The Macallan Romantica Collection
As maturation of The Macallan 1926 came to an end in 1986, another journey was just beginning. The Macallan Romantica Collection, a 1986 vintage, unveiled in 2026, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Macallan 1926.
The Romantica Collection consists of 258 bottles from a single sherry seasoned European oak cask, cask no. 9925, which was filled and laid down in a cool and quiet corner of The Macallan Estate in 1986.
A trinity of globally acclaimed artists were commissioned to create label art for The Macallan 1926: Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon.
The artists have reunited with The Macallan to pay homage to The Macallan 1926 with a new collection of artwork for The Romantica Collection and only 86 bottles of each artist's edition will be released.
The Story Behind "Romantica”
Valerio Adami was the first of the three artists to complete his artwork. On the certificate of authenticity, he named his piece "ROMANTICA" which is a style of art that emphasises imagination, emotion and introspection, and often celebrates nature, the ordinary person and freedom of spirit.
"ROMANTICA" has been adopted as the name of the Collection as the sentiment embodied in each piece of art, and in The Macallan's community spirit and commitment to nature. Romantica is also a Spanish word, a nod to the single sherry seasoned European oak cask from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
The Artists
A trinity of globally acclaimed artists were commissioned to create label art for The Macallan 1926. These three artists, Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon have reunited to pay homage to The Macallan 1926 with a new collection of artwork for The Romantica Collection, bringing their own singular perspective to a collection that bridges one hundred years of history.
Sir Peter Blake - The Music Room
Blake's collage captures the sense of community at the heart of The Macallan, imagining a celebratory crowd gathered outside of our Spiritual Home Easter Elchies House in 1986 - the year The Macallan 1926 was bottled and The Macallan Romantica Collection whisky was distilled.
Valerio Adami - Romantica
Adami's composition of the lady, moon and stars is taken from a sketch by Adami from 1986. The lady represents Janet Harbinson, custodian of The Macallan one hundred years ago when The Macallan 1926 was distilled - connecting moments in time across one hundred years of history.
Michael Dillon - The Macallan Estate
Dillon's landscape painting captures the natural beauty of Easter Elchies Estate, home to The Macallan Distillery in Speyside, Scotland. It features the Distillery as an almost imperceptible architectural masterpiece under an undulating grass covered roof.
From 1926 to 2026
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of The Macallan 1926. A century has passed since cask 263 was filled and laid down by Janet 'Nettie' Harbinson, thus beginning an exceptional journey.
Unbeknown to Janet, cask 263 would be bottled in 1986 under the stewardship of her great nephew Allan Shiach. From this single cask, just forty precious bottles of The Macallan 1926 were created at the apex of maturation. This exceptional single malt whisky would go on to become the most valuable bottle of wine or spirit ever sold at auction.*
*The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 - sold at Sotheby's, London for £2.18m in 2023.