EVENT REVIEW: Whisky Live Showroom Pretoria


By Tsebo Menu

385 Helen Joseph Street was the location and 012 Capital was the venue. As you take the stairs into venue with attendees so eager to get their wrist bands and cards given to start the night with clean palate and clear noses to taste and smell the best single malt the world have to offer. As a first timer’s research and information gathered to enable us to be on par value with event, little did we know that with whiskey a personal encounter is required. Your first glance at the floor can give one goose bumps as voices of different generations and smells of different blends created the ambiance of the night. 

As the night started queues to famous blends where predictable but as the night commenced the floor became even and those blends that are usually passed at liquor outlets even the playing field. They were four that captured the whiskey loves pallets, The Glenbrynth ,Bunnahabin Islay SingleMalt, Glen Grant  and Black Bottle. 

The Black Bottle appealed to a youthful crowd as the interest was it’s from the Green Bottle to the Black one, as the award winning blend expertly combined with mainland malt and grain whiskey. With fresh, floral and sawn oak aromas nose. Silky, mellow and fruity balanced taste complimented by a soft, elegantly spicy finish Black Bottle it’s a force to be reckoned with.

Black bottle Whiskey
Glen Grant stand offered three blends of single malts on the night the 10year old, 16year old and single malt five decades edition. The highlight was the latest edition to the range a 16year old that has an abundance of Glen Grant fresh orchard fruit with a complex and intense finish. An intense and smooth, rich orchard fruit nose. Soft, fresh with a good balance ripe orchard fruit taste and intense fruity, long and lingering finish. Highly recommended blend by Jim Murray as “Its one to hit superstar status” in the Whiskey Bible 2014 lived up to expectations on the night.
Glen Grant stand 



Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt stand was more like a history class with whiskey enthusiast been toured by  Pierre Meintjes on of just 159 Masters of the Quaich worldwide. His lesson on the Bunnahabhain 25year old was a mouthful, as the meaning of the name is ‘Mouth of the river’ from Scots Gaelic, refers to the Margadale River near the distillery. The award winning single malt contains sweet caramel desert aromas with subtle suggestion of oak and leather on the nose with a sweet barriers and cream progress into roasted nut and malt. A soft yet dry, with lingering flavors of and spiced oak finish. Applause complimented the lesson.   
Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt stand



Last on my Whiskey Notes was the Glenbrythn out in full swing on their collection consisting of five blends, the 8years, 12years, 21years, 30years and 40years. With Micheal Nathan the ambassador presenting the 40year old single malt which he calls it "My Sister" my palate had a date with a matured and old malt that was available on the night. The award winning aged malt selected and blended by foremost Malt Master in the world from oak and port casket, this 40year old blended malt is probably the finest example of its kind in the world today. It has a rich oaky notes with layers of the old leather, tobacco lead and soft citrus nose. With a Velvety and smooth with mouth coating vanilla sweetness. Rich, oaky tannin notes develop into long lasting, slightly dry fish. Glenbrynth has most affordable blends with the highest quality as the known brands, with the 40year old retailing at R2657.00 this a must have.
Glenbrynth stand



Ballantine's stand

As whiskey is seen as a lifestyle habit that is been complimented by other product we saw the presence of Prestige Cosmetics. As cologne, perfume and pour homme are one of the basic products to complement an opulence lifestyle Prestige Cosmetics was there to enlighten us. The Bvlgari Black is the latest on the market, it will best paired complete the Porsche lifestyle.
The Bvlgari Black stand

We met with a few whiskey lovers, Kim and Viwe are Pretoria CBD residents. First time to this kinda event made them appreciate the space with Kim's choice of selection Glenlevet 12years and Viwe Gentleman Jack her personal best, the pair agreed that Pretoria deserves a slot in whiskey tasting.

We met with a whiskey fanatic who has been following this events from Soweto, Sandton and Cape Town whose palate enjoyed Taniska Ravasa Salvain receives our Gold Thumbs up as Whiskey Lover.





As the event draw to close, Pretorians/Tshwanetorians really appreciated this ambiance and would like to be in the same space in the immediate future. With casualties where taken by all the whiskey available on the floor Double Gold Thumbs from the Guide Magazine is given without consideration. 

If it’s not reviewed by the Guide is a dead end.

Pictures by: Ofentse Mpako 

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