The Macallan Has Two Middle-Aged, Double Cask Malts Coming
The Macallan has released Double Cask 15 Years Old and Double Cask 18 Years Old in a significant expansion of the highly successful range. Joining Double Cask 12 Years Old , the three expressions are crafted without compromise from American and European oak sherry seasoned casks. The extraordinary wood journey reflects The Macallan’s commitment to mastery of spirit and wood, and is now chronicled in extraordinary new detail by acclaimed Magnum photographer, Steve McCurry.
Double Cask is the marriage of two worlds. First introduced in 2016 with The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, the enticing collection is formed from a harmonious union of American and European oak sherry seasoned casks. Together they combine to create a perfectly balanced single malt Scotch whisky with a distinctive warm character that is punctuated with a contemporary soft sweetness.
“Bringing together American and European oak sherry seasoned casks to achieve the perfect balance of flavors is incredibly exciting for the Whisky Mastery Team, and we are proud to offer two new expressions to this distinctive range for The Macallan Double Cask fans to explore”, said Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan. “Oak influence is the single greatest contributor to the quality, natural color and distinctive aromas and flavors at the heart of The Macallan’s single malts.”
To commemorate this unique creation, McCurry travelled across continents to witness and document The Macallan’s incredible wood journey. The voyage begins in the vast green forests of northern Spain and the French Pyrenees, where The Macallan sources its European oak. New oak from the lush forests of Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky in America is also transported thousands of miles to Spain, where both types of oak are handcrafted into casks that are filled with sherry. McCurry’s exclusive photographic journal provides new insight into the mastery of wood through never-before-seen images of the people, places, skills and processes involved in the production of The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks.
Once seasoned, the casks are shipped to The Macallan Estate in Speyside where they are filled with new-make spirit. Following years of slumber, The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team uses their skill and expertise to select the best balance of spirit from both the American and European oak sherry seasoned casks to create Double Cask. The result is a perfect partnership, with the sherry seasoned American oak imparting delicate flavors of vanilla, while the European oak delivers the subtle and unmistakable spice and classic style of The Macallan.
“The thing I admire about The Macallan is their passion for craftsmanship, their excellence and their integrity for their processes. Sometimes you have to choose a different path – the one less taken – to go beyond hardship, to reach excellence,” said Steve McCurry.
The new expressions will significantly enhance the existing Double Cask range, which lies at the heart of The Macallan’s portfolio of single malts and is a popular choice with whisky lovers around the world. The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old and 18 Years Old will be available globally starting in July 2020 for a suggested retail price of $135 for Double Cask 15 Years Old and $330 for Double Cask 18 Years Old.
