A 1988 whisky cask distilled at The Macallan has broken the record for the most expensive ever sold at auction - going for just under $1.3m.
The cask was discovered after being forgotten about for more than three decades. The 33 year-old cask fetched $1,295,500 - which included buyer’s premium.
It was sold on the online auction site the Whisky Hammer and beat the previous record for a cask sold for $572,000 at an auction held by Bonhams.
Whisky Hammer confirmed that bids on the cask were placed by whisky enthusiasts from many countries, with the eventual winning bid arriving from a US-based private individual.
Held in bond at The Macallan Distillery, the cask was originally filled on 5 May 1988.
Bought for just £5,000 more than three decades ago, the 374-litre refill butt sat forgotten until Macallan reminded the cask seller that it remained maturing in the warehouse.
If bottled today, the cask would yield 534 70cl bottles of single malt whisky, distilled at The Macallan.
With bottle numbers in mind, the price paid for the cask on a ‘per bottle’ basis of $2,426 per bottle has also broken the previous record held by Bonhams of $2,200 per bottle.
Daniel Milne, co-founder and managing director of Whisky Hammer, said: “When this cask was listed in our auction, we knew it had the potential to make history.
“To come across a cask of this age, quality and size is extraordinary in itself, enhanced by the fact the liquid was distilled at The Macallan which is reflected in the global attention the cask has attracted.
“It’s been incredibly exciting for everyone at Whisky Hammer to have represented what has become the most expensive cask ever to be sold at auction.”
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
