The Latest Whisky in The Macallan’s Fine and Rare Collection Celebrates a Big Year for Hollywood and the Scotch Brand Alike

The latest edition of The Macallan’s Fine and Rare collection dates back to 1997.

Fred Minnick reported on Thursday that The Macallan launched its most recent expression within the Speyside brand’s Fine and Rare Collection. The whisky was drawn from a single cask that dates back to 1997.

The expression was matured in a European oak first-fill sherry butt over a 26-year period. Just 538 bottles are available.

Macallan’s 1997 Fine and Rare expression hosts a label that depicts the cask number, distillation year and bottling year. The age, ABV (54.8%) and volume are written by hand, as is the standard for the collection.

The bottle is housed in a European oak case, and information is provided on how each bottle is recorded in The Macallan Vintage Bottle Register, which is in Easter Elchies House near the distillery.

1997 was a year “captivated by the glamour and allure of Hollywood,” according to the brand. Multiple box office smash hits were released that year, and Hollywood continued to grow as one of America’s chief exports.

The year was a pivotal one for The Macallan, as well, and the distillery’s international sales outgrew domestic sales for the first time in the brand’s history.

As part of the spirit’s release, fashion photographer Tim Walker captured the rare bottle in a playful photoshoot. The whisky hosts a $14,000 suggested retail price.

Walker chose to celebrate the pivotal year for both The Macallan and Hollywood alike with images featuring the rare bottle perched atop film canisters with a clapper board in the background.

Additionally, a short film was directed by Walker and Tony Ivanov to commemorate the release.

The Macallan 1997. (Photo: Tim Walker/The Macallan)

The Macallan Fine and Rare 1997 Tasting Notes, Via the Brand

Nose: Generous with dark fruit aromas, cherries, dates, and raisins. Sticky toffee pudding, aged oak.

Taste: Sweetness, with vanilla, apple and nutmeg. Incense clove, aniseed and clove.

Finish: Spice, sweetness and antique oak.