For more than three centuries, The Macallan has called the Easter Elchies House, perched on a ridge above the banks of the River Spey, their spiritual home. Alexander Reid founded the first authorized distillery on the estate, which he named Macallan after an old church that had been destroyed by fire in the fifteenth century, and planted barley in the fields around the rental house in 1820. Reid would ferment and distill his excess grains during the sluggish winter days to create whiskey, which was frequently consumed straight from the still or sold to tourists who were passing through the town.

Currently, 95 of the 370 acres of the Macallan Estate are used for the production of Minstrel barley (an acre yields around 2.5 tons of barley year, which is sufficient to make 1,800 bottles of The Macallan). To produce a rich and fatty whisky, the distillery also enters into agreements with farmers to buy barley that is high in starch and low in nitrogen.

The barley is malted and mashed in one of The Macallan’s two mash tuns, which takes four to eight hours after harvest. Following fermentation with a specially cultivated yeast, the barley is twice distilled using copper-pot stills at The Macallan. The stills’ copper serves as a catalyst, promoting the production of delicious esters while reducing contaminants like sulfur.

Furthermore, production manager Alexander Tweedie claims that the oddly tiny stills, which are among “the smallest stills within the Scotch whisky industry,” yield a whisky with a rich, greasy flavor. After distillation, the Macallan distillers separate the whisky’s heads and tails and reserve around 16% of the spirit to put into maturation casks. This “cut,” one of the highest of any Scottish distillery, makes the whisky richer and fuller.

A Night On Earth In Scotland is a limited-edition single malt created by Lead Whisky Maker Sarah Burgess and inspired by the Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland, which are known as “the last day of the old year.” You’ll discover shortbread notes in the profile because shortbread typically plays a part in these customs. Both American and European oak sherry-seasoned casks and former Bourbon barrels were used to mature the whisky. The expression prompted The Macallan to work with illustrator Erica Dorn, who is well-known for her work in Wes Anderson movies. The design, which Dorn contributed, was influenced by fire rituals that are frequently observed during New Year’s festivities Macallan scotch whiskey 1876 replica​.

Order your bottle of this limited-edition Macallan scotch 18​, festive single malt right now!

Macallan scotch whiskey Notes on Tasting

The smells of vanilla, butter, biscuits, caramelized apple, cherry, and almonds are rich and creamy when the single malt first opens. With flavors of vanilla, toasted marshmallows, dried orange, fig, and cinnamon, the palate is creamy, delicate, and sweet. It ends on a medium note with shortbread and butterscotch Macallan single malt scotch.