The Last Word in Luxury: Legendary Photographer Annie Leibovitz Captures the Macallan Moment through Her Lens 

The Macallan, the luxury single malt whisky, has commissioned the world’s most famous photographer, Annie Leibovitz for the third edition of its award-winning Masters of Photography series.  The Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz Edition sees Leibovitz bring to life the essence of the brand through her unique photographer’s eye, with renowned Scottish actor Kevin McKidd cast in the role of leading man. 

The Macallan Masters of Photography series features exclusive collaborations, conjoining the art of whisky making with the artist’s interpretation of the world of The Macallan.  Previous editions were authored by iconic photographers Rankin and Albert Watson.  

This year, Annie Leibovitz, chosen for her exceptional skill and inimitable style, has interpreted four single cask variants released for the first time, resulting in four powerful images.  Shot against dramatic backdrops in and around New York City, Annie Leibovitz captures the brilliance of a moment where everything comes together, showcasing the stature of whisky as an icon of taste and masculinity and confirming The Macallan as ‘The Last Word’ in luxury. 

“I am the first colour photographer chosen by The Macallan for its Master of Photography series, prior to this I hadn’t realised how complicated and deep the distilling process is. That warmth and richness is what I tried to bring to the photographs. Kevin McKidd drove the imagery. Where Kevin comes from and his rugged good looks are what the photographs are all about. It wasn’t casting, it’s authentic.” Comments Annie Leibovitz 

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz Edition comprises 1,000 limited edition bottles, of which there are four different versions.  Each bottle contains one of four unique single malts, crafted to reflect the mood of the signed Annie Leibovitz print that it is paired with.  The four single cask whiskies have been matured in different cask types to be completely unique and original.  The bottle and print are presented in a bespoke photo-archival box, stamped with The Macallan brand and Annie Leibovitz’s name.  

Charismatic actor Kevin McKidd, acclaimed star of US TV drama Grey’s Anatomy and cult film Trainspotting hails from Elgin, just a few miles away from The Macallan Distillery on Speyside where he even worked as a young man, making him an authentic choice for the role.  He says “This project is very special to me. Having worked at The Macallan distillery in my youth I remain a Macallan drinker to this day so to be asked by The Macallan to be part of this campaign was a huge honour. Annie Leibovitz is a living legend so to be photographed by her is a once in a lifetime experience”.  

A further four individually customised bottles of The Macallan 1949 from its exquisite and highly collectable Fine and Rare Collection and celebrating the year Annie Leibovitz was born will also be released.  Accompanied by a signed one-off gallery-sized print, they will be available with a reserve price of $25,000 following a world exhibition tour which will take place in Hong Kong, Moscow and New York. 

Ken Grier, Director of Malts, The Edrington Group, said: “Working with one of the world’s most influential photographers has exceeded all expectations.  The Masters of Photography series is hugely important to The Macallan brand and Annie Leibovitz has captured The Macallan moment in her own unique way.  The fact that our leading actor, Kevin McKidd, is not only a fervent Macallan drinker but actually worked at the distillery is a wonderful and authentic story.  His evolution from an Elgin boy to internationally famous actor mirrors the success The Macallan has enjoyed from its Speyside roots to global fame, making him perfect for the brand.” 

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz edition is available from selected luxury retailers in the UK from September 2012, priced at approximately £1700. 

http://www.themacallan.com/ http://www.themastersofphotography.com/

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT THE MACALLAN

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.  The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan. 

THE IMAGES  

The Library – This historic location, modelled on Sir Walter Scott’s library in his home in Abbotsford in the Scottish Borders, provided a setting rich in heritage suited to McKidd’s seated, powerful and reflective moment.  The deep red mahogany 1995 whisky with rich notes of raisin and chocolate orange has a long, lingering finish which matches the contemplative mood of the shot. 

The Gallery – In the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh hangs ‘Niagara Falls from the American side’ by renowned artist Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900).  His private gallery in Upstate New York provides an indulgent backdrop to the intense, sensual moment the actor shares with his leading lady. In its accompanying 1989 single malt, burnished oak gives out a rich intensity which, like the image, has a dry finish that teases. 

The Bar – Shot in the Red Spot Bar, nestled in the town of Hudson, the mood is upbeat, lively and relaxed as Kevin McKidd meets up with friends to enjoy a glass of The Macallan together.  Like McKidd, the note of Vibrant Oak in the 1991 bottle, makes a statement but is refined enough not to dominate.  

The Skyline – The actor is literally on top of the world, as he stands heroically on the iconic Tudor City building against the breath-taking Manhattan skyline at day break.  The dawn light in the shot is complemented by the lemon and citrus fruit nose of the light gold-coloured 1996 whisky. 

