Craigellachie Hotel opens 1,000-bottle whisky bar

Speyside’s Craigellachie Hotel has finally launched The Quaich whisky bar, boasting a 1,000-bottle collection curated by experts Dave Broom and Charlie Maclean.

The Quaich whisky bar at The Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside features around 1,000 bottles of whisky

The iconic hotel, situated on the banks of the river Spey in Scotland, has undergone a thorough £3 million refurbishment since being purchased last year by Piers Adam, owner of London celebrity haunts Mahiki and Whisky Mist.

First built in the 1800s, The Craigellachie Hotel is a favourite among visitors to the region’s distilleries and fishing spots.

The Quaich has been designed using materials such as wood and silver that are traditionally used to make quaiches – a two-handled Scottish drinking vessel.

The hotel partnered with jewellers Hamilton and Inches and Stephen Webster, and furniture maker Soane on the interior design that has a “huge focus on luxurious traditional comfort”.

Adam said of the design: “We wanted to create a comfortable but elegant bar where our customers can sit on the balcony and enjoy the view in the summer or on a winters’ day sit by the open fire while enjoying a dram with friends.”

The Quaich will feature around 1,000 bottles of malt whisky including rare expressions and collections, such as a complete set of the Glenfarclas Family Cask.

“There are years of history behind The Quaich including the world famous malt whisky club of the same name and a reputation for having over 750 bottles of single malt whisky on its shelves,” Adam added.

The bar’s whisky collection will increase in size over the course of the next 12 months “with a focus on the quality of whisky rather than the quantity”.

A food menu designed by Tom Parker Bowles will also be on offer alongside a special whiskypairing menu.