Macallan has had a long history full of handovers, new launches, and worldwide renown. As part of Macallan week here at Mark Littler Ltd we have put together a comprehensive timeline of the Macallan distillery to help you follow its journey from 1824 to today.
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1824
The Macallan distillery is licenced to Alexander Reid originally under the name Elchies Distillery.
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1847
Alexander Reid passes away and James Shearer Priest and James Davidson take over the licence.
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1868
James Stuart acquires the lease and rebuilds the distillery.
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1892
James Stuart sells the distillery to Roderick Kemp from Elgin. Kemp renames it the Macallan-Glenlivet distillery and expands the site.
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1909
Roderick Kemp passes away and the Roderick Kemp Trust is established to secure the Kemp family’s future ownership of Macallan.
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1954
The number of stills is increased from two to five.
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1965
A second stillhouse is built increasing the number of stills from six to twelve.
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1966
The Roderick Kemp Trust is reformed as a private limited company.
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1968
The Roderick Kemp Trust is floated on the London Stock Exchange.
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1974
The number of stills is increased to eighteen.
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1975
A further three stills are installed, increasing the total to twenty-one.
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1984
The first official single malt bottling is launched, an 18-Year-Old expression.
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1986
Japanese Group Suntory purchase 25% of Macallan-Glenlivet plc stocks.
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1996
Highland Distillers purchase the remaining 75% of Macallan-Glenlivet plc stocks. An 1874 Replica expression is launched.
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1998
The Macallan estate farm resumes service to grow Golden Promise barley, used in the distillation of a number of Macallan special releases.
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1999
Edrington and William Grant & Sons buys Highland Distillers for £601 million through, The 1887 Company. The remaining shares in Macallan continue to be held by Suntory.
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2000
The first single cask from Macallan (1981) is launched named Exceptional 1.
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2001
A Macallan visitors centre is opened.
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2002
Macallan 1841 Replica, Exceptional II and Exceptional III are launched.
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2003
Macallan 1876 Replica, and Exceptional IV a single cask expression distilled in 1990 are released.
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2004
Exceptional V a single cask from 1989, and Exceptional VI a single cask from 1990 are released. The Fine Oak series is launched.
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2005
Macallan Woodland Estate, Winter Edition and the 50-Year-Old expressions are released.
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2006
Macallan Fine Oak 17-Year-Old and Vintage 1975 are launched.
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2007
Macallan 1851 Inspiration and Whisky Maker’s Selection are released.
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2008
Macallan Estate Oak and a 55-Year-Old Lalique are released.
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2009
The mothballed Macallan No.2 still house is reopened and resumes production. The Macallan 1824 Collection and a 57-Year-Old Lalique are released.
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2010
Macallan Oscuro is released.
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2011
Macallan MMXI is released.
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2012
Macallan Gold, the first release in the new 1824 series is launched.
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2013
Edrington announces plans for the construction of a new £100 million Macallan distillery. Macallan Amber, Sienna and Ruby expressions are released.
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2014
Macallan 1824 Masters Series (with Rare Cask, Reflexion and No.6) is released.
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2015
Macallan Rare Black Cask is released.
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2016
Macallan Edition No.1 and a 12-Year-Old Double Cask are released.
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2017
The new Macallan Distillery is commissioned on 9th November 2017. Macallan Folio 2 is released.
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2018
The new Macallan Distillery is completed and officially opens in May 2018 at a final cost of £140 million. The old Macallan Distillery is mothballed. Fine Oak series is renamed the Triple Cask series. The Quest Collection, Macallan M Black and Genesis are launched. Macallan Concept No.1 and 72-Year-Old and 52-Year-Old expressions are released.
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2019
Macallan Estate and Edition No. 5 are released.
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2020
Macallan M (2020 edition) and Macallan Distil Your World: London Edition are released.
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2021
Macallan An Estate, A Community and A Distillery is released
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2022
Macallan adds a 77 year old to the Red Collection
