Every cask of exceptional single malt whisky maturing at The Macallan Estate has its own personality, with little nuances which make them unique. ​

From time to time our whisky makers come across casks maturing in warehouses which stand out from the others in a very particular way. ​

These hand-selected casks are a rare and special discovery.

Rare Cask is created from oak casks which exhibit incredibly rich, smooth complexity, highlighted through a sweet raisin note. These rare casks of The Macallan have an entirely natural deep ruby mahogany colour, and an intense and highly complex flavour profile.

Discovering the parallels between sound, aroma, flavour and colour explored through the shared element of wood, for this release we came together with renowned musician, Charlie Burchill of Simple Minds, to explore a sensorial world. 

Charlie’s ability to identify rare tasting notes such as raisin, is similar to how he both composes and plays music. He explores how Rare Cask might sound through working with a Luthier in the South of Spain to create a guitar crafted from the same European Oak wood as The Macallan Casks are crafted from. 

Together, we discover the core synergies of a great creation, and how interactions with a work of art in both realms of music and the craft of whisky making aren’t so distant from one another.

Charlie describes composition of music, how notes layer on one another to create a sense of magic when all is in tune. We highlight those feelings that describe the whole musical experience as well as the tasting notes —the way different flavours and aromas add up. ​

Through Charlie’s guitar and music we explore how the tasting notes of the whisky trigger those emotions, those feelings, those memories. We connect Charlie’s music and a journey with a guitar luthier to explore the importance of the wood as the main element that connects our whisky and Charlie’s guitar.

The use of an electric guitar, Charlie’s instrument, gives us an intimate approach to explore the inward emotions and feelings of Charlie as he explores flavours and also sensations and memories that we accumulate and treasure. The film also makes use of colour, flavours and textures linking it all with Charlie’s world.​

Rooted by place and heritage, the film is set in the south of Spain, home of the luthier and the Macallan oak casks. As the sensorial journey evokes memories of his recording studio in Loch Earn,  scenes of Scotland, Charlie’s birthplace, are intertwined.