Penelope Rosé Cask Finish is the first installment in our Cooper Series which takes our straight whiskeys on a world tour, pairing Penelope with wine casks from the finest wine making regions. Sweet and delicate, Rosé Cask Finish marries our signature straight bourbon whiskey with hand-selected French Rosé wine casks from the Southern Rhône region, bringing together a truly unique alliance of flavor. 

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: Candied fruit and cream, floral and herbal notes

Forward Notes: Sweet and refreshing hints of vanilla and viscous cream

Body: Creamy sweetness transitions from the forward notes and into the body, herbal, floral and strawberry cream

Finish: Rich creamy vanilla with hints of strawberry. Savory finish with lingering notes

BOURBON FACTS

Type & Proof: Four Grain | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 94 Proof | Non Chill-Filtered

Process: Blend of 3 bourbon mash bills comprised of four grains (Corn, Wheat, Rye, and Malted Barley) finished in French Grenache Rosé Wine Casks from the Southern Rhône region of France.

Age/Barrel Char: 4-5 Years Old | #4 Staves, #2 Heads | Mash Bill | 76% Corn | 14% Wheat | 7% Rye | 3% Malted Barley

The story of Nevada H & C Distilling Co. begins in 2004 when the screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh met co-founder Aaron Chepenik in a bar in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. They quickly realized they had the same vision of opening a bar, opening The Griffin together. After a couple years of sampling their inventory, they began discussing what they liked and didn't like about the bourbons and vodkas they were selling. One night, the idea of creating their own spirits popped up, which eventually led to them opening the first distillery in the city of Las Vegas. The City Council had to create a license especially for them since none existed beforehand. It took them 6 years of gathering equipment and setting it up, with several hurdles along the way. The bright side was that by the time they opened their doors they had several high-rye bourbons ready, which meant they could begin operating immediately. They have two brands under their belt now, both with several medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Silver Dollar American Vodka and Smoke Wagon. The latter comprises several bourbons, including the Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon Whiskey which was released in 2019. Their entry-level expression showcases the signature Smoke Wagon profile with sweet notes and rye spice. The high-rye mash bill spirit was racked on the top 2 floors of their warehouse and never rotated, letting the hot summer days work their magic on the wood and the liquid within. Bottled without chill-filtration at 92.5 proof, it has won a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 edition of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

The story of Nevada H & C Distilling Co. begins in 2004 when the screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh met co-founder Aaron Chepenik in a bar in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. They quickly realized they had the same vision of opening a bar, opening The Griffin together. After a couple years of sampling their inventory, they began discussing what they liked and didn't like about the bourbons and vodkas they were selling. One night, the idea of creating their own spirits popped up, which eventually led to them opening the first distillery in the city of Las Vegas. The City Council had to create a license especially for them since none existed beforehand. It took them 6 years of gathering equipment and setting it up, with several hurdles along the way. The bright side was that by the time they opened their doors they had several high-rye bourbons ready, which meant they could begin operating immediately. They have two brands under their belt now, both with several medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Silver Dollar American Vodka and Smoke Wagon. The latter comprises several bourbons, including the Smoke Wagon Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. It's a high-rye bourbon that was aged in hand-picked barrels at the heart of their old warehouse, ensuring the consistency of its flavor. It's a blend of their younger, rye-forward vintages with smoother, creamier, and sweeter older whiskey. Bold and intense, this expression is bottled at 100 proof and has received a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2016, 2017, and 2020.

Rabbit Hole Distilling, founded by Kaveh Zamanian, produces a beautiful range of award-winning spirits. Their bespoke 24 ft Vendome Copper & Brass still was custom-built only a few blocks from their distillery and their bourbon and rye whiskeys are 100% Kentucky made, crafted to create a unique drinking experience. They produced their first barrel from their very own mix of carefully selected grains, which are mashed and fermented at ideal temperatures to preserve certain precise flavors and aromas, before being distilled without compromise. "My heart and soul go into every single drop of liquid I create, and all of it is precious to me. Yet among the vast number of barrels I laid down when I began Rabbit Hole, years later I discovered a few exceptional barrels whose rye had a nearly transcendent quality. Those are the barrels I harvested for the launch of Founder's Collection and this is the Kentucky rye whiskey that Ive created for my first cask-strength offering," says Zamanian. The release comes in an exquisite gift box with an embossed signature of the founder as well as the bottle number on a ribbon label. The cork features his family crest with the family motto "Amare et Opus" (Love and Work) inscribed. A total of 1,315 bottles of this luxurious expression are available.

