After the successful debut of the Harmony Collection Rich Cacao at the end of 2021, The Macallan has now launched the Fine Cacao, the second whisky of the series, as a travel retail exclusive.
Singapore is the first market to launch the Fine Cacao, just in time as the nation experiences a travel boom with borders now opening up. After a two-week or so headstart, the Fine Cacao is then slated to become available at global travel retail hubs worldwide from mid-May.
As is the ethos of the Harmony Collection, this second in the limited-edition series of single malts once again emphasises sustainability in its packaging. The box it comes in is fully recyclable and biodegradable, and is made using natural by-products in the chocolate-making process, such as discarded cacao pod husks.
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Similar to the Rich Cacao, the Fine Cacao is once again the work of Macallan whisky maker Polly Logan under the influence of her experience at world-renowned pastry chef Jordi Roca’s chocolate factory, the Casa Cacao in Girona, Spain.
She continues drawing inspiration from Roca and the factory’s master chocolatier, Damian Allsop, harnessing that knowledge and creativity to create the Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao by searching sherry seasoned oak casks at The Macallan Estate for similarly rare, indulgent chocolate notes.
In a media release, Polly says she has managed to uncover “a great synergy between the whisky and chocolate-making processes”, adding that both “take time and exceptional attention to detail, with even the slightest changes encouraging different aromas and flavours to emerge.”
She explains: “For this travel retail expression, I set out looking for a specific chocolate note in The Macallan’s traditional sherry seasoned European oak casks and combined this with a vanilla note imparted by sherry seasoned American oak casks to sweeten it slightly.”
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The eventual look and taste for Polly is that the Fine Cacao resembled the “natural colour of toasted cacao beans”, and that it exudes an “elegant medium chocolate profile with raisin and toffee notes.” It pairs nicely when enjoyed with chocolates as well.
In Singapore, The Macallan has partnered with Changi Airport Group and Lotte Duty Free to launch the Harmony Collection Fine Cacao as a global first, at a travel retail exclusive pop-up in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall from May 1 to June 30, 2022.
The limited-edition travel retail exclusive Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao is available at S$215 per bottle.
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About the Author
Dannon Har is the Managing Editor of Spill. Discovering his innate gift for drinking only at a ripe age, he spares no time trying to find more delicious drops to imbibe during his time on Earth. When he’s not minding every detail at Spill, he spends his time concocting luscious libations and sharing them with folks that visit his home bar.