The Macallan is launching a reinvention of the Rare Cask Black, which is said to be dark, smoky and unexpected, supposedly tells ‘a different story’ about the historic brand’s spirit and casks.

With less than 100 casks maturing at The Macallan distillery having contributed to the creation of this out of character whisky, Rare Cask Black is said to highlight Macallan’s commitment to creativity, innovation and experimentation.

Due to the number of cask types involved and the length of time taken to identify them, it has taken longer to create Rare Cask Black than any other, claims the brand. The rarity of many of the casks used to create Rare Cask Black means there will be no further production beyond the initial bottling, making it a ‘true collector’s item’ for whisky connoisseurs and collectors of The Macallan.

The architect of this new addition is Bob Dalgarno, the Master Whisky Maker. “Rare Cask Black tells a different story about our spirit and casks, but more than that it tells a story of rarity. Smoky Macallan is rare, there is very little in existence and once used these casks will be no more.

“This is a whisky which is out of character for The Macallan due to the subtle seam of smoke on the palate, but it still bears the essential Macallan DNA.”

“The launch of Rare Cask Black marks an important and exciting step for The Macallan’s journey in travel retail, retaining the core Macallan DNA while offering something new and thrilling for consumers,” says Tellis Baroutsis, Managing Director, Edrington Global Travel Retail.

“We’re confident that the story behind its creation, its genuine scarcity and its bold visual identity – along with its unfamiliar flavour profile – will appeal to global travellers who look to the travel retail channel to offer something unexpected and differentiated from domestic offers.”

Bottled at 48% ABV and non-chill filtered, Rare Cask Black is exclusive to global travel retail with a RRP of $450 and will be available from selected airports around the world.