New York, New York, USA
Whisky creators Gordon & MacPhail has commissioned its “artistry in oak,” showcasing the unique decanter and oak pavilion that houses its Generations 80 Years Old single malt, created by architect David Adjaye.
The Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80YO project has recently been awarded a 2022 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
“Oak is a primary material, produced from the planet,” explains David Adjaye.
“I appreciate its preciousness as an integral part of the whisky-making process. I wanted to create a design that pays tribute to the role oak plays in transforming liquid into an elixir with almost magical properties.”
“The ambition of the design was to cultivate a multisensory moment in which the process of relishing in the whisky begins at the encounter of its artisanal mastery, ” he con
cludes.
Principles of precision and an exploration into materiality were key to unlocking a design for the case and decanter that would meet the same standards of the product itself.
The jewel-like decanter contains lenses to provide focus on the richly colored liquid.
A generous volume of crystal balances both heft and delicacy whilst providing a beguiling, tactile presence.
Designed to appear as hewn from a single solid block of crystal, the decanter’s curving core needed to be individually hand-blown by experienced artisans overseen by Glencairn Crystal Studio, experts in ultra-premium decanters and another family business based in Scotland.
The oak pavilion is constructed from sustainably sourced oaks grown less than five miles from makers, Wardour Workshops in Dorset, South West England.
The ambition of the design was to cultivate a multisensory moment in which the process of relishing in the whisky begins at the encounter of its artisanal mastery.
Project: Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80YO
Designers: Adjaye Associates
Lead Designer: David Adjaye
Client: Gordon & MacPhail Limited
