Macallan 60-Year-Old Sets a New Record at Auction at $1.1 Million

May 2024 · 2 minute read

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A bottle of Macallan 60-year-old went for $1.1 million at auction in Edinburgh, Scotland on Wednesday.

According to a Bonhams press release, the extremely rare Macallan Valerio Adami was distilled in 1926 and bottled in 1986.

Bonhams Whiskey specialist Martin Green, who referred to the 1926 Macallan as "the Holy Grail of Whisky," noted in the same press release that its "exceptional rarity and quality puts it in a league of its own."

According to Forbes, it was purchased over the phone by a bidder in Asia.

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“Macallan is one of the most highly regarded distilleries in Scotland and this is the oldest and rarest whisky they have ever produced," Green told Business Insider in an email. "For any collection, this would be the pinnacle and that’s why collectors across the world strive to possess it.”

Courtesy of Bonhams

So, just how rare is it?

It's part of a limited edition of only 24 bottles. They feature custom-designed labels by pop artists — 12 by Peter Blake and 12 by Valerio Adami.

As for the location of the other bottles, according to the BBC, another Macallan Valerio Adami was sold at auction at Bonhams Hong Kong in May. That bottle briefly held the record for the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold.

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Yet another bottle is believed to have been destroyed in a 2011 earthquake in Japan and a third is believed to have been opened and consumed.

Whiskey lovers who are looking to enjoy their drink without breaking the bank, on the other hand, might want to consider this $17.50 whiskey that was named among the best in the world in 2018. And they may consider enjoying it over some top-tier, luxury ice.

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