End Date : Aug 05 2026 08:00 PM
We may have sold this bottle before. Click the graph below to view our sales history.
Macallan-Glenlivet 1937. Liqueur Whisky. Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in the early 1960s. No size stated although equal to 75cl. 70 Proof. No box.
Distilled at Macallan in 1937 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in the early 1960s, this remarkable vintage release captures one of the distillery's earliest and most sought-after eras. Presented under the historic Macallan-Glenlivet name, it was matured and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin, who for much of the 20th century acquired new-make spirit from Scotland's leading distilleries and matured it in their own warehouses before releasing it under licence.
This bottle is an excellent example of Gordon & MacPhail's classic early 1960s presentation, complete with the distinctive Securo cap, a closure that was only used for a relatively brief period and helps date the bottle. Although only used for a short time, the Securo cap is widely regarded as one of the most effective closures ever fitted to a whisky bottle. Its superb seal has helped preserve liquid levels exceptionally well, making surviving examples particularly desirable to collectors. Bottled at the traditional strength of 70 Proof (40% ABV), it reflects an era long before metric labelling and modern packaging.
Macallan spirit distilled during the 1930s is exceptionally scarce today, making bottles from this pre-war period among the most desirable in the distillery's history. Early Gordon & MacPhail vintage bottlings such as this were produced in very limited quantities, and surviving examples rarely appear on the market.
An incredibly rare survivor, this is the sort of bottle that many even seasoned whisky collectors will never have encountered. This example comes from the remarkable collection we've been auctioning over the last several years, and marks the first time we have ever had the opportunity to auction this particular Macallan 1937 vintage. Combining a pre-war distillation, an early 1960s bottling and one of Scotland's most celebrated distilleries, it stands as a truly exceptional piece of Scotch whisky history.
The grandest of Speyside’s blue chip distilleries, Macallan was founded in 1824 and carved a reputation for luxury single malt whisky in the 1980s with a string of 18-year-old and 25-year-old sherry-matured vintage single malts distilled in the 1960s and 1970s, building on the renown of earlier highly-regarded licensed bottlings by Gordon & MacPhail, Hall & Bramley and Campbell, Hope and King.
In the early 2000s, as the supply and quality of even the best sherry casks declined dramatically, Macallan introduced their Fine Oak series, an initially controversial range of bottlings that included bourbon-matured spirit in the cask recipe. While the Fine Oak series took some time to find its audience, Macallan’s status as the top Speyside distillery - particularly at auction - was already well-established and today a legion of eager Macallan fans ensure that each new luxury bottling from the distillery sells out immediately on release.
Founded in Elgin as a merchant grocer and wine and spirits wholesaler in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail are one of the oldest independent whisky bottlers in Scotland. Co-founder James Gordon owned shares in Longmorn, Strathisla and Glen Grant, and Gordon & MacPhail were soon bottling officially licensed single malts from several distilleries and sending empty casks from their wine business to be filled with new make spirit and returned for maturation in their Elgin warehouses.
Gordon & MacPhail pioneered high strength single malts at 100 proof (57%) in the 1950s, and in 1968 the company launched Connoisseurs Choice, one of the first integrated ranges of small batch independent whisky bottlings. After finally becoming distillers themselves with the purchase of Benromach in 1993, in 2010 Gordon & MacPhail bottled the first 70-year-old single malt whisky (a Mortlach 1938) and in 2020 the company released the first ever 80-year-old whisky: Glenlivet 1940.
Whisky-Online Auctions is a public auction for collectible spirits. Lots are offered for sale in their existing condition and bidders are expected to satisfy themselves as to the condition, authenticity, description and suitability of any Lot before placing a bid.
Although a condition report is normally included within the Lot description, prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect Lots in person prior to bidding. If this is not possible and further information is required, bidders should use the "Ask A Question" facility to request clarification or a more detailed condition report before bidding.
All Lots are sold strictly "as seen" and "as described". Any condition report, commentary, dating estimate, provenance information or opinion provided by Whisky-Online Auctions is offered in good faith and represents our assessment at the time of cataloguing. Such information should not be considered a guarantee or warranty.
Whisky-Online Auctions reserves the right to amend, correct, supplement or clarify any catalogue description, image or other Lot information, and to withdraw, combine or divide Lots, at any time prior to the conclusion of the auction. Bidders are responsible for reviewing the final Lot description and any updates issued before bidding.
Due to the age and nature of collectible spirits, natural deterioration may occur over time, including evaporation, ullage, leakage, cork deterioration, capsule degradation, label wear and oxidation. The condition of the liquid, closure, seal and packaging is entirely at the buyer's discretion and risk. Whisky-Online Auctions makes no warranty as to the drinkability, taste, quality or suitability for consumption of any Lot.
All bottles are inspected prior to sale and, unless otherwise stated, are sealed. However, Whisky-Online Auctions cannot guarantee the integrity of any cork, seal, stopper or closure.
Images form part of the description and depict the actual Lot being offered. Where visible, fill levels will be shown in the images and/or description. If the filling level is impossible to determine, such as with ceramics decanters, we will provide an overall weight of the decanter in KG. Information relating to bottle age, bottling period, vintage, provenance, rarity and historical background is provided to the best of our knowledge based on available research and industry experience. Any date or bottling period assigned to a Lot represents our opinion at the time of cataloguing and should not be considered a guarantee or warranty.
Any questions relating to condition, authenticity, provenance, fill level, dating or packaging must be raised before bidding. Questions or concerns raised after a bid has been placed, after the auction has ended, or after a Lot has been won will not constitute grounds for cancelling a bid, refusing payment or disputing the sale.
By placing a bid, bidders confirm that they have reviewed the description and images, sought any additional information they require, and are satisfied with the Lot. All sales are final except where required otherwise by law or under the Whisky-Online Auctions Terms and Conditions.
| BID | DATE | TIME | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £4,100.00 | 5th August 2026 | 07:41 PM | |
