The Macallan has unveiled its first UK domestic boutique at Harrods, a stand-out retail destination showcasing the whisky brand’s commitment to peerless craftsmanship and creative mastery in the heart of the capital.

Located in the former Baccarat Bar and next to the Harrods Fine Wines & Spirits Department, the new boutique is now home to one of the most extensive ranges of the world’s most valuable Single Malt Scotch Whisky available outside The Macallan Estate in Speyside. Products on offer include rare releases as well as limited edition expressions.

As a special Harrods‑exclusive release and to celebrate the opening of the new boutique, renowned Spanish painter and illustrator Javi Aznárez and long‑time collaborator of The Macallan, has created a distinctive packaging design for The Macallan Rare Cask 2026. Limited to just 100 bottles and available only at Harrods, this collectible edition will be released on opening day at the boutique on a first‑come, first‑served basis.

To complement the extensive product offering, a personalisation and gifting station allows guests to have their bottle purchase engraved with a name, date or inscription of choice and beautifully gift-wrapped. A multi-purpose space, the boutique also features a sampling bar and can transform into a fine dining space for private experiences, bringing the brand’s Speyside home to guests through seasonal flavours inspired by The Macallan Estate.

The boutique features artwork by acclaimed artist and designer David Carson and globally renowned pop artist Sir Peter Blake. Carson most recently created a striking new visual identity for The Macallan’s Timeless collection. His new artwork for the boutique draws on the collection’s visual language – red for European oak and white for American oak – with elements of wood and amber echoing the sherry seasoning and cask staves. Across four decades, Blake has woven The Macallan’s history into collage – each work a chapter, each character a storyteller. In this piece in the boutique, figures from previous works return, to form one final gathering on the lawn of Easter Elchies House – the spiritual home of The Macallan.

The boutique was designed in collaboration with internationally award‑winning architect Jamie Fobert – whose work includes Venice’s historic Fondaco dei Tedeschi and the National Portrait Gallery extension in London – and brings The Macallan’s retail concept, Nurtured by Nature, to life. Immersive installations throughout the space invite guests to discover the mastery of whisky making and the brand’s deep connection to nature, which has shaped The Macallan for over 200 years. Whilst botanical features and merchandising reimagine the brand’s 485‑acre Estate in Speyside.

The space offers a carefully considered experience through sight, scent, touch and taste, that reflect The Macallan’s Six Pillars – the foundations of The Macallan’s character and spirit – with design touches woven throughout to reflect these principles and The Macallan’s heritage.

The opening of The Macallan Boutique at Harrods underlines The Macallan’s continued dedication to delivering standout retail experiences for customers across the globe and follows the unveiling of a new boutique for The Macallan at Heathrow Terminal 5 in 2025.

Jaume Ferras, Creative Director, The Macallan commented: “Opening our new boutique at Harrods marks a major milestone for The Macallan, expanding our presence in London and building on our ambitions of delivering standout retail experiences for consumers across the globe. 

“In partnership with Harrods, we have been able to push boundaries and curate an incomparable retail experience, bringing craftmanship and creativity to the fore. We look forward to welcoming guests from across London and beyond, and immersing them into the world of The Macallan.”

The Macallan Boutique at Harrods represents a new chapter in the brand’s relationship with the Knightsbridge store. Previous activations within the renowned department store have included an interactive experience at Harrods to mark the release of a collection of whiskies created to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise.

Andre Lewis, Head of Buying – Food, Wine & Spirit at Harrods, commented: “We are thrilled to deepen our long‑standing relationship with The Macallan through the opening of this exceptional new boutique at Harrods. Our customers come to us in search of the world’s finest craftsmanship and most compelling luxury experiences, and The Macallan consistently delivers both. This boutique will offer an extraordinary opportunity to sample and purchase some of the rarest and most celebrated single malts, brought to life through a space that beautifully captures the spirit of the Speyside Estate. We look forward to welcoming whisky connoisseurs and curious visitors alike to discover this remarkable destination within our store.”

Tomatin 2013 13 Year Old, The Green Welly Stop Exclusive Cask #47411

Bottled exclusively for The Green Welly Stop, this Tomatin single malt was distilled on 12th April 2013 and matured for 13 years in a single first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead. Drawn from cask #47411 and bottled on 15th June 2026, this limited release is presented at natural colour and without chill filtration, allowing the full character of the cask to shine.

