Paul McCarthy x McLean’s Artist Malts
Tree Green Plug Bottle Whisky Bucket Black, Paul McCarthy, 2024
Celebrating 10 years since the US artist Paul McCarthy launched his controversial 80 ft inflatable sculpture 'Tree' in Paris in 2014, McLean's Artist Malts presents 'Tree Green Plug Bottle Whisky Bucket Black', an exquisite whisky edition by Paul McCarthy.
This edition is an original work of art by Paul McCarthy in collaboration with McLean's Artist Malts.
Featuring just 90 bottles of 13-year-old single malt Scotch whisky from Bunnahabhain distillery, Islay Scotland, encased in a bottle designed by McCarthy and produced in glass by the world renowned Berengo Studio in Murano, Italy. The accompanying steel bucket, designed, signed and numbered by the artist, acts as both a container and a pedestal to present the work.
The ‘Complete Special Edition’
The collection is completed with a matched suite of four lithographs produced by Poligrafa Obra Grafica of Barcelona, Only the ‘Complete Special Edition’ includes all four prints.
Standard Edition
Includes the whisky sculpture housed in the steel black bucket, signed and numbered by the artist (lithographs not included).
Early Collectors Edition
For a limited run, exclusive on the Artsy platform we are releasing a small number of bottles for early collectors. This run is from the ‘Standard Edition’ but inclusive of a single signed print from one of the four designs, the specific piece will be revealed only upon opening; adding an element of surprise to this exclusive early collector's set.
THE LITHOGRAPHS
Editioned at 36 sets of four 70 x 100cm lithographs printed exclusively for this project by Poligrafa Obra Grafica in Barcelona. These drawings were created at Paul McCarthy's dining table in Los Angeles, during a whisky tasting session with Director of McLean's Artist Malts, Liam Scully.
Testing Whisky Testing, 8 Shots, 2014-2024
During this session McCarthy rated 8 whiskies from 8 different distilleries in Scotland, to determine the flavour profile he most enjoyed.
White Snow Stump Walt Stump, 2014-2024
We then carefully searched out a heavily peated sherry finished whisky - and settled on an exceptional rare cask of peated Bunnahabhain.
White Pink Clear Glass Brown Green, 2014-2024
Three further drawings were created during this whisky infused brainstorming session, culminating in several bottle designs to explore in glass.
White Snow Love Tree Walt Tree, 2014-2024
PAUL McCARTHY
Paul McCarthy is widely considered one of the most influential and groundbreaking contemporary American artists. Born in 1945 and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, he established a multi-faceted artistic practice, which sought to break the limitations of painting by using unorthodox materials such as bodily fluids and food. He has since become known for visceral, often hauntingly humorous work across various mediums-from performance, photography, film and video, to sculpture, drawing and painting.
'TREE'
This work was first conceived shortly after the controversy surrounding McCarthy's inflatable work ‘Tree’ in Paris 2014, and developed over the subsequent years. Whisky tastings, drawings, studio visits between London and LA, more whisky tastings, and prototyping eventually brought us to 'Tree Green Plug Bottle Whisky Bucket Black', a new work of art by Paul McCarthy not seen until now.
McLEAN’s ARTIST MALTS
McLean’s Artist Malts is a publisher of artist editions like no other. Founded in 2012 by Liam Scully and Jari Lager, M>A>M marries rare Scotch whisky with cutting-edge contemporary art. Collaborating with some of the most exciting artists working today, M>A>M matches whisky that lives up to the artist’s standing. Each project plays on sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Previous artists include Rose Wylie, Charles Avery, Laure Prouvost, Rodney Graham, Cornelia Parker, and Ben Rivers.
THE WHISKY
The contents sealed within this bottle is a 13-year-old heavily peated single malt Scotch whisky, from Bunnahabhain distillery, Islay Scotland. Distilled on 20th January 2005 and aged in a sherry butt for over 11 years. The whisky was then decanted to a sherry infused octave for a final maturation of 18 months, exclusively for Paul McCarthy. Just 93 bottles of this whisky was bottled at cask strength 55.2% on 4th of March 2019.
This is an outstanding whisky that McCarthy says ‘ It lets you know!’
Chocolatey on the nose with hints of lavender mixed with campfire smoke. On the palate it is assertive with black treacle, tobacco, stewed plums and raisin notes, followed by intense peat smoke and salty sea spray on the tongue, benefiting from the 18 month rapid maturation in a sherry infused octave, the complex finish is the longest I've ever known, perfect for a long debaucherous night by the campfire.
Liam Scully, Director McLean's Artist Malts
