In the UK, Margaret Thatcher was elected as the country’s first female Prime Minister, while, at The Macallan, Peter Shiach was appointed chairman. Tech giant Sony launched the ‘Walkman’ – allowing music to be enjoyed on the move – while tech rival Philips demonstrated the compact disk (or CD) publicly for the first time. This year also saw the iconic board game ‘Trivial Pursuit’ launched.

There are moments when we may pause in our busy lives, close our eyes and think of those who came before; those whose labours and laughter, triumphs and tears, have shaped the world we know today. We may see them through an image, or through the written pages of history, or in the shared memories of our elders. Very occasionally they can speak to us more directly, through a medium we can consume, allowing us to drink the fruits of their endeavours. Such opportunities are rare, very rare. The collection of vintage single malt whiskies in The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection provides one of those opportunities.

Launched early this century, The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection has grown to become the largest assembly of vintage-dated, single malt whiskies in the world.

These fifty-seven bottlings are products of nature’s gentle process, undisturbed for decades in sherry seasoned oak casks. While the year each was bottled is specific, their longevity is open ended. Should they so wish, their guardians and their descendants could elect to keep them forever.