The Macallan – Limited Edition Coronation Bottling’s
The Macallan is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation with the release of a stunning limited edition commemorative bottling. The limited release comprises a beautifully designed box featuring two 350 ml bottles of single malt whisky. This latest offering is expected to become a rare collectors’ item with only 1,953 bottles being released for sale in the UK.
The pack was designed by the acclaimed Art Director, David Holmes, who worked on the first ever advertising campaign for the brand and completes The Macallan’s trio of commemorative Royal bottling’s. The two bottles each feature a different image of The Queen, one taken in 1953 by Cecil Beaton, the celebrated photographer, who is perhaps best known for his images of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the other featuring an image taken in 2004 by Julian Calder, one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers.
In keeping with the distinct and stylish design of The Macallan, the labels have been created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s reign, with the first conveying the Queen as she was in 1953, aged just 26, and the second honouring the treasured monarch she has become today.
Commenting on the special commemorative Coronation edition David Holmes said: “I just felt that the box design should reflect the coronation itself. Bright and celebratory, with Gold, Windsor Red and Blue as used on the Queen’s Coat of arms. The idea of the confident red box with gold florettes underlines the respectful presentation. A sort of, must have, rare Royal treasure case.”
The Macallan – Cecil Beaton Bottle, 58.1% Alc/vol.
The colour…Praline gold
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…Sherried fruit cake, orange and lemon zest, fresh lemon breakfast juice, little honey, stable hay loft.
Taste…Vanilla ice cream over fruit scones, warming ginger and cinnamon spices, a viscous dairy coating over the whole palate.
Finish… Medium with a little fruit sweetness but a little drying.
Score…3 Corks
Nicola’s Tasting
Nose…Walnut oil, bark, orange zest, sugary orange jelly, butter nuts, milk chocolate powder, choc
olate sponge.
Taste…Hot caramel and ginger snaps, woody/bark, dry chilli flakes.
Finish…Long and sweet.
Score…3.5 Corks
The sherry influences have added big flavour to this limited edition dram, it would be great if many could taste this but the Whisky Boys think that many will find there way into collectors cabinets.
The Macallan – Julian Caulder Bottle, 55.7% Alc/vol.
Colour…Flat coke
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…Loads of dark dried fruits, oak shavings, rich muscavado sugar.
Tasting…Warm sherry, dark fruit tea loaf, sweet liquorice, sweet black coffee, sea salt flakes.
Finish…Long and the fruit keeps hitting the palate, quite juicy.
Score…3.5 corks
Nicola’s Tasting
Nose…Solid chocolate bar, Garibaldi biscuits, muted Christmas spice, damp wood, musky incense.
Taste…Burnt toffee, coffee syrup, dried biscuits, digestive, burnt butter, black fruity Ribena cherry juice.
Finish…Medium, black fruits.
Score…3 Corks
Another fine dram and again we would highly recommend that you should try and get a wee taste, there will not be many on your local gantry.
The 1953 bottles are available from The Macallan Distillery Visitor Centre for collection only and online for UK customers at www.themacallan.com at a price of £350.
