Chivas Regal Ultis Sydney Launch (Tasted #329)

Walking into Palmer & Co, Merivale's renowned small bar tucked away in one of Sydney’s oldest lanes, one could easily mistake the bar for something more akin to the "House of Chivas Regal". Plastered across the room were Chivas Regal bottles, Chivas Regal mementos and five special Chivas stations. What was about to take place was the special launch of Chivas Regal Ultis, Chivas Regal’s first blended malt expression - though certainly not the first in the industry, with Johnnie Walker Green, Monkey Shoulder and various Compass Box expressions having already represented the segment for some time.

The launch celebration was rather special as not only was the occasion to celebrate the new Ultis expression, but also to celebrate Chris Evans (better known as Captain America) as the new Asia Pacific Ambassador for Chivas Regal, and Michael Klim as the Australian Chivas Regal Ambassador. Both Chris and Michael co-starred in Chivas Regal’s "Win the Right Way campaign" which launched in 2014 to help recognise and advocate for the power of shared success - or simply the message that real success is not measured by a one's wealth alone, but by how many lives one has enriched.

The name Ultis, derived from ‘Ultimate’ and ‘Fortis' (Latin for ‘strength’) was bestowed upon the new blended malt expression, which sees five Speyside malts from Chivas Brothers’ portfolio (Tormore, Longmorn, Strathisla, Allt A’Bhainne and Braeval) selected to form the whisky. The malts were specially selected by Chivas' blending team as a tribute to the work of the five generations of Masters Blenders that have worked on the Chivas brand and its distinct style since 1909. As Chris Evans highlighted on the day, Ultis is simply a "Whisky with people at its heart!”

What I truly loved at the launch were the five Chivas stations with each station representing the individual malts that help form Ultis, along with different sensory experiences that all related to the individual malt. The deliciously fruity and sweet Longmorn was well represented with pears, vanilla pods, honeycomb and milk chocolates whilst over at the Straithisla station we saw stone fruits and nuts visually describing the nutty nature of Chivas’ foundation malt.

Speaking to a few bloggers and Pernod Ricard representatives at the event, we discussed the on-going challenge that the whisky industry has with transparency. This is a topic that is at the heart of Compass Box's continued efforts to challenge the status quo by disclosing additional detail on the composition of their blended malts. The Ultis launch saw a move to do something similar by exposing the five individual malts and allowing an appreciation of the five individual malts in addition to the final blended expression. Although the percentage composition of the five malts was not disclosed, it is perhaps a step in the right direction. Having come onto my whisky journey only a few years ago, I am certainly an advocate for such transparency as it allows a deepening of my appreciation of the final expression.

Check out more photos from the launch event at our Facebook page.

Chivas Regal Ultis (40% ABV, NAS, Speyside, Scotland, AUD$198.90 / ~ AUD$265 for 1L Travel Retail, from December)
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Ultis is a delicious and balanced blended malt and having tasted some of the individual malts at the launch, the final expression clearly reflects different characteristics from the contributing single malts. Time and place? A comfy lounge with few good mates celebrating a momentous occasion.

Colour: Deep, dark caramel.

Nose: The nose is beautiful and loaded with sweet and fruity notes. There are hints of apple, apricot, toffee fudge, vanilla, burnt orange and cinnamon.

Palate: The palate is soft and mellow to start before opening up notes of apple, toffee followed by warming burst of spices; cardamon, cloves and black pepper.

Finish: A warming medium sweet and velvety finish.

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100.

Chivas Regal Ultis 700ml will be available from November through selected retailers and from December at Duty Free retailers in a Travellers' Exclusive 1 Litre bottling.

Cheers,
Hendy.

TimeforWhisky.com would like to thank Pernod Ricard and Eva McKenzie of One Green Bean for the invite to the launch of the Chivas Regal Ultis.

Tasted #260 - #263: Chivas Regal "The Icon" (and Strathisla, Glen Keith and Longmorn single casks)

Back in December last year we attended the Hong Kong launch of Chivas Regal "The Icon", which launched in Australia and Hong Kong last year and is shortly to launch in the UK.

