It wasn’t until last year that the whiskey world looked on as The Macallan lifted the curtain on the themed Anecdotes of Ages Collection, a pointed and captivating fusion of art and whiskey crafted in collaboration with legendary British pop artist Sir Peter Blake. As this is the artist’s third time working with The Macallan in as many decades, the collection has been formed as a celebration of both the legacy of this historic Craigellachie distillery and Sir Peter Blake, who has been deeply revered since he devised the design. cover of The Beatles’ 1967 album Sergeant Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band in his signature collage style.
The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection, comprising 13 unique bottles and a superb 1967 single malt whiskey aged for over 50 years, was an instant and undeniable hit with consumers and collectors alike upon release. And while that wasn’t a surprise, given that bottles from The Macallan are known to break records when it comes to whiskey auctions, it was still interesting to see one of the 13 original bottles, the “Anecdotes of Ages Collection: A New Era.” of Advertising,” fetched a final price of $437,500 when it sold at Sotheby’s New York in March 2021.
With proceeds to support the Guggenheim Museum’s diversity, equality, access and inclusion initiatives, the sale deepened The Macallan’s ties to the art world, a bond already cemented with each bottle featuring a different collage of Sir Peter Blake.
“Each collage in the Anecdotes of Ages collection is inspired by the history and heritage of The Macallan, one that respects time and craft, two essential components of my own creative process,” said Sir Peter Blake.
“I have worked meticulously on each collage, drawing on the rich history of The Macallan Estate to complete a collection that is a celebration of art and whiskey.”
As you would expect from a whiskey dating back more than 50 years, the exceptional single malt in these bottles was chosen for its classic and distinctively colorful character, built with notes of oak and figs creeping onto the palate before bursting with sweetness. , chewy flavors of hazelnut, strawberry, chocolate and slightly spiced peach. Rounding it all off with an equally colorful collage from such a renowned artist, this collection just goes to be one of The Macallan’s most playful in years. And this comes from a label that recently completed the ultimate fusion of chocolate and whiskey†
The 13 original bottles in The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection are, of course, treated as a special occasion befitting their rarity. The hand-blown bottles come with an oak stopper and a label signed by Sir Peter Blake himself, presented in a handmade European oak box covered with miniature photographs tracing the artist’s long and storied journey with The Macallan. Also included with each original bottle is a leather-bound book, containing all 13 label artworks and the stories that go with these collages, along with a certificate of authenticity.
And while not everyone will be able to get their hands on one of these coveted bottles, The Macallan has brought a sense of accessibility to the collection. While the Macallan Archive will keep the 13th original bottle, the label has released just 322 bottles of the same rare 1967 whiskey, distributed around the world as The Anecdotes of Ages Collection: Down to Work Limited Edition.
Yes, still rare. But those 322 bottles are much more accessible to the average whiskey lover than the 13 original bottles. And to sweeten the release, The Macallan Australians have now brought out another special single malt to commemorate Sir Peter Blake’s visit to The Macallan Estate on the legendary River Spey.
Titled The Macallan “Sir Peter Blake: An Estate, A Community and A Distillery”, this newly released single malt whiskey pays tribute to the memorable collaboration and is showcased in a custom box inspired by the art of Sir Peter Blake, alongside a certificate detailing the history and heritage on which the art was based, and Sir Peter Blake’s artwork printed on a scroll.
Described as cinnamon in color with a nose of rich dried fruit and hints of orange and cloves, An Estate, A Community and A Distillery is a suitably opulent way to celebrate the intersection of art and whiskey. The palate, full of dried fruit, crackled black pepper and notes of vanilla and orange oil, ends with a long, lingering burst of oak with cinnamon and cocoa.
The Australian release of An Estate, A Community and A Distillery is commemorated with a digital exhibitionwelcoming the public to Sir Peter Blake’s studio for those wanting to delve deeper into this release.
Sir Peter Blake: An Estate, A Community and A Distillery is now available at select independent retailers and locations across Australia for a suggested retail price of $1,600.
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