To mark “200 Years Young”, The Macallan is releasing two unique new whiskies in celebration of the brand’s interpretation of time travel through whisky mastery, presented in bespoke vessels created through cutting edge engineering and ancient craftsmanship.
Esquire speaks to Creative Director Jaume Ferràs about the intricate design behind the TIME : SPACE bottles, and what distinguishes them between each other.
Congratulations on the 200th anniversary. What has reaching this milestone taught The Macallan?
In a way, the past 200 years have been a prologue for everything that is still to come. We continue our tradition of crafting exceptional whiskies, and introducing select new expressions each as a testament to the craft and quality of the spirit, and to the people that make it.
To celebrate you have launched two new expressions with a project called TIME : SPACE. Why was this the chosen theme?
Whisky making is about Time Travel—each bottle we release today encapsulates the past, while the liquid we lay down in casks in the present day holds the promise of a future yet to unfold. The TIME : SPACE COLLECTION is a celebration of that—building upon the heritage of The Macallan and looking to times ahead. I am fortunate to lead an internal creative team that allows us to envisage bold ideas and bring them to life, and for this project we looked at reimagining the bottles that house the new expressions.
How did you go about reinterpreting the two bottles?
Well, firstly, the bottles of both expressions (TIME : SPACE and TIME : SPACE Mastery) are circular, so that not only creates a striking visual reinterpretation, but also represents a significant innovation in glass making by fusing traditional handmade craft skills with cutting edge technology. The shape of it reflects both Time, Space and the circle nature of life.
What are some of the new bottles’ key details?
TIME : SPACE is very unique in that the design is a dual chamber vessel to hold two different whiskies. The vessel is displayed in an oak sculpture which has been purposefully designed to accentuate the 100 percent natural colour of the whisky, and alternate layers of American and European oak have been selected to craft the display sculpture, as a homage to the brand’s commitment to using sherry seasoned oak casks.
For TIME : SPACE Mastery, the whisky is housed in a crafted circular vessel that represents the circle of life and the ongoing journey from the past to the future. In contrast to the exterior, the presentation case bursts to life with a vibrant red colour, synonymous with The Macallan and has been created using techniques stemming from the art of origami, to protect what is most valued for The Macallan, its incomparable whisky.
The 200 spikes represent each year in our incredible history and are inspired by the 485 acres of nature that surround our Distillery on The Macallan Estate in Speyside. Nature actively safeguards its future by developing a variety of defense mechanisms such as thorns, barbs and spikes. This resilience is evident throughout The Macallan Estate in the protective burr of chestnuts, the thorny stems of roses and the formidable spikes that cover thistles, the national flower of Scotland.
How important is the storytelling element to a project like this?
Storytelling is at the heart of what we do and it’s about being authentic in the way we tell our tale at The Macallan. The whiskies of the TIME : SPACE COLLECTION both tell different stories. The two whiskies in TIME : SPACE tell a tale of time travel, moving between the past and the future. For TIME : SPACE Mastery we wanted to reflect on the legacy of whisky mastery at The Macallan throughout the last 200 years and create something which was without question classically identifiable as The Macallan. Both Time and Space are abstract concepts.
Did that help or hinder the creative process?
In many ways it freed us from the traditional cues so evident in the whisky category and allowed us to transcend them. It gave us a platform to think big and push the boundaries of what is expected to not just celebrate the significance of those that have come before us but also act as a symbol of anticipation of what is to come—building on our heritage and looking forward to the future. The Macallan is after all, 200 years young.
To take part in The Macallan TIME : SPACE Experience book your appointment here. November 23, Concrete, Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai. themacallan.com