A head barman called Cash in a bar called Ten Pound? Welcome to Beverly Hills, where serendipity accrues a movie-like inevitability. Cash, a valet from Vegas, has worked his way to the top job behind the bar at the Montage hotel, a colonial Spanish-themed stop, and now doles out $64,000 shots of whisky at this Macallan outpost. He’s the perfect captain of the whisky ship: smooth, knowledgeable, and on intimate terms with his regulars.  Regulars make up the bulk of Ten Pound’s clientele. Located above Scarpetta, the Montage’s buzzy Italian restaurant, the frosted glass door is always locked. A knock, Secret Seven style, gets Cash’s attention – the businessmen who frequent his beat like these kinds of exclusive touches – and he leads guests to their reservation-only tables with just the right amount of cordiality.  The bar is dedicated to a selection of Macallan’s rare single malts, which includes the world’s most expensive whisky (64 years old) and a bottle of Macallan’s exclusive Royal Marriage malt (buy the bottle and toast Will and Kate for $17,000). There are lots of other eyewateringly expensive options, and a cigar menu and $600,000 worth of Lalique crystal (chandeliers as well as decanters) to accompany them. After a couple of tester drams, I had an off-menu Jimmy Mac cocktail, made with 18-year-old Macallan, Bénédictine and orange bitters, which came with a hearty plate of still-warm bacon rashers and aged gouda cheese – a rich combination.  For whisky snobs, Ten Pound is heaven – a low-lit, 35-seater paean to malt. Ice snobs will be satisfied, too, by the four different chilling options: whisky soap stones, ice balls lasered with a £ sign, ice balls of specially imported highland spring water, and Kold-Draft ice cubes (google it). Ladies with a thirst for Manhattans might not be so enamoured by the overwhelmingly masculine, club-like atmosphere. But if it’s scotch you seek, make a reservation pronto.
It might be Beverly Hills 90210 but Ellie Pithers finds it's about Macallan rare single malts at this clubby wood-panelled hideaway