East Meets West With The Macallan’s Stellar Range Of Single Malt Whiskies

Exquisite craftsmanship, incomparable character, and unmatched quality define The Macallan’s stellar range of single malt whiskies. 

One of the world’s most sought-after single malt whisky brands, The Macallan has proudly announced its special collaboration with renowned Michelin-starred Chef Vineet Bhatia, realised through a 12-course tasting and pairing menu at Ziya in The Oberoi, Mumbai. Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Ever since then, it has built a reputation as the producer of one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.

A Private Tasting

In a private, one-off event hosted on April 20 by Chef Bhatia and Jodie Marriott, Brand Education Manager at The Macallan–The Middle East, Africa and India, guests relished a bespoke menu featuring a marriage of Indian spices with the subtle yet distinct flavour profile of The Macallan. The chef expressed his joy about the collaboration saying, “Coming back to India and curating this menu for The Macallan is an introspective experience. This association is even more special as it takes place at Ziya, where I started my career. It truly is a full-circle moment for me! It’s delightful to partner with a brand with a history like The Macallan, which focusses on fine flavour, and their mastery and dedication to perfection is unparalleled. Bringing The Macallan and its unmatched perfection to India through my menu is a testament to the global identity of Indian food, and this collaboration is the perfect union of Scottish and Indian aesthetic influences.”

Creating The Macallan Single Malts

Recognised for their unmatched quality and incomparable character, the exceptional single malts of The Macallan are a reflection of the brand’s commitment to the mastery of wood and spirit. From the signature ranges available globally to limited-edition whiskies, each bottle comes with a rich story to tell. Chef Bhatia aptly embodied the brand’s essence of ‘crafted without compromise’ in his ingenious culinary pairings.

The creation of The Macallan’s range draws on vital contributing influences from Europe and North America, and their natural raw materials—combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. The brand also takes pride in its oak casks, for which it is world-renowned. Sourced, crafted, toasted, and seasoned under the watchful eye of The Macallan Master of Wood, the hand-picked casks are delivered to the demanding specifications of The Macallan Master Distiller. It is this ancient oak that makes all the difference in the natural colour, aroma, and flavour of The Macallan’s single malt whiskies.

In a conversation with Jodie Marriott, we dig even deeper into the nuances of whisky making and the two major categories. In simple terms, single malt whisky is spirit from a single distillery and uses barley as its natural ingredient. Blended whisky is a mixture of spirits from various distilleries, and its natural ingredients are a variety of grains (barley, maize, etc.). “All of The Macallan single malt whisky starts its journey as ‘new make spirit’—a clear spirit with flavours of fruit, bread, and malt. This spirit is 63.5% abv and has no colour. This is then carefully added to The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks, European and American oak sherry-seasoned casks. The Macallan Mastery Team, over the period of maturation—completely dependent on the cask itself—samples each cask to ensure the highest quality of 100% natural colour and flavour. Our exceptional oak casks can impart up to 85% of the flavour of our single malt whisky and 100% of the colour. The Macallan is a 100% natural product,” she explains.

The Macallan Double Cask involves two oaks, creating the perfect harmony within one exceptional single malt whisky. “Our Double Cask whiskies are aged in two types of oak, in specially selected hand-crafted casks seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry. American oak imparts delicate flavours of vanilla, citrus, and butterscotch. European oak delivers the unmistakable subtle spice of The Macallan. Once matured, two exceptional whiskies unite to create a distinctive single malt with a sweeter, warmer taste and character,” reveals Marriott. On the other hand, The Macallan Sherry Oak is regarded as the epitome of the brand. Predominantly, European sherry oak casks impart flavours of cinnamon, ginger, and rich dried fruits—a true taste of The Macallan’s history and heritage.

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