Whisky of the Week: The Macallan TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask

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28 October 20265 min readDeepak Bali

Every week, we pick one bottle that’s worth knowing about, tell its story, and tell you how it tastes.

Ask any Macallan fan what makes the whisky taste the way it does, and the answer comes back to one word: sherry. For two centuries, The Macallan has leaned on oak casks seasoned with sherry in the south of Spain. That’s where the dried fruit, the spice and the rich colour come from.

The Macallan TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask is a whisky about that relationship. It’s a 20-year-old single malt, and it’s the first Macallan shaped by casks seasoned at the distillery’s own sherry bodega in Jerez. For a brand that has always relied on sherry from partner bodegas, that’s a quiet but big moment.

It’s also beautiful to look at, and rare. Released in autumn 2026 after an exclusive London launch, it’s the bottle collectors are talking about this season. That makes it our first Whisky of the Week.

The story: from Jerez to Speyside

The Macallan now owns Valdespino, one of the historic sherry houses of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia. Owning the bodega means the distillery can control the whole journey of its casks, from seasoning the wood with sherry in Spain to filling it with whisky in Scotland.

TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask is the first whisky to show what that means. Here’s how it was made:

1. Twenty years in sherry oak. The whisky matured for 20 years on the Macallan Estate in Speyside, mostly in European oak casks seasoned with sherry.
2. The first Valdespino casks. At The Macallan’s cooperages in Jerez, new casks were built and seasoned with Valdespino sherry. Of the first 200 made, most are now filled with whisky for future releases.

Written by

Deepak Bali

I’ve been exploring whisky since 1996, combining nearly three decades of knowledge and firsthand tasting experience. In 1999, my master’s degree work focused on my own whisky website. Every whisky I review is personally tasted, independently assessed and scored out of 100 using a consistent five-stage framework. My judgement is guided by what’s in the glass, never by brand reputation or price.

28 October 2026

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The result was bottled at 44.8% with natural colour, under master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell, who calls it the first whisky influenced by casks seasoned with The Macallan’s own Valdespino sherry.

What does it taste like?

This is classic sherried Macallan, turned up. These are the official tasting notes:

• Nose: sherry-soaked raisins, figs and Medjool dates, with dark chocolate truffles and warming spice.
• Palate: dried fruit, rich gingerbread and treacle toffee, then chocolate-covered cherries and a hint of espresso.
• Finish: long and gentle, with soft oak.

Think Christmas cake, a good espresso and a box of dark chocolates, all in one glass. Twenty years in sherry oak gives it depth without heavy, drying wood.

How to serve it

• Neat, in a tulip-shaped nosing glass. It’s too special for ice or mixers.
• Give it time. Let it sit in the glass for 10 minutes before you taste it, so the aromas open up.
• Try a drop of water after the first sip. At 44.8%, a little water can bring out more fruit.
• Pair it with Medjool dates, a square of dark chocolate or a slice of rich fruit cake. Each one echoes the flavours in the glass.

The bottle: built to be displayed

TIME:SPACE is one of the most recognisable bottles Macallan has made. The whisky sits in a round glass vessel with a circular opening at its centre, so the bottle looks like a ring of amber. For this release, the presentation box glows in sunny yellow, inspired by the Palomino grapes grown in Valdespino’s vineyards (the grape behind most sherry) and the Andalusian sun.

This isn’t a bottle that hides in a cupboard. It’s designed to sit on a shelf and be looked at.

Part of the TIME:SPACE collection

TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask is the third chapter in the series. The first two, TIME:SPACE and TIME:SPACE Mastery, were created for The Macallan’s 200th anniversary in 2024. Collectors who own those two will want this one to complete the set so far.

If you enjoy Macallan’s more playful, single-ingredient releases, see our guide to the Macallan Harmony Collection.

Who is it for?

• Macallan collectors, especially anyone with the first two TIME:SPACE bottles.
• Sherry cask lovers who want one of the richest Macallans of the year.
• A milestone gift, such as a 20th anniversary, a 40th birthday or a retirement. A 20-year-old whisky is a natural fit for marking two decades.

At around £1,100, it’s a special-occasion bottle, not an everyday dram.

Key facts

FAQs

How old is Macallan TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask?

It’s a 20-year-old single malt, matured mostly in sherry-seasoned European oak.

What makes it different from other Macallan sherry cask whiskies?

It’s the first Macallan influenced by casks seasoned with sherry from The Macallan’s own bodega, Valdespino in Jerez. Earlier sherry cask Macallans used casks seasoned by partner bodegas.

How much does Macallan TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask cost?

The recommended retail price is £1,100. It’s available from The Macallan and selected UK retailers while stocks last.

Is it a good investment?

We can’t promise any bottle will rise in value. Limited Macallan releases are popular with collectors, but buy it because you want to own it or drink it, not as a financial investment.

Is it the same as TIME:SPACE Mastery?

No. TIME:SPACE and TIME:SPACE Mastery were the first two releases in the series, made for The Macallan’s 200th anniversary. TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask is the third.

Love the Macallan style? Two ways to get a bottle

1. Try a Macallan from our shelves. The Macallan Harmony Inspired by Fresh Coconut is in stock now at £129.99. It’s a limited Harmony Collection release with fresh coconut, citrus and vanilla, and it comes in the same collectable spirit as TIME:SPACE, at a fraction of the price.

2. Try to win one. Our sister site Highland Vault runs Macallan prize draws, including draws for the TIME:SPACE range, with free postal entry on every draw.

Or browse all whisky at Scotch Whisky World.

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