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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Glenbrynth stand |
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| 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.
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| The Bvlgari Black stand |
We met with a few whis
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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