The Macallan unveils a tribute to a whisky legend

Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 09:30

The Macallan has officially unveiled the new Romantica Collection. This new whisky series centers on an exclusive 40-year-old single malt crafted as a tribute to the iconic The Macallan 1926. The special release arrived exactly 100 years after the legendary cask number 263 was filled.

The release points directly to The Macallan 1926, one of the most legendary and valuable whiskies ever produced. That whisky matured for 60 years before being bottled in 1986 in an extremely limited run of just 40 bottles. A bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 sold at Sotheby’s in 2023 for £2.18 million, making it one of the most expensive whiskies ever auctioned.

The Macallan Romantica Collection: A 40-year-old single-cask tribute

The new The Macallan Romantica Collection is a touch younger. The cask that matured the new The Macallan was a sherry-seasoned European oak cask. The Speyside spirit was filled into it in 1986, then slumbered for 40 years in The Macallan’s warehouses.

According to Euan Kennedy, Master Distiller at The Macallan, the choice of this specific cask was no accident. The whisky shows a striking character with a subtle smokiness, an uncommon style for The Macallan.

What are the tasting notes of The Macallan Romantica Collection?

The series comprises three bottles containing the same whisky. Detailed tasting notes for this Scotch single malt have been released.

Expect notes of brown sugar, glazed peach, lychee, dark cherries, and treacle, followed by whispers of peat smoke, leather, dried fruits, and cocoa in the long finish.

Three world-renowned artists, three unique bottles

Just as with The Macallan 1926, the distillery once again collaborated with three internationally acclaimed artists: Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami, and Michael Dillon. Each artist created a bespoke label for the Romantica Collection.

Only 86 bottles of each edition will be released, each with a striking design. Below are the bottles the artists created:

Sir Peter Blake - The Music Room: Sir Peter Blake crafted a collage inspired by Easter Elchies House and the sense of community at The Macallan.
Valerio Adami - Romantica: Adami’s piece depicts Janet ‘Nettie’ Harbinson, the woman who filled the legendary cask 263 in 1926. His artwork ultimately lent its name to the collection.
Michael Dillon - The Macallan Estate: Michael Dillon captured the landscape of The Macallan Estate and the distillery with a detailed painting of the Speyside grounds.

A set that could be worth millions

With this collection, The Macallan presents a worthy successor to the 1926, the whisky that ultimately fetched millions under the hammer. Thanks to its scarcity combined with the cachet of celebrated artists, these bottles could well command staggering sums at auction.

When will The Macallan Romantica Collection be released?

The Macallan states the collection will be available from July 30, 2026, via The Macallan Client Services. It won’t appear on regular retail shelves. The bottles will be sold exclusively as a complete set of three artist editions. An official price for the set has not yet been announced.

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