The Macallan has partnered with photo-realist artist Michelle Lucking to launch the second edition in its limited annual release Home Collection, River Spey.
The Macallan has unveiled the second release in its Home Collection, River Spey. The new bottling follows the launch of The Distillery, which the Speyside whisky makers debuted in June 2022.
The Macallan Home Collection is a limited annual release series inspired by the natural beauty of the brand’s estate. In collaboration with photo-realist artist Michelle Lucking, the River Spey release comes in a unique pack featuring a watercolor painting that captures iconic waterway in its majestic winter beauty.
Since founder Alexander Reid first established the distillery on The Estate 200 years ago, The Macallan has been a proud custodian of its 1.5-mile stretch of the River Spey, nurturing and protecting its waters and the wildlife around it. This single malt Scotch embodies the nature found at the heart of the distillery, showcasing the natural beauty of the birthplace of the brand.
Lucking used naturally pigmented pastels to create a suite of six original paintings of the River Spey, bringing the water to life with an intensity and exceptional realism which captures the light and movement of the great river. The natural colors of The Macallan single malt whisky and those seen in the River Spey and its surrounding landscape share a common language, a synergy that has been captured by Lucking’s work.
“Water for me is a constant source of inspiration,” said Lucking. “I love exploring it, painting it. When The Macallan asked me to capture the majestic River Spey—and its importance to them, their whisky and The Estate—as part of The Home Collection, it just felt to me like a really brilliant fit.
“The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey is all about a deep connection to nature. I wanted to convey the importance not just of the river itself, but all its elements, the pebbles, the amazing autumnal colors in the surrounding landscape–from the soft yellows and ambers to the burnt umbers and deep treacle tones–hues that I had seen reflected in the natural color of the whiskies.
“Creating something of beauty, it takes patience. I like to recreate all that fine detail with natural pigmented pastels. Layering and layering, creating all the different blends of color, getting finer and finer so you end up with this incredible fine detail and that’s something you can never rush. A lot like creating whiskies here at The Macallan–it takes time.”
A raw umber in color, the whisky offers rich raisin aromas alongside notes of cinnamon, apple, pear, sweet oak, treacle sponge and vanilla. The palate delivers sultana, rich velvety butterscotch, toasted oak, chocolate and nutmeg with a hint of anise. The medium finish is filed with toasted oak spice.
“Crafted from a combination of European oak sherry seasoned casks, American oak sherry seasoned casks and refill casks, The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey embodies the dedication to incomparable craftsmanship and creativity, which The Macallan is renowned for,” commented Steven Bremner, Whisky Maker at The Macallan. “The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey brings together our time-honored traditions and our continual inspiration from the nature that runs through The Macallan Estate and offers our community–at home and around the world–a unique insight into what makes our whiskies so exceptional through different aspects of our home.”
Bottled at 44.8% ABV, The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey is exclusively available on The Macallan e-Boutique for pre-sale in the United States starting February 20, 2024 for an SRP of $275. Members of The Macallan Society will receive priority access to the new release.