THE MACALLAN MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNIE LEIBOVITZ EDITION TASTING NOTES 

‘THE BAR’

Cask No 7023              Sherry Oak Puncheon

Year                            1991

Bottles                         285 to accompany The Bar print

Colour                                     Dark Rosewood

Strength                      50.8%

Tint                              EBC 53

Nose                            Intense, dried fruits, ginger, nutmeg and clove. Ripe apples give way to rich sweet notes. Vibrant oak makes a statement, but is refined enough not to dominate

Palate                          Ginger and cinnamon spice with rich dried fruits. Mature oak is in balance, with citrus fruits – a story to tell on its own

Finish                          Medium to long finish, smooth  

‘THE GALLERY’

Cask No 12251            Sherry Butt (1989)

Year                            1989

Bottles                         285 to accompany The Gallery print

Colour                         Dark copper

Strength                      56.6%

Tint                              EBC 46 

Nose                            Perfumed, chocolate orange and date. Burnished oak giving out a rich intensity

Palate                          Sweet, fruity, raisin, wood and spices. Then the oak, which shows its hand in a subtle roasted manner

Finish                          Rich finish could stay slightly dry, but teases 

‘THE LIBRARY ‘           (For Global Travel Retail, Distillery and private sale only)

Cask No 14007          Sherry Oak Hoghead

Year                            1995

Bottles                         145 to accompany The Library print

Colour                         Red Mahogany

Strength                      59.6%

Tint                              EBC 58

Nose                         Rich raisin sultana and chocolate orange arrive almost together, followed closely by toasted apple, ginger and clean oak

Palate                          Toasted apple, ginger and oak note their intent, but are not to be outdone as orange and dried fruits step out

Finish                          Long lingering, full 

‘THE SKYLINE’

Cask No 10019          American Oak Butt

Year                            1996    

Bottles                        285 to accompany The Skyline print

The Colour                  Light Gold

Strength                      55.5%

Tint                              EBC 58

Nose                            Lemon, citrus fruits, vanilla, cream soda. Freshly cut wood in background. Sweet dessert notes balance out

Palate                         Viscous; initially oak flits in then departs to allow cinnamon, citrus, toffee apples to show their hand, only to reappear later

Finish                         Medium finish but full bodied 

THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Annie Leibovitz Edition is the third in the award winning The Macallan Masters of Photography series. The previous two editions were authored by Rankin and Albert Watson. These unique limited edition collections perfectly conjoin the art of whisky making with the artists interpretation of the world of The Macallan as seen through their photographers eye. 

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ:

Annie Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her father was an officer in the Air Force and her childhood was spent on a succession of military bases. She began her career as a photojournalist for Rolling Stone in 1970, while she was still a student at the San Francisco Art Institute. Her pictures have appeared regularly on magazine covers ever since, and her large and distinguished body of work encompasses some of the most well-known portraits of our time. 

Leibovitz’s first major assignment was for a cover story on John Lennon. She became Rolling Stone’s chief photographer in 1973, and by the time she left the magazine, ten years later, she had shot one hundred and forty-two covers and published photo essays on scores of stories, including her memorable accounts of the resignation of Richard Nixon and of the 1975 Rolling Stones tour. 

In 1983, when she joined the staff of the revived Vanity Fair, she was established as the foremost rock music photographer and an astute documentarian of the social landscape. At Vanity Fair, and later at Vogue, she developed a large body of work—portraits of actors, directors, writers, musicians, athletes, and political and business figures, as well as fashion photographs—that expanded her collective portrait of contemporary life. In addition to her editorial work, she has created several influential advertising campaigns, including her award-winning portraits for American Express and the Gap. She has also collaborated with many arts organizations. Leibovitz has a special interest in dance, and in 1990 she documented the creation of the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris. 

Leibovitz is the recipient of many honours. In 2006 she was decorated a Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. The previous year, in a compilation of the forty top magazine covers of the past forty years by the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME), she held the top two spots (#1 for the photograph of John Lennon and Yoko Ono taken for Rolling Stone the day Lennon was shot, and #2 for the pregnant Demi Moore in Vanity Fair). In 2009, she received the International Center of Photography’s Lifetime Achievement Award, ASME’s first Creative Excellence Award, and the Centenary Medal of the Royal Photographic Society in London. Leibovitz has been designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. She lives in New York with her three children, Sarah, Susan and Samuelle. 

Exhibitions of Leibovitz’s work have appeared at museums and galleries all over the world, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.; the International Center of Photography in New York; the Brooklyn Museum; the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris; and the National Portrait Gallery in London. 

Several collections of Leibovitz’s work have been published. They include Annie Leibovitz: Photographs (1983); Annie Leibovitz: Photographs 1970–1990 (1991); Olympic Portraits (1996); Women (1999), in collaboration with Susan Sontag; American Music (2003); A Photographer’s Life, 1990-2005 (2006). 

