The Macallan has unveiled The Anecdotes of Ages Collection, a limited-release whisky and art collection with renowned British pop artist, Sir Peter Blake. The Anecdotes of Ages Collection marks the third collaboration between the brand and the artist and explores the legacy and history of both Sir Peter Blake and The Macallan.
At the heart of the collection are 13 one-of-a-kind bottles of 1967 whisky. The extraordinary single-malt Scotch has been matured for over 50 years and was selected to represent the year that Sir Peter Blake’s collages evolved from art into popular culture.
Each of the 13 original Anecdotes of Ages bottles are hand-blown with an oak stopper and features a label signed by Sir Peter Blake. Presented in a handcrafted European oak case incorporating thumbnail photography revealing Sir Peter Blake’s inspirational journey with The Macallan, the expressions are also accompanied by a leather-bound book showcasing all 13 label artworks and corresponding stories, as well as a certificate of authenticity.
Pioneering pop artist Sir Peter Blake is renowned for his distinctive collages featuring images from popular culture. His diverse style ranges from colourful lettering to likeness drawing, but he remains best known for his signature crowd work. Over many decades, his unique and timeless style has transcended fashion, music, and even art movements.
“I am deeply inspired by the incredible legacy of The Macallan, and its emphasis on family, tradition, and the natural world,” said Sir Peter Blake. “Each collage in The Anecdotes of Ages Collection is inspired by The Macallan’s history and heritage, one that respects time and craft, two essential components of my own creative process. I meticulously worked on each collage, pulling from The Macallan Estate’s rich history to complete a collection that is a celebration of art and whisky.”
PIN ITSir Peter Blake and Sarah Burgess
To celebrate, this latest partnership, the brand and the artist have created a virtual art exhibition that covers not only the art for this collection but also looks at past collaborations. The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Virtual Art Exhibit offers whisky enthusiasts from around the world the opportunity to digitally explore the Collection in a 360 virtual environment.
Digital attendees of The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Virtual Art Exhibit will begin their journey in the Sir Peter Blakestudio where they will learn about his famous pioneering pop art and collage style. Next, they will explore the Anecdotes of Ages gallery, showcasing the inspiration behind each of the artworks that Blake created to tell the story of 13 bottles of The Macallan—from The Macallan’s spiritual home at Easter Elchies Estate to the new Distillery and Visitor Experience.
If you are interested in the whisky itself, a highly limited edition whisky featuring a duplicate label and the same rare 1967 whisky, will be released as The Anecdotes of Ages Collection: Down to Work Limited Edition. While the 13th original bottle will be retained in The Macallan archive, 322 bottles of this special release will be available worldwide for an SRP of $83,000.
To round out the collection, a specially created whisky inspired by The Macallan and Sir Peter Blake’s shared appreciation of beauty, nature and legacy – An Estate, A Community and A Distillery – will be sold for an SRP of $1,200 displayed in a custom box inspired by Sir Peter Blake’s art, alongside a certificate outlining the art’s history and heritage, and Sir Peter Blake’s artwork printed on a scroll.
Sarah Burgess, Lead Whisky Maker at The Macallan, said: “This exceptional 1967 whisky was chosen for its classic yet distinctively colourful character, which is reminiscent of Sir Peter Blake’s work of the same year. With notes of oak and fig leading to a burst of hazelnut and strawberry, this is a truly special single malt that finishes with complex flavours of chocolate and lightly spiced peach. It is in many ways, its own work of art.”
Additionally, in March, Sotheby’s will host a live auction where one of the 13 original bottles of The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection will be sold to raise funds to benefit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
To view The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Virtual Art Exhibit, go to themacallan.com/virtual-art-exhibit.
To learn more about The Macallan or purchasing The Anecdotes of Ages Collection or the An Estate, A Community and A Distillery, go to themacallan.com.
