THE WORLD’S OLDEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
COMES TO AUCTION:
Sotheby’s to Offer One-of-a-kind Special Edition of
The Macallan The Reach 81 Years Old
Proceeds to Benefit The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund
LONDON, 26 September 2022 – Today at Sotheby’s in London, bidding opened on a one-of-a-kind special edition of The Macallan The Reach 81 Years Old single malt, the oldest whisky ever to come to auction. Estimated at £110,000-200,000, the decanter is being presented in a special single-lot sale, which will close to prospective bidders on 5 October. Proceeds will raise funds for The Macallan’s recently established Artisan Collective forum, to benefit The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund, enabling recipient businesses to attract and recruit new apprentices, as well as providing existing artisan apprentices with the opportunity to take part in specialist training and development programmes.
Crafted from a single, sherry seasoned oak cask, The Macallan The Reach is encased in a decanter created from mouth-blown, hot glass, cradled on a bronze sculpture of three hands representing characters in The Macallan’s history. Unveiled in February 2022, this release from the distillery reflects an extraordinary moment in time, the liquid laid down during a period of increasing hardship during the Second World War, just before The Macallan was compelled to close its doors for the first time in its history.
The cabinet housing the decanter has been crafted using wood from a fallen elm tree which is thought to have been on The Macallan Estate in 1940, the year the spirit was distilled. The decanter itself is encased in a display cabinet lined in red leather – reflecting the red thread that has run through The Macallan’s branding since it was founded almost 200 years ago – rather than the traditional cream leather which features on the original whisky release.
Synonymous with age in the whisky world is rarity, since not many barrels in bonded warehouses in Scotland make it to the age of 50 due to the rate of alcohol evaporation. The Macallan The Reach represents the age and quality that the world’s leading spirits collectors look for in ultra-rare whiskies. The auction record for a bottle of the world’s oldest whisky was established at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in October 2021, when Decanter #1 of the Gordon & Macphail Generations 80-Years-Old, sold for HK$1,500,000 / US$193,000 / £142,000.
Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky & Spirits, North America and EMEA, said: “Age, rarity and provenance combine to spectacular effect in this one of one version of the oldest single malt whisky ever to be released by The Macallan. This is Sotheby’s third auction partnership with The Macallan in three years, and it is always a special event when we collaborate to launch a unique and exclusive bottle. It is particularly special when that bottle happens to contain the oldest whisky in the world.”
Elizabeth McMillan, Head of Insight & Sustainability at The Macallan, said: “Through The Macallan Artisan Collective, our aim is to support and celebrate artisans. Future-proofing generational skills is of great importance, and The Macallan holds a deep affinity with artisans and master makers. As contemporary creators, designers, and craftspeople, what unites us all is the value that we place on provenance and our infinite passion for finding innovative ways to keep traditional crafts and generational skills alive. Through our work, we are fortunate to collaborate with an incredible network of artisans who support us each year in realising our vision of creating beautifully distinctive products and experiences and compelling, creative storytelling. The Reach is testament to the incomparable craftsmanship and creativity that has driven The Macallan since it was founded in 1824, and that is why it’s so fitting that this extraordinary whisky will fund today’s generation of artisans.”
The winning bidder will also enjoy an exceptional distillery experience at The Macallan Estate, including a tasting of this extraordinarily rare 81-year-old single malt whisky.
The Macallan | The Reach 81 Years Old: The World’s Oldest Whisky
Whisky Maker’s Notes – The Macallan The Reach
Colour: Deep auburn
ABV: 41.6%
Nose: Dark chocolate, sweet cinnamon, aromatic peat, plums, leather, pink grapefruit, redcurrant jelly and a rich resinous note.
Palate: Treacle toffee, bramble jam, liquorice, crystalised ginger, nutmeg, charred pineapple, pecans, woodsmoke.
Finish: Intensely rich, sweet and smoky.
The Macallan Artisan Collective is a creative forum for likeminded master makers to network, exchange ideas, innovate and collaborate via live gatherings and digital events. Established in 2021, it champions and celebrates the artisans, their philosophies, knowledge, skills and their critical role in our local and global economies.
In the same year, The Macallan created The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund in recognition of the need to preserve and safeguard legacy crafts, trades, skills and values to support employment for generations to come.
