Macallan 1981 - 18 Year Old - Bottled 1999
Macallan 1981 - 18 Year Old - Bottled 1999
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This Macallan 18 year old bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 1999 at 43% ABV.
It is hard to imagine today a whisky world where the likes of Macallan had to tag the name of a neighbouring distillery to assure sales when in 2018 it was Macallan who broke the record for the most expensive whisky in the world three times in a single year. Yet when the Macallan 18 year old was first bottled in 1984 the bottle states that the whisky was distilled in 1965 at the Macallan-Glenlivet distillery.
The 1965 18 Year Old, bottled in 1984, was the first ever 18 year old release by Macallan but it went on to inspire a whole series of bottlings that have become some of the most iconic expressions from the distillery. Known and loved for their classic and simplistic appearance, the Macallan 18 Year Old is a highly sought after addition to any whisky collection.
From that first bottling in 1984 until the 1995 release, the bottles sported the familiar cream and gold label that is so associated with Macallan. From the 1981 vintage released in 1999, an accent of blue was added to the label in a move towards colour not really taken by Macallan previously, although much more expected today.
In 2004, the 1986 vintage 18 Year Old saw Macallan redesign the series into something more modern. The bottle shape was changed, the blue accent was reduced to a thin outline on the label, and the vintage year was made much smaller. Eventually, for the 2016 release, the vintage would be removed completely in favour of the bottling year.
The Macallan 18 Year Old is one of the most sought after bottling series of Macallan as it makes for a fantastic vertical for a collection or individually as a great commemorative piece for anniversaries or birthdays.
