Macallan

Macallan was originally a farm distillery established in the 18th century at Easter Elchies, on a drove road from the Laich o’Moray to the south, close to one of the few fords across the River Spey. The cattle-drove roads had obvious advantages to any distiller, providing a constant source of custom for the contraband spirit as the cattlemen drove their herds to the south. The First license here was taken out by Alexander Reid in 1824. His distillery was built of wood and changed hands several times until bought by James Stuart of Glen Spey Distillery in 1886, when it was rebuilt in stone. In 1892, Stuart sold it to the Elgin merchant and owner of Talisker Distillery on Skye, Roderick Kemp, and it remained under the control of his descendants until 1966, when two of its shareholders, Highland Distillers and Suntory achieved a controlling interest. Since the 1950s the number of stills has increased, first from six to 12 in 1965, and then to 21 in 1975, at which time the old house (six stills) was mothballed and a new one built. Today Macallan charges ten small spirit stills from five wash stills. The Macallan has long had a high reputation among blenders as a single malt, but it was only in the early 1970s that its owner began the promotion which has made it one of the top selling malts in the world.

Extract from malt whisky by the whisky expert Charles MacLean, published by Mitchell Beazley.