INTRODUCING THE MACALLAN CONCEPT NO. 3 –

CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH DESIGN ICON DAVID CARSON

The Macallan has unveiled Concept No. 3, a collaboration with visionary graphic designer David Carson that brings together the worlds of whisky and the visual arts.

Concept No. 3 is the latest release in The Macallan Concept Series, a limited collection of annual release whiskies which fuse the artistry and expertise behind The Macallan’s whisky-making with creativity and culture.

For the third and final expression in the series, The Macallan turned to acclaimed US graphic designer David Carson. Born in Texas, 1954, David, who is also a professional surfer, began his creative career as a magazine designer. In the 1990s he became art director of the magazine Ray Gun, where his experimental page layouts featuring pioneering use of typography revolutionised the field of graphic design.

His work has been displayed in dedicated shows across the world and he is a recipient of the AIGA, which is renowned as the design profession’s highest accolade. Since establishing his own studio, he has created campaigns for some of the world’s leading consumer brands including Nike, Levi, Pepsi and Ray Ban and he was among only two graphic designers selected by Apple as part of its iconic ‘30 most innovative users’ list.

Concept No. 3 is the latest project in a wider collaboration between The Macallan and David Carson, who produced a festive campaign for the brand last year.

To bring his unique perspective to the design of Concept No. 3, David visited The Macallan’s 485-acre Estate in Scotland’s Speyside where he spent time with The Macallan Whisky Maker Polly Logan.

They discovered that a remarkable number of similarities define their approach to their respective crafts. Both are driven to revisit and evolve their work, creating greater depth by ensuring every element in their creations has a distinct purpose.

As a result, his unique, handmade collage designs for Concept No. 3 feature some very special touches to celebrate their shared outlook and methodology – including the incorporation of the letter P for Polly. Many of the colours used are also those found at The Macallan Estate on Scotland’s Speyside, with blue representing the River Spey and red reflecting The Macallan’s sherry-seasoned oak casks.

Polly, in turn, has drawn influence from David’s character and career when crafting Concept No. 3, to create an unusually fresh whisky, with a distinctive warm, golden hue that pays tribute to the graphic designer’s years on the USA’s West Coast.

The ABV was developed specifically to be 40.8%, after the pair realised that eight is their favourite number.

David Carson said: “In some of The Macallan work, I very noticeably got into what I call ‘my zone’, where I was just clicking. It was all coming together so I’m not aware of time, or even where I am.

“The Macallan people I’ve dealt with have been so open to exploring new ideas and to different types of creativity. Their obvious love for nature and where they work, the hand-doneness and the wooden casks – you have so much of that with The Macallan collaboration and I am very proud of it.”

The Macallan Whisky Maker Polly Logan said: “It’s been an absolute joy to work with David Carson on the creation of Concept No. 3. I was deeply inspired by his vibrancy, and drew on this to create a bright, fresh whisky. Its pale yellow colour, which we’ve named Californian Gold, reflects David’s sun-soaked days as a surfer and it also reveals the citrus notes which shine through.

“Whisky and art fans alike will appreciate the fine balance achieved in this wonderfully uplifting expression, combining fruity notes of pear with warming cinnamon spice and a creamy, vanilla sweetness.”

Concept No. 3 has been carefully crafted to deliver complexity from predominantly first fill sherry seasoned American oak casks that deliver a sweetness and spice, enhanced by a selection of European oak casks to add depth and richness. Balance and freshness are achieved by specially selected refill and virgin oak casks.

Encased in a striking presentation box featuring David Carson’s designs for Concept No. 3, each bottle also features labelling designed by David along with a vibrant chevron symbol bearing his signature.

The Macallan’s collaboration with David Carson marks the end of the Concept Series. Concept No. 1, released in 2017, was inspired by the discipline of surreal art. Concept No. 2 brought together music and whisky, combining the twin passions of The Macallan Whisky Maker Steven Bremner, who is also a DJ.

A global travel retail exclusive, Concept No. 3 will be available from July 2021 at The Macallan Boutiques in selected international airports and China Hainan Island duty free shops, before being introduced more widely to global travel retail hubs from August 2021.

