One-of-a-Kind original bottle from The Macallan’s Newly Launched Anecdotes of Ages Collection Ushers in Sotheby’s 2021 Wines & Spirits Season in New York, With Proceeds Benefitting the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion Initiatives

NEW YORK, 17 February 2021 – For collectors of rare whisky, the mention of The Macallan in the same breath as the name Sir Peter Blake has for many decades proved an irresistible combination. Next month, Sotheby’s is set to offer a one-of-a-kind original bottle of 1967 whisky from The Macallan’s newly launched Anecdotes of Ages Collection, a limited-release whisky and art collection created in collaboration with the renowned pop artist.

Estimated at $125,000-750,000, the extraordinary multi-component lot, including a print donated by Sir Peter as well as a bespoke VIP experience with The Macallan, will lead Sotheby’s first dedicated spirits sale in New York on 13 March. All of The Macallan’s proceeds from the sale will benefit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Support from The Macallan will advance efforts underway at the Guggenheim to increase free access and develop engagement with a variety of audiences, in alignment with the museum’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion initiatives.

The March auction offers collectors the first and only opportunity to acquire this original bottle from the highly anticipated release. Celebrating the legacy and history of Sir Peter Blake and The Macallan, the Anecdotes of Ages Collection comprises 13 unique bottles of exceptional 1967 whisky, selected for its classic yet distinctly colorful character as well as the year’s significance within Blake’s oeuvre. Of this group, the A New Era of Advertising bottle will be auctioned by Sotheby’s, while the 13th original bottle will be kept in The Macallan archive, leaving just 11 original bottles available for purchase. Each bottle in the collection features its own distinctly original collage art on the label inspired by the brand’s legacy and the unique stories detailing its history and community, and the natural landscape of The Macallan Estate.

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “In recent years, we have seen significant growth in the enjoyment and collecting of rare whisky around the world, most notably from a new group of younger collectors. So, it is very special that we launch our 2021 season with Sotheby’s first dedicated live spirits sale in New York highlighted by this unique release from The Macallan that will appeal to whisky enthusiasts, art lovers, and philanthropists. We are also delighted that this unique bottle has been donated to The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum with proceeds supporting diverse audience engagement and free access at the Guggenheim Museum. As the spirits market continues to grow, we look forward to engaging an expanding pool of collectors with distinguished offerings, such as standalone bottles direct from The Macallan or private collections, which illustrates the breadth and diversity of the spirits market.”

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, commented: “We are delighted to launch our spring auction season with another partnership between Sotheby’s Wine and The Macallan Distillery. This exclusive bottle from The Macallan’s Anecdotes of Ages series, designed by Sir Peter Blake, represents the age, quality and creative flare that the world’s leading spirits collectors look for in ultra-rare whiskies. We are also very excited to offer the Bo Johnston collection of over 500 whiskies comprising an unparalleled selection of old Cadenhead dumpy bottlings alongside an array of Scotch whiskies imported into the US in the 1970s and 80s, many of which have never appeared at auction.”

“I am deeply inspired by the incredible legacy of The Macallan, and its emphasis on family, tradition, and the natural world,” said Sir Peter Blake. “Each collage is inspired by The Macallan history and heritage, one that respects time and craft, two essential components of my own creative process. I meticulously worked on each collage, pulling from The Macallan Estate’s rich legacy to complete a collection that is a celebration of art and whisky.”

“This exceptional 1967 whisky was chosen for its classic yet distinctively colorful character, which is reminiscent of Sir Peter Blake’s work of the same year,” said Sarah Burgess, The Macallan Lead Whisky Maker. “With notes of oak and fig leading to a burst of hazelnut and strawberry, this is a truly special whisky that finishes with complex flavors of chocolate and lightly spiced peach. It is in many ways, its own work of art.”