When it comes to whisky, few can rival The Macallan, a Scottish distillery known for making some of the finest single malt whiskies in the world. The prestigious liquor enjoys a rich and storied history, so it's rather apt that the company has chosen to partner with Bentley for its latest project at a time when Bentley is celebrating its coachbuilt history with the new Mulliner Batur.
The Crewe-based automaker has revealed a prototype of the beautifully designed Macallan Horizon vessel, an exquisite-looking bottle inspired by Bentley motor vehicles and crafted from sustainable materials. The entire creation comprises repurposed, upcycled, or ethically sourced materials.
Forget about that, though, and just look at it. It's gorgeous and, dare we say it, better looking than the Batur itself.
The horizontal design has been inspired by Bentley cars, eschewing the traditional vertical design of regular whiskey bottles. The ecologically designed art piece has been crafted to the high standards Bentley has for its vehicles. At the heart of the twisted 3D structure sits a hand-made glass bottle with a 180-degree twist. The automaker explains this feature represents the "mastery of space and time" achieved by both illustrious brands.
The aluminum trim has been recovered from the production of Bentley models, such as the Bentayga, while the recycled wood comes from both brands. Elsewhere, the Horizon vessel boasts recycled copper from the spirit stills at The Macallan's former distillery.
In typical British fashion, the high-end wood and metals have been teamed with plush, locally-sourced leather, also seen in the recently revealed Mulliner Batur. The automaker claims this hide is the world's lowest CO2 leather.
Of course, the single malt whisky is the most important part. Still being crafted, The Macallan notes it will "tell its own story" about sustainability when it launches in Summer 2023. Bentley's Chris Cooke said this is just a taste of what to expect from the posh partnership. "Our prototype for The Macallan Horizon is truly pioneering in both its design and use of materials. It's a fusion of the sharply defined yet curvaceous Bentley design DNA," he added.
The duo teamed up in July 2021 to create a bespoke Bentayga Hybrid for The Macallan estate. As you may have guessed, sustainability and tradition are important to the whisky producer, which makes the plush plug-in hybrid the ideal choice. Classy Viridian dark metallic green paintwork has been paired with Porpoise and Cumbrian Green leather, with the seats proudly displaying the distillery's Easter Elchies House mark.
The Liquid Amber wood veneer - similar in color to a fine single malt - bears the brand's logo.
"Taking inspiration from the car industry, we are showcasing our creative development of The Macallan Horizon, which is among the most ground-breaking projects we have embarked on in our 200-year history, noted The Macallan's Jaume Ferras. "Working with Bentley Motors has inspired us to see things differently."
Bentley itself has committed to a sustainable future and will introduce its first all-electric model in the coming years. Expected to hit the scene in 2026, Crewe is promising a massively quick grand tourer - expect 1,400 horsepower - based upon the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
In the meantime, prospective owners can dream up possible Bentley EV configurations while sipping a Macallan Horizon fine single-malt whisky in the comfort of their private libraries.