Photo courtesy of The Macallan
It may seem unlikely, but for Scottish whisky brand The Macallan and London-based tea curator Jing, the pairing is about creating harmony: drawing inspiration from tea origins and shaping those flavors through casks
Tea is on a cultural upswing. It’s not just because of the rise of the “Performative Matcha Male” discourse on X, Simu Liu weighing in on televised tea debates, or the steady stream of Vogue features exploring its many flavors and health benefits. Apart from being the second most popular drink in the world (next to water), its renaissance is more apparent in the US, surpassing coffee as a go-to beverage in 31 states.
Whether it’s Earl Grey, Jasmine green tea, or a fusion-led infusion, tea is everywhere: mixed with milk and boba, layered into sparkling drinks, worked into desserts, and even infused into cocktails. This time around, Scottish whisky brand The Macallan and London-based tea curator Jing reimagine tea in a different role. Instead of steeping leaves into whisky casks, the collaboration reinterprets the character of Jing’s garden blends through precise cask selection and calibrated aging.
In the 2025 Harmony Collection, The Macallan and Jing Tea created two single malt Scotch whisky blends that are a nod to the world of tea and nature: Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea and Inspired By Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea.
“[It’s] a celebration of the parallels between whisky and tea, two crafts deeply rooted in nature, tradition, and time,” says The Macallan creative director Jaume Ferras. “Working with Jing has allowed us to explore new dimensions of flavor and storytelling, creating two whiskies that are both innovative and deeply connected to the land.”
For Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid, The Macallan Whisky Mastery team pays tribute to a rare and aromatic oolong tea traditionally grown in the mountain range of Fenghuangshan (“phoenix” in Mandarin) in Guangdong, China. The whisky is matured in Sherry Seasoned American oak casks, supported by Sherry Seasoned European oak and a subtle touch of American oak. The blend features a warm honey color and flavor profile that carries notes of peach, apricot, floral honey, tropical fruits, toffee, and sweet oak.
For Melanie Tricklebank, CEO of Jing, the collaboration is a “true meeting of minds and traditions.” She explains, “At Jing, we’re inspired by the unique terroir and craftsmanship behind every tea origin. To see The Macallan draw inspiration from the distinctive quality and craft of the tea producer partners who inspire our mission to change the perception of what tea can be.”
The second expression, Inspired by Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea, starts from a naturally bold foundation. To create Lapsant Tea, Jing’s interpretation uses Yunnan black tea, smoked gently over cherrywood to achieve a warm, fragrant character. The Macallan reinterprets this through maturation in Sherry Seasoned European oak casks, complemented by Sherry Seasoned American oak. The result? Aromas of rich toffee, dates, ripe berries, charred citrus peel, and aromatic oak smoke, with flavors of toffee, bright citrus, warm oak spices, and a smooth, malty finish with gentle smoke.
To mark the collaboration, The Macallan introduced a whisky-and-tea pairing ritual inspired by the traditional Chinese Gong Fu tea ceremony from Eastern Guangdong, a practice centered on artistic and thoughtful preparation, shared experience, and honoring its flavors. The Harmony Collection is also a limited annual release known for its sustainability ethos, with presentation boxes crafted from repurposed waste tea leaves, an approach that speaks to the brand’s push towards more responsible design.
Please savour The Macallan responsibly. Do not share with anyone under the legal purchase age. The Macallan is available at S&R Membership Shopping and major retailers in the Philippines, priced at ₱17,480 . For more information, follow The Macallan on Instagram and visit their official website.
