In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, luxury handcrafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky The Balvenie has teamed up with iconic London jewellery designer Ellie Mercer to bring an exclusive, elevated drinking experience to The Guards Bar and Lounge, Raffles London at the OWO.
From 4th February 2025, visitors to The Guards Bar can participate in The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Makers & Gamers’ Experience – an immersive, luxury gaming experience that represents a unique intersection between strategic play and art. As more people shun screen time and embrace traditional pastimes in pursuit of meaningful connections, the experience pairs The Balvenie whisky with Ellie Mercer’s masterpiece chess board, where each move on the board symbolises the strategic precision of making hand crafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
“Creating this chess set has been an extraordinary opportunity to bring my vision into a different area of craftsmanship. The chess set is contemporary in design yet rooted in craft, with elements like the cask heads recognising the role of The Balvenie Coopers. The richness of The Balvenie heritage inspired me to create an elegant celebration of timeless British craftsmanship using creativity to seamlessly bring together the old and the new.“
Ellie Mercer
For The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Makers & Gamers’ Experience, Ellie infuses a traditional ‘Staunton’ chess set with her contemporary vision while utilising handcrafted materials from The Balvenie distillery to blend the old with the new. Refurbished cask heads from The Balvenie are re-imagined into a striking chessboard with polished brass details and resin squares in the iconic Raffles London red. The set is at once a chessboard and a serving tray for The Balvenie whisky, complete with bespoke nooks to hold each player’s dram.
The board is presented on a one-of-a-kind whisky trolley, used to serve The Balvenie Rare Marriages Collection. Alongside a dram and a game of chess, those who order from the trolley are treated to an immersive aromatic experience using four fragrances to tell The Balvenie’s story of craftsmanship.
Matthew Wilkinson, Director of Food and Beverage at Raffles London, said, “This collaboration encapsulates the elegance, history, and refined luxury that Raffles London is known for while offering our guests a memorable, immersive moment that blends British craftsmanship and indulgence. We are thrilled to partner with The Balvenie and Ellie Mercer to present this exclusive experience at The Guards Bar and Lounge.”
Sean Fennelly, UK Brand Ambassador, The Balvenie, said: “Craft is at the heart of everything we do at The Balvenie, and this collaboration perfectly embodies that ethos. Working with Ellie Mercer has allowed us to take the spirit of innovation that drives our whisky-making and translate it into something at once beautiful and meaningful. The chess set is a representation of tradition and precision, but also creativity and patience—all qualities that define our process at The Balvenie. It offers an exceptional new way for guests to truly ‘play’ with our brand.”
The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Makers & Gamers’ Experience is available exclusively at The Guards Bar, Raffles London from 4th February 2025 from £60 for the sensory experience and £110 for the chess experience.
This collaboration forms part of The Makers Project – now in its fourth year – which celebrates modern creativity by partnering with craftspeople who reflect the same ethos as The Makers at The Balvenie distillery. The Balvenie Makers pour passion, skill and patience into everything they do to create The Balvenie’s unrivalled quality. Known for her handcrafted, sculptural jewellery pieces that combine bold-coloured resin with solid gold and silver, these same values are shared by Ellie Mercer.
For those who are keen to get their hands on the ultimate luxury gift for both whisky enthusiasts and lovers of fine craftsmanship, a limited-edition run of the chess sets will be available exclusively at Fortnum & Mason, paired with The Balvenie Twenty Five, a coveted expression from The Balvenie Rare Marriages Collection which balances sweet, hazy tones of almond, candied orange peel and chamomile with the crisp definition of quality oak.
