Worthy of their name, our Exceptional Oak Casks are the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality and distinctive aromas and flavours of The Macallan. Our casks are made from two primary wood types: American oak and European oak. The American oak (Quercus alba) trees are grown, harvested and sourced in the United States,  predominantly in Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri.

These trees grow relatively quickly and are harvested at around 70 years old. The wood grain is ideal for cask construction and flavour. They grow straight and tall, which lends itself to cask construction. This type of wood tends to impart more mellow notes of vanilla, coconut, caramel, and lemon citrus. It tends to be more dense than European oak,  making it perfect for both sherry-seasoned and bourbon casks. 

It is thought that distilleries have been using American oak casks since the early 20th century. However,  it became more popular during the Spanish Civil War when European oak casks became more difficult to source. 

American oak's molecular structure includes less astringent tannins and more vanillin, which contributes to the vanilla flavours found in the whisky. American oak is used to craft some of our sherry-seasoned casks, which produces a distinctive profile of flavours alongside vanilla, including fresh citrus and coconut notes.