The Macallan has unveiled Tales of The Macallan Volume I, the first limited edition whisky in a new series of single malts which tells the story of The Macallan pioneers and their whisky-making legacy.

Tales of The Macallan Volume I, The Laird of Easter Elchies (1659 – 1715), is an homage to Captain John Grant, who in 1700 realised the potential of Easter Elchies Estate, the site of The Macallan whisky distillery since 1824. He set new standards of excellence, and his story reflects The Macallan’s heritage, craftsmanship and pursuit of uncompromised excellence for nearly 200 years.

Born in 1659 in a remote location on the banks of the River Spey, John Grant had a military career in his youth, became a captain and fought in the war. The Grants had owned the land since 1543, but it was on John’s return from war, that he transformed the wild landscape he had inherited into the ‘garden of Elchies’, the birthplace of The Macallan. A natural farmer, John worked the land to create the perfect conditions for growing barley and his labours helped to sustain a small farming community that would one day use its crops to distil whisky. In 1700, he extended and refurbished Easter Elchies House which is now The Macallan’s Spiritual Home.

Tales of The Macallan Volume I is crafted by Lead Whisky Maker, Sarah Burgess, to honour John Grant’s legacy. Distilled in 1950 and bottled in 2021, it is a distinctive and rare expression with exceptional flavour and character.

Sarah Burgess, Lead Whisky Maker for The Macallan, said: “Tales of The Macallan tells of remarkable individuals and an exceptional spirit. Each of these people left their mark on The Macallan with their unique contribution and legacy alive in our brand’s DNA and in every drop of our whisky to this day.

“Tales of The Macallan Volume I is a tribute to Captain John Grant, who paved the way for The Macallan and brought the influence of nature and community spirit. As custodians of the Estate, we are continuously inspired by our environment, upholding our responsibility to nurture and protect the wonderful natural habitat that is home to our distillery.

“Just like The Macallan Estate and Easter Elchies House, this precious whisky echoes of a very old tale. Wood spices, sweet wood smoke and antique oak are omnipresent and make a perfect liaison with the delicate symphony of ripe fruits and spices.”

Encased in a handcrafted Lalique crystal decanter, this single malt is concealed within an extraordinary almanac book. A work of art, each chapter tells the story of John Grant and features illustrations by Andrew Davidson. United by a dedication to craftsmanship and creativity, The Macallan collaborated with the illustrator, renowned for his traditional print techniques using wood engravings, to create a collection of hand-crafted illustrations depicting Captain John Grant’s story.  

The Macallan also combined the skills of master craftsmen in crystal, leather and paper to create the unique packaging. Long-standing partner Lalique fashioned the flawless crystal decanter etched with one of Davidson’s illustrations. Attracted by a shared sense of heritage, craftsmanship and creativity, Lalique and The Macallan first came together in 2005 and since then have collaborated on a range of exquisite decanters and products. Tales of The Macallan marks the next chapter in this long-standing partnership and is a testament to the two houses’ shared quest for excellence.

Traditional London-based bookbinders, Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe and Zaehnsdorf, created the unique book, hand-crafted using luxurious leather and 24ct gold leaf, to conceal the decanter within its pages, and artisan printer, Imprimerie du Marais in Paris, expertly printed each individual page.

An animation featuring some of Davidson’s illustrations and set to an original piece of music composed by Nicola Benedetti has been created to bring to life the story of John Grant.

Limited to 350 decanters worldwide, Tales of The Macallan Volume I has an RRSP of $80,000 / £60,000 / €65,000 and will be available at The Macallan Estate, The Macallan Boutiques and premium off-trade retailers from August 2021.