Pour a Drink at One of the World's Most Luxe Distilleries

The Macallan is known for releasing whiskeys that have been aged for upwards of four decades in the distillery’s signature sherry oak wood sourced from Spain. The latest is a $35,000 50-year-old, of which only 35 bottles were made available in the U.S. There’s also the new M Black release that comes in a striking, individually numbered black crystal Lalique decanter, priced at $6,995. These might sound expensive, but recently a bottle of rare 60-year-old Macallan sold for over a million dollars at auction in Hong Kong. A brand-new, strikingly modern distillery and visitor center was recently completed, which will open to the public on June 2. The core range bottle design is getting a makeover as well, with releases aged 25 years or more packaged in oak boxes. Sometime in the future, visitors will be able to book special VIP tours of the new distillery, during which they will get to sample a range of premium expressions. For now, a basic tour is available, offering a look at how the new distillery runs (15 pounds per person).

Visitors lucky enough to get a chance to stay at the Patron Hacienda in Jalisco, Mexico are in for a real treat. Invited guests have access to a VIP room where they are able to sample some of the ultra-premium offerings from this high-end tequila brand, including the Patron en Lalique series (an eight-year-old tequila that comes in a crystal decanter) and the limited edition Patron Anejo 7 Anos (aged in French oak for seven years). The bar at La Casona offers a variety of Patron cocktails, and executive chef Daniel Nunez Mercado is in charge of the daily menu. Rooms are outfitted with luxury amenities, from spacious bathrooms to king-size beds. In the foyer of the hacienda, hand-carved arches and a 45-foot-tall brick domed ceiling greet visitors arriving after enjoying a stroll through the well-manicured garden. Clearly, as much thought has gone into the Patron Hacienda’s design as goes into the production of the 100 percent Weber Blue agave tequila.

Tucked away on the Scottish island of Islay, Bowmore has been producing high-quality whiskey for several centuries. The distillery’s fabled No. 1 Vaults, the source of some of its most exclusive releases, are part of “The Laggan, The Lade, and The Legendary No. 1 Vaults” tour (125 pounds per person, April - October). Start off by venturing into the Islay countryside to visit the River Laggan, the source of the distillery’s water, and wind up at one of the oldest maturation warehouses in the whiskey-world to sample liquid straight from the barrel. Then top it off with a tasting at the visitor center while nibbling on some complimentary antipasti. The distillery has two options for lodging – the seven-bedroom Harbour Inn in the town of Bowmore, and four-star Bowmore Cottages that once housed distillery workers. During your stay, you might even get a chance to sample some of Bowmore’s most rare bottles, like Black Bowmore 50 Year Old, distilled in 1966 and priced at $30,000 per bottle. If you are interested in arranging a bespoke whiskey pairing dinner, inquire with the distillery (subject to availability).

Hennessy is one of the world’s best-known cognac producers, releasing exclusive top-shelf expressions like Paradis Imperial, Richard Hennessy, and the brand-new Hennessy VSOP Privilege 200^th Anniversary Limited Edition Pack. This year, the distillery is offering a new behind-the-scenes half-day tour called “From the Vine to Cognac.” This private experience begins at the Chai des Pavillons cellar just across the river from the visitor center. What comes next depends on the season. In the fall and winter, you will visit the Le Peu distillery to find out more about the cognac distillation process. In the spring and summer, you can also visit the vineyards to see where the grapes are cultivated. The day wraps up with a special tasting in a private salon of Eaux-de-vie drawn from various stages of the maturation process, as well as top shelf expressions like Hennessy XO and Paradis. Tours can be booked online for 250 euros per person.

Remy Martin produces Louis XIII, an ultra-premium cognac comprised of Eaux-de-vie ranging between 40 and 100 years old. This past winter, the brand launched Louis XIII Le Salmanazar, a nine-liter crystal decanter that retails for $450,000. If you don’t want to spend quite that much, Remy Martin XO is an excellent alternative at about $180 per bottle. Visitors to Remy Martin have several different options. The most luxurious tour is the Louis XIII Experience (six hours long, 1,200 euros per person). This visit is led by a Louis XIII ambassador and includes a chauffeur for transportation. Start with a tour of the estate, visit the private Salle des References where scores of Remy bottles are on display, then tour the gardens of the Grollet estate and enjoy a gourmet meal in the old distillery. The day is capped off with a tasting of Louis XIII, of course. Another option is the “Opulence Revealed” tour (110 euros per person). This two-hour visit includes a chance to sample Remy Martin XO paired with food like orange and pistachio macarons, chocolate, caramel, and more – all representative of elements of the cognac’s flavor profile.

