Trace The Macallan’s 200-year-old history at the Heart of the Spirit experience in Singapore
Travel through the past, present and future of the storied single malt Scotch whisky in an immersive exhibition.
In partnership with The Macallan
The Macallan celebrates an extraordinary legacy of craftsmanship and rides into an exciting future through an interactive exhibition from now till Sep 22 at Clarke Quay. (The Macallan)
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In 1824, barley farmer Alexander Reid founded The Macallan Distillery when he distilled his first batch of whisky in some of the smallest copper stills found in Scotland’s Speyside region. The ‘new make’ spirit was then matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks to create remarkably rich, fruity and full-bodied single malt whiskies that would come to be globally recognised and appreciated by connoisseurs.
Two centuries on, The Macallan celebrates an extraordinary legacy of craftsmanship and rides into an exciting future through an interactive exhibition from now till Sep 22 at Clarke Quay.
The Macallan’s creative director Jaume Ferras said: “We’re delighted to launch The Heart of The Spirit and invite our audience on a captivating voyage through time through the breathtaking immersive experience. From the brand’s humble beginnings 200 years ago to its global prominence today, the experience allows you immersive yourself into the rich the heritage, ethos, and characters that define the spirit of The Macallan, and pay testament to the mastery and craftsmanship at the heart of the brand.”
The experience is divided into three parts chronicling the past, present and future of The Macallan.
Spanish visual artist Javi Aznarez and award-winning Scottish poet Jenni Fagan dove into The Macallan’s archives to bring a treasure trove of stories and memories to life through art and poetry.
Tactile exploration and interactive activities guide visitors through The Past section, which pays tribute to the innovative and dedicated pioneers who have made the whisky house what it is today.
An immersive digital experience follows in The Present section, where animated Aznarez’s illustrations, lyrical narrations by Fagan as well as sound and light projections take visitors on The Macallan’s expansion journey around the world. Here, you can soak in the whisky’s history as you sip a dram of The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old.
The finale unfurls in The Future world where you get a glimpse of how the brand’s respect for nature is blended with creativity as you savour a bespoke cocktail specially crafted in honour of The Macallan’s 200-year legacy.
It was a sentiment shared by Aznarez, who remarked: “Working with The Macallan and Jenni on such a visually rich project has been incredibly stimulating. The challenge of illustrating and animating 200 years of whisky history was a real one, especially as the immersive nature of the experience required many different elements to work together like clockwork.” Later in the year, a limited-edition book comprising 200 poems as well as beautiful illustrations and footnotes by Aznarez and Faven will be launched with only 1,000 units made available worldwide.
A milestone of this magnitude also calls for extraordinary releases. Alongside the experience, The Macallan is launching the TIME:SPACE Collection, a limited edition of 200 dual-chamber vessels holding two unique whiskies harkening to the brand’s past and heralding its future.
In the central chamber is a 2018 vintage, the first whisky from The Macallan’s new distillery. This 5 Year Old has vibrant notes of fresh green apple and ripe pears giving way to golden sultanas and baked apples on the palate before a creamy medium finish with hints of sweet oak. Bottled at 54.9% ABV it is displayed in an oak sculpture designed to accentuate the whisky’s natural colour.
What is truly beguiling is the TIME:SPACE Mastery, a one-of-a-kind release that blends 14 exceptional cask types to create layers of complexity and an incredible depth of aroma, texture and flavour. A sumptuous nose of dates, baked figs and rich milk chocolate is accompanied by hints of honey, tropical dried mango and ripe papaya. The palate is redolent of sherry-soaked dried fruits, orange marmalade and ginger honeycomb with spices before finishing as bursts of caramelised pineapple and creamy vanilla laced with subtle dark chocolate and coffee. This whisky is housed in a circular vessel representing the circle of life with a presentation case in vibrant red colour and 200 spikes that is symbolic of how nature protects the most fragile and precious.
Ferras said: “The introduction of TIME:SPACE Collection is an incredible way to pay respect to our 200th anniversary by celebrating the significance of those who have come before us, yet it is also a symbol of anticipation of what is to come, as we build upon our heritage and look to times ahead.”
The Macallan Heart of The Spirit Experience Singapore
Date: Now till Sep 22, 2024
Tickets: S$48 (comes with a dram and a cocktail)
Venue: The Warehouses, CQ @ Clarke Quay, Block B, #B1-01
For more information, visit The Macallan website
Purchase of The Macallan’s TIME:SPACE is via invitation from The Macallan, with price available upon application. The Macallan’s TIME:SPACE Mastery can be purchased from The Macallan and The Macallan House Singapore.
