Macallan Edition No. 3 750ML

Macallan Edition No. 3 750ML is a limited-release Speyside single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 48.3% ABV (96.6 proof). This expression stands apart as a collaboration between The Macallan and world-renowned Master Perfumer Roja Dove, who applied his extraordinary sensory expertise to chart distinctive aromas across specific oak cask types. Whisky Advocate awarded it 90 points, recognizing its layered complexity and aromatic depth.

Quick Facts: ABV: 48.3%  |  Origin: Speyside, Scotland  |  No Age Statement (Limited Edition Series)  |  Distillery: The Macallan

Production & Heritage

The Macallan distillery, founded in 1824 in Craigellachie in Scotland's Speyside region, is one of the most recognized single malt producers in the world. Edition No. 3 was matured across six distinct cask types: Hudosa butts, refill butts, Tevasa butts, Bourbon hogsheads, Tevasa hogsheads, and Bourbon barrels — a combination of European and American oak selected for their aromatic character. Roja Dove's involvement focused specifically on aroma development, using his perfumer's understanding of scent layering to identify and map the most expressive casks for the final vatting. This marked the third chapter in Macallan's now-discontinued Edition series, each of which explored a different aspect of whisky-making through creative collaboration.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe figs and apricot jam before giving way to sweet vanilla and Jaffa oranges. Underneath, delicate floral aromas emerge alongside cinnamon, citrus essential oils, and traces of baking spice.

Taste: The palate entry is silky and warm, delivering a pronounced citrus fruit hit that transitions into honeyed sweetness with ginger and nutmeg at mid-palate. As it develops, flavors of Bit-O-Honey candy and creamy milk chocolate take hold, supported by gentle oak and cocoa undertones.

Finish: The finish is long and fruit-forward, with milk chocolate persisting alongside sweet oak. Lingering warmth from baking spice and ginger gradually fades, leaving a clean but richly textured close.

How to Drink Edition No. 3

At 48.3% ABV, this whisky rewards neat sipping, though a few drops of water open up the floral and citrus aromatics Roja Dove helped curate. The robust body and honeyed sweetness also translate well to specific cocktails. A Blood and Sand benefits from the pronounced citrus and chocolate notes that add depth to the cherry and orange juice components. A Bobby Burns — blending Scotch with sweet vermouth and Bénédictine — plays beautifully off the baking spice and fig character. A simple Scotch Old Fashioned with a Demerara sugar cube lets the six-cask complexity speak for itself.

Best For

• Collectors seeking discontinued Macallan limited editions
• Gifting a Scotch enthusiast who appreciates aromatic complexity
• Exploring the intersection of perfumery and whisky-making
• Adding a unique conversation piece to a curated home bar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Edition No. 3 taste like? Edition No. 3 delivers honeyed citrus and apricot sweetness on the palate, followed by creamy milk chocolate, baking spice, and ginger. The finish is long and fruity with persistent sweet oak.

How does Edition No. 3 compare to Redbreast Small Batch Cask Strength? Both are non-age-statement expressions bottled at higher proof with rich, fruit-forward profiles, but Edition No. 3 leans toward citrus, chocolate, and floral aromatics shaped by its six-cask European and American oak maturation. Redbreast Small Batch Cask Strength, an Irish single pot still whiskey, tends toward a spicier, more tropically fruited character with pot still influence.

Is Edition No. 3 good for sipping neat? Yes — the 48.3% ABV delivers enough intensity to carry the multi-cask complexity without being overpowering. A small addition of water can further reveal the floral and citrus aromatics that Roja Dove helped identify during cask selection.

Where is Edition No. 3 made? Edition No. 3 is distilled at The Macallan distillery in Craigellachie, Speyside, Scotland. Speyside is Scotland's most densely populated whisky-producing region, known for producing rich, fruit-driven single malts.

What foods pair well with Edition No. 3? Dark chocolate truffles complement the milk chocolate and cocoa notes; dried apricots and fig preserves mirror the fruit character on the nose; spiced gingerbread echoes the baking spice and ginger; aged Comté or Gruyère cheese balances the sweetness with savory depth; and orange-glazed duck highlights the Jaffa orange and honey elements.

What sizes does Edition No. 3 come in? Edition No. 3 was released in the standard 750ml bottle size for the U.S. market.

Is Edition No. 3 worth the price? As a discontinued limited edition from The Macallan's collaborative Edition series, this bottle positions in the premium-to-secondary-market tier. Its value reflects both the liquid quality — scored 90 points by Whisky Advocate — and increasing scarcity as remaining bottles are consumed by collectors.

Why Edition No. 3?

The collaboration with Roja Dove is not a marketing footnote — it fundamentally shaped how the casks were selected, applying a perfumer's methodology to whisky maturation in a way no other major distillery has replicated at this level. The six-cask recipe bridges European sherry influence and American bourbon-oak sweetness into a single, cohesive dram that scored 90 points from Whisky Advocate. As a discontinued release, Edition No. 3 represents a finite piece of Macallan's modern history that cannot be reproduced. For drinkers drawn to aromatic complexity and layered fruit-and-spice profiles, this is one of the more intellectually engaging Macallan releases of its era.