The launch event was incredible, but the real treat came after lunch, when ourselves and 7 lucky other individuals were treated to a tasting of The Icon with Master Blender Colin Scott. Held in one of Foxglove's many stunning private rooms, the tasting was opened by Stephen Notman (IWSC judge and founder of Whisky Live Shanghai / Taipei and "Whisky L") who took us back 100 years, describing the origins of Scotch whisky as we know it (and the 3 year minimum aging rule set by the Immature Spirits Act), the rise of Scotch throughout the 1900s, and the more recent rise of "ultra premium blends".

Colin then took the stage, to talk us through the origins of "The Icon" (the idea of which was first hatched in 2014, designed to feature "nuggets" of mothballed / closed distilleries), an overview of Chivas Brothers' immense selection of casks, which total over 6 million, and left us with a quote that, whilst simple, we thought neatly summed up the difference in character between blends and single malts:

"A blend is looking at a person, a single malt is looking at a distillery"

Simple, but true.

It was then time to dive into our tasting of "The Icon", but not before the rare opportunity to taste three unique single cask expressions of Strathisla, Glen Keith and Longmorn - malt whiskies which all help to make up Chivas Regal blends.

Glen Keith 1990 single cask - 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel (40% ABV, 26yo, Speyside, Scotland, not commercially available)
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Colour: Bright yellow gold.
Nose: A real "summertime whisky". Passionfruit, vanilla cream. Lots of peaches, some strawberry, and even some pine needles.
Palate: Oranges, nuttiness (peanuts). Slight hint of smoke. More peaches. Orange taffy. Very smooth and easy drinking (being cut to 40% no doubt helps).
Finish: Long, whole oranges, with hints of asparagus at the very end.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. A fairly complex yet easy drinking, light whisky.

Longmorn 1987 - 2nd fill ex-Oloroso Sherry butt (40% ABV, 29yo, Speyside, Scotland, not commercially available)
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Colour: Copper.
Nose: There are plenty of traditional sherry notes here - rich christmas pudding, cherries, raisins, but there's a freshness too. Fresh laundry(!), with some strawberry hubba bubba.
Palate: Honey, noticeable oak, spice, cinnamon, Sriracha sauce. A few drops of water adds a slightly fruitier, strawberry note.
Finish: Earthy and slightly metallic.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 90/100. Nice but in comparison to the amazing 20-30 year old Oloroso-matured whiskies we've tried before, it didn't quite reach the same lofty heights.

Strathisla 1980 - 3rd fill American Oak hogshead (40% ABV, 36yo, Speyside, Scotland, not commercially available)
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Colour: Orange gold-copper.
Nose: Citrus zest - orange peel, and almonds.
Palate: Banana, toffee, caramel and passionfruit.
Finish: Long, tropical, creamy. Passionfruit and whipped cream.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100. A real dessert whisky.

Chivas Regal "The Icon" (43% ABV, NAS, Blend, Scotland, $4,699AUD / $28,800HKD / £2000GBP)
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Colour: Golden-copper.
Nose: Stewed pairs, toffee, oranges. Terry's Chocolate orange (loads of it). A honey sweetness.
Palate: Quite sweet, velvety, creamy. Smooth swiss milk chocolate, with a slight nuttiness. A hint of confectionary too - boiled lollies, Allen's Fantales.
Finish: Long and sweet, sherberty, with residual hints of milk chocolate.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. Not quite what I'd expected at first - much sweeter. There's complexity here, sure, and it's an extremely enjoyable dram, but out of this lineup, I'd take another glass of that Strathisla first. I'd love to try the The Icon at a higher ABV though, perhaps 46 or 48%.

Cheers,
Martin.

