Inside The Vanderbilt’s New Whisky Tasting Room

Newport favorite The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection, has upped the ante on its exclusive offering with the launch of its first-ever whisky tasting room, The Reserve, open to hotel guests and the public alike.

Specifically designed to honor the time-honored legacy of The Macallan, one of Scotland’s most celebrated and revered whisky distilleries, The Reserve at The Vanderbilt is all about one-of-a-kind experiences and will hold the largest The Macallan collection in Rhode Island.

Intended to welcome connoisseurs and whisky newbies alike, the experiences include immersive tastings of The Macallan’s finest expression such as the Into the Cask Whisky Tasting, which invites guests to sip whiskies and learn their back story alongside light bites created by executive chef Time Caspare.

[See also: The Most Exclusive Scotch Whisky Experiences]

The Reserve has been transformed into a sumptuous drinking den / ©Joe St. Pierre

Alternatively, The Macallan Mixology Class offers an accessible intro into the brand via an immersive cocktail-making session centered around some of its most popular bottles, including the Double Cask 12 Years Old, Sherry Oak 12 Years Old and the Harmony Collection.

For a more relaxed whisky-focused experience, The Reserve Room at The Vanderbilt also offers self-guided The Macallan tasting flights, as well as a menu of signature cocktails. For special occasions, the space can be privately hired in its entirety. 

[See also: The Most Exclusive Scotch Whisky Brands]

Guests can order off-menu cocktails via a concealed telephone / ©Joe St. Pierre

Befitting of whisky’s almost mythical status, The Reserve has been transformed into a sumptuous drinking den. Located on the ground floor of the mansion-style hotel, crimson wood panels line the walls and custom lighting casts an atmospheric glow, while a grand billiards table forms the heart of the room. 

On closer inspection, guests will find plenty of secret touches waiting to be discovered – best of all is the concealed telephone which connects directly to a bartender for ordering off-menu cocktails. 

"We are thrilled to honor The Macallan at our first-ever whisky tasting-room experience at The Vanderbilt,” says The Vanderbilt general manager, Raphael Pazzini. “The Reserve Room is the perfect setting, serving as a haven for enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike, offering guests an unparalleled journey into the world of fine whisky.” 

aubergeresorts.com

[See also: Chivas Brothers Launches The Vault, an Exclusive Whisky Tasting]