SINGAPORE. The Macallan has partnered with Lotte Duty Free Singapore to launch the Carta Nautica 20 Years Old at Singapore Changi Airport, marking the global debut of the travel retail-exclusive (TREX) expression.
The Moodie Davitt Report was on location for the TREX whisky’s official launch onboard Edrington Global Travel Retail’s yacht, Lady Trudy, during the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.
The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Years Old is available exclusively at Changi until 18 October, ahead of a wider roll-out at selected airports worldwide from 19 October.
The launch is supported by two consecutive animations developed in partnership with Lotte Duty Free Singapore and Changi Airport Group. The campaign will run in Terminal 3 for two months before moving to Terminal 2 for a further two months.
It combines product discovery, interactive storytelling and personalised gifting inspired by the expression’s nautical theme.
Derived from the Spanish term for ‘nautical chart’, the Carta Nautica Collection traces the transatlantic journey of The Macallan’s oak staves and casks from North America to Jerez de la Frontera in Spain and onwards to its estate in Scotland.
The collection features whiskies initially matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez before being transferred into casks that previously held bourbon from North America.
Bottled at 42% ABV, Carta Nautica 20 Years Old offers orange peel, vanilla, charred pineapple, mango and apricot conserve on the nose, according to the brand’s tasting notes. The palate combines peach tea and caramelised figs with leather and chocolate orange, followed by a finish of dried tropical fruits, caramel and toasted oak spice.
The packaging features artwork by American artist Amy Genser, whose paper-based creations draw on the movement of water and organic forms found in nature.
The Macallan Carta Nautica Distilled in 1987 is also being showcased alongside the 20 Years Old expression. Matured for 38 years and bottled at 45.2% ABV, it is the first in a new series of vintage releases. The whisky is presented in a sculpted wooden case incorporating Genser’s ocean-inspired artwork.
Bringing the cask journey to life
The Changi pop-up draws on Genser’s artwork through layered visual motifs, complemented by The Macallan’s signature red accents, whisky-toned finishes and sculptural coral forms. Illuminated arches and an underwater-inspired floor effect extend the ocean theme throughout the space.
A dedicated wall introduces travellers to Nautyria, the oceanic world created for the Carta Nautica story. Five ‘Guardians’, presented in circular displays, represent stages of the cask journey through themes of purpose, transformation, challenge, clarity and perseverance.
An interactive table traces the oak’s journey from North America through Spain to Scotland. Travellers can move miniature wooden casks along the route and open cask-shaped boxes to learn how the oak is shaped, seasoned and used in whisky maturation.
A gifting station offers bottle personalisation with a Changi-exclusive blue Merlion cap, commemorating the launch and its Singapore location.
Lotte Duty Free Singapore Managing Director Bruce Ham Seok Min commented, “We are delighted to partner with The Macallan to host the world-first launch of Carta Nautica 20 Years Old at Singapore Changi Airport.
“We’re pleased to offer our customers the opportunity to be among the first to discover this very special new release. The striking pop-up will enable travellers to explore the journey of the oak and the craftsmanship behind the whisky, bringing the launch to life in a more engaging and memorable way.”
Changi Airport Group Managing Director, Airside Concessions Hung Jean commented, “Together with The Macallan and Lotte Duty Free, we have created an experience that goes beyond the product itself, bringing the wider Carta Nautica Collection and its immersive oceanic story to life only at Changi Airport.
“This world-first launch activation reflects our continued focus on introducing distinctive global launches to Changi while giving travellers new reasons to discover and engage with our retail offer.”
Edrington Regional Managing Director Western Europe & Global Travel Retail Kasper Andersen commented, “Global travel retail is built on discovery and journeys, making it a natural home for The Macallan Carta Nautica 20 Years Old.
“Bringing together craftsmanship, imagination and exploration, The Carta Nautica Collection expresses the extraordinary journey behind the whisky and the mastery that shapes it.
“Together with Lotte Duty Free and Changi Airport Group, we’ve created a captivating activation that brings to life the epic transatlantic journey of The Macallan oak casks and immerses travellers into the depths of The Macallan Carta Nautica Collection.”
Mastery Beyond Reason
The launch builds on The Macallan’s Mastery Beyond Reason ethos, which celebrates The Macallan’s end-to-end ownership of its sherry cask journey and the craftsmanship and expertise behind each stage.
To celebrate the launch, the Mastery Beyond Reason, a 30-minute documentary exploring the people, places and expertise behind The Macallan’s sherry-seasoned oak casks, has been released.
Directed by Denis Delestrac and narrated by photographer and long-standing brand collaborator Steve McCurry, the film follows the cask-making process from sawmills in Ohio and northern Spain to cooperages, vineyards and bodegas in Jerez, before concluding at The Macallan Estate in Speyside.
Contributors include makers from Coopers Oak and Tevasa Forestal Group, specialists from Valdespino, The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell and Managing Director, Cask Operations Jane Graham.
The documentary highlights The Macallan’s ownership and oversight of each stage of its sherry cask journey, alongside the generational skills involved in producing the casks.
Reflecting on the filming of Mastery Beyond Reason, McCurry said: “To me, this entire process is about vision – of craft, of passion, of mastery. It’s the feeling of making the right step at the right time. A pursuit of quality and legacy, captured in a moment… an image that endures.”
Graham added: “Exceptional oak casks have been at the heart of The Macallan since 1824. Today our ownership allows us to be involved in each stage of the cask creation process, learning from masters and preserving the skills and knowledge required to make the very best casks for generations to come – ensuring the integrity of The Macallan and protecting our Signature Taste now and into the future.”
Sommelier and El Celler de Can Roca Co-Owner Josep Roca has created six sensory serves interpreting key stages of The Macallan’s whisky-making process. These appear throughout the documentary, which premiered on the brand’s website on 9 September. ✈
