If you drink whiskey, or whisky, it has never really been a secret that you can spend endless amounts of money if you so choose. Single-malts and other variations can cost as little as $20 or so and they drift upward of $70 and $80 rather easily. Then you can spend well above $100 for a really bottle of good whisky — but what about $35,000?
Yes, The Macallan will now sell you a $35,000 bottle from its Six Pillars Collection. Meet the “Peerless Spirit.” This whisky from The Macallan is 65 years old. Obviously this is intended for collectors and aficionados. After all, it does come in a Lalique decanter. This one might never surface for the public though — there are said to be only 450 decanters made.
The Macallan’s press release confirms that The Macallan 65 is the sixth and final masterpiece from The Macallan in the Lalique Six Pillars Collection.
Most of The Macallan’s more widely known whiskies are aged 12 years and 18 years, and then there are the 25-year and 30-year whiskies. Needless to say the 65 years is quite a bit older, and it is called one of the oldest and rarest ever released by the distillery. The Macallan’s release confirmed that there will be only 450 individually numbered Peerless Spirits issued from the French crystal house Lalique.
Coming up with a write-up for a 65-year-old whisky cannot be easy. The Macallan’s release says:
It celebrates the wonderfully rich, viscous and aromatic spirit that lies at the very heart of The Macallan. The exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks, rich flavor and beautiful natural color all come together to deliver the distinctive character and quality that and has helped make The Macallan one of the most precious single malt whiskies in the world.
Raul Gonzalez, brand director for The Macallan, was quoted:
This stunning collection of decanters is the result of two kindred spirits, rooted in a shared passion for craftsmanship, detail and mastery. This sixth and final release continues to showcase the unwavering commitment of both the masters of Lalique and The Macallan to create beautiful and desirable objets d’art.
With the Six Pillars collection now complete, it is time to reflect not only on the exquisite whiskies that have been brought to the fore by The Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker but also on the extraordinary skills of the Lalique craftsmen carrying on the legacy of René Lalique, the man whose talent continues to inspire and influence. It is the heritage, customs and traditions of both The Macallan and Lalique that have united to create these ultimate collectable whiskies.
This is one of those situations in which it may sound unbelievable. Most extremely limited editions like this, with the special decanters, get snatched up immediately. And true aficionados with deep pockets often compete with collectors who buy and sell just like they would any other investment in luxury goods.
The Six Pillars Collection was started in 2005, and The Macallan did note that the series has been extremely popular with collectors across the world. Their press release went on to show that, as of 2014, The Macallan has accounted for the top 10 priced bottles sold at auction — and eight out of 10 of these sales were decanters from The Six Pillars Collection.
24/7 Wall St. wanted to look over The Macallan’s other Lalique decanters, which have been available over the years. These were included by age and how strong each one was made. The first was a 50-year-old at 40.1%, followed by a 55-year-old at 40.1%, and then a 57-year-old at 48.5%. Then there was the 60-year-old at 53.2% and the 62-year-old at 53.1%.
If you think $35,000 is a record, guess again. The Macallan site showed a 64-year collaboration with Lalique was made in a 1.5 liter unique decanted said to be the most valuable decanted of whisky ever made. That was auctioned through Sotheby’s in New York in 2010, with a winning bid of $460,000.
24/7 Wall St. has inquired about how many decanters have been sold or reserved. After all, even only 450 bottles at $35,000 each would yield a sum of $15.75 million. A response from The Macallan has not yet been received.
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