The distillery has been functioning since 1824 in the village of Craigellachie, located in Moray county (Scotland). Initially, the company produced Macallan whiskey aged 12 and 18 years. Soon, the Scottish single malt scotch surpassed its main competitors - Glenlivet and Glenfiddich distilleries in sales. Gradually, the assortment expanded. Now, rare releases are sold at closed auctions.
A bit about Macallan whiskey in numbers
The strong alcoholic drink is highly demanded, especially among large collectors. Below are some interesting facts:
- In 2017, Hong Kong-based Spink sold a cask of Macallan distilled in 1987. The price was $365,000. Interestingly, the cask held about 100 bottles.
- That same year, Bonhams auctioned a collection of Macallan Lalique Six Pillars whiskey. It included scotch of various ages: 50, 55, 57, 60, 62, and 65 years. The collection was sold for $460,000.
- The most expensive bottle of Macallan whiskey in history is the six-liter M Lalique. Its height was 70 cm. The team worked on it for about 50 hours. The scotch was sold in Hong Kong for $585,000.
How to buy Macallan whiskey profitably: what influences the price
Five main factors:
- Age. This refers to the time the scotch spent in oak barrels. The aging is indicated on the label. Often, it is between 5-30 years. Such products can be found at the following link: https://goodwine.com.ua/viski/distilleries/macallan.html.
- Bottling. It is also important in which year the single malt Macallan whiskey was bottled. A high potential for storage does not always increase the price. Whiskey rarely improves with the time spent in the bottle. As the scotch is consumed, the remaining amount becomes more sought after. For example, classic Macallan whiskey bottled in the 1980s is considered a rarity.
- Limited release. The first option is a release from a single cask. A series is limited by the number of bottles inside. The second option is created upon specific request. A good example is Macallan Royal Marriage whiskey.
- Distillation. The price also depends on the year the scotch was distilled. This is one of the most important factors, similar to how dates are stamped on coins and numbers on postage stamps. Collectors strive to buy one sample from each year.
- Quantity. The level of whiskey must reach the narrow part known as the neck. Alcohol is more volatile than water, so it evaporates quickly. If there is little scotch, it negatively affects the taste and aromatic composition.
The final touch is the label. It contains key information; therefore, its preservation is important. The price of a bottle without the original box decreases by 30-40%. Special attention is given to products in gift packaging, especially in metal tubes.