The Macallan Unveils Sixth and Final Release in The Edition Series: The Macallan Edition No.6 

A Celebration of the Legendary River Spey

(New York, September 21, 2020) The Macallan has unveiled Edition No.6, a new limited edition single malt whisky celebrating the natural wonders of The Macallan Estate, and the vibrant life force that sustains it – the River Spey. Marking the sixth and final release in The Macallan Edition Series, Edition No.6 brings together The Macallan’s Ghillie, Robert Mitchell, who is the guardian of The Macallan’s stretch of the River Spey; Hardy, the world’s most renowned fly fishing brand; and The Atlantic Salmon Trust, which has over 50 years’ experience in salmon conservation.

The Macallan Estate lies on the banks of the River Spey, one of Scotland’s most legendary rivers renowned across the world as a home to the mighty Atlantic salmon. A day on the river, with its pure water, stunning wild landscape and calmness is a once in a lifetime experience, and The Macallan Whisky Maker, Steven Bremner took his inspiration for Edition No.6 by choosing five cask styles that embody unique stories related to the river and its unparalleled natural landscape.

Crafted from a combination of American and European oak sherry seasoned casks, Edition No.6 captures the River Spey’s energy; the warm, welcoming personality of The Macallan’s Ghillie; the classic craftsmanship of Hardy; the extraordinary life of the Atlantic salmon on the beat; and the mastery of whisky making on The Macallan Estate, which has taken place since 1824. The result is a multifaceted whisky delivering aromas of fresh fruits, nutmeg and toffee merged with oak and flavors of ripe plum, vibrant sweet oranges and cinnamon, developing into spicy fresh fruits and creamy chocolate and toasted oats at the finish.

“From its early days of whisky making almost 200 years ago, The Macallan has been strongly inspired by and intrinsically connected to nature. Edition No.6 is inspired by the natural world surrounding our Distillery, in particular the vibrant and energetic River Spey”, said Steven Bremner, The Macallan Whisky Maker.  This complex single malt provides the perfect conclusion to the Edition Series as there is so much to discover in this whisky. The natural color of antique brass derived from The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks indicates the richness of flavor that awaits and there is a structure and depth that is uncovered more and more over time.”

To protect the magical sense of the Spey that lies at the heart of Edition No.6, The Macallan has launched a new charitable partnership with The Atlantic Salmon Trust to help conserve the at-risk fish, whose numbers have declined so rapidly in recent years. The Atlantic Salmon Trust is protecting wild salmon and sea trout wherever they roam, especially in places like the River Spey, by tracking their migration across thousands of km from their dominion to the open oceans.

As a guardian of one of the last sanctuaries of Scottish salmon, The Macallan is supporting The Trust’s vital conservation work on the River Spey and beyond. The Macallan is a proud custodian of its stretch of the River Spey and advocates for sustainability of the wildlife in and around it and so all fishing at The Macallan is, and always will be, catch and release.

“There has been a relentless and long-term decline in wild Atlantic salmon returning to rivers from right across the Atlantic. This sends a clear message that all is not well with the health of our rivers and oceans and collectively, we need to do all that we can to protect and nurture this iconic species for  future generations”, said Mark Bilsby, CEO at The Atlantic Salmon Trust. The Macallan is committed to safeguarding the wild salmon swimming through its Estate along the River Spey and with their support, we will be able to strengthen and expand vital projects that aim to bring more salmon back to our waters and give Atlantic salmon the future they deserve.”

The Edition Series explores the unique and defining elements which make The Macallan one of the world’s most revered single malts. First released in 2015, The Macallan Edition No. 1 is the debut expression in the Edition Series celebrating The Macallan’s unparalleled oak cask management from wood sourcing to finished, seasoned, cask. Edition No. 2 unites four masters in one spirit with a creative collaboration between our Master Whisky Maker and the three Roca brothers – co-founders of world-renowned restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca. To create the third unique expression in the series, Edition No. 3 brings to life the flavor experience of The Macallan through aroma, calling on Master Perfumer Roja Doves. The fourth release, Edition No.4, embodies the craftsmanship and pioneering design of the new Macallan Distillery and demonstrates the mastery of whisky making since 1824. The Macallan Edition No. 5 celebrates The Macallan’s extensive natural color spectrum in partnership with masters at the Pantone Color Institute™ to create a unique shade of purple that features on the packaging. Each release reveals the detail and skill of the whisky making process while sharing the story of The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks and mastery behind the perfect cask selection since 1824.

The Macallan Edition No.6 has an SRP of $150 and will be available globally starting September 2020. For further information visit www.themacallan.com

Whisky Maker’s Notes: 

ABV: 48.6%

Color: Antique brass

Aroma: Rich fresh fruits, nutmeg, ginger, chocolate, toffee, vanilla, and oak

Palate: Plum and sweet orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, balanced oak, toffee, and oats

Finish: Long fresh fruit with spices turning to creamy chocolate and toasted oats

About The Macallan 

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character. An obsession with excellence has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding, by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan unveiled its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience on its Speyside estate, increasing investment in whisky, warehousing and in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.  The striking contemporary architecture, cut into the slope of the land, takes its cues from ancient Scottish hills.  It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which has been The Macallan’s spiritual home since 1824.  The new distillery marks an important milestone, recognising the significant journey of The Macallan since 1824 and marking an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the luxury single malt.

About Atlantic Salmon Trust

Founded in 1967, the Atlantic Salmon Trust was established against a backdrop of growing concerns over the significant decline in numbers of wild Atlantic salmon. The Trust is recognised to be one of the first conservation charities to be working on behalf of wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

The Atlantic Salmon Trust continues to do all it can for the welfare of these iconic species and to see their naturally generated stocks reach sustainable levels of abundance.

In 2019, the AST launched (what was at the time) Europe’s largest acoustic tracking programme. The Moray Firth Tracking Project will run for three years and will provide valuable insights for identifying who, or what is responsible for the decline in wild Atlantic salmon. This information will allow the Trust to take action and make the required changes to ensure that future generations don’t miss out on this flagship fish.

www.atlanticsalmontrust.org

For further information about the Atlantic Salmon Trust, please contact Communications Coordinator, Lindsay Wrapson: lindsay@atlanticsalmontrust.org / 07425 410 218

Attention All Whisky Enthusiasts!

Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to announce that “25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky” is returning for the 7^th straight year. We are now taking orders for the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar, and this year we have an amazing Early Bird Offer. Pay in full for a Calendar by midnight October 15, and you will Save $50 on this year’s edition!

Normally we would have made this announcement in August, but Covid-19 and the port strike in Montreal have made it a challenge to confirm our product list and pricing, until now. In past year’s we have taken a $150 deposit for each Calendar ordered. This year rather than charge a deposit, we are offering two options to Pre-Order a KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar.

You can either Pre-Order and Pay Later (a week before it is ready for pickup you will be billed the full price $385+gst), or a very special Early Bird Pre-Pay Option ($335+gst). If you select the Early Bird Pre Pay Option you will Save $50 on the full retail price and will be charged $335+gst per Calendar now. Note there are no further discounts or promotions on the Early Bird price.

Our Kensington Wine Market 2020 Whisky Calendar makes a great gift and is a great way to get into the Holiday spirit. The 2020 Edition consists of 25 premium all-new, never before featured whiskies. There are 24 50ml bottles and a special 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask for Christmas Day.  The KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar also includes a custom logo Glencairn Single Malt Glass and a Discount Card (good for 10% off  regular-priced whisky at KWM for all of 2021).

You or your recipient can follow along every day December 1-25 (or at your own pace), as we introduce you to each whisky on our blog and through our social media channels. We are really excited about this year’s edition, and we hope you are too.

We can’t host a Whisky Calendar Launch Party in-store this year, but we will host a gathering online, on Tuesday December 1. Details will follow later in the Fall.

We encourage you to order online, but you can also purchase the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar in-store, or by phone at 403-283-8000 /888-283-9004. We anticipate we will have the Calendars ready for pickup by the start of November.

We are not taking deposits for the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar this year, instead we have two options for ordering:

1. Early Bird Pre-Pay Pricing – $335+gst – SAVE $50 until midnight October 15 by pre-paying in full for the KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar – No further discounts or promotions, but the early bird price in previous years used to only be a $35 savings!
2. Pre-Order & Pay Later – $385+gst – Secure a Calendar(s) and you won’t be charged anything until 1 week before it is ready for pickup.

Sincerely your friends at Kensington Wine Market!

1257 Kensington Road NW Calgary Alberta T2N3P8

403.283-8000 Toll Free. 888.283.9004

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

info@whisky.auction

+44 (0)20 8838 9381

whisky.auction

An Incredible Mature Expression from a Treasured Distillery
Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2020 Release” Batch #2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($299.99)

NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

Among the first batches produced after Ardbeg rebuilt their distillery back in 1997, this limited-edition 19-year-old is a piece of history from one of the most popular distilleries in Islay. The second release of “Traigh Bahn,” it follows in the footsteps of the instant bestseller from last year, but has a character all its own. In fact, one of the things that the team at Ardbeg tried to do was to make sure each release is its own distinct impression, allowing dedicated collectors to experience a unique iteration of this annual bottling. A mix of oloroso sherry casks and bourbon barrels, it has the richness and complexity that one would expect from nearly two decades of aging, and the signature style that could come from nowhere else but Ardbeg. This is our one and only allocation for the year and, as with all other top bottlings from this cult-caliber distillery, it will be gone before you know it.

Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2020 Release” Batch #2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($299.99)

Ardbeg has a storied, 200-year history and today is one of the most celebrated Islay Scotch producers. Although they were almost extinct in the 1980s, they went through almost a decade-long rebuilding and reopened their flagship distillery in 1997, quickly becoming a must-have Scotch collectible of the highest order. Their flagship 10-year has previously won Whiskey of the Year, while their limited-edition “committee” bottlings have seen similar success and are some of the most coveted in today’s market. This one-time, limited-edition release is the second under the “Traign Bhan” label, a 19-year-old Scotch that comes from some of their oldest stocks from the current-day distillery. It is bottled at 46.2% alcohol, the youngest spirit was distilled in the fall of 2000, and it was aged in a mix of sherry and bourbon casks.

ralfy review 846 Extras – To what extent does a warehouse influence whisky ?

MADE FROM SCOTLAND:  MODERN STONE AGE BREAKS INTO DRINKS INDUSTRY 

Blairhoyle based craftsman Keith Burnett has gone from cutting through giant 25 tonne rocks to hand-finishing tiny 20-millimetre cubes, in a bid to break into Scotland’s thriving drinks industry.

His range of Modern Stone Age whisky stones – designed to cool drinks without affecting their taste – are not only made in Scotland, but from its very landscape, as Keith explains:

“As well as being famous for its distilleries, Scotland is also home to some of the oldest rock formations on the planet. We saw a gap in the market for an ‘all Scottish’ product fit for our national drink. While many whisky stone products on the market are made from American soapstone, our drink stones come from the very mountains that produce some of the world’s finest whiskies. We only use local whinstone and greenschist– some of the hardest and densest stones on earth. The stones work to cool a glass of complex single malt whisky or beautiful botanical gin without diluting its distinctive taste.”

A modern-day version of the stone age man, Keith has even fashioned his own tools to perfect the manufacturing process. Keith said: “For thousands of years man has relied on stone products and they’re just as useful today. I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with machinery and spent 3-4 years creating the perfect machine to cut and shape our whisky stones, which I then finish off by hand before sending them out to customers all over the world. Unlike cutting large pieces of stone there is a lot more precision involved. Just 1 millimetre out and the stone will look lopsided. I also discovered, after lots of research and experimenting with different sizes, that 20mm cubes were best for temperature retention.”

Keith’s family have lived in Blairhoyle, near Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire, since 1842, just along the road from one of Scotland’s largest natural stone suppliers Tradstocks – where he sources all his materials.

Keith said: “I initially started out in farming but quickly realised that the type of farming I grew up with and had loved was not sustainable in more modern times. So, I moved on to construction and demolition where I marvelled at the buildings that we were dismantling for stone salvage. They were perfectly built by extremely practical and clever people without the assistance of lasers, CAD programs, global positioning systems or machinery. This sparked my interest in stone and building I have worked with stone all my life, from building and repairing drystone dykes when I was young to building new houses with stone today.”

Keith now plans to collaborate with Scottish whisky brands to create a bespoke range of stones matched to the rocks where the drinks are distilled.

For further information see www.modernstoneage.co.uk

If you were wondering when we were going to release a brace of delicious whiskies that would struggle to be more seasonally-appropriate even if they tried really hard, then you’re in luck – we’ve done it.

First up, join us in wishing a warm welcome to a 30-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey from the folks over at Redbreast. This impressive dram has spent 24 years of its maturation in a single ex-port cask, enriching Redbreast’s already notoriously-fruity character, awash with dried mango and gummi bears, with floods of dark berries and powerful spices, all offset by a touch of dark espresso and airy vanilla, and supported by a punchy 57.2% ABV.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also have a 16-year-old Highland Park matured in a single, first-fill ex-sherry butt, blending the distillery’s trademark heather sweetness and subtly-smoky notes with an abundance of autumnal wood char and layers of sweet, dark fruit.

And don’t let these two monopolise all of your attention – our ever-growing selection of exclusives includes an Irish post still whisky from Green Spot finished in Marsala casks as well as sherried Glendronachs, Longmorns, Glenlivets and more.

Redbreast 1989
30 Year Old Port Cask
TWE Exclusive
£675
BUY NOW

Matured in ex-bourbon barrels for the first six years of its three-decade slumber, this single pot still Irish whiskey was in 1995 re-racked into the port cask which has nurtured this powerfully-fruity spirit ever since.

Highland Park 2003
16 Year Old Sherry Cask
TWE Exclusive
£199
BUY NOW

Sixteen years in a single, first-fill sherry butt have, in this instance, augmented Highland Park’s heathery and subtly-smoky spirit with a flood of wood-char notes and sweet dark fruit.

SHOP ALL EXCLUSIVE WHISKIES

Auction Is Now Live!

THE LIVE AUCTION

21oo+ lots to bid on including a…

26oo+ lots to bid on including special bottlings & casks…

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

+44 (0)1463 210 427

sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com

Double Gold Dram from Darkness!

This 8-year-old single malt Scotch whisky from Darkness has been matured initially in ex-bourbon barrels, before being finished in custom-made Oloroso sherry octave casks for at least three months. Smaller sherry casks allow for a vastly increased surface area to volume ratio compared to larger sherry butts, leading to a greater cask influence that provides more concentrated and vibrant sherry notes that we’ve come to love.

£49.99
Buy Now ›