Legendary Scots Photographer Albert Watson Captures Stunning JOURNEY to Heart of The Macallan – Scotch Whisky News
Legendary Scots Photographer Albert Watson captures stunning JOURNEY to heart of The Macallan
– The Macallan Masters of Photography Albert Watson Edition –
One of the world’s leading photographers, Edinburgh-born Albert Watson, will today (Wednesday 1 December) unveil his latest works of art, undertaken in partnership with The Macallan single malt whisky.
Following the brand’s debut partnership with Scots-born photographer Rankin, The Macallan Masters of Photography: Albert Watson Edition continues the celebration of two very different but highly revered art processes, photography and whisky-making.
Interpreting the story of The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks, Watson has visually documented his journey which began in the forests of Spain and ended at The Macallan’s spiritual home in Speyside.
From 1 December 2010, the limited collection of 1,000 unique The Macallan Sherry Oak 20 year old bottles will be available for purchase throughout the world, each with a specially commissioned label by Watson and a set of 10 portfolio prints unique to this edition. A further 36 individually customised bottles of The Macallan 1946 whisky, the date Watson first met his wife Elizabeth, with a signed one-off collectible platinum print can also be purchased, once they have completed their world exhibition tour, with a reserve price of £10,000. To mark the launch, Watson’s photographic prints will be unveiled in London, kicking off a global exhibition tour.
This unique collaboration with Albert Watson, winner of the prestigious Royal Photographic Society’s 2010 Centenary Medal, involves a bottle of The Macallan Sherry Oak 20 year old with a hand-signed portfolio and The Macallan’s exceptional 1946 whisky with a one off platinum print. The partnership began when Watson was invited by The Macallan to weave a visual narrative of the long journey made from acorn to glass to eventually produce a rich and complex Single Malt.
Albert Watson commented: “The Macallan came to me with the incredible story of the sherry oak casks from Spain and how they are used to make their Single Malt whisky and asked me to think of how I could interpret this as a photographic art project. The freedom and encouragement given to me during this shoot allowed the creation of a series of images expanding on this journey and finally platinum exhibition prints – the ultimate in fine art – demanding complete artistic integrity.”
To create his black and white photographic series, Watson embarked upon a journey of 12 days covering 600 miles and encountered some of the most breathtaking scenery. From the entrancing forests of Northern Spain, where the mighty Spanish oaks grow, to the traditional cooperage in Jerez, Watson began a journey of discovery, culminating in the alchemy and passion of The Macallan Distillery in Scotland. The photographic odyssey took place in 3 parts, the romantic tale of a couple’s road trip, a series of images expanding on this particular journey and finally the creation of fine art platinum prints.
Hand printed by one of the world’s leading fine art printers, platinum prints when compared to black and white silver prints, exhibit an expanded tonal range, three-dimensionality, and a uniquely luminous quality. They are also among the most permanent objects produced by man. The platinum metals are more stable than gold, and a platinum image, properly preserved, can last thousands of years.
The outcome is a stunning anthology which captures the genuine emotional connection between the photographer and his subjects: the striking landscapes, beautiful settings and the spectacular weather patterns. Watson’s photographic prints exude an air of drama and romance, trailing a stylish couple taking a voyage to unearth the key secret behind The Macallan. These are coupled with intimate shots of the time served master craftsmen of the cooperage and dramatic stills of the surrounding wilderness.
Ken Grier, Director of Malts, The Edrington Group said: “This project shows further development of the highly successful Masters of Photography franchise and brings us together with one of the greatest photographers of our time.
“Albert Watson is an inspiration and a complete joy to work with. His extraordinary eye for creating truly great photography and his unparalleled skills in the art of lighting, combine with a peerless appreciation of what it takes to make the highest quality of fine art prints. We are delighted that he has delivered an outstanding collection of images for The Macallan.”
The exceptional oak casks are at the heart of The Macallan’s fame, providing 60% of the distinctive flavour of The Macallan. They are the leading users of these sherry seasoned oak casks which are the most expensive and highly prized in the Scotch whisky industry. The casks are made from the rich timber grown in the forests of Northern Spain which are then hand-crafted at the cooperage in Jerez, before being seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry and shipped to Scotland to be filled with new make spirit at the Macallan Distillery on Speyside.
