The Macallan has unveiled a new distillery and visitor experience, officially opening June 2, 2018.
Located on the Easter Elchies estate, the property has been home to The Macallan since 1824.
The Speyside distillery was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, known for their work on projects such as the Terminal 4 Madrid Barajas Airport and International Towers in Sydney.
Edrington, The Macallan’s parent company, is investing £500 million ($674 million approx.) in the brand, of which the $186-million distillery is the centerpiece. This program increases investment in whisky, warehousing and in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.
Announced in 2012, the project build began in December 2014, taking three years and six months total to complete.
Elgin-based construction company Robertson has delivered the architectural design, working with 25 contractors to bring the vision for the new distillery and visitor experience to life. The architecture is cut into the slope of the land, “taking cues from ancient Scottish hills and maximizing the aesthetic beauty of the building,” the company says, while “minimizing the visual impact on the Speyside landscape, which has been classified as an ‘Area of Great Landscape Value’.”
The new stills within the working distillery were crafted by Scottish coppersmiths Forsyths, who have been making stills for The Macallan since the 1950s – the new stills are an exact replica of the originals. The new distillery will allow for production to increase.
“When the doors open in June, we expect this new Macallan enterprise to deliver significant benefits for the tourism industry, Scotch whisky exports, and the economy,” says Ian Curle, chief executive, Edrington.
Added Ken Grier, creative director, The Macallan, “As The Macallan has grown globally it has been very important that we make sure we can sustain demand for this wonderful amber liquid. We’ve taken exceptional care in making sure that the spirit that is produced in the new distillery is identical to the spirit that we produced in our previous distillery. This is the beginning of a really exciting new chapter in the evolution of this wonderful brand that is The Macallan.”
Photos by Ivan Gavan, courtesy of The Macallan.