A MAN who bagged himself a box on eBay for £200 has revealed his joy at discovering its eye-watering value.
Self-professed whiskey connoisseur Fraser, from Speyside, in northern Scotland, was browsing the online market place when he stumbled across the life changing item.
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The 58-year-old recognised an incredibly rare Macallan 1926 case, after years of obsession with the memorabilia.
Despite forking out just £200, the box was estimated to be worth a whopping £138,600.
It used to contain a famous bottle of Macallan 1926 60 Year Old whisky – of which there were only 40 made from the iconic cask 263.
But, only 12 of the 40 were labelled with designs created by Valerio Adami, an Italian painter renowned for his abstract masterpieces.
Over the years it is understood several of these ultra rare bottles have been smashed, lost or accidentally consumed.
Now there are believed to be just 10 in existence with a Adami label.
An authentic Adami bottle and case went under the hammer for an incredible £924,000 in Perth two years ago.
Fraser said: “My whisky collecting began when my wife presented me with a Macallan Private Eye.
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“I subscribed to the magazine and my then dram of choice was a Macallan 10 year old.”
The Macallan mad salesman will add anything from beermats to bridge cards to his collection of merchandise.
“When checking eBay one day, I could not believe my own eyes,” he added.
“The first image was a close up of a tiny plaque, inscribed with four numerals: 1926.”
Fraser said he “knew immediately” the case was an “original home for one of the fabled 1926 Macallan bottles” and paid £199 for it.
After a decade of holding onto the precious piece, he decided it was time to have it valued by an industry expert.
He was shocked when broker Mark Littler, valued the case at £138,600.
Mark said “This is an incredibly difficult item to value.
“I understand that the valuation of the case might raise eyebrows, and it’s important to highlight the distinct nature of rare whisky collecting.
“For the individual who possesses the corresponding Macallan bottle, missing its original case, this box is not just packaging – it’s a vital piece of the whisky’s legacy, rendering it priceless.”
Mark urged fellow treasure hunters to search for the missing bottle.
And, he offered a vital clue as to its whereabouts.
“This is the box for the most expensive whisky in the world – it is not the type of bottle you would open and drink so where is the missing bottle that belongs to the case?,” he asked.
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“The eBay seller that Fraser purchased the case from was located in the south coast of England – perhaps it is there? Maybe someone has the bottle by inheritance and is completely unaware of its value.
“My advice would be to check the labels on any Macallan – you could have a fortune sitting on your shelf.”
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