Most whisky drinkers know the old rule that a good bottle takes time. The Macallan has now added a new twist to that idea. On September 28, 2026, the Speyside distillery launched the Carta Nautica Collection, a set of four single malt Scotch whiskies built around a long trip across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip covers oak, craft and years of patient waiting, and it ends at the distillery's home beside the River Spey in Scotland.
The name comes from the Spanish words for "nautical chart." A nautical chart shows a sailor the way across open water, and the whiskies follow a similar path. The story traces the oak staves and casks from North America to Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, then on to Scotland. Each stop leaves something behind in the wood, and that wood leaves something behind in the whisky.
What Is the Carta Nautica Collection?
The collection has four whiskies, and each one is sold in a different part of the world. One is a very old, very rare vintage from 1987. The other three are meant for travelers, for buyers in Latin America and Mexico, and for buyers in the United States.
What ties them together is how they were aged. The Macallan's own team calls this an "anomalous maturation journey." Put simply, the whisky spends time in two very different kinds of barrels before it reaches the bottle.
The first stage takes place in sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez de la Frontera, the Spanish town that has long been tied to The Macallan's style. After that, the whisky is moved into casks that once held bourbon from North America. Sherry casks are known for deep, rich flavors. Bourbon casks tend to bring a lighter, sweeter touch. Putting the two together is meant to give the whisky more depth and richness, along with some brightness and balance.
The Macallan says the result is a group of whiskies that feel connected to their journey and still taste like The Macallan. The whisky maker's job, in this case, was to blend the influences of different continents and cultures into something that holds together.
The Six Pillars Behind the Story
The collection is guided by what the distillery calls its Six Pillars. These are the ideas The Macallan says sit behind everything it makes. For this release, they point toward exploration and refinement, and toward the meeting of old tradition and new discovery.
The look and feel of the collection follow the same theme. It is set in an ocean world, with a story about guidance and finding your way. That story reflects the real travel of the casks, and it also reflects the distillery's stated goal of mastering its craft.
The Journey Ends at the River Spey
The trip does not finish in Spain or in America. It finishes at The Macallan Estate, beside the River Spey. There, time and craftsmanship bring together everything the wood picked up along the way. The whisky keeps maturing in those well-traveled casks, and the influences from across the ocean settle into one whisky.
The estate itself sits on 485 acres. The distillery was designed by internationally known architects and takes its look from the ancient Scottish hills around it. It is a long way from Jerez, and even farther from the American oak forests where the story starts.
The Macallan Carta Nautica Distilled in 1987
Image credit: The Macallan
The top bottle in the collection is The Macallan Carta Nautica Distilled in 1987. It is the first in a new series of vintage releases, and the distillery calls it a rare and exceptional expression. The idea behind it comes from the Atlantic voyages that have shaped The Macallan's oak for more than two centuries.
The whisky was distilled in 1987 and matured for 38 years. It began in fine oak casks seasoned with sherry wine from Jerez de la Frontera, then moved into casks that had held bourbon from North America. That two-step path is what the distillery says gives the bottle its character.
The packaging carries artwork by American artist Amy Genser. Her designs draw on the natural shapes and rhythms of the ocean, which ties the box and bottle back to the theme of the whole collection.
Here is how it is described. The bottle is 45.2% ABV. The nose gives creamy vanilla with caramelized peaches, rich oak and tropical pineapple, with a touch of rose and a hint of pink grapefruit. On the palate, drinkers will find antique oak with orange oil, berry compote and nectarines. There is a twist of charred pineapple and leather, plus a sweetness like tarte au citron, the French lemon tart. The finish is long and refined, with wood spice, tropical fruit and sultanas.
The whisky has natural color, meaning nothing was added to change its shade. The whisky makers listed for this bottle are Diane Stuart and Alex Lumsden.
It will be sold worldwide through the distillery's website and The Macallan Estate Boutique starting September 28 at $13,500.
The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Years Old
Image credit: The Macallan
The second whisky is a 20-year-old made for the global travel retail market. That means it is meant to be bought at airports and duty free shops, which fits a collection built around travel. The distillery describes it as an expression of both travel and time.
Every drop of this one is influenced by the depth of sherry seasoned oak before it is moved into casks that once held bourbon. The Macallan says this creates a character that speaks to both craftsmanship and curiosity.
Amy Genser's artwork appears again here, with a design unique to this bottle. Her paper-based works pull from the movement of water and the organic forms found in nature. Through layers of color, texture and pattern, they give a visual take on the ocean. The distillery says this extends the Carta Nautica story beyond the label and offers a deeper look at the spirit of exploration behind the collection.
