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Macallan
Macallan is the most sought-after whisky for collectors, and here at Oak and Barley, you can find a huge range of Macallan Scotch whisky to buy online.
Over the past four decades, it has built probably the best reputation for quality malt whisky; rare expressions can change hands for thousands of pounds, and prices for such bottles are continuously going up. The most expensive bottles of single malt scotch whisky ever sold were, unsurprisingly, from Macallan.
The brand has built its enviable reputation by focusing on quality on all aspects of the crafting of single malt whisky – and a host of high-profile editions and silver screen tie-ins have boosted this distillery’s reputation even further.
This has allowed the brand to create some huge changes in the industry and the customers’ perception of quality. On brand name alone, they have been able to launch numerous NAS (non-aged specified) single malt whiskies into the market, with them all being well received. Without the might of Macallan, we would no doubt be still in a whisky market where age statement is the primary definition of perceived quality.
The Distillery
Located on a 390-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands near Craigellachie, The distillery was founded in 1824 and was one of the first Scottish distilleries to be legally licensed.
Using water from springs beneath its estate, The distillery makes single malt whiskies using the smallest commercial stills in Speyside. After distillation, it uses just 16% of the spirit collected from these stills for filling into casks, which it says is responsible for the full-bodied richness of this spirit – not to mention one of the smallest cuts of spirit in the industry.
With respect to the oak casks, The Macallan invests a lot of time and effort into sourcing and making these, so much so that it is the only Scotch distiller with a dedicated Master of Wood: Stuart MacPherson.
The Macallan’s 10 spirit stills are the smallest in Speyside. Their unique size and shape give the spirit maximum contact with the copper, helping to concentrate the new-make spirit with rich, fruity, full-bodied flavours. These stills are so famous that they appear on the back of a Bank of Scotland £10 note!
‘Macallan’ is most likely derived from two Gaelic words, magh meaning a fertile piece of ground and ellen, meaning ‘of St Fillan’, an Irish monk who travelled widely in Scotland spreading Christianity during the eighth century.
The distillery was originally founded by Alexander Reid, a barley farmer and teacher who leased eight acres of land from the Earl of Seafield to establish the distillery.
At Retail
Of the top 50 whiskies ever released (as of June 2018), Macallan was behind 11 of the bottlings. More than 20% of the most expensive whiskies at retail pricing, all from one single distillery is an admirable feat.
At Auction
In May 2018, The Macallan smashed auction house records at the sale of 2 bottles of their 60-year-old single malt whisky were sold for a combined total of US$2.11 million.
The previous auction record, which was also held by The Macallan, was set in 2014, for a 6-litre bottling of The Macallan M. It sold for US$628,205 at a Sotheby’s auction
At the Movies
Look closely and you’ll see bottles of Macallan in many of your favourite films and TV shows. In Suits, for example, Harvey Spector drinks Macallan 18, a preference he shares with James Bond in the film Spectre. The latter’s boss M, meanwhile, perhaps mindful of the MI6 budget, can be been spotted drinking Macallan 12 in Skyfall.
Partnership with Lalique
The Macallan has a strong association with French luxury glassmaker Lalique. Its Macallan in Lalique collaborations put the distiller’s whiskies, particularly those that are old and rare, in exquisite handmade crystal decanters. They are as collectable as they are beautiful: Macallan Lalique 50 Year Old broke auction records in April 2017 when it was sold for more than £65,210.