There is whisky, and then there is The Macallan, the world’s most admired and awarded of all single malt whiskies. Every sip of it is a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, a hallmark of excellence that it has upheld since its founding in 1824 by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland.
A whisky of such remark, of course, calls for an experience deserving of its renown. Enter Astor Bar at The St Regis KL, where the latest embodiment of The Macallan resides in the new Macallan M Room.
The Macallan M Room at Astor Bar stands tall and proud as Malaysia’s first and only experiential whisky bar, offering the most comprehensive and exclusive way to enjoy The Macallan’s whiskies while exploring its extraordinary legacy, artistry and craftsmanship. Stepping into the regal space is like stepping into the rich stories and heritage of both The Macallan and Astor bar.
Step through the doors and be greeted by three magnificent portraits by Terry O’Neil featuring the original rat pack – American actor and singer Dean Martin preparing to go on stage at a Las Vegas night club in 1971, Sammy Dabis Jr during rehearsals at the Pigalle nightclub in London circa 1961 and Frank Sinatra at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1967.
Take your seat in any one of the plush sofas and get ready for the The Macallan M Room experience:
Try the Macallan x Astor Bar Flight Experience
Should you not know where to start, whisky novices won’t go wrong with the Macallan x Astor Bar Flight Experience, a tasting flight of The Macallan’s various whiskies available only here in the Macallan M Room. It’s a hands-on guided experience to savour various vintages and ranges along with tasting bites like raisins, dried apricot and lemon cake to tease the palate.
Pair it up with chocolate bonbons and savoury canapes
For the intermediate aficionados who already know what they like, up your ante on your experience by pairing your favourite The Macallan expression with a series of Valrhona chocolate bonbons handcrafted exclusively by Executive Pastry Chef Gael Moutet of The St Regis KL. Inspired by the tasting notes of The Macallan like vanilla, raisins, coconut, orange and more, five exclusive chocolate creations tempt the eyes as much as the lips, transforming flavour profiles of the whiskies with each bite. Savoury canapes are also available, offering pairings of foie gras, fig, tuna, caviar, saffron and more, each inspired by the colourful history of the Astors, the founders of The St Regis.
Meet The Macallan Red Collection
As much as The Macallan is the world’s most awarded and admired whisky, it reserves its crème de la crème of expressions in the form of The Macallan Red Collection – the world’s oldest and rarest whisky collection. Inspired by the significance of the colour red throughout the almost 200-year history of the brand, The Red Collection, one of the world’s oldest and rarest whisky collections features some of the oldest ongoing expressions ever offered by The Macallan aged expressions, as well as high-aged guest releases. The set you will find at in The Macallan M Room at Astor Bar is the only complete with unrivaled set owned and put on public display in Asia.
Go the full mile with The Macallan Serving Ritual
Once you’ve decided on your Macallan of choice, enjoy it the full mile with The Macallan Serving Ritual where The Macallan Bar Cart will be pushed to your tableside to make you the one thing no whisky is complete without – the perfect ice ball. Watch or try your hand at making your own perfect ice ball with a device of rose gold brass which reflects the regality of the The Macallan Red Collection.
Mix it up with four bespoke The Macallan cocktails
Those looking for new flavours to experience the wide range of note of The Macallan will find it in four bespoke cocktails crafted by Astor Bar mixologists. Made with The Macallan Double Cask 15 YO and The Macallan Double Cask 12 YO, the four are distinctly different in profile but promise immense satisfaction, whichever you choose.
The sensorial whisky experience with The Macallan in Astor Bar at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur is open to the public daily from 5.00 PM – midnight. For more information, please visit us on The Macallan Malaysia Instagram. For reservations and enquiries, please call +603 2727 6696 or email astorbar.kualalumpur@stregis.com for more details.
(Photos: The Macallan)