News 231

The Macallan has unveiled Edition No.3 – a new limited edition whisky.  This third release in the innovative Edition Series is a dynamic and highly original collaboration between The Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno and Master Perfumer, Roja Dove uniting the worlds of whisky and aroma to reveal the complexities of single malt character.

Continuing the diverse story of The Macallan’s oak casks and obsession with wood, the focus has remained on the commitment introduced with Edition No.1 and Edition No.2 to unlock the intricate workings of the whisky making process.  Edition No.3 exposes the detail of its creation for true transparency, and showcases the absolute skill of the Master Whisky Maker.

While Edition No.1 and Edition No.2 highlighted the influence each cask has on the taste and flavour of the final whisky, Edition No.3 provides an insight into the distinctive aromas that combine to build character and depth and create a multi-sensory experience of taste and aroma.

From defining life experiences to the recall of special memories, the power of aroma is unquestionable and it is this power which makes the approach to Edition No.3 truly mesmerizing, as Roja Dove and Bob Dalgarno embarked on a sensory journey of discovery.

As one of the world’s most respected Master Perfumers whose brand Roja Parfums is at the pinnacle of the fragrance industry, Roja Dove provided his remarkable sensory knowledge and experience to describe distinctive aromas in particular oak casks.  Subsequently, Bob Dalgarno utilised this articulation of aromas to select dominant notes to help shape the final character of Edition No.3.

The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks are the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality, natural colours and distinctive aromas and flavours of The Macallan and the use of a higher proportion of smaller casks in Edition No.3 increased the contact between the spirit and the wood, delivering an intense experience of flavour and aroma.

Crafted from a combination of European and American oak casks, Edition No.3 balances a heavier base derived from Tevasa casks and reflective of The Macallan character, with the fresh cut oak and citrus of Hudosa casks, the vanilla ice cream and sweet, crisp green apple flavours of bourbon casks and the dry, floral and vanilla notes from European and American oak refill casks.

Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker, said: “Inspiration and innovation lie at the heart of The Macallan and in Edition No.3 we have collaborated with one of the world’s most respected aroma experts to create a single malt whisky which pushes the boundaries and challenges convention.

“The Edition Series provides the freedom to look beyond the cask styles typically used in other Macallan whiskies.  There are great parallels between the worlds of whisky and perfume and it has been fascinating to work with Roja to explore the power of aroma in individual oak casks and its influence on the resulting whisky.  Edition No.3 is a remarkable journey of the senses, delivering an intense experience of flavour and aroma.”

Roja Dove, Master Perfumer, said: “On the surface it would seem that Bob and I came from disparate worlds. From the beginning it was obvious we shared much in common which we have explored and developed in many different ways. The inevitable culmination of this collaboration was the creation of Edition No.3. We have worked together to master the balance of taste and aroma, resulting in an incredibly flavoursome, fresh and citrus whisky with enveloping sweetness. Edition No.3 is an exceptional example of the whisky maker’s art, where Bob has interpreted my thoughts so accurately, when combined with the extraordinary power of scent.”

With an ABV of 48.3%, Edition No.3 is a sensory journey of flavour and aroma intimately entwined.  Presenting a sweet and fruity character, it brings to the fore notes of vanilla, fresh cut oak, delicate florals and rich fruit cake.  An alluring whisky that challenges expectations and reflects the artistic genius of the collaborators who united to curate this distinctive single malt.

The Macallan Edition No.3 will be priced at £78.

For further information visit www.themacallan.com

 Tasting notes:

Colour:            A natural colour of Barley gold

Aroma:            Reminiscent of a fine fragrance, the nose leads with vanilla ice cream, fresh cut oak and delicate florals. Orange oil provides subtle grandeur while ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg flit in and out. Vanilla imparts sweetness, leading citrus fruits forward then allowing chocolate to show. Burnished oak delivers a soft ending.

Palate:             A sensory journey of flavour and aroma intimately entwined, the palate is sweet fruit and vanilla and rich fruit cake with suggestions of apricot, pear and crisp green apple.  Hints of ginger and cinnamon are balanced with a light resinous oak finale.

Finish:             The finish is long, sweet and fruity, leaving a lasting impression on the senses.

 For further information, please contact Hope&Glory PR:

 James Bunting:            james.bunting@hopeandglorypr.com / 020 3588 9741

Alex Royce:                  alex.royce@hopeandglorypr.com / 02035889722

Founded in April 2014 and listed in Malt Marketing’s whisky directory, The Whisky Market Limited has grown from a modest private client base and now has over £2,000,000.00 of single malt Scottish whisky casks under management. The decline in global markets and alternatives in general forced many people to look elsewhere for value and a tax efficient hold.

Over the last 3 years, The Whisky Market Limited has been working with a very unique type of asset for a select clientele allowing them to access a piece of Scotch history by owning casks of Single Malt Premium Scotch Whisky.

Current independent reports are showing typical returns are around 7 – 12% per annum for holding Scotch whisky casks over the last 9 years.

