🥃 The Macallan
Single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside, distillery at Craigellachie licensed in 1824; owned by Edrington.
The Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside, made at a distillery near Craigellachie in the Moray area of north-east Scotland. The licence of 1824 was granted to Alexander Reid, and the estate is called Easter Elchies. The distillery now belongs to Edrington, which bought the brand from Highland Distillers in 1999.
Highland Distillers owned the brand from 1996, and Edrington from 1999. Single malt means the whisky was distilled at one distillery from malted barley alone. The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 also require it to spend at least three years in oak casks in Scotland.
The casks are what set Macallan apart. European oak from the north of Spain and American oak are used; according to reviews, coopers in Jerez make them and season them with oloroso sherry for about 18 months. The ranges are named for the type of cask: Sherry Oak, Double Cask, Triple Cask (since 2018, formerly Fine Oak, introduced in 2004), Rare Cask and Estate. The 12-year-old whiskies are 40–43% ABV.
In 2018 a new distillery costing £140 million, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, opened at Craigellachie. It has 36 copper stills, 12 for the first distillation and 24 for the second, made by Forsyths.
Why this matters to you. The number on the bottle is the age of the youngest whisky in it, while the name of the range tells you about the casks, not the age. "Single Malt" means one distillery, not one cask. High auction prices are a separate collectors' market and no measure of taste. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | 1824, Easter Elchies near Craigellachie (Alexander Reid's licence) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | malted barley |
| Distillation method | copper stills; the new 2018 distillery has 36 stills (12 + 24) |
| Cask type | European oak from Spain and American oak; casks that held oloroso sherry |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in Scotland (by law); the ranges are 12, 18 years and others |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40–43% ABV (12-year-old) |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (Single Malt Scotch Whisky) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Macallan → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Edrington
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 Glenmorangie, 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera, 🥃 Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch Reserve, 🥃 Caol Ila, 🥃 Caol Ila, 🥃 The Balvenie
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Macallan is aged only in sherry casks?
No. The ranges differ: Sherry Oak uses sherry casks, Double Cask combines European and American oak, and Triple Cask has three types of cask. Sherry casks are one of the hallmarks of the brand, but not the only one.
What does "single malt" mean?
The whisky is made at one distillery from malted barley alone. It does not mean it comes from one cask: different casks are blended.
How strong is Macallan?
The 12-year-old whiskies are 40–43% ABV. The strength depends on the range and the market, so check the label.
Where is Macallan made?
Near Craigellachie in Moray, in north-east Scotland, in the Speyside region. The new distillery has been working since 2018 and has 36 stills.
Who owns Macallan?
The Scottish company Edrington, since 1999. Before that the brand was with Highland Distillers, which it had joined in 1996.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
- 🥃 Glenfiddich — Distillery and brand of single malt scotch in Dufftown (Speyside), founded in 1886; owned by the family firm William Grant & Sons; the 12-year-old is 40% ABV.
Similar
🥃 The Glenrothes · 🥃 Dufftown Distillery · 🥃 Monkey Shoulder · 🥃 The Famous Grouse · 🥃 Mortlach · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), regs. 3, 8, 12 (Single Malt, Blended Scotch Whisky, age statements)
- The Macallan — official site
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)