This time, we will introduce some of the most popular old Macallan bottles. This is a must-read for those who want to know how to tell the difference and what their value is.
The history and characteristics of the single malt "The Macallan"
Macallan is a brand of Scotch whisky whose official name is "The Macallan." It is a famous luxury brand worldwide, and is widely distributed in Japan, so many people may have heard of it. It is a single malt whisky made at the Macallan distillery, and its exceptional flavor has earned it the nickname "The Rolls Royce of single malts."
The Macallan distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. Speyside malts are characterized by their gorgeous, fragrant, and fruity flavors , and Macallan has the gorgeousness that is characteristic of Speyside malts.
The Macallan Distillery was certified by the government in 1824 and has a long history. This history continues to this day, with many different bottles being released. Traditionally, Macallan is unique in that it uses small stills, which are expensive to produce but produce rich whiskey. They also pay special attention to barrel aging, and use a variety of barrels, primarily sherry casks, to create different types of raw liquor.
Currently in Japan, the well-known major manufacturer Suntory Holdings imports and sells Macallan, so although it is a luxury brand, current products are relatively easy to obtain in Japan .
What are Macallan's old bottles? A whisky with a charm not found in the current product
Macallan is widely distributed in Japan and is loved by many fans, but there are rare bottles that are difficult to obtain . These are the so-called "old bottles" of Macallan that are no longer on sale.Tonight we have Macallan, the king of Speyside.
— Limone (@limone_takizawa) October 22, 2021
I lined up the old and new ones✨
Just made my Instagram debut 😗 #MinnaNoBAR #TWLC # Macallanpic.twitter.com/Q3VenDG11h
As mentioned earlier, Macallan has a long history. Therefore, the whiskeys released by Macallan have changed over time. For example, the bottles of "Macallan 12 Year Old" are still on sale today, but the label and bottle designs have been changed several times. And since bottles with old designs cannot be purchased officially now, they are highly valued as rare .
It is said that the older the bottle is, the more valuable it is. This is true not only for Macallan, but for all historic whiskeys. In recent years, the value of whiskey has increased overall, and so has the interest in old bottles.
Macallan 1861 Reproduction Bottle
— JohnoshinP💾🎀 (@JohnoshinP) August 13, 2016
Delicious, that's it!
...Well, that's not the case, but the contents are Macallan from the 2000s. It's the Macallan from "before the taste changed." It's sweet and peaty, yet has a wonderful aftertaste. It's more calming than the Macallan from the old bottle. pic.twitter.com/aNYaQjXA7i
It is also said that the old Macallan bottles not only have different designs, but also tastes different. This is probably because the composition of the raw liquor and the type of barrels are different between the old and current bottles. If you like whiskey, it might be interesting to compare the old Macallan with the current Macallan . While whether the new or old is better depends on personal preference, the old bottles are generally more highly regarded, with many people saying that they are "delicious" and "good." Among whiskey enthusiasts in particular, the 1950s are rumored to be the golden age of Macallan , and old bottles containing raw liquor blends from that time are particularly highly valued.The Macallan I bought for the first time in years smells really sulfury and it's awful. The old bottle doesn't have that smell at all, it has a sweet Pedro Ximenez-like aroma and is really good.
— Nuruko🍄 (@nuruko) November 14, 2021
Introducing Macallan's old bottles! Differences between the old and new bottles and prices
<Macallan 12 Year>
1. Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak (current product)
- Alcohol content: 40%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 10,989 yen (tax included)
The current Macallan product has a simple appearance with the number "12" on the front . The outer box is a color close to black, giving it a luxurious feel. Furthermore, there are social media icons on the back label, making it clear that this is a modern Macallan. The taste and aroma are rather refreshing, and the overall taste is well-balanced and easy to drink. Although it has the appeal of being easy for everyone to enjoy, fans of the rich Macallan of the past may find it "a little disappointing."
2. Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak Old Bottle
An old bottle of Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak that I had secretly hidden (about half-opened). It should have become mellow after being exposed to air nicely?! This product is also rising in price and in short supply on the market, so I'm putting it back on the bottle shelf. Please. pic.twitter.com/Cw8Vlr0fu6
— RED DOOR (@BAR_REDDOOR) July 4, 2022
The old Macallan bottles came in a brownish box instead of black, and the label design was also different, with the number 12 outlined .
