For The Macallan, the influence of sherry-seasoned oak has long been central to its whisky-making identity. Now, that relationship enters a new chapter with the introduction of TIME : SPACE Sherry Cask, a 20-year-old single malt Scotch whisky that marks a significant development in the distillery’s approach to cask maturation.
The third release in the TIME : SPACE Collection, following the bicentenary editions of TIME : SPACE and TIME : SPACE Mastery, introduces a distinction that goes beyond its age statement or presentation. It is the first Macallan whisky to be influenced by oak casks seasoned with Valdespino sherry since the Spanish sherry producer came under The Macallan’s ownership.
The release reflects a closer relationship between two traditions: Scotch whisky-making in Speyside and sherry production in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
A Deeper Connection To Jerez
Sherry-seasoned oak casks play a defining role in developing The Macallan’s natural colour and characteristic flavour profile. With Valdespino now under its ownership, the distillery has extended its oversight of the seasoning process, from the preparation of oak casks to their eventual use in Scotland.
The significance of this development becomes apparent in the creation of TIME : SPACE Sherry Cask. The whisky began its maturation journey in predominantly European oak sherry-seasoned casks, selected by The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team.
Following its full maturation, the whisky underwent an additional marrying process in a selection of the first 200 casks seasoned at The Macallan’s Valdespino bodega in Jerez.
Crafted at the company’s cooperages in Jerez and shipped to Scotland for filling in 2024, these casks represent an important milestone in The Macallan’s efforts to oversee its sherry-cask supply. While most are intended for future whisky maturation, a select number were used to shape this latest expression.
“TIME : SPACE Sherry Cask celebrates an exciting milestone in The Macallan’s ownership of our sherry seasoning, as the first whisky to be influenced by casks seasoned with our own Valdespino sherry,” explains Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan.
A Second Chapter in Maturation
Rather than introducing an entirely different maturation philosophy, TIME : SPACE Sherry Cask builds upon The Macallan’s established approach through a second interaction with sherry-seasoned oak.
Bottled at 44.8% ABV, the 20-year-old whisky presents aromas of sherry-soaked raisins, figs and dates, complemented by frangipane, caramelised nuts and dark chocolate. On the palate, dried fruits, ginger cake and treacle toffee develop alongside chocolate-coated cherries, with espresso, warming spices and gentle oak emerging on the finish.
The expression is presented in the TIME : SPACE Collection’s distinctive circular vessel, a design intended to represent the continuous relationship between past, present and future. Its presentation box draws inspiration from the palomino grapes grown in Valdespino’s vineyards, with warm golden tones referencing the Andalusian landscape.
Accompanying the release is Mastery Beyond Reason, a documentary narrated by photographer Steve McCurry and featuring sommelier Josep Roca. Tracing the journey of oak from forests in America and Northern Spain through cooperages, sherry bodegas and ultimately Speyside, the film offers a broader perspective on the processes behind The Macallan’s whisky.
For a distillery whose identity has been closely associated with sherry-seasoned oak for generations, TIME : SPACE Sherry Cask represents more than another addition to its collection. It signals how greater involvement in the cask-making and seasoning process is shaping the future of its whisky.
