Sotheby's set a new world auction record for single malt whisky last weekend when a decanter of Macallan Scotch sold in Hong Kong for €500,000.
The six-litre decanter was made by French
crystal manufacturer Lalique and holds enough for 300 servings of wee drams of 20ml. It was one of only four Imperiale "M" decanters made, two were archived by Macallan and another was sold privately. Each took 17 craftsmen more than 50 hours to complete.
The whisky was drawn
from Spanish oak sherry casks, dating from the 1940s, at the distillery in Scotland and is described as "a full-flavoured example of the classic Macallan
house style characterised
by a rich natural colour,
derived solely from the wood, interwoven with dried fruits, spices, orange citrus and wood notes".