The Macallan Masters of Photography Albert Watson Edition can be purchased at luxury spirits retailers or via www.themacallan.com for an RRP of £700. To register interest visit The Macallan website: www.themacallan.com
Notes
Tasting notes – The Macallan Sherry Oak 20 year old
NOSE – Dark chocolate orange, cloves, ginger and dried fruit, accented by polished oak
TASTE – Robust spine of blood orange and exotic spices, with an abundance of sun ripened raisins, dates and sultanas
FINISH – Tantalisingly long, oak, allspice, stem ginger with sustained fruitiness
COLOUR – Lacquered rosewood
The Macallan Sherry Oak 20 year old bottles will be available for purchase in the UK from luxury retailers for the RRP £700.
The Macallan 1946 bottle can also be purchased in the UK at luxury retailers at a starting price of £10,000
The first Macallan Masters of Photography was launched in 2008 with Rankin. Rankin produced 1,000 individual black and white images captured on Polaroid. Each limited edition bottle of rare 30 year old Macallan Fine Oak single malt displayed a bespoke label featuring one of Rankin’s images, accompanied by the original Polaroid. The array of images featured artistic nude studies of Tuuli, Rankin’s muse and wife, contrasted by shots of the dedicated craftspeople of the distillery, and still life images of the surrounding flora and fauna at Easter Elchies Estate.
The Macallan is ranked number two by value* among the world’s top selling single malts and is recognised as being a leader within the Scotch Whisky industry when it comes to innovation.
*IWSR figures ending December 2006
Albert Watson – photographer
Born in Scotland, Albert Watson is one of the world’s most successful photographers of the past four decades. His striking images have appeared on over 240 covers of Vogue and Rolling Stone – some of the most iconic portraits of a generation including Alfred Hitchcock, Mick Jagger and Kate Moss.
As well as directing over 300 TV commercials for global brands including Gap, Chanel and Revlon, Albert is also the creative genius behind some of the most well recognised movie posters of our time, namely Memoirs of a Geisha and Kill Bill.
In recognition of his work Albert was named one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time by industry bible, Photo District News. In 2010 he was awarded the ultimate accolade – the Centenary Medal from the Royal Photographic Society.
Albert Watson is a master of his art who greatly enriches our perception with his unique photographic view. A single minded commitment to perfection has made Albert Watson one of the world’s most sought-after photographers.
The Macallan Masterclass
To celebrate the launch of the Albert Watson edition of The Masters of Photography, The Macallan are proud to present the first Macallan Masterclass.
Inspired by the latest Masters of Photography project, The Macallan will be inviting the public to upload their finest photographs that celebrate the theme of “great journeys”. The top ten photographs as voted for by the public will then be judged by Albert Watson, who will choose a first, second, third and a highly commended entry.
To enter the competition go to www.themastersofphotography.com. Prizes will include an all expenses paid trip of a lifetime to Scotland, a digital camera pack, a tripod and camera case and a 12 month subscription to Digital Camera magazine.
The timeless reputation of The Macallan is founded upon Six Pillars:
The Spiritual Home
Easter Elchies House proudly watches over The Macallan distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Built in 1700, this Jacobean manor house is The Macallan’s spiritual home.
Curiously Small Stills
The Macallan’s curiously small and uniquely shaped copper stills help to concentrate the flavour of the ‘new make’ spirit.
The Finest Cut
The ‘cut’ is the amount of distilled spirit collected from the stills as ‘new make’ spirit. The Macallan takes one of the finest ‘cuts’ of any distillery in Scotland; typically just 16% goes forward to fill or our casks.
Exceptional Oak Casks
The Macallan’s unfaltering obsession with selecting exceptional oak casks brings an unsurpassed, timeless quality to The Macallan.
Natural Colour
The Macallan insists upon Natural Colour. It is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich variety of colour, aroma and taste evident through out the range.
Peerless Spirit
The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged. It is celebrated far and wide by experts and discerning drinkers as the world’s most precious whisky.
