Last week, prestigious whisky brand The Macallan held its first ever online launch event to launch its new “The Anecdotes of Ages Collection”. But this collection is not just another collection. Consisting of 13 unique bottles encased in 13 unique labels, this collection represents the harmonious collaboration between art and whisky. And who else could meet this challenge than The British Godfather of pop art, Sir Peter Blake?
Sir Peter Blake and The Macallan
After three successful collaborations with The Macallan, one of Britain’s most iconic artists Sir Peter Blake can undoubtedly be counted as part of The Macallan Family. After their first collaboration in 1986, neither could get enough of the fantastic, timeless artworks that their collaborations produced. The shared fascination with history, heritage, unique storytelling, and the creation of iconic and legendary creations resulted in the striking new “the Anecdotes of Ages Collection“.
The Anecdotes of Ages Collection: 13 unique bottles
This collection consists of 13 unique bottles, each with its own unique label handmade by Sir Peter Blake. Each label portrays a story that provides insight into the rich history of The Macallan, all in the distinctive collage style for which Blake is renowned. Thirteen works of art with an exceptional mix of styles, characters and landscapes. They are stories that pay homage to the past.
Not only the labels of the bottles, but also the whisky itself is a meticulously crafted piece of art. The whisky was distilled in 1967, the year Blake wowed the art world with his collage style and his unique pop art approach. The traditional The Macallan palette can be found in the hand-blown bottles sealed with oak cork: a pleasant blend of dried fruit (in this case dried figs), cinnamon, and cloves. But for this whisky, head distiller Sarah Burgess chose to add an interesting, unusual touch to this extraordinary whisky. So who ever has the privilege of tasting this whisky will detect a hint of hazelnut, strawberry and chocolate.
The Virtual Art Exhibition
Introducing this “The Anecdotes of Ages Collection”, The Macallan launched a virtual art exhibition at the launch event, where whisky lovers can explore the collection in detail. In a 360° virtual environment, visitors can walk into Sir Peter Blake’s studio and The Anecdotes of Ages Collection Gallery. The artist and his work, style and inspiration as well as the bottles and the unique stories behind the labels are thus free for all to discover on The Macallan’s website. One of the most amusing anecdotes recounted by Sir Peter Blake at the launch event is the story of Malcolm the Squirrel. For Blake, nature, and in particular the surroundings of the Macallan Distillery, is a great source of inspiration. According to him, this is one of the few places where the red squirrel can still be found. During his many visits to the distillery, he befriended one of the squirrels in the area and named him Malcolm. It was a story that stuck with Blake, and Malcolm the Squirrel now adorns one of the bottles in the collection. Malcolm’s story and all the other stories Blake immortalised on the labels can be found in the Virtual Art Exhibition on The Macallan’s website.
Exclusive auction for charity
One of the thirteen bottles in the collection, the “A New Era of Advertising” bottle, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on 13 March. The aim is to raise money for the diversity, equality, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. In doing so, The Macallan will contribute to supporting free entry and inclusion for different types of audiences in museums.
Virtual art exhibition: https://www.themacallan.com/en-us/virtual-art-exhibit
Visit The Macallan’s website for more info on this unique collaboration here: https://www.themacallan.com/
Do you want to discover more delicious drinks? Visit our PureFood page
