The Macallan Breaks World Record for Most Expensive Whisky Sold

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 | MODERN DISTILLERY AGE
The Macallan Breaks World Record for
Most Expensive Whisky Sold at Auction
Guinness World Records has awarded The Macallan the accolade of “Most
Expensive Whisky Sold at Auction.” The Macallan M Imperiale six-liter Lalique
decanter sold at auction in Hong Kong for $628,000 in January 2014, breaking
the previous record of $460,000 held by The Macallan in Lalique Cire Perdue,
raising funds for locally based charities.
M Imperiale is the largest decanter Lalique has ever made and the largest
The Macallan has ever filled. Lalique created four of these decanters for The
Macallan. Each decanter required the work of 17 craftsmen including two
with the title Meilleur Ouvrier de France, with each taking over 50 hours
to complete.
Of the four, two have been archived by The Macallan and one has been
committed to a private collector in Asia. The fourth, Constantine (named, as
are the other three, after Roman emperors), is the only one to feature the
engraved autographs of the three principal creators — Lalique/Silvio Denz,
Fabien Baron and Bob Dalgarno.
Constantine was presented at an auction of Finest and Rarest Wines and
The Macallan by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on January 18, 2014. All net sale
proceeds have been donated to local charities in Hong Kong.
VOLUME 6 | NUMBER 8
ACSA
Convention
Special to Modern Distillery Age – by By Tom Mooney,
President of the American Craft Spirits Association
The second annual American Craft Spirits
Association (ACSA) convention, held in Austin, Texas,
from February 14-16, was the largest gathering of
DSPs (Distilled Spirits Plants) in the history of the craft
distilling industry. Over 500 attendees representing
more than 250 operating DSPs gathered to learn
about the association’s progress and to help shape its
priorities for the future.
Tito Beveridge of Tito’s Handmade Vodka entertains the crowd
at the Second Annual ACSA Convention & Vendor Trade Show
At the convention, the ACSA Board of Directors
unveiled several major initiatives. Chief among these
was a new proposal to bring federal excise tax relief
to craft spirits producers by reducing the rate on the
first 100,000 proof gallons from the current $13.50 per
proof gallon to $2.70 per proof gallon. The idea itself is
not new, but an improved political climate makes 2015
the year to pursue this important, pro-growth priority
that will bolster craft distilling and create thousands of
new jobs across the country.
The convention also featured a marquee lineup of
speakers from within and beyond the spirits industry.
Over the course of two days they shared their insights
on topics that included production, safety, financing,
distribution, marketing, exports and regulatory
compliance. Several hands-on classes rounded out
the educational offering.
Finally, the ACSA Board of Directors announced that
it has selected Chicago as the site for the association’s
third annual convention. The event will take place
in March 2016, and it will once again bring together
more operating DSPs than any event in the history of
craft distilling.
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