The Edrington Group has launched The Macallan in Lalique Curiously Small Stills decanter, the latest addition to its Six Pillars Collection.
Designed and created by French crystal house Lalique exclusively for The Macallan, The Macallan in Lalique Curiously Small Stills decanter follows on from the success of the first three decanters in the collection.
This fourth edition – presented in our unique Moodie Magnifier below – is limited to 400 individually numbered decanters, each filled with a rare 60yo Macallan single malt whisky.
Valued at US$20,000, the decanter was unveiled during the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month in an intimate gathering.
The Macallan Director of Fine & Rare Whiskies David Cox commented: “Our relationship with Lalique goes from strength to strength and this fourth collaboration further reinforces our very strong partnership. The Six Pillars*, those elements which combine to give this great single malt its distinctive quality and character, continue to provide the inspiration for these stunning decanters.
“The addition of the Curiously Small Stills decanter continues this fascinating journey through the heart of The Macallan. The stills themselves are the smallest on Speyside, concentrating the spirit to create The Macallan’s rich, fruity, full-bodied flavours.
“Over the years, we have drawn on the some of its oldest and rarest stocks to create extraordinary examples of this great single malt for connoisseurs and collectors alike; such is the lineage of this 60yo Macallan, which was drawn from five sherry butts, made from a mix of Spanish and American oak, filled on 9 and 10 November 1950.”
Inspired by the artistry of René Lalique and The Macallan’s “˜curiously small stills’, Lalique’s designers have interpreted the riveted entry hatch feature on The Macallan’s spirit stills as a circle of raised “˜cabochons’ on the face of the decanter. The result is an overall structure which is distinctly compact yet reflecting the smooth curves of the spirit stills themselves, the company said.
Other defining design features of the decanter mirror the specific shapes and aspects of the still: the “˜satiné’ effect up the sides and shoulders to the stopper simulates the shape of the hatch handle, while the copper cap atop the crystal stopper has been made from an old Macallan copper spirit still.
 |
The Macallan Director of Fine & Rare Whiskies David Cox (left) and Lalique President and CEO Silvio Denz at the unveiling of The Macallan in Lalique Curiously Small Stills decanter at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month |
 |  |
Inspired by The Macallan’s “˜curiously small stills’ (left), Lalique’s designers have interpreted the riveted entry hatch feature on The Macallan’s spirit stills as a circle of raised “˜cabochons’ on the face of the decanter
| |
Commenting on the project, Lalique President and CEO Silvio Denz said: “It is once again a pleasure to team up with one of the world’s finest single malts and together create the fourth decanter in this prestigious collection. Working with The Macallan continues to allow us strong creative freedom to produce decanters grounded in the highest quality and most intricate craftsmanship.
“The Curiously Small Stills decanter has been designed by our team in Paris and crafted at Lalique’s crystal making facility in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace. Each piece was worked on by up to 15 craftsmen, many of whom have attained the “˜Meilleur ouvrier de France’ – the Finest Craftsman of France Award.
“Each decanter bears the esteemed “˜Lalique France’ signature, which symbolises authenticity and over 100 years of creativity, heritage and craftsmanship, and comes in a beautifully designed lacquer presentation box, with a crystal stopper and a collector’s guide, detailing the craftsmanship that has gone into producing this beautiful object d’art.”
The Macallan and Lalique have been working in partnership since 2005. During this time they have collaborated to produce an exclusive series of limited edition decanters based on The Macallan’s Six Pillars. The first three decanters in the series are said to have found favour with whisky consumers and connoisseurs, as well as collectors of Lalique crystal.
In 2010 the partnership was taken to new heights with the creation of the Cire Perdue decanter containing the oldest ever Macallan ever released – at 64 years old. This decanter and its rare contents were auctioned by Sotheby’s New York in November 2010, raising US$460,000 for charity: water, which is dedicated to providing clean and safe drinking water for people in developing countries. It also broke the world record price for a bottle of Scotch whisky, according to the company.
Tasting notes:
• Colour – Cherry
• Aroma – Complex; cinnamon, toasted apple & lemon, intertwined with blackcurrant leaf and polished oak, all encompassed by peat
• Taste – Mouth-coating, sweet, citrus, dark chocolate, smoldering peat
• Finish – Succulent, lightly fired malt caressed with peat
• Alcohol Strength – 53.2%
*The reputation of The Macallan is founded upon Six Pillars:
1. The Spiritual Home – Easter Elchies House watches over The Macallan distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Built in 1700, this Jacobean manor house is The Macallan’s spiritual home.
2. Curiously Small Stills – The Macallan’s “˜curiously small’ copper stills help to concentrate the flavour of the “˜new make’ spirit.
3. The Finest Cut – The “˜cut’ is the amount of distilled spirit collected from the stills as “˜new make’ spirit. The Macallan takes one of the finest “˜cuts’ of any distillery in Scotland; typically just 16% goes forward to fill or their casks.
4. Exceptional Oak Casks – The Macallan’s selection of the finest and most expensive maturation casks fundamentally influence the product’s final outstanding quality and distinctive character.
5. Natural Colour – The Macallan insists upon natural colour. It is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich variety of colour, aroma and taste evident throughout the range.
6. Peerless Spirit – The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged, the company said.
