The Macallan Edition No. 3 is the third release in the celebrated Edition Series, a collaboration between The Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno, and world-renowned Master Perfumer, Roja Dove. This release explores the parallels between whisky and fine fragrance, using an array of carefully selected casks to deliver a whisky layered with depth and aromatic complexity. Matured in a combination of first-fill and refill casks, the recipe includes 1st fill Hudosa butts, 2nd fill refill butts, 1st fill Tevasa butts and puncheons, 1st fill bourbon hogsheads, 1st fill Tevasa hogsheads, and 1st fill bourbon barrels. Bottled at 48.3% ABV, it highlights both elegance and richness in equal measure.

The Macallan Edition No. 3 Tasting Notes.

Nose: Reminiscent of a fine fragrance, leading with vanilla ice cream, fresh cut oak and delicate florals, with orange oil providing subtle grandeur while ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg flit in and out.
Palate: Sweet fruit, vanilla and rich fruitcake, with suggestions of apricot, pear and crisp green apple.
Finish: Long, sweet and fruity, with a grand oak finale.

Why Add The Macallan Edition No. 3 To Your Collection?

Edition No. 3's defining idea is genuinely unusual for whisky: rather than another collaborator selecting casks by taste, Master Perfumer Roja Dove — a fragrance historian able to identify hundreds of scents blindfolded — approached the whisky's flavour profile the same way he'd build a perfume, pinpointing complementary aromas and balancing them against a "counterpoint" note. That perfumery-driven process, drawn from six cask types balancing the heavier sherry-cask base against brighter citrus notes, gives this release a distinctly aromatic, floral character that sets it apart from the more classically sherried Edition No. 1 and No. 2 before it. With 250,000 bottles produced, it's more accessible than some of Macallan's ultra-limited releases while still carrying the collectible weight of the annual Edition series. It's a strong pick for whisky drinkers curious about the connection between whisky and perfumery, or for anyone building a vertical collection of Macallan's Edition series from the start.

The Macallan

The Macallan is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery established in 1824 at Easter Elchies, near Craigellachie in Speyside, Scotland, by Alexander Reid. Renowned for its "mastery of wood and spirit," the distillery is famous for using some of the smallest stills in the Scotch whisky industry and reserving a limited "cut" of spirit for maturation, resulting in a richer, more full-bodied whisky. The Macallan is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and highly collected single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world, with rare and vintage bottlings regularly achieving record prices at auction, and its annual Edition series showcasing creative collaborations that highlight the brand's cask expertise.