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Macallan Private Eye History & Valuations

The History of Macallan Private Eye

In 1996 Private Eye magazine celebrated its 35th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion they commissioned a special bottling by Macallan to be made available to its readers. The specially commissioned whisky contained whisky that was distilled in the year of Private Eye’s founding, 1961, combined with a number of other Macallan casks. The original price for Private Eye was £36 per bottle. There was even a nationwide advertising campaign in the Daily Telegraph. It was released in an edition of 5,000 bottles and each bottle is individually numbered. Today, bottles of Macallan Private Eye are selling at auction for £2,600-£3,500.

The Macallan Private Eye has previously sold at auction for between £5,000-£6,000. The secondary market value has decreased in recent months as the whisky market has entered a dip. However, market fluctuations do happen, and we would expect the Macallan Private Eye to recover in time, along with the rest of the market. 

If you own a bottle of Macallan Private Eye, you have two options. One is to sell now and cash in on your investment. The second is to hold out and wait for the recovery of the market.

Are you looking for a valuation of your bottle of Macallan Private Eye? Use the contact form below to send us a photo and details of your bottle.

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How We Can Help You Sell Your Whisky

Is bottled whisky a good investment?

Simply fill in the form below and we will put you in contact with a specialist whisky retailer. If your bottle is suitable they will make you an offer directly. This is preferable for those wanting a quick sale, or for those who are not prepared to take the risk that auctions entail. There is no charge for our assistance if you accept a private sale.

1350 marklittler.com - Sell Your Bottle - Home

Alternatively we can help you sell your bottles through auction. With close to 30,000 bottles being sold at auction every month you have to be sure that your bottles are being sold in the right auction to achieve the highest price. There is no charge for our assistance selling at auction

Free Specialist Whisky Valuations

Please use the form below to submit images of your bottle and receive a free, no-obligation valuation from a specialist auctioneer. We will also actively seek the highest offer from our network of private collectors to help you sell your whisky.

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    What Our Customers Say

    Excellent
    5.0
    Based on 401 reviews
    Very happy with service I received. The packaging for conveying the precious cargo gave every confidence the bottles would travel safely. Updates on the current subdued market conditions guided me with respect to a realistic asking price.
    When I contacted Mark Littler and team they couldn't have been more helpful in explaining the process of valuing and selling silver. The communication was outstanding and it was so quick from start to finish. Thank you Mark & Katy for all your help.
    Mark is brilliant at his work.Always answers phone calls and emails and keeps updating.i recommended Mark Littler for his expertise.
    I contacted Mark Littler regarding a bottle of whisky I'd inherited after my parents passed away.Not being a whisky drinker myself didn't prevent me knowing the brand name was a whisky of quality.I'd not a clue what it was worth, or where, or who I could trust to sell it for a fair price?In my internet search, I stumbled upon the Mark Littler website. Reading through the website and the associated customer reviews gave me the confidence to contact them.After a few initial enquiries I felt that this company were the people to find me a buyer for my bottle.I did wait a while due to market fluctuations, but I was in no rush to sell and finally my bottle sold at a respectable price that I was happy to accept.From initial communication through to the courier transportation and supplied special protective packaging and the subsequent photographing and storage of my bottle it was all carried out with extreme professionalism and care.I must say above all else I found the company to be very trustworthy and honest and their expertise shines through.I would definitely recommend Mark Littler as the best place to go when looking to buy or sell whisky.Rest assured you will be in good hands from first contact to advertising through to final sale.
    We wanted to sell a pocket watch and used the valuation form on the Mark Littler site. Katy was quickly in touch and then followed up with the strongest offer from interested parties, which we accepted. The process was very easy and Katy was very quick to respond to any queries and with payment once the watch was received.
    I sold a Pocket Watch through Mark Littler Ltd and was delighted with the service I received from Katy and her team. The sale was concluded very quickly and funds received within days. Well recommended and thanks again!
    Very professional, friendly service from Mark and Katy with an extremely good outcome from selling my whiskies. Would definitely recommend Mark Littler Ltd.
    Thank you to Mark Littler and his team, for the the way my sale was dealt with. They soon secured a buyer at a good price and then kept me informed throughout, until the sale was completed.The service they offer in posting and insuring the item in transit is very good value and makes it all hassle free! First Class!
    Mark Littler LTD & especially Katy have been amazingly helpful, really professional, speedy and openly honest in all their communication, the whole proces of seeking their advice and guidance with selling some jewellery, has been excellent. Without a doubt I would highly recommend and happily use their service again. Absolutely outstanding, considerate and thoughtfully caring. Thank you.
    What a wonderful company to use, their expertise was really appreciated. Despite market conditions they were able to achieve an overall excellent price for my collection. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mark, Katy and the team.
    Alles wurde wie besprochen erledigt, jederzeit kompetent und ausgesprochen aktiv.Nur zu empfehlen , zuverlässig , sehr vertrauenswürdig.Immer gerne wiederIngo Blome
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    Whisky Valuation Tips

    Are you looking to sell your whisky for the highest possible price? It might surprise you to learn that one of the most important actions you can take is to capture high-quality images of your bottles. This ensures we can offer you the best prices and accurately appraise your bottles. Here are our top tips for submitting images of your bottles:

    1. Stand the bottle upright so that we can clearly see the level of the whisky in the bottle.
    2. Do you have the original box? If so, place it next to the bottle in the photo.
    3. Capture the images in a well-lit room, ideally against a neutral background.
    The perfect image - note the bottle is stood upright, against a neutral background with the original box in display
    The perfect image – note the bottle is stood upright, against a neutral background with the original box in display

    What Affects The Value of Macallan Private Eye?

