The Macallan Romantica Collection Unique Artists Edition 42.6 abv 1986 (3 Bottles 70cl)

The Macallan Romantica Collection 42.6 abv 1986

This lot is offered Duty Paid With VAT On the Hammer Price.

Three unique artist editions bottled at a bespoke strength, original creative artefacts and a bespoke oak display cabinet, offered as a singular lot marking 100 years since The Macallan 1926 was distilled. 

This unique offering comprises the complete Macallan 1986 Romantica Collection with a bespoke strength: the Adami, Blake and Dillon Editions, distilled in 1986 in single sherry-seasoned European oak cask No. 9925 and bottled in 2026. Each artists edition is limited to only two bottles, with the companion set retained permanently in The Macallan Archive.

Presented within a bespoke oak display cabinet created exclusively for this sale, the collection is accompanied by original artist-donated artefacts including studio-used materials, preparatory artworks, personal letters and unpublished collage elements associated with the creation of the Romantica Collection.

The Romantica Collection reunites three artists connected with The Macallan's most iconic releases: Valerio Adami, Sir Peter Blake and Michael Dillon. Each artist was commissioned to create an original work celebrating the passage of time from 1986 to 2026, interpreting four decades of maturation through their own distinctive artistic language.

At the heart of the collection are three bottles drawn from cask No. 9925, matured from October 1986 until February 2026 and bottled at 42.6% ABV, a strength deliberately selected by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker to match the celebrated 1926 60 Years Old that inspired the collection. Each bottle is accompanied by a fine art giclée print of the original commissioned artwork. 

What distinguishes this lot even further is the remarkable presentation cabinet commissioned especially for this sale. Crafted in oak and inspired by museum display, the cabinet houses the three bottles alongside personal objects donated by each artist. Individual drawers, faced in leather colour-matched to the respective editions, hold intimate records of the artists' creative processes protected beneath museum glass.

Valerio Adami Edition

Valerio Adami artist has donated a paintbrush used during the creation of his composition together with the paint lid from the red pigment that features so prominently within the work. Adami's artwork itself draws upon concepts he first explored in 1986, depicting Janet Harbinson, custodian of The Macallan a century earlier when The Macallan 1926 was distilled. Her striking red dress acts as a visual link between the historic legacy of The Macallan and the symbolism of sherry-seasoned oak at the heart of its whisky making tradition.

Sir Peter Blake Edition

Sir Peter Blake has gifted original collage elements that were conceived but ultimately absent from the final artwork, together with a personal letter. These include a Victorian lady referencing the theme of the celebrated Octagon Room at Easter Elchies House and a couple playing Spanish guitar and castanets, symbolising the enduring relationship between The Macallan and the sherry-seasoned oak casks of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Blake's final collage depicts a joyous gathering outside Easter Elchies House in 1986, connecting the bottling year of The Macallan 1926 with the distillation year of the Romantica Collection.

Michael Dillon Edition

The Michael Dillion Edition is accompanied by an original preliminary sketch of his composition and a personal letter. Dillon's painting celebrates the natural beauty of Easter Elchies Estate and the evolution of The Macallan Distillery since 1986, highlighting the harmony between architectural innovation and the surrounding Speyside landscape.

3 bottles 70cl (original presentation case)

Please refer to images for levels and conditions

LYING IN GREENFORD, MIDDLESEX Offered Duty Paid With VAT On the Hammer Price. Please note this lot is not available for immediate collection. Please contact HUGH.MACHIN@SOTHEBYS.COM for further details.

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