Macallan The Harmony Collection / Intense Arabica

Released in October 2022, Intense Arabica is part of the second release from Macallan's The Harmony Collection. The project is spearheaded by the distilleries efforts to focus on sustainability.

It may be hard to imagine today, but for much of the 20th century, Macallan was primarily a constituent malt in blends. It was not until the 1980s downturn in the market that the distillery decided to focus on its single malt brand. Fortuitously, this coincided with the crest of a wave of enthusiasm for the high quality releases that the distillery had licensed to Campbell, Hope & King and Gordon & MacPhail in the 1960s and 1970s. These remain some of the most collectible on the market. While global single malt sales volume is still lead by Speyside neighbours, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, Macallan is easily the most sought after. So much so in fact, that they had to open a brand new distillery in 2018, a subterranean architectural masterpiece within the Easter Elchies estate, boasting 36 copper pot stills.

This release celebrates the flavours of the Ethiopian Arabica coffee bean.

Macallan Whisky Maker Steven Bremner worked with world renowned coffee experts to produce the perfect whisky to be paired with high quality coffee. The result has been aged in ex-Sherry European and American oak casks. 

By focusing on sustainable packaging and in homage to its coffee influence, Intense Arabica was presented in a 100% recyclable and biodegradable box which is made using natural by-products in the coffee-making process. These include sustainably sourced coffee bean husks.