The Macallan distillery is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland. It was originated by Alexander Reid, a barley farmer and school teacher. The name Macallan is derived from the Gaelic word ‘magh’, which means a fertile land and “Ellan”, from the monk, St. Fillan,  who spread Christianity in Scotland during the 18th century. Macallan was licenced in 1824 when Alexander Reid obtained one of the new licenses issued after the passing of the 1823 Excise Act.

During the following years, Macallan distillery passed through different owners. In 1868, James Stuart took the lease and rebuilt the plant. His ownership ended in 1892, when he sold Macallan to one of the giants of Victorian distilling, Roderick Kemp. Macallan distillery had a stable business when Roderick Kemp took over the distillery in 1892 and remained in control till 1994. Kemp’s descendants – in particular the Shiach family – retained ownership until 1996, when a Japanese company named Suntory and the Highland Distillers Group took over the ownership. Then in 1999, the Edrington Group, which currently owns the distillery took over.

The plant has continually been expanded from its original wooden shed with two stills. It was increased to five stills (two wash, three spirit) in 1954 and then more significantly in 1965 when a new stillhouse with seven stills was built. This process continued throughout the 1970s with the total number of stills reaching 21 by 1975.

In 2008, The Macallan Distillery increased its production capacity by installing a second production house and few warehouses were also built. In 2013 it was announced that a completely new, £100m distillery was to be built. The new distillery – a distinctive subterranean design – was commissioned on 9 November 2017 and opened officially in May 2018, at a final cost of £140m.

Macallan has been providing the world with first class products. Today, the Macallan Scotch whiskey is the world’s fifth most-selling whiskey brand.