How very befitting that I should sip on The Macallan whiskies the week that the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, is released.

The Macallan whiskies have appeared in the last 2 Bond movies, making its first appearance in Skyfall; a bottle from the 1962 range is introduced by Bond's nemesis Silva as a "50-year-old Macallan, a particular favorite of yours I understand" and in Spectre, Bond is seen sipping on a Macallan 18yo in his home. I’ve got tickets booked for the latest Bond movie. I wonder if Macallan features again?!

REVIEW OF THE MACALLAN WHISKY DOUBLE CASK DINNER WITH HARVEY NICHOLS, EDINBURGH

Harvey Nichols across the UK have been hosting The Macallan Double Cask Whisky Dinners and I was lucky enough to have been invited along to their Edinburgh dinner.

Hosted by The Macallan Brand Ambassador, Aaron Masonde, guests were introduced to 3 Macallan whiskies as well as a special whisky at the end. The menu was prepared by Harvey Nichols Head Chef, Robert Meldrum.

I was absolutely delighted when I read the menu as all three courses where of my favourite foods - scallops, venison and tart tatin. This was going to be a very fine evening indeed.

Aaron started the conversation with information on The Macallan Distillery, the £140million investment in their building, their people, their community and the whisky, their ethos, their sustainability mindset and their history.

MACALLAN WHISKY DISTILLERY

I have been lucky enough to have visited this new home of The Macallan, and it is incredible. If you ever have the opportunity to visit deep in the heart of Speyside, do go. Even if you are not a whisky lover, you will be nothing short of impressed by what they have accomplished here.

We started off the night with a The Macallan 12 yo Double Cask cocktail. The 12yo is easy drinking, filled with honey, citrus and ginger and absolutely perfect for a highball.

MACALLAN WHISKY AND FOOD PAIRING

Starters of Hand dived Shetland scallop, haggis croquette, parsnip and vanilla puree, lettuce and lime dressing, accompanied by The Macallan 15yo Double Cask.

Scallops on their own are unbelievably delicious but when paired with peppery black pudding or haggis in this case, and a sweet puree, usually pea mint puree but parsnip and vanilla here, the scallop dish sings a sweet tune in your mouth. I absolutely loved this dish.

Double Cask means that the whisky has been matured in two casks. This 15yo whisky was matured in sherry seasoned American oak giving it delicate notes of vanilla and then in European oak enhancing its sweetness and warmth.

Mains of Roasted Highland Venison, Perthshire girolles, parmentier potatoes, toasted oatmeal, The Macallan whisky and golden raisin jus with gingerbread soil.

Every single morsel on this plate was exquisite. The venison was succulent and that incredible ever so slight chew; the mushrooms and the toasted oats providing that real earth element and the ginger soil bringing subtle warmth to the dish. Inspired!

The Macallan 18yo Double Cask brings hints of toffee and ginger. The aroma from this whisky is astonishing but I found it too overpowering to really compliment the dish. The heat from the whisky is substantial on the palate drowning out the delicate flavours of the dish.

Dessert was a Peach and Almond Tart Tatin, with Scottish blackberries, toffee apple and cinnamon sauce with a honeycomb ice cream. Another cracking dish.

We were then presented with a very special whisky, The Macallan 30yo Double Cask which had just been released. I found this exceptionally smooth, quite light and very fruity with spice, orange, smoke and dried fruits all playing their part. This is a whisky that most definitely conjures up images of a toasty fire, in the middle winter. It’s warm and comforting.

Should Harvey Nichols host future evenings, like this, its worth getting your hands on a ticket. With only 12 diners, these evenings are intimate and it’s more a conversation about whisky than it is a talk/lecture. The food was absolutely faultless, and with spectacular views up to Edinburgh castle, drinking one of Scotland’s most famous whiskies in the Scottish capital was nothing short of emotional!

The Macallan whiskies mentioned here are available to purchase from Harvey Nichols

12yo Double Cask - £64.50

15yo Double Cask - £125.00

18yo Double Cask - £275.00

30yo Double Cask - £4,500.00

Harvey Nichols, St Andrews Square, Edinburgh

Many thanks to Harvey Nichols for the invitation.