Nestled near the village Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands of Scotland inside the picturesque Glenlivet estate, at the heart of the Speyside region, sits Tomintoul Distillery. Tomintoul Distillery was built in 1964. The distillery uses traditional techniques that stretch back hundreds of years. The production is overseen by Master Distiller Robert Fleming, whose family has been making whisky in the Speyside Glenlivet region for four generations. Robert got his start in the whisky industry in 1974, where he gained experience from several different distilleries, before coming to Tomintoul, where he has been for over 20 years. Known as the "gentle dram," the distillery is surrounded by fresh air and pure water, these elements are imparted onto their whiskies, giving them a special Highland character. Tomintoul is made with natural ingredients and crafted with water sourced from the Ballantruan spring. Tomintoul uses unpeated barley to make their whiskies, with the exception of their Tomintoul Peaty Tang, a small batch peated malt made only twice a year. The purest middle part of the "run" and stored in a "spirit safe" which is under the control of "Her Majesty's Customs & Excise and so has to stay locked." The heads and tails of the spirit are re-distilled, while the pure middle bit goes back into casks to mature. Tomintoul is quite a sustainable outfit, very little gets wasted during production. Tomintoul uses oak wood for maturation, with about 2% of their whisky getting sent to the angels. They recycle the cold water used to cool the hot vapor that rises from the spirit to heat the wort. It is also mixed with the leftover barley husks and made into a syrup that is used to feed cattle. The remains that are left over after secondary distillation are also used as fertilizer for the next year's barley crop. Tomintoul has a solid core range of whiskies, aged from a 10-year-old to their vintage 1976 Single cask. The majority of Tomintoul expressions are made by meticulous marrying together of selected casks, with the exception of their Tomintoul Vintage cask, which is a single cask release. The Tomintoul 25 Year Old spent at least a quarter of a century in a selection of the finest ex-bourbon American oak casks.

Introducing Limited Release #01 from “The Rare Casks” series, featuring some of the world’s rarest casks, finished across a variety of years and released in small quantities within the U.S.

Bushmills 28 Year Old Single Malt Cognac Cask is the result of over 400 years of whiskey-making experience. This extremely rare, small quantity whiskey is rested in hand-selected ex-bourbon and sherry barrels for 11 years, & finally finished in Cognac casks for 17 years.

TASTING NOTES

Expertly crafted by Master Blender Helen Mulholland. On the nose, this whiskey introduces itself with an aroma of sweet, spicy wood. On the palate, deep, nuanced flavors of dried fruit intersperse with hints of almond and cinnamon.

Situated in the Orkney archipelago in Northern Scotland, Highland Park Distillery was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson. The name of the distillery is derived not from the region of Scotland known as The Highlands the Orkney islands are not a part of the Highlands but rather from the region known as High Park, where the distillery was founded. Highland Park is an incredible longstanding whisky house, and they pride themselves on their rich Norse heritage, an essence which is reflected in their craft. Today, over two centuries after its founding, Highland Park Distillery remains one of the few Scottish distilleries that continues to hand-turn, malt, and peat its own barley, using locally cut peat from the nearby Hobbister Moor. The malt is peated to 20 parts per million phenols, and then mixed with unpeated malt produced on the Scottish mainland. "You have to be careful here on the malting floor," says Eric Tait, Highland Park's Maltman. "You find it can get a wee bit slippery underneath. I have to turn the malt every eight hours to prevent the roots getting tangled and to get it all aerated properly. The airing also helps it to grow. The malt will be on the floor for seven days, and I'm running five floors at the moment." After malting the barley, Highland Park Distillery smokes it using peat sourced from Hobbister Moor, a peat bog located approximately seven miles from the distillery. Hobbister Moor peat is sourced from floral heather bushes, which burn hotter and cleaner than the grassy peats of Islay. Also, the peat sourced from Hobbister Moor has greater derivatives of carbohydrates and a lower concentration of lignin than peat from Islay, giving Highland Park's peat a unique chemical fingerprint. The peat is "absolutely fundamental in understanding the flavor of Highland Park Whisky," says Russell Anderson, the distillery manager. Together with Orkney's unique environment (the temperate, moist climate of the archipelago results in an even maturation process), the peat gives Highland Park Whisky its traditional malty flavors that are tempered by an ever-so-subtle touch of smoke. Fans of Highland Park and cask-strength whisky will be glad to know that the distillery is adding annual cask-strength releases to their permanent lineup. Highland Park Cask Strength No.1 is the first in the series that is meant to showcase the casks' influence in its pure, unadulterated form. "I want to give everyone who loves Highland Park the chance to experience our single malt whisky in its purest form by bottling 'straight from the cask but allowing you to choose the strength you want to drink this special single malt," says Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion. The different-aged sherry-seasoned American oak casks are hand-selected by him and the spirit is bottled without chill-filtration at 126.6 proof.

