Your move, whisky pals. The Balvenie has partnered London-based artisan Ellie Mercer to create a limited-edition collector’s chess set, Mercer’s first step into luxury interiors and homeware.
Ellie Mercer, known for sculptural pieces that blend resin, solid gold, and silver, has reinterpreted the classic Staunton chess set, incorporating materials directly sourced from The Balvenie distillery.
The collaboration is part of The Makers Project, an initiative in its fourth year that highlights modern creativity through partnerships with craftspeople who share The Balvenie’s commitment to passion, skill, and patience.
Ellie Mercer, known for sculptural jewellery pieces that blend resin, solid gold, and silver, has reinterpreted the classic Staunton chess set…
The contemporary, minimalist chess set is both collectable and functional.
Like The Balvenie cask heads, solid oak is crafted into a striking, square chessboard which combines polished brass details with deep, chocolate marbled resin, which contrasts with the amber resin chess pieces inspired by the honey tones of The Balvenie whisky.
The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer Luxury Chess Set is packaged with a bottle of The Balvenie Twenty Five, and is available exclusively at Fortnum & Mason, priced £1,650. Limited quantities are available, so make your move now.
For those unable to get their hands on a set, visitors to The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Makers & Gamers’ Experience at The Guards Bar and Lounge Raffles London at The OWO will be able to play a game on the designer chessboard, accompanied by a dram from The Balvenie Rare Marriages Collection.
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
Midleton Distillery has confirmed the arrival of its Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage, the latest edition in an Irish whiskey series now into its 43rd annual incarnation, and the 6th Vintage under the careful watch of Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. Bottled at 40% ABV, the 2026 expression continues a tradition that sees the distillery’s Master…
Diplomático Rum, the Venezuelan super-premium spirits house, has announced the UK launch of Chancellor. Positioned as a flagship expression for connoisseurs and long-term collectors of rare spirits, fewer than 1,000 individually numbered bottles will be released worldwide. Diplomático Rum, founded in 1959, has built its reputation on blending expertise, heavy pot-still distillates and long-term maturation,…
The Luxe Review 
Your move, whisky pals. The Balvenie has partnered London-based artisan Ellie Mercer to create a limited-edition collector’s chess set, Mercer’s first step into luxury interiors and homeware.
Ellie Mercer, known for sculptural pieces that blend resin, solid gold, and silver, has reinterpreted the classic Staunton chess set, incorporating materials directly sourced from The Balvenie distillery.
The collaboration is part of The Makers Project, an initiative in its fourth year that highlights modern creativity through partnerships with craftspeople who share The Balvenie’s commitment to passion, skill, and patience.
The contemporary, minimalist chess set is both collectable and functional.
Like The Balvenie cask heads, solid oak is crafted into a striking, square chessboard which combines polished brass details with deep, chocolate marbled resin, which contrasts with the amber resin chess pieces inspired by the honey tones of The Balvenie whisky.
The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer Luxury Chess Set is packaged with a bottle of The Balvenie Twenty Five, and is available exclusively at Fortnum & Mason, priced £1,650. Limited quantities are available, so make your move now.
For those unable to get their hands on a set, visitors to The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Makers & Gamers’ Experience at The Guards Bar and Lounge Raffles London at The OWO will be able to play a game on the designer chessboard, accompanied by a dram from The Balvenie Rare Marriages Collection.
The Whisky Exchange debuts 20 Year Old Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Mars Komagatake Japanese single cask exclusives
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Irish Whiskey has arrived, run don’t walk to secure yours
Midleton Distillery has confirmed the arrival of its Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage, the latest edition in an Irish whiskey series now into its 43rd annual incarnation, and the 6th Vintage under the careful watch of Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. Bottled at 40% ABV, the 2026 expression continues a tradition that sees the distillery’s Master…
Diplomático debuts ultra-rare triple-cask Chancellor rum with just 900 bottles worldwide
Diplomático Rum, the Venezuelan super-premium spirits house, has announced the UK launch of Chancellor. Positioned as a flagship expression for connoisseurs and long-term collectors of rare spirits, fewer than 1,000 individually numbered bottles will be released worldwide. Diplomático Rum, founded in 1959, has built its reputation on blending expertise, heavy pot-still distillates and long-term maturation,…
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