Macallan 20 year old – The Platinum Selection

An exceptionally limited single-cask Macallan, showcasing pristine 1987 sherry maturation at natural cask strength.

At-a-Glance

Historical Context

The Macallan 20 Year Old Platinum Selection draws its spirit from the prestigious 1987 vintage, a period widely regarded as Macallan's golden era for sherry maturation. During this time, the distillery utilized high-quality sherry casks that defined the brand's reputation for rich, complex, and intensely flavoured single malts.

This expression was independently bottled by Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd., under their esteemed Old & Rare Platinum Selection series. The Platinum Selection is specifically reserved for the firm's most exceptional and aged single cask releases. For a distillery as vertically integrated and brand-conscious as Macallan, obtaining a single cask bottling from this highly-coveted era for independent release is a rare commercial occurrence, indicating the quality and uniqueness of the selected cask.

Bottled in 2008 after two decades of maturation, this release provides specific, measurable transparency that contrasts with standard Official Bottlings. The commitment to releasing the whisky at Cask Strength (54.4% ABV), coupled with the designation of non-chill filtration (NCF) and natural colour, is paramount for purists seeking the pure, unadulterated cask expression of vintage Macallan sherry maturation. The intrinsic scarcity (only 187 bottles released) further cements its highly collectible status.

Technical Specification & Variant Map

This Macallan 20 Year Old originated from a single sherry cask, achieving a powerful natural strength of 54.4% ABV. The resulting outturn was strictly limited to 187 bottles, confirming the cask's singularity and modest yield, highly typical of exceptional older malts. The bottling year was 2008, twenty years after distillation in 1987.

Care must be taken to differentiate this specific 20 Year Old expression from a similar Douglas Laing bottling: the Macallan 1987, 21 Year Old (bottled 2009). The 21 Year Old had a slightly larger outturn of 247 bottles. The 20 Year Old is chronologically the earlier and scarcer pull from this sought-after vintage.

Documented variants

Verified ABVs: 54.4% (This 20 YO bottling).3

Verified Sizes/Markets: 70cl.

Variant Matrix

Packaging & authenticity checklist

As a high-value collector's item, this bottling requires all components to be present for optimal value retention. This includes the original wooden presentation box and the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) issued by Douglas Laing. The absence of these elements can significantly reduce secondary market appeal. Verification should also confirm the specific bottle number (1-187). Given its premium status, the condition threshold is high, requiring pristine label integrity and an expected fill level in the neck.

Regulatory/terminology notes

The Cask Strength bottling at 54.4% ABV ensures the flavour intensity and concentration of the mature liquid are maximized. The confirmation of non-chill filtration and natural colour are critical details for the specialist market, validating that the intrinsic character of the 1987 sherry cask has been preserved without technical intervention.

Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)

Nose: The official tasting notes describe aromas of Seville orange marmalade spread onto hot, slightly burnt toast. This is accompanied by distinctly spicy, nutty, and baked characteristics.

Palate: Although specific notes for the palate are limited, the profile is implied to be rich and concentrated, with an oily texture leading to an explosion of sweet and sour flavours, typical of well-aged, intense sherry maturation.

The presence of "burnt toast" notes suggests a highly active, likely first-fill, sherry cask that has imparted a dark, powerful, and complex profile to the spirit over two decades. This flavour intensity is exceptionally well preserved by the high bottling strength of 54.4% ABV.

Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)

Original RRP (GBP): Not stated by the producer.

Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): Ranging from £999.00 to £1,712.35.

Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): £560.00 (May 2018). An earlier sale recorded £310.00 (October 2017). Current hammer prices reflect appreciation since 2018 due to increased demand for vintage Macallan.

Pricing stratification: This bottling occupies a premium tier, commanding high prices that are largely inelastic. Value is driven by the confluence of the Macallan name, the revered 1987 vintage, the single-cask nature, and the extreme scarcity (187 bottles). The strong historical price appreciation demonstrates its reliability as a collectible asset.

Liquidity & sourcing note: High liquidity, with consistent demand for authentic, well-presented bottles. Sourcing is restricted to specialist auction houses and high-end secondary retailers.

Price Snapshot

Distillery/Bottler Snapshot

The Macallan (Speyside) provides the foundational prestige and liquid quality, ensuring global recognition and investment appeal. Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. functions as the bottler, lending its reputation for selecting exceptional, transparent, and uncompromised single cask whiskies for its Platinum Selection series.

Sourcing

Target formats/eras: Focus on single-cask Macallan from respected IBs (such as DL) covering the late 1980s vintage.

Red flags to avoid: Bottles lacking the original wooden box or Certificate of Authenticity significantly diminish value. Buyers should verify the 54.4% ABV and the specific outturn of 187 bottles.

Condition thresholds: The bottle must be in pristine condition with perfect provenance documentation.

Margin/velocity expectations: High margin, medium velocity. A strategic asset whose value tracks with the high-end vintage Macallan collector index.