For further information, visit www.themacallan.com.

Whisky Maker’s Notes:

ABV: 40.8%

Colour: Californian Gold

Aroma: Sweet fresh pear and apricot, gentle oak spice, with warm cinnamon and ginger, followed by vanilla and sweet citrus

Palate: Fresh apple and pear combine with oak spice and delicate herbal notes, leading to a rich creamy vanilla sweetness

Finish: Medium sweetness with smooth, buttery pastry notes

Notes 

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

Discover the best kept secret in Scotch: The Mortlach Range

Commonly referred to as ‘The Beast of Dufftown’, Mortlach Distillery was founded in 1823 in the heart of the Speyside, on a site previously occupied by illicit stills. Their signature 2.81 times distillation process, referred to simply as ‘The Way’, sounds a tad confusing but makes for a distinctive, bold spirit full of ‘meaty’ and ‘muscular’ character and they achieve this unique quality of spirit using six stills in a variety of shapes and sizes.

When it comes to maturation, American and European sherry casks pair perfectly with Mortlach’s robust spirit adding fruity and spicy complexity. The core range is bottled at 43.4% ABV which was the original bottling strength that their forebearers bottled Mortlach at as detailed in accounts from the early 1800s.

A spirit well known for its integral contribution to the illustrious Johnnie Walker blend, we are now lucky enough to enjoy Mortlach as a single malt in this fantastic range. Read on to explore the three expressions…

This 12-year-old single malt, dubbed ‘The Wee Witchie’, is an ode to Mortlach’s smallest yet most essential still which adds a characteristic to the spirit incomparable to anything else.

Matured in American and European oak ex-bourbon and sherry casks the nose begins with a light spice, dried fruits and rich toffee, giving way to a meaty palate of demerara sugar, dark chocolate, cherry jam and a wisp of tobacco.

Mortlach 12 Year Old
The Wee Witchie

£50.00

Dubbed the ‘Distiller’s Dram’, this 16-year-old Mortlach is an ode to the famous first bottling of this expression back in 1992. Maturation is exclusively in sherry casks to impart rich, fruity, and fragrant notes atop the bold complexity of Mortlach’s new make spirit.

On the nose begins a punch of earthy stewed dark fruits and warm baking spices. The palate is robust and coats the mouth with sweet dried apricots, honey and leathery spice with savoury elements and a lingering intensity to finish.

Mortlach 16 Year Old
Distiller’s Dram

£80.00

The 20-year-old Mortlach is the oldest in the current core range and is named ‘Cowie’s Blue Seal’ in tribute to one of the very first bottlings dating back to 1909. Alexander Cowie who took ownership from his father George in these early days of the distillery was a pioneer in advancing production at Mortlach and creating the legendary spirit we know today.

Matured exclusively in sherry casks this single malt is rich and palate clinging, with aromas of dried fruits, leather, and cedarwood. The palate is pleasantly oily with barbecue pork crackling, blackberries and cocoa nibs, and surprising brightness of citrus zing. A deep and complex finish ends with dark chocolate raisins and gentle liquorice.

Mortlach 20 Year Old
Cowie’s Blue Seal

£200.00

New Glencairn Pipette – the perfect partner

for the Glencairn Glass

Scottish crystal company, Glencairn Crystal Studio, creator of the world’s favourite whisky glass, the Glencairn Glass, is launching a new Glencairn Pipette this week for whisky-lovers to add a splash of water to their dram.

As makers of the world’s best-selling whisky glass, now selling over 3.5 million Glencairn Glasses around the world per year, the family run team at Glencairn Crystal know that adding water to whisky can enhance the flavours and aromas found in your favourite dram.

Over the years customers who enjoy a drop of water with their whisky have often told the Glencairn Crystal team that they would relish a pipette to match their Glencairn Glass. It is for this demand that the Glencairn Pipette has been carefully crafted to complement the Glencairn Glass.

The handblown glass Glencairn Pipette is designed to be the ideal length for the Glencairn Glass and holds 1ml of water. Weighted at the top with a beautiful miniature Glencairn Glass, the pipette is fashioned to be comfortable in the hand, whilst allowing better regulation of the amount of water added, with its precisely engineered control-aperture set within a wide bulb at the upper end.

