As one of the premier Scotch whisky brands worldwide, The Macallan has increasingly made tasting experiences at some of the world’s top hotels into a popular draw with luxury travelers, from the Rosewood London to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
The newest hotspot for the Scottish company is The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Newport, R.I., as the hotel opens its first-ever whisky tasting room, featuring The Macallan.
The Vanderbilt’s Reserve Room has been transformed into an interactive whisky haven, complete with a billiards table, red paneled walls, custom lighting, exploratory mystery activations, and more—including some surprises and secrets promised to be hidden within the space waiting to be discovered by visitors.
Experiences include an Into the Cask Whisky Tasting, allowing guests to savor a variety of The Macallan expressions while learning the story behind each of the pours alongside indulgent bites from the hotel’s executive chef Tim Caspare; and The Macallan Mixology Class, an immersive and educational cocktail class and mixology experience centered around The Macallan’s finest whiskies.
Cocktails served in the Reserve Room will include Carpenter’s Cure, a barrel aged Rusky Nail featuring The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old and barrel aged Drambuie; Blood on the Tracks featuring The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, blood orange cordial, sweet vermouth, and cherry liqueur; and The Carriage House with The Macallan Sherry Cask 12 Years Old, spiced ginger syrup, and club soda.
Auberge Resorts Collection has a portfolio of 26 luxury hotels, resorts, residences, and private clubs—each unique in design and experiences offered—around the world. Originally built in 1908 and fashioned into a boutique hotel in the 1990s, The Vanderbilt is a 33-room historic hotel near the waterfront of the posh New England town of Newport.
The opening of the Reserve Room featuring the Macallan is part of a brand-wide initiative at Auberge. Titled “The Extraordinary Year,” the program taps into a trend among travelers who are spending their dollars more consciously on unique experiences, with new programs and events around art, culture, cuisine, and wellness at its properties over the course of 2024. The Vanderbilt touts its legacy for curating one-of-a-kind experiences, so the Reserve Room will serve as a resource for those looking to learn more about the single-malt whisky. The hotel will also host the largest selection of The Macallan in the state of Rhode Island.
Along with the Reserve Room, guests can also enjoy evening drinks at the popular rooftop bar, The Roof Deck, with sweeping views of Newport Harbor (when weather permits) as well as in the cozy Vermouth Bar on the ground floor.
Room rates start at $449 per night for the winter season and $1,099 for the summer season.