It would be nearly impossible to write everything that there is to know about the Fine & Rare Collection in one blog. But, as part of Macallan week, we plan to release a number of blogs about this iconic collection of Macallan.
The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection exemplifies the luxury of Macallan in a way that no other series has quite managed to do. Containing over 50 vintages that date all the way back to 1926, the series holds the record for the largest collection of vintage-statement single malts from a single distillery.
The Fine & Rare Collection began in 2002, conceived with the aim of showcasing the sheer range of vintage-statement whiskies that Macallan has produced, and allowing the drinker or owner to take a journey through history.
The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection.
Image Via The Macallan.
“The concept was simply to introduce a new “vintage” each year, continuing to build a vintage range unsurpassed in the industry. That is still the objective and The Macallan now has a “library” of old and rare vintage releases to match some of the finest wines” said David Cox, former Macallan Director, in an interview with Whisky Auctioneer.
As previously mentioned, the oldest vintage in the collection is the 1926, and the youngest vintage in the collection is 1993. The story of 67 years and eight different decades is told through the collection. The high age-statements, old vintages, and the rarity of each bottle in the series makes the collection extremely attractive to investors, collectors, and Macallan fanatics.
The Power of Macallan’s Branding
Many of the bottlings are from a single cask, whilst 15 others were bought back by Macallan from private collections and rebottled for the series.
One of the most infamous examples of this is the case of the Macallan-Glenlivet 1937 37 Year Old. In 1974, Macallan released a 37 year old whisky that was distilled in 1937 under the name Macallan-Glenlivet (licensing laws were much more lax pre-1980s, meaning that Macallan could tack Glenlivet’s name onto the end of theirs in order to elevate the brand’s status).
When Macallan began the Fine & Rare series in 2002, they bought back some of these Gordon & MacPhail bottlings, rebottled them with the Fine & Rare branding and re-released them as part of the series. The Gordon & MacPhail bottlings sell at auction for £3,000 to £3,500. The same whisky, rebottled as part of the Fine & Rare series, will set you back almost £34,000.
The Macallan Fine & Rare 1937 37 Year Old. Image via The Macallan.
This is a fantastic example of how luxury and status have been epitomised by the Fine & Rare series. That a bottle of whisky can be rebottled and suddenly be worth £30,000 more is a testament to the power of Macallan’s branding.
The Macallan Fine & Rare 1926 60 Year Old
A bottle from the Fine & Rare Collection also holds the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold. In 2019 a bottle of Macallan Fine & Rare 1926 60 Year Old sold at auction for an astonishing £1.5million ($1.9million).
When asked what makes the 1926 vintage so popular with collectors, David Cox said “[v]ery simply the long-standing reputation of The Macallan for producing quite outstanding whisky, the age of the whisky (sixty years old in this case), and its rarity. Such attributes underpin the value of all great collectibles, be they Old Masters, classic cars, complicated watches or fine wines!”
The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection 1977, 1978, & 1979: Available Now
We are excited to announce that we have three bottles from the Fine & Rare Collection available to buy. We are currently selling a Macallan Fine & Rare 1977, a 1978, and a 1979 on behalf of a private client. Worldwide shipping is available. If you would like to own three pieces of Macallan luxury then the bottles are available for £65,000. If you are interested, please email [email protected] for more details.
The vintages in the Macallan Fine & Rare Collection are as follows:
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1926, bottled in 1986 (60 Years Old) 40 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1937, bottled in 1969 (32 Years Old) 174 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1937, bottled in 1974 (37 Years Old) 288 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1938, bottled in 1969 (31 Years Old) 198 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1938, bottled in 1973 (35 Years Old) 48 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1939, bottled in 1979 (40 Years Old) 54 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1940, bottled in 1975 (35 Years Old) 420 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1940, bottled in 1977 (37 Years Old) 132 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1945, bottled in 2002 (56 Years Old) 152 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1946, bottled in 2002 (56 Years Old) 350 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1947, bottled in 1962 (15 Years Old) 270 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1948, bottled in 2002 (53 Years Old) 124 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1949, bottled in 2002 (53 Years Old) 160 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1949, bottled in 2002 (52 Years Old) 228 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1950, bottled in 2002 (52 Years Old) 433 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1950, bottled in 2002 (52 Years Old) 467 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1951, bottled in 2002 (51 Years Old) 348 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1952, bottled in 2002 (50 Years Old) 465 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1952, bottled in 2002 (49 Years Old) 414 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1953, bottled in 2002 (49 Years Old) 100 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1954, bottled in 2002 (47 Years Old) 366 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1955, bottled in 2002 (46 Years Old) 175 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1956, bottled in 1971 (15 Years Old) 57 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1957, bottled in 1972 (15 Years Old) 15 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1958, bottled in 2002 (43 Years Old) 100 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1959, bottled in 2002 (43 Years Old) 199 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1960, bottled in 1975 (15 Years Old) 54 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1961, bottled in 1976 (15 Years Old) 22 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1962, bottled in 1977 (15 Years Old) 141 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1963, bottled in 1978 (15 Years Old) 83 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1964, bottled in 2002 (37 Years Old) 135 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1965, bottled in 2002 (36 Years Old) 447 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1966, bottled in 2002 (35 Years Old) 135 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1967, bottled in 2002 (35 Years Old) 432 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1968, bottled in 2002 (34 Years Old) 109 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1968, bottled in 2002 (33 Years Old) 135 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1969, bottled in 2002 (32 Years Old) 548 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1969, bottled in 2002 (32 Years Old) 173 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1970, bottled in 2002 (32 Years Old) 241 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1970, bottled in 2002 (31 Years Old) 186 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1971, bottled in 2002 (30 Years Old) 536 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1971, bottled in 2002 (30 Years Old) 515 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1972, bottled in 2002 (29 Years Old) 64 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1972, bottled in 2002 (29 Years Old) 128 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1973, bottled in 2003 (30 Years Old) 534 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1974, bottled in 2004 (30 Years Old) 527 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1975, bottled in 2005 (30 Years Old) 89 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1976, bottled in 2006 (29 Years Old) 620 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1977, bottled in 2017 (40 Years Old) 151 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1978, bottled in 2018 (39 Years Old) 243 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1979, bottled in 2019 (40 Years Old) 338 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1985, bottled in 2014 (29 Years Old) 237 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1988, bottled in 2011 (23 Years Old) 251 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1989, bottled in 2010 (21 Years Old) 338 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1990, bottled in 2013 (22 Years Old) 481 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1991, bottled in 2016 (25 Years Old) 500 Bottles
- Macallan Fine & Rare 1993, bottled in 2020 (27 Years Old) 256 Bottles
