Macallan Edition No.6 a worthy tribute to the River Spey

The Macallan Edition No.6 – the final release in the whisky brand’s Edition Series – celebrates the River Spey, the lifeblood that sustains the Scotland’s Speyside whisky-making region.

The first of The Macallan’s Edition Series was initially announced back in 2015, debuting an annual limited edition series of whiskies each of which celebrated a particular aspect of the Scotch whisky brand’s whisky-making philosophy. Edition No.1 spotlighted Macallan’s use of wood, for example. Edition No.2 took on a culinary twist with a collaboration with award-winning Spanish restaurant El Celler de Can Roca. They were followed by another collaboration with master perfumer Roja Dove to showcase aroma in the Edition No.3, while Edition No.4 commemorated the completion of Macallan’s spanking new distillery in 2018. Last year we saw the release of Edition No.5, which affirmed its commitment to natural colour.

The Macallan Edition No.6, launched earlier this month in Singapore with little fanfare no thanks to the prevailing global health pandemic, celebrates the River Spey. The mighty River Spey is one of Scotland’s most legendary rivers, and highly renown for two particular reasons. For one, it’s known for some of the best salmon fishing one can find in the whole of the United Kingdom.

But for the whisky lover, the second reason is far more important. The River Spey lands its name to Strathspey – better known as Speyside – one of the most Scotland’s most prolific whisky making regions. Many iconic Scotch whisky distilleries are located right alongside the river amidst the beautiful landscape, The Macallan included.

So perhaps it’s appropriate that the final release in the Macallan Edition Series is a liquid tribute dedicated to the river that has given life to this region.

For Edition No.6, Macallan’s whisky maker Steven Bremner chose five different cask styles crafted from a combination of American and European oak sherry-seasoned casks. You’re looking at the use of 26% hogsheads and 74% butts, with a mix of first- and second-fill casks.

“Edition No.6 is inspired by the natural world surrounding our distillery, which has so much to offer and enjoy, in particular the River Spey, which is so vibrant, and full of energy,” explained Bremner.

“This complex single malt provides the perfect conclusion to the Edition Series as there is so much to discover in this whisky. The natural colour of antique brass derived from The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks indicates the richness of flavour that awaits and there is a structure and depth that is uncovered more and more over time,” he added.

The result, according to The Macallan, is a multifaceted whisky delivering aromas of fresh fruits, nutmeg and toffee merged with oak and flavours of ripe plum, vibrant sweet oranges and cinnamon, developing into spicy fresh fruits and creamy chocolate and toasted oats at the finish (our tasting notes are given below).

With the launch of the Edition No.6, The Macallan has also announced a partnership with The Atlantic Salmon Trust to help to conserve the Atlantic salmon, whose numbers have declined rapidly in recent years. “We are proud custodians of our one-and-three-quarter mile stretch of the River Spey and advocate for sustainability of the wildlife in and around it and so all fishing at The Macallan is catch and release,” shared The Macallan’s Ghillie, Robert Mitchell.

We think it’s a shame that we’ve come to the end of the Edition Series, but we figure as long as the River Spey flows we can expect more interesting whiskies to issue forth from The Macallan.

The Macallan Edition No.6 is now available for sale at retail price of SG$204 (price inclusive of GST) at The Macallan Experience at Raffles Hotel Singapore, The Macallan online store, and leading premium retailers in Singapore.

Official Whisky Maker’s Notes: The Macallan Edition No.6

colour Antique brass.
nose Rich fresh fruits, nutmeg, ginger, chocolate, toffee, vanilla, and oak.
palate Plum and sweet orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, balanced oak, toffee, and oats.
finish Long fresh fruit with spices turning to creamy chocolate and toasted oats.
abv 48.6%

Spirited Singapore Tasting Notes: The Macallan Edition No.6

colour Dull bronze. 
nose Plum and almond tart fresh out of the oven, brushed with a spiced brown sugar glaze. Waft of freshly milled oak and some vanilla.
palate Burst of warm baking spices with a sparkle of vanilla toffee fudge on the initial palate.
finish A medium-long finish that transits from big bold wood spice notes to a very dry oaky note.
verdict Definitely one of the better-tasting expressions in the Edition Series; we’d rank this our 2nd or 3rd favourite in the range. Extremely collectible if you already own the others in this set.