The Macallan is easily recognizable as one of the most prolific brands of elite-status single malt Scotch on the market today. The Macallan Distillery was founded in 1824 by school teacher and barley farmer Alexander Reid, soon after the Scottish Excise Act was passed to legalize the distillation of whisky. The brand specializes in high-quality single malt Scotch whisky and is one of the first brands of Scotch to take advantage of the marketability, taste, and profound influence available in the making of premium whisky – the scale of which has afforded Macallan ownership of up to 1/3 of the global single malt Scotch market.