KEVIN MCKIDD

An established star of film, television and theatre, Scottish actor Kevin McKidd made his feature film debut in 1996, starring in Gillies MacKinnon’s “Small Faces,” quickly followed by a starring role alongside Ewan McGregor in the film “Trainspotting” the same year.  Film critic Robert Abele characterized McKidd so appropriately in the Los Angeles Times in May 2008 by stating, “For many actors, the thrill of the calling lies in the ornamental and internal details that transform who they are into what they’re not.  A good-natured actor, McKidd has made a name for himself playing such varied roles as a doomed drug addict in “Trainspotting,” a brooding Caesar-era soldier in HBO’s “Rome,” a veteran with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in “Grey’s Anatomy” and a time-travelling journalist in 2007’s NBC drama “Journeyman.” 

Presently, McKidd is gracing the small screen in his fourth season on the hit ABC show, “Grey’s Anatomy” where his character, ‘Dr. Owen Hunt’, made an immediate impact on the show’s loyal fanbase.  ‘Hunt’ is an Iraq war veteran medic who comes to Seattle Grace Hospital and while being questioned for his unconventional approach to standard medical procedures, he catches the eye of Sandra Oh’s character ‘Dr. Cristina Yang’.  

McKidd will next be heard as the massive ‘Lord MacGuffin’ in Disney Pixar’s highly anticipated animated feature, “Brave.” “Brave” follows a young Scottish princess ‘Merida’ (Kelly Macdonald) as she defies convention and purses her dream of becoming an archer. “Brave” will be released on June 22nd, 2012 and is directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman. 

Also in 2012, McKidd will star as the psychotic armed robber, ‘Cameron,’ in director Simon Aboud’s romantic thriller “Comes a Bright Day.” Imogen Poots, Craig Roberts and Timothy Spall co-star.

Demonstrating how easily he can transition from television to film, as well as cross from one genre to the next, McKidd also co-starred in the 2008 romantic comedy, “Made of Honor” in which he captured the heart of Michelle Monaghan’s character as she embarked on a trip to Scotland and was swept away by his charm.  The film was a box-office success and further solidified McKidd’s female fan base. 

In 2010, McKidd was seen alongside Rosario Dawson, Uma Thurman and Pierce Brosnan in Chris Columbus’ film “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” based of the book by Rick Riordan. Released on February 12th, 2010, McKidd played ‘Poseidon’ in the tale of a young boy who discovers he’s the descendant of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods.  

McKidd also recently starred alongside Josh Harnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson and Ron Perlman in “Bunraku.”  In this action packed drama, McKidd played an outrageous and virulent criminal who terrorizes the town.  “Bunraku” was written and directed by Guy Moshe and was released on September 30th, 2011. 

Taking on a different facet of the entertainment industry, McKidd voiced the lead role of ‘Captain Soap MacTavish’ in one of the highest selling videogames of all time, Activision’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.” Breaking the first- and five-day sales records since its release on November 10th, 2009 and moving more than $3 billion worth of units in its first month of release, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” lets gamers play as ‘MacTavish’ and take down a brutal Russian leader and restore peace. McKidd will reprise the role of ‘MacTavish’ in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” which will be released on November 8th, 2011. 

In 2007, McKidd made his debut on American network television as the star of NBC’s drama “Journeyman” where he portrayed ‘Dan Vasser,’ a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people’s lives.  While unfortunately the show was short-lived, it resonated with television critics across the country and helped to establish McKidd as a household name.  Critic Henry Goldblatt from Entertainment Weekly claimed that “McKidd shines…” and “As for the rugged and charismatic McKidd, he is destined to be a big-time TV star….”

Prior to “Journeyman,” McKidd starred as ‘Lucius Vorenus’ in HBO’s Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated historical drama series “Rome.”  McKidd was extraordinary in the way he embodied his character and seemed to channel ‘Lucius’ in every scene with Robert Lloyd at the Los Angeles Times describing McKidd’s performance as “delicious.” 

McKidd’s film credits include “Hannibal Rising”; Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven,” the musical by Irwin Winkler called “De-Lovely” with Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd; “Sixteen Years of Alcohol,” for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards.  Derk Elley’s review of the film in Variety declared, “McKidd’s hard-but-sensitive performance motors the movie, sliding seamlessly from physical menace through violent explosions to humorous charm in a career-making performance”; “Nicholas Nickleby”; “Hideous Kinky” with Kate Winslet; and “Max” with John Cusack. 

His television credits include “The Virgin Queen,” “Gunpowder, Treason and Plot,” “North Square,” “The Key,” “Anna Karenina,” “Richard II” and “Looking After Jo Jo.”

McKidd’s theatre credits include “Richard III,” “Britannicus,” for which he won an Ian Charleston Award and “Far Away.” 

Born and raised in Scotland, McKidd was a member of the Moray Youth Theatre.  He became involved in the Bedlam Theatre Company while he was a student at the University of Edinburgh, and it was at here that McKidd decided to pursue acting full-time, landing his first leading role in the Wild Cat Theatre Company produced stage play “The Silver Darlings,” for which he won the Gulliver Award.

McKidd currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.