When the invitation came in, to fly by helicopter to Wolgan Valley for lunch and the opening of The Macallan whisky experience, it took me all of 0.001 seconds to say yes.
Enjoying a pristine bush location beneath dramatic sandstone escarpments, the resort features world-class cuisine, a plush and cosy central lodge with outdoor pool, 40 super comfortable guest villas featuring indoor pools, plus a pampering Spa offering a range of treatments. There’s also plenty of outdoor experiences and activities on offer from horse riding, bushwalking and mountain biking to tennis, archery and stargazing, the list goes on.
So, the question is, how can you improve this hotel?
Of course, by adding a dedicated whisky room offering a bespoke, sensorial whisky experience.
Enter ‘The Macallan’, makers of incomparable Scotch whisky since 1824. As one of the world’s most prestigious producers of single malt whisky The Macallan have been creating liquid magic on the banks of the river Spey in north-eastern Scotland in for 199 years.
Guests of the resort will experience The Macallan story through a sensorial journey, exploring the extraordinary legacy and expertise of the world’s most incomparable Single Malt Scotch whisky.
Whisky connoisseurs and novices alike will have the chance to immerse themselves in the world of The Macallan while tasting some of the finest single malts available. I started as a novice and have a newfound appreciation for how special single malt whisky can be.
The Macallan room offering includes limited editions, new releases, rare expressions, and archival products from the resort’s exclusive ‘vault’, including the celebrated M Decanter. Guests staying at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley can enjoy the following The Macallan experiences:
The Macallan Serves
Resort guests can soak in majestic valley vistas whilst savouring cocktails designed exclusively to elevate the enjoyment of The Macallan’s renowned single malts. This selection proudly incorporates unique elements of Wolgan Valley such as handpicked lemon-scented tea tree.
The Macallan Flights
Guests can enjoy either a self-guided flight of carefully selected whiskies that showcase The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks, or The Macallan Prestige Flight features a range of new releases, limited editions, and archival products from the resort’s exclusive ‘vault’ that promises a journey of discovery and intrigue.
The Macallan 5-course Whisky Pairing Dinner
A seasonal dinner menu designed by the resort’s Executive Sous Chef Pitam Gurung, designed specifically to pair with The Macallan’s exceptional serves. This one-of-a-kind menu features seasonal produce grown in the Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley chef’s garden, foraged from the reserve and sourced from the best of the region’s speciality farmers and producers. Resort guests can enjoy this exclusive menu in the Wolgan Dining Room overlooking glorious Wolgan Valley views.
Over a superb lunch with a matching whisky flight, we were treated to a fascinating talk about the brand’s history including the six pillars that guide production and make it so unique.
Given the helicopters and glamourous location I felt like I’d stumbled onto the set of a James Bond movie. Could there a James Bond 007 connection here? We are talking about The Macallan, so yes of course there is!
The Macallan has a long association with the James Bond franchise and has been enjoyed in several films including Skyfall and Spectre. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the James Bond in 2022, The Macallan created the ‘James Bond 007 – The Macallan 60th Anniversary’ release and pleasingly we got to taste that as well.
Continuing on the 007 theme, The Macallan opened a new distillery in Speyside in 2018 and it is a breathtaking piece of architecture worthy of a baddies lair from a James Bond movie. The roof alone which is topped by a grass layer has 1800 single timber beams and over 380,000 individual components making it one of the most complicated timber
structures in the world. Located about one hour by car from Inverness they offer a distillery experience and have a brasserie and bar onsite, so be sure to include a visit in your future Scottish travel plans.
In other celebrity news, Charles Darwin visited Wolgan Valley in 1836. It is not known if he enjoyed a whisky while he was there however, I’m pretty sure he would have appreciated the roaring fire, comfy sofas and whisky flights in The Macallan room.
Charles Darwin had to walk or ride on horseback for several days to reach Wolgan Valley. Today it’s three hours by car from Sydney or 40 mins by helicopter. I don’t know if Charles Darwin would have approved of the 007 style chopper ride home, but I certainly did.
Matthew Melhuish visited as a guest of The Macallan and Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.
