by Ian Skellern
Fine watches and fine whisky: for many the two go together like single malt birds of a feather.
Urwerk founders Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei have been known to enjoy a smooth amber tipple or two, and as discerning gentlemen with discerning taste in haute horlogerie, it’s perhaps not surprising that Baumgartner and Frei also have discerning taste when it comes to whisky: single malt by The Macallan.
And if you have any doubt about where The Macallan is located, check out the address: The Macallan Distillers Ltd, Easter Elchies, Craigellachie, Scotland.
The Macallan whisky mechanical hip flask by Urwerk
When out and about in cold weather, it’s nice to have a warm dram of whiskey from a convenient hip flask, but in the minds of Baumgartner and Frei, traditional hip flasks have two downsides:
1. They do not easily sit upright if placed on a table, so they might leak the precious fluid if the caps are not sealed tightly (something that’s ever more likely to happen with each dram served).
2. It’s hard to have a quick sip from a hip flask on a frosty day without offering to nearby friends, and that can get expensive if you have filled your flask with The Macallan’s finest, which has been aged for many decades.
Sketch of The Macallan whisky mechanical hip flask by Urwerk
So Baumgartner and Frei decided to make what they thought would be the perfect hip flask in collaboration with The Macallan with a few intense features.
Exploded diagram of The Macallan whiskymechanical hip flask by Urwerk
One is spring-activated stabilizers to support the flask vertically when required.
Another is the fact that there is just one cap but actually two tanks inside, offering the possibility of seamlessly (and secretly) switching between two types of whisky so you have different options for different situations. Or one for you and another for friends.
X-ray view of The Macallan whisky mechanical hip flask by Urwerk
And, finally, cask indicators on rollers so you know at all times which whisky is in which flask.
About The Macallan
The Macallan distillery was founded in 1824, a producer one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whisky. Situated on a plateau above the river Spey in northeast Scotland, the distillery is surrounded by a 150-hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland manor built in 1700, at its heart.
The Macallan vintage single malt whisky
The Macallan whisky mechanical hip flask by Urwerk
For more information, please visit www.themacallan.com.
Quick Facts
Cap: mechanical connecting arm clicks into place when completely open; ball bearings snap into small recess and hold cap open while pouring
Tanks: 2 internal tanks in titanium
Mouthpiece: spring-loaded directional mouthpiece in stainless steel switches between the two tanks
Number of components: 156
Limitation: 500 pieces
Price: £1,995
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Love this, I need this for Trinidad Carnival.
SIMPLY BAD *SS!!!
Surely they could up the attraction by adding a load of diamonds – and why is there no platinum?
Good snark!
Totally over engineered and unnecessary. I love it. 😀
😉
WHISKY!!!!!! Not “whiskey”. What sort of ignoramus would make that mistake in an article about it?
I am not sure how to categorize what sort of ignoramus I am, J.W., but never let it be said that I don’t learn from my mistake. Spelling corrected and thank you for pointing that out.
Regards, Ian
I snagged one. Just an amazing piece of invention. At par with both companies. Cheerio Elizabeth !
Regards Moritz
Excellent, lucky you!