Description

The Macallan Litha Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Volume: 700ml         ABV: 40%       Age: No Age Statement      Country: Scotland

The Whisky

Step into a world where Scotland meets Spain with The Macallan Litha. Originally released exclusively for the Chinese market and now appearing in select global boutiques, “Litha” (meaning “Light”) represents the precise moment of summer solstice. This non age statement single malt is matured exclusively in first-fill Sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Bottled at 40% ABV, it is a vibrant, sun-drenched expression that highlights the transformative power of Macallan’s specialised wood program.

Inside information reveals that Litha was designed to be a more “approachable and energetic” Macallan. By utilising only first-fill sherry casks, the distillery has bypassed the subtler refill profiles to deliver an immediate hit of rich, oxidative fruit and spicy oak. It is a celebration of the “meeting of two worlds”—the pure, new-make spirit from Speyside’s smallest stills and the seasoned wood from the sun baked bodegas of Andalusia.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Pure and bright. You are greeted by the scent of butterscotch and creamy vanilla, layered with pink grapefruit and orange zest. As it opens, deeper notes of white chocolate and toasted hazelnuts emerge, accompanied by a light, floral honey sweetness.

Palate: Silkily smooth and medium bodied. It delivers a vibrant array of candied tropical fruits and damson plums, balanced by a warming spice of cinnamon and stem ginger. Mid-palate, the berry notes turn toward redcurrants and berry jam, held together by a refined oak structure.

Finish: Long and elegant. The finish lingers with the zesty brightness of citrus peel, finally tapering off with a final, sweet flourish of toasted oak and lingering fruit oils.

The Distillery

The Macallan, located on a stunning estate in Craigellachie, Speyside, is arguably the world’s most famous whisky brand. A unique factual detail: The distillery uses “Curiously Small Stills,” which are so iconic they appeared on the back of a Bank of Scotland £10 note. These compact stills maximise copper contact, creating a rich, oily, and heavy bodied spirit that is robust enough to withstand decades of intense sherry maturation. In 2018, they opened a subterranean, grass roofed distillery that is an architectural marvel, blending the production site seamlessly into the rolling Speyside hills.

Overall Review

The Macallan Litha is widely reviewed as a “refreshingly vibrant” departure from the brand’s darker, heavier core range. Critics have praised its “luminous” fruit profile and the high quality of the first-fill sherry wood, making it a mandatory acquisition for Macallan collectors and those who enjoy a brighter, more aromatic style of sherry maturation.