The 52-year-old Macallan with a twist

If The Macallan are famous for anything, it’s the sheer world-beating quality of their whisky and their extensive use of sherry casks during the maturation process of their expressions.  

Using casks formally used to store Oloroso sherry adds a sweetness and complexity to the whisky that simply can’t be achieved using other types of casks. This is why so many whisky lovers consider The Macallan to produce some of the best single-malt scotch whiskies in the world.

Released by independent spirits merchant Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd, this new, extremely limited release 52-Year-Old Macallan bucks that trend, and adds a new unique dimension by being ageing for 46 of its 52 years in a bourbon barrel.

Maturing whisky in bourbon casks, as opposed to sherry casks, gives this whisky a distinctive and unique flavour profile drawn from the bourbon barrels themselves. The combination of charred oak and the infused notes of sweet corn and vanilla make this whisky a truly special experience.

Of course, Macallan does use bourbon barrels as well as sherry casks in their normal maturation process. They usually employ a short period in a bourbon barrel before transferring the whisky to a sherry cask.

The fact that this expression spent so long in a bourbon barrel is what makes it unique, giving it tasting notes of dark chocolate, creamy vanilla and spice on the palate, with a lingering finish with hints of tropical fruit that is unusual in a Macallan.

Adding to the value of this 52-Year-Old single malt is its bottle. Shaped to look like a Scottish Dirk (a traditional dagger), the crystal decanter is housed in a custom made, handcrafted European Oak cabinet, which is designed to resemble an ancient weapons cabinet and both creations both are as much a work of art as the whisky is and makes this an excellent acquisition for both collectors and investors alike.

Commenting on the partnership, Duncan Taylor chairman Euan Shand noted that:

“It’s an incredible privilege to be the custodian of these stunning rare Macallan casks. This is the start of an exciting chapter at Duncan Taylor as we plan to release more Macallan over time, as well as a selection of other rare malts from the 1960s.”