The Macallan has unveiled the Colour Collection exclusively in global travel retail. The new range explores the brand’s commitment to natural color and sherry seasoning, and was designed in collaboration with artist and graphic designer David Carson.
Made up of five expressions, aged from 12 Years Old to 30 Years Old, the Macallan Colour Collection explores the rich spectrum of natural colors, flavors, and aromas imbued by the sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain the distillery uses to age its whisky.
Designed in collaboration with artist and graphic designer David Carson, each intricate layer of Carson’s designs interprets the complex story of each expression. Evocative of the colors, shapes and textures of the Jerez de la Frontera region and those of The Macallan Distillery in Speyside, this Collection looks to capture the rich tasting notes and the spectrum of natural colors that develop.
Each expression in the Collection deepens in color. From the golden oak of the 12 Years Old to the burnished chestnut of the 30 Years Old, each draws its natural color, rich aromas and depth of flavors through years of interaction with the sherry seasoned oak casks.
The Macallan Colour Collection draws inspiration from the Jerez de la Frontera region of Spain. Bordered by the expansive Atlantic Ocean, it is a land of hot summers, historic vineyards and fine wines. There, the oak casks are seasoned with fine sherry wine and it is these sherry seasoned oak casks which are the single greatest contributor to the flavors and distinctive aromas at the heart of the single malt whiskies.
With the design of the Colour Collection, David Carson embodied the tasting notes of each expression and captured the pale landscapes and warm, natural hues of Jerez de la Frontera.
The presentation boxes for the 12, 15, and 18 Years Old expressions are crafted using eco-friendly materials and are entirely recyclable. For the 21 and 30 Years Old expressions, meticulously carved wooden boxes made from oak harvested from sustainable forests are used.
“I see Jerez as one huge, white canvas, its mysteries waiting to be discovered. Working with The Macallan is like having a conversation with an old friend – one who happens to be an excellent craftsman. They’ve spent two hundred years refining their processes to create the best whisky possible, and the knowledge they have is really incredible.” – David Carson, Artist and Graphic Designer
The distillery, nestled within the rolling hills of Speyside, serves as an added inspiration for the Colour Collection’s reimagined visual identity. The silhouette of the Distillery, with its five hills mirroring the curves of the River Spey, has shaped the visual elements found throughout the branding.
From the wave patterns adorning the packaging to the distinctive arc of “The Macallan Scotland” icon, the visual identity harmoniously blends the natural surroundings with state-of-the-art technology, honoring the brand’s rich heritage while embracing modernity.
The Macallan Colour Collection will be available in The Macallan Global Boutiques, in key airports and selected duty free locations around the world beginning September 2023.
Earlier this month, Macallan unveiled Litha, a single malt Scotch whisky exclusively matured in first fill sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.