I’m not a Whisky connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination. I generally favor wine over spirits but I can definitely appreciate the experience when in the right environment with the right people. Recently I had the privilege of being invited to an exclusive evening organized by Glenmorangie, the single malt Scotch whisky.There I indulged in the art of whisky tasting!
SECRET PRIVATE TASTING
Guests had instructions to meet at Onyx Bar (Park Hyatt Zürich), to be on time and wait until further instructions were given. I showed up to a sea of dashing and professional looking people happily mingling while waiting for direction.
I saw a few familiar faces but mostly new ones, which made it that more special. I love meeting new people and listen to their tales. Fascinating how much we can learn from one-another just by paying attention.
A few glasses of Moet & Chandon later, we were asked to step outside and get into the black SUVs waiting for us. None of us knew where we were going, which made it that much more exciting. We just had to trust and go with the flow.
After almost an hour drive we finally arrived to our final destination. It was dark. I couldn’t really tell where I was until we parked, and there we were, in a hotel straight out of a fairy tale – the Krone Regensberg. The Krone, now part of Relais & Châteaux has been in existence since the middle ages. Over time it served many purposes, but the most unusual one was to serve as a prison! “History reports that, in those days, the innkeeper would frequently pass the time by fetching prisoners from their cells in order to play cards or drink a glass of wine with them.” Not so bad for criminals 🙂
A friendly staff accompanied us upstairs where we got greeted by the Moet & Chandon and Glenmorangie teams. The entire place had been turned into a Glenmorangie haven. No details were spared – total opulence in a warm and friendly atmosphere. We even got to prepare our own cocktails! I’m not lifting my head up high for this one as my attempt to making a cocktail was disastrous. I can say that I tried but that’s it! No glory for me.
In between each dish, Karen Fullerton, the Master of whisky, Glenmorangie’s Ambassador, walked us through each bottle with great humor and style.
Did you know that ….
You may have been sitting on pure gold but had no idea? If you were thinking of giving away the bottles of Whisky you have had in your cupboard, think again! You my friend may be sitting on an investment worth thousands of dollars!
Once again, I love my job! Aside from living the life of the “Rich & Famous”, I get to learn a few things too! Basically, if I can get my hands on one collectible bottle of single malt whiskey a month, by the time I’m ready to retire, I won’t need my pension any more! According to recent reports by Rare Whisky 101, the value of collectible bottles of single malt whiskey increased by more than 90% in first half of 2017. You can make thousands of dollars by reselling 15-20 bottles every week….
But nothing that good comes easy! Finding the right bottles for investment requires a lot of knowledge, research, persistence and patience. And that’s where Whisky connoisseurs like Salim Duriaux-hogga, founder of Whisky is the limit come into play. I never met anyone more in love with Whisky! Not only does he enjoy drinking it but he also knows everything about it. I’m not sure if he’s a Whisky Sommelier by trade but he definitely knows his topic inside out. He can help you add to your collection by patiently looking out for the best deals. He does the work and you reap the benefits!
GLENMORANGIE STORY
“In 1843, William Matheson founded the Glenmorangie Distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Inspired by the Distillery’s peaceful surroundings on the banks of the Dornoch Firth, he brought forth a pioneering single malt whisky wonderfully complex and exceptionally smooth. Ever since, we have pursued our craft with uncompromising dedication – endlessly creative in our quest for perfection. To this day, we honour the Distillery’s provenance in our award-winning single malt. Its pure, smooth spirit is distilled in Scotland’s tallest stills, matured in the finest casks and perfected by The Men of Tain. And, in the hands of these select craftsmen, the guardians of our spirit, Glenmorangie will surely delight malt whisky lovers for generations to come.”(by Glenmorangie)
THE WISKIES
“Glenmorangie has long been known for its expertise in wood. Thirty years ago, their whisky creators pioneered the art of extra-maturation, transferring spirit first matured in ex-bourbon casks, into ex-wine casks, so that it could gain further layers of flavour. Perfect for all those who wish to start or continue their journey into single malts, this award-winning range showcases their skills in cask management. Dr Bill Lumsden, an expert in his field, has spent over twenty years experimenting in order to perfect the different finishes that make up Glenmorangie’s extra-matured range.”(by Glenmorangie)
MAKE YOUR OWN COCKTAILS
Nectar Colada
- Hurricane
- Level 2
- 50ml Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or
- 1 bar spoon coconut cream
- 15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- 15ml homemade pineapple syrup*
- 10ml pasteurised egg white
- Garnish: pineapple leaf and a cherry
Shake all the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and double strain into a glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple leaf and a cherry.
*Instructions for pineapple syrup (creates 700ml)
Combine 500g sugar, 250g diced pineapple and 250ml water in a jar. Shake until sugar is fully dissolved. Strain through a jam straining bag.
Quinta Ruban Old Fashioned
- Old Fashioned
- Level 3
- 50ml Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
- 4 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 bar spoon white granulated sugar
- Garnish: orange twist
Combine the ingredients in a glass. Mix and muddle to dissolve sugar. Add ice (block ice preferred) and stir to chill and slightly dilute. Finish with an orange twist.
Chords from the cask
- Champagne Saucer
- Level 2
- 37.5ml Glenmorangie Lasanta
- 12.5ml French herbal liqueur
- 20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 10ml sugar syrup
- 1 dash aromatic bitters
- 1 dash pasteurised egg white
- Garnish: orange twist
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, fill with cubed ice and shake rapidly. Then double strain into a glass and finish with an orange twist.
Cheers!
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