The Macallan was established in 1824 by Alexander Reid, a grain farmer and schoolmaster, on land whose name—'Maghellan'—blends the Gaelic 'Magh' (fertile ground) with a reference to a local monk. Until 2004, the distillery matured exclusively in Oloroso casks from Jerez; the Double Cask line marked a strategic pivot toward balancing American and European oak.
This 18-year-old expression matured in ex-Oloroso casks made from both American and European oak in roughly equal measure. That dual maturation draws character from each wood: American oak contributes vanilla and stone fruit, while European oak layers in richer, toasted spice.
On the nose, honey and dried fruit emerge, supported by ginger and toffee. The palate is fuller than younger expressions in the range, with vanilla and cocoa notes tempered by softer oak tones. The finish lingers dry, with a long tail of spice and wood.
- ABV
- 43%
- Type
- Single Malt
- Age (years)
- 18 years
- Bottle size
- 70cl
- Distillery
- Macallan
- Price indication
- Casks
- American Oak, European Oak, Oloroso Cask
- Country
- Scotland
- Region
- Speyside