The Macallan and Bentley Motors have unveiled the prototype for The Macallan Horizon, the first collaborative single malt Scotch whisky being developed by the brands.
The prototype of The Macallan Horizon, which will be available as a whisky product from summer 2023, fuses both traditional craftsmanship and innovative materials, with cutting edge technology to create an exclusive horizontal design. It was visualized following extensive collaboration between The Macallan and Bentley Motors.
In homage to The Macallan’s Six Pillars – the foundation stones of the brand that account for its distinctive single malt whiskies – The Macallan Horizon concept incorporates six unique upcycled, repurposed, or ethically sourced materials which are integral to The Macallan and Bentley Motors.
Among them are recycled copper from the disused curiously small spirit stills which were located within The Macallan’s former Distillery; aluminum recovered from the Bentley Motors manufacturing process; recycled wood; recyclable glass and carbon neutral leather, locally sourced and also used in the recently unveiled Bentley Mulliner grand tourer.
The final component is the very special single malt whisky being created for The Macallan Horizon. The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell developed the flavor profile for the whisky following a visit to Bentley Motors in Crewe, where she observed first hand their shared passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Together, the six key materials, the majority of which have been sourced and produced locally in the UK, form a unique concept that defies the traditional vertical aesthetic of a whisky bottle and reflects the horizontal trajectory of the automotive world, pushing the boundaries and the art of the possible.
The design also features a glass bottle with an extraordinary 180-degree twist, representing the mastery of space and time achieved by The Macallan and Bentley Motors in creating the prototype, which has no standing base.
“Taking inspiration from the automotive industry, we are showcasing our creative vision and concept development of The Macallan Horizon, which is among the most unique projects we have embarked on in our almost 200-year history,” says Jaume Ferras, Global Creative Director for The Macallan. “Our collaboration with Bentley Motors and the knowledge exchange we have undertaken as a result has inspired us to see things very differently. 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.
“I am incredibly proud of the beautiful design we have created together for The Macallan Horizon and the unique materials we are incorporating. It simply would not be possible without the incomparable craftsmanship and creativity for which The Macallan and Bentley Motors are renowned and is the embodiment of the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since 1824.”
Bentley’s Product and Lifestyle Design Manager, Chris Cooke, comments: “Our prototype for The Macallan Horizon is truly pioneering in both its design and use of materials. It’s a fusion of the sharply defined yet curvaceous Bentley design DNA, The Macallan’s innovation and recycled materials from both iconic British brands. The form of the design has allowed us to almost treat light as another material in itself, and the interplay between light and the wood, aluminium and copper materials is extraordinary. In being both an object of beauty in itself and demonstrating such innovation, it’s a representation of what’s coming next from our partnership.”
In February, the two brands curated a once-in-a-lifetime road trip experience offering the chance to drive a Bentley through stunning British landscapes, including the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Cairngorms. The scenic route begins at the home of Bentley Motors in Crewe, Cheshire, and finishes at The Macallan Estate in Scotland’s protected Speyside region.
