It’s no secret that the Macallan has arguably the most coveted whiskies on the planet, especially when you start looking back at the Scotch distillery’s 1926 cask, whose bottles account for the top five spots in whiskey auction history. The Macallan 1926 has transcended legendary status to something even more exclusive, if not elusive. Bottled in 1986, the liquor was aged for 60 years. However, the Scottish distillery’s latest release takes that revered age statement and adds a few more years.
Launching in 2020, the brand’s Red Collection serves to celebrate the importance of the color to the company’s history, from the red sherry that seasons its oak casks to the derivative of its founder’s surname, Reid. The range consists of the anchor bottles, 40-, 50-, and 60-year-old single malts, as well as the high-aged “guest releases” such as the 71-, 74-, and 78-year-old expressions.
For the newest addition to the Red Collection, and the first guest release since the line’s launch, the Macallan is debuting a 77-year-old single malt Scotch that was first barrelled in 1945, making it the 2nd oldest whiskey the distillery has ever sold (following the Red Collection 78). It’s said to possess a profile of baked custard, candied ginger, marmalade, and dried fruit with a woodsmoke finish.
If you can get your hands on the Macallan Red Collection 77 Years (or any of them), expect a hefty price tag. The suggested retail is $87,000 but could go for more in the secondary market.