£79.99

Outturn: 293 |Year Bottled: 2026 | Age: 13 | Distillery/Company Tomatin |Bottler: Tomatin | Region Highland |Volume 56% |Bottle Size 70cl |Vintage: 2013

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Although Maltstock is built around our Gathering where our guests share and enjoy whiskies, we know that many of you also love Maltstock for it’s Masterclasses and Drinks with… sessions!

One Masterclass is going to be a special one where we will see two of the world’s great drinks, whisky and beer, paired. One of our Drinks with… hosts is from a very special independent bottler from Germany. Both are not to be missed!

Want to know more about it? Read more below!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan, Teun

Drinks with…

On our relaxed Saturday we will be featuring 20 minutes sessions, starting every 20 minutes, throughout the afternoon, in 3 different locations.

Our aim is to have small groups of you, our guests, in a more or less intimate, interactive and relaxed setting with the producers and/ or ambassadors to try their products, highlight tidbits, answer questions etc.

These sessions are called “Drinks with…” …and of course these sessions are included in your ticket. No need to reserve or buy a an extra ticket, just turn up at the door well in time and enjoy the sessions!

Scotch Single Malt Circle @ Maltstock

This relaxed whisky club and independent bottler from Germany has been at Maltstock for a number of years now and we always hear great positive feedback on their whiskies and relaxed Drinks with… sessions! So all the more reason to have them host sessions again!

The Circle is a community that is passionate about spreading the word about Scotland’s elite whisky. Its members discern, select carefully, and thus demonstrate their refined taste. They appreciate the value of the highest quality and are willing to pay a premium for the very best. Take your chance at Maltstock to join one of their three sessions and taste what makes their whiskies relaxed and special!

Masterclasses

This year Malstock will feature FOUR exiting and relaxed Masterclasses on Friday. Everyone with a Maltstock ticket will receive an e-mail so they can let us know their preferences. We will allocate all available seats as relaxedly as possible. You will receive your masterclass itinerary a couple of days before Maltstock starts.

Tickets for Maltstock 2026 

Get relaxed now and get your Maltstock tickets here:

https://www.maltstock.com/shop  

Mannochmore 16 Year Old Chorlton 54.7% 70cl

£105.00

A gorgeously aged, sherry cask expression from Speyside distillery Mannochmore. Drawn from a first-fill Oloroso butt, this traditional expression offers an array of dried fruit, cola, liquorice and syrup notes, with even a touch of leather starting to develop. Just 424 bottles have been released.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 612: Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a new Irish whiskey. The Boann distillery was founded in 2015 by the Cooney family in Drogheda, about 40km north of Dublin. The distillery was built in 2017, but distilling could only begin in 2019. We mainly know them from the whiskey brand The Whistler, for which they brought sourced whiskey to the market while waiting for their own distillate, but in 2024 the moment finally arrived: Boann whiskey had reached the legal age to be bottled. In the glass is their Single Pot Still, which matured in a Madeira cask.

https://youtu.be/_FZmNEw4j28

Maker’s Mark Launches Airport-Exclusive Artist Series

In time for summer travel, artist Alexandra Pacula brings iconic cityscapes to life in a limited-edition series exclusively for global travel retail

LORETTO, Ky., July 15, 2026 – Maker’s Mark, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, today announced a global travel retail exclusive series featuring custom, city-inspired labels designed by acclaimed artist Alexandra Pacula. Available for a limited time in select airports, the bespoke Maker’s Mark bottles are inspired by destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney and Melbourne,[GM1.1] inviting travelers to discover and collect each release throughout their journeys.

“At Maker’s Mark, we’ve always believed that character comes from doing things differently, and this Artist Series – City Edition brings that idea to life by capturing the distinct spirit and creative energy of iconic cities around the world,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark. “Today’s travelers are looking for experiences that feel personal and memorable, and we’re proud that each beautifully designed bottle is something they can enjoy long after their trip ends.”

Drawing on her signature style of painting inspired by long-exposure photography techniques, Pacula captures each city’s movement, light and rhythm through layered, expressive compositions. Her process mirrors the craftsmanship behind every bottle of Maker’s Mark, with hand-painted details nodding to the brand’s iconic red wax seal.

Pacula said: “Maker’s Mark has a very intentional approach to craft, and I wanted to mirror that in this body of work. I spent time in each city, immersed in its rhythm and atmosphere, and translated those impressions into expressive visuals that bring each label — and each place — to life.”