Situated in an industrial complex on the outskirts of Denver, Leopold Bros. Distillery is the brainchild of Todd Leopold. After receiving his diploma in Malting and Brewing from the Siebel Institute in Chicago, Todd moved to Germany and began working at the Doemens Academy of Brewers and Maltsters in Munich. Then, he apprenticed at four different breweries and distilleries in Germany, before moving to Kentucky to study distilling. In 2008, Todd, along with his brother Scott, moved back to his parents' home in Littleton, Colorado and opened the doors to Leopold Bros. Distillery. Together, the Leopold Brothers attempt to marry chemistry with poetry and it's working. Leopold Bros. American Small Batch Whiskey is made using a traditional sour mash, which is distilled for an entire day in order to extract the full, round flavors of the locally-sourced corn and rye. After distilling the whiskey twice, Todd brings it to 86 proof before barreling it in charred, American oak barrels. By proofing the whiskey prior to barreling it, Leopold is able to ensure that more of the whiskey comes into contact with the barrel, giving it smoother and more robust notes of brown sugar and molasses. The finest blackberries from the Rocky Mountain region are harvested over the summer, juiced, and blended with their small batch whiskey. The result is a rich spirit with notes of vanilla, raisin, and oak imparted by the charred American barrels. This whiskey is naturally colored by the barrel and blackberry juice, and bottled by hand to maintain the integrity of the sweet blackberries and soft finish. This Leopold Bros. whiskey is proudly made with real fruit, and no artificial preservatives. As such, the fruit will naturally oxidize over time. Enjoy within 60 days of opening if left open at room temperature. To preserve your whiskey longer, place it in a refrigerator for up to 120 days. 

Lineage is a marrying of the traditional Scotch Single Malts that have long been an inspiration to us with innovative approaches to grain and maturation to celebrate Texas provenance. Made from both Scottish and Texas-grown barley and aged in both refill and new oak barrels, Lineage celebrates both old and new traditions.

Tasting Notes

NOSE: Sweet and indulgent, sourdough starter and cream soda, mulled cider, bruised bananas and peaches, tea tree

TASTE: caramelized sweetness, soft oak, manuka honey, chestnuts and hint of red wine reduction

FINISH: late palate builds into the transition to finish, slight prickle with more tea tree, black tea and hint of cinnamon

Matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectable Ardbeg series, 19 Years Old Batch 3 is the latest expression. This sublime third batch is, like the bottles before it, is inspired by Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach.

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible – balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. However, the story behind this rare aged liquid is what truly sets it apart…

A whisky resigned to the furthest reaches of the Ardbeg Warehouse, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 3 was one of the only spirits in the Distillery’s history to be bottled in the midst of a global lockdown. Having spent months on end behind closed doors, this unprecedented bottling is now ready to come out from the dark… and into the light.

Non chill-filtered at 46.2% ABV.

Color: Rose Gold.

Nose: In this whisky, faint waves of scented woodsmoke mingle with sea spray and pine resin. Wisps of aniseed toffee and sweet lilies follow on the breeze while fresh citrus zest laps over notes of cayenne pepper. With a splash of water, waxy notes and charcoal flow into droplets of classic Sherry and linseed oil.

Palete: A rush of rich, sappy textures is followed moments later by classic sweet smokiness. Tarry rope and treacle toffee plunge the palate into a second wave of soot and aniseed twists. Smoke bobs on the horizon, while smoked brown sugar, walnuts and spices gently dissolve away.

