Have you smelled anything finer? Photo by David Kleeman (@kleemo)

Ever since 10 Pound (£10), the Macallan exclusive bar, opened up at the Montage Beverly Hills earlier this year, I’ve been dying to get my grubby, unmanicured hands on its Scotch glasses. But since I’m on a broke girl budget, I could only fantasize about hitting up this reservations-only bar with its $50 minimum.

So when an invite to a special Macallan event came my way I impetuously said, “Yes! Yes! Oh yes!” Unfortunately I had completely forgotten that I was going out of town that same night. Argh! Not wanting this coveted invitation to go to waste I asked my friend, David (@kleemo) if he minded drinking fine Scotch in a private Beverly Hills bar for me. Unsurprisingly he acquiesced. Turns out he had a date scheduled that night but the two didn’t mind the fancy detour.

This box was 2 years in the making and is composed of scents of vanilla, tropical fruit and a floral note blend with a bit of spice behind it. Photo by David Kleeman (@kleemo)

Bonus for me is that David is a photographer so I knew he’d do a great job capturing the atmosphere of the event and lounge. And I liked the fact that David’s not a blogger or a scene-y kind of guy. In fact he prefers dive bars so his POV would be refreshing. He had worried that the Macallan and 10 Pound folks would be able to smell the dive bar on him but turned out fine. “(I initially got the ‘we’re better than you because we’re wearing ties’ vibe), not really (I got over it)…,” he texted me the night of the event.

A $30 Vieux Carre. Photo by David Kleeman (@kleemo)

The Macallan party was to introduce an aroma oil kit created by parfumer Roja Dove to “describe the essence of The Macallan in Spanish oak and in American oak.” Guests would get to sniff and taste all things Macallan as well as snack on bites meant to complement the premium Scotch. Yes, tres fancy indeed. My assignment for David: just take pictures to give me a sense of the event, especially the bar. But he gave me his notes, too. Here are the highlights, including his texts. (Yes, never text me anything you don’t want posted on my blog, heh.)

• “This place is crazy fancy!”

• “Well I’m drunk so… ;) pretty interesting. Very intimate place. I’m taking notes for later. Everyone here knows you!”

• “I think we drank about $200 in free drinks so…score!”

• “It was fun! Whiskey was great, of course, and the event made it seem even more so. Honestly, I was left with a little bit of a ‘so now what’ feeling, though…like they spent two years and who knows how much money to create a scent box that creates scents that hearken to the Macallan…which I could just go ahead and smell directly. I was expecting them to make some parallels (as they do with wine when doing similar things) to odor and how the spills would bring out the taste of the oak or something, but they made no mention of it. What I DID like, though, was that they took a jab at wine reviewers and said how they WEREN’T going to describe their scotch as having oaky undertones, etc. etc…it was funny.

• “At any rate, I was talking about this with my date (who’s a big Macallan drinker…she LOVED the event, by the way!), and she had a more informed opinion. She said the point is that ‘it’s romancing your Scotch.’ A pretty good synopsis I think.”

So does David see himself coming back to the ol’ 10 Pound? “It felt refined and special…I could def see spending a quiet evening with great Scotch and scintillating conversation there, dressed up and enjoying the good life!”

But what did he do after the party? Hit up the Burgundy Room in Hollywood of course. Way to keep it real, David!

More photos after the jump.

£10
225 N Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90212 (map)
(310) 860-5808

Thursday, September 29

Buffalo Trace Distillery Tasting at Wood & Vine Restaurant
K&L Wines is hosting a Buffalo Trace tasting of delicious proportions at Wood & Vine. For $45 at the door you get to partake of Buffalo Trace White Dog & Straight Bourbon, Elmer T Lee Bourbon, Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon..deep breath…Blanton’s Bourbon, Weller 12 Year Bourbon, E.H. Taylor Bonded 100 Proof, William Larue Weller Cask Strength Bourbon, Sazerac 18 Straight Rye! Pfew! This definitely calls for a designated driver.

• 7-8:30pm. $45 at the door. Wood & Vine, 6280 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 334-3360.

