Jeanne Gang designed a decanter, titled the Artistry in Oak, for Scottish whisky makers Gordon & MacPhail, specifically conceived to commemorate the release of the Gordon & MacPhail 85-Year-Old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery, celebrated as the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled. Unveiled in London on October 2, 2025, Jeanne Gang’s artistic design employs a spiraling oak branch as a biomorphic symbol of stability and timelessness, turning the decanter into a functional object that honors the spirit’s history.
Artistry in Oak: The Vessel as Living Sculpture
The Artistry in Oak project was born from Gordon & MacPhail’s ambition, which began with the maturing of spirit in sherry casks shipped from Jerez to Elgin and eight decades later emerged as an exceptional bottled at 43.7% ABV and celebrated for its intricate notes of aged leather, apricot compote, dried tobacco, Seville orange peel, orchard fruit, and autumnal plum.
Selecting Jeanne Gang for this project reflected the client’s desire for a design that embodies both historical depth and artistic legacy. Envisioning the object as a work of art, Jeanne shaped the narrative of time and organic growth. The most challenging aspect was translating the invisible essence of 85 years of aging and care into a tangible form.
Jeanne Gang’s Spiraling design
Jeanne Gang, founder of Studio Gang, builds at the intersection of art and activism, crafting an architectural language that’s tactile, transparent, and transformative. The design philosophy behind the Artistry in Oak decanter began with an exploration of growth and the diversity of form in nature. This methodological consistency is central to her practice, which views the whisky-making process as an extension of nature, reinforcing her own architectural ethos.
Material Dialogue: Oak, Glass, and Bronze
Form inspired by oak used in the Gordon & MacPhail casks, Gang ensured that the quality and essence of the 85-year-old whisky were directly manifested in the physical design of the vessel. Oak, the wood for barrels, became the primary design material, with the decanter of bronze for branches and glass for the vessel, emphasizing the usefulness, beauty, and delight of nature.
The design of the decanter is not just a simple enclosure but a deliberately engineered structure, where four patinated-bronze branches structurally embrace and visually protect the glass vessel. Focusing on high-precision craftsmanship, the design pushed the limits of artisan skill and achieved the precision of the mouth-blown crystal, ensuring the vessel’s shape and size to hold the specific volume of whisky. The approach to form narrates dual intent, recalls the oak that nurtured the whisky for 85 years, and evokes the image of a tree gently encasing a piece of precious amber over time.
The tall, strong metallic structure acts as a protective frame that suspends the glass vessel while showcasing the whisky’s deep amber hue. The metal frame echoes the role of the American oak cask that aged the liquid for nearly 90 years. In this regenerative support system, bronze branches are structurally attached to a fragile glass vessel, promoting ecological balance and longevity.
Translating 85 Years Into Functional Form
This creation of complex, fluid, naturalistic forms of the bronze branches integrates functionally with the custom-designed glass, reflecting the craft and care that goes into making form, drawings, and details. Focusing the decanter’s story on the natural resource that nurtured the spirit’s aging, Gang created a meaningful link between this high-luxury object and her firm’s broader philosophy for timber utilization as well as the regenerative cycle of wood usage in architecture. Through her diverse work, she invites us to see design as a living system that connects people, place, and purpose.
Photo credits: © GORDON & MACPHAI
