Up on the Highlands

AD travels to the heart of Scotland to visit an avant-garde distillery and its unique architecture that’s equal parts poetry and sculpture.

- RITUPRIYA BASU

The drive to The Macallan estate in Craigellachie, Scotland, is an exceptionally quiet one-all one really hears are the hushed sounds of life in the Scottish countryside as the car rolls through the meandering roads. The estate, spread across 485 acres, is where the famed distillery sits, producing one of the finest Scottish single malts. It was first founded by Alexander Reid in 1824 and is located in the stunning landscape of Speyside, a region in the lower northeast corner of the Scottish highlands known for producing some of the best whiskies in the world-all thanks to the river Spey and its cold fresh water an indispensable ingredient.

As one drives towards the distillery, it's hard to spot this architectural marvel that was first unveiled in 2018. It lingers on the periphery, offering fleeting glimpses as one enters the estate, until it suddenly emerges into view.