    Macallan Whisky Sell Online

    The Label

    The label of the Macallan Private Eye is brightly coloured and distinctive, having been designed specially by Ralph Steadman, who drew for Private Eye and was known for his political caricatures and cartoons. 

    The label is made of plastic and, therefore, there is zero tolerance on scuffs, marks, and scratches. Any damage to the label will reduce what investors and collectors are willing to pay for any specific bottle. 

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    The Bottle

    Macallan Private Eye bottles are a standard shape and size, clear glass bottle and are a standard 70cl volume.

    Most Private Eye bottles feature a screw cap that is protected by a black or gold capsule. The condition of the capsule should be considered; scratches and nicks in the foil will lower the value to a collector.

    The back of the bottle features a clear plastic label that describes the whisky in a black font.

    History of Macallan Private Eye

    The Level

    The level in your bottle of Macallan Private Eye is important because it can drastically affect what collectors and buyers are willing to pay. 

    Ideally, the whisky should sit in the wide part of the neck of the bottle. Any lower and the value begins to drop.

    You can reduce evaporation by keeping you bottle in a cool but humid place, standing upright, and out of direct sunlight. You can also consider using parafilm

    Sell Macallan Private Eye

    Gold Capsule Cover?

    Most of the Private Eye bottlings feature a black capsule cover. However, a very small number of bottles feature a gold capsule cover. These bottles were sold exclusively by Fortnum & Mason in London. The gold capsules are very rare, and so they command a small premium with collectors. 

    Macallan Whisky VAlue

    The Bottle Number

    The bottle number is printed on the bottom of the bottle in gold lettering, XXX/5000.

    Those with a bottle number less than ten, or with numbers such as 1111, 2222, 3333, and 4444 are something of a novelty to collectors. Otherwise, the bottle number will make no difference to the value of your bottle. 

    Macallan Private Eye Valuations

    About Ralph Steadman

    Ralph Steadman was born in Cheshire in 1936. He attended the London College of Printing during the 1960s, and was approached by Private Eye during this time. He freelanced for many high-profile publications such as The New York Times, and Rolling Stone before going on to win awards for his illustrations. Steadman was commissioned by Macallan to design the Private Eye label in 1996.

    How we can help you sell your bottle

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    Private Sale

    Selling your bottle through our audience of private buyers can get a high price for you bottle and the convenience of a quick turn around on your sale. All we need is a good picture of your bottle stood up, ideally with the box if you have it and we can collect no obligation offers from our buyers for your consideration.

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    Auction

    Auction can be the most suitable route for some bottles offering a wide audience of buyers. There is more element of risk in selling at auction as you have less control over the original price and usually takes longer to complete than a private sale. It is also important to choose the right specialist auction for you bottle, and we can advise you on this. 

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    Shop

    Our online store launched in 2020 with an aim to bridge the gap between selling at auction and the prices you see at retail, helping you get more for your bottle. Selling via our online shop can achieve more than at auction or private sale but can take longer to complete, so requires the time to get your ideal price realised.

    Do You Remember This Story?

    In 2020 we sold a vertical of Macallan 18 year old for Matthew Robson for £44,000!

    The story went viral being covered from the BBC, to India, to the USA.  

    Matthew had been given a bottle every year from his father as a birthday gift and at the time of sale amounted to 28 bottles, all with their original boxes.

    Now We Can Help You

    It was a pleasure to work with Matthew, assisting him in obtaining the highest possible amount for his collection. Now, let us use our experience and connections to assist you.

    “I was looking to sell my whisky collection of 28 bottles of Macallan 18 year old to fund the purchase of my first house, so I got in touch with Mark.

    My father gave me 1 bottle each year for a birthday present so that by the time that I was 18 I would have 18 bottles of 18 year old Macallan. (Yes I’m that guy who was plastered over the media)

    Mark did a great job of getting professional photos taken of them and creating a PR buzz around the collection and I even ended up on BBC breakfast news, lad bible, and various radio stations around the world.

    At one point my story was the second most viewed story on BBC world wide news app for the whole weekend with over 2 million views.

    Needless to say within a day or two of this PR Campaign there was numerous offers.

    I would like to thank Mark for all his work and helping me with everything.”

    Macallan Whisky Collection

    What Is Your Whisky Worth

    Do you want to know what your whisky is worth but don’t know where to start?
    Use these guides to help you.

    What Is Your Whisky Worth? – An in-depth look at the factors affecting your bottle’s value.

    A Beginner’s Guide To Selling Whisky – Everything you need to get started selling your whisky.

    How To Sell Whisky Online – A rundown of all the online selling options available.

    Sell Your Whisky Today – A simple way to sell your whisky fast.

    Macallan Specific Guides

    The Complete Guide To Valuing Macallan Whisky – Selling Macallan? This is your starting point.

    What Is Macallan Whisky Worth? – Unsure of your Macallan’s value? Begin here

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    How To Sell Your Bottle Of Macallan Private Eye

    Sell your bottle of whisky in 5 simple steps

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