The world’s most iconic department store, Harrods, is to host an interactive James Bond-themed experience to mark the release of an extraordinary 007 whisky from, The Macallan.
The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release is a unique single malt presented in a collection of six limited-edition bottles to mark the six decades of the Bond film franchise. From Sunday 19th February, for 4 weeks visitors to the Knightsbridge store will be able to travel through an interactive journey filled with memorabilia and moments from the 007 films.
The experience, on the Ground Floor of Harrods, will be accessed directly from the Door 9 Entrance on Hans Road. Immediately on entering, visitors will follow a lit path to navigate through the exhibits, most of which are housed in – and visible from – the Exhibition Windows on the Brompton Road.
Central to the experience will be a timeline composed of original illustrative designs, concept art and storyboards showcasing the creative development process of the Bond films, also featured on the distinctive packaging of the whisky collection. At the heart of the timeline will be the original Little Nellie, the compact autogyro flown by Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice (1967). Guests will be able to have their Instagram-ready photo taken in a virtual cockpit to put themselves at the controls of the Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro.
The final space takes the form of Moneypenny’s office, with filing cabinets showcasing a retrospective of memorabilia from the six decades of James Bond films. Inside various cabinets, visitors will uncover Bond’s passport from GoldenEye (1995), his government Whitehall ID as seen in Skyfall (2012) and a gold bar from Goldfinger (1964), signed by Sean Connery, the inhaler belonging to Le Chiffre in Casino Royale (2006), the metal teeth of towering henchman Jaws from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), and the steel-rimmed bowler hat worn by Oddjob in Goldfinger (1964).
The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release is a limited-edition Scotch whisky created by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell to capture the character of Bond – a single malt with extreme grace balanced by remarkable strength and depth of character. The expression is presented in six individual packaging designs – one for each decade of the film franchise – featuring original illustrations from the film archives to showcase the creative process behind some of Bond’s most iconic moments. Exclusively for Harrods in the UK, the collection is presented in its entirety in a limited-edition Globe-Trotter case crafted specially to hold the six bottles.
In addition to the London activity, a series of similarly curated experiences will take place in selected markets around the world as The Macallan in Cinema exhibit is celebrated across the globe.
‘The Macallan has become one of James Bond’s favoured whiskies, a reflection of his appreciation of the finer things in life,’ said Neil Skinner, Director of Marketing at Edrington UK, The Macallan’s brand owner. ‘Both are the modern innovators willing to push boundaries and linked by their Scottish heritage. We’re delighted to partner with Harrods – another global icon – for the first of what we hope will be many such initiatives. Innovation and craftsmanship is at the heart of what we do, and we are thrilled to be showcasing these qualities in such a fitting and distinguished setting.’
Alex Unitt, Partnerships Director at Harrods said: ‘We are delighted to be partnering with The Macallan on this special project, which marks the coming together of four iconic British brands. The Macallan, James Bond, Globe-Trotter and Harrods are all synonymous with luxury and discerning taste, something which resonates hugely with our Harrods customer in the UK and beyond. Harrods is proud to bring the rare and exclusive to our audience in every corner of our business and this is no exception. The level of craftsmanship and dedication to quality is remarkable at The Macallan distillery, and these are values that we hold very dear at Harrods. The interactive experience is not to be missed; we can’t wait to see it come to life for our customers to enjoy.’
