Edrington is one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies and the owner of The Macallan. As part of its most ambitious design project to date, Edrington collaborated with Bentley Motors to create The Macallan Horizon, a radical rethinking of the traditional whisky vessel that brings together craftsmanship, innovation and material excellence. Diametric was selected to deliver the ultra-precise metal branding required for this landmark luxury release.
Macallan Horizon
Brewery
Electroformed Badges
The Macallan Horizon is presented in a unique horizontal vessel that combines multiple materials and surfaces, including glass, aluminium and wood. Each of these materials presents different bonding characteristics and tolerances. Branding elements needed to be flawlessly executed at an exceptionally small scale while meeting the rigorous durability and finish expectations associated with two globally respected luxury brands.
The decals had to be absolutely blemish-free at close inspection and precisely colour-matched across different finishes. They also required secure bonding to complex, mixed-material surfaces and had to be fine enough to complement the vessel without dominating the overall aesthetic. Any failure in these areas would compromise the integrity of the radical design.
As an existing supplier, the Diametric team worked closely with Edrington, The Macallan brand team and the bottle manufacturer to support delivery from initial specification through to final application. After assessing the intricate level of detail, surface variations and high visual expectations, electroformed ultra-thin metal decals were identified as the only viable solution.
Two distinct finishes were produced for the project. These included gloss black PVD Horizon decals alongside plated bronze Macallan and Bentley decals. The electroforming process allowed for exceptional precision, with the thinnest points on the decals measuring just 0.25 mm and an overall thickness of 0.05 mm. This refinement ensured the branding sat seamlessly within the design rather than appearing applied.
To achieve long-term durability, adhesive coverage was carefully specified to suit each substrate. Once applied, the decals were sealed beneath a fine layer of clear lacquer by the customer, locking them securely into place and delivering a flawless, premium finish consistent with the vessel’s design language.
The finished decals now form an integral part of The Macallan Horizon decanter. The flawless metal branding successfully contributes to a landmark product that challenges traditional whisky presentation while remaining deeply rooted in craftsmanship and intricate detail.
