The Macallan Dropped an Unusually Smoky 46-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky
Not to be outdone by news that scotch distillery Tamdhu released a 43-year-old single maltSingle MaltA whisky made at a single distillery from malted barley, typically distilled in pot stills and aged in oak. Single malts display distinct regional character and style, from smoky IslayGo to Single Malt Glossary entirely matured sherry casks, the Macallan also announced its latest whiskies, and one is even older than Tamdhu’s. The Speyside distillery has recently released a pair of single malts–the 46-year-old Tree of Life by the Macallan and Art is the Flower, both rare and pricy new expressions from this high-end whiskymaker.
According to the distillery, both expressions were created as an homage to Scottish artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a Glaswegian known for his contributions to the British Art Nouveau movement (a name that might be unfamiliar to most non-art studies majors). What do this late 19th century artist and sherry cask-matured whisky have in common? According to Jaume Ferras, creative director for the Macallan, it’s all about Mother Earth. “The Macallan and Charles Rennie Mackintosh share a reverence for nature, a guiding force in artistry and craftsmanship,” he said in a statement. “This is showcased within the Tree of Life by The Macallan across both releases. We have been able to take inspiration from Mackintosh’s idiosyncratic depictions of nature and reflect this in the exemplary art of whisky making, creating two exceptional new whisky releases.”
It can be difficult to tie concepts with the actual liquid, although the packaging usually plays a part in this (which is the case here). The Tree of Life is a marriage of two casks of whisky distilled in 1979 and matured in sherry-seasoned oak for 46 years–apparently, Mackintosh moved to the countryside to reconnect with nature at the age of 46, and subsequently produced a great deal of art. Forty-six years is pretty old for a whisky, but young by Macallan standards compared to releases like the 72 Years Old in Lalique or the 81-year-old the Reach.
We did not get to sample the whisky, but master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell provided some useful tasting notesTasting NotesA description of the aromas, flavors, and finish of a wine, spirit, or other fine product, recorded by experts or enthusiasts. Tasting notes help buyers choose bottles and appreciate subtleGo to Tasting Notes Glossary. “[It] offers a unique, vibrant, and complex expression of the Macallan matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks,” she said. “Tropical fruits charred over smoldering peat embers are balanced with complex wood spice. Notes of antique oak are characteristic of higher aged expressions from the Macallan and evoke Mackintosh’s unique designs crafted from wood, in Scotland, many years ago.” If “peat ember” stands out to you, you are probably not alone because the Macallan does not really produce much smoky whisky these days, but that wasn’t always the case. We reached out to a rep for the distillery and found out there is no peat involved, this is just a tasting note.
The other release is called Art is the Flower, a name that was taken from a lecture Mackintosh gave in 1902 which commenced with that phrase. According to the distillery, this release was inspired by his “extraordinary depictions of nature in architecture and art, namely his interior design piece, ‘The Spirit of the Rose’ stained glass-panel.” It’s a non-age statement whisky that was aged in sherry-seasoned European oak casks, and according to whisky maker Steven Bremner the team dug deep to find barrels to marry together. “We had the freedom to tap into our entire inventory, identifying casks that have reached their peak maturation, which added an extra layer of character and complexity,” he said. “European oak was key as it delivers beautiful oak notes, spices, and dried fruit, but crucially also delicate notes of fruits that bear their own blossoms.”
The release of this pair of whiskies are accompanied by a series of documentary shorts exploring Mackintosh’s influence on different artists and historians. Art is the Flower is available (SRP $1,000) at select retailers around the country. The Tree of Life is being released in a run of just 112 Lalique crystal decanters, so interested parties should contact Macallan Client Services directly at [email protected] to find out the price.
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.
Photo: The Macallan