Artist #11 La Maison du Whisky Macallan 27YR 700ML

Artist #11 La Maison du Whisky Macallan 27YR 700ML is a 27-year-old single cask Speyside single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 47.6% ABV in a 700ml format. Distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2021 from ex-bourbon cask #152071, this release is limited to just 124 individually numbered bottles, making it among the scarcest independent Macallan bottlings available in the American market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.6%  |  Origin: Speyside, Scotland  |  Age: 27 Years (Distilled 1993, Bottled 2021)  |  Distillery: The Macallan  |  Cask: Ex-Bourbon #152071  |  Bottles: 124

Production & Heritage

The Macallan distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid in the Speyside region of Scotland and remains one of the most sought-after names in single malt whisky. This expression was selected by La Maison du Whisky's tasting panel as part of their ARTIST series—a curated collection representing what their expert selectors consider the finest casks they have evaluated over a given year, developed specifically for the American market. Unlike Macallan's official range, which typically relies on sherry-seasoned oak, this single cask matured for 27 years exclusively in ex-bourbon cask #152071, yielding a distinctly different profile that highlights the distillery's spirit character through the lens of American oak influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a refined sweetness and gentle vanilla characteristic of long-term bourbon cask maturation. Underneath, there is an exotic, almost tropical quality layered with orchard fruit and soft oak.

Taste: The palate is smooth and generous, with a richness that has been compared to a fine dessert wine. The mid-palate develops exotic accents and a layered complexity that unfolds slowly, revealing honeyed stone fruit and nuanced spice notes drawn from nearly three decades in oak.

Finish: The finish is long and textured, carrying that dessert-wine smoothness through to a lingering warmth. Subtle oak tannins and dried fruit fade gradually, rewarding patience between sips.

How to Drink Artist #11 Macallan 27

At 47.6% ABV, this whisky is ideally suited for sipping neat in a Glencairn glass, allowing the 27 years of cask influence to express themselves fully. A few drops of water can open up the exotic fruit character without diminishing structure. Given the extreme rarity of only 124 bottles, cocktail use is impractical—this is a whisky to be savored on its own terms.

Best For

• Serious Macallan collectors seeking rare independent bottlings
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with an unrepeatable single cask whisky
• Gifting to a whisky enthusiast who values provenance and scarcity
• Side-by-side tastings comparing bourbon cask Macallan against official sherry cask releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Artist #11 Macallan 27 taste like? It delivers a smooth, rich palate reminiscent of fine dessert wine, with exotic accents, honeyed fruit, and layered complexity developed over 27 years in a single ex-bourbon cask.

How does Artist #11 Macallan 27 compare to GlenDronach single cask releases? GlenDronach single casks are typically matured in sherry wood (Oloroso or Pedro Ximénez), producing a darker, heavily sherried profile, while this Macallan was aged exclusively in an ex-bourbon cask, resulting in a lighter, more vanilla-driven and fruit-forward character. Both represent excellent aged Highland and Speyside single cask whisky, but the flavor direction is quite different due to cask type.

Is Artist #11 Macallan 27 good for sipping neat? Absolutely—it was bottled at a careful 47.6% ABV without chill filtration details disclosed, and its 27-year maturation produces a smooth, layered complexity that is best appreciated neat or with a small addition of water.

Where is Artist #11 Macallan 27 made? The whisky was distilled at The Macallan distillery in Craigellachie, Speyside, Scotland, one of the country's most iconic single malt producers, founded in 1824. It was independently selected and bottled by La Maison du Whisky for their ARTIST series.

What foods pair well with Artist #11 Macallan 27? Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese complements the vanilla and oak warmth; crème brûlée mirrors its dessert-wine sweetness; poached pears with honey echo the fruit character; dark chocolate with sea salt contrasts and amplifies the exotic spice notes; and smoked salmon can highlight the underlying malt richness.

What sizes does Artist #11 Macallan 27 come in? This release is available exclusively in 700ml bottles, the standard format for La Maison du Whisky's ARTIST series.

Is Artist #11 Macallan 27 worth the price? This positions as an ultra-premium collector's expression—a 27-year-old single cask Macallan limited to 124 bottles worldwide commands a significant price, but the combination of Macallan's distillery prestige, nearly three decades of maturation, and extreme scarcity places it in rarefied territory where comparable independent Macallan bottlings consistently hold or appreciate in value.

Why Artist #11 Macallan 27?

What distinguishes this bottling is the intersection of three factors rarely found together: Macallan spirit, 27 years of uninterrupted bourbon cask aging, and a production run of only 124 bottles. While Macallan's official lineup leans heavily on sherry wood, this ex-bourbon maturation offers a fundamentally different lens on the distillery's character—one that foregrounds fruit, vanilla, and malt over the dried fruit and spice of sherry influence. Selected by La Maison du Whisky's panel from among the best casks they evaluated for their eleventh ARTIST collection, cask #152071 represents a single, unrepeatable moment in Macallan's history. For collectors and drinkers who want to experience Macallan outside its official house style, few bottlings are as compelling or as scarce.