The Macallan has spent its 200th year celebrating in style, with new releases, a collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, and a bottling of its oldest age statement to date. Now, the Speyside distillery is concluding its anniversary year with a new single malt whisky.

The release is the third in Macallan's A Night on Earth series, which takes inspiration from New Year celebrations around the world. A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera pays homage to Jerez, the region of Spain from which the Macallan sources its sherry-seasoned oak casks. 

The limited-edition single malt whisky has been matured in a combination of European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks, which Macallan says produces "richness and sweetness on the palate". 

Tasting notes from the brand highlight pastry, grapes, and anise — flavours which take inspiration from the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes before the start of the new year, and pestiños, the Jerez pastry made with anise or honey.

For the bottle and packaging design, Macallan partnered with María Melero, a Jerez artist who drew on festive memories from her home to create the design, which showcases Jerez vineyards. Within the outer packaging is a pattern of 'azulejos', traditional wall tiles, with designs representing important iconography to Macallan and Jerez.

Macallan whisky maker Steven Bremner commented: “Jerez plays a crucial role in the Macallan’s past, but also present and future. As a whisky maker, having been able to tell part of that story through a whisky has been wonderfully rewarding. A combination of European and American sherry seasoned casks has enabled us to capture the flavours, traditions and María’s memories of New Year in Jerez de la Frontera, the home of sherry wine.”

Previous releases in the distillery's A Night on Earth series have included the shortbread-inspired A Night on Earth in Scotland, and A Night on Earth The Journey, which drew on Chinese New Year. 

A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera (43% ABV) will be available to purchase for RRP £110 via Macallan and select retailers.