Macallan

Region of production:	Speyside
Distillery Location:	Craigellachie, Moray
Year Established:	1824

Top Spirits Produced

• Core Range:
  • Sherry Oak: 12, 18, 25, 30, 40 Years Old
  • Double Cask 12 Years Old: Matured in a blend of Sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks.
  • Fine Oak: 10, 12, 15, 17, 18, 21, 25, 30 Years Old
• Travel (Duty Free) Range:
  • The Quest Collection: Quest, Lumina, Terra, Enigma
  • The 1824 Duty Free Collection: Select Oak, Whisky Maker’s Edition, Estate Reserve, Oscuro, Rare Cask Black
• Limited Releases: The Edition Series, The Macallan in Lalique, Masters of Photography, Flask 2, Exceptional Single Cask, Gran Reserva, Classic Cut, The Macallan 50 Years Old
• Rare:
  • Decanter Series:
    • 6: Aged in first-fill, Sherry-seasoned Spanish oak casks.
    • Reflexion: Single malt aged in small, first-fill, Sherry-seasoned hogsheads. Designed to exemplify the distinct natural color of The Macallan’s whiskies.
    • M: Collaboration between Fabien Baron, Lalique, and The Macallan. Holds the record for most expensive whisky ever sold.

Average Total Production

• 11 million liters neutral spirit before aging

Summary

The Macallan was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid under the Gaelic name Maghellan, magh meaning “fertile ground” and Ellan for Monk St. Fillan, who was associated with the church that was on the estate property until 1400. The Macallan is one of the earliest legal distilleries, as it received its license just after the 1823 Excise Act.

In 1892, Roderick Kemp, a previous owner of Talisker, gained ownership and expanded the brand under the new name Macallan-Glenlivet. In 1980, the company decided to shift its focus from selling spirits for blended whiskies to the production of single malts, with the first official 18-year-old single malt released in 1984. In 1996, The Macallan was purchased by Highland Distillers, which was bought by the Edrington Group in 1999. A recent remodel of the distillery is expected to increase production. It currently ranks third in production of Scotch whisky and is best known for its luxury-release whiskies and careful selection of oak casks for maturing spirits.

Style & Distillation Techniques

The use of Sherry and fine oak barrels for aging is key to the brand’s style. Master of Wood Stuart MacPherson carefully monitors each barrel’s lifecycle, from wood sourcing to construction to filling, and travels to Jerez annually to connect with his cooperages and oversee quality. The Macallan is also known for its use of 24 small, uniquely shaped copper stills, each with a capacity of 3,900 liters, which it credits for the fruity, rich, and full-bodied palate of the resulting spirits. In 2014, The Macallan released its Master Series of luxury Scotch, beginning the distillery’s relationship with French glassmaker Lalique.

Producer Website: Macallan