Hong Kang Buyback Case: Two Rare 1968 Macallans Find a Home

A Call from Kowloon Tong: Finding a New Home for a Collection

Last Wednesday afternoon, Hong Kang Trading received an enquiry. The caller spoke gently and methodically: Dr Chan, a retired Chinese medicine practitioner living in Kowloon Tong.

“Hello, is this Hong Kang? I have two bottles of Macallan that I have kept for a long time. Could you come and take a look?” Dr Chan briefly described the whiskies over the phone. With years of experience behind me, the moment I heard “1968”, I knew what we were dealing with—these were genuinely sought-after bottles in the whisky-collecting market.

After arranging a time, I visited Dr Chan at his home. As we talked, I learned why he had decided to sell the two bottles. It was not that Dr Chan had lost his appreciation for whisky. Now older and looking for a more convenient living arrangement, he had decided to leave his detached house in Kowloon Tong and move to the Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island to live with his daughter and help care for his grandchild. The Mid-Levels flat had less space and no purpose-built, temperature-controlled cellar like the house. Rather than risk evaporation or deterioration by keeping these precious whiskies at ordinary room temperature, he preferred to pass them to a collector who would appreciate them and could store them properly. Dr Chan smiled and said, “The money from these two bottles can go straight into my grandchild’s education fund. That seems like the best use for them.”

Professional Appraisal: Two Italian-Market Classics from 1968

In Dr Chan’s study, I finally saw the two remarkable bottles. In the photograph taken that day, the Macallan 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt in its classic wooden box is on the left, while the Macallan 18 Year Old with its original carton is on the right. Both were distilled in 1968—a dream vintage for collectors who appreciate Macallan’s sherry-cask character.

I put on white gloves and began a careful assessment:

1. Macallan 18 Year Old (1968–1988)

I first picked up the 18 Year Old. This version was imported by the celebrated Italian agent Giovinetti & Figli Milano. Seasoned collectors know that Macallan bottlings imported by Italian distributors in the seventies and eighties are highly regarded for their quality and remain sought after.

• Capsule and tax strip: The pink Italian spirits tax strip marked “Acquavite” at the bottle neck was remarkably well preserved. The capsule was tight, with no sign of reheating or removal.
• Fill level: After nearly four decades in the bottle, the level still sat above the base of the neck. This indicated that Dr Chan’s storage conditions had been excellent, with very little evaporation.
• Labels: The front and back labels remained clear. Their edges showed only the faint natural yellowing expected with age, with no obvious mould or damage.

2. Macallan 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt (1968–1994)

Next came the heavyweight of the pair: the 25 Year Old. The Anniversary Malt series has long been a regular feature at auction.

• Wooden box and accessories: The original pine box was well preserved, and even the shredded-straw cushioning inside remained dry. The box's lid and fittings opened and closed smoothly, an important detail in maintaining the value of the complete set.
• Condition of the whisky: Through the clear glass, the whisky displayed a deep, attractive sherry-cask colour. The fill level was also excellent, and the tax strip over the capsule was completely intact. Bottled in 1994, the bottle remained in outstanding condition.

After the detailed inspection, I explained the scarcity of both bottlings on today’s secondary market and how Hong Kang Trading arrived at its offer. We made a sincere purchase offer aligned with international auction hammer prices, without the seller having to bear high auction fees.

Dr Chan was very pleased. He nodded and said, “Hong Kang really does work professionally. The price is fair, and you do not try to drive it down. I feel completely at ease leaving the bottles with you.”

Summary of the Appraisal

To show more clearly how we assess fine spirits of this calibre, the table below summarises our appraisal of Dr Chan’s two Macallan bottles:

Frequently Asked Questions About Fine-Spirits Buybacks

Q1: I do not know much about whisky. How can I tell whether an old bottle is valuable?

A: Bottles left by older family members can sometimes hold unexpected value. Simply use your phone to photograph the front label, back label, neck seal and the entire bottle, then send the images to Hong Kang Trading by WhatsApp or WeChat. Our professional appraisers will provide a free preliminary valuation.

Q2: Can you still buy the bottle if its box is missing or it has a little mould?

A: Yes. A missing original box or flaws on the label may affect the price, but provided that the whisky itself has no issues—for example, the fill level is normal, there is no leakage and the bottle is authentic—Hong Kang Trading will still offer a reasonable price based on its actual condition.

Q3: How does Hong Kang Trading’s buyback process work? Do I need to bring the bottles to you?

A: We aim to make the process as convenient as possible. You can first send photographs online for a quotation. Once both sides agree on the price, we provide a free collection service throughout Hong Kong. After confirming on site that the item matches the photographs, we make secure payment immediately in cash or through the Faster Payment System (FPS).

Contact Hong Kang Trading

If you have fine whisky, Cognac, wine, premium dried seafood, silver coins or stamps that you no longer need and would like to sell, you can entrust them to Hong Kang Trading. We promise professional appraisal and a fair price; we never unfairly drive down the offer.

• WhatsApp: 94530784
• Tel: 852 94530784
• WeChat: wine94530784

Every collection deserves thoughtful care. Hong Kang Trading is your trusted buyback specialist.