Tales of The Macallan Volume I debuts in travel retail

Tales of The Macallan Volume I, the first edition in a series of single malt whiskies which tells the story of The Macallan pioneers and their whisky-making legacy, has made its debut in global travel retail.

Tales of The Macallan Volume I, The Laird of Easter Elchies (1659 - 1715) is an homage to Captain John Grant. In 1700, Captain Grant realised the potential of Easter Elchies Estate, where The Macallan Distillery has stood since 1824. The Macallan’s heritage and craftsmanship is reflected in his story.

The Grants had owned the land since 1543, but it was on John’s return from war that he transformed the landscape he had inherited into the ‘garden of Elchies’ - the birthplace of The Macallan. A natural farmer, John worked the land to create optimal conditions for growing barley, and his labours helped to sustain a small farming community that would one day use its crops to distil whisky. 

Distilled in 1950 and bottled in 2021, Tales of The Macallan Volume I is a distinctive and rare expression. Tasting notes provided by The Macallan say to expect notes of wood spices, sweet wood smoke, antique oak and ripe fruits.

Jeremy Speirs, regional managing director for Edrington Global Travel Retail, said: "Bringing to life The Macallan’s rich heritage is a key pillar of our storytelling in Global Travel Retail. The Tales of The Macallan series adds a new dimension to this, shining a light on some of the extraordinary individuals who have shaped the brand. Combining incredible liquid with beautiful packaging, the first bottling in this series will act as a real draw for global whisky connoisseurs visiting select locations in global travel retail."

The single malt whisky is presented in a handcrafted Lalique crystal decanter, concealed within an almanac book. Each chapter tells the story of John Grant and features illustrations by Andrew Davidson, know for his traditional wood-engraving prints.

An animation featuring some of Davidson’s illustrations and set to an original piece of music composed by Nicola Benedetti has been created to bring to life the story of John Grant. 

Limited to 350 decanters worldwide, Tales of The Macallan Volume I has an RRSP of $80,000 / £60,000 / €65,000 and is in global travel retail at The Macallan Boutiques and select shop-in-shops.

21 June 2022 - Bethany Whymark