On Tuesday, March 22nd at 8 PM, Woodbines will be hosting a Macallan tasting night featuring three of their signature scotches, tapas-style food pairings, and a raffle for anyone who stays and drinks Macallan after the event. Local Brand Ambassador Jordan Zimmerman will be there presenting their 12- and 15-year-old scotches as well as the Rare Cask.

In preparation for the event, we sat down with Jordan to get some inside info on the legendary scotch makers.  Here is what she told us:

What’s in a Name?
The Macallan name has become synonymous with excellence.  Interestingly enough, the moniker has somewhat religious roots.  It is thought that the name “Macallan” most likely refers to an ancient stone church, built on what is now the Easter Elchies Estate located on the sprawling Macallan property.

The name of this church was a combination of the Gaelic “Machair,” meaning “fertile ground”, and a version of “Ellan,” which refers to the Scottish Monk St. Fillan.

Little Stills, Big Flavor
Macallan distills its scotch in copper pots that remain some of the smallest in the industry.  This allows them to cull the richest, most robust flavors from the spirit.  In fact, the stills are so unique and so revered, they have even appeared on the back of the 10 Scottish bank note.

Knock on Wood
Each Macallan cask costs the distillers nearly $1200, and they spent more than the entire Scotch whiskey industry combined on casks alone last year; somewhere in the $36 million range!  They justify this expense because Macallan owns the entire barrel- making process; from choosing the tree in the ancient forests of northern Spain, right down to hand-crafting them at their cooperage in Tevasa.  Each barrel undergoes an intensive process before being used and is seasoned for three years with one of the world’s finest sherry wines before ever being filled with their new-make spirit.

And the person’s title who oversees this whole process? Master of Wood.

Big Money
According to the Guinness book of world records, Macallan holds the record for the most expensive whiskey ever sold at auction.  The bidder paid $628,000 (!) for a 6-liter bottle of Macallan M, a combination of the oldest whiskey stocks aging at the Macallan distillery.  These stocks ranged from 25 to 75-years old and the signature bottle was custom-designed by renowned French crystal makers Lalique.  For those wondering, a standard pour of Macallan M will set you back $5,000 and change.

Raising a Glass for Good
Many may not know, but the Edrington Group, Macallan’s parent company, is owned by the largest charitable trust in Scotland.  Founded in 1961 by the three Robertson Sisters, the trust has gifted over $160 million to deserving causes around the country; giving back to the land that gives so much to their fine spirits.  Macallan’s private ownership and commitment to social responsibility ensures that each drop of liquid can be masterfully crafted to exacting standards, without having to answer to shareholders.

Call us today at 718-361-8488 or visit our site to make a reservation for this exciting event. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram for the latest news and happenings.