THE MACALLAN EDITION NO. 5

An ode to the colours of magnificent spirits

THERE IS SOMETHING inherently alluring in the golden hue of whiskies. Of course, as any connoisseur of high-quality spirits can tell you, the spirits that flow out of a distillery is as clear as water from a spring. The colour of a whisky along with many of its flavour components comes from the oak casks in which it has been matured. And this - the art of selecting only the most exceptional casks to bring out the most amazing colours - is something The Macallan has truly mastered.

To be sure, the spectrum of colour displayed by The Macallan’s whiskies is quite impressive, ranging from a soft hue reminiscent of light oak to the deep tone of mahogany. To celebrate this legacy, the Scottish distillery has added a new entry into its line-up of special edition releases: The Macallan Edition No. 5.

The new bottling is designed to showcase the colour of Macallan whisky, following Editions No. 1 and No. 2, focused on cask influence; No. 3, which explored the impact of aroma; and No. 4, which was all about structure. Interestingly, and also quite appropriately, for this new release The Macallan has teamed up with the world’s foremost authority of colour, the Pantone Color Institute.

Taking inspiration from the colours of Macallan whiskies and the intricate process of creating these spirits, Pantone has created a special and unique shade of purple that embodies Edition No. 5 single-malt whisky. Described as “the most enigmatic of shades” due to its multi-faceted and intricate combinations of red and blue, this purple tone pays homage to the way The Macallan carefully selects the casks used to craft its spirits. Indeed, the way a whisky maker utilises casks as a palette to create the desired hue is quite reminiscent of the way Pantone blends basic colours with the utmost precision to achieve specific shades.

The Macallan Edition No. 5 is the colour of sunlit barley, achieved through maturation in handpicked American oak casks. These casks are also responsible for imparting the whisky with an intriguingly intense flavour profile where sweet notes of caramel combine with fresh fruit and oak spices. Finally, this exquisite single-malt whisky is encased in the intense purple created just for this special edition.