WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR EXCEPTIONAL 50 YEAR OLD MACALLAN AT BONHAMS EDINBURGH

The highest price ever paid for a bottle of The Macallan 50 year old, distilled in 1928 and bottled in 1983, was achieved when it sold for £17,500 at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 27 June.

Estimated at £10,000-12,000 the bottle, bearing a label in particularly fine condition, came in its own wooden presentation case. The Macallan 1928 was one of the first 50 year old malts to be released and is regarded as a key part of any serious whisky collection. Only 500 bottles were released, and as they rarely come onto the market they have become increasing difficult to find.

Bonhams Whisky specialist, Martin Green said, “This is acknowledged as one of the greatest whiskies ever and it is not surprising to see it attracting a record price.”

The previous highest price for the The Macallan 50 year old was £13,500.

The sale made a total of £200,000 with 87% sold by lot and 90% by value.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.