I tried The Whisky Exchange Private Client Service and it’s whisky nirvana

Many of the world’s rarest and oldest whiskies are being made more accessible by The Whisky Exchange, as part of its new Private Client Service. The personalised, curated initiative is based on the lower ground floor of the whisky retailer’s Great Portland Street store in London; a space which has been transformed into a dedicated sanctuary offering private consultations for lucky invitees.

Here, a team of whisky experts, led by buying director Dawn Davies, and old and rare spirits expert Jason Vaswani, stand ready to help the rest of us pursue our passion for whisky – and there’s plenty to explore. 

The Luxe Review was invited along to experience the Private Client Service, and sample some of The Whisky Exchange’s more esoteric bottlings in the process. How could we possibly refuse?

The service has been meticulously designed to cater to those who appreciate not only the quality and rarity of their spirits…

At its heart, the Private Client Service is about elevating the collecting experience. It’s been meticulously designed to cater to those who appreciate not only the quality and rarity of their spirits, but also the subtle strategy behind assembling a collection. 

Sign up and you can expect personalised consultations where every recommendation is backed by deep expertise.

“We need these spaces, they’re really important, a place where you can taste great liquid, and have a much more personal interaction,” explains Davies, ushering me to a table stocked with mouth-watering expressions, several of which come with relatively modest price tags.

“Becoming a Private Client is not so much about spending huge sums, it’s more about creating an experience, having a dialogue,” I’m told – and maybe sampling some drams, under advisement. 

“We have a Yamazaki 55, but you’re not touching that!” jokes Davies.

“I think the one thing we’ve always done really well, particularly at Whisky shows, is that we really pride ourselves on that sense of community, that sense of education.”

The Private Client space is, then, both for the whisky curious, as well as the avid collector. If you’re looking to buy something other than the norm, perhaps for a special occasion, the team will have plenty to show you.

And if you’re after a specific vintage, from a particular distillery, there’s a fair chance Vaswani and his buying team will either have it, or know where to look.

The choice is absolutely vast. With a selection of over 15,300 whiskies, fine wines, and spirits, including hard to find, old, and one-of-a-kind bottles, this incredible space offers tailored advice that transcends the ordinary retail experience.

One whisky I sampled was an exquisitely fruity Midleton Very Rare Single Cask 25 Year Old. 

“This exclusive bottling is a prime example of something that’s not a stupid price, but is highly collectable,” advises Davies. “If you are just stepping a toe into collecting, or have a passion and want to learn, being able to come into here and buy something special for £200 or thereabouts is very important.”

Making old and rare whiskies accessible is crucial for fostering a love for whisky among new enthusiasts, I’m told. And being able to sample a specific vintage from a distillery can be a revelation.

I’m served a Knockando, distilled circa 1975, bottled in 1988. “This is like a time capsule, its liquid history,” says Vaswani. I can confirm, it’s gorgeous.

There are plenty of surprises on offer. There’s the chance to taste the Macbeth Collection, Ben Nevis Macbeth Act Two, Ross 28 year old, the one with bespoke label illustrations from Quentin Blake, followed by the Cyborg expression from Japanese distillery Chicibu. Finished in an IPA beer cask, it offers stone fruits and candy on the palate.

Both very different, but both equally special.

My Private Client journey ends with a Laphroaig 10 Year Old, a deceptively fruity, peated expression, and a stunning Lagavulin 16, distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2022 (bottle 135 of 264, to be precise). Admittedly, we’re in rarefied territory now, but that’s what happens when you spend too much time in The Whisky Exchange’s Private Client vault.

If you want a similar whisky adventure, contact polina@thewhiskyexchange.com to schedule an appointment. You can visit The Whisky Exchange here.