The Macallan Concludes Harmony Collection With Coconut Whiskies
The Macallan has wrapped up its Harmony Collection with two new single malts, Inspired by Fresh Coconut and Inspired by Toasted Coconut. They are the sixth and final release in the series. The Whisky Mastery Team set out to build whiskies with a distinct coconut character, a note the distillery says is rarely found in The Macallan.
The Release
The two bottlings come from the same idea but take different routes. According to The Macallan, the coconut character is not added flavoring. It comes from the natural properties of American oak, and the team balanced it through the mix of casks it chose.
Both whiskies were matured in a combination of sherry-seasoned American oak casks and ex-bourbon casks. Robb Report adds that Toasted Coconut also includes some virgin oak casks, which would fit the darker, richer profile described for that bottle.
Tasting notes published around the launch paint two different pictures. For Fresh Coconut, the nose is described as fresh coconut, lime, lemon, mango, papaya, vanilla, almond, sweet oak and gentle baking spice. The palate moves to coconut milk, dried coconut, sweet citrus, vanilla sponge, icing sugar and dried tropical fruit. The finish is bright and floral, with lingering coconut and honeyed sweetness.
Toasted Coconut leans toward dessert. Reported aromas include toasted coconut, crème caramel, white chocolate, vanilla bean, pink grapefruit, lemon zest, shea butter and sweet cardamom. Other notes mention chocolate truffles, charred pineapple, tropical fruits and frangipane.
The release is also tied to the TimeSpirit Dining Experience, a collaboration with El Celler de Can Roca. The team behind that experience created six cocktails for the launch. The gift box continues the collection's use of repurposed materials and incorporates discarded coconut fibers.
The Story of The Macallan
The Macallan is a Speyside single malt distillery in Craigellachie, Moray, in the north-east of Scotland. It was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid, and it began as a farm distillery. The name comes from the Gaelic "magh," meaning fertile ground, and "allan," which refers to a local stream.
The distillery built its reputation on sherry casks. It was originally matured only in oak sherry casks brought from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. In 2004 it introduced the Fine Oak series, which also used bourbon oak casks. That range was renamed Triple Cask Matured in 2018. Today The Macallan is generally ranked as the second or third biggest-selling single malt, behind Glenfiddich and, by some accounts, ahead of Glenlivet. The brand is owned by Edrington.
Why It Stands Out
Coconut is a familiar note in American oak whisky, but it is not something The Macallan usually puts at the front. Building two bottlings around it, with no added flavor, is a clear departure from the brand's sherry-led image. The split between a fresh, citrus-bright expression and a toasted, caramel-led one also gives drinkers a real choice instead of two near-identical bottles.
Retailer pricing is another point to watch. Listings in the US show $199.99 and one Canadian shop lists C$359.99, so expect a premium over suggested retail.
The Details
Style: Single malt Scotch whisky
Cask/Finish: Sherry-seasoned American oak and ex-bourbon casks (Toasted Coconut reportedly also includes some virgin oak)
ABV/Proof: Fresh Coconut, 46.3% ABV (92.6 proof). Toasted Coconut, reports conflict (46.3% or 43.3%), so confirm before buying
Price (SRP): $185 per bottle in the US; £140 per 700ml in the UK
Availability: Fresh Coconut is sold online at themacallan.com and at The Macallan Estate Boutique. Toasted Coconut is a Global Travel Retail exclusive at select airports
Release Date: On sale 4 August
Tonights Poison Take
This is a fun send-off for the Harmony series, and the Toasted Coconut bottle is the one collectors will chase, since it is travel retail only. Sort out the ABV question before you buy, because sources disagree. At $185 SRP these are not cheap, but the real test is whether the coconut comes across as a natural oak note or as a gimmick.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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