On top of growing demand and great returns, Whiskies held in casks are exempt from both VAT and more importantly, Capital Gains Tax, ensuring all  profit from cask ownership will be yours to keep!

Visit The Whisky Market Limited

First released in April 2008, HIGHLAND PARK 40 Year Old is batched in very small quantities with only 10 casks selected for each bottling – it’s the culmination of years of whisky-making knowledge and experience.

Described in Whisky Magazine as ‘an incredibly well drinking Highland Park… sharing some of the 18 Year Old’s refinement but taking it into a different league’, our 40 Year Old is both highly complex and beautifully balanced, a rich and luxurious single malt at once deep, aromatic and smoky, yet singing with the sweetest notes of soft toffee, dark chocolate and fragrant orange zest.

ABV: 48.3%  | Volume: 70cl

Buy Now

The Macallan 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt is a very rare bottling which shows off Macallan single malt in a well-matured, superbly Sherried fashion. This fantastic whisky comes in a handsome wooden case to house and present the whisky as you lovingly gaze upon it – Buy Now

Seventy-year-old Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail commemorates key date in wartime history

An exceptionally rare wartime cask from 1943 has been unveiled as one of the oldest and most exclusive single malt whiskies in the world.

The Elgin-based malt whisky specialists today (2nd October 2017) announced the release of Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail , the latest offering in its ‘ Private Collection’ range. Only forty decanters will be available for sale globally, with a UK RRP of £30,000.

A small number of decanters will be available from Gordon & MacPhail’s historic retail shop in Elgin. Those purchasing a decanter at the South Street ‘spiritual home’ will also enjoy an exclusive tasting experience included in their purchase. Distilled on 14 January 1943, a crucial date in the history of World War Two, the new-make spirit was filled into a carefully selected Sherry hogshead at the renowned Speyside distillery. The release of Cask 121 also represents the last 1943 vintage from the Gordon & MacPhail stock inventory.

As the bung was being hammered into place in Cask 121, a world away in North Africa, Prime Minister Winston Churchill met President Franklin D. Roosevelt, General Charles de Gaulle, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Casablanca Conference. The meeting discussed Allied strategy for the war in Europe. Historians came to view this meeting as critically important to the fate of the world for generations to come.

By the winter of 1943, the war had severely curtailed production of whisky in Scotland. Prices and duty were on the rise and rationing meant raw ingredients were in increasingly short supply. In fact, many Scottish distilleries were closed after October 1942; The Glenlivet Distillery itself halted production in the Spring of 1943. Mature whiskies from this period were in great demand so, by the late 1940s and early 1950s, available casks were extremely limited.

Rich chestnut brown in colour, Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail is a whisky of great balance and approachability. A full, fresh flavour of dark chocolate, oranges, and oakiness intermingles with treacle and liquorice and culminates with a subtle, ashy smokiness and an incredibly long finish.

Founded in 1895 in Elgin, Scotland, Gordon & MacPhail is the custodian of many of the oldest and rarest single malts in the world with an unrivalled stock inventory. The fourth generation of the Urquhart family uphold the same traditions and dedication to whisky maturation as the generations that came before them.

In 1943, Cask 121 was selected by John and George Urquhart, first and second generation of the Urquhart family, for filling at the Glenlivet Distillery. Stephen Rankin, a director of the company and John Urquhart’s great-grandson, made the decision to bottle it.

Stephen Rankin said: “This beautiful whisky has been nurtured and cared for by four generations of our family and it gives us enormous pleasure to release this unique and incredibly rare single malt.

“Gordon & MacPhail has been in the whisky business for over 122 years, with each generation building and handing on a lifetime’s expertise to the next. We believe Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail is a malt without comparison from a defining date in the history of a world in conflict.

“Today, whisky is a wonderfully unifying drink and this rare example gives people from across the world the chance to own and savour a defining piece of Scotland’s liquid history.”

Whisky writer and rare whisky specialist Jonny McCormick said: “Gordon & MacPhail is a singular whisky company emphasised by their incomparable capacity to draw on stocks from the 1940s. This is an unparalleled opportunity to acquire an exquisite whisky that embodies the concept of rarity. The remarkable complexity and vivid flavours that have developed over a lifetime in wood ensure this single malt Scotch whisky will make a handsome addition to the world’s finest whisky collections.”

Every detail of Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail alludes to the decades of experience and patience poured into nurturing the whisky to maturation.

The meandering River Spey provides a unique closure to the handcrafted wooden box. Hand blown and bespoke, the decanter itself is adorned with gold engravings of the contours of the land surrounding the Glenlivet Distillery.

Accompanied by a visually atmospheric commemorative book, written by whisky author Jonny McCormick, each decanter is individually numbered with a certificate of authenticity signed by Stephen Rankin, director and member of the Urquhart family.

Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail was matured in a first-fill Sherry hogshead for seventy years. Only forty decanters, bottled at cask strength (49.1 ABV), have been released for sale worldwide. A limited number are available for purchase directly from the company’s ‘spiritual home’, the South Street Retail Shop, at an RRP of £30,000. Prices may differ in international markets due to local taxes and duty.

For more information, please visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

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