The Macallan 1926 Sets New Fine & Rare Auction Record

Sotheby's Holds Historic First Auction at The Macallan Estate with 86% of Lots Exceeding High Estimates

The Macallan Estate in Speyside, Scotland, welcomed the inaugural auction in the distillery's history. Conducted by auction house Sotheby's, the sale featured 42 lots sourced almost entirely from private global collections. The final results surpassed pre-sale estimates, making it Sotheby's second most valuable dedicated whisky auction in history, behind only 2019's The Ultimate Whisky Collection. According to Sotheby's figures, 86% of all lots surpassed their high estimates.

Leading the historic sale was a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare single malt Scotch whisky. This bottle broke the previous auction record set by the same expression in 2019, securing its rank as the second most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold at auction. The all-time world auction record is still held by The Macallan 1926 Adami, sold at Sotheby's in London in November 2023. Both legendary single malts were drawn from the very same cask distilled in 1926 and bottled in 1986 after maturing for 60 years. The cask yielded just 40 bottles, of which only 14 were released in 2002 featuring the Fine & Rare label.

Historic First Estate Auction Ranks Second Highest in Sotheby's History

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby's Global Head of Whisky & Spirits who conducted the sale, noted that this achievement reflects collectors' enduring global passion for The Macallan 1926. More than a century after its distillation, it remains the ultimate benchmark for whisky rarity, provenance, and collectability. Reaching the second-highest auction price ever and setting a new record for the Fine & Rare series at The Macallan Estate's inaugural sale marks a major milestone in whisky history. The room welcomed 50 leading whisky collectors alongside intense competition from phone and online bidders worldwide.

The sale opened with The Macallan Romantica Collection, unveiled this May to mark the centenary of the 1926 distillation. Featuring original artworks by Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami, and Michael Dillon, the proceeds will be split evenly among charities designated by the three artists: Graeae Theatre Company in London, Cancer Research UK, and Associazione VIDAS in Milan, Italy.

Centenary Collection and Rare Lalique Decanters Under the Hammer

Several other exceptionally rare bottles traded strongly, including the sale's second highest lot, The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection, The Macallan The Reach 81 Years Old single malt, and The Macallan in Lalique Golden Age of Travel Ocean Liner, which achieved three times its pre-sale estimate.

Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan, shared that the distillery was delighted by the vibrant bidding and results, adding that it was an honor to host Sotheby's and esteemed guests on the estate to celebrate whisky milestones spanning the brand's storied history.

📅 Publish Date: 2026-10-12

🔗 Source: The Spirits Business