Whisky Names Explained: The Macallan A Night on Earth in Scotland

It's once again time to delve into the meaning behind a whisky name. This time we turn our gaze towards The Macallan A Night on Earth in Scotland, a whisky intrinsically linked to the new year. How to make a connection between A Night on Earth in Scotland and 2023? Read on and we’ll fill you in.

We are in the last days of January, signaling the end of the first month of 2023. The Macallan has decided to usher in the new year with a new whisky. Naturally, this new whisky is The Macallan A Night on Earth in Scotland, but it’s not celebrating the ‘standard’ New Year's Eve. Instead, it’s in honor of Hogmanay.

By origin (so it’s speculated), this is a celebration of the winter solstice among the Vikings. This meant a big party at the end of December where the customs of the Gaelic Samhain celebration were enacted. These days in Scotland, it has evolved into a days-long celebration. Similar to other places, there's a fireworks spectacle at year's end, but the festivities kick off on the 30th of December with a torchlight procession in Edinburgh that creates a fiery river through the city.

The party carries on till deep into the first of January, with concerts across many places and some spots featuring the traditional driving out of evil spirits with fireballs. The Hogmanay celebration also features the tradition of First Footing. This tradition deems it lucky if the first person to cross the threshold of your home after midnight is a dark-haired visitor.

This visitor must bring along three items: coal for the fire, whisky, and shortbread. And this is where The Macallan gets clever with A Night on Earth in Scotland whisky. The whisky features the flavor of shortbread, along with notes of dried orange and spices. The Macallan even recommends enjoying the whisky with a bite of shortbread. That brings out the best in the drink!

The Macallan A Night on Earth in Scotland is a special edition designed to be given as a gift, and therefore it comes with a special box that perfectly matches the festivities. The packaging of the whisky has been designed by Erika Dorn, an illustrator who has worked with filmmaker Wes Anderson among others. She's chosen colors that resonate with the Hogmanay story.

Red represents the traditions and heritage of the celebration, referencing the gifted coal and the fires it kindles. The blue revealed when you open the box symbolizes the Hogmanay night sky and also evokes the blue in the Scottish flag. All this is complemented by rich amber tones, signifying the shortbread. It's a truly complete package!