February 23, 2022: Releasing its oldest whisky ever – which is saying much for one of the oldest whisky brands in the world – The Macallan has unveiled The Reach, a single malt whisky aged for 81 years.
Crafted during World War II, The Reach was laid to rest in 1940 before The Macallan was compelled to close its doors for the first time in its history.
Its very existence is testament to the care and commitment to uncompromised excellence by The Macallan. It also pays tribute to those who strived amid great adversity to resume distilling The Macallan’s spirit, as well as the craftspeople today who continue to uphold the brand’s values.
The single malt has a deep auburn hue – hinting at the whisky’s astonishing depth. It offers notes of dark chocolate, sweet cinnamon and aromatic peat, leading on to treacle toffee, crystalised ginger and charred pineapple, before giving way to an intensely rich, sweet and smoky finish.
A rare single malt at 81 Years Old, The Reach is the oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan, crafted from a single, sherry seasoned oak cask. The dark, precious whisky is encased in an exquisite decanter created from mouth-blown, hot glass, cradled on a bronze sculpture of three hands by sculptor Saskia Robinson. The veins, nails and skin detail are recorded in extraordinary accuracy. The sculpture is cast in bronze and the glimmer of the metal contrasts beautifully with the dark amber whisky.
Each hand represents characters in The Macallan’s history and their unique story. One commemorates the Distillery workers of 1940 who crafted the spirit, even during challenging times, over eight decades ago. Another is the hand of one-time chairman, Allan Shiach, whose grandfather headed the company when this remarkable spirit was first consigned to its cask. The third is that of today’s Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell, who selected the 1940 cask, deciding that now was the time to share this whisky with the world.
The surface of the glass decanter features subtle indentations that match the fingerprints of the bronze hands which support it, while a beautiful cabinet crafted using wood from a fallen elm tree, which is thought to have been on The Macallan Estate in 1940, houses the decanter.
The packaging has been brought together by a collective of Scottish artisans, and the result is a handcrafted quartet of liquid, glass, bronze and wood that is a fitting tribute to this very special whisky.
Limited to only 288 decanters worldwide, The Reach is on display at The Macallan Estate boutique and at The Macallan domestic and travel retail boutiques. The RSP is $125,000.
“The creation of many hands, The Reach has been a truly collaborative effort. It’s also a tribute to the people who made this precious whisky, and their enduring spirit which never wavered,” says Ms. Campbell.
