packs become extremely rare and very difficult to assemble from scratch. This comment supports the raising price anticipated by the auction house.
Each cask provides another flavor. Ichiro identifies them with a playing card. The bottle labels provide a full traceability : years of distillation and bottling, alcohol volume, cask number, serialization including the total quantity of the card.
Four cards were released in 2005 in about 120 bottles for each one. A very rare ace of spades of this first edition, bottle number 5 of 122, was sold for HK $ 85K by Bonhams on August 15, 2014.
Success exceeds all expectations. Drinkers appreciate the variety of flavors and collectors demand a full pack. The four original cards are reissued in 2006 after one additional year of maturation in the same cask. The 52 cards are available in 2011, followed in 2014 by two jokers including one final blend.
The dates of distillation are ranging from 1985 to 2000, the volume between 46 and 61%, and the production of each card between 200 and 650 bottles except the ultimate blended joker increased to 3,690 bottles.
A full set of 54 bottles with the original four in their second edition of 2006 was sold by Bonhams in Hong Kong for HK $ 3.8M on August 28, 2015. Another set identically constituted was sold for HK $ 7.2M in the same auction venue on August 16, 2019, lot 323.
The Hanyu whisky was designed for drinking, not for collecting, and complete packs become extremely rare and very difficult to assemble from scratch. This comment supports the raising price anticipated by the auction house.
2013 The Six Pillars of The Macallan
2017 SOLD for HK$ 7.7M by Sotheby's
Established in 1824, The Macallan distillery deserves and maintains its reputation for producing single malt whiskies among the best in the world. The company explains through didactic mottoes the six root causes for its pre-eminence constituting the Six Pillars of The Macallan : Exceptional Oak Cask, Natural Colour, Finest Cut, Curiously Small Stills, Spiritual Home, Peerless Spirit.
Around 2013 The Macallan edited its Six Pillars series : six references of whiskies, each one identified by one of the mottoes, in Lalique 70 cl bottles specially designed for each reference. These whiskies are among the oldest ever offered by the brand in terms of the age of maturation : 50 to 65 years.
On April 2, 2017, Sotheby's sold for HK $ 7.7M from a lower estimate of HK $ 2M a complete series of the Six Pillars that had been kept by The Macallan, lot 7370. It is accompanied by 12 Lalique Macallan glasses and by six 5 cl mignonnettes containing even older whiskies : 1937 to 1939. The whole is offered in a bespoke ebony cabinet made by Lalique.
The proceeds from the sale were partially donated to charities. The short video announcing these Six Pillars is integrated in the tweet.
Around 2013 The Macallan edited its Six Pillars series : six references of whiskies, each one identified by one of the mottoes, in Lalique 70 cl bottles specially designed for each reference. These whiskies are among the oldest ever offered by the brand in terms of the age of maturation : 50 to 65 years.
On April 2, 2017, Sotheby's sold for HK $ 7.7M from a lower estimate of HK $ 2M a complete series of the Six Pillars that had been kept by The Macallan, lot 7370. It is accompanied by 12 Lalique Macallan glasses and by six 5 cl mignonnettes containing even older whiskies : 1937 to 1939. The whole is offered in a bespoke ebony cabinet made by Lalique.
The proceeds from the sale were partially donated to charities. The short video announcing these Six Pillars is integrated in the tweet.
2020 The Macallan Red Collection
2020 SOLD for £ 760K by Sotheby's
The Macallan Red Collection is a set of six single malt whiskies, all of them bottled in 2020 at respectively 40, 50, 60, 71, 74 and 78 year old. The 78 is the oldest whisky ever released by the brand. Red is a signature color for The Macallan in relation to a long maturation in their oak casks.
Two sets have been constituted in addition to the standard edition. One of them is kept by The Macallan. The bottles from both sets have exclusive labels signed by Javi Aznarez.
The set with serial numbers 02 of the bottles was sold for £ 760K from a lower estimate of £ 200K by Sotheby's on October 31, 2020, lot 1. Each bottle is housed in an individual oak presentation case. Three bottled are hand signed by Kirsteen Campbell, the first ever woman to be appointed Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan.
That sale was made to benefit a charity which redistributes food surplus to vulnerable people in London.
Two sets have been constituted in addition to the standard edition. One of them is kept by The Macallan. The bottles from both sets have exclusive labels signed by Javi Aznarez.
The set with serial numbers 02 of the bottles was sold for £ 760K from a lower estimate of £ 200K by Sotheby's on October 31, 2020, lot 1. Each bottle is housed in an individual oak presentation case. Three bottled are hand signed by Kirsteen Campbell, the first ever woman to be appointed Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan.
That sale was made to benefit a charity which redistributes food surplus to vulnerable people in London.
