The Macallan has launched the travel retail exclusive The Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao. It is the first whisky in a new limited release series of single malts that will see the brand progress its journey towards sustainable packaging, and “brings together the worlds of whisky and chocolate.”
The Harmony Collection Fine Cacao follows the release of The Harmony Collection Rich Cacao for domestic markets in 2021. Retailing at US$160, The Harmony Collection Fine Cacao will be available in The Macallan Boutiques in selected international airports and Singapore Changi Airport Lotte Duty Free shops from May 2022, before being introduced more widely to global travel retail hubs from June 2022.
The Harmony Collection Fine Cacao was inspired by The Macallan’s deep-rooted connection to nature and comes in sustainable packaging derived from recycled cacao husks.
In Global Travel Retail, the launch will be supported by a retail experience with sustainability as one of its guiding design principles. This sustainability strategy – a first for The Macallan – aims to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, minimize carbon emissions, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. As a result, displays from the retail experience can be flat packed and dismantled for transportation, 95% of the materials used are sustainable and 80% of displays are recyclable, increasing reusability for subsequent campaigns.
To create the Fine Cacao edition, The Macallan Whisky Maker Polly Logan visited Girona, Spain, where she explored the chocolate-making process, uncovering the distinctive flavor profiles.
Polly collaborated with world-renowned pastry chef, Jordi Roca, the youngest of the acclaimed Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca, with whom The Macallan has a long-standing relationship. As part of the exploration, she visited Jordi’s famed chocolate factory, Casa Cacao in Girona and she also spent time with master chocolatier, Damian Allsop.
Logan drew inspiration from the duo, searching the sherry seasoned oak casks maturing at The Macallan Estate to seek out chocolate notes.
Crafted from a combination of European and American oak casks, the single malt whisky is characterised by a unique and elegant medium chocolate profile, which pairs perfectly with the finest chocolate for a luxurious sensorial experience, says the company.
The Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao is encased in a fully recyclable and biodegradable presentation box, made using natural by-products in the chocolate-making process. The box is crafted using discarded husks from cacao pods and brings together The Macallan’s renowned craftsmanship with contemporary packaging techniques aimed at minimizing waste.
Polly Logan, Whisky Maker for The Macallan, said: “The Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao is a delightful expression which brings together the worlds of whisky and chocolate.
“Working in collaboration with Jordi Roca, acknowledged as one of the best and most creative pastry chefs in the world, and with exceptional chocolatier, Damian Allsop, I went on a journey of discovery, learning of the craftsmanship, passion and creativity which goes into making chocolate. I uncovered a great synergy between the whisky and chocolate-making processes. Both take time and exceptional attention to detail, with even the slightest changes encouraging different aromas and flavors to emerge.
“For this travel retail expression, I set out looking for a specific chocolate note in The Macallan’s traditional sherry seasoned European oak casks and combined this with a vanilla note imparted by sherry seasoned American oak casks to sweeten it slightly. With a natural color of toasted cacao beans, this exquisite single malt has a unique and elegant medium chocolate profile with raisin and toffee notes and offers a wonderful whisky and chocolate pairing experience.”
Jeremy Speirs, Regional Managing Director for Global Travel Retail, commented: “Travel retail exclusives have been a bedrock of our success in the channel – allowing us to showcase our creativity, innovation and heritage to global shoppers in new and exciting formats. With the launch of Harmony Collection Fine Cacao, we shine a light on our standout collaboration with the Roca Brothers while also demonstrating our sustainability credentials and the steps we are taking to help consumers make more environmentally friendly choices in travel retail.”
