The Macallan has unveiled Edition No.6, a new limited edition single malt whisky celebrating the natural wonders of The Macallan Estate, and the River Spey.
Marking the sixth and final release in The Macallan Edition Series, Edition No.6 tells the story of the land in which the distillery sits, as well as the famous river.
The whisky brings together The Macallan’s Ghillie, Robert Mitchell; 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, renowned across the world as a home to the Atlantic salmon.
The Macallan’s Ghillie, Robert Mitchell is the guardian of The Macallan’s stretch of the River Spey and takes great pride in his role caring for the river.
He said: “A day on the River Spey is supremely special. You feel that you are escaping from everything and truly connecting with nature and with our Distillery completing this stunning landscape, there is no other place in the world capable of drawing so many wonders together.
"We are proud custodians of our one-and-three-quarter mile stretch of the River Spey and advocate for sustainability of the wildlife in and around it and so all fishing at The Macallan is catch and release.”
Inspired by the experience offered by the Spey, The Macallan whisky maker, Steven Bremner, created Edition No.6 by choosing five cask styles that embody unique stories related to the river and its unparalleled natural landscape.
The team at Macallan say that that whisky is: "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 flavours of ripe plum, vibrant sweet oranges and cinnamon, developing into spicy fresh fruits and creamy chocolate and toasted oats at the finish."
Steven Bremner added: “From its early days of whisky making almost 200 years ago, The Macallan has been strongly inspired by and intrinsically connected to nature.
"It is the force that flows through everything we do at The Macallan and our whisky is enriched by its powerful presence. Edition No.6 is inspired by the natural world surrounding our Distillery, which has so much to offer and enjoy, in particular the River Spey, which is so vibrant, and full of energy.
“This complex single malt provides the perfect conclusion to the Edition Series as there is so much to discover in this whisky. The natural colour of antique brass derived from The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks indicates the richness of flavour that awaits and there is a structure and depth that is uncovered more and more over time.”
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 kilometres 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 Edition Series explores the unique and defining elements which make The Macallan one of the world’s most revered single malts.
Each release reveals the detail of whisky making and showcases the skill of the whisky maker, while sharing the story of The Macallan’s oak casks and mastery behind the cask selection since 1824.
The Macallan Edition No.6 has an RRP of £95 and will be available at The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and other specialist retailers from September 29th 2020.
For more information visit The Macallan website.