Finish: A long, unhurried finish carries bitter almonds and clove in its wake, before slowly drifting away.

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1876, and just a few short years later, the Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand would emerge with an equally-rich story. J.B. Dant, legendary distiller and son of J.W. Dant, first began distilling in the late 1800s, using a "log still" instead of the more popular yet more expensive copper pot stills (a log still is made by hollowing out a tree trunk and lining the interior with copper pipes, a cheaper yet still effective way of distilling). As Dant's Yellowstone brand gained popularity in Kentucky, he was able to purchase other nearby distilleries and formalize his process. In the early 1900s, it was through this expansion that Dant began working more closely with M.C. Beam of the illustrious Beam family. Together, Dant and Beam operated their network of facilities as the Yellowstone Distillery and continued to produce Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for "medicinal purposes" throughout Prohibition. Although the Yellowstone brand changed hands several times throughout the 20th century (first to Diageo and recently to Luxco) and eventually fell out of favor, Luxco, along with the Beam family's new Limestone Branch Distillery, has recently revitalized the brand, unearthing an old Beam family recipe and partnering with Paul and Steve Beam to create a spectacular bourbon that pays homage to the original. The annual Limited Edition series of straight bourbons from Yellowstone has been around since 2015. The blended bourbons are on the experimental side, having been aged in (sometimes re-charred, even multiple times) wine casks, resulting in unique expressions. The 2020 edition is a 7-year-old small-batch affair that was finished in French armagnac casks, imparting the bold, oaky, and sweet bourbon with toffee, butterscotch, and chocolate notes.

The Fukano Distillery stands in Hitoyoshi City on the island of Kyushu, Japan. It was founded in 1823 and is located in the Kyushu mountain region that is famed for its pristine nature and exceptionally-pure water. The first distillery in the Kumamoto Prefecture to mature the traditional Japanese rice spirit shochu in barrels, this process was first put into practice by Chizuru Fukano, the current president's mother. Now in their fifth generation of Fukanos, the distillery is led by Shigeruriku Fukano. Their whisky is produced using a combination of malted and unmalted rice using a pot still. The limited-edition releases see only a few casks bottled each year, which include spirits that have been aged in various oak casks. Distilled, matured, and bottled in Japan, Fukano whiskies are only sold in export markets. The Fukano 2020 Edition is bottled at 81.2 proof and boasts a complex profile with tropical fruit, rice, spices, vanilla, and caramel notes. 

Lucky Seven Spirits was founded by best friends Michael Lahalin and John Pals. Both bourbon fans and cinema aficionados, the pair settled on the moniker Lucky 7, named after the legendary Stage 7 of the Warner Brothers lot, where countless classics such as Casablanca were filmed. Since the giant stage got a reputation for producing so many hits, it got the nickname "Lucky Stage 7." The pair sources and blends rare bourbons, only using the finest juice they can find and releasing them as limited editions: 12 YO "The Hold Up," 6 YO "The Jokester," and 12 YO Single Barrel "The Proprietor." They have won several medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, among others. As befits the Hollywood and movie history that permeates Lucky Seven, they have also created a series of short films that accompany each expression. The luxurious decanter bottles include several nods to Old Hollywood, as well as real 22-karat gold. The Lucky Seven 'The Holiday Toast' expression is a limited release that is perfect for the holiday season. This Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey was aged in heavily-toasted new American oak barrels and is bottled at 115 proof. With notes of cinnamon, mulled cider, and baking spices, it's a unique yet serious whiskey that adds a festive touch without being gimmicky.

