Much like wine, art, and Betty White, Scotch whisky is just one of those things that gets better with age. Of course, this knowledge is well-known throughout the whisky space. Scotch age has a direct correlation with its rarity and price, which is why many distilleries will curate collections of their spirits over time and sell them as a limited release. The leader in this practice is The Macallan, whose Fine & Rare collection is the largest assembly of vintage-dated, single malt whiskies in the world. This year, the pride of the Speyside region bolstered their impressive collection with the addition of a 1990 single malt.
The Fine & Rare Collection was launched in 2002 and exemplifies The Macallan’s history of excellence within the space. It includes 58 individual releases spanning eight decades, starting with the 1926, a whisky of legendary status, to the most recent release, the 1990. These bottles are hard to find and ultra-rare as they epitomize the undying pursuit of excellence that made The Macallan the powerhouse distillery it is today. In particular, the 1990 Edition of the Fine & Rare collection was filled on June 7th, 1990, and matured in a single sherry-seasoned American oak butt cask for 30 years before being bottled in 2021. What resulted from this tricenarian aging process was a gorgeous, rosewood-colored single malt whose looks are as deep and rich as its flavor. On the nose, the 1990 Edition imparts aromas of sweet honey and vanilla followed by peach and raspberry tart, antique oak, and caramelized apple. A cavalcade of confectionary, fruity flavors like orange and almond cake, vanilla and raisin, forest fruits, licorice, and cinnamon buns crescendo on the palate, before leaving drinkers with a long, complex finish of fresh and gentle spices.
Each bottle is encased in an FSC-certified European oak presentation box. The Macallan is selling only 467 bottles of the 1990 Edition for $17,921 apiece through The Macallan Estate Boutique and exclusive retailers.
