There is something about a moment of creation, when two forces come together to make something new.
The Macallan Litha encapsulates this moment and the meeting of two worlds. Award-winning artist and illustrator Sija Hong captured the spirit of this single malt for the whisky’s packaging and label artwork.
Music composed by John McLaren and Guy Barker. Arranged by Chris Hill.
The artwork was designed using two bold colour palettes, selected by Sija with a particular journey in mind. Scotland is depicted on the right-hand side in blue pantones, while Spain is showcased to the left through red pantones. In the middle, is a beautifully designed tree.
This tree is a central element representing the coming together of these two worlds through exclusive maturation in first fill sherry seasoned oak casks – a pure moment of creation resulting in this complex single malt whisky.
The Andalusian horse represents Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, home of the finest sherry that seasons our oak casks. The peacock represents Scotland, The Macallan’s new make spirit and natural colour. The Salmon leaping from the water represents nature on The Macallan Estate and the life of the River Spey. The clashing waves throughout represent the meeting of our new make spirit and sherry seasoned oak casks. Finally, the oak trees represent the importance of our sherry seasoned oak casks.
MEET SIJA HONG
Sija Hong is a Chinese born award winning artist and illustrator currently based in the USA. After 4 years of studying fashion design, she pursued a MFA degree from Syracuse University, which she obtained in 2018.
She has developed a diverse portfolio illustrations and received numerous awards and honours including prestigious China Illustration Biennial, World Illustration Awards, Communication Arts, Creative Quarterly, 3 x 3, American Illustration, Art Directors Club, Spectrum, and Society of Illustrators.
Sija has illustrated the packaging artwork – based on a concept of two worlds coming together for the first time – and created three additional illustrations which bring this story to life. She has an innate curiosity complemented with a unique illustration style that allows her to bring The Macallan Litha’s story to life in an impactful and fascinating way. A whisky that is a “First” of its kind..
THE MACALLAN LITHA
Litha tells the story of our extraordinary whisky making process, and captures the powerful synergy that happens when two forces meet for the first time.
Our exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks – the greatest single contributor to our outstanding flavour and natural colour – are crafted to our exacting specification in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. These sherry seasoned oak casks journey to The Macallan Estate, in Scotland, where they are filled with The Macallan new make spirit and the meeting of two worlds begins.