Friday, September 30

Macallan Open Bar at Exchange LA
For only $5 donation fee, which goes to charity:water, you get to taste one of the best Scotches out there all night at a downtown nightclub. Try some flights or have it in a cocktail. But may I suggest neat or with just a smidge of water? You’ll dance, you’ll drink, you’ll have fun.

• 10pm-1am. $5. Exchange LA, 618 S. Spring Street, Downtown (map).

Saturday, October 1

Food Truck Festival at Santa Anita Park
All your favorite food trucks in one place is always a good thing. Here at the Santa Anita Food Truck Festival, the mobile food court will spread itself out in the middle of the racetrack on the entire Santa Anita infield — 70 gourmet food trucks like the popular Grilled Cheese Truck, Lobsta Truck, Ludo Truck, and Lardon Truck. There will also be carnival games and live music as well as pony rides for the kiddies.

• 11am-5pm. $5. Santa Anita Park, 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia (map).

LA Burning Man Decompression
Didn’t get to hit up Burning Man this year? Here’s a baby Burning Man, er Burning Baby (?), event for you as well as BM attendees who are still flying high from the event. But this one, you don’t have to trek all the way to the desert, spend a fortune and worry about where to go to the bathroom. The Official Burning Man LA Decompression event showcases art, music and Burning Man culture all in a span of 12 hours. There will be live music, DJs, art, theme camps, puppets, circus and, yes, fire.

• 1pm-2am. $20. Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N Spring Street, Los Angeles (map).

Sunday, October 2

Octoberfest Beer Pairing Dinners at LA Market
This Sunday is the launch of LA Market’s beer pairing dinners in celebration of Octoberfest. Each week, Chef Kerry Simon will create a special three-course dinner to complement the beers from featured craft brewers. Starting things off is a dinner with Allagash Brewing Company from Portland, Maine. Upcoming brewers include North Coast, Affligem, Unibroue and more! Three-course menu including beer pairings is just $35.

• 5-10pm. $35. LA Market, 900 W Olympic Boulevard, Downtown (map). (213) 765-8600.

Valentine’s Day sucks. Everything is suddenly pink and red. Singles are scrambling for something to do so they don’t feel pathetic and couples are overcompensating with expensive dinners, cheesy greeting cards and marriage proposals. Not to say that I don’t like celebrating it. But my boyfriend definitely doesn’t want anything to do with it. However, I came up with a list of fun ways couples (ahem, me and bf) and singles can enjoy the day without having to spend too much money. BTW, if you’re looking for Valentine dinner specials (yawn), you won’t find them here.

Big Bar’s Valentine’s Day Prom — Free
I don’t care what you say, even though we’re all adults, prom is still fun. Especially when the theme is “Enchantment Under the Sea” and it involves spiked punch ($9) and a dance floor. But just make sure you don’t get wasted as there will be a prom photographer, too. And I’ll be there…going stag and judging the contenders for the Prom King and Queen of Los Feliz 2011! If you feel that should be you, enter the running by emailing sevilla.jc [at] gmail.com your fave prom song, whether you’re coming as a couple (include your date’s name) or stag, and why you should be King or Queen. Whoever wins will be sent off to enjoy their kingdom of Los Feliz in a horsedrawn carriage. So dress up in your best nautical-inspired prom wear!

Cocktail menu ($11 each):
Sleepless in Los Feliz Punch: Landy Cognac, Apple Brandy, Peach Brandy, Lemon, Soda
Officer and a Gentleman: Luksusowa Vodka, Ginger Liquer, Lemon, Honey, Angostura Bitters
Romantical 75: Luksusowa Vodka, Hibiscus Syrup, Lemon, Sparkling Wine
The Bitter Break Up: Villa Massa Limoncello, Campari, Sparkling Wine
Carrie’s Prom Bucket: Moonshine Clear Corn Whiskey, Genever, Lemon, Creme de Mure

• 6pm-12am. Free admission. Big Bar, 1927 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz (map).

Scoops Westside’s Valentine Flavors — $7 a pint; $13 for two (V Day special)
Matt Kang, proprietor of the Scoops Westside outpost, came up with special Valentine’s Day flavors so you can celebrate with your sweetie or break out the pints for your anti-Valentine party. Here are the flavors:

Raspberry white chocolate
Chocolate port wine
Strawberry balsamic
Blueberry pomegranate
Brown bread with strawberries

• 3400 Overland Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 405-7055.

All You Can Eat at Mas Malo — $20
This would be a fun group date. Mas Malo’s “X+O Ladies+Bros” Valentine’s Day party features an all-you-can-eat special for just $20! Plus there will be a cash bar so you can indulge in the specialty cocktail menu and 260-tequila bar. Regarding where to grab a seat, upstairs in the mezzanine if you want to people watch the dining room below or in the basement bar if you want to actually hear each other speak.

• $20. Mas Malo, 515 W 7th Street, Downtown (map).

The Edison’s Queen of Hearts Ball — $25
Downtown’s basement bar, The Edison, is throwing a Queen of Hearts Valentine’s Ball complete with a Queen of Hearts Band and dancers as well as DJ Daisy O’Dell. Lovers and singletons can toast to themselves over the Queen’s Punch, made with Perrier Jouet, Beefeater’s Gin, strawberry and a secret ingredient (aphrodisiac?). Tickets are $25 and include a cup of punch.

• 7pm. $25. The Edison, 108 W. 2nd Street, Downtown (map).

Compartes Chocolatier’s Macallan Scotch and Chocolate Truffles — $30
OK, this isn’t an event but if I had a box of these, I’d make it one. Gah! I’ve never wanted a box of chocolates as much as I want this! Dark chocolate ganache truffle infused with Macallan 18 and covered with single-origin dark chocolate. So luxurious. This, I wouldn’t share with ANYone, not even bf. There are only 10 pieces after all. Sorry. (Not really.)

• 912 South Barrington Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (310) 826-3380.

Not Cheap, but Fun Options

Viceroy Santa Monica: Tour of the Senses — $95
Indulge in a four-course menu (lobster with risotto, mmm) while lounging in a poolside cabana at Viceroy in Santa Monica. Swank. There will be Scent Tents where you can sample aromatherapy oils and create your own body scrub which will be packaged for you to take home. And finish off the night by toasting each other with a champagne and sparkling wine tasting.

• 6-10pm, February 14. $95. Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica (map). (310) 260-7511.

Malibu Cafe’s Picnic Lunch Basket — $100
Sure, this picnic lunch basket sounds pricey for $100 but not only does it contain an appetizer, a couple of entrees and dessert but a champagne split, wine from Saddlerock Vineyards and a large blanket to sit on. Guests can take the basket to enjoy anywhere on Calamigos Ranch and return the basket and blanket before the end of the evening. So romantical!

• Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch, 327 South Latigo Canyon Road, Malibu (map). (818) 540-2400.

Sure, there’s that nerdy-awesome Star Warz Burlesque show on Saturday and Morton’s Steakhouse’s even nerdier celebration of Pi Day on Sunday with $3.14 slices of key lime pie but if you were looking for non-nerd things to fill out your weekend (not that there’s anything wrong with being a nerd) I present to you the following.

Friday, March 12

Macallan Tasting Note Project
This project will be launched to coincide with the kickoff of SXSW in Austin tomorrow but thanks to Twitter, scotch drinkers and Macallan lovers can still participate for their chance to win a private tasting with a Macallan ambassador and up to 10 of their closest friends Through Tuesday, March 16, tweet what you taste about #Macallan12 and #Macallan15. Just apply those hashtags and you’re good

Saturday, March 13

Free Brow Threading at Fred Segal Santa Monica
code.ai will be offering free eyebrow threading to beauty mavens via celebrity brow threader Marco Ochoa. He did my brows at a previous code.ai event and really does beautiful albeit pain-free work. Pick up some free samples and code.ai brow booster applications while you’re there.

• 12-5pm. Fred Segal Santa Monica, 500 Broadway, Santa Monica (map).

Sunday, March 14

14th Annual Susan G. Komen LA County Race for the Cure 5K
Have a fun run around Dodger Stadium while raising money for an important cause: to support breast cancer research.  You can just do the run or you can do the run and work to raise money for the cause as well. Create your own team of friends. Hooray for boobies!

• 8am. Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park, Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2010
Celebrate the biggest alcoholiday early before all the crazies are let loose next Wednesday. Looks like this Hollywood festival benefitting Children’s Tumor Foundation is the way to go what with a huge selection of not very Irish craft beer, spirits and food — New Belgium Brewing Company, Ventura Limoncello Company, Pig N’ Whistle.

• 2-7pm. $100. Taglyan Complex, 1201 Vine Street, Hollywood (map).

Free Drinks & Food at Hudson House’s One-Year Anniversary Party
Toast my fave Redondo Beach bar’s one year of existence with free Hudson Ales, Blood Orange Chinaco tequila cocktails and bar bites! A local DJ will be spinning and guests will get a chance to win Hudson House apparel. Ooh! I can add it to my bar t-shirt collection!

• 4pm-close. Hudson House, 514 N Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach (map). (310) 798-9183.

I have sipped the ambrosia of the gods, the elixir of luuuve that is known as the $15,000 57-year-old Macallan poured out of a Lalique crystal decanter. And now I can die. I was lucky enough to wet my lips on this sweet, albeit expensive, golden nectar thanks to Michel Dozois of Neve Ice. His shiny, blue business card was one of three lucky enough to be pulled out of a bowl for a drawing to win a taste of the ultra-primo scotch. When he handed the snifter to me, I inhaled its scent deeply. “It smells leathery,” I noted. “No, no, give it back,” Michel said, trying to snatch the glass away before I could get a taste. Then he smelled it himself, “Yeah, OK, it’s leathery. You can taste it now.” He handed it back to me.

I had expected my world to be blown, for a choir of angels to sing. Instead…it was m’ok. “It tastes weird,” I said looking up at Michel who seemed heart-broken that the sip he so generously gave me was wasted. I was disappointed, too. But then realized that I may have messed up my palate by having enjoyed a Macallan 10 with Fever Tree ginger beer just moments before. Such a dummy. Oh well. At least I had the experience.

And I had my fill of Macallan at its tasting party which was co-hosted by @JulieWolfson and @NotCot in W Los Angeles’ Nine Thirty restaurant last night. Here was my dream bar: an open bar with all the Macallan 10, 12, 15 and 18 you could drink. I stuck to the 18 which usually retails for about $140 a bottle. (The oldest I’ve allowed myself to get is the 12 which is about $40.) This baby you enjoy neat or with a teeny sliver of ice but the bartender here dropped in a ball of ice. “It’s bad ice,” Michel noted. As the guru of gourmet ice, he would know. He went on to point out this particular ice ball’s imperfections – the line that denoted this was from a mold, the calcium deposits in the ice, the way it melted. By the time he was done, I was ready to throw the ice out to keep it from further contaminating my 18. It definitely made it too watery too fast.

Well, if I ever do want to splurge on my own bottle of 18 I at least know where I can pick up some of Michel’s Neve Ice: The Bar Keeper, K&L Wine and Wally’s Wine.

The party itself was well-stocked with eats provided by Nine Thirty. Over by this food table I ran into Lisa Brenner of LA.com and Zach Behrens of LAist both pairing their Macallan with the cheese and fruits provided. Yes, there were lots of bloggers here. Even one party-goer, a regular guest of the hotel, noted that the last Macallan tasting he went to at the hotel was full of guys in business suits but at this one everyone seemed to be taking lots of pictures. Bloggers like to drink…and take pictures.

Over by the food table there was even a screen to keep us entertained as it displayed all the Tweets from guests at the party who tagged them with “#Macallan.” We giggled whenever our Tweets popped up on the screen.

Macallan definitely knows how to throw a party. Can’t wait for the next one!