“I have always loved the end-of-year celebrations in my home city. Everyone is in a good mood; there’s a sense of warmth and closeness. On Nochevieja, the streets of Jerez de la Frontera are lit up with beautiful lights, and friends gather to enjoy each other’s company before heading to their family home for a delicious dinner.”
Maria Melero
Artist and Freelance Illustrator
For A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera, we collaborated with Spanish artist and illustrator Maria Melero. Each layer of the gift box captures her fondest memories of New Year’s Eve in her home city, Jerez, in southern Spain.
In the Vineyards
Maria’s memories begin with a crimson sky, the traces of a vivid sunset drawing a red curtain over the year, and vineyards of sherry grape vines resting peacefully below, protected by a border of thorny roses whose delicate petals alert the winegrowers to potential incoming threats.
Rose bushes act as an early detection system for the vines, so action can be taken before any widespread damage is done by disease.
A Sense of Home
Walking beneath a crimson sky, we return with Maria to her family home, admiring the blue and white tiles that decorate the streets of the city. A sweet aroma invites us forward: a mixture of pastry, honey, anis, and cinnamon emanating from the glowing windows of the houses.
We arrive at a cosy-looking house whose entrance is adorned with a sprig of fresh rosemary, a protective symbol of good wishes.
“In my house, we eat a traditional meal followed by pestiños: sweet pastries glazed with honey or cinnamon sugar. Finally, as midnight approaches, we prepare the grapes. Twelve per person, to be eaten on the strike of the twelve bells that ring in the new year, bringing good wishes to us all.”
Maria Melero
Artist and Freelance Illustrator
The Tiles
The wall tiles represent traditional Andalusian houses. Each tile design has been crafted with special meaning for The Macallan.
Thistle
Representative of Scotland, but also a common sight in Jerez, a reminder of warmer months.
Mandarines
Traditional dessert and very much part of the Jerez landscape, a special memory for Maria.
Cask
Representation of our exceptional sherry seasoned casks.
Curiously Small Stills
The Macallan curiously small stills.
200 Years Young
A logo to celebrate The Macallan turning 200 years young.
Distillery
The imposing hills of The Macallan's Distillery.
Easter Elchies House
Spiritual Home of The Macallan.
Vine Leaf
They define the character of the landscape of Jerez.
Horseshoe
They bring good luck, but they’re also representative of the beloved Andalusian horse.
Celebrating with Grapes
In Spain, grapes represent the essence of the New Year celebration itself, the most special part of the night, characterised by warmth and closeness with loved ones. The centuries old tradition of eating 12 grapes remains and the whole country still pauses right before midnight, waiting for the clock to strike to call in the new year.
Maria illustrated golden grapes from Jerez vineyards, representing the sherry wine that plays such an integral role in the seasoning of our casks.
About Maria Melero, artist and freelance illustrator
The artist Maria Melero is a melting pot, through which a myriad of inspirations pass, crystallising into a unique style, full of colour and symbolism.
From Jerez de la Frontera, the artist regularly explores forms and formats in connection with Andalusia, and her constant character has gradually conquered the art world both through her own works and the jugs, bulrush chairs or the paintings in her exhibitions "Daughter of a Thousand Milks" and "A Game", as well as in work for different firms and events.
Nochevieja
This release is inspired by New Year’s Eve in Jerez de la Frontera: a night full of meaning and tradition, known as Nochevieja, meaning Old Night.
A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera uses a perfectly balanced combination of exceptional European and American sherry seasoned oak casks and is inspired by the year end traditions in the home of sherry wine.