The Macallan celebrates its incredible legacy with the stellar TIME:SPACE Collection
The conquering of time never fails to be at the top of humanity’s to-do list. Like Michael Phelps at his peak, time is baffling, speedy and hard to beat. Even the best time travel films and anti-ageing enthusiasts (read Bryan Johnson) show us that time’s prison is inescapable, but the good news is that every future has a history. Knowing the past is how you determine the future.
The Macallan’s history is distinguished by many pioneers. They include Alexander Reid, the founder responsible for distilling its first drops of whisky on its tranquil Speyside estate. Two centuries have passed since that day and there’s no better time than now to reflect on its 200-year-young legacy, achievements and future accomplishments. It’s a time that calls for celebration and, as such, the TIME:SPACE Collection, launched with two unique releases. Both are symbolic expressions of The Macallan, shaped by a love of nature and an endless dedication to unique craftsmanship and creativity.
Travel through time, sip by sip
The first release, known as TIME:SPACE, is a dual-chamber vessel that captures the essence of time travel perfectly. Only 200 bottles are available—one for each year of The Macallan’s history and journey through the decades—and each is displayed in a gorgeous oak sculpture that accentuates the all-natural colour of the whisky. Alternate layers of American and European oak make up the sculpture, paying homage to the brand’s commitment to sherry-seasoned oak casks.
Keeping its rich heritage alive is the outer chamber, where you would find a 1940 vintage, the oldest whisky released by The Macallan. Made from spirit aged in a first-fill American oak butt and second-fill European oak butt (both sherry- seasoned and matured in beautiful Speyside), it was bottled at 43.6 per cent ABV with a naturally rich colour, great depth and long-lasting flavour. Offering charred pineapple to the palate and an incredibly long finish of dark chocolate, this 84 Year Old offers more than a glimpse of the history and mastery of The Macallan.
Encapsulating the unparalleled quality that The Macallan is renowned for is a 2018 vintage as seen in the central chamber. Aged for five years, this young vintage (54.9 per cent ABV) brings rich sticky toffee and baked apple pie to mind— and the fact that one shouldn’t underestimate a youth’s ability to outshine older and more established vintages.
As a nod to the brand’s future and steadfast commitment to excellence, this is the first whisky from the brand’s new home, a state-of-the-art distillery with the same standards and values. Established in 2018 and designed to conform to its surrounding landscape, the complex boasts one of the most complex timber roof structures in the world and an impressive carbon footprint. In fact, 95 percent of its energy comes from renewable sources.
“It was an absolute privilege to be able to (go) back in time and select stock from the 1940s to honour our 200-year anniversary,” says Kirsteen Campbell, the master whisky maker. “As a whisky mastery team, our roles are unique in the sense that we get to time travel—selecting whisky from the past crafted by our predecessors, while simultaneously laying down casks for future generations of whisky makers and consumers. To nose, taste and select whisky created over eight decades ago is an exceptionally rare occasion in the life of a whisky maker and one which I will treasure.”
Campell adds that there was “a lot of excitement in the sample room” when creating the 2018 vintage. “It is an opportunity to give others an insight into The Macallan’s future. This marked the first year of production in our new distillery. Through a fusion of art and science, we have ensured the continuity of the character of our whisky,” she says.
Circle of life
The second release, called TIME:SPACE Mastery, is a one-of-a-kind bottle that captures the full extent of The Macallan’s inventory. Inspired by past whisky masters, it’s a celebration of 200 years of history with 14 exceptional cask types, each adding a layer complexity with incredible aroma, texture and flavour. Think a nose filled with sweet baked figs and Medjool dates and a palate soaked with orange marmalade and honeycomb, before a lingering finish of caramelised pineapple, vanilla and coffee.
As another reminder of The Macallan’s ongoing spiritual journey, the whisky comes presented in a circular vessel—a clever way to represent the circle of life. For protection, it comes in a case coloured by the brand’s signature red and covered in 200 intricate spikes—a symbol of its bicentennial year and how nature guards what is most precious and fragile.
An immersive experience
Get acquainted with TIME:SPACE Collection in Singapore at The Heart of The Spirit, an immersive experience that is happening at Clarke Quay Warehouse B from 4 to 22 September. At S$48 per entry, visitors will journey through The Macallan’s past, present and future via interactive activities, illustrations by acclaimed visual artist Javi Aznarez, a cocktail made specially for the event, and more. Bottles of whisky will also be available for purchase.
