Whisky Focus - Macallan 64 Years Old In Lalique Crystal Decanter Fetches £288000

A bottle of Macallan 64 year old Scotch whisky, housed within a Lalique crystal decanter, far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $100,000 (£62,500) with a winning bid of $460,000 (£288,000) at Sotheby's in New York, this week.

The decanter, crafted by famous French designer Lalique, holds 1.5l of the rare The Macallan whisky.

All the proceeds will be given to the clean-water group charity: water.

The Macallan, founded in 1824, is produced at a distillery near Easter Elchies House in north east Scotland's Speyside whisky region.

The Lalique decanter was created using the "cire perdue" or "lost wax" method -  a technique inspired from a 1,000 year-old process used to create bronze sculptures. The wax mould is destroyed at the end of the process making the work of art a true one-off. Today, a new workshop has been created dedicated to the ‘lost wax’ process to make the first Cire Perdue pieces in 80 years, including The Macallan 64 Years Old in Lalique.

The decanter shape is based upon a ship’s decanter of the 1820’s, the same decade The Macallan was founded, in 1824. It depicts the beauty of The Macallan Estate in North East Scotland - the oak woodlands, the fields of exclusive barley, the mighty river Spey and The Macallan’s spiritual home, Easter Elchies House, built in 1700.

Before the auction, the whisky was taken on a 12-city "tour du monde" to build up interest and raise funds for charity: water, an organisation that provides access to clean, safe drinking water for people in developing nations.

David Cox, director of fine and rare whiskies for The Macallan, said: "We have had a phenomenal response to this very special and rare decanter.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the result of last night's auction which has smashed the world record for the most expensive whisky ever sold."

"It was wonderful to experience the culmination of this incredible project, which has made its way around the world to raise a staggering $600,000 (£373,000) for charity."

The Macallan is one of the world's most admired single malt whiskies.

It is traditionally known for maturation in Spanish oak, sherry seasoned casks.
 

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