Have I Been Scammed?
 

I didn't notice this when I bought the bottle, but under further inspection I found what looks like someone messed with the label right where the number was entered. Sorry I couldn't get a closer picture.

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/w...tpawn/1946.jpg


Thanks
1w1

Can you post another photo of the whole bottle?

Let me know if you need more pictures. This pic isn't very good. Thanks

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/w...tpawn/mac3.jpg

Thanks for the photo! I will see what I can find out....BTW - where did you get this Macallan?

I have a customer that is having some difficult times at the moment and needed to sell some of his collection.

Thanks for taking the time to look into it.

I know its not the correct box for that bottle. Also the label on the back states that it's the 56 year.

Have I been scammed?

I have a copy of The Macallan, "THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO BUYING VINTAGE MACALLAN". A few years ago a scam was uncovered concerning vintage Macallan. Upon comparing your label against the 1946 label in "the guide", your label is not close to the official label. For starters, your neck label is red and also torn exactly where the age statement should be. It appears the age was deliberately torn out of the label. The OFFICIAL neck label is WHITE, not RED. Secondly, the OFFICIAL bottling neck label reads, "MATURED ONLY IN SHERRY WOOD - YEARS 56 OLD" with 56 being hand written.

The OFFICIAL bottle label does not have the bottle number on the label as yours shows. In fact the OFFICIAL bottle label does not indicate the bottle number. The OFFICIAL bottle label reads, "THE MACALLAN SINGLE HIGHLAND MALT SCOTCH WHISKY"; next on the OFFICIAL label is, "CASK No. 46/3 M" followed by 1946 and then DISTILLED 1946 / BOTTLED 2002. Continuing with the wording on the OFFICIAL label, the label reads, OFFICIALLY BOTTLED BY HAND AT THE MACALLAN DISTILLERY - EASTER ELCHIES - CRAIGELLACHIE - SCOTLAND; and lastly the OFFICIAL label reads, "PRODUCE OF SCOTLAND - 44.3 % VOL ( ABV WRITTEN BY HAND ), 700ml or 750 ml ( ALSO WRITTEN BY HAND )". There were 350 bottles of this vintage.

Your bottle is showing 40%ABV and 750ML printed, not handwritten, plus with the incorrect ABV. Also your label reads PRODUCT of Scotland; the OFFICIAL label reads, PRODUCE of Scotland. Your label is YELLOW, the OFFICIAL label is WHITE

I also consulted another guide and found your label but I suggest you still followup as the neck label looks suspicious as to the exact location of the tear and the poor condition of the bottle label.

If you phone Margaret Gray at the Macallan distillery, she can connect you with the correct person to talk to about your bottle.

I hope that I have helped.

I don't think its the 2002 bottle Kenneth.
I believe this is the 52yo bottled in 1998.

See:
http://whiskyauctionhistory.com/cgi-...05&mini=0zzzzz

http://whiskyauctionhistory.com/cgi-...05&mini=0zzzzz

http://whiskyauctionhistory.com/cgi-...65&mini=0zzzzz

However, the label looks to be of a cheaper print quality, and the cut and glued bottle number is very very suspicious indeed. Also these are all 700ml versions. I don't know if there is a 750ml version. For that you have to contact Macallan.

All in all, it looks very suspicious.

Thank you both for your responses. I guess I will have to contact Macallan. I am very suspect of the bottle and now even more after looking at a couple of other bottles of Springbank that I purchased from the same customer. They have similar looking cutouts around the bottle number. It's weird because it doesn't look like it is cut all the way through and the rest of the labels and everything else looks good.

Thanks again
1w1

War on whisky fakers...
 

I suggest you read this article

http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=203

and

this site about fake whisky

http://www.whiskyfun.com/war.html

1w1-

That's unfortunate about your 1946 Macallan if it's the 52-year-old, not the 56-year-old. But aside from the label issues which might make it problematical from an auction/resale standpoint, this is one you might want to -- no, make that definitely SHOULD open at some future time, if you can!! Which Springbanks did you buy? Hope you continue to grow an excellent collection.

Good news, got word back from Macallan that it looks genuine, but in rough shape label wise and their opinion is that someone was trying to "improve" the appearance of the number.

Thanks for all your help
1w1

Good news, indeed!