What does a whisky distillery and a circus have in common? Not much, you might presume. But Cirque Du Soleil, with its theatrical, character-driven performances, is the most famous contemporary circus today. Meanwhile, The Macallan is a 200-year-old single malt Scotch whisky brand with a similar penchant for innovation and immersive experiences. The collaboration between the two began with the debut of Spirit, a nature-inspired sensory experience that premiered earlier this year at The Macallan Estate in Speyside.
An exclusive evening at The Macallan Estate, Spirit features breathtaking performances, intriguing stagecraft, and signature tasting experiences. Highlighting The Macallan’s connection to nature in an imaginative, visual, and cutting-edge manner, Spirit tells the story of The Macallan’s rich history, Scottish culture, and the Highlands. Culminating in an audience experience around an oak tree, the experience combines The Macallan’s craftsmanship with Cirque Du Soleil’s world-renowned staging.
Two new whisky releases from The Macallan’s Harmony Collection have been unveiled as part of the brand’s partnership with Cirque Du Soleil. To mark the whisky maker’s 200th year anniversary, Harmony Vibrant Oak and Harmony Guardian Oak reflect the brand’s expertise and mastery of wood. The former is available in domestic retail, while the latter is exclusive in global travel retail. Being the fourth edition in the Harmony series, these two releases celebrate The Macallan’s rich history with oak, which runs through every facet of the single malt Scotch whisky.
The sherry seasoned oak casks are key to the whiskies’ outstanding quality, distinctive aromas, and flavours. Each cask is crafted to precise specifications, a process that takes around five years, delivering up to 80 percent of the flavour and 100 percent of the natural colour.
Vibrant Oak is matured in a combination of first fill American and second fill sherry seasoned oak casks, while Guardian Oak is matured predominantly in a combination of first fill European and second fill sherry seasoned oak casks. Through these two whiskies, the key differences between wood types are showcased, demonstrating how the oak and its origins play an important role in creating different flavours. Oak chippings, a by-product created while making oak casks for The Macallan, were repurposed and used in the presentation box and the bottle labels.
“Oak plays such an important role in the colour and flavour of The Macallan and bringing it to life through our packaging is incredibly inspirational. Vibrant Oak and Guardian Oak, provided an opportunity to select the casks that deliver the classic characteristics of our two key wood types, sherry seasoned American oak and sherry seasoned European oak casks, showcasing the differences these wood types deliver,” says Diane Stuart, Whisky Maker at The Macallan.
The Macallan Harmony Collection is a limited annual release series that embraces the re-use of organic materials in its packaging, creating beauty from materials at the end of their natural lives. Vibrant Oak, dressed in lively and energetic gold, features an illustration of Ayla, a character from Spirit, that intertwines with the branches of an American oak tree. The tree represents the whisky maturing in sherry seasoned American oak casks and the design incorporates peacock feathers, highlighting The Macallan’s natural colour.
Meanwhile, Guardian Oak comes with an illustration of Davonna, another key figure from Spirit. It lies within the branches of a European oak tree, with the latter symbolising the whisky maturing in sherry seasoned European oak casks. The colours represent Davonna’s character, engrained with purple hues to symbolise wisdom and maturity. Both designs capture the connection between the natural world and human experience, with the life and wonder that blooms when humans are “in harmony with nature”.
The Harmony Collection Vibrant Oak is available at The Macallan House Singapore and on The Macallan’s website.
