Whisky-maker Edrington revealed plans for new products, experiences and campaigns to celebrate 200 years of The Macallan alongside annual results. The Macallan, produced in Craigellachie, on Speyside, is one if the world’s best-selling single malts. And it retained its crown as star performer in Edrington’s portfolio during the year to March 31.
Edrington said there was strong demand for premium products from . These include the Macallan Horizon, the result of a collaboration with Bentley Motors. Another successful partnership saw the brand team up two of Sir Paul McCartney’s daughters, Stella and Mary McCartney, fashion designer and photographer respectively, to create The Macallan Harmony Collection.
Edrington said The Macallan had enjoyed strong growth in its Asia Pacific markets, particularly China. Meanwhile, The Macallan Colour Collection generated “outstanding” early results in global travel retail. The Macallan’s origins can be traced back to 1824 when Alexander Reid, a barley farmer and schoolteacher, established a distillery on the banks of the River Spey.
According to the , the original name of the area was Maghellan – taken from the Gaelic word “magh”, meaning fertile ground, and “Ellan”, from the monk St.Fillan, who held close links with the church that stood in the grounds of The Macallan Estate until 1400. Centuries of whisky-making Farmers had been making whisky on their Speyside farms in the area for centuries, using their surplus barley.