The Macallan unveils timespirit, a dining concept with globally renowned El Celler De Can Roca at the Macallan’s home in the heart of the Scottish Highlands now open
In celebration of The Macallan’s 200th anniversary, the single malt Scotch whisky brand is collaborating with three-time Michelin star and twice awarded best restaurant in the world, Spanish restaurant El Celler de Can Roca to launch a new permanent dining concept, TimeSpirit, which will open to diners on The Macallan Estate in Scotland on Thursday 31st October 2024.
United by an insatiable curiosity, quest for knowledge, and dedication to innovation, The Macallan and El Celler de Can Roca’s collaboration – TimeSpirit – will be the Spanish restaurant’s first dining concept outside of Spain and will offer diners a nine-course tasting menu – a culinary exploration of The Macallan, as the brand celebrates 200 years young. The launch builds on a partnership spanning 12 years between the Roca Brothers and The Macallan, celebrating the shared commitment to innovation, combining the gastronomic brilliance of the Roca brothers with the rich heritage of The Macallan.
Set to be a pinnacle of culinary excellence in Scotland, TimeSpirit will sit at the heart of The Macallan’s iconic 485-acre estate on the banks of River Spey, with a 24-seat dining room designed by award-winning architect David Thulstrup, whose past work includes the interior architecture of Copenhagen’s celebrated Noma restaurant. The space has been reimagined to create the ultimate gastronomic dining experience and true immersion in nature at The Macallan Estate, as diners overlook sweeping views onto the rolling hills of Speyside.
The dining concept is a gastronomic expression of The Macallan and El Celler de Can Roca’s collective playful spirit, creativity and respect for nature, and it will combine the culinary mastery of the Roca brothers with the rich heritage of The Macallan. It will source the finest local ingredients taking inspiration from Scotland’s natural larder, and each dish curated with seasonal, local produce, from The Macallan Estate kitchen garden or sourced from local suppliers.
From fresh produce to succulent meats, the nine-course tasting menu can be paired with The Macallan’s whiskies and the finest sherry wines from Valdespino in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The Macallan has a long-standing relationship with the Jerez community and its sherry suppliers. The greatest influence of The Macallan are the exceptional oak casks, from which the whiskies derive their distinctive flavours, aromas, and natural colour.
Blending Scottish and Spanish gastronomic influences, the unforgettable dining experience will include Distil Your World appetisers – inspired by locations featured in The Macallan’s “Distil Your World” series, with dishes such as vegetarian haggis with whisky spiced mayonnaise, inspired by Scotland; Cured mackerel al amontillado inspired by Jerez; Pastrami, steamed brioche, sauerkraut inspired by New York; Taco with radish and mango salad inspired by Mexico City and a chicken pate with raisins and apricot inspired by London. Other dishes include The Macallan Barley, a dish showcasing whisky ingredients with fermented barley and yeast cream and From the Cask to the Chocolate, a whisky and chocolate indulgence, featuring The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old. This menu will change seasonally.
The culinary team at The Macallan Estate in loco at El Celler de Can Roca will continue to work closely to ensure the highest quality, innovation and standards are upheld.
The dining room offers a tactile and contemporary design that seamlessly integrates with the existing Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The dining experience is centred around the kitchen, located in the middle of the room, providing guests an intimate showcase and immersion into the creative culinary processes. The Macallan whisky occupies the heart of the restaurant, where exclusive expressions are housed in a unique oak-panelled cellar space. A selection of fine wines and sherries curated by Josep Roca, award-winning sommelier of El Celler de Can Roca, are also set against a striking backdrop inspired by the Albariza soils of Jerez. The abundance of natural light and the sweeping views onto the rolling hills of Speyside reflects The Macallan’s inspiration rooted in nature.
Jaume Ferràs, Creative Director at The Macallan, said: “El Celler de Can Roca has been one of The Macallan’s longest partnerships, and for over twelve years we have curated exceptional culinary creations, new products and innovations together. From our beginnings in 1824, we have had a long history with Spain and its wines – particularly Jerez, so to bring these two brands together for a permanent Dining Experience on The Macallan estate is an incredible ambition realised.
El Celler de Can Roca’s philosophy mirrors that of The Macallan, with a deep inspiration from nature, a commitment to community and a relentless pursuit of innovation and this will be showcased for everyone to experience within the new menu – where it will take influence from the past, imagine the future and make a difference in the present, and really bring to life the collaboration between the two brands in a playful and exciting way.”
The Roca Brothers, from El Celler de Can Roca commented: “El Celler de Can Roca’s bond with Scotland is thrilling and TimeSpirit at The Macallan Estate will enable us to envisage what El Celler de Can Roca would be like on the 60th parallel north. The many trips we have made to Scotland and the inspiration we have found in its old cookery books have afforded us the chance to pay homage to Scottish cuisine.
We have immersed ourselves in its gastronomy and produce, nourished by a compendium of history, culture, landscapes and fabulous people from a land that is apparently far away but to us is close and dear. We paid tribute to Scotland in Distilling Scotland – the cookery book we released in 2018 and documentary on Scottish cuisine, chefs and outstanding products. We have been all over the country, drinking in its spirit, devoting time to it and we would now like to share our cooking through The Macallan. We celebrate our longstanding partnership as part of The Macallan’s 200th anniversary and distil its exciting history from the kitchen.”
David Thulstrup, Architect & Designer also commented: “Creating the new restaurant for The Macallan’s new TimeSpirit was all about celebrating the story of time and craft. Natural materials like wood and stone reveal age and character, reflecting heritage, estate and site. The design is meant to honour this legacy while enhancing the experience envisioned by the Roca Brothers and the surrounding distillery.”
Rachel Walters, Director of Operations at The Macallan, said: “The opening of TimeSpirit is an incredible accomplishment for The Macallan and will offer diners something completely unique in a setting like no other. We have the finest Scottish larder on our doorstep, with a kitchen garden and a hyper-local sourcing programme, which will offer fresh, local ingredients alongside the welcoming Speyside hospitality for every guest who walks through the door.”
The combination of world-class food, incredible design, and The Macallan’s whisky heritage, promises to make TimeSpirit a must-visit destination for food and whisky lovers from across the globe.
TimeSpirit will open to diners on 31st October 2024. To book a table visit https://www.themacallan.com/en/experience-the-macallan/distillery/timespirit-dining-experience
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