In a historic moment for the spirits industry, a bottle of Macallan Adami 1926 whisky achieved a groundbreaking sale, fetching an astounding £2.2 million ($2.7 million) at a recent Sotheby’s auction in London. This sale sets a new world record for the auction price of a single bottle of wine or spirits.
The Macallan Adami 1926, often dubbed the “most valuable whisky in the world,” sparked an intense bidding war among potential buyers, both in the auction room and over the phone. This rare and highly sought-after Scotch whisky is renowned for its exclusivity, with only 40 bottles produced in 1986 after maturing for an impressive 60 years in sherry casks.
Designed by Italian artist Valerio Adami, the bottle sold at the auction is one of just twelve featuring this unique label. Another bottle from the same cask made headlines in 2019 when it fetched almost 1.5 million pounds at a Sotheby’s auction, setting a record for wine or spirits until this recent sale.
Sotheby’s global head of spirits, Jonny Fowle, expressed his excitement about the record-breaking sale, calling it “nothing short of momentous for the whisky industry as a whole.” Fowle emphasized the Macallan 1926’s significance, stating, “It’s the one whisky that every auctioneer wants to sell and every collector wants to own.”
This particular bottle underwent a meticulous reconditioning process at the distillery before hitting the auction block. The process included replacing the cork and reapplying glue to the label corners, making it unique to this auction.
The final sale price of £2.2 million includes the buyer’s premium, significantly surpassing pre-sale estimates of £750,000 to £1.2 million. Kirsteen Campbell, Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker, shared her experience of sampling the whisky during its reconditioning, describing its complex profile with notes of rich dark fruits, black cherry compote, sticky dates, and intense sweet antique oak.
In the world of fine spirits, the Macallan Adami 1926 continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors, setting new benchmarks and solidifying its status as an iconic and unparalleled whisky.
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