The Macallan has selected six limited-edition bottles encasing a single malt whisky to honour the extraordinary legacy of the spy franchise (All photos: The Macallan)
Even without reciting the famous phrase that popularised Sean Connery’s third Bond outing, Goldfinger, in 1964, our favourite British agent’s drinking choice and decorum have always contributed to his mystique. Film producers have in recent years steered away from the vodka martinis, freshening Bond’s glass instead with a punchy Speyside single malt whisky. Co-starring in Skyfall was The Macallan Fine & Rare 1962, which celebrated the spirit’s 50th anniversary.
Sixty years after a debonair 007 coolly introduced himself to a mysterious woman across a Baccarat table at Le Cercle club in London and immortalised the line, “Bond, James Bond”, The Macallan has selected six limited-edition bottles encasing a single malt whisky to honour the extraordinary legacy of the spy franchise. Artistically packed, each features an original illustrative design and colour to denote the decade of the Bond movie it represents.
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Created by master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell, this highly sought-after collection features sketches from 25 films, be they of futuristic vehicles, storyboards, scripts showing famous lines of dialogue, gadget blueprints or concept art inspired by filming locations around the world. Cinephiles, while enjoying a dram, will be able to go behind the scenes of the beloved film canon and chart the evolution of one of cinema’s most enduring characters.
The whisky comes in the shade of what The Macallan calls Suisse Gold, which is slightly lighter than its popular Sherry Oak 12-Year-Old. On the nose, citrusy notes of lemon and lime are first picked out before giving way to a melange of sweet scents like vanilla, coconut, dried fig and raisin. A subtle ginger spice slowly takes over the palate and morphs into a deep dark chocolate finish that lingers with complex layers.
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Fans of the house and the hero will be able to delve further into their heritage in a unique exhibition, The Macallan in Cinema, at The Macallan Estate as the distillery transports them to the James Bond universe through a selection of movies from the series.
This article first appeared on Apr 24, 2023 in The Edge Malaysia.
