The Macallan Unveils The Romantica Collection
The Macallan has launched the Romantica Collection, a 1986 vintage single cask release created to mark the centenary of The Macallan 1926, the world’s most valuable bottle of wine or spirit ever sold at auction.
The Macallan Romantica Collection was bottled from sherry seasoned European oak cask no. 9925, which was filled in 1986 and matured on The Macallan Estate for 40 years. The Romantica Collection is bottled at 48.6% ABV and is presented in its natural color.
Official tasting notes for The Romantica Collection follow:
The single malt whisky reveals a remarkably bright and vibrant character from the first moment. On the nose, notes of apricot conserve, canned peaches and bittersweet toffee unfold with growing complexity, enriched by crystalised ginger, gentle cinnamon, antique oak and a whisper of fragrant woodsmoke.
On the palate, a velvety sweetness of brown sugar, glazed peach and tropical lychee gives way to dark cherries, treacle and a subtle hint of peat. The finish is long and memorable, carried by lingering dried fruit, touches of leather and rich cacao, leaving a lasting impression of depth and elegance.
The Macallan has partnered with the three artists who contributed original art for The Macallan 1926 – Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami, and Michael Dillon – to create new works exclusively for the Romantica Collection.
- Sir Peter Blake’s collage, titled The Music Room, transports viewers to Easter Elchies House – the spiritual brand home of The Macallan as immortalised on every bottle – in 1986, where guests gather to celebrate the opening of The Macallan Octagon Room, a music room inside the manor house and a symbol of community at the heart of The Macallan.
- Valerio Adami’s composition, Romantica (1986), portrays Janet ‘Nettie’ Harbinson – custodian of The Macallan at the time the 1926 was distilled – standing in a bold red dress with a backdrop of the Scottish landscape, bridging past and future through a reflective reinterpretation of the 1926 bottle.
- Michael Dillon’s landscape, The Macallan Estate, captures the natural beauty of Speyside and reveals the Estate’s modern distillery nestled almost imperceptibly beneath its undulating green roof, inspired by the beauty and fragility of nature.
The label on every bottle is personally signed by its respective artist, and every bottle is housed in a bespoke wooden presentation box crafted from European oak. Each box is decorated with the artist’s work, while inside, the bottle is accompanied by a numbered certificate signed by Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell, a removable Collection Booklet, and a limited-edition giclée art print unique to each artist edition.
The Macallan Romantica Collection will be available exclusively as a complete set of three artist editions, directly from The Macallan beginning on July 30, 2026. The collection is limited to 258 bottles in total, with just 86 from each artist.
US consumers interested in purchasing The Macallan Romantica Collection should contact The Macallan Client Services at ClientServices@TheMacallan.com.
Source: The Macallan.