How The Macallan’s The Reach Tells Its 81-Year History in Every Glass

The precious whisky is the distillery’s latest release and oldest expression to date, and it pays tribute to the many hands which ensured we can enjoy it now.

Every whisky tells its own unique story, and for The Reach—The Macallan’s latest release and oldest expression yet—it harks back to one of the most extraordinary moments in history 81 years ago. The year was 1940, before the imminent World War II, when this rare single malt was poured into sherry oak casks just before the distillery closed for the first time since 1824.

A testament to the distillery’s craftsmanship and excellence, master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell shared that the whisky makers continued to guide and nurture this precious whisky to “peak perfection” despite these challenging times.

“Wood is the single greatest influence on the quality, flavour, aromas and natural colour of this extraordinary expression,” explained Campbell and over time, the liquid developed a deep auburn hue that is the “first hint of this remarkable whisky’s astonishing depth”.

It also boasts robust notes of dark chocolate, sweet cinnamon and aromatic peat. These further develop on the palate to reveal complex characters of charred pineapple, crystalised ginger and treacle toffee before culminating in an intensely rich, but sweet and smoky finish.

“The creation of many hands, The Reach has been a truly collaborative effort. It’s also a tribute to the people who made this precious whisky, and their enduring spirit which never wavered,” explained Campbell. So, they worked with the finest Scottish artisans to create a unique packaging that complements this masterpiece.

Sculptor Saskia Robinson created the three hands sculpture, which is modelled after one of the original stillmen’s hands. This is to honour many characters who brought this creation to existence: the distillery workers in 1940 who crafted this beautiful expression; one-time chairman Allan Shiach whose grandfather was the head of the company when it was consigned to its cask; and Campbell herself who selected the 1940 whisky to share with the world. The sculpture is cast in bronze to accentuate the whisky’s dark amber hue.

The golden liquid is stored in a glass decanter that has slight indentations matching the fingerprints of the bronze hands. This is kept in a wooden cabinet built from a fallen elm tree, which is believed to come from The Macallan Estate in 1940.

Accompanying this masterpiece is a short film created by London-based photographer Nadav Kander and art director Matt Willey, the former art director at The New York Times. The movie also features the Scottish band Mogwai, who sang and composed a song that tells the story of The Macallan’s legacy and creative process in making The Reach.

With only 288 decanters available worldwide, Campbell mentioned that The Reach is a highly limited release and will have limited availability in Singapore. However, The Reach will be on display at The Macallan at Raffles Hotel Singapore from March 24. “Guests can experience a piece of The Macallan’s legacy for a limited time.”