Sotheby’s to auction very rare Macallan whisky collection

A collection of very rare whiskies are due to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in New York on May 11, called The Legacy Collection.

The selection of bottles includes those from a single collection of The Macallan Fine & Rare whiskies, including the very rare 1957 vintage bottling. Additionally, the lot also has other rare bottles from The Balvenie, The Dalmore, Midleton and the Van Winkle whisky brands.

The entire 142 lot sale could reach into $1 million or even as high as $2m dollars, according to auction estimates.

Originally conceived in 2022, the Macallan series of vintage bottles includes some of the rarest – and most expensive – bottles of whisky that have come to market, such as The Macallan Fine & Rare 1926, which has previously set auction records, selling for $1.5m in 2019 – although this year doesn’t appear at the auction. Eight of the Macallans in the Sotheby’s auction are from a release of fewer than 100 bottles with the 1957 being one of only 15 produced.

The Sotheby’s auction includes 56 Fine & Rare vintage bottles dating back to 1937 until 1990. The oldest age statement from the Macallan range is a 56-year old 1946 bottle with an estimated value of $24,000 to 30,000.

Other bottles in the auction include a The Balvenie 50 Year Old, Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition, The Dalmore 25 Year Old and bottles from The Van Winkle, ranging from 10 to 23 years old.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s head of whisky and spirits for North America and EMEA, said of the auction: “The Legacy Collection showcases what is undoubtedly one of the most complete Macallan Fine & Rare collections ever to come to auction as part of one of the most significant single owner sales offered on U.S. soil.

“Discovering and working with collections like this is always a privilege and being able to offer yet another significant single owner collection at Sotheby’s never ceases to excite us.”