Treat the man in your life this Father’s Month with tickets to Whisky Live, the Pretoria Live Celebration at Brooklyn Square between 2 and 4 June.
Whisky connoisseurs could expect a range of whiskies – from single malt Scotch to blends, Bourbon to Irish.
Also on show, will be the layered Black Bottle blended Scotch, with its subtle smoky flavour, and Scottish Leader, that offers a whole new perspective.
The new Black Bottle is an ultra-versatile blend of single malt and grain whiskies back in black packaging with a revised recipe closer to the original 19th century taste created by founder Gordon Graham. When it was launched in 1879, Black Bottle came in a black bottle, but when World War I interrupted supplies, the producers switched to green.
Now, more than a century later, it’s back in its original colour.
Scottish Leader has also been revitalised with a new look, enhanced recipe and increased single malt content for Scottish Leader Original.
The new premium blend, called Scottish Leader Signature, offers Scotch lovers an enticingly complex and multifaceted experience.
Mixologists Owen O’Reilly and Rudi de Vos will be conjuring up some delicious cocktails at the Black Bottle stand, while whisky specialists Tommy Larkin and Vincent Motau will be delighting festival-goers with the sweet, smoky, rich and smooth expressions offered by Scottish Leader.
Only two bottles of the 12-year-old, not available in South Africa but a top seller in Taiwan, will be ready for tasting in addition to the Scottish Leader Original and Signature blends sold locally.
Master of the Quaich, Pierre Meintjes, and industry stalwart, Brian Glass, will be sharing the exclusive, award-winning tastes of Bunnahabhain single malts.
The unpeated 12-year-old will be on show, as will the equally gentle, small batch 18- and 25-year-olds.
All un-chillfiltered, the trio represents a return to a traditional technique that intensifies colour, aroma and flavour, expressed as naturally as when they come out of the cask.
Admission is R220 a person and tickets are available via www.ticketpros.co.za. Tickets will be for sale at the door at R250 a head.
The admission-price includes 15 whisky tasting vouchers and a glass.
For more information visit www.whiskylive.co.za or send an e-mail to info@whiskylive.co.za.
In honour of the event we caught up with Tebogo Mashiane and Quintin Denyssen, Glenfiddich Brand Ambassadors to find out about their love of whisky, why connoisseurs just can’t get enough and the event.
Tebogo Mashiane
Whisky is often perceived as a drink for older men. Is this true, or can younger people (regardless of gender) get away with sipping a whisky these days?
The notion that whisky is for old men in stuffy leather rooms with cigars, has long gone.
These days whisky is viewed as a symbol of status and younger people, men and women, want to be perceived as important wherever they go.
Another factor at play is that people are adventurous and curious, often creating and trying new ways of enjoying whisky other than having it neat on the rocks.
What is your favorite whisky and how do you prefer to enjoy it?
After a long day, I enjoy a dram of Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera on the rocks.
What do you look for in a good whisky?
A good whisky provides intense satisfaction that encourages me to look for other tasting profiles.
If the flavours are subtle, the effort to distinguish them can contribute to further pleasure in tasting the whisky.
The colour gives you an idea of how it matured, but only you can decide how good it tastes.
Which whiskies would you recommend starting with for someone who hasn’t tried it before?
Most people, especially beginners have the idea that the older the whisky, the better it tastes. What I recommend when I do my tastings is that one must familiarise themselves with the roots of the brand.
Start with the younger variants and as your palate develops, you proceed to trying older whiskies.
In that way you not only enjoy the taste but appreciate the history behind the brand.
Are there any rules to drinking and enjoying whisky?
There aren’t any hard rules on how one must enjoy their whisky, but I believe it is an art form to find ways of enhancing the flavours locked within the liquid.
If you want to try it with soda, ice or water, be my guest. Enjoy whisky your way and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
However, when travelling, be open to asking the bartender how they recommend drinking it, you might discover something new. But one rule I always emphasise is to enjoy responsibly.
What can visitors to Whisky Live Pretoria expect?
People can expect to receive the full Glenfiddich experience, sampling a wide range of our award winning variants, as well as the Glenfiddich Original, a premium blend embodying the Maverick spirit of our founder, William Grant.
What is your favourite whisky and how do you prefer to enjoy it?
“There is no such thing as bad Scotch.” My favourite would depend on the time of day you asked me that question and on the occasion. If I were to pick a non-occasion dram that I enjoy in the comfort of my home after a long day, it’s the Glenfiddich 15 Unique Solera Reserve. Its such a lovely dram with just enough sweetness and complexity.
If price was no object which whisky would you love to taste, and why?
If price was no object then I’d love to taste the Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts 55 year old Reserve.
It is such a rare bottle and a tribute to the last grandchild of William Grant. I know it would be an amazing dram to taste.
What’s your ideal whisky and food pairing?
This is a tough question because much like picking a favourite whisky, I have a particular mood for particular food and a whisky. I guess one of my favourites is a lovely medium or medium to rare rib-eye or fillet steak that has been flambéed with Glenfiddich 15 year old and a dram of the 15 year old.
What do you look for in a good whisky?
A good whisky I believe should nose well have just the right mixture of subtle ripe sweetness and appeal to the senses. I believe a good whisky causes the palate to salivate in anticipation of the taste. After tasting, it should invoke the palate and cause the mind to search for descriptors to understand the taste sensations filling the mouth. The finish should linger without too much spice but allow for anticipation of the next taste experience.
Are there any rules to drinking and enjoying whisky?
I believe there are best practices to enjoying whisky but the rules aren’t absolute. I love telling people that “it’s your Ferrari you bought it, you drive it how you would like”. If you do not enjoy your purchase then why are you buying it? If you enjoy it neat or with a bit of water or a block of ice then that’s great. If you more experimental and prefer mixing it, that is a choice you make but you should enjoy the experience.
COMPETITION:
Two lucky readers stand the chance to win double tickets to Whisky Live, the Pretoria Live Celebration at Brooklyn Square between 2 and 4 June. Key word: ‘GLENFIDDICH’
