Macallan Through the Years – A Look at the Macallan Decades Collection

Whenever I’m feeling fancy, or particularly ‘bougie’ as the kids say, I like to push the boat out and live how the ‘other half’ live. Sometimes I’ll shop at Waitrose and start the day with smashed avocado on toast. Other times I’ll go to the cinema and will buy a large popcorn meal deal. When I really want to feel extravagant, though, I’ll grab my favourite GreatDrams Glencairn whisky glass and will pour myself a dram of Macallan.

The Macallan is one of the most premium whisky brands out there. I harp on about it a lot I know, but it’s true, the brand is synonymous with luxury, and this is often reflected in the price. Imagine a dram from Macallan, dating back to the 1920s. You can imagine how much that would cost. You’d be looking at hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds surely? If only there were a way to enjoy Macallan whisky the old-fashioned way, without bankrupting yourself in the process.

Well, for those of you who want a vintage Macallan on a budget, the Macallan Travel Series, AKA their Decades Collection, could be the perfect solution.

Hugely overlooked in my opinion, here’s my thoughts on this 4 x 50cl bottle collection.

The Macallan Decades Travel Series

Sourcing rare and vintage Macallan whisky is becoming increasingly difficult with the passing of each year. Not only are old and rare vintage bottles of Macallan incredibly expensive, they’re also highly collectible, and those lucky enough to have them as part of their collection are not likely to let them go anytime soon. If ever.

So then, how can one looking to enjoy a Macallan whisky from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, or 50s, actually get their hands on a bottle without bankrupting themselves in the process? Well, they can explore the different expressions in this unique collection originally released for the travel retail market.

With the entire four-bottle collection costing somewhere around £2,300 as of this writing, the Macallan Decades Collection lets whisky connoisseurs taste history and enjoy whisky produced the old-fashioned way, for a far more affordable price tag. What’s even more remarkable is that, when this set was released in the 2000s, a bottle would set you back around £30. If I’d been old enough, and actually knew then what I know now, I’d definitely have grabbed a set at the airport.

Now, as you’ve probably guessed by the price, these 4 x 40% ABV bottles are not actually upwards of 70 – 90 years old, although I wish they were. No, instead, they were released to represent the different styles of whisky produced throughout the decades. The collection begins with a bottle designed to represent the 1920s, then the 1930s, then the 1940s, and finally, the 1950s.

Whisky production in the 20s for example, was vastly different to that of the 1950s. Agricultural methods were different, as were the travel links, as were the materials, ingredients, and processes used to distil the whisky in the first place. Each decade highlighted in each bottle showcases this perfectly with the whisky within. Even the packaging emphasises each particular era, as it depicts a different mode of transport for each year, so you can expect automobiles, ships, steam engines, and aeroplanes.

Anyways, that’s enough of the backstory, let’s find out more about each expression.

The Macallan 1920s

Up first, we’re going back to the 1920s, where much of The Macallan whisky was supplied to be used as a base for blended Scotch.

During this period in time, The Macallan whisky was much drier and featured less sweetness. Not what you’d expect from a Speyside. It features subdued toffee caramel notes, with hints of apple, ripe figs, dark chocolate, and roasted hazelnut. The finish is also much shorter, with an oily mouthfeel.

The Macallan 1930s

Up next, we’re heading into the 1930s. While WW1 may have been in the rearview mirror, increased industrial activity led to shortages of coal, which meant that the distilleries needed to generate their heat in other ways. In order to dry and malt their barley, they switched coal for peat. No prizes for guessing whether or not this is a peated dram.

A lack of coal was only one problem, however. You see, because of the Spanish Civil War, there was also a distinct lack of sherry casks, so the prominent sweet, fruity, and spicy sherry cask notes we’ve come to expect in many Speyside expressions are far more muted and dialled down.

This dram features woody, smoky, peaty notes balanced wonderfully with bitter orange, creamy malt, toffee, cream custard, and mixed peppercorns. There’s a very rich and heavy mouthfeel to this one, which is most enjoyable.

The Macallan 1940s

To the 1940s we travel next, and unfortunately, we’re now feeling the effects of another global conflict, this time World War II.

During this period of time, there was once again a shortage of Spanish oak sherry casks, forcing the distilleries to rely upon refill casks, bourbon barrels, and more peat to ramp up the flavours. The end result is a very unusual dram, which I think works incredibly well.

It features more prominent honey, caramel, and vanilla bourbon notes, with a touch of fruit and sherry spiciness. This really stands out compared with usual offerings from The Macallan, which were of course, very sherry forward.

There’s also an amazingly lengthy and creamy mouthfeel, with more than a suggestion of peat smoke, and herbal undertones. Very interesting, and a dram which will surely take your palate on an adventure of different flavours.

The Macallan 1950s

Finally, completing this set is this dram designed to replicate Macallan whisky produced during the 1950s.

By this period in time, things actually seemed to be going well for once. The economy was thriving as the war had ended, people had disposable income, unemployment was down, commerce was up, and whisky distilleries could actually source the ingredients and materials they wanted to source, including sherry casks.

As a result, you can expect plenty of honey, caramel, and orange flavours, along with sweet, fruity, spicy, slightly nutty sherry notes in this dram. There are also very subtle whisps of peat smoke intertwined throughout, just for good measure. Quite oily on the mouth again, with a clean, citrus heavy, rich finish.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Tags: MacallanMacallan Decades Collection

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.