THE MACALLAN RELEASES 77 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT WHISKY

The Macallan, has today announced the launch of a new addition to its limited-edition Red Collection.

The Macallan 77 Year Old (43.2% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky, which was distilled and laid down to mature in 1945.

The Macallan 77 Year Old

The Red Collection which launched in 2020, is a range of distinguished and rare single malt Scotch whiskies which capture The Macallan’s respect for tradition and craftsmanship. Inspired by the significance of the colour red throughout the history of the brand, it features a carefully curated selection of ongoing aged expressions and occasional high aged guest releases.

The colour red has deep and long-standing significance for The Macallan. The red thread begins with Alexander Reid, the farmer and teacher who founded The Macallan in 1824. His surname means ‘the red one’ in Scots and was originally associated with red hair.

At the heart of The Red Collection are The Macallan 40, 50 and 60 Year Old’s. Available in limited quantities globally, they are the oldest ongoing expressions ever offered by the brand. From time to time they are joined by special high aged guest releases, which commenced with The Macallan 71, 74 and 78 Year Old’s.

In keeping with previous releases in the collection, this latest release is encased in a handcrafted oak presentation box, created in the UK, using the same sustainable European oak used to craft The Macallan’s oak casks. The box has been upholstered with sustainably sourced, soft red Scottish leather from Bridge of Weir Leather. The bottle itself has been hand finished and signed by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell.

Commenting on the launch, Kirsteen said: “The Macallan 77 Years Old is an incredible new high aged guest expression for The Red Collection, which has been crafted from some of the world’s oldest and rarest casks. It is a peerless single malt whisky that has slowly matured over seven extraordinary decades until it reached peak perfection. This exquisite release reveals The Macallan’s legacy of incomparable craftsmanship, knowledge and skills nurtured by The Macallan’s master whisky makers, past and present. It is a great privilege to play a role in crafting the remarkable single malts which form The Red Collection today.”

The Macallan 77 Year, will be available later this month from The Macallan Estate Boutique and The Macallan’s global network of domestic and travel retail outlets, for a RRP of £65,000.

Posted by Steve Rush

LOCH LOMOND LAUNCHES NEW REMARKABLE MAKERS SERIES

Loch Lomond Whiskies, has announced the launch of the first expression from its new collaborative Remarkable Makers series.

Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 9 Year Old (57.1% ABV) is a single cask single malt Scotch whisky, which has been produced using chardonnay wine yeast.

Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 9 Year Old

Working with liked-minded passionate creators and artisan craftspeople from other industries, the campaign intends to lift the lid on the complex whisky making process by explaining the nuances of its approach and showcasing how the slightest variations in method make incredible differences. 

The new Loch Lomond Remarkable Makers Series, launches with its first collaborator, Bread Ahead, a popular London bakery chain, which was selected to show the parallels of whisky and bread making – two age old crafts that use simple ingredients to create maximum flavour.

By taking people on a journey into the world of bread, Loch Lomond and Bread Ahead are helping to educate people on whisky, inspiring a new appreciation for ingredients and bringing to life the method in an innovative and simplified way. 

Specifically, the collaboration explains the role of yeast in whisky and uncovers the story of Loch Lomond’s new Distillery Edition, that has been crafted using chardonnay wine yeast, an unusual ingredient in whisky making. Chardonnay wine yeast creates an intense zesty fruit and citrus flavour when added to whisky, and a fresher, sweeter flavour when added to bread.

This first release in the new series is said to capture Loch Lomond Distillery’s innovative approach to whisky making, underpinned by its use of its unique Straight Neck Stills. The only distiller in Scotland to use the Straight Neck Stills, Loch Lomond is able to carefully manipulate the flavour at the point of distillation creating a lighter and distinctively fruit single malt, which is characterised by notes of citrus and orchard. When combined with the chardonnay wine yeast, the fruit flavours become supercharged creating an incredibly intense whisky that appeals to a broad range of whisky lovers. 

Commenting on the launch, Michael Henry, Loch Lomond Whiskies’ Master Blender, said: “There is a certain mystery to whisky-making, which is often seen as an infinitely complex form of science and art. While there are just three ingredients in whisky making – water, barley and yeast – there are endless possibilities to explore, with the most subtle changes in method creating distinctive differences in flavour, colour and alcohol concentration.”

He went onto say: “Recognising that most people don’t have the desire to delve into the highly technical details, we are setting out to work with a collection of Remarkable Makers from other industries who exude the same passion and innovation in their fields, as we do in ours. By doing so, we hope to lift the curtain on whisky making, educating consumers in a new way, simplifying the process and taking them into our world through that of other creators.” 

Limited to 265 bottles, Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 9 Year Old, is now available from the Loch Lomond Whiskies website, for a RRP of £65.00.

 

Posted by Steve Rush