Rare 57-year-old scotch to fetch $17,250 in Canada
Canadians will vie for 25 precious bottles of Macallan single malt whisky in Lalique crystal, with only 400 available worldwide </pre> <p/> <p><location>TORONTO</location>, <chron>Sept. 29</chron> /CNW/ - The Macallan and Lalique have launched the third offering in their prestigious Six Pillars Collection, an exceptionally rare 57-year-old single malt whisky valued at CDN$17,250. The Macallan in Lalique Finest Cut decanter goes on sale in <location>Canada</location> on <chron>September 29, 2009</chron>. In a significant nod to the Canadian market, more than 5% of the entire global allocation has been earmarked for <location>Canada</location>.</p> <p>According to <person>Cheryl Hudson</person>, Canadian Brand Manager for The Macallan, Canada's share of global inventory reflects growth in Canadian demand for luxury spirits. "<location>Canada</location> continues to see strong growth for premium single malt whisky, and particularly for The Macallan," says Hudson.</p> <p>The Finest Cut decanter has been designed by the legendary French crystal house Lalique, exclusively for The Macallan. A limited edition of just 400 decanters has been produced, each individually numbered and available in selected outlets around the world, with 25 allocated to <location>Canada</location> alone.</p> <p>This is the second oldest Macallan whisky ever released, only surpassed in age by the legendary 1926, a 60-year-old Macallan bottled in 1986, that sold at auction for <money>$75,000</money> in 2005. More recently, two bottles of 50-year-old Macallan sold for <money>$8,700</money> and <money>$11,900</money> at auction, demonstrating the demand for rare Macallan offerings.</p> <p>This particularly rare 57-year-old Macallan single malt whisky has been vatted together from two casks: the first, a 1950 American oak sherry butt; the second a vatting of Macallan from Spanish oak sherry butts originally filled in 1949, 1951 and 1952. <person>Marc Laverdiere</person>, Canadian Brand Ambassador for the Macallan, describes the finished product as, "...a softly sumptuous single malt, showing off the classic dried fruits, spice and hints of peat redolent of The Macallan house style of the early 1950s."</p> <p>The decanter takes its inspiration from The Macallan's Finest Cut, the select fraction of 'new make spirit' which is filled into casks for maturation. At The Macallan, this fraction is a mere 16%, one of the smallest cuts of any distillery in Scotland. This cut is the heart of the run, the best of the best, delivered at a very slow rate of distillation to maximize flavour and deliver the distinctively rich, fruity, linseed oil character of The Macallan's new make spirit.</p> <p>The stunning Macallan in Lalique Finest Cut decanter is a testament to the renowned crystal craftsmen at Lalique's Design Studio. The team was inspired by the legacy of Rene Lalique to design a decanter featuring the 'stilligoute' of a perfume bottle, the long piece of pure crystal that flows down to a point from the base of the bottle stopper. A portion of the stopper has been left completely clear and not "satinee," running from the top down to the point, representing the 16% 'finest cut'. When inserted into the elegantly tapering decanter, the stilligoutte, bathed in the rich whisky, reflects the natural colours of The Macallan through the play of light. When withdrawn, one can appreciate the full, heady aromas exuded by each drop of the precious spirit as it slowly runs down the crystal stem.</p> <p>Each decanter bears the esteemed 'Lalique <location>France</location>' signature symbolizing authenticity and more than 100 years of creativity, heritage and craftsmanship, and comes in a beautifully designed lacquer presentation box, with a crystal stopper and collectors guide, detailing the craftsmanship that has gone into producing this beautiful objet d'art.</p> <p>The Macallan has been working with Lalique since 2005 to produce an exclusive series of limited-edition decanters based on The Macallan's Six Pillars. The first two decanters in the series were designed to reflect the Macallan's Exceptional Oak Casks and Natural Colour, and proved hugely popular with both whisky consumers and collectors of Lalique crystal in <location>Canada</location> and around the world.</p> <p/> <p>Respected and admired by discerning whisky lovers and named 'Distiller of the Year 2008' by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged.</p> <p/> <pre> /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/
For further information: photos and/or interviews please contact: Sherry Lawlor, LexPR Canada, (416) 542-9140 x3366, [email protected]
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