Edrington, the international premium spirits company behind the world’s number-one leading single malt The Macallan, has just unveiled a new distillery and visitor experience for the brand. Located on the picturesque Easter Elchies estate – home to the leading luxury single malt since 1824, it’s the first distillery on Speyside designed by internationally renowned architect Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
The Macallan came from humble beginnings before rising to become a world-renowned single malt, much sought after in so many countries. Edrington’s staggering £500 million investment in the brand includes £140 million to improve and enhance the distillery as the centrepiece, comprising investments in whisky, warehousing and The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.
The project was first announced in 2012 and began building in December 2014. This June, the distillery and visitor experience first opened its doors to the eager public. The new distillery makes it possible for the brand to increase production by a third if required.
The Macallan’s Creative Director Ken Grier stated, “As The Macallan has grown globally it has become very important that we make sure we can sustain demand for this wonderful amber liquid. We’ve taken exceptional care in making sure that the spirit that is produced in the new distillery is identical to the spirit that we produced in our previous distillery. This is the beginning of a really exciting new chapter in the evolution of the wonderful brand that is The Macallan.”
Meanwhile Edrington’s Chief Executive Ian Curle said, “This is an exciting occasion for Edrington and The Macallan. The unsurpassed quality of The Macallan is in high demand and we face the future confidently with this new distillery. It’s an authentic, abiding, ambitious investment that will match consumer expectations for generations to come.”