The Glenfarclas distillery is a family business in its truest sense, having been in the hands of the Grant family for 6 generations. The distillery, which started its operations before 1791 and was first granted a license in 1836, was bought by John Grant in 1865. Grant, a well-known cattle breeder, first leased the distillery to his distant cousin John Smith. When Smith left in 1870 to start the Cragganmore distillery, John's son George took over. In 1890 George died only a year after his father, and left the distillery to his widow and two sons, John and George. George's sons, George S. Grant and John P. Grant incorporated Glenfarclas as a private limited company in 1947, and a few years later George was appointed the chairman of the company, staying at the helm for 52 years. The early years of George's tenure were marked by rapid growth and expansion, with the production doubling due to high demand from blenders. In the late 1960s, demand for whisky started to decline, and Glenfarclas lost its biggest client. George made the wise decision to put aside more stock for the distillery's own bottling instead of relying heavily on the demand from blenders. This resulted in the distillery now having an abundance of aged stock, and their warehouses currently hold casks of the past seven decades. Now the distillery is run by the 5th and 6th generation of the family, still faithful to the vision of creating the finest Highland single malt whisky in the Speyside way. With over 150 years of experience in the family, the distillery produces a traditional Highland malt with a heavy sherry influence using artisan methods handed down through generations. Glenfarclas is one of the few distilleries using direct fired stills, and their six stills are the biggest in Speyside. The spirit is distilled twice before being put in casks, which are kept in traditional dunnage warehouses. Glenfarclas's 10-year expression is aged in the finest European oak casks used once for Oloroso sherry, which are personally picked by John Grant at a family-owned bodega in Spain. The youngest of the eight whiskies in the distillery's aged range has a depth and finish you would expect from a much older drum.

The Glenfarclas distillery is a family business in its truest sense, having been in the hands of the Grant family for 6 generations. The distillery, which started its operations before 1791 and was first granted a license in 1836, was bought by John Grant in 1865. Grant, a well-known cattle breeder, first leased the distillery to his distant cousin John Smith. When Smith left in 1870 to start the Cragganmore distillery, John's son George took over. In 1890 George died only a year after his father, and left the distillery to his widow and two sons, John and George. George's sons, George S. Grant and John P. Grant incorporated Glenfarclas as a private limited company in 1947, and a few years later George was appointed the chairman of the company, staying at the helm for 52 years. The early years of George's tenure were marked by rapid growth and expansion, with the production doubling due to high demand from blenders. In the late 1960s, demand for whisky started to decline, and Glenfarclas lost its biggest client. George made the wise decision to put aside more stock for the distillery's own bottling instead of relying heavily on the demand from blenders. This resulted in the distillery now having an abundance of aged stock, and their warehouses currently hold casks of the past seven decades. Now the distillery is run by the 5th and 6th generation of the family, still faithful to the vision of creating the finest Highland single malt whisky in the Speyside way. With over 150 years of experience in the family, the distillery produces a traditional Highland malt with a heavy sherry influence using artisan methods handed down through generations. Glenfarclas is one of the few distilleries using direct fired stills. The six stills at Glenfarclas are the biggest in Speyside. The spirit is distilled twice before being put in casks, which are kept in traditional dunnage warehouses. Glenfarclas's 12-year expression is aged in the finest European oak casks used once for Oloroso sherry, which are personally picked by John Grant at a family-owned bodega in Spain. This multi-award winning expression, bottled at 43% ABV, is an excellent introduction to the distillery style for those who enjoy a sherried whisky.

Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small-batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal, and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. "Pinhooking" refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. The Bourbon Vertical Series is an annual-release series that follows 1,350 MGP bourbons through their aging process up until 12 years of age. "It will be exciting to follow the maturation of both rye and bourbon over the course of 9 years and understand how each style of whiskey progresses individually as well as in comparison to the other," says Master Blender Sean Josephs. The War 5YO Vertical Series is crafted from a mash bill of 75% corn, 20.5% rye, and 4.5% malted barley. The Bourbon War Vertical Series 5 Year Old is a straight bourbon that's bottled at 104 proof, its additional year of maturation brings more dark fruit and caramel notes, as well as hints of smoke. The second in the series, it's a blend of 150 barrels that were aged at Castle & Key. It's named after a thoroughbred colt.

Every now and then, Garrison Brothers releases one of the most highly-coveted bourbon whiskies in America: Cowboy Bourbon. This was the American Whiskey of the Year in Jim Murray’s 2014 & 2017 Whisky Bibles. It’s the ultimate ambrosia. Unlike the Small Batch, Cowboy Bourbon comes from Dan and Donnis’ favorite barrels. They’re set aside for a couple of years for further maturation and the liquid is bottled at cask-strength, uncut and unfiltered.

TASTING NOTES

Inviting aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, full-grain leather and fresh-baked banana nut bread. Floral opening notes of wildflower honey and sparkling plum soda. Warm raspberry chocolate pie drizzled with whipped ganache. Chocolate-covered Luxardo cherries paired with fine armagnac for a dessert finish. A velvety-smooth, flawless sipper that packs plenty of 131.3-proof heat.

