The Macallan has unveiled the fourth edition of its A Night on Earth series, and it comes with an unusual influence in the form of ex-bourbon casks.
A Night on Earth is The Macallan’s holiday blend, designed for gifting from Thanksgiving through to Lunar New Year. It celebrates holiday traditions, starting with Scotland’s Hogmanay, naturally. This new expression travels to the other side of the planet to find inspiration in New Zealand’s “First Light”.
It’s believed the nation’s Pitt Island is the first inhabited place to receive sunlight on New Year’s Day. While Kiribati is the first to see the clock strike midnight, Pitt Island’s geographical position means the sun hits there moments before anywhere else.
Around 11,200 miles away, The Macallan’s whisky makers created a whisky inspired by the flavors of New Zealand, paying particular homage to its native Manuka honey. That led the team to something rather rare in terms of Macallan whisky: ex-bourbon casks.
The Macallan has been so committed to sherry-seasoned oak that bourbon casks are seldom seen in official releases. In fact, the last one may have been in 2021, when Concept No.3, inspired by surfing in California, had a healthy dose of ex-bourbon sweetness.
So, this expression shows a sweeter side of Macallan whisky, offering hints of marshmallow, caramel, vanilla and icing sugar, according to the official tasting notes.
It was around that time that we were told by one Macallan figure that the distillery had stopped buying ex-bourbon casks completely. Whether that’s still the case, we don’t know, but what’s for sure is they remain very rare in the distillery’s aged stocks.
Russell Greig, the whisky maker leading this project, said: ”This edition of A Night on Earth is about light – its cultural symbolism and its sensory warmth. Inspired by traditions and rituals that have been handed down from generation to generation, this is a whisky designed to be gifted, shared, and enjoyed with friends and family. Unmistakably Scottish at its heart, this single malt acknowledges its Antipodean narrative with a finish that is sweet and fruity, with mellow spice and toasted oak.”
A Night on Earth: The First Light will be available globally from November at themacallan.com and in specialist retailers with an SRP of £99 / $120.
