The Macallan Edition Series Culminates With No. 6, Inspired by the Macallan Estate and the River Spey

The Macallan has just released Edition No. 6, a limited-edition single malt whisky that celebrates the natural wonders of The Macallan Estate, the unique land where the distillery is located and which lies on the banks of the River Spey, one of Scotland’s most legendary rivers and home to the Atlantic salmon.

“Edition No. 6 marks the sixth and final release in the Edition Series,” says The Macallan brand advocate Hans Eckstein in a spirited online tasting session with the media. “There is a limited and finite number to the Edition Series to retain the series’ integrity,” adds Eckstein.

The Macallan’s whisky maker Steven Bremner took inspiration from the exceptional river in creating Edition No. 6, and chose five cask styles (a combination of American and European oak sherry-seasoned casks), that embody their collaborators and the unique stories related to the river and its breathtaking landscape. “From its early days of whisky-making almost 200 years ago, The Macallan has been strongly inspired by and intrinsically connected to nature,” he says. “It is the force that flows through everything we do at The Macallan and our whisky is enriched by its powerful presence. Edition No. 6 is inspired by the natural world surrounding our distillery, which has so much to offer and enjoy, in particular the River Spey, which is so vibrant and full of energy.”

The Edition No. 6 is a versatile spirit, and can be enjoyed on its own, with a couple of drops of water, or on the rocks, as well as in cocktails. The Atlantic Voyage, a cocktail mix, was included in the tasting kit sent to the media to show the whisky’s flexibility. Made with Edition No. 6, Manzanilla Sherry, and sea buckthorn syrup, the twist on the classic drink celebrates the salmon’s journey from the river to the ocean and back where the River Spey freshwater meets the saltwater of the Atlantic.

Coming at 48.6% ABV (alcohol by volume), Edition No. 6 has the highest ABV compared to the earlier editions and is a powerful presence to cap off the Edition Series. The complex whisky has a rich aroma of fresh fruits, toffee, warm spices (like nutmeg and ginger), oak, with notes of plum, sweet oranges, warm spices, toffee, and vanilla on the palate, and a long spicy, fruity, and chocolaty finish.

Pair Edition No. 6 with food that have a bit of a salty briny note, like uni (sea urchin), smoked abalone, or even salted caramel.

Eckstein occasionally enjoys the Edition No. 6 in classics or a Rob Roy. “You do have to make sure that the eventual cocktail is balanced,” he says. “Just like a food pairing, you will need to ensure that the mixers and the whisky don’t cancel each other out or overpower each other.”

The creation of this whisky brings together The Macallan’s ghillie Robert Mitchell, Hardy —the world-renowned brand of fly fishing gear—and The Atlantic Salmon Trust, which has been involved in salmon conservation for over five decades.

Robert Mitchell, as The Macallan’s ghillie, is the guardian of The Macallan’s area of the River Spey. “We are proud custodians of our one-and-three-quarter mile stretch of the River Spey and advocate for the sustainability of the wildlife in and around it and so all fishing at The Macallan is catch and release,” he says about his role in caring for the river.  

The Macallan also launched a new charitable partnership with The Atlantic Salmon Trust to help conserve at-risk fish, with its numbers declining rapidly in recent years. The Atlantic Salmon Trust protects wild salmon and sea trout by tracking their migration across thousands of kilometers from their territories to the open oceans.

The Macallan Edition Series is an annual limited edition series that explores the unique and defining elements which make The Macallan one of the world’s most revered single malts. Each release reveals the detail of whisky making and showcases the skill of the whisky maker, while sharing the story of The Macallan’s oak casks and mastery behind the cask selection since 1824.

Edition No. 1 showcased the influence of The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks. Edition No. 2 was a creative collaboration between Macallan and the three Roca brothers, co-founders of world-renowned restaurant El Celler de Can Roca. Edition No. 3 was all about aroma and collaboration with master perfumer Roja Dove to create the third unique expression in the series. Edition No. 4 was inspired by the craftsmanship and pioneering design of the new Macallan distillery. Edition No. 5 was a homage to The Macallan’s natural color and was a collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute to create a uniquely bold shade. Edition No. 6 is the excellent conclusion to the series.

The Macallan Edition No.6 is available in the Philippines for Php 9,500+++ and can be purchased from online and selected retailers. Follow The Macallan on Instagram and the hashtags #TheMacallanPH and #MacallanCreates for more updates.