The Macallan & Bentley Design Bottle That Parks Elegantly Like A Posh Car
By Mikelle Leow, 14 Mar 2024
Image via The Macallan / PR Newswire
The Macallan and Bentley Motors are hitting the road (and the bottle) together, and whisky and wheels have never blended so smoothly at once. The pair has crafted The Macallan Horizon, a limited-edition single malt whisky with a uniquely side-lying bottle that mirrors the silhouette of a car.
Riding high on sustainability, this tasteful bottle incorporates six upcycled and ethically sourced materials, including copper from The Macallan’s old distillery equipment, aluminum shavings from Bentley’s car production, reclaimed wood, and low-carbon leather.
This refreshing prototype lacks a traditional cork and sports a 180-degree twist design that allows the bottle to be displayed horizontally on its own without rolling. Its unique shape borrows from the world of automobiles.
Image via Bentley Motors
Bentley’s Crown Cut walnut veneer adds a drop of timeless refinement, while an aluminum ribbon, reminiscent of the strong, lightweight material used in Bentley engineering, gracefully encircles the glass vessel. Carbon-neutral leather in a rich chestnut hue ensures both protection and sophistication.
Image via Bentley Motors
The spirit itself is just as special, echoing the elegance of a Bentley. It was crafted by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell, who, after a visit to Bentley’s headquarters, chose six sherry-seasoned oak casks that encapsulated the heritage of both brands. The resulting blend combines dried fruit and spice notes with the luxurious undertones of oak and leather—elements you’d find in a Bentley.
The Macallan Horizon is the fruit of a meticulous tie-in, with the storied distillery hailing it as its “most ambitious product design yet; something that could be born only as the result of our collaboration with Bentley Motors.”
Image via Bentley Motors
“Our collaboration with Bentley Motors and the knowledge exchange we have undertaken as a result has inspired us to see things very differently,” shares Jaume Ferras, global creative director for The Macallan. “In the spirits world, everything is upright, such as our stills and our bottles. When we looked at the horizontal direction pursued by Bentley Motors as part of the automotive industry, it made us consider if and how we could adapt this format for whisky, which ultimately requires to be poured.”
The opulent, design-driven whisky is poised to steer to shelves this summer.
[via Robb Report and Bevvy, images via various sources]