Macallan launches Magnum edition in Hong Kong

Macallan has unveiled the latest and seventh edition of its award-winning Masters of Photography series titled ‘The Macallan Masters of Photography: Magnum Edition’ in Hong Kong, which captured the creation of the new Macallan distillery and visitor experience in Speyside, Scotland. 

Presented in an archive gift box, the Magnum Edition comes with a collection of photos, signed prints, and a limited edition whisky. Each set costs HK$26,460.

The Magnum Edition is a collaboration between The Macallan and photographic union, Magnum Photos. The collection of images, taken by six world-renowned Magnum photographers – Steve McCurry, Martin Parr, Paolo Pellegrin, Mark Power, Gueorgui Pinkhassov and Alec Soth – captures different aspects of the iconic distillery.

From the landscape and the materials from which the distillery was built, to the character of the workers and protagonists who have brought it to fruition, “artistic portraiture of people and casks complement more abstract representations of the building and its unique structure,” according to the distillery.

This set of images comes together as a limited edition objet d’art, presented in an archive style gift box. It comprises a special limited release whisky, a selection of six signed prints, one from each photographer, and an exclusive photography book. The box that holds the collection was influenced by the classic photographic portfolio boxes on display at the Magnum studio.

Ken Grier, creative director for The Macallan, introducing the photographic collection in Hong Kong

For the Magnum Edition, Macallan’s whisky distiller Sarah Burgess has created a single malt crafted from a combination of eight casks such as a spicy gingered cask, a red wine cask and a first fill American barrel, all differing in character to reflect the photography style of each of the Magnum photographers and to represent Magnum itself. 

The deep amber coloured single malt is described by the distillery as having “light hints of peat layered into warm spiced ginger with mellow oak notes. Gently coming behind these notes, are an almost tangerine citrus and caramelised apple.” 

“For the first time in The Macallan Masters of Photography series, we are working in partnership with multiple photographers to tell the story of the new Macallan distillery and the people behind it, taking it from genesis to completion. This coveted edition shows history in the making against the backdrop of The Macallan’s ongoing commitment to mastery,” says Ken Grier, creative director for The Macallan.

Tim Paton, global head of commercial assignments for Magnum Photos, said: “This project has been a wonderful assignment for both the photographers and the Agency.  To be given this amount of creative freedom on a commercial project is very rare. The photographers were literally shown the building site and told to shoot whatever they liked.”  

The Magnum Edition is now available globally from this month, priced at HK$26,460 and limited to 2,000 editions worldwide. Only 72 editions are available in Hong Kong and Macau through its distributor Edrington.