The New Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica – 88 Bamboo

What you need to know:

The second instalment to Macallan's eco-conscious Harmony Collection is here! The new Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica is finally out, with a global travel retail version named Smooth Arabica to be jointly released.

The Macallan "Inspired by Intense Arabica" release is a celebration of the world of coffee and the incredible journey of the coffee bean.

The new expression will incorporate discarded coffee bean husks as part of Macallan’s efforts to innovate sustainable packaging which is the emphasis of the Harmony Collection.

“To create the coffee-inspired second edition of The Harmony Collection, I sought out intense notes in The Macallan’s traditional sherry seasoned European oak casks that would offer the rich and satisfying elements of coffee, with the influence of Sherry-seasoned American oak casks adding sweeter and softer vanilla notes for a balanced and rounded experience,”

The Intense Arabica will sport a rich red pantone color that reflects the coffee fruit, while the Smooth Arabica will don a vibrant green that represents the un-roasted coffee bean.

Macallan Harmony Collection Intense Arabica (44% ABV) will be made available at the Macallan Estate Bar, the Online Boutique and in select premium retailers from October 2022 for an RRP of 140 GBP or US$185. The Smooth Arabica (40% ABV) variant will be made available in The Macallan Airport Boutiques and key airports globally from November 2022.

(Image Source: Macallan)

The second instalment to Macallan's eco-conscious Harmony Collection is here! The new Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica is finally out, which follows the inaugural Rich Cacao. 

A Global Travel Retail version named Smooth Arabica will be jointly released as well.

The Macallan Harmony Collection was created to focus on the Scotch brand’s progress towards sustainable packaging through innovation in techniques and use of natural materials. This will be an annual limited release series.  

"The Macallan "Inspired by Intense Arabica" release is a celebration of the world of coffee and the incredible journey of the coffee bean.

The Macallan, together with experts specialising in the coffee ecosystem have united to share knowledge, creativity, and passion to bring this exciting concept to life. In the quest to discovered sustainable packaging , discarded coffee bean husks have been given a second lease of life to create this innovative presentation box which encases a unique whisky.

Our whisky maker Steven Bremner has taken inspiration from the Arabica coffee bean from Ethiopia, which is said to be the birthplace of coffee, and developed a whisky aged in both European and American oak casks which deliver notes reminiscent of a divinely sweet yet strong espresso."

Award-winning barista Andrea Allen was enlisted for the creation of the latest Macallan expression. (Image Source: Macallan)

Among the coffee masters who contributed to the latest expression were Ethiopian Coffee grower Kenean Asefa Dukamo, whose family works intimately with the Arabica variety of coffee beans; Scottish coffee roaster Lisa Lawson, key in the specialty coffee scene in Scotland; as well as award-winning American barista Andrea Allen, whose work centers on designing coffee experiences. Other coffee masters who advised Bremner include coffee artist Dhan Tamang and coffee historian Professor Jonathan Morris.

The latest expression will be bottled at 44% ABV (while the Smooth Arabica will be bottled at 40% ABV), was matured in a combination of American and European Sherry seasoned oak casks to achieve its distinctive notes.

“To create the coffee-inspired second edition of The Harmony Collection, I sought out intense notes in The Macallan’s traditional sherry seasoned European oak casks that would offer the rich and satisfying elements of coffee, with the influence of Sherry-seasoned American oak casks adding sweeter and softer vanilla notes for a balanced and rounded experience,”

- Steven Bremner, Macallan Whisky Maker

The Intense Arabica will sport a rich red pantone color that reflects the coffee fruit, while the Smooth Arabica will don a vibrant green that represents the un-roasted coffee bean.

Macallan Harmony Collection Intense Arabica will be made available at the Macallan Estate Bar, the Online Boutique and in select premium retailers from October 2022 for an RRP of 140 GBP or US$185. The Smooth Arabica variant will be made available in The Macallan Airport Boutiques and key airports globally from November 2022.

Our Take

It seems like Macallan's Harmony Collection strategy is Discarded Husk + Whisky That Taste Like What Comes From Said Husk + Gastro Celebrity Partnership = Big Hype

Well, it works. Safe to say, this will be just as popular as its predecessor and you can bet it'll be incredibly sought after. 

It'll be interesting to see who the coffee masters are who had a hand in this.

If you can get it at RRP, for a myriad of reasons, get it. Even if you don't wanna drink it, someone'll gladly take it off your hands and spot you your next bottle.

Cop the Drop or Not Verdict: Cop At RRP 

Kanpai!

@111hotpot