Over the past year, The Macallan has celebrated its 200th anniversary with a variety of unique bottlings, experiences, and collaborations, including teaming up with Cirque du Soleil. The partnership began earlier this year with the French Canadian circus debuting its own whisky-inspired performance, SPIRIT, at The Macallan Estate in Speyside. Now, the duo has unveiled its latest collaboration: Harmony Vibrant Oak and Harmony Guardian Oak.
The two new whiskies are the fourth editions in The Macallan Harmony Collection, which previously included Rich Cacao; Intense Arabica and Smooth Arabica; and Amber Meadow and Green Meadow. The 2024 expressions showcase the brand’s cask-aging expertise.
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It takes about five years to make a single barrel of The Macallan. The new Harmony Collection bottles celebrate cask influence, which delivers up to 80 percent of the flavor and 100 percent of the natural color.
Vibrant Oak matured in a combination of first-fill American and second-fill sherry seasoned oak casks. Guardian Oak aged mostly in a combination of first-fill European and second-fill sherry seasoned oak casks. Buyers can taste the differences between wood types and how each oak plays a role in creating flavors.
As limited annual release, the Harmony Collection also embraces organic materials for its packaging. This year’s edition repurposed oak chips, a by-product of the cask making process, in the presentation box and bottle labels.
“Oak plays such an important role in the color and flavor of The Macallan and bringing it to life through our packaging is incredibly inspirational,” says Diane Stuart, the brand's whisky maker. ”Vibrant Oak and Guardian Oak, provided an opportunity to select the casks that deliver the classic characteristics of our two key wood types, sherry-seasoned American oak and sherry-seasoned European oak casks, showcasing the differences these wood types deliver.”
Courtesy Image
Harmony Collection Vibrant Oak was designed with an energetic gold color and an illustration of a character from SPIRIT intertwined with the branches of an American oak tree. The tree represents the whisky maturing in sherry seasoned American oak casks.
Guardian Oak's packaging, meanwhile, features an illustration of Davonna—another figure from the performance—within the branches of a European oak tree.
Bottled at 44.2 percent ABV, Harmony Vibrant Oak offers aromas of vanilla bean, sweet sherbet and lime zest, which give way to pears and vanilla-packed sponge cake. The palate finds more vanilla, along with shortbread, coconut, almond, apple, and sweet oak. The finish is sweet and lingers with even more vanilla.
Also bottled at 44.2 percent ABV, Guardian Oak delivers aromas of dried dates, figs and raisins, alongside orange peel, dark chocolate, and nutmeg. The palate features ginger syrup and bursts of orange as well as more dried fruits, rich oak, and sweet spices. The finish is long and elegant with notes of oak and star anise.
The Harmony Collection Vibrant Oak and Guardian Oak will be available to purchase from The Macallan Online Boutique.
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