A Celebration of Macallan’s Natural Colour, Introducing Edition No.5

The Macallan Edition No.5 is our very own homage to the diversity and complexity of natural colour. Inspired by a coming together of whisky making mastery and colour expertise and insight, this single malt celebrates both The Macallan’s commitment to natural colour and the intricate whisky making process.

We are surrounded by colour; it shapes our everyday lives. From defining moods, shaping perceptions, distracting thoughts and changing behaviour, it is a powerful force that can communicate without words.

100% natural in colour, all of our exceptional whiskies from The Macallan are shaped from time spent in the very best casks; maturing, nurturing and developing character. World renowned colour masters at the Pantone Color InstituteTM created a uniquely bold shade of purple; reflecting an enigmatic, multi-faceted and intricate combination of red and blue.

With The Macallan Edition No.5, it is the complexity and precision of the whisky making process which defines this colour creation; showcasing the infinite hues, creativity and expertise which harnesses the natural colour of The Macallan.

Sarah Burgess, The Macallan Whisky Maker, said, “We can find much common ground between whisky making and colour creation and with Edition No.5 we have been able to explore and celebrate these two art forms. Whilst colour development starts with mixing basic colours with precision to achieve different shades, for whisky making, it is the knowledge and understanding of a specific palette of colours from the cask which is the starting point. From here we can craft the desired character and specific colour of the final whisky”.

Commenting on the collaboration, Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, said “As the rainbow’s most complex colour, purple naturally felt like the ideal shade to highlight the equally complex process involved in The Macallan’s whisky making. This new vibrant shade developed for Edition No.5, brings to life the exquisite combination of distinctive natural hues found in this whisky.

Only American oak casks were handpicked for this single malt, primarily for their colour in order to deliver a whisky with a wonderfully full flavour. The result is beautiful sunlit barley colour that is accompanied by an intriguingly intense flavour profile that hosts sweet notes of caramel and fresh fruit combined with oak spices.

The Macallan Edition No. 5 – Product story

Colour plays an important part in the world we live in. It can define moods, shape perceptions and thinking, distract and divert thoughts and change behaviour. It is a powerful force that can communicate without words.

The Macallan whisky colour, in its natural form, is a fundamental element. Each colour, from the lightest oak to the deepest mahogany, is naturally derived from the interaction of the whisky with the oak casks in which it is matured and nurtured. The resulting spectrum of colour remains central to the core of The Macallan – the Six Pillars.

The Macallan Edition No.5 pays homage to our diverse range of natural whisky colour through a collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute™, themselves masters of colour. As innovators and visionaries, Pantone provide insight and expertise into the world of colour, forecast and predict colour trends and tastes enabling them to leverage the power, psychology and emotion of colour for brands, causes and businesses around the world.

Inspired by The Macallan’s natural colour spectrum and the intricate whisky making process, the illustrious colour consultancy has created a specific colour reflective of this single malt – a uniquely bold shade of purple. The colour purple is described as the ‘most enigmatic of shades’ due to the multi-faceted and intricate combination of red and blue. The special purple shade created for The Macallan Edition No.5 is a celebration of the complex and precise whisky making process undertaken by the whisky maker as she carefully and masterfully selects casks to craft this spirit. This unique colour celebrates the infinite hues, creativity and expertise which harnesses the natural colour of The Macallan.

Both whisky making and colour creation are inherently complex. They both require meticulous skill and understanding to bring together different components to create a new entity. In creating a new colour, Pantone mixes basic colours with precision to achieve different shades. Whilst in creating a new whisky for Edition No.5, it is the knowledge and understanding of a specific palette of colours from the cask which is the starting point. From here matured spirit from different cask types and ages is selected to create the specific character and colour of the whisky.

Only American oak casks were selected to craft Edition No.5. These casks were primarily handpicked for their colour in order to deliver a whisky with a wonderfully full flavour. The result is a spirit with beautiful sunlit barley colour, accompanied by an intriguingly intense flavour profile that hosts sweet notes of caramel and fresh fruit combined with oak spices.

For further information, please contact:
Sabrina Belletti
E: sabrina@alchemy-th.com

About The Macallan
Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds’ most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character. An obsession with excellence has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding, by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland.

In May 2018, The Macallan unveiled its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience on its Speyside estate, increasing investment in whisky, warehousing and in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks. The striking contemporary architecture, cut into the slope of the land, takes its cues from ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which has been The Macallan’s spiritual home since 1824. The new distillery marks an important milestone, recognising the significant journey of The Macallan since 1824 and marking an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the luxury single malt.” www.themacallan.com

About Pantone Color Institute
Pantone provides a universal language of colour that enables colour-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control colour from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve colour consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical colour specification and workflow tools. Pantone Color Institute™ provides customized colour standards, brand identity and product colour consulting as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Color Trend Reports, colour psychology and more. www.pantone.com