Speyside Distillery The Balvenie teamed up with jewelry designer Ellie Mercer to create a chess set for Raffles London’s Guards Bar and Lounge.
Mercer is known for his handmade engraving jewelry, combining resin, solid gold and silver.
To create the traditional “Stanton” chess set, she used balveny distillery materials, including a renovated caskhead, along with polished brass and resin squares in raffle red tones.
Each board has a custom corner to hold the whiskey drums.
She said: “Working with Balveny has been an incredible journey, and as an artist, I think their dedication to craftsmanship is truly incredible.
“The chess set embodies this spirit. It is modern in design, rooted in crafts, with elements like caskheads recognizing the role of Balveny Cooper. I visually We aimed to create something that not only got excited, but also invited people to slow down and taste both the game and whiskey.”
The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Maker & Gamers’ experience also features a whiskey trolley that houses a collection of bars with chess sets and offers a Balvenie Rare Marriage Collection.
Guests ordering from the trolley will experience an immersive aromatic experience featuring four fragrances that tell the story of Balveny.
The sensory experience costs £60 ($75) and the chess experience costs £110 ($137).
Aristarasi, manager of Guard Bar and Lounge, said:
“Our venue is renowned for offering a luxurious, made-to-order experience. This chess-whisky pairing adds a layer of creativity and celebrates the careful fusion of modern and traditional craftsmanship. It gives you a unique and immersive opportunity.”
The Guard Bar and Lounge were awarded the Pinnacle Guide in 2024. Its sister venue, Spyber, recently launched a monthly acquisition series.
A limited run in the chess set can also be purchased from Fortnum & Mason. Each board comes with a bottle of Balveny 25.
“We’ve seen a lot of money,” said Sean Fennelly, brand ambassador for Balveny in the UK.
“Working with Ellie Mercer has allowed us to incorporate the spirit of innovation that encourages our frothing and translates it into something beautiful and meaningful at once.
“Chess sets are an expression of tradition and accuracy, and are all the qualities that define our process in creativity and perseverance, the balvenyan, an extraordinary new way for our guests to truly “play” with our brand Provide a way. ”
Balveny is owned by William Grant & Sons and today (February 6th) has released a collection of 50-year-old Tenburn Single Malts in collaboration with Korean artist Ha-Chon Hyun.
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