Work | The Macallan Sir Peter Blake Collaboration
BLAKE’S ICONIC CROWD COLLAGE PLAYFULLY DEPICTS THE HERITAGE OF THE MACALLAN DISTILLERY
In collaboration with The Macallan, renowned British pop artist Sir Peter Blake has created an awe-inspiring collection of art. Inspired by the history, community and beautiful natural landscape of Easter Elchies Estate, Blake’s iconic crowd collage playfully depicts the heritage of The Macallan Distillery. The art is beautifully showcased in a collection of new single malt expressions, The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages, launched in February 2021, with pack design and art direction by Lineup Studios.
ANECDOTES OF AGES 1967 COLLECTION
The halo product, a single malt laid down in 1967, includes thirteen unique bottle labels with original art by Sir Peter Blake. Each design is inspired by an anecdote from The Macallan, celebrating the community and the beautiful landscape of Easter Elchies Estate from the distillery’s foundation in 1824 to the present day. Blake reimagines each anecdote in crowd collage, positioning influential characters from different eras on distillery backdrops in his own iconic style. Each bottle is presented in an oak case styled on a simple wooden art box and bound with the expression of a cask ring, encircling the world of art and whisky. The playful design features a removable inner panel revealing a colourful montage of Sir Peter Blakes inspiration journey with The Macallan. The miniature images follow Blake on his visit to The Macallan Distillery where he was so creatively inspired, to a collaboration meeting with The Macallan Creative Team at his London studio. Finally, the journey concludes with the creation of bespoke labels for The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages bottles. The case also houses a beautiful, leather bound book that tells of the collaboration, The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages and the unique art created.
ANECDOTES OF AGES SINGLE MALT
Art created for the second, larger volume single malt tells the cumulative story of the full collection of The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages, celebrating the community and the beautiful landscape of Easter Elchies Estate. Sir Peter Blake set his composition on a backdrop of The Macallan Distillery and Visitors Experience opened in 2018. The “crowd” depict influential characters and places dating back to 1824 when The Macallan Distillery was founded. The principal artwork is presented as a separate scroll within the presentation box, a section of which is used for the bottle label. The presentation box itself is wrapped in Winters’ blue covering with the artists signature in a white screen.