Situated on a ridge above the banks of the River Spey, the Easter Elchies House has been the spiritual home of The Macallan for over three centuries. In 1820, Alexander Reid sowed the fields surrounding the rented home with barley and established the first licensed distillery on the estate, which he named Macallan after an ancient church that had been destroyed by fire during the 15th century. In the slow winter days, Reid would ferment and distill his excess grains into whisky, which was often drunk straight from the still or sold to travelers passing through the town. Today, the Macallan Estate encompasses 370 acres, 95 of which are devoted to the production of the Macallan Estate's Minstrel barley (a single acre produces about 2.5 tons of barley each year, enough to yield 1,800 bottles of The Macallan). In addition, the distillery contracts with farmers to purchase barley that is low in nitrogen and high in starch, resulting in a rich and oily whisky. After the harvest, the barley is malted and mashed in one of The Macallan's two mash tuns, a process that takes between four and eight hours. Then, the barley is fermented with a specially cultured yeast before being distilled twice through The Macallan's copper-pot stills. The copper comprising the stills acts as a catalyst and enhances the formation of sweet esters while minimizing impurities such as sulfur. In addition, the curiously small stills some of "the smallest stills within the Scotch whisky industry," according to production manager Alexander Tweedie produce a whisky with a heavy, oily flavor. Following distillation, The Macallan distillers remove the heads and tails of the whisky and collect approximately 16% of the spirit to fill into casks for maturation. This "cut," which is among the highest of any Scottish distillery, results in a more full-bodied and richer whisky. The 2020 release of The Macallan Rare Cask showcases the finest sherry-seasoned oak casks that The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team seeks out. The team utilizes their vast knowledge, passion, and skill when selecting these unique casks to craft the distinctive, unique, and complex profile with intense raisin notes and an unparalleled smoothness. Bottled at 86 proof, it's a luxurious expression that showcases the skill of The Macallan's fabled Masters of Wood. Get your bottle today!

Situated on a ridge above the banks of the River Spey, the Easter Elchies House has been the spiritual home of The Macallan for over three centuries. In 1820, Alexander Reid sowed the fields surrounding the rented home with barley and established the first licensed distillery on the estate, which he named Macallan after an ancient church that had been destroyed by fire during the 15th century. In the slow winter days, Reid would ferment and distill his excess grains into whisky, which was often drunk straight from the still or sold to travelers passing through the town. Today, the Macallan Estate encompasses 370 acres, 95 of which are devoted to the production of the Macallan Estate's Minstrel barley (a single acre produces about 2.5 tons of barley each year, enough to yield 1,800 bottles of The Macallan). In addition, the distillery contracts with farmers to purchase barley that is low in nitrogen and high in starch, resulting in a rich and oily whisky. After the harvest, the barley is malted and mashed in one of The Macallan's two mash tuns, a process that takes between four and eight hours. Then, the barley is fermented with a specially cultured yeast before being distilled twice through The Macallan's copper-pot stills. The copper comprising the stills acts as a catalyst and enhances the formation of sweet esters while minimizing impurities such as sulfur. In addition, the curiously small stills — some of "the smallest stills within the Scotch whisky industry," according to production manager Alexander Tweedie — produce a whisky with a heavy, oily flavor. Following distillation, The Macallan distillers remove the heads and tails of the whisky and collect approximately 16% of the spirit to fill into casks for maturation. This "cut," which is among the highest of any Scottish distillery, results in a more full-bodied and richer whisky. Now in its fourth incarnation, The Macallan Classic Cut 2020 Edition is bottled at a higher 110 proof in order to let the full flavor to shine. This time their Whisky Mastery Team, headed by Polly Logan, explores different cask types for the first time in the series. A combination of sherry-seasoned European oak casks and ex-bourbon American oak casks was used to craft its unique profile that has "a sweet lightness brought by the ex-bourbon oak casks, intertwined with the depth and complexity created by The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks."

DESCRIPTION

Complex, full and spicy

COLOUR: Antique gold

AROMA: Balanced with toasted grains, gentle wood notes and a tantalizing hint of sweet vanilla

TASTE: Complex balance of rye spiciness, caramel and oak notes, warm and creamy

FINISH: Long clean finish with hints of clove, oak and vanilla