There is another version of the Macallan 1926 60 Year Old. No, you haven’t missed something, instead the world renowned collector Nguyễn Đình Tuấn Việt has commissioned internationally aclaimed Baroque-inspired artist Roberto Ferri to transform a bottle from his already remarkable collection into a singular masterpiece.

The Macallan 1926 60 Year Old Masterpiece Edition by Nguyen Dinh Tuan Viet combines a one of a kind work from Ferri that has been handpainted onto a bottle of Macallan 1926 60 year old. The extraordinary artwork represents the story of whisky itself; two red headed nymphs of barley and oak meet over a stream of water. The commissioning of the remarkable piece creates a new one of a kind Macallan 1926. It also arguably continues Macallan’s original intention with this cask, where patrons were invited to personalise bottles in order to create something that transcended the idea of whisky.

Reimagined In The Original Vision

Anyone familiar with the Macallan 1926 60 year old will know the story of these iconic bottles. For some the transition of one bottle into this new state may feel unconventional, but the 40 bottles from cask 263 were originally intended for artist collaborations.

In 1986 just 12 of the bottles were labeled in a commission from Peter Blake. In 1993 the next batch of 12 bottles were released and this time the labels were a commission from Italian artist Valerio Adami. A final commission by Fortnum and Masson in 1999 saw a single bottle hand painted by artist Micheal Dillon. Macallan then released two unlabeled bottles at auction, one in 2001 and another in 2002, both sales included the option to create a custom label with the distillery

When the 14 remaining bottles were finally labeled for sale they were decorated in the lovely, but generic, Fine and Rare livery. But that was never really meant to be the fate of such iconic whisky.

“The transformation was not an act of disruption,” Mr Việt explained to me over an email to discuss the commission and his work behind it. “Rather it breathes creative life into the bottle so that it exists not only as a collector’s treasure but also resonates like a symphony of art, touching the hearts of those who love beauty and honor timeless value.” The Masterpiece Edition isn’t an outlier, it is a continuation of Macallan’s original vision.

The Masterpiece Edition

The choice of Ferri as the artist for this work instantly transforms this bottle into a serious piece of art in and of itself. But let’s first address the obvious: Viewers unfamiliar with Ferri’s work and the traditions of classical art may be tempted to see the painted nymphs as just a depiction of naked women on whisky. Instead nudity is simply a tool in classical art, one that Ferri uses alongside symbolism and lighting to elevate the raw mechanics of whisky production into a mythic tableau.

Roberto Ferri’s works include commissions by the Vatican and have earned him the title of modern Caravaggio. Mr Việt explained to me that he approached Ferri because of his mastery of classical and modern work. They began with the initial concept of using barley, oak and water to represent the essence of whisky. From the initial idea Ferri shaped the story of whisky represented by two nymph’s, one of barley and one of oak, meeting over the unifying force of water. Their fiery red hair symbolises both the Scottish heritage of the whisky, and also the fire that transforms the spirit during distillation.

“This is the result of a creative synergy between two souls deeply passionate about art,” Mr Việt explained.

The Undertaking

Painting on a bottle of whisky that was already worth $2 to $3 million was not an undertaking to be performed lightly. Mr Việt personally flew the bottle to Rome for Ferri to paint. Ferri had practiced on similar surfaces for more than two months and engineered a custom support cradle to secure the bottle while he worked on it.

“This was one of the rarest and most valuable surfaces I have ever had the honor of painting on, there was no concept of ‘correction’ and no second chance. Each brushstroke required absolute precision, my breathing had to be slow and measured, and all tools were custom-made.”

Roberto Ferri

The Broader Meaning

Mr. Việt has told me that he has already turned down $10 million for the bottle. If accepted, the offer would make The Masterpiece the most expensive bottle of whisky in the world by a significant margin. Still, some may wonder why someone would go to all that trouble for a whisky that was already one of the most expensive bottles in the world. But this is not simply another “most expensive whisky.” The Masterpiece is a unique piece of cultural and social history that transcends both whisky and art.

The Masterpiece continues the tradition of artistic commission in the 1926 series. In fact it arguably takes these bottles back to Macallan’s original vision: “We are happy to offer future purchasers of the few remaining bottles of 1926 Macallan the opportunity to work with a designer to create their own bespoke label designs,” states Macallan inThe Definitive Guide To Buying Vintage Macallan, which was an official booklet released by the distillery in 2002.

For me this piece represents an iconic moment in whisky collecting. The variation in pricing for the 1926 at auction has always demonstrated that it isn’t just the whisky itself that assigns value for collectors. Incredible whisky, ultimate scarcity and even record setting age are not enough by themselves.

With The Masterpiece Mr Viet is setting a standard for what collectors like himself expect from distilleries: complete personalisation.

I approached Macallan to get their opinion on this exciting “new” version of their whisky. “The rise of personalisation in luxury is more than a trend—it’s a powerful way to create deeper meaning and elevate the experience for our clients,” said Rachel Walters, Operations Director at The Macallan. “At The Macallan, personalisation continues to be a key focus, and we’re exploring it across multiple touchpoints, with our brand home at the centre. Sharing these unforgettable moments with our clients is a privilege.”