The Dalmore seems to release a new premium aged expression just about every year. The latest is The Dalmore 45, released in a limited run of just 500 bottles priced at $12,500. The whiskey is aged for 45 years in ex-bourbon barrels and two Vintage Graham’s Port Colheita pipes from 1961 and 1963. Visitors to the Highlands distillery can book a VIP tasting tour for a minimum of six people at 150 pounds per person. Distillery manager Stuart Robertson leads a tour of the still room and warehouse, followed by lunch at the visitor center and a private tasting with global ambassador Shauna Jennens that includes samples of rare and expensive releases like The Dalmore 40.

The recent Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 was the first release from the distillery to be aged partially in Cote-Rotie wine casks from the Rhone region of France. This 27-year-old whiskey goes for $665 per bottle and includes some of the last liquid from the distillery’s 19^th century bonded warehouse. Glenmorangie Signet, another high-end offering, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. This July is Signet Week, the one week of the year during which the distillery is devoted to the production of this particular whiskey. That would be a great time to visit, and a stay at Glenmorangie House would complete the experience. An updated 17th-century farmhouse with a private beach, gourmet meals are prepared by a chef in-house; the food geared towards pairing whiskey with dishes like fresh lobster, venison, and a fruit tart topped with a sauce made from Glenmorangie 18. Organized outdoor activities can be arranged as well, including a ride on a $7,000 Renovo bicycle made from whisky barrel staves.

In the heart of Jalisco, Casa Noble is quietly producing some genuinely excellent premium tequila. Seleccion del Fundador Volume II, an eight-year-old tequila that retails for about $1,500, was released this past December in a run of only 300 bottles. Currently, some new single barrel expressions are available, including an Extra Anejo ($130) and Reposado ($70), as well as the Joven ($70), which is essentially a blanco that was aged for just six weeks and bottled at a higher proof. Visitors to the distillery can book a stay at the Casa Nobles Villas, four design-forward cottages decorated with murals and feature amenities like hand-woven blankets. Agave fields surround the villas, each room decorated by a local artist and includes a spa bathroom and a mini-fridge full of Casa Noble tequila to enjoy. Email hospitality@casanoble.com to inquire about prices.

Highland Park is one of the most remote distilleries in Scotland. It’s also the northernmost, located in the town of Kirkwall in the rugged Orkney Islands. The distillery celebrates its Viking roots with whiskeys that have names like Valkyrie, Svein, and Einar, as well as lauded aged expressions like the 40-Year-Old. Various tours are available at the distillery, but the cream of the crop has to be the Orcadian Vintages Experience (250 pounds per person). This three-hour tour allows you to take a deep five into the Highland Park process, from distilling to aging, along with a chance to sample whiskey straight from the cask in one of the warehouses. Then sit for a tasting of four rare vintages – 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1976 – in front of an open peat fire in the Eunson Room, named after the distillery’s founder.

The Glenlivet is a classic Speyside single malt, with high-end releases like the 25-year-old ($360) and the new Glenlivet Code ($120), a whiskey that comes in a black bottle with no tasting notes (go online to try and crack the code yourself). Visitors to the distillery can partake in the Definitive Spirit Tour (65 pounds per person). This 2.5-hour experience includes a tour of the entire distillery, a sample of the new make spirit fresh off the still, and a tasting of various whiskeys from the Glenlivet range, as well as a dram straight from the cask in one of the distillery’s warehouses.

Another definitive Speyside single malt is Glenfiddich. This distillery is undergoing a significant expansion at the moment, which will mean more exceptional aged releases like the 1973 Rare Cask Collection Cask No. 7585, a 44-year-old whiskey that retails for $6,000, or Winter Storm, a $250 bottle that is part of the Experimental Series. The Pioneers Tour (95 pounds per person) is the highest level of visitor experience offered at the distillery. This four-hour visit begins with a tour of the entire operation and concludes with a visit to the warehouses to focus on maturation. The last stop is at warehouse 12, where you can fill a 20 cl bottle from one of four specially selected casks to take home with you. Finally, visitors enjoy a tasting of five whiskeys, along with canapés from Glenfiddich chef Andy Daggart.

There are plenty of bourbon distilleries to choose from in Kentucky, but a standout visitor experience can be found at Maker’s Mark in the sleepy town of Loretto. For $100, you can book a dinner at the distillery on Saturday nights from May through October. This includes a tour of the distillery, a three-course meal at Star Hill Provisions (the onsite restaurant with locally sourced and seasonal food from chef Newman Miller), and cocktail pairings. There are also two special TasteMaker Dinners planned for the summer with James Beard Award-winning chefs – one with John Currence (June 16), and one with Ed Lee (July 14). The Currence dinner will include dishes like bourbon-braised pork belly and bourbon-poached pear (Lee’s menu is TBD). Then stop by the distillery gift shop to pick up a bottle of the new Seared BU 1-3. This limited release bourbon was finished with ten virgin seared and sous-vide French oak staves, imparting an extra burst of flavor into the whiskey.