‘You Could Have a Fortune Sitting On Your Shelf’: Man Makes Good After Buying Macallan Box Worth $170,000 for Only $250
The Macallan 1926, cited by Sotheby’s as “The World’s Most Valuable Whisky” is going up for auction on November 18 — and a Scottish whisky enthusiast is currently in possession of a case worth $170,000 to house one of the bottles. (Photo: Sotheby’s)
On Tuesday, The Sun reported that a Scottish man named Fraser purchased a glass case that once contained a bottle of incredibly rare whisky — The Macallan 1926 — online for the equivalent of $250. The case ended up being valued at $170,000.
According to The Sun, the case previously contained The Macallan 1926 60-Year-Old whisky, of which only 40 expressions exist in the world. Out of those 40, only 12 were labeled with designs created by the Italian painter, Valerio Adami.
Two were apparently smashed to pieces, consumed or lost to time, so at this point, only 10 bottles remain.
In October, Whiskey Raiders reported about an Adami Bottle set to go up for auction online on November 1, with the official bidding date slated to take place on November 18. The bottle could fetch upwards of $1 million.
Perhaps the winner of one of the most desirable bottles of whisky might be interested in purchasing Fraser’s case.
Fraser’s love for The Macallan began after his wife purchased him a bottle of The Macallan Private Eye, and then his love affair for the Speyside whisky brand began.
He began to collect Macallan memorabilia and would often browse for collector’s items online.
“When checking eBay one day, I could not believe my own eyes,” Fraser explained, according to The Sun.
He explained he spotted an image of a plaque with the number 1926 engraved on it. He knew then and there the case was “an original home for one of the fabled 1926 Macallan bottles,” and paid £199 — $250 — for the empty case.
Fraser hung onto the piece for 10 years, then brought it to an appraiser named Mark Littler, who said the case was worth £138,600, or about $170,000.
Littler claimed the case was “incredibly difficult” to value.
“I understand that the valuation of the case might raise eyebrows, and it’s important to highlight the distinct nature of rare whisky collecting,” Littler said, according to The Sun. “For the individual who possesses the corresponding Macallan bottle, missing its original case, this box is not just packaging — it’s a vital piece of the whisky’s legacy, rendering it priceless.”
Littler then issued a statement to potential treasure hunters or Macallan fans regarding the whereabouts of the missing Macallan bottle.
“My advice would be to check the labels on any Macallan – you could have a fortune sitting on your shelf.”
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