The Macallan Double Cask
Rising to the Challenge
Two worlds meet for the first time to face the fire in the cooperages of Jerez, Spain.
Skills, experience and mastery come together in cask making. Wood staves need to be selected by coopers when they are ready, carefully cut and formed into casks held in by metal hoops. Yet the cooper also needs to be able to sense when the wood is just toasted or charred enough for the purpose intended.




The Standing of the Casks
In this one-of-a-kind process, the half-formed casks are sprayed with water to make them pliable enough to begin to be fashioned into their final shape. They are placed over small fires set in the ground that toast the insides of the oak, while consistently being splashed with water by the coopers to ensure that they do not wholly catch fire.

The Work of a Cooper
Using primarily traditional techniques, coopers need to be able to intimately understand and work with diverse types of wood, built to precise specifications. These masters of their trade have an essential part to play in creating the casks that house our exceptional single malt whiskies as they mature.
Toasting: Setting the Foundation for Flavour
In preparation for the sherry seasoning of the casks, the wood is toasted for longer at a lower temperature. Both European and American oak are toasted in the cooperages. This lower, sustained heat causes a caramelisation of the wood, which contributes to the sweet, toasted, candyfloss flavours.
Toasting enables these characteristics to be passed on to The Macallan new make spirit, which then culminates in the variety of colour and flavours present in the The Macallan Double Cask range.
Discover New Expressions
Double Cask 15 Years Old
Matured for 15 years, Double Cask 15 Years Old is a rich, golden butterscotch colour; 100 percent of the colour is naturally derived from our sherry seasoned oak casks. Delivering notes of dried fruits, vanilla and citrus, it is a harmonious union of cask and craft.
Double Cask 18 Years Old
Patiently matured for 18 years, this distinct single malt is a harmony of American and European oak sherry seasoned casks. This exquisite combination delivers a whisky with a sweeter, warmer taste, and true depth of character.