Colour Collection 21 Years Old
The Colour Collection 21 Years Old showcases whisky that has been aged in sherry seasoned American oak casks, beautifully enhanced by a delicate addition of European oak.
The Colour Collection is a celebration of our sherry journey beginning in our vineyards in Jerez. The sherry wine that we use as the seasoner in our exceptional oak casks and the spectrum of natural colour derived from the interaction with the sherry seasoned oak.
With flavours of tropical fruits, coffee, hazelnuts and dark chocolate orange, Colour Collection 21 Years Old is an entirely natural warm bronze colour - the outcome of our new make spirit and exceptional oak casks working harmoniously together over the years.
The reimagined The Macallan Colour Collection expressions will be available from key travel locations from 2026.
Warm Spice. Chocolate Orange. Vanilla Pod.
Colour Collection 21 Years Old
Led by sherry seasoned American oak casks, boasting a fresh and vibrant flavour profile, the Colour Collection 21 Years Old reveals a warm bronze hue, with notes of warm spice, vanilla pod and chocolate orange.
THE EXPERIENCE
Colour
"The Macallan Colour Collection is fresh and vibrant owing to a character led by our exceptional sherry seasoned American oak casks. This Collection celebrates our deep connection with Jerez, Spain. It is here in our cooperages and bodegas that each of our oak casks are created and seasoned with our sherry wine. A beautiful spectrum of natural hues redolent of the vineyards, the warmth and culture of this special region, citrus fruits and vanilla on the palate with tropical notes revealed in the older expression of the range. Explore them all if you get a chance!”
Kirsteen Campbell
Master Whisky Maker
Colour Collection and David Carson
The Macallan Colour Collection character is led by sherry seasoned American oak casks. It comprises 12, 15, 18, 21 and 30 Years Old expressions that boast a fresh and vibrant flavour profile.
In this Collection we focus on the city and culture of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain where our sherry journey begins in the vineyards that mark the provenance of the sherry we use as seasoner in our exceptional oak casks. The terroir - albariza soil of the vineyards, the sun, the grapes and the streets of Jerez together inspire the design and artworks.
The Macallan reimagined is seen through the lens of artistic translator, David Carson, and celebrates the journey of our sherry seasoned oak casks.
THE COLOURS OF JEREZ
A visual journey through time, Colour Collection 21 Years Old is expressed in a palette of darker earth tones, subtly layered with creamy yellow - each hue echoing the evolving character of age and maturation. The artwork’s irregular frame and textured paper cuts lend a tactile depth, mirroring the complexity of the whisky within. With the dominance of chalky white, the composition evokes the origin of our sherry journey and the character led by American oak casks.
At The Macallan, our unwavering commitment to exceptional oak casks is fundamental to the character and quality of our whisky. These casks are the source of up to 80% of the flavour and the entirety of the whisky’s natural colour. This dedication to sourcing, crafting and seasoning our casks is a deliberate investment, one that defines our excellence.
Colour Collection 21 Years Old exemplifies this philosophy: led by American oak, its profile is enriched with delicate whispers of European oak, creating a harmonious balance that speaks to time, tradition and mastery.
The Artistic Translator
Meet David Carson
We have partnered with David Carson across The Macallan Timeless Collections. We asked him to go beyond the world of digital design and work with his hands again, using paper, paint and elements from nature, making each art piece unique and unrepeatable. His unconventional and incomparable style characterised by freedom spreads, overlapping photos, mixed and altered fonts and a total rejection of the grid brought him worldwide acclaim and transformed the design industry forever. He remains to this day resolutely grid free, unrivalled in his creativity and devoted to his craft.
NATURAL COLOUR
The natural warm bronze colour of The Macallan Colour Collection 21 Years Old speaks of a deep interaction between the whisky and our sherry seasoned oak casks. The light oak finish of the presentation box for the Colour Collection 21 Years Old was carefully chosen to complement the warm bronze tone of the whisky within.
Nestled along the expansive Atlantic Ocean, Jerez is a captivating land renowned for its sultry summers, resilient vineyards, and exquisite wines. It is within this enchanting place that we expertly season our oak casks with the finest sherry, a crucial component in crafting exceptional single malt whisky that boasts a deeply lustrous Natural Colour.
Sherry Seasoned Excellence
The Macallan’s exceptional European and American oak casks spend time in our Spanish bodegas during which time they are filled with sherry wine to season them.
Over the coming months, sherry wine gently rests within the exceptional oak casks. These sherry seasoned oak casks are then emptied, and transported to our Distillery here in Speyside, Scotland. Upon arrival at The Macallan Estate, these exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks are filled with our robust and fruity new make spirit.
Over years our whiskies will mature, drawing aromas, flavour and natural colour from these sherry seasoned oak casks. An exceptional story of sherry and wood.