How The Macallan Turned Hong Kong’s Energy Into a $4,750 Whisky

Hong Kong stands as one of the world’s great cityscapes, featuring a supernaturally dense skyline nestled between lush mountains and a shimmering harbor. Observe it — even through a solitary snapshot — and you’ll wish you could drink it all in. Thanks to the latest liquid offering from The Macallan, scotch fans can finally do just that.

Today, the legendary Speyside malt maker unveils a new addition to its ongoing “Distil Your World” collection. (And no, it’s not a typo…the Brits spell “distill” with a lone ‘l. ”)

A little background on the series: Distil Your World Hong Kong is the fourth entry in an ongoing collaboration between The Macallan and the Roca brothers, the chef-owners of Michelin-starred restaurant El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. For each edition, the tastemakers venture out to a major global metropolis on a sensorial quest to capture its landmarks, flavors, and cultural milieu in bottle form. What would be mere sightseeing for the rest of us becomes an opportunity for them to guide the creation of a new whisky.

“The creative process is where we have fun,” said Joan Roca in a statement provided to Food & Wine. “That's where the chaos is, where we are open to anything, where anything is possible and, no matter how crazy it may seem, it may be useful.”

The collection debuted in November 2020, starting in London before moving on to New York and then Mexico City. The Hong Kong edition marks the first extension of the lineup since late 2023. In the interim, Roca traveled to the Far East alongside The Macallan’s lead whisky maker, Euan Kennedy. During their journey, they wandered the streets, mingling with locals, sampling delicacies, and exploring market spices. They observed the stark contrast of sprawling edifices encroaching upon the majesty of nature. They absorbed the vibrant colors of this unique urban tapestry.

They then reconvened at The Macallan’s 200-year-old home outside of Craigellachie, Scotland, in search of specific barrels that could best replicate what they had experienced in the field.

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Their ultimate assemblage combined single malt from sherry-seasoned European oak hogsheads with whisky matured exclusively in American oak. This precise combination resulted in a 46.8% ABV scotch that noses and sips similarly to one of Hong Kong’s most beloved confections: egg tart. As it pours into the glass, it’s even meant to evoke the auburn-scarlet gradients of a sunset over Victoria Harbour.

“Hong Kong is always evolving, a city of sprawling skyscrapers and bustling streets that is constantly reinventing itself, designing new artistic conceptions of the urban environment in coexistence with a unique and timeless cultural heritage,” Kennedy tells Food & Wine. “The whisky captures this dynamic energy, where modern innovation exists in harmony with deep-rooted traditions. It evolved with layers of bold spices, umami-like depth, and vibrant tropical fruits, offering a complexity that invites you to return again and again, each time discovering new stories within its flavors.”

Fast Facts: The Macallan Distil Your World Hong Kong

ABV: 46.8%

Maturation: Non-age-stated marriage of sherry-seasoned European oak hogshead with hand-selected American oak casks

Availability: Through private client services as of April 1 and shipped out to luxury retailers beginning in September 2025.

MSRP: $4750

When poured into the dram, Distil Your World Hong Kong offers rich, resinous, and sweet aromas — ginger spice balanced by tropical notes like pomelo and mango. There are subtle hints of Hong Kong-style egg tart, fragrant honey, and remarkable antique oak, according to Kennedy. And on the palate, bright tropical sweetness is followed by more ginger and rounded spices, providing structure.

“Just as Hong Kong is a city of contrasts, this whisky is rich with depth and layers, transporting you on a sensory journey that reflects the city’s dynamic spirit,” Kennedy adds.

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But it is a whisky that will cost you almost as much as an actual journey to Hong Kong. The suggested retail price is $4,750 — a sizable sum for a non-age-stated scotch, to be sure, with less than 500 bottles slated for American shelves. Nonetheless, this is also an exceptionally rare expression that could be worth more than its current price down the line.

An even rarer single-cask, limited-edition bottle from the previous Distil Your World release just sold for $81,250 at a Sotheby’s charity auction. For some collectors, anything from this series priced under $ 5,000 constitutes a frugal form of exploration.

At any rate, Distil Your World Hong Kong will see national distribution starting in September 2025. If you’re interested in purchasing it before then, interested parties can contact Macallan’s private client services directly at ClientServices@TheMacallan.com.

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