Macallan release concludes anniversary celebrations

To end its year of bicentennial celebrations, The Macallan has unveiled a limited edition single malt, A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera.

The Scotch whisky marks the third release in the brand’s A Night on Earth Series, and rounds off a year of ‘exceptional’ 200th anniversary celebrations, which has included activations, partnerships and special releases.

The new single malt is inspired by southern Spanish traditions which are said to ‘encourage reflection of time passed and celebration of the future’ as the year comes to a close.

A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera was matured in a combination of European and American Sherry-seasoned oak casks, produced to The Macallan’s ‘exacting’ specifications.

The combination delivers a richness and sweetness on the palate, with notes of pastry, grapes and anise. These flavours are said to have been inspired by the Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes before the start of the New Year, as well as the traditional Jerez pastry, pestiños – a rich, fried dough with sugar and aniseed or honey.

Steven Bremner, whisky maker, commented: “Jerez plays a crucial role in The Macallan’s past, but also present and future. As a whisky maker, having been able to tell part of that story through a whisky has been wonderfully rewarding. A combination of European and American Sherry-seasoned casks has enabled us to capture the flavours, traditions and María’s memories of New Year in Jerez de la Frontera, the home of Sherry wine.”

The Macallan collaborated with artist María Melero, a native of Jerez, to create the distinctive designs that adorn the release. Her artwork was chosen to ‘enhance the unboxing experience’, in a bid to make it ‘as memorable as the whisky itself’.

The outer design features a crimson sky and a vivid sunset with Sherry wine vineyards, as well as roses that grow in the vineyards and act as a natural warning system of potential threats to the soil or the vines.

Upon opening, consumers will find a display of ‘azulejos’ ­– traditional Jerez wall tiles – all featuring icons representing celebrations and meaningful moments for The Macallan and Jerez, from casks and stills to oranges to vine leaves.

The inner packaging continues to tell this story, with grapes from the Jerez vineyards pictured throughout.