“This story is also part of a new series on the convergence of art and luxury. See all of our reporting on the topic here.”

On October 9, Sotheby’s will take one of the world’s most famous bottles of whisky back to its origins for the house’s first-ever sale at The Macallan Estate in Speyside, Scotland. The bottle — “The Macallan Fine & Rare 60 Years Old 1926” — has a high estimate of £2.2 million ($3 million), and is the auction’s top lot.
It was distilled in 1926 and bottled six decades later in 1986, after maturing in sherry-seasoned oak cask No. 263 at iconic The Macallan distillery. Only 40 bottles were drawn from the cask. Fourteen were given the “Fine & Rare” label, while 12 were designed by British artist Sir Peter Blake and another 12 by Italian artist Valerio Adami. Two were left unlabeled, one of which was later hand-painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon.