Founded by Alexander Reid in 1824, The Macallan refurbished Easter Elchies House, a 485-acre highland manor in north-east Scotland, to become its first distillery. Uniquely stored in sherry-seasoned oak casks during maturation, the brand’s whiskies are given natural colours, from light oak to dark mahogany, as well as a unique mouth-feel. Renowned for its outstanding qualities, the single malt range offers a wide variety of flavours to tantilise palettes of spirit aficionados.
To bring the essence of the distillery and its whiskies to Hong Kong, The Macallan recently established its first ever global whisky-tasting space – The Macallan Room. Situated on the fifth floor of K11 Musea, the space provides a transportive experience for tasting whisky and discovering the Scottish label’s rich history and evolution.
Taking cue from The Macallan’s small metal stills, as well as from the natural colours of its spirits, the tasting room is designed in deep, rich tones, ranging from copper to burnished gold. Wooden elements spotlight the brand’s tradition of using exceptional oak casks, while the façade is embellished with chevron motifs, echoing designer Thomas White’s sketch of The Macallan Estate in 1789.
It marries together a traditional retail space with an immersive brand experience, to provide flexibility for us to tell our stories and share our whiskies, but ultimately this extends to the consumers who seek to discover The Macallan.
Jaime Martin, Managing Director of Edrington Hong Kong & Macau
One of the highlights of The Macallan Room is the 72 Years Old Single Malt, housed in a decanter, dubbed “The Genesis Decanter,” handcrafted by maestros of the famed French crystal glass manufacturer Lalique. Limited to just 600 bottles worldwide, it’s the label’s oldest whisky ever released, produced shortly after World War II and debuted in December 2019 to celebrate the new distillery and visitor experience in Scotland. As a symbol of unity between the worlds of whisky, crystal, architecture, construction and craftsmanship, its Lalique decanter is defined by clean lines and smooth curves, resembling the architectural form of the new distillery.
The Macallan 72 Years Old in Lalique - The Genesis Decanter
This autumn, The Macallan will be holding a series of whisky tasting sessions led by its brand ambassador Patricia Byott and in-house experts, guiding visitors through a tailored, palette-stimulating journey. Aside from the Double Cask 12, 15 and 18 Years, whisky lovers will also have the chance to taste the Rare Cask, for which a combination of first-fill European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks at the perfect point of maturation contribute to a well-rounded and complex drink.
For more information on The Macallan Room’s upcoming whisky tasting events, consult The Macallan’s Instagram and Facebook
Editor
Marco LeeCredit
Photo Courtesy of Macallan
