The Macallan’s most legendary 2026 release pays tribute to the world’s most expensive whisky

Friday, 26 June 2026 at 15:00

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The Macallan is unveiling a new release that instantly conjures museums, auction houses, and hushed conversations among collectors. The Romantica Collection isn’t just another new Macallan, it’s a direct nod to the legendary The Macallan 1926.

That single malt has become one of the most coveted whisky bottles on the planet. In 2023, a bottle with the Valerio Adami label sold for £2.18 million, making it the most expensive bottle of wine or spirits ever auctioned. Now, this new series arrives with a clear wink to that icon. Time to step into the spotlight with The Macallan Romantica Collection front and center.

The Macallan Romantica Collection honors the legendary 1926

The new Romantica Collection revolves around a 1986 Vintage single-cask whisky, matured in a sherry-seasoned European oak cask, cask 9925. That year was chosen deliberately to tie back to the 1926 whisky. In 1986, the famed The Macallan 1926 was bottled after 60 years of maturation.

With The Macallan Romantica Collection, the distillery celebrates the magic of 1926, while the whisky in the bottle has been given nearly 40 years to mature.

There’s another connection to 1926. The Macallan is releasing just 258 bottles for each edition of the Romantica Collection. In total there are three editions of 86 bottles each. Every edition features artwork by an artist already linked to the 1926 legend: Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami, and Michael Dillon.

The exterior is instantly iconic, but what matters most to many whisky lovers is what’s inside. How does it taste?

The Macallan Romantica Collection Whisky

How The Macallan Romantica Collection tastes

According to The Macallan, the Romantica Collection whisky is bright, fruity, and richly flavored. The nose offers notes of apricot jam, peach, crystallized ginger, cinnamon, old oak, and a wisp of wood smoke.

On the palate, expect brown sugar, glazed peach, lychee, dark cherries, treacle, and a subtle hint of peat. The finish brings dried fruits, leather, and cocoa.

This special whisky is bottled at 48.6% alcohol by volume (ABV).

A Macallan for collectors, not the casual drinks tray

The presentation is every bit as exclusive as the whisky itself. Each bottle comes in a European oak display case featuring the corresponding artwork. Inside you’ll find a numbered certificate, a booklet, and a limited-edition art print.

The official price hasn’t been confirmed, but reports suggest the set will come in around $105,000. The release is scheduled for July 30, 2026, via The Macallan. The Romantica Collection can only be purchased as a set through The Macallan’s dedicated client portal, so you won’t be seeing these single malts on store shelves anytime soon.

FAQ

What is The Macallan Romantica Collection?
A limited 1986 Vintage single-cask whisky set from The Macallan, released as a tribute to The Macallan 1926.
How many bottles are there?
There are 258 bottles in total, divided across 3 artist editions of 86 bottles each.
When is The Macallan Romantica Collection being released?
The release is scheduled for July 30, 2026.