The old bottle has a more sherry-like, gorgeous aroma than the current product, and a powerful, sour taste . It also has a spicy and slightly astringent taste, giving it a unique flavor in a good way.
The price of old bottles of Macallan varies depending on the year of release and their condition, but is around 20,000 to 30,000 yen, which is slightly higher than current products.
3. Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak (distributed before the 1990s)
Macallan 12 Year Old Bottle #Macallan12Years #OldBottle #macallan12years pic.twitter.com/sHjO1wSRa5
— Takehiro Yamada Bar Seven (@bar7osaka) January 26, 2020
There are even older Macallan bottles. They are called old bottles and are historic items that were in circulation even before the 1990s. Macallan from this period has a significantly different font and label for the "MACALLAN" logo, so it is easy to tell the difference from the current product. Not only the front label, but also the shape of the label on the shoulder and the design of the bottle itself have changed.We enjoyed the luxury of comparing the current Macallan with an old bottle.
— mdr (@mdrpedroximenez) March 22, 2018
The current version has more of a malty flavor than a sherry flavor, and is spicy.
It's such a different thing...
When you think about it, the quality of the old Macallan was amazing. No wonder it's called Rolls Royce. pic.twitter.com/UnQCq3SXdF
This Macallan 12 Year Old has a strong sherry flavor, spice and a moderate body. It is "fruity" and "mellow" and has a quality that is worthy of being called the Rolls Royce of single malts.
Even the older Macallan 12-year-olds can sell for over 100,000 yen per bottle . It is expected that this rarity and price will continue to rise in the future.
<Macallan 10 Year>
1. Macallan 10 Year Sherry Oak *Discontinued
Macallan 10 Year Sherry Oak is a whisky that is no longer sold by the manufacturer . Therefore, if you want to get it, you have to look for the old bottle. It looks similar to the old Macallan 12 Year bottle, but you can clearly see the number "10" written on it.#TWLC
— Whiskey Kitty @ Sapporo (@kitty10252) March 4, 2021
The Macallan 10 year old is a little old.
Although it is a discontinued bottle, it is quite delicious and I sometimes feel like drinking it.
It has a more mature and mellow feel than the current Macallan 12 year old.
The sweetness of the malt and the dried fruit are very pleasant.
It's sad that there are fewer of them now. pic.twitter.com/fCwK6Njpav
Currently, there is a Macallan 10 Year Old Fine Oak, but even though it is the same 10 year old whiskey, the taste will be very different because the aging casks are different. Sherry Oak has the gorgeousness that is characteristic of sherry, with a floral aroma, a honey-like taste, and a direct deliciousness.
The Macallan 10 Year Old is more highly rated than the current Macallan 12 Year Old , and is popular for its aged feel despite being 10 years old. This makes it a difficult whiskey to obtain, and it is almost impossible to find it in online shops. It was discontinued about 10 years ago, around 2013, so it has now become a premium product.
2. Macallan 10 Year Sherry Oak, distributed in the 1980s
There are even older bottles of 10-year-old Macallan that are even older than the old bottles. There are a few products from around the 1980s on the market, so you're lucky if you come across one.This is a progress report, but the number of customers has decreased.
— Zidane (@7AWTj1RCHHl9gLA) August 24, 2019
The MVP who impressed today's customers!
[Macallan 10 Year (1980s)]
The "T" in "The" is different between Macallan from before the 80s and Macallan from the 90s onwards Σ (゚д゚lll) #TWLC #whisky #Macallanpic.twitter.com /vjZUYwd8em
The Macallan from before the 1980s has a different font for the T in "The." The bottle design is also old, and just displaying it makes it look interesting.
<Macallan 18 Year>
1. Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak Old Bottle
Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak also has the old bottles in addition to the current product. The appearance is the same as the 12 Year Old and 10 Year Old, with the number 18 outlined . In addition to this old bottle, there are even older Macallan 18 Year Olds from the 70s and 80s.Whisky in stock Macallan 18 year old old bottlepic.twitter.com/QSZyHpeqFZ
— Hobbyist (@7e45jzfcqLPr9Lz) December 29, 2020
Old bottles of Macallan 18 year old are very valuable, for example , those labeled as from the 1970s are priced at over 600,000 yen . Although it is not widely distributed, you may be able to find it in bars that specialize in whiskey, so be sure to look for it.
