In its 200th year, Macallan shows no signs of slowing down. Today, The Macallan has unveiled The Macallan Horizon, in collaboration with Bentley Motors.
The two luxury brands, which announced their collaboration in 2021, have been quietly yet passionately working on The Macallan Horizon for three years. For Macallan’s anniversary, the project has finally been launched.
The Macallan Horizon will be available from The Macallan Estate Boutique, the domestic and travel retail Bouqtiues, and selected online retailers.
In what Jaume Ferras, Creative Director of The Macallan called “the most complex and visionary whisky project that The Macallan has embarked upon”, the team at Macallan has worked closely with Bentley Motors to produce a whisky and bottle that evokes the history and stature of both brands.
The Materials Used For The Macallan Horizon
Drawing inspiration from The Macallan’s six pillars, the whisky is encased in a vessel that incorporates six different materials: whisky, leather, glass, wood, aluminum, and copper. Each material is “integral to The Macallan, Bentley Motors and a partnership founded in innovation”.
The bespoke glass bottle is designed to be displayed horizontally rather than vertically. This design “demonstrates an unparalleled approach to product innovation and design, and reflects the horizontal trajectory of the automotive world”.
An aluminum ribbon, that was engineered by Bentley, wraps around the bottle, paying tribute to this versatile material that is used in the building of Bentley cars.
The bottle is then encased in a carefully crafted sculpture that is lined with low-carbon leather and a recycled copper frame, containing copper from Macallan’s old stills. Then, at the closure of the sculpture is an oak inlay that was created using one of the six casks used in the maturation of the whisky. The closure is inspired by the Bentley Drive Dynamic Control rotary dial. The sculpture is then finished with Bentley’s Crown Cut Walnut veneer.
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The Macallan Horizon Whisky
The whisky itself is a blend of six first-fill sherry cask matured whiskies, hand-selected by Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell. Blended to create a rich and complex spirit, the whisky “captures the essence of Bentley”, with a long-lasting finish reminiscent of Bentley’s timeless style.
According to the press release, the tasting notes for the Macallan Horizon are as follows:
“ABV: 46.6%, a nod to both the six casks and The Macallan’s Six Pillars
Colour: Dark mahogany
Nose: Resinous polished oak with plums and dark cherries, alongside aromatic fresh leather and a herbal, leafy note. An abundance of dried fruits follow – sticky dates, raisins and sultanas leading on to sweet cinnamon, nutmeg with a hint of cloves.
Palate/Taste: Wonderfully rich and indulgent. Dark treacle notes with cinder toffee, crystalised ginger and charred pineapple. Sweet vanilla pods and fudge develop, followed by dark chocolate coated brazil nuts and a warming oak spice.
Finish: Rich oak, long, complex.”
An Historic Collaboration: The Macallan x Bentley Motors
Speaking about the historic collaboration, Jaume Ferras said: “Our collaboration with Bentley and the knowledge exchange we have undertaken has inspired us to see things very differently. In the spirits world, everything is vertical, such as our stills and our bottles. When we looked at the horizontal plane that Bentley’s grand tourers occupy, it made us consider if and how we could adapt this format for whisky, which ultimately requires to be poured and enjoyed”.
Bentley Chairman and CEO, Adrian Hallmark, adds: “We’ve spent years working with The Macallan through our partnership, taking time to craft this incredible first joint product that represents the best of both brands. Centred on innovative materials throughout that reflect our focus on the future, the end result – both the whisky and the vessel that contains it – are stunning, and represent a new benchmark for design, materials and quality in this space”.
Only 700 bottles of The Macallan Horizon have been produced with a price tag of $50,000.
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