Edrington Group defends whisky in TR

The Edrington Group has responded to claims that travel retail consumers avoid whiskies without age statements.

The company said that, far from putting consumers off, The Macallan 1824 Collection, which does not carry age statements, is in fact helping to underline the impact cask quality has on a product.

Ken Grier, director of malts for The Edrington Group, told the drinks business: “An age statement only tells you how old a whisky is and not how good it is.

“It is widely acknowledged that often more than 60% of the flavour of a single malt whisky comes from the quality of the cask it is matured in.

“The Edrington Group purchases the vast majority of the Spanish Sherry oak casks used in the Scotch whisky industry, which are renowned for their quality.

“This selection of products allows our whisky maker to use whiskies from casks when they reach their peak of maturity, unfettered by age, resulting in a range of great tasting whiskies.”

He added: “We are delighted with global sales of The Macallan 1824 Collection range and, since its launch in 2009, we have increased our global market share in travel retail, according to the latest IWSR data.”

Grier was speaking in response to a World of Whiskies source at London Gatwick airport who claimed consumers were giving the range a wide berth due to the lack of an age statement.

However, David de Miguel, global head of liquor at World of Whiskies owner Aldeasa-WDF, confirmed that the range is in fact demonstrating strong sales performance.

He told db: “The Macallan 1824 Collection continues to be very successful for our business.

“Across our stores this range is performing extremely well, with sales up almost 15% on last year’s turnover, a level of growth which is also reflected in our London Gatwick North Terminal store.

“We are happy with this performance and fully support what is an innovative and high quality range of whiskies and one that is well received by our customers.”

The Macallan launched the 1824 Collection “family” of single malts dedicated to the global travel retail sector in 2009.

The selection of four expressions – Select Oak, Whisky Maker’s Edition, Estate Reserve and 1824 Limited Release – was created by John Ramsay, the now retired master whisky maker for parent company The Edrington Group, and Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan’s whisky maker.