The Macallan’s oldest single malt to date, 64-years to be exact, is a special dram deserving of a special container, and Lalique’s unique creation, the Cire Perdue Decanter, is a vessel worthy of housing arguably the most precious whisky in the world.
Produced using the lost wax process, The Macallan and Lalique Cire Perdue Decanter is a sight to behold. This one-off piece (the only one in existence) was designed at Lalique’s Paris studio and is based upon a ship’s decanter from the 1820s – the decade in which The Macallan was founded.
The lost wax process is a century-old practice originally developed to cast large pieces in bronze. It is extremely complex. After first modelling an object out of wax it is then smothered with plaster and sent to the oven. The heat bakes the plaster while the wax melts – leaving an empty shape into which molten crystal can be poured. The crystal then sets, forming the desired shape.
The Macallan & Lalique Cire Perdue Decanter is due to reach New York when the decanter and its revered contents will be auctioned by Sotheby’s for the good cause.