Launched in Jakarta on March 9, the Scotland-based whisky distillery aims to allure the city's connoisseurs and coffeeholics.

After 199 years of making its mark on the global whisky scene, The Macallan appears more eager than ever to introduce its time-tested assortment of single malt Scotch whisky to passionate connoisseurs outside its origin country of Scotland and the European continent. Aiming higher, however, was simply one-half of the assignment. A few tweaks and playful refinement do the trick to catch up with the changing times while catering to different cultural palates.

Last year, The Macallan introduced the first edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection: The whisky distillery's limited whisky collection that was inspired by the world of chocolates and its distinctive flavor profiles, resulting in dark chocolate-profiled The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao and milk chocolate-profiled The Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao. Cut to March 2023, the whisky distillery introduced its second edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection, this time drawing influence and inspiration from the world of coffee.

This second edition's unveiling and tasting party took place at South Jakarta's First Crack Coffee on March 9, featuring whisky expert and spokesperson Kabir Suharan and coffee expert Andrew Tandra.

Coffee profile

For the second edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection, The Macallan mainly took cues from the Ethiopian Arabica coffee beans, with the country Ethiopia being historically regarded as the place of origin for coffee plants that are also known as Coffea arabica. To come up with the finest flavor profile possible, The Macallan whisky maker Steven Bremner immersed himself in the world of coffee, including researching the end-to-end process of coffee production and uncovering distinct profiles of coffee flavor that would occur at each stage of the production. 

Moreover, Steven consulted with experts in the world of coffee: Ethiopian coffee grower Kenean Asefa Dukamo, Scottish coffee roaster Lisa Lawson and coffee historian Jonathan Morris who, in particular, offered some insights into how coffee has become one of the most beloved beverages in the world today. 

In a press statement Steven underscored how extensive research was paramount. "Exploring the world of coffee with our masters in the industry, who shared their knowledge, creativity and love for their art, was both an education and an inspiration. There are many parallels between the approach to creating incomparable whisky and coffee. Each requires unique skills and craftsmanship to achieve depth and complexity of taste and both worlds aim to deliver an extraordinary consumption experience," he said.

Steven later settled on a combination of American and European oak casks to achieve the distinctive coffee-flavored notes infused with The Macallan's single malt whisky, resulting in the limited-edition The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica and The Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica. While the former single malt was inspired by sweet, yet intense solid Arabica coffee with a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) of 44 percent, the latter single malt echoes the flavor profile of softer Americano coffee with a lower ABV of 40 percent.

Steven continued by explaining how he respected the rooted tradition of The Macallan while simultaneously paying tribute to the world of coffee itself.

"To create the coffee-inspired second edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection, I sought out intense notes in The Macallan's traditional sherry-seasoned European oak casks that would offer the rich and satisfying elements of coffee, with the influence of sherry-seasoned American oak casks adding sweeter and softer vanilla notes for a balanced and rounded experience," he said.

Sustainable yet distinctive

To create a more exciting new sensory experience, The Macallan recommended that the connoisseurs’ taste either The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica or The Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica by side with a cup of warm, black coffee. Coffee expert Andrew Tandra explained that black coffee using Indonesian-origin coffee beans would also be suitable for the sensory experience.

"This coffee prepares your palate for the whisky so that you can get all the notes better," said Andrew to The Jakarta Post on March 9. "Like, here you can taste the forest berries, the chocolate, the tiramisu. But it's good that you try the [whisky] before the coffee to tell the difference between before and after it," Andrew said.

Whisky expert, restaurateur and spokesperson Kabir Suharan gave his two cents about how the second edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection made a case for how The Macallan continues becoming one of the leading single malt Scotch whisky distilleries in the world, nearly two centuries after its establishment.

"This collection, Number 2, is about showcasing and putting a spotlight on creativity and innovation. [Also] The Macallan's packaging approach is about having a sustainable approach to business. Sustainability is the future keyword for all of us," Kabir told the Post on March 9.

The second edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection, after all, features distinctive, hybrid packaging that incorporates organic by-products created using repurposed and recycled materials, including coffee bean husks. In collaboration with paper expert Michele Posocco, The Macallan created sustainable, yet distinctive packaging for every malt. The red Pantone packaging for The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica was meant to embody coffee fruit. In contrast, the green-shade packaging for The Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica represents raw, unroasted coffee beans.

Kabir explained, "[The package] is made using recycled coffee husks. The label on the bottle also uses upcycled and recycled parts of the coffee production process, thereby reducing a certain amount of waste."

The coffee-flavor notes aside, the single malts are not a literal blend of liquor and coffee beans. Kabir highlighted how this second edition of The Macallan Harmony Collection was not about "coffee infusion into the whisky" but "the use of skill and craftsmanship of distillation and maturation that allow some of the coffee notes to come through."

Ultimately, Kabir believed that The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired By Intense Arabica and The Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica would particularly appeal to the Jakarta urbanites, both the connoisseurs and coffeeholics.

"The buoyancy of coffee culture in Jakarta and Indonesia will help make The Macallan appeal to a wide range of consumers. It will appeal to those with a [flair] for coffee as well," he remarked.

Whisky Maker's Notes: 

The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired by Intense Arabica

ABV: 44%.

Color: Crema.

Aroma: Tiramisu, cappuccino, gingerbread, raisins, almonds, sweet oak and vanilla. 

Palate: Espresso, dark chocolate, raisin, tiramisu, blackberry, vanilla, Brazil nut and sweet oak.

Finish: Long, dark roast coffee, balanced and sweet. 

The Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica

ABV: 40%

Color: Toffee.

Aroma: Ground coffee, hazelnuts, sweet raisin, dark cherry, toffee, vanilla and sweet oak.

Palate: Americano, raisins, cherries, soft spices, walnut, vanilla and oak.

Finish: Lingering coffee bean turning sweet and creamy.

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