Global travel retail has long served as a platform for rare whisky showcases, but few releases weave narrative, craft, and location together quite like The Macallan’s latest voyage. In an exclusive partnership with LOTTE Duty Free and Changi Airport Group, the revered Speyside distillery has anchored in Singapore to unveil the global debut of The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Years Old.
Marking the world-first premiere of this new travel retail exclusive, the release commands a bespoke window at Singapore Changi Airport from 28 September to 18 October 2026, preceding its wider international rollout across select global hubs from 19 October 2026. Designed to bridge two worlds—the historic transatlantic oak trade and the contemporary globetrotter’s journey—the release is supported by a pair of multi-month experiential pop-ups that bring oceanic folklore and wood mastery straight to the terminal floor.
A Transatlantic Odyssey in Oak
At the heart of the Carta Nautica narrative lies the ocean that unites two distinct whisky-making traditions. Unlike conventional single malts aged purely in traditional wood profiles, the Carta Nautica collection is defined by a curated, transatlantic maturation process crafted by The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team (led for these expressions by whisky makers Diane Stuart and Alex Lumsden).
Every single drop of The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Years Old begins its aging journey immersed in the deep, rich character of sherry-seasoned oak casks hailing from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. After absorbing the signature European dried fruit and spice notes that have defined The Macallan since its founding in 1824, the liquid is transferred into casks that previously held American bourbon.
This dual-cask maturation generates a complex harmony between Old World depth and New World vibrancy. Bottled at 42% ABV (retailing at USD 800), the 20-year-old expression introduces itself on the nose with bright orange peel and creamy vanilla, followed by charred pineapple, ripe mango, apricot conserve, and crisp red apple. On the palate, drinkers are met with layers of sweet peach tea, caramelized figs, a delicate wisp of leather, and zesty grapefruit melded with creamy chocolate orange and treacle cake. The experience rounds out with a persistent finish of dried tropical fruit, smooth caramel, and lingering toasted oak spice.
Complementing the liquid’s oceanic heritage is bespoke packaging designed in collaboration with American artist Amy Genser. Known for her tactile, organic paper compositions, Genser’s multi-layered artwork mirrors oceanic topography, fluid water currents, and dynamic sea depths, transforming the presentation case into an evocative work of art.
38 Years of Time: The Distilled in 1987 Vintage
While the 20-year-old takes center stage for global travelers, the launch also introduces a monumental collector’s centerpiece: The Macallan Carta Nautica Distilled in 1987.
Standing as the inaugural entry in a brand-new series of ultra-aged vintage bottlings, this rare single malt was distilled nearly four decades ago and aged for 38 years. Bottled at 45.2% ABV with an international retail price of USD 13,500, it represents the absolute pinnacle of transatlantic oak maturation.
On the nose, the 1987 vintage reveals antique oak and rich vanilla paired with caramelized peaches, tropical pineapple, delicate rose petals, and pink grapefruit. The palate delivers concentrated notes of orange oil, dark berry compote, nectarines, and charred pineapple accented by tarte au citron and aged leather, before concluding in an extended finish of wood spice, luscious sultanas, and tropical fruit. The vintage is encased in a sculpted wooden presentation box whose flowing contours echo the waves and natural swell of the Atlantic Ocean, framing Amy Genser’s original artwork within.
The wider four-bottle Carta Nautica collection also features two regional expressions curated by whisky maker Euan Kennedy: an edition for Latin America and Mexico (43% ABV) and a bold, 105 Proof release (52.5% ABV) crafted specifically for the United States.
Inside the Changi Airport Pop-Up Experience
To honor this world-first unveiling, Changi Airport has transformed its transit halls into an aquatic sanctuary. The activation unfurls across two extended phases: first taking over Terminal 3 from 28 September to 22 November 2026, before transferring to Terminal 2 from 26 November 2026 to 20 January 2027.
Conceived around the aesthetic of ocean tides, the pop-up marries Amy Genser’s fluid aquatic patterns with The Macallan’s signature crimson accents and warm, whisky-toned timber finishes. Illuminated portal arches and underwater floor projections create a submerged atmosphere that pulls travelers off the concourse and into Nautyria—the mystical maritime universe created for the collection.
Interactive touchpoints are positioned throughout the pavilion:
- The Transatlantic Oak Table: At the center of the installation, a glowing, interactive map traces the physical pilgrimage of The Macallan’s casks. Travelers move physical wooden cask models across illuminated ocean routes connecting North America, Spain, and Scotland, opening sculpted boxes at each waypoint to learn how wood is sourced, felled, coopered, seasoned with sherry, and employed for aging.
- The Five Guardians of Nautyria: Along a curved feature wall, bubble-like circular vitrines introduce visitors to the allegorical figures guarding each stage of the maturation cycle—representing Purpose, Transformation, Challenge, Clarity, and Perseverance.
- The Changi Personalisation Station: Travelers purchasing a bottle at the pop-up can visit the dedicated gifting counter to customize their acquisition with a commemorative, Changi-exclusive blue Merlion bottle cap—a distinctive collector’s touch paying tribute to Singapore as the host city.
Setting a New Benchmark for Travel Retail
The collaboration underscores Singapore Changi Airport’s standing as the premier global launchpad for high-end spirits.
“Global travel retail is built on discovery and journeys, making it a natural home for The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Years Old,” noted Kasper Andersen, Edrington Regional Managing Director for Global Travel Retail & Western Europe. “Together with LOTTE Duty Free and Changi Airport Group, we’ve created a captivating activation that brings to life the epic transatlantic journey of The Macallan oak casks and immerses travellers into the depths of The Macallan Carta Nautica Collection.”
For luxury travelers passing through Changi in the final quarter of 2026, the pop-up represents far more than an airport duty-free stop; it is an invitation to explore how wind, wood, water, and centuries of Scottish distillation converge into one of the year’s most coveted single malts.
