Exclusive bottle of The Macallan smashes auction estimate to raise $250,000 for charity

A limited edition bottle of The Macallan has raised $250,000 at an auction at Sotheby’s New York for charity, nearly triple the pre-sale estimate for the special release bottle.

The exclusive bottle is one of only two bottles from the Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition series, with the second bottle remaining in The Macallan archive. Its estimate was originally set at $30,000 – $80,000.

The speciality lot, which formed part of the first whisky & whiskey online sale of the year in New York last week (10 February), was created by The Macallan’s whisky maker Polly Logan and the Roca brothers, owners of El Celler de Can Roca, as a limited-edition high-strength version of The Macallan’s recent release of Distil Your World New York.

This series aimed to “embody and celebrates the essence of New York as a vibrant city bringing together creativity, innovation and artistry”, the company said.  The single malt whisky was matured in a single cask from a European Oak Sherry Puncheon from 2002, which the whisky producers said delivered “chocolate covered peanuts, along with a new taste of sweet candy and a hint of cherry blossom”.

The bottle came in a blue presentation box featuring an engraved aerial map of New York, along with a booklet about the bottle signed by the collaborators of the Distil Your World New York documentary which aired when the original bottle was released. The lot also included a dining experience at El Celler de Can Roca.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s head of whisky & spirits, North American and EMEA said it was “always a huge event in the world of collectible whisky when Sotheby’s partners with The Macallan to release an exclusive whisky”.

“Owning a unique bottle is the ultimate goal for whisky collectors, and this is the only opportunity for the world’s most dedicated collector to obtain an elevated single-cask, high strength version of the venerable Distil Your World New York,” he said.

He described the auction as an exciting start to the year, noting that the “exceptional” result nearly tripled the pre-sale estimate for the limited edition release.

“We are proud to have seen a depth of bidding around the world to benefit New York City artists through the ChaShaMa charity.”

Geoff Kirk, channel director secondary market at The Macallan described it the whisky producer was “delighted” to continue its long association of partnering with Sotheby’s to present very special releases that raise funds for charitable organizations around the world.

“The Macallan has a longstanding history celebrating artistry and supporting the arts and we are proud that the funds from this very special release, which pays homage to one of the world’s most iconic cities, will benefit New York City artists through the ChaShaMa charity,” he said.