Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica Label Surfaced: What It Reveals About the Whisky

by Francis Moses

Tuesday, 17 March 2026 at 07:3988 bamboo

The Macallan has registered a new Macallan whisky label, Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica. The label points to a bottling representing a special voyage. What kind of whisky will it be?

The Macallan Carta Nautica will be a single malt Scotch whisky that refers to historic trips that oak casks used to make across the Atlantic. During the previous centuries the sherry casks, which were used to mature the whisky, frequently travelled by sea between Jerez de la Frontera in Spain and Scotland.

The expeditions linked the Spanish sherry and Scotch whisky worlds, which defined the tasting of many current distilleries. The new Carta Nautica expression by Macallan is based on such long sea voyages.

The Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica

The whisky was distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2026. This makes it a single malt of almost 40 years old. The maturation of the whisky started in European oak casks seasoned with sherry in Jerez, Spain. Afterwards, it was poured into ex-bourbon barrels of the United States, where it was allowed to mature. This mixture of casks symbolises the concept of a whisky on its way between continents, reminding us of the transatlantic travel of old times.

According to The Macallan, the whisky is served in its natural colour and bottled at 45.2% ABV. This expression will have only 600 bottles produced.

What flavor is the Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica?

Nose: Creamy vanilla is followed by caramelised peaches and deep oak. Freshness is added by tropical pineapple and soft citrus aromas like pink grapefruit.
Palate: Antique oak is the dominant flavour, and there is orange oil and berry compote. There is nectarine, charred pineapple, and traces of leather, along with a touch of lemon tart sweetness.
Finish: It is long and warm and made of wood spice, tropical fruit, and the sweetness of lingering sultana.

When will we get The Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica whisky?

The Macallan still obtains a good deal of its sherry-seasoned casks at Jerez, and this tradition of historical connection is preserved.

Currently, the available information is the whisky label itself. No information has been verified on its timing of release or its cost as yet. We do know however the bottle is limited to 600 pieces worldwide.

FAQ

What is Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica?
It is a single malt Macallan that is based on the transatlantic voyages of oak casks in the past, on which the maturation of whisky was done.
What quantity of bottles of Macallan 1987 Carta Nautica is to be produced?
There will be only 600 bottles of whisky as denoted by the label.
What kind of casks were used for maturation?
The whisky was then matured in Jerez sherry-seasoned oak casks, and then in ex-bourbon casks of the United States.