The Macallan captures time in a bottle with its Time:Space Collection and a new immersive exhibition to mark its 200th anniversary

Of all the concepts explored in science fiction, the ability to travel freely through time is perhaps the most paradoxically compelling. It presents endless possibilities behind an impenetrable veil of metaphysical impossibility, sparking world-changing ideas from a yet-unknown future. 

Single malt Scotch whisky brand The Macallan is no stranger to the call of time travel, for its custodians have long been responsible for upholding the esteemed distillery’s time-honoured traditions and whisky-making techniques. These elements, coupled with the distillery’s tranquil windswept cliffs location in Speyside, Scotland, continue to be hallmarks of a beloved whisky house founded by Alexander Reid in 1824.

Although quantum physics is not involved, the work of The Macallan’s whisky makers is contingent on time as every one of its inimitable pours needs to be rested for literal decades in seasoned oak casks before they can turn from yeast, water and malted barley grown on the 485-acre estate into some of the most highly prized whiskies in the world.

It’s only apt, then, that time is what’s being celebrated with The Macallan’s Time:Space Collection, a commemorative release in honour of the whisky maker’s 200-year milestone bearing two remarkable bottles.

Looking back and ahead 

The first of these is Time:Space, an homage to the past, present and future of The Macallan that sees its oldest-ever whisky to be released at 84 years of age presented in a dual-chambered vessel alongside a far younger, five-year-old single malt — the first to be drawn from its new production facility on the same estate that the brand shifted to in 2018. 

With the younger whisky hidden in a reservoir surrounded by an outer chamber of the 1940 vintage — a blend of a first-fill American Oak Butt and second-fill European Oak Butt sherry-seasoned casks — the subtext is clear: The Macallan welcomes the new, though it will never overshadow the brand’s commitment to heritage and signature, time-tested flavours.

Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, says: “It was an absolute privilege to be able to reach back in time and select stock from the 1940s to honour and celebrate our 200-year anniversary. As a Whisky Mastery Team, our roles are unique in the sense that we get to time travel — selecting whisky from the past crafted by our predecessors, whilst simultaneously laying down casks for future generations of whisky makers and consumers.”

On the nose, the older vintage delivers dark chocolate-coated ginger, sticky dates and leather with hints of aromatic peak and ground coffee. The palate follows with charred pineapple and baked peaches leading into crystallised ginger, hints of aniseed, blackberry jam, and sweet woodsmoke, before giving way to rich resinous notes with a lingering whiff of caramelised sugar. 

Its younger sister pour yields a vibrant nose heady with fresh green apples and ripe pears, before moving over to rich sticky toffee, honey, vanilla custard, and soft woodspice. On the palate, golden sultanas and baked apples evolve in buttery pastry dusted with icing sugar, leading onwards to lemon, lime, and a hint of vanilla shortbread.

Inspired by the casks’ provenance, the two-chambered bottle will be housed in a sculpture erupting with alternating layers of European and American oak. Only 200 examples of the bottle will be made — one for each year of the whisky house’s history.

Capturing 200 years in a bottle

While the first bottle in the commemorative collection celebrates two distinct points in the brand’s history, its sister release — dubbed Time:Space Mastery — honours its entire 200-year history with a blend of 14 separate casks, drawing from various time periods and influences in its extensive inventory.

The result? A complex, multilayered pour bearing aromatic notes of Medjool dates, sweet baked figs, and rich milk chocolate bolstered by hints of honey, dried mango, and ripe papaya. The palate reveals a sweetness underpinned by sherry-soaked dried fruits, orange marmalade, and honeycomb that leads on to soft spiced notes of ginger and cinnamon.

Euan Kennedy, Lead Whisky Maker for Time:Space Mastery, says: “Inspired by past masters, we have explored the full extent of our warehouses to capture the complex influences of cask seasoning, oak origin, cask size, and distillery character in one incredibly special bottle of whisky — with the elegance provided by European oak sitting at its heart.”

The whisky will be presented in an orb-like vessel representing the circle of life and the continuous forward roll of time, and housed in a vibrant red case bearing 200 spikes as a nod to the brand’s bicentennial year. 

Time:Space Collection to be unveiled at a new immersive experience

Both creations in the Time:Space Collection will be previewed at an exhibition celebrating the 200th anniversary of The Macallan. Titled The Heart of The Spirit, the immersive experience centres on The Macallan’s journey — the past, present, and future — over the last two centuries. It will run at Clarke Quay Warehouse B from September 7 to 22. 

Visitors can learn about the storied past of the whisky house through illustrations and poems by renowned visual artist Javi Aznarez and award-winning Scottish poet Jenni Fagan. The journey then shifts to the present through a mesmerising digital experience that melds animation, sound design, and specialist projection techniques, capped off with a tasting of a dram of the coveted Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old.

Lastly, guests can take a peek into the future of The Macallan, which celebrates a respect for nature and creativity. Capturing the rapturous spirit is a bespoke cocktail that marks The Macallan’s milestone year. The cocktail, a concoction of signature sherry-oak whisky and natural ingredients, is only served at The Heart of The Spirit experience.

The Macallan’s Time:Space is available to purchase through invitation from The Macallan, with price available upon application.

The Macallan’s Time:Space Mastery will be available to purchase from The Macallan and The Macallan House Singapore.