Whether one adds water to whisky or not is up to individual whisky drinkers’ tastes, however many whisky lovers believe that adding water can ‘open up’ the aromas and flavours, dramatically altering and enhancing the taste – interestingly scientists in Sweden supported this with a study in 2017.*

Scott Davidson, Glencairn Crystal’s New Product Development Director, commented: “Our business is built on family values and we pride ourselves on our strong relationship with the Glencairn Glass community of followers. We are always open to feedback and new ideas and after listening to our customers, we are delighted to introduce the new Glencairn Pipette as the perfect partner to the Glencairn Glass. For those who love a splash of water with their whisky, our pipette will enable the drinker to add a little drop at a time and will prevent the risk of drowning their favourite dram with too much!”

The Glencairn Pipette costs £6 and is also available to buy in a set with a Glencairn Glass (£11) or in a set with both a Glencairn Glass and Glencairn Jug (£22) via the Glencairn Crystal online shop.

This year marks the 40^th birthday of Glencairn Crystal Studio.  Founded by Raymond Davidson in 1981, the company is not only synonymous with the famous Glencairn Glass, but has also become a world expert in the design, creation and manufacture of high-end crystal and glassware decanters, often for the worlds’ rarest and most exclusive spirits.

For further information about the new Glencairn Pipette please visit: www.glencairnpipette.com  and to learn more about Glencairn Crystal’s 40^th birthday and its most successful and pioneering decanters please visit: www.glencairn.co.uk/40th-birthday.

Notes:

The Glencairn Pipette:

• *Why whisky tastes better with water – study by scientists in Sweden. See link here
• For those new to using a pipette, simply dip it into a glass or jug of water, cover the tiny hole at the top to hold the water inside and then gradually uncover the hole to release one drop at a time into your whisky.
• The Glencairn Pipette can be personalised but only on a minimum order quantity of 5000.

About Glencairn Crystal:

• The Glencairn Glass, created in 2000 is the world’s favourite whisky glass.  Glencairn Crystal now make over 3.5 million Glencairn Glasses per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 140 countries worldwide.
• The company has won three Queen’s Awards – one of the highest awards in British business – starting with the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2006 for the Glencairn whisky glass and then the Queens Award for Enterprise in 2012 and 2017.
• Glencairn Crystal’s clients include leading drinks companies such as Brown-Forman, Diageo and Pernod Ricard as well as sporting organisations including the world famous premier clubs; Liverpool, Celtic and Rangers. Also organisations including Muller, Cunard, Facebook and Google, plus corporate clients including the Houses of Parliament and Scottish Parliament.

GORDON AND MACPHAIL

One of the largest and oldest Independent Bottlers in the world, Gordon and MacPhail have a selection of whiskies that are the envy of most in the trade. We are delighted to have some of their unique bottles available from the Connoisseur’s Choice and Distillery Label ranges. Offering a wide choice of whiskies from a range of distilleries and cask finishes at great prices, they are certainly worth a look if you are wanting something with a difference.

K&L Exclusive: Unbeatable Pricing on a Sublime, Age-Stated Scotch

1997 Hector Macbeth (Glenfiddich) 23 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel

Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($129.99)

In yet one more stroke of inspired wheeling and dealing, our spirits buyers have managed to secure another rare cask of sublime, aged malt from the much-beloved Hector Macbeth label. This 23 Year Old follows in the footsteps of other stupendous offers from this bottler and is a slightly deeper and richer expression of the same incredible Glenfiddich juice that made up the previous bottlings. For our Scotch aficionados who got in on those whiskies while supplies lasted, they know just what’s in store for them here. While you’d expect to splash out a couple hundred dollars (at least) for such an age-stated single malt bottling under the marquee label for which it was originally distilled, you can get your hands on the same spirit for just over the century mark from Hector Macbeth. Countless whisky fans have discovered the joy (and incredible bargains) that these “teaspooned” malts bring to the table, and this one is no different. We’ve taken in a painfully small quantity, so anyone looking to score a well-aged Scotch at a steal needs to act with utmost urgency before supplies disappear.

