World&rsquos most renowned whiskey brand The Macallan is famous for its deep respect for tradition and craftsmanship. So much so that its rare releases fetch a pretty penny. After all, it is the most desired label for whiskey collectors worldwide.
Whisky connoisseurs will be happy to hear that Sotheby's is putting up The Red Collection for auction.
Named after the distillery&rsquos founder Alexander Reid, the classic aged collection of single malt completes the set of six whiskies including The Macallan 40 Years Old, The Macallan 50 Years Old and The Macallan 60 Years Old, which are joined by two highly aged bottles at 71 Years Old and 74 Years Old.
The final bottle in this collection has been matured for 78 years, making it not only The Macallan distillery's oldest bottle, but also the oldest age statement whisky ever offered at an auction.
The Red Collection is set to auction at the Sotheby&rsquos first annual sale of Spirits in London after being gifted by The Macallan to City Harvest to raise funds for the food charity which redistributes surplus from the food industry to vulnerable people across the country. The Ultimate Whisky Collection Part II is set to open on the day Halloween is celebrated, that is October 31.
Each bottle in the set features label art by Spanish artist Javi Aznarez in his signature graphic style. Only two sets contain these labels Set 1 will remain in The Macallan&rsquos archives and Set 2 is being presented in the Sotheby&rsquos auction. As such, it is the only complete set of its kind to be made available to collectors around the world. The Sotheby&rsquos set also uniquely includes two exclusive display cases and two bespoke tables.
This collection will be individually packed in a refined wood presentation box that has been crafted carefully from sustainably sourced European oak, adding an extra layer of elegance and artisanship to the historic collection for the wider whisky industry.
Three of the bottles in the collection are hand-signed by Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan in 2019. The remaining three bottles, the 71-Year-Old, 74-Year-Old and 78-Year-Old, are hand-signed by Sarah Burgess, lead whisky maker for The Macallan.
Based on The Macallan&rsquos announcement, it seems The Red Collection is only the beginning of an ongoing series, which we assume means that more expressions will be added to the range over the next few years.