Celebrity Life

The Macallan and Bentley Motors are working in a partnership towards a mutual vision of sustainability. The influential women working behind the scenes discuss learning from each other.

In a partnership announced earlier this year between two historic British brands, The Macallan and Bentley Motors have joined forces to build their vision of a more sustainable future. In a series of conversations between key figures from both brands, Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan, and Maria Mulder, Head of Colour and Trim at Bentley, discuss issues of sustainability, the environment and the future of their respective industries.

The Macallan and Bentley Motors Join Forces

From the perspectives of design and craftsmanship, what are the most critical points for brands to consider in terms of sustainability?

MARIA MULDER: There’s a balance between sourcing amazing sustainable materials and using materials that will stand the test of time. Longevity is critical to us; it’s no use in ethical and sustainable procurement if a material is only going to last a few years before it needs to be replaced. We invest time to diligently research materials that tick the boxes of luxury, sustainability, authenticity and innovation. Once we achieve this balance, exceptional design and craftsmanship come easily – they’re areas we’ve mastered over the past century and still treasure today.

KIRSTEEN CAMPBELL: Everything we do fuses techniques and crafts of the past with present-day progress and development. This naturally applies to the creation of our singlemalt Scotch whiskies and continues on to our packaging, where we have a responsibility to balance luxury with a need to protect the planet, as well as the suppliers we work with. One recent example is The Macallan

Red Collection, a range of rare single-malt Scotch whiskies. Featuring some of the oldest whiskies, each expression is encased in an oak presentation box created from the same sustainable European oak used for The Macallan’s casks. The boxes are beautifully upholstered with sustainably sourced soft red leather from the Scottish supplier Bridge of Weir Leather, which also creates upholstery for leading luxury car brands such as Bentley. Bridge of Weir Leather was recently revealed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any leather producer in the world.

Does this partnership help set a precedent on how different industries can use their creativity to move towards a more sustainable society?

MM: It’s a unique experience for two brands from contrasting industries and sectors to work together to share learnings on sustainability. We hope this collaboration will help to inspire expectations among customers of luxury products, who’ll demand more in terms of sustainability standards from all the brands they consume.

KC: We believe sustainability can be a driver of innovation. It’s not something we can do alone, and we collaborate with partners – like Bentley Motors – to achieve our ambitious goals, whether that be widening access to a global network of sustainable suppliers or being inspired by innovative development of sustainable materials. By linking with Bentley, we can fuse traditional craftsmanship and state-of-the art engineering to push the boundaries of innovation in our industry, while still being genuinely sustainable.

How will the partnership with Bentley inspire your vision in terms of craftsmanship and sustainability?

KC: As we look towards the future, both The Macallan and Bentley understand the value of exchanging knowledge, sharing in innovation and working together to tackle challenges. We’re both brands with a long-standing heritage of creating quality products that place an emphasis on craftsmanship, creativity and innovation, so there’s a natural alignment with our DNA and values.

At the heart of this partnership is a commitment to create a space for the open exchange of knowledge, which will allow both brands to learn from each other, uncovering innovations that benefit the communities around us. When I work with the Whisky Mastery Team to bring to life new expressions, this brings out the more creative side of my role, when my “arty” side comes into play – just as an artist or designer works with colours to create images that are appealing to the eye, I work with mixing flavours in a way that’s is appealing to the palette. I’m inspired to learn more from Maria about her processes, from a limitless palette of colour to how she unlocks incredible combinations of colour and sustainable materials.

MM: We’re in the early stages of a partnership that we hope will span many years. At present, we’re still learning from each other and planning the ways we’ll create extraordinary products and experiences together.

What shared values do both bring to this partnership – and are there any differences between the two industries that need to be bridged?

MM: Both our businesses are intently focused on creating excellence and always being the best in our fields. Rich storytelling is an integral part of the identities of both brands – we each have captivating heritage, vivid imaginations and a clear vision for future innovation that translate into
a stories-led approach to everything we create.

KC: Like The Macallan, Bentley Motors represents the very best in craftsmanship, creativity and innovation – and we share a mutual goal to drive forward our sustainability journey to protect the planet, its people and the communities around us. Collaborating with a partner from a different industry will only accelerate this progress. Working with Bentley Motors will allow us to see things differently and work in a different way.

I’m excited to see where the journey will take us. And lastly, how would you encourage other women to reach their goals, given your positions within traditionally male-dominated industries?

