Charles Maclean teamed up with Glen Scotia to create a limited-edition whisky that helps provide clean water for life to communities in Madagascar
Philanthropy and whisky come together in this Alice In Wonderland-themed release by Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia, which helps provide clean water for life to communities in Madagascar. Glen Scotia collaborated with The Maclean Foundation (TMF), a non-profit focused on supporting clean water projects through partnering with the whisky industry.
Charles Maclean, founder of the Maclean Foundation, and his three sons Ewan, Jamie, and Lachland have already provided clean water for nearly 2,000 people in Madagascar. Maclean, along with the team at Glen Scotia, specially selected a first-fill Bourbon cask to donate to the Madagascar-based project.
“Access to clean water is a basic human need, yet for many communities in rural Madagascar, it remains a luxury.” Lachlan commented “It costs £6,000 (US$7,934) to build and maintain a clean water borehole that can serve 200 people for up to 100 years. With each bottle sold, we’ll give people clean water for life by funding the drilling and construction of boreholes, creating long-term positive change for communities.”
Drawing inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s novel Alice in Wonderland, the bottle design features a narration by Charles Maclean about the Scotch through the lens of Alice In Wonderland. Maclean believes the whisky echoes the same call to ‘drink me’ which brought Alice through the rabbit hole to a world of wonder. The bottle was designed by Scottish PR agency Contagious.
Maclean characterized the whisky as a triumph, describing it as “a lovely golden color, completely clean and remarkably mature for its age” with hints of fruit and a slightly mineralic note.” Maclean states “It somewhat reminds me of aromatherapy oil,” adding “it starts sweet, then becomes distinctly salty with some white pepper and peppery-spice in the mid-palate. It’s very pleasant and very easy to drink. I’m also detecting a vanilla and toffee note, which you would expect from American oak.”
Iain McAllister, master distiller and manager of Glen Scotia, explained “this young, unpeated, first-fill Bourbon liquid is a real sweet spot for Glen Scotia, demonstrating our signature distillery style – a whisky full of tropical fruit, oiliness, and that distinct hint of the sea. It’s unmistakably Campbeltown and we’re so pleased Charles went with this selection for such an important project.”
“Charles has become a wonderful friend to us over the years and I’ve loved spending many an afternoon with him at the distillery, sharing stories and talking whisky, life and, of course, family,” added McAlister. “Family is important to us both and I’m in awe of all the adventures his boys have been on and the impact of the project – incredible stuff… Having an opportunity to repay his support by donating this cask to TMF is a complete pleasure, especially knowing the impact it will have for so many in Madagascar.”
Bottled at 59.1% ABV, just 210 bottles of the Maclean and Glen Scotia will be released and priced at £115 or $152. Each bottle has the potential to supply someone with clean water for life.
Last fall, Glen Scotia unveiled ‘The Mermaid’, the first in a new five-part limited-edition annual series, The Icons of Campbeltown.
