THE MACALLAN 1949 50 YEAR OLD DECANTER
£32,200
Auction: 4 December 2019 at 18:00 GMT
Description
matured exclusively in Sherry butts, one of 900 bottled at cask strength in 1999, in Caithness crystal decanter, with lockable oak presentation case and certificate of authenticity
Dimensions
700ml/ 43%
Footnote
Note: Originally released to celebrate the turning of the new millennium, this malt stands amongst the oldest vintages of The Macallan ever released and was exclusively matured in three Sherry butts. Although distilled four years after the end of the Second World War, malt whisky output in Scotland was still extremely low; traditional methods of production were employed, such as the use of coal-fired, which are now heated by steam at the Speyside distillery. As a result, The Macallan’s 50 and 60 year old releases are often considered rare artisanal products of their day.
The Macallan is arguably famed for its approach to the maturation of their oily, heavy new-make spirit, becoming the first distillery to design ‘bespoke’ casks. Specific trees are selected, predominantly in Northern Spain, followed by a decision on the length of drying time, cask seasoning and even the type of coopering involved. From the few who have experienced the 1949 sherried malt, the flavour profile is said to be intensely rich and has a distinctive spicy nose, with hints of cloves, coriander and orange peel, reminiscent of a warm autumnal or winter spice. Unusually for Macallan, this Speyside malt has a peaty undertone, with further notes of dried fruits and dark chocolate. With a refreshing citrus finish, this whisky, decanted at cask strength, is believed to be one of Macallan’s best sherried malts.