For the second chapter of The Masters of Photography series, Albert Watson visually documented The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks and their romantic journey for the first time.

The voyage begins in the bewitching forests of Spain and travels all the way to The Macallan’s spiritual home in Scotland. The outcome of Watson’s work was a stunning anthology which captures the genuine emotional connection between the photographer and his subjects and exudes an air of drama and romance: the striking landscapes, beautiful settings, and the spectacular weather patterns.

To create this black and white photographic series, Watson embarked upon a journey of 12 days covering 600 miles and encountered breathtaking scenery. From the entrancing forests of Northern Spain, where the mighty Spanish oaks grow, to the traditional cooperage in Jerez. Watson began a journey of discovery, culminating in the alchemy and passion of The Macallan Distillery in Scotland.

These platinum prints exhibit an expanded tonal range, three-dimensionality, and a uniquely luminous quality. They are also among the most permanent objects produced by man. With platinum metals being more stable than gold, a platinum image, properly preserved, can last thousands of years.

The Whisky

A limited collection of 1,000 unique The Macallan Sherry Oak 20 Years Old bottles were each labelled with a specially commissioned label by Albert Watson and a set of 10 portfolio prints unique to this edition. 100 bottles were released exclusively to Global Travel Retail with a higher strength of 46.5% and presented in a blue-grey gift box. A further 36 individually customised bottles of The Macallan 1946 whisky, the year Watson first met his wife Elizabeth, were labelled with a signed one-off collectable platinum print.