The Macallan recently unveiled the new Anecdotes of Ages Collection in collaboration with globally renowned British pop artist Sir Peter Blake.
The collaboration contains 13 carefully selected bottles of 1967 whisky, representing the year it is considered Sir Peter Blake’s signature collages jumped from art into popular culture. Each of the 13 bottles is hand-blown with an oak stopper and features its own original Sir Peter Blake collage art signed by Sir Peter Blake, himself.
Presented in a handcrafted European oak case incorporating thumbnail photography which reveals Sir Peter Blake’s journey with the distillery, the expressions are also accompanied by a leather-bound book showcasing all 13 label artworks and corresponding stories, as well as a certificate of authenticity.
The collaboration stands as The Macallan’s third with the artist. In 1986, Sir Peter Blake tied up with the brand to create a bespoke label for The Macallan 1926, taking inspiration from the events of the era. In 2012, The Macallan and Sir Peter Blake collaborated again to create a unique, limited edition art piece in celebration of his 80th birthday and decades of working with the distillery.
“I am deeply inspired by the incredible legacy of The Macallan, and its emphasis on family, tradition, and the natural world,” Sir Peter Blake said in a prepared statement. “Each collage in the Anecdotes of Ages Collection is inspired by The Macallan’s history and heritage, one that respects time and craft, two essential components of my own creative process. I meticulously worked on each collage, pulling from The Macallan Estate’s rich history to complete a collection that is a celebration of art and whisky.”
While the 13th original bottle will be retained in The Macallan archive, a highly limited-edition whisky featuring a duplicate label and the same rare 1967 whisky will be released as The Anecdotes of Ages Collection: Down to Work Limited Edition with only 322 bottles available worldwide. A 360-degree virtual art exhibit allowing visitors to explore the Anecdotes of Ages Collection will be available on the distillery’s website.
Furthermore, a special single malt Scotch was created to commemorate Sir Peter Blake’s visit to The Macallan Estate on the River Spey. An Estate, A Community, And A Distillery is displayed in a custom box inspired by Sir Peter Blake’s art, alongside a certificate outlining the history and heritage on which the art was based, and Sir Peter Blake’s artwork printed on a scroll.
More official information on each offering, including tasting notes, can be found below. Both releases became available starting last month.
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Anecdotes of Ages Collection: Down To Work Limited Edition (price £50,000)
- Colour: Caramelised peach
- Aroma: Classic antique oak, dried fruit and fig combined with hints of pineapple and mango layered with a decadent chocolate strawberry note
- Palate: Warm chocolate with light nutmeg and ginger, oak spices and sweet oak opening into pineapple and coconut with an unexpected strawberry and hazelnut burst
- Finish: Complex with a medium to long finish of chocolate, sweet oak and lightly spiced peach
- ABV: 46.7%
An Estate, A Community, And A Distillery (price £750)
- Colour: Cinnamon
- Aroma: Rich in dried fruits and spices with a hint of orange and clove
- Palate: Dried fruits with cracked black pepper and treacle, accents of vanilla and orange oil
- Finish: A long, rich oak finish with cinnamon and cacao
- ABV: 47.7%
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