The Macallan Exceptional Casks series was relaunched in 2017. The range takes its name from a number of single cask bottlings Macallan released during the 1990s, which are often described as some of "the greatest Macallan of them all."
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.
Distilled on the 4th March 2002 and bottled over 16 years later after maturing in single European oak sherry hogshead #2340 (Ref: 2018/ESH-2340/04).
Selected by Macallan Whisky Maker Sarah Burgess, this was the fourth cask to be reserved for the 2018 batch of releases on 21st December 2017.
One of only 283 bottles.