For all its many distinctive flavor profiles, coconut might not be the first to come to mind as one dreams of a dram from The Macallan. That unique approach is what made it so worthwhile for the famed Scotch distillery to explore as it wraps up The Macallan Harmony Collection, Maxim can exclusively reveal.
The Harmony Collection has focused on the likes of rich flavor notes featuring Arabica coffee beans, and the closing of six whiskies in the series draws on a long history of innovation, Lead Whisky Maker Euan Kennedy told Maxim. “It set out as an exploration of telling stories through whiskey, innovating, how we look to package as well — that the whisky supports that wider story and that’s where the kind of flavor comes from,” he said on a recent Zoom call. The result, in this instance, is a handsomely packaged 46.3 percent ABV whisky with unique, breezy tropical notes in matters of flavor and aroma.
Even the label and packaging reflects vibrant tones of coconut, comprised of two single malt whiskies (one inspired by fresh coconut, one inspired by toasted coconut) priced at an SRP of $185. Of the aging process, The Macallan noted that “the natural properties of American oak heighten the presence of coconut notes, while the cask combination ensures balance, allowing this character to come through with clarity.”
Working with American oak casks that previously held bourbon, the distiller also used sherry-seasoned ex-bourbon casks in aging the final product, delivering yet another layer of complexity with dark fruit notes complementing brighter coconut and citrus notes. “So alongside the coconut, you’ve got things like hints of tropical citrus (and) a lovely kind of honeyed sweetness,” Kennedy said of what he called a “complex whisky” that’s sure to satisfy longtime fans of the brand.
The distillery went deep when it came to exploring coconut in its many forms, working once more with Jordi Roca from El Celler de Can Roca on creations from the pastry chef designed to complement the whisky in expert fashion. Longtime partners of the distiller, The Macallan previously worked with Roca and his brothers on a truly memorable Distil Your World Scotch celebrating Paris. Kennedy said the partnership “felt really natural,” calling it “a nice kind of full circle moment” for the luxury Scotch maker. In playing off flavors found in casks that are sherry-seasoned for anywhere from 18 months to two years, the Scotch company unlocked another level of both depth and rich brightness in its final product, Kennedy noted.
And although this release doesn’t feature an age statement typically favored by Scotch collectors, the use of flavor in closing out the Harmony Collection was top of mind, Kennedy said. Going with flavor and distinctive coconut in this case, the whisky maker said “allows me to…explore where we can find these flavors across a breadth of ages” in terms of casks at the distillery.
With its six iterations now covetable in their own right as the award-winning distillery closes out its Harmony Collection, it appears that more exploration of flavor and innovation is imminent. Using coconut as a flavor inspiration delivers another level of distnction, Kennedy said. “I think it allows, on the one hand, people who are maybe new to whiskey to explore what feels like quite a novel flavor, that coconut’s quite a unique thing,” he said. “Whisky making can be art and science. I think this, this really, this really, really speaks to that,” the lead whisky maker noted.
Find out more about the latest Harmony Collection release online now at The Macallan.