*This item is expected to arrive for pickup or delivery by late summer 2021

1997 Hector Macbeth (Glenfiddich) 23 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($129.99)

We’ve had a consistent run of excellent casks under the Hector Macbeth brand over the last few years. This lot of ’97 teaspooned hogsheads from the Glenfiddich distillery have been consistently exceptional. Many people loved last year’s expression, which had spent over three years in an old sherry barrel, but others missed the purity and malty complexity of the unadulterated Wardhead that we’d bottled each of the previous two campaigns. Those whiskies, sold to our bottler under the Wardhead brand, were all distilled in February of 1997 and declassified by the distiller to be sold off to blenders. The Scotch industry is full of these unusual quirks and part of the industry’s charm is the complicated relationships between various distillers, blenders and bottlers. In the end, even a great brand like Glenfiddich, the world’s best selling single malt, needs occasionally to generate cash flow in the moment. That’s why they’re willing to sell off tankers of their prized spirit under a different name, but we don’t really care what it’s called or that it’s listed as blended malt. All that matters to us is that it’s absolutely delicious. This bottling has a similar profile to previous casks in this lot, but here with more depth and richness. Expect orchard fruit, sweet malt, honeysuckle and pink peppercorn. Delicious and complex with a vivid delineated fruit that seems to be a hallmark of these gorgeous old ‘Fiddichs.

Exclusive to Global Travel Retail, explore a collection that fuses the passion behind The Macallan whisky making with innovative art, music and culture.

EXPLORE THE SERIES

The Macallan Distillery Experience, The Macallan Distillers Ltd, Easter Elchies,

Craigellachie, Moray AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

New Single Cask Single Malts from the Highlands to the Islands

Because of the excellent relationship we’ve built over the years with the world’s best bottlers, we get access to some of Scotland’s greatest casks and continue to find incredible barrels that blow away the competition in terms of value and quality. Our access to these casks is aided by expanded regulations which allow for the importation of the ever-so-slightly smaller European-style bottles. This has allowed us to access more bottled stock, which we are able to offer at a significant discount from where you’d see these exceptional malts on the European market.

Hunter Laing Old & Rare

Old Malt Cask

Redacted Bros.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Laphroaig 16 Year Old

A limited release of the iconic Islay single malt aged for 16 years in ex-bourbon barrels. Pre-order now available. Over time, the whisky’s smoky flavour softens on the senses and is beautifully married with sweet vanilla notes enhanced with ageing in American Oak.

Preorder Now

Tasting notes:

Colour: Deep Copper

Nose: Sweet leather, oaky spices, vanilla and wood character with gorse flowers and heather fragrance, roasted chestnuts with rich maple syrup, a touch of black pepper.

Palate: Sweet with treacle and caramel, Manuka honey and thyme but also intense wood smoke, creosote, lots of floral notes of heather and bergamot, and a chili mouthfeel.

Finish: Long lasting, smoky, sweet and salted seaweed, medicinal character.

Scotch Whisky The Whisky Magazine Annual

Have you seen our new Scotch Whisky annual?

Packed with interviews, distillery focus features and blind tasting reviews, Scotch Whisky turns the spotlight on distilleries old and new, large and small. Curated by Whisky Magazine’s editor, Christopher Coates, Scotch Whisky is a valuable addition to any whisky lover’s bookshelf.

• 132-page ‘bookazine’

• Available in print and digital editions

• Includes six in-depth interviews with the great and good of whisky

• Distillery features on Highland Park, GlenAllachie, Macallan, Rosebank, Raasay, Glenturret, and many more

• More than 100 blind tasting reviews of the latest whiskies

• Tasting notes and progress reports on unreleased spirits from some of Scotland’s newest distilleries

BUY NOW

Whisky Presentation Box Humidors by Dave

Humidors by Dave!

Have your favourite scotch whisky presentation box upgraded to a cigar humidor!

US$220

Contact Dave at daveswhiskyhumidors@gmail.com

Price does not include shipping or the presentation box.