Master of Photograph Series
Chapter one
Spiritual Home
The art of making the world’s finest whisky and the art of capturing moments in time through the eye of a lens are moulded together to become one art form.
This first edition of The Masters of Photography series marked the first time 1,000 totally individual and original objets d’art had been introduced by one brand.
Marking the start of what was to become this continuing series, The Macallan partnered with Rankin, the pre-eminent Scottish-born photographer. Famed for his creative portraiture and his talent for capturing the character and spirit of his subjects, Rankin stands as a formidable force in photography.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 1.000 |
| Cask type | Triple cask maturation: European Seasons oak Cask, European Sherry Oak Cask, American Seasoned Oak Cask, |
| Bottled | 2009 |
| Size | 70cl |
| ABV / Strength | 43% |
| Age | 30 years old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Chapter two
The Wood Journey
FOR THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES, ALBERT WATSON VISUALLY DOCUMENTED THE MACALLAN’S EXCEPTIONAL OAK CASKS AND THEIR ROMANTIC JOURNEY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The voyage begins in the bewitching forests of Spain and travels all the way to The Macallan’s spiritual home in Scotland. The outcome of Watson’s work was a stunning anthology which captures the genuine emotional connection between the photographer and his subjects and exudes an air of drama and romance: the striking landscapes, beautiful settings, and the spectacular weather patterns.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 1.000 |
| Cask type | Oloroso Sherry Oak Cask |
| Bottled | 2010 |
| Size | 70cl |
| ABV / Strength | 43 – 46.5% |
| Age | 20 years old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Chapter three
The Feeling
IN LATE 2011, THE MACALLAN EMBARKED ON THE THIRD EDITION IN THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES.
The team involved had one aim: to convey the emotional power of the brand. The challenge was to find a photographer who could capture this together with a character who possessed the authenticity and charisma to deliver it.
There could only be one photographer, Annie Leibovitz, unquestionably the most famous luxury and celebrity photographer in the world.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 285 |
| Cask type | American Oak Butts |
| Bottled | 2012 |
| Size | 70cl |
| ABV / Strength | 55.5% |
| Age | NAS |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Chapter four
The People
THE ‘DECISIVE MOMENT’ IS THE CREATIVE INSTANT WHEN A SUBJECT APPEARS BEFORE THE CAMERA IN A SURPRISING AND ILLUMINATING WAY.
In 2013, Elliott Erwitt, legendary photographer known for his mastery of this practice, turned his eye to Scotland.
For the fourth chapter of The Masters of Photography, The Macallan commissioned Elliott Erwitt to capture the spirit of its heartland. In his ‘Great Scottish Adventure’, Erwitt interprets and showcases the unique richness and depth of Scottish character through his shrewd observational skill and subtle humorous style.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 2030 |
| Country | 58 unique single cask |
| Region | 2013 |
| Size | 35cl |
| ABV / Strength | 57.3% |
| Age | NAS |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Chapter five
The Six Pillars
In 2014, he directed his lens towards The Macallan in the fifth chapter of The Masters of Photography.
As one of the world’s most prolific portrait and fashion photographers, Testino brought the foundation stones of The Macallan to life; personified and characterised in Testino’s inimitable and luxurious style.
The setting for the shoot was The China Club in Beijing, in a former palace near the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 1.000 |
| Country | 6 Exceptional Oak Cask |
| Region | 2014 |
| Size | 100cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46.6% |
| Age | NAS |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Chapter six
Time
The sixth edition of The Masters of Photography story presents a distinctive and arresting place that brings together people and objects and transforms them into something incredible.
This is the world created by master of art and visionary photographer, Steven Klein. As one of the most challenging and provocative artists in photography and film, Klein’s riveting body of work consumes viewers and entices them into his extreme vision.
In an exploration of The Macallan’s most important ingredient, time, Klein alters the rhythm of the series and puts a unique spin on this continuing collaboration by taking it beyond the click of the shutter into the moving image.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 1.000 |
| Country | Ex-Rioja Wine Cask |
| Region | 2017 |
| Size | 70cl |
| ABV / Strength | 53.5% |
| Age | NAS |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Chapter seven
The distillery
Marking the seventh limited edition release, The Macallan Masters of Photography: Magnum Edition celebrates the opening of the new Macallan distillery and visitor experience.
This awe-inspiring collection of images, taken by six world renowned Magnum photographers – Steve McCurry, Martin Parr, Paolo Pellegrin, Mark Power, Gueorgui Pinkhassov and Alec Soth – captures different aspects of the iconic distillery from genesis to completion. From the landscape and the materials from which the distillery is born, to the character of the workers and protagonists who have brought it to fruition, artistic portraiture of people and casks complement more abstract representations of the building and its unique structure.
This magnificent and world class collectible set of images comes together as a limited edition objet d’art, presented in a stunning archive style gift box. It comprises a special limited release whisky; a selection of six signed prints, one from each photographer, and an exclusive book of photography.
| Brand | The Macallan |
| No. of bottles | 2.000 |
| Cask type | 8 different cask types: 1st Fill American Oak, Ex-European Wine cask, Refill Speyside Whisky Cask from Macallan |
| Bottled | 2018 |
| Size | 70cl |
| ABV / Strength | 43.7 – 44% |
| Age | NAS |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
