A London hotel bar specialising in whisky has developed its own unique eight-year-old blend.

The team at the Whisky Bar at the five-star Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments in Mayfair worked with The Great Whisky Company to create the bespoke whisky.

They chose a blend of predominantly Speyside malts with Highland malt added to give an element of spice. The whiskies were matured in sherry and bourbon casks, bringing a touch of smoke.

The hotel’s whisky sommelier Ivo Silva said: “We have whisky aficionados from all over the world who visit our bar on a regular basis and we have a pretty good fix on what they like. We wanted to create a blend which reflected the spirit of The Athenaeum Hotel – something warm, welcoming and surprising.”

The Great Whisky Company ran a tasting for the Athenaeum’s team with a choice of six different blends, each created based on the flavour profiles that the hotel wanted to convey – something discreet and personal but also lavish and unique.

Amanda Ludlow of The Great Whisky Company said: “It is a honeyed and soft blend with some spicy notes of oak with a lovely vanilla finish. We are really proud of The Athenaeum 8-Year Old and expect it to be very popular in the Whisky Bar.”

According to the tasting notes, the whisky has a fruity nose of citrus, toasted oats, honey and nuts. The palate broadens with a progressive build-up of creamy malt, more nuttiness and sustained rich fruitiness leading to an elegant finish.

The whisky is available in the bar for £10 per 50ml serving but also in 5cl bottles for £10, 20cl bottles for £55 and 70cl bottles for £130. The miniature form is available in the hotel’s mini bars.

The hotel’s Whisky Bar features over 300 whiskies from around the world, complemented by a light snack menu and whisky and cheese pairing.