Macallan expands Double Cask whisky range
Single malt Scotch brand The Macallan has unveiled two new whiskies: Double Cask 15 Years Old and Double Cask 18 Years Old.
The Double Cask range first launched in 2016 with The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old. The series uses American and European oak Sherry-seasoned casks to mature the whiskies. Both bottled at 43% ABV, The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old will be priced at RRP £100 (US$125) and The Macallan 18 Years Old will have an RRP of £250 (US$313). They will be available from specialist retailers such as The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and The Whisky Shop. Kirsteen Campbell, master whisky maker at The Macallan, said: “Bringing together American and European oak Sherry-seasoned casks to achieve the perfect balance of flavours is incredibly exciting for the whisky mastery team. “With Double Cask 15 Years Old, the delicate and indulgent flavours of American oak including honey, citrus and chocolate balance The Macallan’s more traditional characteristics of rich fruits, Sherry and wood spice. “The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old offers slightly more complexity, with raisin and sultana subtly balanced by warming oak spice. “Oak influence is the single greatest contributor to the quality, natural colour and distinctive aromas and flavours at the heart of The Macallan’s single malts.” The casks used to mature each whisky in the Double Cask range use wood from northern Spain and the French Pyrenees, and new oak from Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky in the US. The wood is then transported to Spain where it is transformed into casks and filled with Sherry. Once seasoned, the casks are taken to The Macallan Estate in Speyside, Scotland, where they are filled with new make spirit, before the team selects the ideal casks to blend into the Double Cask range.
