World's 'most valuable malt whisky' to go on auction in Sotheby’s London for up to £1.2m

A rare bottle of Scottish single malt whisky is set to go up for auction with a price tag that could rise to £1.2m.

The rare bottle made by distillers at Macallan is the world’s most valuable whisky ever to come to auction, according to Sotheby’s.

Only 40 bottles were produced of The Macallan 1926, and the 96-year-old whisky could sell for any price between £750,000 and £1.2m.

Known as the “world’s most sought after whisky”, a fine and rare version of the liquor sold for £1.5m, which set a new auction record for alcohol, in 2019.

Only 40 bottles of the malt were produced. Sotheyb’s via Supplied

This version of the bottle is the first to have undergone reconditioning by The Macallan Distillery ahead of being presented at auction.

Advance bidding will open on November 1, ahead of the official auction in London on November 18.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s global head of spirits, said: “The Macallan 1926 is the one whisky that every auctioneer wants to sell and every collector wants to own. I am extremely excited to bring a bottle to a Sotheby’s auction for the first time since we set the record for this vintage four years ago.

“Working alongside our friends at The Macallan Distillery to recondition and perform clinical analysis on this bottle and liquid has elevated it to an unparalleled status.

“Now, as the bedrock for all Macallan 1926 authenticity and with its condition approved by master distiller Kirsten Campbell, this must surely be the most desirable bottle of whisky ever to come to the market.”