Estate agent — Beatrice Aidin

The Macallan teams up with Lalique for a special limited-edition decanter – inspired by 007?

In the James Bond film Skyfall, Judi Dench’s character M is seen drinking whisky from The Macallan estate. So could it be a coincidence that the latest offering from the Speyside distillery is simply named M?

There is nothing simple, however, about this whisky, or its presentation. M has a rich scent of spices, orange citrus and rich dried fruits – the whisky develops in Spanish sherry oak casks for added depth as it matures – and according to The Macallan, M is the most sophisticated single malt whisky it makes. The special limited-edition decanter is made of exquisite Lalique crystal, and there are just 1,750 available, each engraved with an individual number, retailing for around £2,950.

The whole concept – the design of the bottle and the striking cases – is a collaboration between the power triumvirate of Fabien Baron, founder and creative director of Baron & Baron and the former creative director of French Vogue; Silvio Denz, president and CEO of Lalique; and David Cox, director of fine and rare whiskies at The Macallan.

“The whisky is one of our richest,” says David Cox, “and the decanter shows off the wonderful depth of colour, which comes from the sherry casks it is distilled in.” The six-faceted design pays homage to six key elements of the whisky’s creation: the 390-acre Macallan estate; the small, uniquely shaped stills; the Spanish oak casks; the natural colour; the spirit of the whisky; and finally (but most importantly), the 16 per cent of the new spirit selected for M – the smallest figure in the industry.

It could also prove to be a canny investment: in 2010 a 64-year-old Macallan housed in a Lalique Cire Perdue decanter reached $460,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, all of which was donated to the non-profit Charity: Water.

But back to espionage. As the new head of MI6, will Ralph Fiennes be seen drinking M from this distinctive decanter as he attempts to keep tabs on the ever-elusive 007?