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Macallan launches oldest ever bottling
The Macallan has announced it is to release a 72-year-old malt, its oldest official bottling yet and costing US$60,000, to mark the opening of its new distillery.
In what is now a well-established partnership, the whisky is bottled in a unique decanter (known as the ‘Genesis Decanter’) made by Lalique and packaged in a special presentation case.
Just 600 individually numbered decanters will be made available globally in “select locations”, including the distillery’s new facility in Moray, from August this year.
Distilled in the 1940s, the whisky is described as looking “deceptively light” but with “an exquisite balance of strong, sweet oak with peaty spirit”.
Nick Savage, The Macallan master distiller, said: “The Macallan 72 Years Old is an incredibly rare single malt defined by years of dedication and craftsmanship. As the oldest whisky we have ever bottled, this is a truly momentous occasion to commemorate our remarkable new distillery.
“Although delicate throughout all aspects, it provides an intense experience which acknowledges the distinguished history of The Macallan.”
The whisky has been released to mark the opening of the new £140 million distillery.
Creative director Ken Grier said: “Our wonderful new Distillery is both a tribute to the traditions of our whisky and its natural Speyside environment, and a future-facing vision, looking forward to the next chapter of The Macallan. Lalique have a deep and true understanding of The Macallan, having been our partner for over a decade.
“Their interpretation of this design masterpiece in crystal is beyond exceptional. Their mastery and creativity never ceases to amaze and inspire us and our extraordinary collaboration is reflective of the highly meaningful part Lalique have played in the story of The Macallan.”
Demand for rare whiskies, especially The Macallan, is booming around the world. Earlier this month in Hong Kong, Bonhams set a new world record for a bottle of whisky sold at auction with a collector paying US$1.1m for a bottle of the 1926 with a label by Valerio Adami and Sotheby’s reported that sales of the single malt had rocketed 4,000% by value at its sales last year.
Sotheby’s also set a world record in Hong Kong this April for a complete set of The Macallan 60-year-old whiskies bottled in Lalique decanters.