Bentley, The Macallan release vessel design for limited-edition single malt whisky

Bentley Motors and The Macallan have released the design for its the first limited-edition single malt whisky created under the two collaborating brands.

The Crewe-based automaker said that the liquor — named “The Macallan Horizon” — reflects traditional craftsmanship, recycled materials, and an exclusive horizontal design.

“Created following extensive joint development between Bentley Motors and The Macallan, the prototype encapsulates a joint ambition of building a sustainable future from the rich heritage of both brands,” Bentley shared in a statement.

The Macallan Horizon has six upcycled, repurposed or ethically-sourced materials to pay homage to The Macallan’s acclaimed Six Pillars that serves as the brand’s foundation stones that account for its distinctive single malt whiskies.

The prototype vessel sits horizontally in a purpose-built cradle and has no standing base, reflecting a car’s horizontal trajectory.

At the center of The Macallan Horizon’s design is a hand-made glass bottle with a 180-degree twist and surrounded by a similarly-twisted 3D structure. The arms of the structure are made up of recycled copper from the disused, curiously small spirit stills located within The Macallan’s former distillery; aluminum recovered from the production of the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga at Bentley’s home in Crewe, England; recycled wood sourced from both brands, and the world’s lowest CO2 leather (locally sourced in Scotland, and used in Bentley Mulliner Batur grand tourer that was unveiled recently).

“Our prototype for The Macallan Horizon is truly pioneering in both its design and use of materials. It’s a fusion of the sharply defined yet curvaceous Bentley design DNA, The Macallan’s innovation and recycled materials from both iconic British brands. The form of the design has allowed us to treat light as a material in itself, and the interplay between light and repurposed wood, aluminum and copper is extraordinary. In being both an object of beauty in itself and having such strong sustainability elements, it’s a representation of what’s coming next from our partnership,” Bentley Product and Lifestyle Design Manager Chris Cooke said.

The Macallan Global Creative Director Jaume Ferras, for his part, described the Horizon as one of the most ground-breaking projects in the brand’s 200-year history.

“Working with Bentley Motors has inspired us to see things differently. In the whisky world, everything is upright, such as our stills and our bottles. When we looked at the horizontal direction pursued by Bentley Motors as part of the automotive industry, it made us consider if and how we could adapt this format for whisky, which ultimately requires to be poured,” Ferras said.

“I am incredibly proud of the revolutionary design we have created for The Macallan Horizon and the unique sustainable materials we are incorporating as part of our commitment to a better world. It simply would not be possible without the incomparable craftsmanship and creativity for which The Macallan and Bentley Motors are renowned, and is the embodiment of the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since 1824,” The Macallan executive shared.

The Macallan Horizon will be unveiled in launch around June to September next year.

The two brands started their global partnership in July last year and both pledged to share learnings from their respective industries while continuing to pursue the uncompromised excellence for which they are known for. “The Macallan Horizon celebrates their union and their pursuit of a better future,” Bentley concluded.

Photos from Bentley

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