DECADENCE DEFINED

Since 1824, The Macallan name has been a guarantee of unrivalled craftsmanship and quality.  And now there is a new whisky bearing this name; a single malt born from this unwavering endeavour.  This is Macallan Rare Cask, the embodiment of our obsession.

Rare Cask is crafted by our Master Whisky Maker from a small proportion of maturing casks at The Macallan distillery.  These casks are handmade from Spanish and American oak; and are the best in the business.   Wood defines the flavour of The Macallan, with over 60% of the character comes from the cask it is aged in.  But as the name suggests, there is more to this story.  Rare Cask is truly rare.  This rarity comes from the fact that some of the casks used in the creation of this whisky will never be used again.

The Macallan Rare Cask captures a true decadence; its creation goes beyond any other Macallan whisky and its rarity is absolute. It is a single malt of such diversity and intricacy it challenges the very conventions of whisky creation.  It is almost a reinvention by design, but yet The Macallan at its core.

Bob Dalgarno, the Master Whisky Maker is responsible for creating Rare Cask, testing his knowledge and skill to create a whisky worthy of The Macallan name.  “Rare Cask is about firstly identifying a selection of casks which can truly be called rare.  Each of the cask styles result in different character, so each imparts their own distinct influence on the final whisky.”

With a rich mahogany red hue, The Macallan Rare Cask showcases two of The Macallan’s greatest strengths, exceptional oak casks and natural colour, which are combined with knowledge, skill, passion, commitment and creativity.  A whisky produced through meticulous dedication to wood.  Some would call this an obsession. We call it The Macallan.

The Macallan Rare Cask is available from specialist whisky retailers including The Whisky Shop and has a RRP of £200.

Our take on a slightly confusing press release. 

Hmmmm interesting, lets see if we can break this down a little and learn why exactly this is rare.  Macallan, had a little more information.

Rare Cask is a truly individual Macallan whisky.  It has been crafted from whiskies selected from 16 individually different casks profiles –the most ever used in a single Macallan whisky.

Less than 1% of the casks maturing are selected for Rare Cask, some of these are no longer available. Owing to the number of cask types involved and the length of time it takes to identify them, it takes longer to create than any other The Macallan. This is an extremely rewarding whisky owing to the complexity of flavour.

Rare Cask has been crafted from Spanish and American sherry seasoned oak casks, a high proportion of them being first fill, including some of the most precious and scarce casks.

  Collectively these factors have given rise to an exquisite whisky with a splendidly rich and resonant hue, and an unmistakably woody whisky. 

Do you get it now?  Not sure if we do either, Macallan are the masters of controversy at the moment and it looks set to continue with this new release.  Is it good?  Not sure, I’ve not tried it, but you can find the official Macallan notes below.  I’ll reserve judgement but this might not be one for the whisky geeks.

 Tasting Notes

Soft notes of opulent vanilla and raisin pique the nose, giving way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. All balanced by a spicy quartet of root ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. On the palate this spicy quartet are unwavering. Oak resonates, timeless, polished and rich. Vanilla and chocolate lead the finale along with a light citrus zest. The finish of this naturally occurring mahogany-red spirit is full, warming