50 Year Old Macallan Sells For £12,350

[John]

A bottle of 50-year-old Macallan sold for a record £12,350 at the world's biggest whisky auction in Glasgow yesterday.

The rare dram, a bottling of three barrels distilled between 1926 and 1928, was one of more than 700 lots in the McTear's rare and collectible whisky sale.

It went to an American buyer based in New York for the highest price yet paid for a 50-year-old Macallan.

A 50-year-old Glenfiddich, the product of several barrels distilled between 1937 and 1939, sold for £10,600.

McTear's whisky specialist Andy Bell said the two malts were among the finest to be found anywhere: "We knew there would be a lot of interest in both bottles and we are absolutely delighted with the prices they fetched."

Other highlights included a 40-year-old Laphroaig, a limited-edition 30-year-old bottle of Black Bowmore, a 1965-distilled Ardbeg and a limited-edition 40-year-old Glenfarclas.

Mr Bell said each quarterly auction was attracting more lots and more collectors from around the globe.

"There is no doubt that whisky continues to hold its own as a long-term investment opportunity with good examples of the big five distilleries - Macallan, Bowmore, Highland Park, Springbank and Ardbeg showing the biggest increases in value over the past few years," he added.

John