The Macallan
Encyclopedia
The Macallan is a brand of single malt Scotch
whisky
first distilled in 1824 at The Macallan Distillery near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie, in Moray
. The Macallan is currently distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group which purchased the brand from Highland Distillers
in 1999.
In 2009, The Herald (Glasgow) reported that Macallan was "the world’s third largest-selling single malt (behind Glenfiddich
and Glenlivet
) with over 500,000 cases a year, and second largest by value." The Scotsman published a quote from Ken Grier on August 16, 2009, stating: "We have now overcome Glenfiddich to move into the second biggest selling single malt by volume behind Glenlivet" In 2011, Edrington Group reported that prior-year sales of The Macallan were up 8% to over 700,000 cases and the BBC also reported that an office was being opened in New York to continue growth in the American market.
Since the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009
came into force labelling of bottles of Scotch whisky has been regulated, and currently produced bottles of The Macallan indicate it is a Highland Single Malt
. However the website for the brand indicates that "The Original and Spiritual Home" of The Macallan is Speyside, an area near Strathspey
.
Originally, The Macallan was only matured in oak sherry
casks brought to the distillery from Jerez, 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.
More recently, starting in 2004, The Macallan for the first time 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.
Many rare, special releases and other small production run bottlings also exist.
The Macallan 10 Years Old as the official Scotch of the
Speaker of the House of Commons,
even though Mr Martin himself had given up drinking alcohol.
However, he did smell whiskies to make his selection.
This selection continued the tradition of the Speaker designating
an official single malt.
In 2003, The Macallan started laboratory tests to determine if some antique whiskies purchased for their collection were in fact 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. Although The Macallan had tested the paper comprising 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 liquor ever sold.
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 "charity: water", an organisation that helps provide access to clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
first distilled in 1824 at The Macallan Distillery near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie, in Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
. The Macallan is currently distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group which purchased the brand from Highland Distillers
Highland Distillers
Highland Distillers was founded in 1887 by the Robertson family. In 1970 Highland purchased Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., producers of the Famous Grouse blended whisky and acquired The Macallan single malt Scotch producers in 1996. Highland also produced the Highland Park brand whisky. Highland...
in 1999.
In 2009, The Herald (Glasgow) reported that Macallan was "the world’s third largest-selling single malt (behind Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich
The Glenfiddich Distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery owned by William Grant & Sons in Dufftown, Scotland. Glenfiddich means ‘Valley of the deer’ in Gaelic, hence the presence of a deer symbol on Glenfiddich bottles.- History :...
and Glenlivet
The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet Distillery is a distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It is the oldest legal distillery in the parish of Glenlivet, and the production place of the Scottish whisky of the same name. It is described in packaging and advertising as...
) with over 500,000 cases a year, and second largest by value." The Scotsman published a quote from Ken Grier on August 16, 2009, stating: "We have now overcome Glenfiddich to move into the second biggest selling single malt by volume behind Glenlivet" In 2011, Edrington Group reported that prior-year sales of The Macallan were up 8% to over 700,000 cases and the BBC also reported that an office was being opened in New York to continue growth in the American market.
Since the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009
Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009
The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 is a Statutory Instrument that regulates the production, labeling, advertising and packaging of Scotch whisky. The regulations were laid before the Parliament of the United Kingdom on October 30th, 2009 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II...
came into force labelling of bottles of Scotch whisky has been regulated, and currently produced bottles of The Macallan indicate it is a Highland Single Malt
Highland Single Malts
Highland Single Malts are single malt Scotch whiskies produced in the Highland region of Scotland. This categorization includes the whiskies produced on the islands around the perimeter of Scotland , except for Islay...
. However the website for the brand indicates that "The Original and Spiritual Home" of The Macallan is Speyside, an area near Strathspey
Strathspey, Scotland
Strathspey is the area around the strath of the River Spey, Scotland, in both the Moray council area and the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area of Highland....
.
Originally, The Macallan was only matured in oak sherry
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
casks brought to the distillery from Jerez, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Beginning in 2004, The Macallan introduced a new main product, the Fine Oak series, with the whisky mellowed in bourbon
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
oak casks as well as sherry ones.
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- and 30-year-old versions can also be found.More recently, starting in 2004, The Macallan for the first time 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.
Many rare, special releases and other small production run bottlings also exist.
Publicity and Marketing
In 2001, Michael Martin selectedThe Macallan 10 Years Old as the official Scotch of the
Speaker of the House of Commons,
even though Mr Martin himself had given up drinking alcohol.
However, he did smell whiskies to make his selection.
This selection continued the tradition of the Speaker designating
an official single malt.
In 2003, The Macallan started laboratory tests to determine if some antique whiskies purchased for their collection were in fact 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. Although The Macallan had tested the paper comprising 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
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
auction for $54,000, making it one of the most expensive bottles of liquor ever sold.
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 "charity: water", an organisation that helps provide access to clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.