Food and Drink Cocktails + Spirits This Exclusive Scotch Club Is Only Offering 35 Memberships — and It's by 2 Iconic Brands Whisky connoisseurs will be flocking to Edinburgh for this new partnership between The Macallen and The Balmoral Hotel. By Kristen Shirley Kristen Shirley Instagram Twitter Website Kristen Shirley is a New York-based luxury expert, writer, and editor who covers travel, fashion, fine watches, jewelry, wine, and spirits. She is currently a contributing editor to Forbes.com and Nobleman, and a freelance writer for luxury publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, Travel + Leisure, and Robb Report. Passionate about craftsmanship, rare gemstones, and supporting independent designers, Kristen began her career at Elle in the fashion department, where she trained under former style director Kate Lanphear before becoming the associate market editor. She later went on to become the luxury editorial director at Elite Traveler, where she led the print and digital teams and spearheaded a redesign of the print edition and the website. An avid traveler and foodie, Kristen is drawn to tropical destinations where she can scuba dive, sip rosé on the beach, saber Champagne, shuck oysters, and learn about all things caviar. * 10+ years of experience covering fashion, style, fine watches, and jewelry * Received an applied jewelry professional certificate from the Gemological Institute of America * Received the level 3 award in wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which she passed with distinction * Received a bachelor's degree in French at Georgetown University * Studied abroad at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and attended international high schools in Frankfurt and London * Speaks French * Founder of La Patiala, a luxury encyclopedia that covers travel, food, wine, spirits, style, beauty, watches, jewelry, and lifestyle Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on October 7, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Few collectors are as passionate as those who collect fine whisky. They will spend years chasing elusive bottles and rare releases, and frequently make pilgrimages to the birthplace of their favorite spirit. The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Edinburgh, is a beloved home base for those visiting nearby distilleries. Not only is it one of the country's most storied hotels, but the property is a Scotch lover's dream. The hotel bar, aptly named Scotch, serves more than 500 whiskies. And now, The Balmoral has teamed up with The Macallan to launch an ultra-exclusive partnership: the Scotch Club. Courtesy of Balmoral The Scotch Club is sure to become one of the most coveted whisky experiences in the world — there are only 35 memberships available. Members of the club will receive a personally engraved bottle of The Macallan. The entry-level offering includes a 12-month membership and The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old, while the top offering is priced at $24,291 (£17,700) and includes a bottle of limited-edition The Macallan Red Collection 40 Years Old. Each bottle will be prominently displayed at Scotch, The Balmoral's bar, in a special section for club members. The bottles are kept under lock and key in individual whisky lockers — also called a whisky keep — and there's a plaque for the member's name beneath each bottle. Courtesy of Balmoral You'll be able to savor your Scotch from an engraved Lalique crystal glass that is perfect for unlocking the aromas of your dram of The Macallan, or any of the other 500 whiskies on-site. By tasting different whiskies alongside each other, you'll be able to truly appreciate the nuances of the different regions and taste rare bottlings. Once you finish your bottle, you can purchase another at the same price point to extend your membership for another 12 months. If you have friends visiting Edinburgh, you can even contact the hotel to share a glass of your whisky keep with them. Courtesy of Balmoral Membership to the Scotch Club includes a numbered membership card, a welcome gift, and a yearly whisky tasting led by The Balmoral's whisky ambassador. Your Ambassador will open Scotch early for you, and you can indulge in a two-hour tasting of specially selected expressions from The Macallan. You will also receive invitations to whisky masterclasses and discounts on the gorgeous suites at The Balmoral. Apply now to become a member at scotchclub@roccofortehotels.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit