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Complimentary gift wrapping and messaging is available for this single malt and can be added to your order during the checkout.This option is available for select whiskies and delivery locations, more information is available in our <a href="https://themacallan.com/en/support/shop-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs</a> and <a href="https://themacallan.com/en/terms-conditions-of-sale">Terms and Conditions</a>. &nbsp;

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Complimentary gift messaging is available for this single malt and can be added to your order during the checkout.This option is available for select whiskies and delivery locations, more information is available in our <a href="https://themacallan.com/en/support/shop-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs</a> and <a href="https://themacallan.com/en/terms-conditions-of-sale">Terms and Conditions</a>. &nbsp;

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Complimentary gift bag, wrapping and messaging is available for this single malt and can be added to your order during the checkout.This option is available for select whiskies and delivery locations, more information is available in our <a href="https://themacallan.com/en/support/shop-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs</a> and <a href="https://themacallan.com/en/terms-conditions-of-sale">Terms and Conditions</a>. &nbsp;

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Enhance your whisky expertise.

Whisky Glossary

Whisky has a rich history going back centuries and is created, consumed and enjoyed around the world. Naturally, there is an abundance of 'whisky jargon' that has been developed to describe the various processes and practices associated with this distinct spirit. We have gathered the key terms to enable you to expand your whisky knowledge; diving into everything from Feints and Finish to particular Macallan terms like Easter Elchies House. So whether you have a certain phrase in mind or would like to expand your whisky knowledge, our whisky glossary is a useful tool to discover more.

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AGE OF WHISKYThe number of years a whisky matures in casks.AMERICAN OAKOne of the wood types sourced for The Macallan casks. Typical flavours associated with this oak are vanilla, lemon citrus and coconut.&nbsp;AMYLASEA key enzyme in scotch whisky making.ANGEL’S SHAREThe evaporation of whisky during maturation.ABVAlcohol by Volume.

BALANCERefers to the balance of flavours and taste sensations.BARLEYA grain used to make whisky, can also be malted.BARRELA certain type of cask, a vessel used to mature spirits.&nbsp;BEADINGThe formation of bubbles after shaking whisky, which can help determine alcohol content.BLENDED WHISKYThe combination of two or more types of whiskies, from different distillers.BLENDINGThe process of combining different types of whisky, as well as sometimes adding in colouring, and other neutral grain spiritsBODEGATraditionally known in Spain as a wine storehouse or wine cellar, our casks spend time in Spanish bodegas to be seasoned with&nbsp;sherry wine before being transported to our distillery in Speyside, Scotland to be filled with new make spirit.BOTTLING/BOTTLING PLANTThe process and place where matured whisky goes to be bottled and prepared for market.BOURBON WHISKEYAmerican whiskey distilled primarily from corn and aged in charred new oak barrels.BREWINGPart of the fermentation stage during whisky making process&nbsp;where the wort&nbsp;is in the washbacks.BUTTA large oak cask used for maturing whisky and other alcoholic liquids, usually sherry maturation. It&nbsp;averages 500L in size – approximately twice that of a hogshead.&nbsp;

CAMPBELLTOWNOnce home to over 30 distilleries, this town in Scotland was known as the 'whisky capital of the world'.CANADIAN WHISKYAlso known as 'whisky rye', to be Canadian whisky it must be mashed and distilled from cereal grains, and aged in small wood for at least three years in Canada.CASK&nbsp;Made from oak, the vessel used to mature whisky.CASK STRENGTHThe alcohol strength of whisky that has not been diluted before bottling.CHARRINGContrasted to 'toasting', charring is the process of burning the inside of a for a more extended time period barrel during the cask making process.CHILL FILTRATIONProcess where whisky is cooled and filtered to remove any residue&nbsp;before bottlingCLEARICAn alternative term for 'new make spirit' - whisky before it has been matured in casks.COLUMN STILLA form of still used for distillation that is composed of two columns, that works in a continual cycleCONDENSATIONThe process in distillation where the alcoholic vapours turn back into liquid spirit.CONGENERSProduced during fermentation, these are&nbsp;chemicals responsible for some of the colour, aroma and taste of whisky.COOPERThe person who creates casks for whisky to be matured in.&nbsp;&nbsp;COOPERAGEThe location where European and American oak is constructed into casks by coopers. Our partner cooperages are located in Jerez, Spain.CUTMay be 'low', 'middle' or 'high', cut refers to the strength and quality of alcohol that comes out of distillation- The Macallan always chooses the finest cut of every distillation process.

DECANTERThe vessel used to store and serve whisky after bottling, often made of fine crystal or glass.DEVIL’S SHARERefers to the whisky that is left trapped in the wood of a cask after it has been emptied.DOUBLE DISTILLATIONThe process of putting the spirit through the full distillation process twice, the&nbsp;common practice in Scotland whisky making.DISTILLATIONThe process of heating, condensing and collecting liquid spirits using copper pot stills to make whisky.DRAFFThe cereal grain residue left in the mash tun after the wort and liquid has been drawn off; often made into&nbsp;cattle feed.DRAMScottish term referring to a measurement of spirits, equal to 1/8th of an ounce.DRUM MALTINGA contemporary method of malting barley using a large rotating drum.DUNNAGEA traditional warehouse used for storing and maturing whisky. Often low-rise buildings with thick stone or brick walls, a slate roof and earthen floors. Here casks can be stacked up to three high on top of each other.

EASTER ELCHIES HOUSEOne of our foundational&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themacallan.com/en/the-six-pillars">Six Pillars</a>, Easter Elchies House is our Spiritual Home, and has been on the estate since 1700.&nbsp;ENZYMESPlaying a key role in the fermentation stage of scotch whisky making; enzymes convert the grain starches&nbsp;to sugars for&nbsp;making&nbsp;malted barley.ESTATE&nbsp;The Macallan Estate is a 485 acre estate located in Speyside, Scotland. Founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid, it is home to our Distillery and Easter Elchies House, the spiritual home of The Macallan, built on a plateau overlooking the River Spey.ETHANOLAnother term for alcohol, the standard alcoholic percentage (ABV) of whisky is&nbsp;40% or 43%, although it may be higher.EUROPEAN OAKUsed&nbsp;in the production of our sherry seasoned oak casks, european oak trees are higher in tannins than their American counterpart, grown in the north of Spain and harvested at approximately 100 years old. Typical flavours associated with this oak are dried fruits, orange citrus and spices.

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One of our foundational Six Pillars, Easter Elchies House is our Spiritual Home, and has been on the estate since 1700. 

Easter Elchies House

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The process of heating, condensing and collecting liquid spirits using copper pot stills to make whisky.

Distillation

FEINTSAlso known as 'tails' or 'aftershots', feints is the unusable last portion of liquid at the end of the second distillation run&nbsp;in whisky making.FERMENTATIONThe process of converting grain sugars into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol through the addition yeast enzymes.FINISHA whisky's final flavour impressions after it has been swallowed. Evaluated&nbsp;through the length of time the flavours are retained on the tongue;&nbsp;a longer finish is often preferred.&nbsp;FLOOR MALTINGBuildings where the process of malting barley is done by hand, as opposed to through mechanical means.FORESHOTRefers to the first part of the second distillation run.&nbsp;

GERMINATIONThe process that takes place after the grains are soaked, in order to awaken the enzymes that will&nbsp;convert the starches to&nbsp;sugar.GRAIN WHISKYWhisky that is made with any grains other than malted barley, including corn, rye and wheat grains.GRISTThe milled powder that comes from finely ground malted barley; it is combined with hot water in the mashing process to create&nbsp;wort.&nbsp;

HIGHLANDSThe largest region in located in northwest Scotland that is famous for its whisky production.&nbsp;HOGSHEADA large size of barrel, or cask that is used to store and mature whisky; their capacity averages 250 litres.

IRISH WHISKEYWhiskey made&nbsp;in Ireland, usually from a mixture of grains and often distilled three times.&nbsp;ISLAYOne of the five regions in Scotland recognised&nbsp;for&nbsp;whisky making; most well known for peaty, smoky whiskies.

JAPANESE WHISKYA relative newcomer in the world of whisky production, the first commercial distillery opened in 1924.JEREZPlays a key role in the journey of our wood, Jerez is an area of&nbsp;southern Spain known for its sherry production; The Macallan's cooperages and sherry bodegas are located here.

KILNA vessel or areal used to grain using hot air; traditionally heated using peat, which created the stronger, 'peaty' taste commonly associated with scotch whisky.

LOWLANDSArea of Scotland known for its whisky production, distinguished from the Highlands by the 1784 Wash Act, which formed a taxation line and influenced whisky production in the region as a result.&nbsp;LYNE ARMThe long neck or copper pipe at the top of a whisky still, which connects the still to the condenser in whisky making.

MALTCereal grain that is germinated through being soaked in hot water, wakening&nbsp;the enzymes that convert starches to sugars.MALTED BARLEYBarley that has been soaked and germinated,&nbsp;and then dried in a kiln as preparation for fermentation in whisky making.MALTINGThe process of germinating grains through soakingMALT WHISKYWhisky made from fermented grain mash&nbsp;that are primarily composed of barley.MARRYINGThe process of bringing together more than one whisky and blending or 'marrying' the different flavours before bottling.MASHThe ground grain, or 'grist' mixed with hot water in a mash tun.MASHINGWhen the mash is mixed with water and heated in order to release enzymes that will help break down the natural sugars in the grain.MASH TUNA large round vessel usually made from stainless steel, cast iron, wood or copper that is used for mashing the grist.MATURATIONRefers&nbsp;to the time that new make spirit spends in oak casks, in order to take on the characteristics of the wood and develop full flavours.MILLINGThe process of grinding malted barley to break the grain husks and produce a carefully proportioned&nbsp;mix of flour, husk and grit.

NEW MAKE SPIRITHigh alcohol spirit&nbsp;that has been freshly distilled and has not yet been matured in casks, usually with an ABV of around&nbsp;70%.NON-CHILL FILTEREDIndication that a whisky has not been 'chill filtered' to remove harmless chemical compounds, thus it may turn cloudy when chilled.NOSINGThe act of smelling the aromas of a whisky in order to discern the unique fragrances, usually done at whisky tastings.&nbsp;

ON THE ROCKSA term for drinking whisky with ice, rather than 'neat' or in a serveORGANIC WHISKYA whisky made with organically grown and produced ingredients, including virgin oak casks, and produced in a distillery that has is clean of non-organic new make spirit.&nbsp;OXIDATIONThe process of oxygen reacting with the whisky, impacting the flavour. The exact impact of oxidation on whisky is a topic of debate, as it is whisky is generally considered not to age after bottling.&nbsp;

the roca brothers outside macallan distillery

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Long-standing partners of The Macallan, the Roca brothers explore the iconic city of London through Distil Your World.

Roca Brothers

The Macallan Red Collection Illustration of Alexander Reid On Bridge

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Discover our oldest collection of releases to date.

PAGODAThe pyramid shaped roof of the kiln used in drying malted&nbsp;barley. Providing ventilation, the pagoda was invented by Charles Doig.&nbsp;PEATA layer of soil made up of grasses, tree roots and mosses that have compressed over time. It is dried and used a fuel, and was traditionally used in drying malted barley. The peat transmits a distinct 'smoky' flavour to the liquid as a result of the absorption&nbsp;of the smoke into the grains.POT ALEThe liquid of fermented wort leftover in the wash still following the first distillation.&nbsp;POT STILLA still traditionally used for distilling single malt whisky, usually made of copper. To legally be considered Scotch, it must be distilled in pot stillsPROOFAn American term referring to the alcoholic content of whisky, generally considered to be twice that of ABV (Alcohol by Volume) when measured in percentage.PUNCHEONA specific size of cask or barrel, and is the second most common cask size used in maturing sherry, holding 500L.PURIFIERConnected to the lyne arm of stills, used&nbsp;for condensing and purifying heavier alcoholic vapours in the distillation process.

QUAICHA traditional <a href="https://www.themacallan.com/en/the-macallan-copper-rimmed-quaich">two-handed Scottish drinking cup</a>, known as the 'cup of friendship.'

RACKINGRacked WarehouseHigh rise brick, steel-clad or cement block warehouses used for storing whisky. Usually with a cement floor and tin roof, the large structure allows for casks to be stacked up to 12 casks high on steel rail racks.REFLUXThe term for the&nbsp;alcoholic vapours that fall back down into the still before reaching the condenser and are re-distilled, creating a more refined spirit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;RYE WHISKYWhisky made with rye grain, popular in America.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.themacallan.com/en/single-malt-scotch-whisky">SCOTCH WHISKY</a>Whisky produced exclusively in Scotland, which also must be aged for a minimum of three years in oak casks and bottled at an ABV of at least 40%.SHERRY BUTTThe most common type of sherry cask, used in the whisky industry to create sherry seasoned oak casks.SHERRY SEASONEDRefers to the presence&nbsp;of sherry in our wood journey, where&nbsp;our sherry seasoned oak casks are first matured with sherry before they are filled with our new make spirit.SINGLE CASKWhen the whisky bottled comes from one single cask, in contrast to being created from a blend of different casks.SINGLE MALTWhisky made at one distillery from one cereal type, for single malt scotch whisky this must be grain 100% malted barley.&nbsp;SPEYSIDEA region in northern Scotland renowned for its whisky production;&nbsp;home to The Macallan and the famous River Spey.&nbsp;SPIRIT SAFEA glass walled, padlocked container attached to the spirit still. This allows the distiller to evaluate the spirit coming off the still without coming into contact with it. Historically spirit stills were a legal requirement to prevent any whisky from being siphoned and sold without paying duties on it.SPIRIT STILLThe second still used in whisky distillation; the spirit still re-distills the 'low wines' from the wash stills.STAVESThe wood planks used to form casks, usually bound by&nbsp;metal hoops.STEEPINGThe process of soaking barley to start the germination process, which will release&nbsp;sugars used in making alcohol.&nbsp;

TRIPLE DISTILLATIONA common practice in Ireland, where the alcoholic spirit&nbsp;undergoes three distillations instead of the standard two.&nbsp;

UNPEATED MALTRefers to malted barley which was dried in kilns not heated by peated fires; the resulting whisky thus has very little 'smoky' or peated notes.&nbsp;

VATTED MALTA malt whisky blended together&nbsp;from more than one distillery.

WAREHOUSINGOn The Macallan Estate are our warehouses, where European and American oak casks are filled with our new make spirit and left to patiently mature, under the guardianship of our Whisky Mastery Team.WASHSimilar to beer; Wash is fermented wort with an ABV of around 7 to 8%.WASHBACKMade from wood or steel;&nbsp;a&nbsp;large vat or tub used to combine the yeast with&nbsp;the wort, fermenting into wash.&nbsp;WASH STILLThe first, larger pot still used in the&nbsp;distillation process in which the wash is distilled.WHISKYA spirit created through the process of distilling fermented grain mash,&nbsp;typically aged in oak casks.WHISKY COCKTAILA mixed serve where the primary alcoholic ingredient is whisky; popular whisky cocktails include the Old Fashioned and Whisky Sour.WORMA coiled copper tube connected to the lyne arm of stills,&nbsp;run through a worm tub filled with cold water to help the alcoholic vapours to condense back into liquid.WORM TUBThe tub&nbsp;filled with cold water to aid in cooling and condensing alcoholic&nbsp;vapours during distillation. Not a very common practice amongst distilleries.WORTThe resulting sugary liquid from the mash tun, which will be combined with yeast to begin fermentation.&nbsp;

YEASTUsed in fermentation of the cereal grains, feeling on the sugars&nbsp;to produce carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol, essential for whisky making.

ZYMURGYThe study or practice of fermentation in brewing, winemaking, or distilling.

The Macallan Masters of Photography Steve McCurry Cask Making with Fire

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Whisky holds a rich history; we have gathered key insights and expertise to aid and enhance your appreciation of your favourite single malt.

Whisky Glossary

Whisky Glossary

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Whisky Knowledge