Latest Whisky News - The Macallan and Lalique break record for most expensive whisky and crystal decanter ever sold:  $460,000 (£288,000) - all for charity - 16th November, 2010

Global Fundraising Tour Comes to End Raising More than $600,000 (£375,000) for charity: water to Provide Clean Water to Over 30,000 People

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2010:  Yesterday evening, The Macallan and Lalique set a record for a bottle of whisky sold at auction and all of the proceeds will go to charity: water.  Coveted by bidders around the world, The Macallan® 64 Year Old in Lalique: Cire Perdue sold for $460,000 (£288,000) in a lively auction at Sotheby’s in New York City. This sale represents the most unique collaboration to date between The Macallan® and Lalique, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting charity: water, an organization that provides access to clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 

Lalique’s bespoke, one-of-a kind crystal decanter, created using the “cire perdue” or “lost wax” method, houses the oldest and rarest Macallan ever bottled by the legendary distillery, a 64-year-old single malt whisky. This remarkable combination has been on a 12-city “tour du monde” since April, and each stop along the way has raised funds and awareness for charity: water.

“We are delighted that the proceeds from this historic auction of The Macallan 64 Years Old in Lalique: Cire Perdue will help fund our efforts,” said Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water. “Clean water is foundational to communities, and I’m proud to be working with these two esteemed brands to foster thriving and healthy populations worldwide.”

David Cox, Director of Fine and Rare Whiskies for The Macallan commented: “We have had a phenomenal response to this very special and rare decanter.  We are absolutely thrilled with the result of last night’s auction which has smashed the world record for the most expensive whisky ever sold.  It was wonderful to experience the culmination of this incredible project which has made its way around the world to raise a staggering $600,000 for charity.”  

Since April 2010, The Macallan and Lalique have raised approximately $605,000 to benefit charity: water, a sum that will change the lives of 30,250 people (www.charitywater.org/themacallan). The Cire Perdue decanter has visited the following cities worldwide, raising thousands of dollars at each event.

▪ Sotheby’s NYC - $460,000 on November 15, 2010▪ Beverly Hills - $16,000 on Nov. 3, 2010▪ Osaka - ¥1,100,000 (approximately US $13,600) on Oct. 22, 2010▪ Singapore – Sg $15,000 (approximately US $11,470) on Oct. 7, 2010▪ Shanghai – ¥101,888 (approximately US $15,200) on Sept. 24, 2010▪ Taipei – NT $1,300,000 (approximately US $41,000) on Sept. 9, 2010▪ Seoul – KRW 7,000,000 (approximately US $5,900) on Aug.11, 2010▪ Hong Kong – HK $135,000 (approximately US $17,300) on July 17, 2010▪ Moscow - R180,000 (approximately US $5,650) on May 26, 2010▪ London - ₤6,000 (approximately US $8,880) on May 10, 2010▪ Paris - €3,800 (approximately US $5,000) on April 6, 2010