It’s been more than a year since The Macallan announced a partnership with British luxury automaker Bentley for a limited single malt whiskey named “The Horizon.” Created in celebration of The Macallan’s 200th Anniversary, it was touted as the world’s first horizontal single malt whiskey. Well, the incredible decanter we saw back then was just a prototype. After a wait of almost 20 months, the two companies have finally revealed the real deal. Behold The Macallan Horizon, a limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky that is presented in a bespoke horizontal vessel that features a unique 180-degree twist detail. The beautiful bottle was designed and crafted in collaboration with Bentley Motors.
Bringing together the shared common interests in innovation, craftsmanship, and creativity, the vessel pays tribute to The Macallan’s Six Pillars concept by incorporating six materials, including a bespoke glass container wrapped in an aluminum ribbon “precision engineered to Bentley’s exacting standards” and encased in a chestnut-colored, finest low-carbon leather sculpture. Furthermore, a recycled copper frame, oak wood inlay, and Bentley’s Crown Cut Walnut veneer complete the vessel. The sixth and final component is the single malt Scotch whisky inside the vessel, which has been created exclusively for The Macallan Horizon.
Created to capture the essence of Bentley through a “complex and bold taste,” the exclusive spirit has been crafted by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell. To craft the single malt, six first-fill sherry seasoned oak casks from the stocks maturing at The Macallan Estate were selected. Each cask adds its own character to create an “incomparable intensity of flavor, texture and natural color.”
“The Macallan Horizon is the most complex and visionary whisky project that The Macallan has embarked upon, and has required a profound and ongoing exchange of expertise with the team at Bentley Motors,” said Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan. “Our collaboration with Bentley and the knowledge exchange we have undertaken has inspired us to see things very differently. In the spirits world, everything is vertical, such as our stills and our bottles. When we looked at the horizontal plane that Bentley’s grand tourers occupy, it made us consider if and how we could adapt this format for whisky, which ultimately requires to be poured and enjoyed.”
Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, added: “We’ve spent years working with The Macallan through our partnership, taking time to craft this incredible first joint product that represents the best of both brands. Centered on innovative materials that reflect our focus on the future, the end result–both the whisky and the vessel that contains it–are stunning, and represent a new benchmark for design, materials and quality in this space.”
The Macallan Horizon is limited to just 700 bottles globally, each priced at a jaw-dropping $50,000. This makes it more expensive than a Tesla Model 3, but it’s hardly a surprise. The limited edition single malt whiskey is available for sale now at the Macallan Estate Boutique and select retailers.
