The Macallan pays tribute to the silver screen’s most famous secret agent with a limited edition 18-year-old single malt that also brims with legacy and intrigue
In 1971, Diamonds Are Forever lit up theatres all over the world, starring Sean Connery as James Bond, who imbued high-stakes espionage with sexiness and spectacle. Fifty-five years on, The Macallan marks the occasion with a limited-edition single malt that revisits that chapter in film history through the lens of whisky-making.
The Diamonds Are Forever 55th anniversary release, which follows the house’s earlier Bond bottlings, is crafted by whisky maker Russell Greig. Distilled in 2007 and matured for 18 years, the expression draws on an interplay of European and American oak casks seasoned with sherry, alongside American oak casks that previously held red wine. The latter nods to Bond’s studied appreciation of wine in the film, where discernment becomes a narrative device rather than a mere indulgence.
Bottled at 45.5 per cent ABV, the whisky opens with notes of oak, vanilla, and dried fruit, before moving into caramel, cocoa, and baking spice, with a composed, lingering finish. Its natural hue evokes the desert terrain surrounding Las Vegas, anchoring the spirit to one of the film’s most memorable backdrops.
Presentation is equally considered. The bottle and case reference production artwork from the Bond archives, including the laser satellite motif and graphic elements from the title sequence. For The Macallan, a brand that has appeared in more than 290 screen productions over the decades, this anniversary bottling continues the distillery’s longstanding between culture and craft.
