Glossary

EASTER ELCHIES HOUSE

Dating back to 1543, The Macallan Estate spans 485 acres of beautiful Scottish countryside overlooking the River Spey. At the heart of the estate lies Easter Elchies House – a traditional Highland manor built in 1700 by Captain John Grant. The surrounding land comprises a natural ecosystem, populated with over 60,000 trees and more than 70 species of wildlife, birds and fish, some of which are protected species. We harvest estate grown barley and have our own catch and release fishing beat on the river.

Easter Elchies House was originally Captain John's summer home, with the surrounding countryside providing excellent hunting and salmon fishing on the River Spey. In 1759 it was sold to the Earl of Findlater and Seafield. Although various families rented the Estate during the following decades, the Seafield family retained ownership of Easter Elchies House until the mid-1960s.

In 1820, an ambitious man called Alexander Reid rented the House and surrounding farmland. Four years later, and with full support of the laird, the first licenced distillery was established on the site. Legend has it that the name 'Macallan' derives from “Maghellan”, taken from the Gaelic word “Magh”, meaning fertile piece of land and “Ellan” from the Monk St. Fillan of the former parish from an ancient church ruin that lies close by. His whisky became known for quality; and, while Reid died in 1847, this reputation lives on.