The Macallan Single Malt Scotch whisky has just kicked off a world tour to celebrate the third iteration of its Masters of Photography series.
The tour begins May 29th in Hong Kong, travels to Moscow, and culminates with a finale in New York City in October. We’re thrilled to unveil that legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz is behind the lens of this special project that combines the mastery of whisky making and photography. On the heels of the two previously successful Masters of Photography projects where famed photographers Rankin and Albert Watson interpreted The Macallan through their own unique photographs, for this iteration, Annie Leibovitz has captured “Macallan moments” in and around New York City.
Using Scottish actor (and former employee of The Macallan) Kevin McKidd as the leading man of the shoot, Annie Leibovitz captured four powerful images each to be paired with a different single cask expression released by The Macallan for the first time.
The series comprises 1,000 limited edition bottles worldwide, each containing one of four unique Single Malts (SRP $2,750), crafted to reflect the mood of the Annie Leibovitz print it is paired with.
Please visit www.themastersofphotography.com for more information on this project and the entire Masters of Photography series.
Tasting notes on this rare scotch are as follows:
‘THE BAR’
Cask No 7023: Sherry Oak Puncheon
Year: 1991
Bottles: 285 to accompany The Bar print
Colour: Dark Rosewood
Strength: 50.8%
Tint: EBC 53
Nose: Intense, dried fruits, ginger, nutmeg and clove. Ripe apples give way to rich sweet notes. Vibrant oak makes a statement, but is refined enough not to dominate
Palate: Ginger and cinnamon spice with rich dried fruits. Mature oak is in balance, with citrus fruits – a story to tell on its own
Finish: Medium to long finish, smooth
‘THE GALLERY’
Cask No 12251: Sherry Butt (1989)
Year: 1989
Bottles: 285 to accompany The Gallery print
Colour: Dark copper
Strength: 56.6%
Tint: EBC 46
Nose: Perfumed, chocolate orange and date. Burnished oak giving out a rich intensity
Palate: Sweet, fruity, raisin, wood and spices. Then the oak, which shows its hand in a subtle roasted manner
Finish: Rich finish could stay slightly dry, but teases
‘THE LIBRARY‘ (For Global Travel Retail, Distillery and private sale only)
Cask No 14007: Sherry Oak Hoghead
Year: 1995
Bottles: 145 to accompany The Library print
Colour: Red Mahogany
Strength: 59.6%
Tint: EBC 58
Nose: Rich raisin sultana and chocolate orange arrive almost together, followed closely by toasted apple, ginger and clean oak.
Palate: Toasted apple, ginger and oak note their intent, but are not to be outdone as orange and dried fruits step out
Finish: Long lingering, full
‘THE SKYLINE’
Cask No 10019: American Oak Butt
Year: 1996
Bottles: 285 to accompany The Skyline print
The Colour: Light Gold
Strength: 55.5%
Tint: EBC 58
Nose: Lemon, citrus fruits, vanilla, cream soda. Freshly cut wood in background. Sweet dessert notes balance out.
Palate: Viscous; initially oak flits in then departs to allow cinnamon, citrus, toffee apples to show their hand, only to reappear later.
Finish: Medium finish but full bodied
ABOUT THE MACALLAN
Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.