An Ode To Scottish Grasslands Unveiled: The Macallan Presents The Harmony Collection Amber Meadow with Stella and Mary McCartney

The lush, verdant and natural beauty of the Scottish landscape becomes the inspiration for an exquisite third edition of The Harmony Collection by The Macallan in a luxurious expression by renowned fashion icon and photographer/filmmaker Stella and Mary McCartney. Meet the Amber Meadow...

The Macallan unveils the The Harmony Collection Amber Meadow, a distinctive and elegant limited edition single malt whisky inspired by Scotland's natural beauty and capturing its spirit and essence in a bottle. The latest edition is another creative collaboration by The Macallan, this time with sisters Stella and Mary McCartney. The fashion designer and photographer/documentary filmmaker draw inspiration on their shared history growing up in Scotland, recreating and celebrating sisterhood, familial influences and The Macallan's rich heritage. Taking a cue from the deep amber hue of the whisky and the vibrant greens of The Macallan Estate, Stella and Mary McCartney weave a creative tapestry of curiosity, respect and admiration for the resplendent Scottish landscape. The collaborative result is a graceful and stylish whisky expression with the Amber Meadow. Read on for a virtual taste and experience the beauty of Scotland in a soothing sip...

Following the successful launches of the previous two editions with the Rich Cacao and Intense Arabica (more on my post here at Inspired by Intense Arabica: At The Harmony Collection Launch by The Macallan in Grand Hyatt Manila from early last year), The Harmony Collection III by The Macallan is a deeply personal and heartfelt homage to Scotland from the perspective of the McCartney sisters. Both Stella and Mary McCartney agree the happiest moments from their childhood were spent in Scotland, and this becomes the creative foundation for the Amber Meadow from The Harmony Collection III series. 

At the launch, the space at The Podium Hall was transformed recreating the Scottish landscape highlighted by a scenic photograph by Mary McCartney setting the mood and visually transporting you to Bonnie Scotland. 

The McCartney sisters' love for Scotland is immediately evident, from the presentation boxes and labels crafted from discarded meadow cuttings reflecting their advocacy for sustainable use of natural materials to the photography of The Macallan Estate by Mary McCartney indicating a deep and personal collection to the land. 

Then, The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team completed the collaboration choosing sherry seasoned oak and bourbon casks to create the unique limited edition single malt inspired by the wide and almost infinite expanse of natural Scottish grasslands. 

Acclaimed master whisky maker Steven Bremner described The Harmony Collection Amber Meadow as a single malt with "warm meadows and mature barley fields," culminating in a rich, citrus-scented finish. The limited edition whisky also boasts a "100% natural summer evening color" derived from exceptional cask aging. 

A good single malt is a transformative experience, setting the mood while transporting you to a different place and time. And the bar is all set to take you on an epic journey to the Scottish countryside with the new Amber Meadow by Stella and Mary McCartney from The Harmony Collection III of The Macallan. 

The Macallan Brand Ambassador Hans Eckstein guided guests throughout the session, detailing tasting notes and subtle nuanced flavors to complete the experience. 

At the top of the bar, a nod to Stella McCartney's fashion line seals the close collaboration with the now familiar "No Smile-No Service" slogan emblazoned on the designer's extensive collection of T-Shirts, Sweaters and Hoodies. 

The much-awaited flight to Scotland comes in the form of pure liquid gold poured in a shot glass...

...releasing a medley of distinct hints to the nose from fresh citrus fruits and honeysuckle in a harmonious weave with just a whisper of vanilla and hints of coconut and ripe barley fields. 

A gentle sip drapes the palate with the bold and pronounced flavors of oak layered with citrus, fruity, nutty, grassy and earthy hints with its subtle yet distinct notes of lemon, melon, classic scone, almond and green tea in a smooth, rich and sweet long finish. It's an elegant expression of the multi-faceted allure of the fabled Scottish landscape. 

The Macallan Brand Ambassador Hans Eckstein then brings it all together stitching the vivid color of Scottish summer evenings with its deep golden amber glow to the fragrant aroma of honeysuckle, citrus and ripe barley fields  on the nose and the pronounced notes of oak, melon, lemon, green tea and almonds in a long and complex sweet finish for a robust yet calming essence of the land in a satisfying sip. 

Each long sip brings with it a lingering sweetness followed by a velvety smoothness reflecting the single malt's defining attributes. This is a taste of the land's timeless essence captured and recreated in a special and unique limited edition. 

The bar then prepared handcrafted cocktails with The Harmony Collection III Amber Meadow as the base...

...for an interesting side tour of the Scottish landscape...

...with the Nostalgia, a sweet and refreshing blend of dry Vermouth, elderflower syrup and orange bitters, each one highlighting and complementing the flavor profile of the Amber Meadow. 

In between sips, tasty bites were served teasing the palate with its indulgent savory richness best enjoyed with a shot of Amber Meadow. 

At the exclusive launch, The Harmony Collection III Amber Meadow was made available for sale at a significantly discounted price (nearly half the SRP). As an added treat, guests who purchased a bottle could have their bottle of the new single malt expression engraved for a personalized custom edition. 

The vibrant color of Scottish summer evenings, the fragrant scent of ripe barley fields and the refreshing notes of citrus, fruity, grassy, nutty and earthy hints combine for an elegantly seamless weave of the land's essence as expressed by Stella and Mary McCarthy. Available starting March 2024, The Harmony Collection III Amber Meadow by The Macallan is another exquisite addition to your personal collection. In a celebration and homecoming for the sisters, the Amber Meadow is yet another masterful expression of The Macallan spirit. And you can now bring home this harmonious creation weaving the land and its stories straight to your glass as you embark on your own personal journey with a sip...

For more on The Harmony Collection III Amber Meadow by The Macallan, visit their website at https://www.themacallan.com/en/single-malt-scotch-whisky/the-harmony-collection for more details. 

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