Macallan collection pays tribute to 1926 vintage
Edrington has revealed the Romantica Collection to commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Macallan 1926 vintage.
Laid down by brand custodian Janet ‘Nettie’ Harbinson 100 years ago at the Speyside distillery, The Macallan 1926 vintage was bottled in 1986 by her great nephew Allan Shiach.
The 60-year-old single malt was limited to 40 bottles and featured artwork by Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami, and Michael Dillon.
The bottlings have become some of the world’s most coveted, with The Macallan 1926 Adami setting a world record at Sotheby’s November 2023 auction with a winning bid of £2,187,500 (US$2,714,250).
The new Romantica Collection honours the 1926 bottlings with a single cask release distilled in October 1986, the same year the iconic vintage was bottled.
Limited to 258 bottles, the Romantica Collection was drawn from a Sherry-seasoned European oak cask No.9925 and bottled at 48.6% ABV in February 2026.
The three original artists return to embellish the collection with new works conceived exclusively for the release, each with a personally signed label and limited to 86 bottles.
Kirsteen Campbell, master whisky maker at The Macallan, commented: “From the moment this cask was laid down in 1986, it became part of a legacy – a story that began with The Macallan 1926 and continues today.
“To see this expression now paired with new artworks from Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon is deeply moving. Their interpretations mirror the whisky’s own journey: layered, imaginative and shaped by time. It is a privilege to present a single-cask release that connects so profoundly with our heritage.”
After almost four decades in a cask, the single malt has developed aromas of apricot conserve, canned peaches, and bittersweet toffee, enriched by crystallised ginger, gentle cinnamon, antique oak, and a whisper of fragrant woodsmoke.
On the palate, the whisky presents brown sugar, glazed peach and tropical lychee notes, accompanied by dark cherries, treacle and a subtle hint of peat.
Three labels, one whisky
Each artist reflected on the journey of The Macallan during the years cask no.9925 rested, from 1986 to 2026.
Returning to the world of The Macallan, each artist has created a new artwork that responds to the themes of time travel, nature, and community through their distinctive perspectives.
Blake’s collage, titled ‘The Music Room’, transports viewers to Easter Elchies House – the brand home of The Macallan, where guests gather to celebrate the opening of the Octagon Room in 1986.
Adami’s composition, ‘Romantica (1986)’, depicts Harbinson at the time when The 1926 was distilled, standing in a vibrant red dress against the backdrop of the Scottish landscape.
Dillon’s captivating landscape, ‘The Macallan Estate’, showcases the natural beauty of Speyside and highlights the modern distillery that is nestled beneath its undulating green roof.
Jaume Ferras, creative director at The Macallan, added: “The Romantica Collection represents a rare convergence of time, creativity and craftsmanship. By revisiting the legacy of The Macallan 1926 through the eyes of Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon, we are not simply honouring an iconic whisky, but celebrating the enduring power of artistic expression and the role it plays in shaping the heritage of the brand.
“Their artworks bring fresh meaning to a whisky shaped quietly over decades, reinterpreting The Macallan 1926 for a new moment in time.”
The release is presented in a custom wooden box made from European oak, sourced, worked, and finished with great attention to detail.
Each box features artwork created by the artist. Inside, the bottle comes with a numbered certificate signed by Campbell, a removable collection booklet, and a limited-edition giclée art print that is unique to each artist’s edition.
The Macallan Romantica Collection is now available exclusively as a complete set of three artist editions, directly from The Macallan. The price of the set has not been made public.
Last year, whisky collector Nguyễn Đình Tuấn Việt – owner of five The Macallan 1926 bottles – paid an Italian artist to paint one of his rare bottles by Michael Dillon.
Related news
Kenny Dalglish creates whisky series with Gordon & MacPhail
