The Anniversary Malt range from The Macallan is a series of some of the best vintages from the acclaimed distillers.
Predominantly all bottled as 25 year old single malts, barring the ultra rare Macallan 1928 50yo, the inaugural entry into the series was the Macallan 1957 25yo that was released in 1983.
The vintages then continued to run from 1957 to 1975 and also included a non-vintage 25yo, there were only a few absent years during this run, notably the 1960, 1961 and 1973 omissions. All bottles would be supplied with a distinctive wooden box and adorned with an instantly recognised long label, ladened with text and details on the distillery and brand. Earlier releases were also supplied with a signed letter bearing the text ‘Concerning The Macallan’.
The series has become one of the most sought-after collections with whisky lovers, with certain bottles certainly harder to acquire than others. For example, you may see a lot more 1962, 1965 and 1968 vintages on the open and private markets, opposed to the lesser-spotted 1957, 1966 and 1970 distillations.
Going back to the first bottling in 1983; this was available back then just £30 (an approximate £130 in todays money), whereas the 25yo Macallan’s of today are unveiled annually at circa £2000!
I have always championed that if you were going to start a collection, there is no better place to begin than with the Anniversary Malt series; limited edition vintages with age statements, a great back story and stunning packaging and labelling. It’s baffling to see the modern collector opting for no age statement releases, such as the Folio’s (which, have fallen off a cliff recently, I hasten to add), James Bond and other releases of similar ilk when you have these prestigious malts from the vaults of Macallan available. I would also suggest now is a good time to buy, with prices somewhat lower than they were a few years back.
Ultimately, the Anniversary Malt series will stand the test of time, unlike many of the so-called flashier newer releases. This is the greatest collection of all time, in my humble opinion.
Click here to view our full range from The Macallan Anniversary Malt archives.