The story of The Macallan Litha begins in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, where our exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks – the greatest single contributor to our outstanding flavour and natural colour – are crafted to our exacting specification.

The journey of our exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks begins in the vineyards of Jerez de la Frontera where the Andalucian sun grows the grapes that go on to become sherry, which seasons our casks. They continue their journey to The Macallan Estate, in Scotland, where they are filled with The Macallan fruity new make spirit and the meeting of two worlds begins.

Litha means light and it was the name that the Celts gave to the summer solstice.

The solstice is a tipping point. When two forces meet for the first time, it sparks a shift in the balance of nature. It is a powerful instant, an eternal first encounter that changes everything. It makes the days longer, bringing new light, new life, and it has been celebrated since antiquity by countless cultures across the world.

The unique character and complex flavours of The Macallan Litha is derived from the use of first fill sherry seasoned oak casks, the whisky mingling with the sherry seasoned oak.

The gentle scent of vanilla and butterscotch unites with a spark of citrus over a bright canvas of tropical fruits, reminiscent of a summer’s day and the radiance of the sun’s energy.

As the flavour develops, smooth vanilla ice cream topped with a berry compote dances on the palate, beautifully balanced with warming wood spice, chocolate, salted caramel and pecans, with a lingering hint of sweet oak.

 

 

The Macallan Litha is encased in a vibrant presentation box, featuring a colourful illustration by award-winning US-based Chinese illustrator Sija Hong. This artwork represents a pure moment of creation from the first meeting of two forces.

The artwork represents the coming together of Scotland and Spain. Presenting two bold colour palettes, selected by Sija Hong with a particular journey in mind, Scotland is depicted on the right-hand side in the blue pantones, while Spain is represented on the left-hand side in the red pantones. 

The tree is a central element representing the coming together of these two worlds through maturation in first fill sherry seasoned oak casks – a pure moment of creation resulting in The Macallan Litha.

 

Image and text courtesy of Macallan.