The bottle is 42% ABV. The nose starts with vibrant orange peel and creamy vanilla, with charred pineapple, juicy mango, apricot conserve and sweet red apple. The palate has tropical sweetness and peach tea, caramelized figs and a wisp of leather. After that comes a wave of zesty grapefruit, creamy chocolate orange and rich treacle cake. The finish lingers with dried tropical fruits, caramel and toasted oak spice.
It has natural color, and Diane Stuart and Alex Lumsden are again listed as the whisky makers.
The price is $800. It will be sold only at Singapore Changi Airport from September 28 to October 18. From October 19, 2026, it will spread to key airport boutiques and select duty free locations around the world.
The Macallan Carta Nautica for Latin America and Mexico
Image credit: The Macallan
The third whisky is meant for buyers in Latin America and Mexico. The distillery says it shows "a sophisticated eccentricity" that comes from three cask journeys. It brings together sherry seasoned American oak casks with casks that once held bourbon. The Macallan calls it a rewarding and well-traveled expression that shows how its Whisky Mastery Team looks for unexpected influences.
At 43% ABV, it has a gentle nuttiness at its core, with vanilla cream, fresh fruits and almond brittle. The nose also brings tres leches cake, a popular dessert across Latin America, and zesty lemon meringue. On the palate it is soft and rounded. White chocolate and floral honey come first, and then fresh melon, green apple and pear balance them out. The finish is light but lasting, with citrus peel, malt biscuit and gentle oak spice.
This whisky also has natural color. Euan Kennedy is listed as the whisky maker. No price was given for this release in the information provided.
The Macallan Carta Nautica 105 Proof
Image credit: The Macallan
The fourth bottle is the one made for American buyers. It is bottled at 52.5% ABV, which is 105 proof in the American system, so the name says exactly what is in the bottle. The distillery calls it bold and full-bodied. The higher strength is meant to give a richer and more intense taste while keeping the same mix of casks that defines the rest of the collection.
The nose is sweet from the start, with nougat, vanilla and honeycomb. There is a nutty depth like almond brittle, a citrus brightness, and a note of lemon drizzle cake. On the palate, rich toffee and golden syrup come first, and then fruit notes of poached pear, green apple and candied orange take over. The finish is long and warming, with citrus peel, malt biscuit and gentle oak spice.
It has natural color, and Euan Kennedy is the whisky maker. It will be sold in the United States only, through select retail partners, at $95. Of the four, it is the one most drinkers can actually afford to pick up and pour.
What the People Behind It Say
Euan Kennedy, Lead Whisky Maker at The Macallan, commented:
"The Carta Nautica Collection is a celebration of journey and transformation. By bringing together casks shaped by different continents and climates, we have created four unique whiskies that express both contrast and harmony. Each element has been carefully guided to reveal a character that is complex, balanced and deeply connected to its origins."
Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan, added:
"At The Macallan, creativity is central to how we bring our stories to life. The Carta Nautica Collection brings together craftsmanship, imagination and exploration, expressing the extraordinary journey behind the whisky and the mastery that shapes it. It reflects our enduring curiosity to push boundaries, while remaining true to the heritage and craftsmanship that define The Macallan."
A Quick Look at the Four Bottles
Here is how the four releases compare.
- Distilled in 1987: 45.2% ABV, sold worldwide, $13,500.
- 20 Years Old: 42% ABV, travel retail only, $800.
- Latin America and Mexico: 43% ABV, sold in those regions only.
- 105 Proof: 52.5% ABV, sold in the USA only, $95.
Two Centuries of Making Whisky
The Carta Nautica Collection comes from a distillery with a long history. The Macallan was founded when Alexander Reid distilled the first batch of whisky in 1824, using very small stills in Speyside, Scotland. More than 200 years have passed since then.
The company says its hallmark is an obsession with quality and craftsmanship. Its whiskies get their look and taste from oak casks seasoned with sherry wine, and from a commitment to natural color. That story starts in Jerez, Spain, where its European and American oak casks are made and seasoned. The Macallan owns and runs cooperages and sherry bodegas there. Those operations have played a big part in shaping the signature taste.
Why This Release Matters
Whisky collectors and casual drinkers alike often talk about the cask more than anything else. The barrel does much of the work in shaping color, aroma and flavor. The Carta Nautica Collection puts that idea in the spotlight. It asks what happens when a whisky is aged first in one kind of oak and then in another, and it uses a range of ages, strengths and prices to show it.
The range is broad enough that different kinds of drinkers can find a way in. A serious collector might look at the 1987 vintage. A traveler passing through Singapore's Changi Airport can pick up the 20-year-old. And someone at home in the United States can buy the 105 Proof for the price of a nice dinner.
The Macallan asks that its whisky be savored responsibly. Those who want to learn more about the stories behind the bottles can visit the distillery's website and join The Macallan Society.
