Honoring Alexander Reid
The Macallan is commencing its 200th-anniversary celebrations with the launch of Tales of The Macallan Volume II, a rare single malt whisky that pays homage to Alexander Reid, the distillery’s founder. Reid, a teacher, farmer, and distiller, began making whisky at The Macallan with unusually small stills, which he continued to use despite the adoption of larger-volume stills by his peers through the 19th century.
Craftsmanship and Presentation
The liquid chosen for the release, distilled in 1949 and bottled in 2022, is presented in a handcrafted crystal decanter from Macallan’s long-time partner, Lalique, which is concealed in an 800-page almanac produced by London-based bookbinders Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe, and Zaehnsdorf. Each chapter in the book tells the story of Reid, with illustrations by British artist Andrew Davidson. An accompanying short animated film has been produced featuring a selection of Davidson’s illustrations and set to an original piece of music by Scottish composer Craig Armstrong.
Tribute to Founder
Euan Kennedy, The Macallan’s lead whisky maker, described Tales of The Macallan Volume II as a tribute to Alexander Reid, emphasizing the whisky’s complexity achieved through age and patient maturation. Kennedy highlighted the beautiful tones of bronzed oak and subtle red hues that reflect the original meaning of Alexander Reid’s surname in Scots – ‘the red one’. The release is a limited edition, with 344 decanters available at selected retailers from 26 January, priced at US$89,000 / 89,000€ / £77,391.