2. Macallan 18 Year Gran Reserva
Among the old bottles of Macallan 18 year old, one series worth paying attention to is the "Gran Reserva." This is a whiskey that has been specially stored , and the bottle is characterized by the year of distillation and bottling.We purchased the Macallan 18 Year Gran Reserva 🔥
— Alcohol and smartphone purchase🍷📱 Linksus (@liquor_linxas30) January 29, 2021
Thank you 😊 #Alcohol #Purchase #Appraisal #Macallan #Whisky #Kanagawa # Yokohamapic.twitter.com/MEuuNuXttD
For example, Macallan 18 Year Old Gran Reserva is available in 1979, 1989, 1981, and 1982 vintages, but the 1979 bottle is a whiskey that was distilled in 1979, aged for 18 years, and bottled in 1997. It is a unique bottle that has a noble sherry flavor, and a single bottle is traded for over 500,000 yen .
<Macallan 25 Year>
1. Macallan 25 Year Old (current product)
- Alcohol content: 43%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 220,000 yen (tax included)
According to the Suntory official website, the list price is 220,000 yen (tax included), but when you look at the retail prices on the Internet, it is priced at over 500,000 yen . Another major feature is that the outer box is made of wood.
2. Macallan 25th Anniversary Malt
The Macallan 25 Year Anniversary Malt is made in an old Macallan bottle with the number 25 written on the label. The number 25 is considered lucky in Scotland, and the Macallan 25 Year Anniversary Malt is treated as a special whiskey.Macallan 25 Year Anniversary Malt - Another dimension pic.twitter.com/d4404dHqhu
— Sidecar/Saika (@_Sidecar) May 27, 2021
This whiskey is made from 25-year-old malt, and the date of distillation can be seen by looking at the bottle and label. Some of the products on the market are as old as those distilled in the 1950s, and are traded for over 1 million yen each .
For appraisals of old Macallan bottles, come to Linkus!
There are so many types of old Macallan bottles. If you want to have your Macallan appraised, we recommend that you ask a store that specializes in buying alcohol. At a store that buys alcohol, professional appraisers will evaluate the Macallan, so they can carefully determine the differences and value of the old bottles, such as the type and year of distillation .
At Linkus, a liquor buying specialist store , we are now focusing on buying old Macallan bottles. We will carry out appraisals in a way that suits you, whether that be on-site purchase , mail-order purchase , or in-store purchase , so please feel free to use our services.
Of course, we can also purchase new Macallan bottles, not just old ones, and we can also assess the purchase price of other whiskeys and alcoholic beverages. If you are not sure whether the bottle is old or not, or if you want to know the current value of the Macallan you have, please feel free to contact us.
Q: How much do old Macallan bottles cost?
The value of old Macallan bottles varies, so it is difficult to give a definite purchase price without seeing the item. However, even for a Macallan 12-year-old, which has a short aging period, you can expect a purchase price of several thousand to several tens of thousands of yen. For old bottles of Macallan 18-year-old, which has a long aging period, some bottles can be valued at over 100,000 yen . The older the bottling year, such as before 1970, the higher the price.
Linkusus also offers simple appraisals over the phone, online , and LINE . If you send us a photo of the label or bottle, we can give you an estimate of the purchase price.
Q. What makes Macallan worth a high price?
The appraisal value of luxury whiskeys like Macallan can vary greatly depending on whether or not they come with an outer box or accessories. Complete items with all accessories such as boxes and booklets will be valued higher, so be sure to have them all when you receive an appraisal.
In the case of old whiskey such as old bottles, the extent to which the liquid level has dropped is also an important point to consider. Products with little to no drop in liquid level will fetch a higher price, so be sure to keep them at the appropriate temperature and humidity.
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summary
It is said that the taste of Macallan is very different between the new and old bottles. The old bottles are especially highly regarded, and even bottles with short aging periods such as "Macallan 12 Year Old" and "Macallan 10 Year Old" are subject to high prices. They have a stronger sherry flavor and a richer taste than the current product, so if you have the opportunity, please compare them.In addition, Macallan also has premium bottles such as the 18-year-old bottle, the rare Gran Reserva, and the 25-year anniversary malt. These are hard to find on the market, so if you have one, why not check its value?