The Macallan 78 Year Old The Red Collection (Bottled 2020) Bottle No. 595 / 42.2% / 0.7l

In October 2020, The Macallan Distillery thrilled whisky collectors with the release of The Red Collection. It consists of six The Macallans, the youngest 40 years old, the oldest 78 years old.

Red has a special meaning in the history of The Macallan, from the name of its founder, Alexander Reid (the Scots use the word “Reid” for redheads), through Roderick Kemp, who launched the “Choice Old” series in 1903 and, to emphasize its uniqueness, packaged it in boxes with a red print (the standard Macallan whisky was packaged in boxes with a black print), to Allan Shiach, who in 1980, for a similar reason, adorned rare vintage editions of 1938, 1940 and 1950 with a red ribbon. Each bottle in the new collection is presented in a box made of Spanish oak, the same oak in which The Macallan is aged, and lined with red Scottish leather from luxury goods manufacturer Bridge of Weir Leather. The doyen presented here, The Macallan 78 years old, the oldest whisky of all time, bears the signature of Sarah Burgess, who holds the title of “Lead Whisky Maker for The Macallan”. (Note by Ms Burgess.)

Nose: fruit cocktail, apples, peaches and grapes, lime and a touch of verbena. Notes of ancient oak and high-quality leather intertwine with dark chocolate and dried fruits, dates and raisins; after them comes a fragrant vanilla cake.

Palate: Warming notes of ginger and nutmeg prepare to fend off an onslaught of raisins, dates, prunes and almonds; oak plays the role of mediator, but the sweetness of toffee and baked apples weakens its position somewhat.

Finish: long and reflective, reminiscing all the aromas and flavors. An extraordinary experience.