A new whisky bar is to be launched in Edinburgh in August as part of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s refurbishment of its 28 Queen Street venue.
Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar will have a constantly changing menu of whiskies, drawing on the new selections of rare single-cask single malt whiskies that the SMWS already releases every month.
A limited range of extremely rare proprietary whiskies carefully selected for the SMWS by a special guest curator will also be available at the bar.
The venue in New Town has now closed its door for the £300,000 building project. The new bar, due to open on August 1, will be on the ground floor of the Georgian townhouse, visible and accessible from street level.
The Dining Room restaurant, previously on the ground floor, will move upstairs to the first floor and be expanded to include features such as a Charles Heidsieck champagne table.
A new shop area is also being established, while two new private lounges are being created for the society’s members.
The venue will host a free open house event on August 5. Details at www.smws.com/qs-open-house.
The SMWS bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 350 single casks every year from a range of more than 132 distilleries. It was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members around the world with branches in 19 countries.
Exclusive Members’ Rooms are located in Edinburgh and London for tastings, dinners, meeting and presentations. Its other members’ venues are the society’s original home in The Vaults in Giles Street in Leith and 19 Greville Street in London.
Pictured: 28 Queen Street. Photography by Phil Wilkinson.
