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Macallan Whisky Price, Sizes & Buying Guide

Rebecca Hanlon
Last Updated: February 28th, 2023

Michael Jordan captivated viewers in the 2020s “The Last Dance” miniseries for a couple of reasons. The first reason was his laser-focused compulsion to be the best.

The second reason was that Jordan had the most attractive-looking drink sitting next to him, and his cigar, during many of the interview segments.

Ever the spokesman, it turned out that he was actually drinking his own brand of tequila, but if he was a Scotch drinker you can be sure that he would be drinking Macallan Whisky.

Macallan Whisky is the Michael Jordan of spirits due to their self-described obsession with quality. Macallan Whisky is the one staying up all night to perfect its product. Macallan is known for its extremely rich and complex flavors.

Macallan Whisky’s obsession with quality is further evidenced by its creation of the Six Pillars. The Six Pillars: Spiritual Home, Curiously Small Stills, Finest Cut, Exceptional Oak Casks, Natural Color, and Peerless Spirit.

The Six Pillars are the foundation of everything they do and a constant reminder to never let up when it comes to producing the highest quality Scotch whisky.

A Brief History of Macallan Whisky

history of macallan whisky

Macallan Whisky was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid near the river Spey in Scotland. This region is known for its lush countryside, fishing, and its Scotch whisky.

Today Speyside, shorthand for the region near the river Spey, produces more whisky than any other region in Scotland. Farmers had been producing whisky on the land where Alexander Reid founded his distillery for hundreds of years prior.

The original name of the distillery was actually Maghellan which combined the two Gaelic words “magh”, meaning fertile ground, and “ellan”, as an homage to a monk who presided over a local church dating back to the 1400s.

At its most basic level, whisky is made by heating water, yeast, and malted barley to create a mash. The result of that process is a liquid, known as wort, that is then fermented, distilled, and aged in casks.

The thing that separates Macallan Whisky from the crowd, and has sustained them for so many years, is their aforementioned Six Pillars. Macallan whisky chooses quality at every turn.

They use small and uniquely shaped stills during the distilling process to create a specific flavor. Unlike some whisky producers, they never add artificial color.

No doubt the most important pillar is the Exceptional Oak Casks. Macallan attributes their success to the time, money, and precision they use in selecting only the most extraordinary oak casks.

Macallan Whisky is currently a subsidiary of the Erdington Group, a Glasgow, Scotland-based spirit company.

Macallan Whisky Prices, Variations & Sizes

macallan whisky variations

Macallan Whisky has an extensive product line. Due to the high quality, even the lower-end bottles start at a higher price point than your average run-of-the-mill Scotch whisky.

As the quality, the number of years aged, and rarity goes up, so does the price.

Name ABV Age Size Average Price
Macallan Traditional Sherry Oak 43% 12 Years Old 750ml From $79.99

 

18 Years Old 750ml From $349.99
25 Years Old 750ml From $2,499.99
30 Years Old 750ml From $4,899.99
Macallan Double Cask 43% Gold 750ml From $69.99
12 Years Old 750ml From $69.99
18 Years Old 750ml From $129.99
25 Years Old 750ml From $299.99
30 Years Old 750ml From $5,589.99
Macallan Triple Cask Matured 40% – 43% 12 Years Old 750ml From $74.99
15 Years Old 750ml From $149.99
18 Years Old 750ml From $449.99
Macallan Rare Cask 43% 750ml From $299.99
The Macallan Estate 43% 750ml From $299.99
The Macallan Master Decanter Series  – The Macallan Reflexion 43% 750ml From $1,499.99
The Macallan Master Decanter Series  – The Macallan No.6 43% 750ml From $4,999.99
The Macallan Master Decanter Series  – The Macallan M 45.9% 750ml From $5,999.99
The Macallan Master Decanter Series  – The Macallan M Black 46.5% 750ml From $9,999.99

In addition, Macallan Whisky occasionally has limited releases that are worth looking out for including their Quest Collection and Red Collection.

Macallan Whisky Alternatives and Comparisons

The two most obvious alternatives to Macallan whisky would be their fellow Speyside single malt Scotch whisky purveyors Glenlivet and Glenfiddich.

Glenlivet is a distillery based in Moray, Scotland. Glenlivet was also founded in 1824 and produces single malt Scotch whisky.

They are, in fact, the top-selling single malt whisky in the United States and second in the world. Macallan is known for its rich flavor and high price, whereas Glenlivet is known for a lighter flavor and a lower price point.

Glenfiddich is recognized as the best-selling single malt whisky in the world. Even though it is the top producer, it is also respected as a very high-quality spirit.

Like Macallan Whisky and Glenlivet, Glenfiddich also has an extensive product line. In general, Glenfiddich has a slightly lower price than Macallan Whisky, but they both also produce some extremely high-priced variants.

How to Drink Macallan Whisky

how to drink macallan whisky

Macallan, like other finely crafted Scotch whiskies, is best enjoyed neat. You can also add a few drops of water or have it over ice.

If you want extreme Scotch whisky enthusiasts to clutch their pearls, you can use Macallan Whisky as the base for a cocktail – although they would probably recommend using a cheaper liquor.

Serve Macallan Whisky in a rocks glass, brandy snifter, or a Glencairn glass. The latter two glasses were designed to maximize the aroma. To keep your bottle of Macallan Whisky tasting great, store it upright at room temperature and keep it out of direct sunlight.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Macallan Whisky expensive?

It’s a combination of a luxury product and savvy marketing. Macallan Whisky does not cut any corners in the production of their many exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies.

They have the highest quality ingredients, casks, facilities, and staff. They were also one of the first producers to market their uniqueness and quality.

2. Is Macallan scotch or whisky?

Macallan is a single-malt Scotch whisky. Whisky is the name of distilled liquor made from fermented grains and aged in wooden barrels. Scotch whisky is a specific type of whisky made in Scotland from malted barley.

Scotch whisky has the reputation of having a smoky flavor due to the use of peat in the malting process, but Macallan Whisky is not known for being overly smoky.

You may have also noticed that whisky has been spelled without the “e.” That’s because whisky has alternate spellings based on where it’s produced. Whiskey in the United States and Ireland, and whisky in Scotland, Canada, and Japan.

3. What is single-malt whisky?

Macallan Whisky is a single malt Scotch whisky. Single malt means that the product would need to have been distilled at a single distillery. There are actually very strict rules for being able to label something as single malt.

4. Is Macallan a Highland scotch?

Yes and no. There are five regions detailed by the Scotch Whisky Association: Campbeltown, Islay, Highlands, Lowland, and Speyside. Technically, Macallan is a Speyside, a small region in Scotland next to the River Spey, Scotch.

However, the Speyside region is in the Highlands. Confused yet? To add even more confusion is that Macallan Whisky labels their bottles as “Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky” even though they know they’re considered a Speyside Scotch.

5. Why is Macallan so popular?

It’s a combination of its history, quality, marketing, and above all, taste. Anytime you have a top-tier product and market it well, you’re going to end up with something everyone wants to get their hands on.

About The Author

Rebecca Hanlon

Rebecca has been a blogger for over 5 years, before that enjoying a number of jobs to fund her passion for travel. She's taught English as a foreign language, a part-time Barista, a waitress, and a tour guide.

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