The Macallan has released an ultra-exclusive, 73-year-old expression

Historic Speyside distillery The Macallan has unveiled 'Tales of The Macallan Volume II', the second edition in a remarkable series of rare single malt Scotch whiskies which tells the story of the company's pioneers and their whisky-making legacy. Following the first release in 2021, this second expression is dedicated to Alexander Reid, founder of The Macallan, and depicts him as a teacher, farmer and distiller. Alexander, who was fascinated with the alchemy of distillation that transformed barley into whisky, established the Distillery on Easter Elchies Estate, Scotland in 1824.

A driven individual with a keen sense of curiosity and thirst for knowledge, he strived for perfection by establishing core production principles. Holding firm that small stills produce better flavour and character, he resisted the adoption of large, higher volume stills. The small stills favoured by Alexander are still a guiding principle for The Macallan, featuring in its distillery to this day and remaining one of the brand’s 'six pillars', the foundation stones for the brand's character.

For Volume II, Euan Kennedy, Lead Whisky Maker at The Macallan, selected a 1949 vintage whisky at the apex of its maturation, which was bottled in 2022. "Displaying beautiful tones of bronzed oak, and subtle red hues that reflect the original meaning of Alexander Reid’s surname in Scots – The Red One – this rare and unique single malt whisky possesses an incredible complexity achieved through age and patient maturation," says Kennedy. "Enjoying a lingering smokiness redolent of whiskies of Alexander’s time, it is a fitting tribute to his living legacy as we celebrate our 200th anniversary year."

Encased in a bespoke handcrafted Lalique crystal decanter (pictured below), this exceptional single malt is concealed within an extraordinary almanac. A true work of art, each chapter tells the story of The Macallan’s founder, Alexander Reid, and features beautiful illustrations by renowned British illustrator, Andrew Davidson. Known for his traditional print techniques using wood engravings, Andrew’s work has included postage stamps for the UK’s Royal Mail and designs for the glass doors at Wimbledon’s Centre Court. 

Tales of The Macallan is a culmination of creative collaborations of the greatest craftspeople, reflected in each detail of the collection. To create the unique packaging, The Macallan has partnered with an array of suppliers, combining the skills of master craftsmen in crystal, leather and paper. Long-standing partner, master French crystal maker Lalique fashioned the flawless crystal decanter to house the whisky, etched with Andrew Davidson’s captivating illustrations depicting Alexander Reid as a teacher, farmer and distiller. Attracted by a shared sense of heritage, craftsmanship and creativity, Lalique and The Macallan first came together in 2005 and have since collaborated on a range of exquisite decanters and products. 

Traditional London-based bookbinders, Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe and Zaehnsdorf, which specialises in fine binding, restoration and conservation of books and manuscripts, created the unique, hand-crafted Tales of The Macallan Volume II book which demanded extraordinary technical expertise to conceal the decanter within its 852 pages. Artisan printer, Imprimerie du Marais in Paris, which creates luxury pieces using specially developed paper, ink and printing processes, expertly printed each individual page.

To mark the launch of Tales of The Macallan Volume II, a remarkable zoetrope-style animation (embedded at the top of this article) has been created to bring to life the story of Alexander Reid. The short film features a selection of Andrew Davidson’s illustrations and is set to a captivating, original piece of music composed by acclaimed Scottish composer, Craig Armstrong. His bespoke, modern folk piece reflects on legacy, and what it means to create and be influenced by the landscape of Scotland.