The Macallan unveiled The Tree of Life Collection, featuring two limited-edition single malt Scotch whiskies crafted in homage to the legacy of Scottish artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

Continuing The Macallan’s history of creative partnerships across fashion, art, and gastronomy, this new collection blends whisky craftsmanship with artistic expression while celebrating cultural heritage through ambitious design and ongoing innovation. 

Recognizing a shared devotion to creativity and craftsmanship, the two expressions – The Tree of Life by The Macallan and Art is the Flower – have both been meticulously crafted to honor the circularity of nature and draw inspiration from Mackintosh’s iconic 1902 stained-glass panel, ‘The Spirit of the Rose.’ 

The rarer of the two releases, The Tree of Life by The Macallan, is a 46 Years Old single malt Scotch whisky crafted from two sherry seasoned oak casks from 1979 that matured peacefully across the decades in Speyside, Scotland. 

The whisky’s complex profile not only reflects its maturity but also resembles a key moment in Mackintosh’s life. At 46 years old he moved to the countryside to take a break from architecture and reconnect with nature, and produced some of his finest art. Together, the release tells a story of artistry, inspiration and the spirit of Mackintosh’s craftsmanship. 

“This exceptional 46 Years Old single malt, selected to mark the age that Mackintosh reconnected with nature, offers a unique, vibrant and complex expression of The Macallan matured in sherry seasoned oak casks,” Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said in a news release. “Tropical fruits charred over smouldering peat embers are balanced with complex wood spice. Notes of antique oak are characteristic of higher aged expressions from The Macallan and evoke Mackintosh’s unique designs crafted from wood, in Scotland, many years ago.”

With only 112 decanters available globally, the whisky rests in a beautiful Lalique crystal vessel finished with a crystal rose stopper inspired by ‘The Spirit of the Rose.’ An exquisite sculpture envelops the vessel, inspired by the intricate metalwork Mackintosh designed to adorn his architecture. 

Jaume Ferras, Creative Director, The Macallan, added, “The Macallan and Charles Rennie Mackintosh share a reverence for nature, a guiding force in artistry and craftsmanship and this is showcased within the Tree of Life by The Macallan across both releases. We have been able to take inspiration from Mackintosh’s idiosyncratic depictions of nature and reflect this in the exemplary art of whisky making, creating two exceptional new whisky releases.” 

Complementing this release is The Macallan Art is the Flower, a single malt Scotch whisky showcasing the exemplary art of whisky making. The name ‘Art is the Flower’ comes from a 1902 lecture by Mackintosh, which began with those very words and showcased the parallels between art, nature and the soul. This excerpt was selected by The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society – an independent charity, established in 1973 to promote and encourage awareness of Mackintosh – to commemorate the special significance of poetry. 

Art is the Flower is inspired by Mackintosh’s depictions of nature in architecture and art, namely his interior design piece, ‘The Spirit of the Rose’ stained glass-panel. This whisky evokes Mackintosh’s time in Europe and presents a deep-colored expression with naturally developed flavors, derived from sherry seasoned European Oak casks. 

“To truly capture a spirit that depicts Mackintosh’s essence and inspiration, we had to draw upon our own artistry,” Steven Bremner, Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said. “We had the freedom to tap into our entire inventory, identifying casks that have reached their peak maturation, which added an extra layer of character and complexity. European oak was key as it delivers beautiful oak notes, spices and dried fruit, but crucially also delicate notes of fruits that bear their own blossoms.” 

The expressions also are accompanied by a series of short documentary style films, celebrating the connection we share with the natural world. The series features artists, architects, and historians, exploring Mackintosh’s influence on their work, including renowned fashion designer, Christopher Kane. Kane, inspired by Mackintosh during his time at The Glasgow School of Art, reflected this in his 2018 Resort Collection, which used motifs from art and nature from Mackintosh’s Hill House in Helensburgh, Scotland. 

“Mackintosh had a unique style that continues to influence artisans and global projects even today, and The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society was delighted to collaborate with The Macallan on this new collection – a true collaboration of art, whisky and poetry, inspired by The Spirit of the Rose,” Stuart Robertson, Director of The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, who collaborated on the project, said. 

The Macallan Art is the Flower is a limited-edition release and will be available starting April 29th, 2025 for an SRP of $1,000 through invitation to purchase and select retailers across the U.S. 

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About The Macallan 

The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its single-malt whiskies. Two centuries have passed since Alexander Reid, founder of The Macallan, distilled the first batch of whisky in his curiously small stills in Speyside, Scotland, in 1824, beginning the extraordinary legacy of the single malt Scotch whisky. For further information visit www.themacallan.com.