Current:Home > My'Most sought-after Scotch whisky' sells for record $2.7M at London auction -Wealth Legacy Solutions
'Most sought-after Scotch whisky' sells for record $2.7M at London auction
View
Date:2025-04-18 07:02:58
Talk about an all-out splurge.
A bottle of the world’s “most sought-after Scotch whisky” - The Macallan 1926 - sold for more than $2.7 million at an auction at Sotheby’s in London on Saturday, the auction house said in a news release. The transaction set a new auction record for any bottle of spirit or wine sold, selling for almost three times the pre-sale low estimate of $934,274 - $1.4 million.
'Momentous'
“This record-breaking result for The Macallan 1926 is nothing short of momentous for the whisky industry as a whole," Sotheby’s Global Head of Spirits, Jonny Fowle, said in a statement. "This new record result for The Macallan Adami feels all the more emotional for me, having worked directly with the consignor and distillery to recondition, nose and authenticate this bottle, then finish this journey on the rostrum fielding bids in the room and on the phone."
For Fowle, "bringing down the hammer for a new whisky world record is a feeling" that he'll "never forget".
How many Macallan's 1926 were produced?
Only 40 bottles of The Macallan 1926 were produced in 1986, after being aged in sherry casks for six decades, said Sotheby's, making it the oldest Macallan whiskey ever produced at that time.
None of The Macallan bottles were made available for purchase, said Sotheby's in the product's description on their website. Instead, some were offered to the distillery's top clients, adding to their appeal and value.
At least three other bottles from the collection were auctioned in 2018 and 2019. One of them, decorated with one of 14 "Fine and Rare" labels had earlier set a record for the most expensive bottle ever sold, when it fetched $1.9 million at Sotheby's in 2019.
150th Anniversary Special:This special anniversary bottle of Old Forester bourbon will set you back $2,500
Price hike:Southwest Airlines raised onboard alcohol prices. See by how much.
'Very rich'
Ahead of the auction, Fowle told AFP that he tested a small sample of the whiskey.
“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,” he told AFP.
Fowle said that the whiskey was “incredible” and should not be taken lightly, explaining that the liquid had "spent 60 years in dark European oak, which was reflected in the color".
“The whisky had an incredible depth of character - rich dark fruits, black cherry compote alongside sticky dates, followed by intense sweet antique oak, which is for me a recognizable note of such aged Macallan, " Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell said in a statement. "Dark chocolate, treacle, ginger… the notes go on and on."
Campbell said that being involved in the sensory analysis of the whiskey was "an incredible privilege" and that "it was a very special moment to experience the opening of this iconic 60 years old single malt, first bottled 37 years ago.”
Aviation American Gin:Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart reunite for a 'Just Friends'-themed ad
Reconditioning process
Sotheby’s, in the news release, said that they worked directly with The Macallan to "recondition and authenticate" the bottle, marking the first time this has ever been done for a 1926.
Breaking down the reconditioning process, Sotheby's said that both the capsule and the cork were replaced while new glue was applied to the corners of the bottle label, designed by Italian painter Valerio Adami.
Twelve of the 40 Macallan 1926 bottles had Adami's designed label on them, said Sotheby's. Of them, one is believed to have been destroyed in the 2011 earthquake in Japan, adding to the bottle's rarity factor. Only 10 now remain in existence, according to the auction house.
Quest's End:See the latest brands, celebs to release new spirits
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (16)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Tommy Cash, country singer and younger brother of Johnny Cash, dies at 84
- Q&A: Near Lake Superior, a Tribe Fights to Remove a Pipeline From the Wetlands It Depends On
- Horoscopes Today, September 15, 2024
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Oregon man charged with stalking, harassing UConn's Paige Bueckers
- Why Kelly Osbourne Says Rehab Is Like Learning “How to Be a Better Drug Addict”
- California governor signs laws to protect actors against unauthorized use of AI
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Sean Diddy Combs Arrested in New York
Ranking
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- US Coast Guard says Russian naval vessels crossed into buffer zone off Alaska
- Cult leaders convicted of forcing children to work 16-hour days without pay
- REO Speedwagon reveals band will stop touring in 2025 due to 'irreconcilable differences'
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- US retail sales ticked up last month in sign of ongoing consumer resilience
- Q&A: Near Lake Superior, a Tribe Fights to Remove a Pipeline From the Wetlands It Depends On
- US Coast Guard says Russian naval vessels crossed into buffer zone off Alaska
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp to miss 'good amount of time' due to ankle injury
Major companies abandon an LGBTQ+ rights report card after facing anti-diversity backlash
Why Kelly Osbourne Says Rehab Is Like Learning “How to Be a Better Drug Addict”
A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
Aubrey O' Day Speaks Out on Vindication After Sean Diddy Combs' Arrest
Dancing With the Stars' Gleb Savchenko Addresses Brooks Nader Dating Rumors
America’s Got Talent Alum Emily Gold’s Family Shares Moving Tribute After Her Death