A whisky inspired by Alice In Wonderland is set to provide a lifetime of clean water to people living in Madagascar. In a collaboration between Glen Scotia Distillery, located in Campbeltown, and The Maclean Foundation, 210 bottles of a single cask release will be sold to raise funds for clean water projects.
The Glen Scotia 2016 8 Year Old Single Cask (59.1% ABV), aged in first-fill bourbon casks, is now being sold exclusively via Royal Mile Whiskies for an RRP of £115. Each bottle sold will provide one person with clean water for life.
The Maclean Foundation
The Maclean Foundation was founded by Scottish whisky expert, Charles Maclean MBE, and his three sons – Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan. Through their charitable endeavors, the father-and-sons team has already provided a lifetime of clean water to 2,000 people in Madagascar.
Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan’s efforts to raise money for The Maclean Foundation go beyond whisky, too. In April 2025, the brothers will complete the Rare Whisky 101 Pacific Row to raise £1 million for the building of clean water boreholes. The brothers have already proved their rowing capability; in 2020 they became the first brothers to row any ocean, and the youngest and fastest trio to row the Atlantic Ocean.
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One such charitable endeavor was a previous whisky release, a 2017 Ardnamurchan matured in virgin American oak. This alone provided clean water for 700 people.
Charles Maclean helped to select the single Glen Scotia cask used for this release. According to a press release issued on behalf of The Maclean Foundation, “the Glen Scotia Release is expected to be another sellout.”
The Glen Scotia 2016 8 Year Old
The Glen Scotia 2016 8 Year Old was hand-selected by Charles Maclean and Glen Scotia Master Distiller, Iain McAlister. Maclean hailed the whisky as a “triumph” when tasting it for the first time.
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“It’s a lovely golden colour, completely clean and remarkably mature for its age,” he continued. “There are fruity top notes, possibly white grape and melon. It is complex. I’m getting a slightly mineralic note too; it somewhat reminds me of aromatherapy oil. 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.
“It’s a triumph and will do so much good. Every single one of those bottles will provide clean water for life for at least one person in Madagascar.”
Iain McAlister added: “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.”
As for the Allice In Wonderland connection, according to the press release, “The stylish bottle, designed by Scottish creative agency Contagious, features a narration by Charles, who helped select the cask. He tells the story of the liquid through the window of Alice in Wonderland, as he believes it shares the same call to ‘Drink Me” that enticed curious Alice into a world of wonder in the classic Lewis Carroll novel.”
Glen Scotia & The Maclean Foundation
Glen Scotia’s Master Distiller, Iain McAlister, has become fast friends with Charles Maclean, and is in awe of his and his sons’ charitable efforts, and the work of The Maclean Foundation.
He said: “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. 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 The Maclean Foundation is a complete pleasure, especially knowing the impact it will have for so many in Madagascar.”
The Water Crisis In Madagascar
Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean, located off the southwest coast of Mozambique, Africa. It is a tropical paradise with incredible biodiversity and stunning landscapes.
Despite this, access to clean water for people living in rural communities remains a rarity. Lachlan Maclean commented on this crisis, and what The Maclean Foundation is doing to help.
“Access to clean water is a basic human need, yet for many communities in rural Madagascar, it remains a luxury. In Madagascar, we had not only seen but experienced the horrible impact waterborne diseases can have. There is no reason why some people are born with access to clean water, and others aren’t. The more we talked and reflected on our own privilege and the stark contrast between life growing up in Scotland and a childhood in Madagascar, the more we realised this was what we had to do.
“During our visit there, we saw first-hand the impact boreholes have on people’s lives.
“It costs £6,000 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.
“It’s been amazing to work with Feedback Madagascar and our dad to make a real difference to people’s lives. That’s the reason we’re rowing the Pacific Ocean.”
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