A Spaceship?! Why Now Is the Time to Drink Macallan 18, Even as Prices Soar

2026.10.05

In short: Macallan’s new Speyside distillery, opened in 2018, looks like a spaceship set into the hills, yet it faithfully reproduces the original small stills. I explain the “Six Pillars” behind Macallan’s quality and why Macallan 18 Years Old Sherry Oak is worth tasting now, even as prices soar.

An “Otherworldly” Building Rising from the Land of Speyside

In 2018, Macallan’s new distillery opened in Speyside, Scotland.

When I visited the brand-new distillery, I was astonished.

“Is this really a distillery?”

It was completely different from the usual image of brick-built, factory-like distilleries; it was like a world-class museum, or a magnificent work of art.

Set into the gentle hills as if it had melted into them, the building was a landscape on an entirely different level from any other distillery.

Beneath that quiet, overwhelming building, the moment you step inside, the world changes completely.

Small Stills in a Row: The Heart of a Spaceship

Inside, a futuristic scene unfolded.

Arranged in a circle beneath a wooden lattice dome ceiling, it was truly “the heart of a spaceship.”

The gleam of polished copper, equipment laid out with perfect precision.

The lyne arms of the pot stills sprouting up one after another looked as if aliens might come out of a spaceship.

This striking contrast, a whisky with 200 years of tradition being made in such a futuristic space, seemed to speak of Macallan’s new philosophy.

“Macallan won’t be overtaken by any other distillery for a long while.” It was the moment I became sure of it.

Carrying the Philosophy into the Future: “Uncompromising Reproduction” in Small Stills

The new distillery did not simply become “newer and bigger.”

What Macallan protected, even investing around 20 billion yen, was the quality of its spirit.

Its official website states this commitment clearly:

Instead of changing the shape or size of our stills, we deliberately chose to fashion the exact same shape, size and lyne arm orientation of our original stills.

These stills, among the smallest in Speyside, are the source of Macallan’s delicate, complex flavours.

Each and every still is “proof” of an uncompromising choice to protect the “Macallan character” that has continued since its founding in 1824.

The “Six Pillars” That Support Macallan’s Unshakeable Foundation

Macallan’s quality is supported by a strict philosophy called the “Six Pillars.”

1. The Macallan Estate   A vast estate that includes Easter Elchies House, built in 1700. The place where everything began, including care for the natural environment.
2. Curiously Small Stills   Among the smallest stills in Speyside. They increase contact with copper, drawing out a spirit rich in fruit.
3. The Finest Cut   During distillation, only the clearest, richest part, a mere 16%, is selected.
4. Exceptional Oak Casks   Oak casks handmade by dedicated craftsmen in Jerez, Spain, and seasoned with sherry for three years or more.
5. Sherry Cask Maturation   Synonymous with Macallan. Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks nurture complex flavours of dried fruit and spice.
6. Exceptional Mastery & Craftsmanship   (The rigorous craftsmanship is distilled into this final pillar: the skill and dedication of master craftspeople that support every step.)

Macallan 18 Years Old Sherry Oak: Why You Should Taste Its Philosophy Now

Macallan 18 Years Old Sherry Oak, whose list price was once around 10,000 yen, now costs around 60,000 yen.

The price rises show no sign of stopping.

Amid the feeling that “it has become out of reach,” I dare to say it loud and clear: now is exactly the time to know its value.

Official tasting notes:

• Tasting notes Nose: intense dried fruit, ginger and spice.
• Palate: rich dried fruit with spice, orange and wood smoke.
• Finish: ripe fruit. A long, powerful finish of sweet toffee, with faint ginger and wood smoke.

Eighteen years. In contrast to the new distillery’s futuristic design, it is “proof of time” that Macallan’s philosophy has been steadily and strictly upheld.

Each drop holds a grand story: spirit born in a new, spaceship-like home, refined in small stills inherited from the days of Easter Elchies House, and left to sleep in sherry casks.

A Rolls-Royce Experience at Little Happiness

At Little Happiness, we serve Macallan 18 Years Old Sherry Oak from a half shot.

Owning a bottle takes resolve. But never knowing this unwavering flavour would be far too much of a waste.

Please come and feel, in a single glass, why it is called “the Rolls-Royce of single malts.”

An amber liquid born in a futuristic distillery embraced by the land, and polished by masterful craftsmanship and sherry casks.

Every encounter is meant to be. Welcome to the world of Rum&Whisky.

Mika Tanimoto, Bar Little Happiness