MM: My advice is to be brave and confident with your knowledge – and even though you may see places where someone like you isn’t represented, this becomes an opportunity. The glass ceiling will only continue to exist if we’re not brave enough to push past it.

KC: It’s exciting to be part of The Macallan’s story as the first woman to be Master Whisky Maker and custodian for The Macallan since it was established almost 200 years ago. Becoming a whisky maker takes passion, hard work and dedication, as well as natural sensory ability and it’s a fantastic role for both men and women. Globally more women are enjoying whisky and I’m pleased to have witnessed a shift in whisky being perceived as a spirit only consumed by men. There’s also a growing number of women working in whisky making, and I’m pleased to be part of this. I hope this inspires other women to challenge perceptions in the whisky industry.

Find out more here

The post The Macallan and Bentley Motors are Working Towards a Mutual Vision of Sustainability appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Elizabeth McMillan of The Macallan and Bentley Motors’ Alex Quelch-Cliffe share their views on the historic collaboration between the two companies as they set out on a pioneering journey together.

United by a dedication to craftsmanship, creativity and innovation, The Macallan and Bentley Motors have joined forces in an ambitious partnership. These two historic names share a vision of driving towards a more sustainable future while pursuing the incomparable excellence for which each is known.

The wide-reaching sustainability strategy created by The Macallan incorporates a range of elements that include giving back to communities, nurturing The Macallan Estate, progressive packaging and partnering with sustainable suppliers. The innovative partnership aims to build on the legacy of balancing excellence with environmental and social responsibility – a partnership that, it’s hoped, will inspire others to join the two brands on a journey both exceptional and ethical.

As both Elizabeth McMillan, senior marketing manager for sustainability at The Macallan, and Bentley Motors’ decarbonisation manager Alex Quelch-Cliffe are equally excited about this opportunity to learn from each other’s expertise, it seemed pertinent to talk to them together.

What are the sustainability breakthroughs from this collaboration that are new to both brands?

ELIZABETH MCMILLAN: Through a programme of knowledge exchange and the open sharing of innovative projects and plans, The Macallan and Bentley will benefit from each other’s expertise, advancing the decarbonisation transition of each of the brands’ operations. For The Macallan, it’s the intention to become carbon neutral on our Estate by 2030. Bentley already operates the UK’s first certified-carbon-neutral luxury car-manufacturing facility. By harnessing partnerships with organisations that share a common purpose, we seek to find solutions to big challenges – and Bentley Motors’ ambitious sustainability vision echoes that of our own.

What‘s the most exciting aspect of The Macallan and Bentley collaboration?

ALEX QUELCH-CLIFFE: At the heart of our collaboration is a shared vision of sustainability. Personally, I’m interested in not only the immediate benefits we can deliver from our two brands working closely together but also the potential for The Macallan’s insights to bring a different perspective and solutions to the long-term challenges we face in the wider automotive industry.

Are new sustainability measures for the brands already in place?

EM: Our partnership will unlock access to a wider network of suppliers for both companies to evolve the progressive sourcing principles of each brand. Promoting the use of sustainable materials with responsible sourcing and packaging will be fundamental to the creation of mutually curated products, experiences and content. We’ll also build on the innovative research, sourcing and use of sustainable materials by both companies. And last, but not least, we’re investing in people and cultivating a community of artisans to realise our visions of creating beautifully distinctive products and accessories.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in the journey towards sustainability?

ACQ: Rather than seeing challenges, the most striking thing we’ve both encountered are the opportunities for rich storytelling, shared learning and collaborative development. This is important to each of us, to ensure we conserve natural resources as much as possible while creating products and experiences that are extraordinary for our customers. We’re exploring all avenues to reduce single-use plastics and waste from our production processes and products.

When the proposal to collaborate with a car company came up, were the people at The Macallan originally surprised?

EM: We identified the luxury automotive sector as a valuable opportunity to expand The Macallan’s reach beyond the spirits category and broaden our learning. Through this partnership, we can bring our brands to consumers around the world in new and engaging ways, while also appealing to existing aficionados and their passions and interests.

What’s the biggest message to Prestige readers about this unprecedented collaboration?

ACW: Through this global brand partnership with The Macallan, we’ll travel forward, using our imagination to envisage how the world could be and embark on an exciting and extraordinary journey into the future.

