The Balmoral Scotch Club offers a chance to join an elite international whisky membership club

 

The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Edinburgh, has unveiled its new Scotch Club in collaboration with The Macallan, offering a personalised membership experience to whisky connoisseurs around the world.

As one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies, renowned for its outstanding quality and dedication to craftsmanship, The Macallan, together with The Balmoral – one of Scotland leading Luxury hotels – have utilised their shared respect for the international Whisky world and hospitality industry, to create an experience like no other.

The elite club offers bottle residence in one of the sought after, personally engraved whisky keeps that don the entrance to SCOTCH, The Balmoral’s world-renowned whisky bar. Keeping the Scottish amber nectar under lock and key, The Balmoral’s expert Whisky Ambassadors will offer Scotch Club members a whisky concierge service ensuring each visit to the world-renowned whisky bar is bespoke and memorable.

Members of the Scotch Club will be served their selected dram of The Macallan in a Lalique glass, created by the prestigious French crystal maker, providing a flawless vessel to appreciate the delights of the renowned single malt. Whisky Ambassadors will be on hand to create a cocktail or suggest a perfect serve for your own expression of The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

A range of exclusive benefits means members can entertain in style with an annual complimentary whisky tasting for two with exclusive use of the elegant surroundings of SCOTCH for two hours, graciously hosted by a Whisky Ambassador. Members also receive advance invitations to whisky masterclasses and special rates to turn their visit into a vacation in one The Balmoral’s finest suites.

The Balmoral will be accepting 12 members of the Scotch Club this summer, with a waiting list opening for the remaining 23 keeps which will be released later this year. The exclusive offering starts from £710 for a 12-month membership, where guests will be able to access their own bottle of The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old, an icon of the distillery which brings together The Macallan’s unmistakable style with hand-picked sherry seasoned American and European oak casks. The top level of Scotch Club membership priced at £17,700 includes a bottle of The Macallan Red Collection 40 Years Old, which sits at the heart of the Macallan’s distinguished limited edition Red Collection. The Red Collection is a range of rare single malt Scotch whiskies created from some of the world’s oldest and rarest casks, to mark the Macallan’s deep respect for tradition and expertise.

“Together with The Macallan, we have created a unique membership experience in an iconic Scottish location. To have your name engraved on one of only 35 whisky keeps in the heart of The Balmoral is really special and something which we hope will be coveted by whisky fans around the world.

“Our members will experience an entirely bespoke service. We want to get to know them as individuals and deliver an outstanding, memorable occasion on each and every visit to SCOTCH. We have some rare and extraordinary expressions from The Macallan available for the Scotch Club and I hope that they allow each member to join with their family and friends in the comfortable surroundings of Scotch and keep the conversations about whisky going for generations to come.” – Cameron Ewen, Whisky Ambassador and Manager of SCOTCH.

“We’re delighted to be collaborating with The Balmoral, to offer such an exceptional opportunity to whisky fans worldwide. The membership is a fantastic way for members to experience The Macallan and some of our most distinguished expressions in a completely different way and continues our prestige journey within the most exceptional venues around the world.” – The Macallan: Chris Anderson, Head of Edrington Brands, Edrington UK.

The Balmoral’s whisky bar, SCOTCH, is a unique homage to the art of whisky in Edinburgh, and this is reflected in the subtle lighting and visual depth of the bar’s interior, designed by Olga Polizzi, which echo an aged spirit. New enhancements to the whisky bar include limited edition artwork from The Macallan’s Red Collection and a beautiful back bar installation featuring The Macallan Red Collection 40 Years Old.

The Balmoral hotel delights the senses with a new Scent Butler service in partnership with Kingdom Scotland – Scotland’s first fragrance house.

This August, The Balmoral has launched a new Scent Butler experience for those staying in their Bowes Lyon signature suite. The recently refurbished Suite aptly blends heritage and modernity, style and character and guests can now enjoy a private scent masterclass in the comfort of the luxurious suite with founder and owner of Kingdom Scotland, Imogen Russon-Taylor.

Working with The Balmoral, Imogen has created a truly unique experience to bring to life the power of scent. Bottling Scotland up in a way that encapsulates the country’s stories, experiences and the inspiration behind her fragrance collection – the drama of the Scottish landscape and nature.

As well as immersing themselves in the debut Kingdom collection, guests can also indulge in a taste of The Balmoral’s exclusive Scottish gin ‘Baile Mhoireil’, created in partnership with the Secret Garden Distillery. Its perfect serve offering a flavour profile of subtle herbaceous and citrus notes to perfectly complement the fragrances.

The Bowes Lyon suite offers a verdant aesthetic with walls donned proudly with rhododendrons. The soothing tones of heather create a relaxing ambience in the bedroom, promising a restful night’s sleep. Partnered with a unisex Kingdom fragrance, a stay in the suite offers a truly unique and heightened experience for the senses. With unique porthole-style windows, exquisite green velvet furnishings and leafy drapes, guests are offered a tranquil countryside ambience whilst overlooking the bustling views of Princes Street, evoking peaceful tranquillity, right in the heart of the Scottish capital.

In addition, after each scent masterclass guests can bring home a bottle of Scotland with their very own Kingdom fragrance chosen from the collection; Metamorphic, Albaura, Portal and Kingdom Botanica.

 “I am delighted to be invited as the Scent Butler for the iconic Balmoral Hotel. We live our busy lives focusing so much on sight and sound, and appreciating our sense of smell is a rare and precious experience. I encourage guests to explore their sense of smell with Kingdom Scotland fragrances. With inspiration from the beauty of Scotland’s dramatic landscapes and nature, as well as the aromatic world of whisky – I have created an evocative and memorable scent adventure.” – Imogen Russon- Taylor, Owner & Founder of Kingdom.

 “We are constantly striving to provide our guests with unique and authentic experiences, whilst introducing them to modern Scotland and all that it offers. Our Scent Butler service gives our guests the opportunity to learn about one of the first Scottish fragrance houses while taking home a scent memory of their time here.”– General Manager of The Balmoral hotel, Richard Cooke.

A stay in the Bowes Lyon suite starts from £1,470 per night including breakfast and a Baile Mhoireil perfect serve based on two people.