The Macallan has released Double Cask 30 Years Old into the brand’s Double Cask range.
The Double Cask aged in wood from the forests of northern Spain and southern France, where The Macallan sources its European oak. New oak from the forests of Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky in America is also transported to Spain. Both types are made into casks and toasted over an open-air fire in the cooperages of Jerez before filling with sherry wine and left to season for up to 18 months.
Once seasoned, the casks travel to The Macallan Estate in Speyside where they receive new-make spirit. Following decades of aging, The Macallan’s Whisky Mastery Team produced Double Cask from both the American and European oak casks.
The sherry seasoned American oak imparts delicate, sweet flavors, the company reports, while the European oak delivers the subtle and classic style of The Macallan.
“The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old is a modern take on our classic 30-year-old and is an exceptional aged single malt,” says Kirsteen Campbell, master whisky maker, The Macallan. “With a rich combination and depth of flavor and a complex character, it is a whisky to be savored, exhibiting notes of cinder toffee, fresh honeycomb, rich vanilla and red apples.”
The Macallan has collaborated with American artist and photographer, Erik Madigan Heck, to showcase the tastes and flavor profile of Double Cask 30 Years Old. Taking his inspiration from the natural landscape on The Macallan Estate and the flavors and natural color of the whisky, he captured imagery evoking the single malt’s character in a unique and contemporary way, the company says.
Heck’s photography set features three compositions: a collection of “abstract leaves” from an oak tree; an image of a “blue tree” representing Double Cask 30 Years Old’s character; and a still life, reminiscent of the Flemish still life paintings from the 17th century, which depicts the colors and varying textures of the flavors in the whisky.
“Nature lies at the heart of my work, and I was greatly inspired by the breath-taking natural landscape on The Macallan Estate,” says Erik Madigan Heck. “I was drawn to an oak tree and its leaves which provided the perfect subjects to evoke the seemingly simply, yet rich and complex character of Double Cask 30 Years Old and to depict the natural color of the whisky.”
“I also created a still life image featuring vibrant colors and varying textures to portray the whisky’s luscious flavors while natural light captures its depth of character,” he adds. “The whisky’s golden acorn natural color provides the focal point of the shot, and its rich tone and translucent glow influenced the color palette of the piece as a whole.”
The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old has aromas of fresh honeycomb, sweet toffee, red apple, fig and vanilla pod, according to the company-provided tasting notes. On the palate there is cinnamon, ginger, Madagascan vanilla, dried fruits and oak flavors, while the finish has sweet oak, soft spice and toffee.
The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old comes in a solid oak presentation box. It’s available globally this month for a suggested retail price of $4,000 per 750-ml. bottle.
This follows the 2021 launch of The Anecdotes of Ages Collection.
