On October 26th, 2015, The Macallan came to New York City to introduce a stylish, sophisticated crowd of tastemakers in Soho to The Macallan Rare Cask.
The evening featured a night of unconventional pairings and exceptional experiences inspired by the wood, natural color and complex flavors of The Macallan Rare Cask.
The Macallan Rare Cask’s story starts with 100% sherry-seasoned oak casks, some of the most precious and scarce in single malt whisky. Using in-depth knowledge of the thousands of casks maturing at The Macallan’s distillery, the Master Whisky Maker handpicks the finest cut from less than 1% of the casks maturing there. The result is an exquisite whisky with a rich and resonant hue, featuring a complexity of flavors evident in the tasting notes that include spices, raisin, rich oak, vanilla, chocolate and light citrus zest.
Also on hand for the evening was a treasure trove of bespoke gentlemen’s accessories from around the globe featuring travel and home décor items for the bar, library and office curated by premier online art auction house, Paddle8.
Some items up for auction included an automatic 1968 Rolex Airking wristwatch ($1,800-2,200), a glass and sterling silver flask made by Edward Pairpoint in 1871 ($600-700), a French Art Deco champagne bucket from the 1920’s ($800-1,000) and a pair of 1940’s gold and ruby rooster cufflinks ($700-900).
“Rare Cask represents the very foundations that make The Macallan so special – our vibrant range of natural color and the outstanding quality of our oak casks – and what better way to share this story than through an interactive experience combined with the Paddle8 auction,” said Raul Gonzalez, Brand Director, The Macallan, “By pairing this quintessential single malt with these rare and prized items, we are able to underscore the rarity of the whisky while celebrating all that makes Rare Cask so unique. Bringing the pairings to life through a series of events where guests can experience our live interpretations of complex flavor (the bar), natural color (the library) and exceptional wood (the office) will serve to highlight the complexity and rarity of our prized whisky even more.”
In addition to gentleman’s accessories, up for bid is a “Rare Weekend” curated by The Macallan, of which all proceeds will go to charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. The “Rare Weekend” experience is a two-day getaway in New York City featuring an exclusive tasting of The Macallan’s peerless expressions at Rarities – the exclusive lounge inside the Villard Mansion at Lotte New York Palace; a two-night stay for two at the elite Towers at Lotte New York Palace Hotel, including breakfast at Pomme Palais; a private appointment with a personal stylist for a custom suit fitting at the Trunk Club atelier; and airfare and transportation for two to New York City.
As the guests sipped on Macallan libations and nibbled on light bites, they also had a chance to document the evening with an interactive photo booth, help paint a portrait, browse the library or learn about the cask process.
For more information on The Macallan visit www.themacallan.com and for the Paddle8 www.Paddle8.com.