“Travel retail continues to be a key channel for premium spirits, as consumers increasingly seek exclusive and experience-led purchases during their journey,” commented Ashish Sagar, Interim General Manager, Global Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits. “With the brand’s distinctive craftsmanship, the Maker’s Mark Artist Series creates a collectible proposition that truly stands out in airport retail.”

The Maker’s Mark Artist Series – City Edition will be available beginning in Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Singapore (SIN) and Seoul (ICN) airports in July, followed by London (LHR, LGW, STN) and Paris (CDG) in August. The series will continue to roll out in Dubai (DXB), Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), and in the United States in New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) in September.
For more information, visit www.makersmark.com.

ABOUT MAKER’S MARK

Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world. In 1953, founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. broke from tradition—burning the family’s 170-year-old recipe to create a bold, balanced bourbon made with soft red winter wheat for signature sweetness and creaminess. From the start, the Samuels went to remarkable lengths to craft uncompromisingly delicious bourbon—a perfectly unreasonable spirit that endures today. Every bottle is still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand and every decision guided by the brand’s higher purpose.

Staying true to its founders’ vision, Maker’s Mark has expanded its portfolio with award-winning, super-premium expressions, including Maker’s Mark 46, Cask Strength, and Cellar Aged, as well as Private Selection, the brand’s custom barrel program. In 2025, the distillery debuted Star Hill Farm Whisky. Named World’s Best Wheat Whisky and the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification, Star Hill Farm Whisky inspired the Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance, a bold commitment to advance regenerative farming beyond its business.

Maker’s Mark is proud to be both B Corp and Regenified Certified – milestones driven by the sustainability leadership at Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, which strives to be the most endearing, culturally rich and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.

Alexandra Pacula (b. 1979, Poland) is a cityscape and landscape artist, focusing on realism through oil painting. She received her BFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, completing her MFA in painting and drawing at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Pacula is fascinated by light and its transformations. About her painting she says, “My work investigates a world of visual intoxication; it captures moments of enchantment, which are associated with urban nightlife… I recreate the feeling of dizziness and confusion by letting the paint blur and allowing shapes to dissolve. I suggest motion in order to slow down the scene and capture the fleeting moments, which tend to be forgotten.”
Represented by Gallery Henoch in New York, Alexandra Pacula’s work is in several public and corporate collections, including Harvard Law School, PACE University, and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation in Tokyo. She has frequently exhibited in solo and group exhibitions.

A Good Whisky Tasting is About Much More Than What’s in the Glass

Ask someone who’s never been to a whisky tasting what they expect, and they might imagine a room full of unbearable experts over-analysing glasses and debating obscure tasting notes. Decent tasting events are just not like that.

The best whisky tastings are full of conversation, laughter and shared discoveries. They’re communal events where everyone brings something different to the table and no two people experience a dram in quite the same way.

We asked some of our teachers and contributing experts to share a memorable whisky tasting moment. Their stories reveal why these events are about so much more than what’s in the glass.

🎬 Watch the Video

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Deanston Organic 20 Year Old American Oak 49.7% 70cl

£170.00

Big news in the quest for making more sustainable whisky: Deanston Organic 20 Year Old American Oak is here! Deanston was the world’s first certified organic single malt, and this expression is one of the oldest in the world. It’s made using 100% organic Scottish barley, distilled immediately after the distillery’s silent season to make sure there’s zero contamination with other grains. It’s then been matured in organic re-charred American oak casks which let the distillery’s citrus, waxy character shine through. Just 2,826 bottles have been released, without chill-filtration and no added colouring. A fantastic perspective on how whisky can be both delicious and less environmentally damaging.

Tasting note from Deanston:

Nose: Sweet notes of vanilla and caramel are intertwined with cedar, wood spice and hints of ripe fruits.

Palate: Rich, yet dry on the palate. Honey spice, stone fruits, toasted oak and a gentle note of freshly cut grass.

Finish: Lingering finish of desiccated coconut and a touch of cocoa.

Deep Dive into Dalmore 17 Year Old

Sherry cask maturation has long been a hallmark of Dalmore’s style, and the distillery’s latest release continues that tradition. The new 17 year old spent 12 years in bourbon casks before a 5-year finish in three different types of sherry casks, marking the first permanent addition to the Principal Collection since 2022. Read our review.

ralfy review 1139 – Holyrood Distillery “Embra’ @43.6%vol: