For The Macallan, the Scottish luxury brand established in 1824, the unveiling of its latest expression, Tales of The Macallan Volume I, was not only an ode to its rich history of nearly 200 years, but a renewal of its commitment to craftsmanship and uncompromised excellence—exemplified not only in its product, but in the stellar collaborators who have brought it to life.
The limited-edition release, which you can read about more here, was revealed to an exclusive guest list on March 23rd at the Theatre of Digital Arts in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, in what was truly an unforgettable night that saw those collaborators take centre stage.
In a true ode to the life and work of Captain John Grant, who, on the famed Easter Elchies Estate set The Macallan’s history into unstoppable motion, a stunning array of talent has each embraced different aspects of that incomparable legacy—all within their own areas of expertise.
Famed classical violinist Nicola Benedetti, a friend of The Macallan, composed and performed a stunning musical piece for Tales of The Macallan Volume I, the original reflective piece that retraces John Grant’s rich story.
Benedetti, born in Scotland of Italian heritage, is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation, having performed at the highest level of orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic, as well as having won a Grammy Award in 2020 for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and Best Female Artist at both the 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards.
“I am honoured to have collaborated on Tales of The Macallan Volume I which pays tribute to Captain John Grant, the man who in 1700 realised the potential of Easter Elchies Estate, the land that has been home to The Macallan Distillery since 1824. I have the privilege of playing a Gariel Stradivarius violin dating back to 1717, the same era in which John Grant lived, and composing this reflective piece about his life was a truly personal experience,” says Benedetti.
Nicola’s passion and expertise, combined with the stunning illustrations of renowned English illustrator – Andrew Davidson, elevated and brought to life Captain John Grant’s extraordinary story at the launch event in Dubai.
Davidson – world-renowned for his handcrafted process of working on French and Japanese made papers, expertise in engraving with specially shaped tools on English boxwood or Lemonwood and printing the blocks on his 1857 Albion hand press to create his illustrations. He has used his talents across a diverse array of projects, from the UK’s Royal Mail postage stamps and designs for the glass doors at Wimbledon’s Centre Court to illustrations for the Harry Potter book covers.
When you have a story to tell, you will always find a way, a medium to share it,” says Davidson. “Each artist finds his own paintbrush and mine is made of wood and metal, burnished by time and hungry to keep telling tales from the past and the future, and The Macallan has united the most experienced bespoke masters from different fields to help tell the story of its origins. Together, we function like a choir, each one playing a part in his own register, to compose a unique melody.”
Benedetti herself also ventured to The Macallan Estate to film the music video that immortalises her stirring work, herself moved at the opportunity to walk in Captain John Grant’s steps.
“Filming the music video on location at The Macallan Estate was wonderful, and it was remarkable to see the legacy of nature that Captain John Grant left and the profound influence that this breath-taking natural environment has on The Macallan to this day.”
For Benedetti, performing the entire composition at the Dubai launch event was the exclamation point at the end of an unforgettable journey, in which she performed three different pieces throughout the event went on, finally being interviewed by Jodie Marriott around her inspiration behind the piece and a recounting of her unforgettable time at the estate.
Find more on the incomparable event here.