Celebrating the World of Coffee

The second release in The Macallan Harmony Collection celebrates the world of coffee, inspired by the Ethiopian Arabica bean. The Macallan Whisky Maker Steven Bremner immersed himself in the art of coffee and set out to create a unique harmony between two worlds: coffee and whisky. 

Ethiopia is credited as being the birthplace of coffee, and the Arabica bean is thought to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated. The fusion of The Macallan and coffee worlds has resulted in an intensely flavoured and incomparable whisky. 

The Harmony Collection explores our innate curiosity and principles of innovation and creativity. The Macallan Whisky Maker, Steven Bremner, created the second release after immersing himself in the world of coffee.

Six masters, from the worlds of coffee and paper, shared their expertise on the journey from bean to cup. To nurture a knowledge exchange between these world-renowned exports, share fascinating stories and rare perspectives, Steven hosted a masterclass at The Macallan Estate to uncover this unique process and the distinct flavour profiles at each stage. 

The majority of Ethiopia's coffee is grown in Oromia. It is from here that the coffee beans which served as the inspiration for our exquisite single-malt whisky come from. Steven selected Harrar and Guji Ethiopian coffee beans for the Inspired by Intense Arabica expression, due to the coffee’s robust flavour profile and intensity. Coffee from Guji and Harrar offers unique, wild-varietal Arabica, with an intense and robust flavour.

For the Smooth Arabica expression, Steven selected Yirgacheffe and Limu coffee beans. Contrasting to coffee from Guji and Harrar, Yirgacheffe and Limu coffee beans have more delicate flavour notes with a much smoother finish. Coffee from Yirgacheffe exudes strong notes of strawberry and is one of Steven's favourite varieties.

Much like whisky, coffee is a beverage that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. It’s a universal language and an integral part of many different cultures worldwide. The second edition of The Harmony Collection is inspired by the essence of this special drink to create two unique single malts with exceptional flavour and character.