The Macallan Drops $190,000 Dual-Chambered Decanter Containing Its Oldest Scotch to Date
(Photos: The Macallan)
On Tuesday, The Macallan Scotch one-upped its propensity for extravagant bottlings with the unveiling of its TIME: SPACE collection. Designed as an ode to the distiller’s 200th anniversary, the series comprises three unique expressions packaged within two releases.
The main attraction is a $190,000 dual-chambered vessel simply dubbed TIME: SPACE. Its outer ring, which vaguely resembles the “Star Trek” Enterprise, houses an 84-year-old 1940 vintage scotch described as The Macallan’s oldest expression to date. Tucked within the decanter is an interlocking bottle, inside which you’ll find a 2018 vintage produced at the brand’s Easter Elchies distillery.
In keeping with the grandiose theming of the release, the outer ring is described as a nod to the past while its inner counterpart is a nod to the future.
The 1940 vintage spent its life inside a combination of first-fill American oak butt and second-fill European oak butt seasoned with sherry before being bottled at 43.4% ABV. Cask details have yet to be revealed for the 2018 Vintage, which is bottled higher at 54.6% ABV. The duo has been limited to a total of just 200 bottles (or 400 if you’re counting each twice).
“It was an absolute privilege to be able to reach back in time and select stock from the 1940’s to honor and celebrate our 200 year anniversary,” The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell remarked in a news release. “As a Whisky Mastery Team, our roles are unique in the sense that we get to time travel – selecting whisky from the past crafted by our predecessors, whilst simultaneously laying down casks for future generations of whisky makers and consumers.”
The Macallan has also revealed a TIME: SPACE Mastery expression that subtracts a couple of zeros from the price tag. Contained within a similarly spherical decanter with an empty donut hole, Mastery is a non-age statement single malt matured in 14 different cask types. The distiller says that European oak sherry seasoned casks, American oak sherry seasoned casks and American oak bourbon casks deliver the biggest influences on the final product.
Mastery is bottled at 43.6% ABV and will soon be available at a suggested retail price of $1,400.
“Inspired by past masters, we have explored the full extent of our warehouses to capture the complex influences of cask seasoning, oak origin, cask size and distillery character in one incredibly special bottle of whisky – with the elegance provided by European Oak sitting at its heart,” lead whisky maker Euan Kennedy commented.
TIME: SPACE Collection Tasting Notes, Via the Brand
1940 Vintage | Aged 84 Years
Nose: “Dark chocolate coated ginger, sticky dates and leather combine with antique oak and delicate hints of aromatic peat and ground coffee.”
Palate: “Charred pineapple and baked peaches lead to crystalized ginger, hints of aniseed, blackberry jam and sweet woodsmoke. Rich resinous notes linger on the palate alongside caramelized sugar.”
Finish: “An extremely long finish with notes of dark chocolate and toasted oak.”
2018 Vintage | Aged 5 Years
Nose: “Vibrant notes of fresh green apple and ripe pears, leads onto rich sticky toffee, honey, vanilla custard and soft wood spice.”
Palate: “Golden sultanas and baked apples develop into buttery pastry dusted in icing sugar. Hints of lemon and lime follow, alongside vanilla shortbread.”
Finish: “A medium finish, creamy, with sweet oak.”
Mastery
Nose: “Sumptuous Medjool dates, sweet baked figs and rich milk chocolate accompanied by delicate hints of honey and tropical character, reminiscent of dried mango and ripe papaya. Encapsulated by complex sweet oak.”
Palate: “A real sweetness is evident with sherry-soaked dried fruits, orange marmalade and honeycomb. Soft spiced notes of ginger and cinnamon develop.”
Finish: “Bursts of caramelized pineapple and creamy vanilla linger with the exquisite balance of subtle dark chocolate and coffee.”
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