How do you celebrate your new $250 million distillery?
With whisky, of course.
The Macallan — founded in 1824 by a barley farmer — just released Estate, a $250 single malt distilled from (in part) barley grown on the company’s 485-acre Easter Elchies estate.
For the new release, the liquid is distilled once a year over the course of a single week at the Macallan’s Speyside home, which now features a $250 million distillery and visitor experience that opened last summer.
The Macallan’s homegrown barley is usually reserved for the rarest and sought-after (and most expensive) whiskies in the brand’s portfolio, so consider Estate a chance for everyday Scotch drinkers to try something new … without spending five or six figures.
“With its wonderful sweet citrus hints and warming wood spice, The Macallan Estate is a rich, satisfying and complex spirit that pays homage to the fertile Speyside lands where The Macallan is located,” said Sarah Burgess, Whisky Maker for The Macallan, in a statement.
We were fortunate enough to try Estate at a private event by The Macallan in New York earlier this month. Some quick thoughts:
On the eye: A rich chestnut hue
On the nose: Wood spice, orange, cinnamon
In the mouth: A bit of citrus, vanilla and a lot of dried fruit (“candied raisin” was a term bandied about), along with an oakiness.
Overall: Do you like the sherry notes of The Macallan 12? That’s very close to what you’re getting here, at a slightly higher ABV. Is it worth the extra duckets? Well, the best whiskies are about the stories — if you’ve visited the distillery, that may leave you impressed enough to spend the extra money.
For what it’s worth, The Macallan suggests the bottle works as a theme — such as celebrating your new home or going to a housewarming, though we’d add that those lucky friends receiving a bottle of Estate had better have a deep appreciation of Scotch.
Packaged in a gift box featuring landscape-inspired design and aerial photography of the barley fields, Estate will be available for $250 from select whisky retailers this summer.
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