EM: Our partnership is built on a long-term shared commitment to seeking solutions to the big challenges we both face. My hope is that our global brand partnership will lead us to ideas and innovations about sustainability that we may not have reached on our own. Both brands are demonstrating a commitment to sustainability across key areas of the business, including innovation, environmental performance and community development, so together we can help each other achieve our objectives.

Find out more here.

The post The Macallan & Bentley Motors: A Partnership Between Two Celebrated Brands appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Tales of The Macallan Volume I is a nod to The Macallan pioneers and their legacy of whisky-making.

The post Meet The Macallan’s US$80,000 Single Malt Whisky appeared first on LUXUO.

Collaborations have always been a great way to bring a new and refreshing perspective to more established brands, and this couldn't be truer for The Macallan and Bentley Motors, who announced that they are joining forces to build their vision of a more sustainable future. Now, this is an initiative that we can get on board with.

When news broke that two giants in their respective fields were coming together to form a long-term partnership, even the most jaded journalists perked their ears to hear more. Truth be told, we'd never have seen this alliance coming, but The Macallan single malt Scotch whisky and luxury British automotive manufacturer Bentley Motors have revealed a unique partnership that will build on their rich heritage to develop distinctive collaborations and further their vision of a more sustainable future.

The melding of these two storied brands is a notable milestone. The Macallan and Bentley Motors are both extremely ambitious but known for their unwavering focus, and the lofty goals they set for themselves are more than attainable.

Not only will this new venture bring us exciting jointly-developed products, but it will also introduce curated customer experiences, collaborative events, and extensive support in one another’s sustainability efforts. 

Igor Boyadjian, Managing Director for The Macallan, says, “Our collaboration presents a remarkable opportunity to compare our time-earned knowledge and learn from each other, supporting fresh thinking about our businesses, our customers, and ultimately our products.” 

The two share such innate and intrinsic similarities; both are longstanding, leading purveyors of luxury driven by mastery, craftsmanship, creativity, and innovation. This partnership lays down a blueprint for navigating a better tomorrow, as sustainability is the name of the game here. 

In the coming months and years, The Macallan and Bentley Motors are on a noble mission to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. They will exchange ideas, learnings, and expertise in environmental and social responsibility to exemplify how exceptionalism can be ethical.

The Macallan is committed to having a fully electric passenger vehicle fleet on The Macallan Estate by 2025, a bespoke Bentley Bentayga Hybrid that will be a highlight on The Macallan Estate in Speyside. The team at Mulliner – Bentley’s bespoke division representing hundreds of years of history and craftsmanship that deliver exacting personalisation for discerning consumers – has brought The Macallan brand to life through exacting details on this Bentayga Hybrid. 

Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark, interlinks the genuine connection of both brands. “We share the same ethos – the passion for exceptional quality, respect for artisanal handcraftsmanship, and now a drive towards genuine, world-leading sustainability. I’m looking forward to the adventure together.”

The collaboration will explore new sources of sustainable materials and allow the two brands to jointly find and share sustainable, local suppliers. Of course, it will also result in jointly-developed products, curated customer experiences, and collaborative events – all of which are undoubtedly worth the wait.

To attain this goal, a network of artisans has been crucial in supporting The Macallan to realise its vision of creating distinctive products and accessories and in 2021, The Macallan will establish and grow a collaborative community for our artisan partners. Through this community, and with funds raised from its Giving Back auctions, The Macallan will also create an Artisan Apprenticeship Fund aimed at perpetuating these legacy skills and the generational passage of knowledge for many years to come.  

This year, Bentley will launch its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy – recognising the value of investing in people. The strategy will focus on enhancing diversity and inclusion within the workplace to help the brand develop, attract and embrace the future talents, ideas, and customers who will help Bentley achieve future success. 

Ethical luxury in the future goes beyond sustainability. A new yardstick is on the horizon.

 (‘On an extraordinary journey into the future’ / ‘Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly. Do not drink and drive.’)

The post The Macallan and Bentley Motors Partner for a Sustainable Future appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Collectively worth over S$500,000, the six bottles tell the story of the brand's legacy, and features some of the oldest expressions ever released by The Macallan.

The post The Macallan Red collection is now on display at the Macallan Experience appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Collectively worth over S$500,000, the six bottles tell the story of the brand's legacy, and features some of the oldest expressions ever released by The Macallan.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Collectively worth over S$500,000, the six bottles tell the story of the brand's legacy, and features some of the oldest expressions ever released by The Macallan.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.