A Night On Earth (In Scotland) is the new, limited edition expression from The Macallan, released in time for Christmas and the new year. The Macallan announced last year that it would be unveiling a series of annual, limited edition gifting expressions, and this is actually the second edition of A Night On Earth, after last year’s well-received 2021 release. The suffix, “In Scotland” is added towards the bottom of the label in a smaller and lighter font, giving context to the whisky’s name and philosophy.
Macallan’s A Night On Earth essentially celebrates Hogmanay – the Scottish tradition of saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming in the new year. Aye, it’s effectively the Scottish take on what the rest of the world calls New Year’s Eve. Traditionally, one of the key aspects of Hogmanay is the first-footing – being the first person after midnight to cross the threshold (i.e. enter the house) of a friend or neighbour and present them with one or more gifts. Traditionally, this would have been coal, shortbread, salt, or whisky, and was intended to bring good luck to the householder for the year ahead. The host reciprocates by providing some food and drink which are then enjoyed together, and the festivities can continue well into wee hours of the morning (and the late hours, for that matter) with people knocking on doors to be the first-footer!
No accident, then, that A Night On Earth is timed as we approach the gift-giving season! The whisky comes in impressive packaging that is a bit reminiscent of unpacking Russian dolls as you encounter layer under layer.
The whisky itself is mix of spirit from three different cask types, with 1st-Fill ex-bourbon barrels doing most of the heavy lifting. Ex-oloroso sherry casks – both American oak and European oak – round out the vatting. It is thus, in a sense, an alternative NAS expression of The Macallan’s Triple Cask, or what was previously badged as the Fine Oak range. However, with the ex-bourbon casks seemingly more prominent in this particular vatting, the whisky displays a lighter and sweeter flavour profile than the Macallans that showcase more of the spice and fruit of oloroso and European oak. This year’s A Night On Earth has been bottled at 43% ABV – a notch or three up higher than last year’s release at 40%.
The whisky had its Australian launch in Sydney this week at Grain Bar, with attendees treated to a tasting of three of Macallan’s Double Cask range as brand ambassador, Josh O’Brien, led the room through the tasting and shared the Macallan story and its six pillars.
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But A Night On Earth was the star of the show, so let’s pop the cork and put the whisky through its paces.
The Macallan’s “A Night On Earth In Scotland”, NAS, 43% ABV.
Nose: The unmistakable aroma of mince pies leaps out of the glass. Spices in the form of nutmeg and cinnamon round out the sides, and cedar wood brings up the rear.
Palate: The fruits are forward in this expression of Macallan, with cherries and currants on display. It’s a predominantly sweet palate, with vanilla/toffee notes dovetailing nicely with the fruit. There are hints of shortbread (which ties in nicely with the Hogmanay theme!), and boozy, stewed peaches add to the complexity. With time in the glass, some citrus also emerges, with hints of candied orange or orange peel. The mouthfeel is well balanced at 43% ABV, and is slick in texture, without being oily or syrupy.
Finish: Light and relatively short, it trails with a slight bitterness as the malt retreats and the oak comes through.
Comments: An enjoyable dram that I daresay would be refreshing on Hogmanay! It’s a lighter style of Macallan, with the sherry influence significantly dialled down. This allows the spirit and cereal to shine a little brighter, revealing a vibrant dram that is complex and multi-faceted. One suspects it’s possibly at the younger end of the spectrum (in terms of the average age of the constituent casks), but there’s plenty of weight and calibre to carry the dram.
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The Macallan’s A Night On Earth is now available from all good retailers, while stocks last. RRP is $229 (Australia)
Cheers,
AD
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