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On June 1st, a new club, called 1494, began accepting memberships. 1494 will offer a one-stop shop for whisky consultations, purchasing, storage and insurance — all thanks to whisky entrepreneur David Clelland.
Watch for tasting all summer long and promotional events at various venues in anticipation of a clubhouse opening this Fall.
The club offers three levels of membership: Founding Members, Collectors and Connoisseurs. Founding Members, which seems to be limited to just 10, are granted lifetime memberships, while Collectors receive the club’s full benefits and services and Connoisseurs can attend club tastings and events.
Memberships start at $15,000 a year.
According to Forbes, “The club will seek out and obtain the rare bottles for its members and provide a ‘relaxed environment where members can connect over a shared appreciation for the fine spirit.’
Members will get ‘exclusive use of the member’s only house with fully stocked bars, direct and collective buying opportunities, exclusive tastings, private concierge service, storage and insurance for collections, annual valuations from Bonhams, and a luxury car and private jet service.’”
As for the name: 1494, is in homage to the first written record of Scotch Whisky’s distillation at the orders of Scotland’s Renaissance King, James IV on June 1, 1494.
You in?