The Macallan distillery explained

The Macallan distillery
Type:Speyside
Location:Easter Elchies, Craigellachie, Moray, Scotland
Owner:Edrington
Founder:Alexander Reid
Architect:Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (2018)
Status:Operational
Source:River Spey
Stills:12 wash stills (13,000 L)
24 spirit stills (3,900 L)
Capacity:15,000,000 L
Brand 1:The Macallan
Type 1:Single malt
Age 1:12 to 81 years old
Cask 1:Sherry (both American & European oak) and Bourbon (American oak)
Misc Heading:Map

The Macallan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Craigellachie in Moray in the north-east of Scotland. The Macallan Distillers Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Edrington, which purchased the brand from Highland Distillers in 1999.[1] [2]

The Macallan is generally considered to be the second or third highest-selling single-malt scotch, next to Glenfiddich and, by some accounts, Glenlivet.[3] [4]

Originally, the Macallan was matured only in oak sherry casks brought to the distillery from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Beginning in 2004, the Macallan introduced a new main product, the Fine Oak series, with the whisky mellowed in bourbon oak casks as well as sherry ones.[5] In 2018, the Fine Oak series was renamed as the Triple Cask Matured range.

Bottlings

The distillery produces a number of expressions in its core Sherry Oak series, the most generally available being the 12-year-old, although the 18-year-old is widely distributed, alongside a 10-year-old cask strength expression at 58% ABV. Expensive 25, 30 and 40-year-old versions can also be found.[6]

In 2004, the Maccallan started to offer single malt expressions vatted with whisky matured in used casks other than ex-sherry casks as part of the Fine Oak range. Macallan also markets special scotches in duty-free shops at airports such as the 1824 Collection and the Quest Collection.[7]

Many rare, special releases and other small production run bottlings also exist.

Publicity and marketing

In 2001, Michael Martin selected the Macallan 10 Years Old as the official Scotch of the Speaker of the House of Commons, even though Martin himself had given up drinking alcohol. He did smell whiskies to make his selection. This selection continued the tradition of the Speaker designating an official single malt.[8] In 2003, the Macallan started laboratory tests to determine if some antique whiskies purchased for their collection were forgeries, perhaps generated by a dealer with mafia ties. In 2004, it was revealed that laboratory testing had determined at least 11 bottles in its antique whisky collection were fakes.[9] Although the Macallan had tested the paper of the labels and were satisfied the whiskies were genuine, additional tests on the contents of some bottles revealed whisky believed to be only 10 years old. David Cox, director of fine and rare whiskies for the Macallan, said, "As a result of these tests from now on, no antique bottles from the antique collection held at the distillery will be made available for sale."

In 2007, a bottle of 1926 the Macallan was sold at a Christie's auction for $54,000, making it one of the most expensive bottles of whisky sold.[10]

In 2010, a bottle of the Macallan 64-year-old single malt whisky in a one-of-a-kind "Lalique: Cire Perdue" crystal decanter was sold for $460,000 at an auction at Sotheby's in New York City. All proceeds from the sale were donated to, an organization that helps provide access to clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.[11] In 2012, the Macallan received the Guinness World Record for the most expensive whisky sold at auction.[12]

In October 2019, a bottle of the Macallan1926 sold at a Sotheby’s auction for £1.5 million, making it the most expensive bottle of whisky sold.[13]

In November 2023, a bottle of the Macallan1926 sold at auction for £2.1 million, making it the most expensive bottle of whisky sold.[14]

New distillery and visitor experience

In July 2019, the £140 million new distillery and visitor experience, on the Easter Elchies estate near Craigellachie, made the shortlist for the Stirling Prize for excellence in architecture. It was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.[15] Also in 2019, the distillery won the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.[16]

The distillery has 36 stills, comprising 12 wash stills and 24 spirit stills.[17]

Archaeology

In advance of the creation of the new distillery and visitor experience, archaeological excavations were undertaken by AOC Archaeology in 2014. The archaeologists found that people had been working in the area in the Middle Bronze Age (radiocarbon dates of 1681–1503 cal BC); had built a small settlement in the Late Bronze Age (radiocarbon dates of between 1050 and 800 BC); then a single ring-ditch roundhouse in the Middle Iron Age (radiocarbon dates of 171 BC - AD 51); another small settlement between the ninth to twelfth centuries AD with two post-ring roundhouses; and a 19th century quarry. There was also some evidence (two stone tools) of people being in the area during the Mesolithic period. All of which indicates that people have been living and working on the site of the distillery for thousands of years.[18]

Whiskies

Retrieved from the Macallan official website.[19] [20]

Core range

Travel retail exclusives

Limited releases

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Macallan Distillers Ltd. History. Funding Universe.
  2. English, Shirley. "Macallan begins testing for fake vintage malt". The Times (UK). 3 November 2003
  3. Bain, Simon. The Herald. 24 October 2009 retrieved from Macallan predicts 'strong year' as improved efficiency sends turnover up by £9m on 9 February 2011
  4. Lyons, William. "Macallan has a taste for global domination". The Scotsman. 2009-08-16. retrieved from on 9 February 2011.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20050315023137/http://www.themacallan.com/range/fine_oak_index.html Macallan Fine Oak
  6. Web site: Macallan . 2023-10-07 . www.whisky.com . en.
  7. Web site: MACALLAN - Whisky Antique, Whisky & Spirits . 2023-10-07 . www.whiskyantique.com.
  8. Watson, Roland. "Macallan whisky is teetotal Speaker's brand". The Times (UK). 2 March 2001.
  9. Web site: COLLECTOR'S MARKET ROCKED BY FAKE MACALLAN DISCOVERY : Whisky Magazine ~ Latest News . 22 February 2023 . 18 August 2018 . 18 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180818025555/http://www.whiskymag.com/news/1389.html . bot: unknown .
  10. Web site: Rosenberg . Rebecca . Scotch Whisky . . 9 December 2007 . 26 December 2011.
  11. The Macallan® and Lalique Break Record for Most Expensive Whisky and Crystal Decanter Ever Sold: $460,000 -– All for Charity --.
  12. Web site: The Macallan breaks world record? . Talking Retail . 29 June 2024.
  13. Web site: Carruthers . Nicola . 2019-10-24 . Macallan 1926 breaks auction record at £1.5m . 2023-11-21 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
  14. Web site: Macallan: Rare Scotch whisky becomes world's most expensive bottle at £2.1m . BBC . www.bbc.co.uk . 19 November 2023 . 19 November 2023 . Gillett, Francesca.
  15. News: London Bridge station makes 2019 Riba Stirling Prize shortlist . 18 July 2019 . . 18 July 2019.
  16. News: RSHP's whisky distillery named Scotland's best new building. 18 December 2021. . 7 October 2019.
  17. Web site: Sherry. Kristiane. 21 May 2018. See inside the new Macallan distillery!. 1 January 2022. Master of Malt. en-GB.
  18. Web site: Vol 66 (2017): Unenclosed Prehistoric Settlement and Early Medieval Pits at Macallan Distillery, Craigellachie, Highlands Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports. 2021-08-30. journals.socantscot.org.
  19. News: Explore our Single Malts . 18 November 2020 . The Macallan . 18 November 2020.
  20. Web site: MACALLAN - Whisky Antique, Whisky & Spirits . 2023-10-07 . www.whiskyantique.com.

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