The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Year Old: A Single Malt Matured in Reverse
The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Year Old is a single malt Scotch whisky matured first in sherry-seasoned oak, then in casks that previously held North American bourbon. It is bottled at 42% ABV with entirely natural colour. It is the Global Travel Retail release in The Macallan's four-bottle Carta Nautica Collection, introduced in September 2026.
It is now available from Whisky Estate, an Australian retailer of rare and collectible whisky.
A chart, not a finish
Carta Nautica is the Spanish term for a nautical chart. The name points to a route. The Macallan's oak staves and casks travel from North America to Jerez de la Frontera, then on to Scotland, and finally to the estate.
The voyage belongs to the oak, not the whisky. The spirit itself stays put. What it carries is the history of where its casks have been.
The Macallan was founded in 1824. It has spent a long time building its reputation on oak. This release puts the journey of that oak on the label, and in the glass.
The order matters
A great deal of Scotch begins life in ex-bourbon barrels and is sometimes finished in sherry-seasoned wood. Carta Nautica reverses the sequence.
The spirit goes first into sherry-seasoned oak from Jerez. Then it is moved into ex-bourbon casks for a second maturation. Crafted under Senior Whisky Maker Diane Stuart, the result is described by The Macallan as a balance. The dried fruit depth of European oak sits alongside the lively sweetness of American oak.
The idea of maturing in reverse is not new. It is still a neat one, and it changes what the whisky does on the palate.
In the glass
The nose opens on orange peel and creamy vanilla. Charred pineapple follows, then ripe mango and apricot conserve.
On the palate there is peach tea and caramelised figs. Leather and chocolate orange sit underneath. The finish carries dried tropical fruits, caramel and toasted oak spice.
Stuart has spoken about the vibrancy of the flavour. Orange peel arrives straight away. There is a richness on the palate as well. That reads true to the notes above. It is bright first, then it settles.
The Carta Nautica Collection
The 20 Year Old is one of four expressions in The Macallan Carta Nautica Collection. The Macallan Carta Nautica Distilled in 1987 is a 38 Year Old bottled at 45.2% ABV, the first in a new series of vintage releases. A no-age-statement Carta Nautica is made for Latin America and Mexico. A 105 Proof bottling is exclusive to the United States.
Each follows the same principle. Sherry-seasoned oak first. Ex-bourbon second. The 20 Year Old is the travel retail bottle, and the most approachable way into the idea.
Paper and water
The packaging carries paper-based artwork by American artist Amy Genser. Her work draws on the movement of water and on organic forms found in nature. It suits a collection named for the sea.
Who it suits
This is a bottle for collectors who already know the sherry-cask Macallans well. It offers the same house through a different sequence of oak. It is also a good bottle for anyone curious about how much the order of casks can change a single malt.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Year Old? It is a 20 year old single malt Scotch whisky from The Macallan, matured in sherry-seasoned oak and then in ex-bourbon casks. It is the Global Travel Retail release in the Carta Nautica Collection.
What does Carta Nautica mean? Carta Nautica is the Spanish term for a nautical chart. The name refers to the transatlantic journey of The Macallan's oak, from North America to Jerez de la Frontera and on to Scotland.
What is the ABV of The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Year Old? It is bottled at 42% ABV, with entirely natural colour.
What are the tasting notes? The nose offers orange peel, creamy vanilla, charred pineapple, mango and apricot conserve. The palate brings peach tea, caramelised figs, leather and chocolate orange. The finish carries dried tropical fruits, caramel and toasted oak spice.
Which casks are used? Sherry-seasoned oak from Jerez de la Frontera first, then casks that previously held North American bourbon.
Who made it? It was crafted under Senior Whisky Maker Diane Stuart of The Macallan.
Where can I buy it in Australia? It is available at Whisky Estate, with free delivery across Australia.
