THE MACALLAN SPECIALT
hroughout its nearly two centuries-long history in
distilling the finest whisky, The Macallan has been
a brand revered for the quality and innovation it
epitomises. And the feted Scottish distillery’s recent
limited-edition release is testament to this legacy: the
exceptionally rare The Macallan 72 Years Old in Lalique
– The Genesis Decanter is the oldest single malt ever bottled
and released by the distillery. And as its name suggests, it
honours a seminal moment, a new dawn in The Macallan story.
In fact, The Genesis Decanter, a bespoke crystal
masterpiece handcrafted by Lalique, also takes its inspiration
from the architectural marvel that is The Macallan’s new
distillery and visitor experience centre. But what this truly
remarkable release ultimately represents is the brand’s
steadfast celebration of craftsmanship, and a synergistic
collaboration of masters from across the fields of whisky,
crystal, architecture and construction.
The mastery of making exceptional whisky has always
been at the heart of The Macallan Estate, and its new distillery
and visitor experience centre represents both a tribute to the
traditions of its winning Speyside whisky as well as the future of
the brand. It is the hope of the team that this new structure will
help take the brand into the next century.
A marvel of contemporary architecture, the new
distillery is designed by internationally acclaimed architects
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. It also embodies the care,
passion and superior craftsmanship that goes into every drop
of The Macallan whisky. Blending seamlessly into the natural
surroundings of Speyside, the building is nearly invisible from
the entrance—its undulating timber roof mimics the natural
curves of the Scottish hillside, which is overgrown with grass.
Step into the sprawling futuristic interior and the
massive array of distillation equipment hint at The Macallan’s
drive and ambition. Opened last summer, this new facility
allows the whisky maker to increase its production by
approximately a third.
A whisky aged above 70 years is a marvel of achievement
in itself. Distilled back in the 1940s, The Macallan 72 Years Old
is a peerless spirit that began its journey to maturation during
the optimistic post Second World War period. Statistically,
it is extremely rare to have casks of whisky retain much
liquid after half a century, given the natural process of
evaporation that takes place during its long maturation that
many like to refer to as the “angel share”. That The Macallan was
able to bottle 600 decanters of this time-honoured expression
is in fact a miracle.
Despite its years of maturation, this liquid gold has a
deceptively light colour, which is another hint that this is not an
ordinary single malt. To boot, an exquisite balance of strong,
sweet oak with a delicate peaty disposition shapes its refined
character. The whisky delivers surprise nuances of fruit aromas,
such as refreshing citrus lemons and green apples, that are
followed by distinctive hints of peat, soft vanilla and gentle wood
spice, all the way through to the back of the mouth where it is
finished off with a lingering hint of rich fruit and oak.
To complement this exceptional nectar, renowned French
glassmaker Lalique decided to personify the character of
the new distillery in a unique crystal decanter. Marrying
together modern techniques with traditional skills, each of
The Macallan 72 Years Old decanter is handcrafted by master
craftsmen who elevate the complex crystal-making process
to create a stunning art piece. Not only does the shape of the
decanter accentuate the brilliance of the golden whisky, its
sensual curves evoke the clean lines and natural undulation of
the new distillery’s unique roof structure.
The Macallan 72 Years Old in Lalique – The Genesis
Decanter is aptly presented in a bespoke case designed
by Burgess Studio. Similarly, the luxe wooden case and its
curved wooden roof structure is inspired by the interior of
thenewdistillery.Handcraftedfromthefinestmaterialsby
TheRoyalWarrant-holding cabinet makers NEJ Stevenson,
using only sustainably sourced timbers, the exterior is made
with the highly-priced waterfall bubinga, while each bowl is
carved from mahogany layered with light maple. Employing
precise craftsmanship down to the details, drawer linings and
fitments of the casing are hand-applied in pure suede and
fabric, with latches and hinges in solid brass.THE MACALLAN
The Macallan @ 1855
01-24 Marina One
themacallan.com