This week in whisk(e)y #27 - Malt Masters Hong Kong returns, Starward investment from Diageo, PDT comes to Hong Kong, Suntory's limited Christmas releases, Limited edition JW Blue and new Chivas 12yo bottle design

As you might know if you read this blog regularly, we get a fair few interesting press releases and news articles here at TimeforWhisky, and usually try to feature them with our own spin, experiences or comments. Sometimes though, they come thick and fast, and we just don't have time to do them all justice.

So we've decided to take a leaf out of some other excellent whisky blogs, and feature a "PR roundup" every now and then - basically a wrap-up of relevant press releases we've received in the previous week or so (including other interesting whisk(e)y news Steph, Hendy & or I think you might enjoy). So on with it then...

Malt Masters Hong Kong returns
Sure to be even bigger and better than last year, Malt Masters Hong Kong is returning in 2016, to be held at Conrad Hong Kong on 27-28th February, 2016.

Steph attended last year and had a great time, especially at the masterclasses (which for 2016 will be announced on 3rd January). With 50+ distilleries, 10 masterclasses, unlimited drams and various pairing events (including food and cigars - both sure to be hits in Hong Kong), we're sure 2016's festival will be an even bigger hit than 2015's.

Tickets are $800HKD per person and include one "Dream Dram" token, unlimited regular drams, a Glencairn and canapés (at the time of writing, discounted tickets for the Sunday were still available for $600HKD). Tickets are available from Gormei now.

Suntory Whisky Celebrates the Art of Giving this Christmas (Australia)
Last year we broke news of a new Suntory x Akira Isagawa collaboration (straight from Akira himself, who we found ourselves sitting next to at the 2014 Suntory Whisky Sydney launch), which turned out to be a special release of various Suntory whiskies wrapped in a furoshiki - a traditional Japanese scarf. Whilst the collaboration with Akira doesn't seem to have continued this year, the furoshiki has - returning for Christmas in selected Dan Murphy stores.

"Available as a gift with purchase in the lead up to Christmas in selected Dan Murphy’s stores, the luxury furoshiki embodies the respect with which gifts are bestowed to friends and family in Japan during the holiday season.

Like origami, furoshiki is considered an integral part of Japanese culture. For 2000 years, furoshiki served as a special pouch to hold personal items. Today, the ancient custom has become fashionable in Japan as a beautiful eco-friendly, lasting wrapping for gifts.

The 2015 furoshiki was created in Japan and is inspired by the Tanabada Festival of sakura, or cherry blossom, famous throughout the world for their delicate and striking beauty. 

“Suntory Whisky is the perfect gift, and the furoshiki completes a Suntory Whisky present in effortless style. We will even have staff on hand to hand wrap the furoshiki for customers, as well as tastings of the Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve in selected stores.”

Just 400 furoshiki have been produced, and the limited edition scarves will be available in selected Dan Murphy’s stores* around Australia this weekend 4th – 5th December, and the 18th – 19th December as a gift to wrap any purchase of the House of Suntory’s Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve (RRP AU$88)"

No doubt these won't last long, given the popularity of any limited edition Japanese whisky these days...



Please Don’t Tell (PDT) comes to Hong Kong
Now this we're excited about. Please Don't Tell, or "PDT", the legendary New York bar (often credited with initiating the modern "speakeasy" style bar trend), is coming to Hong Kong in the form of a pop-up bar at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental from 5 to 30 January, hosted in collaboration with Diageo World Class.

Steph and I visited in 2012, and I can still remember the taste of their fantastic Benton's Old Fashioned today. Needless to say we'll definitely be going along to this one... (they're even keeping the phone booth!)

"In a first of its kind event in the bar world, PDT will be recreated inside The Shell at MO Bar. Guests will step into the bar through a hidden entrance, in a phone booth located upstairs. Once inside they will find a space that faithfully recreates every detail of the New York original. Jim Meehan, bartender, founder of PDT, author of the PDT Cocktail Book, and Jeff Bell, current head bartender of PDT and WORLD CLASS USA Bartender of the Year 2013 will be behind the bar making cocktails.

Martin Newell, from Diageo RESERVE in Hong Kong said: “WORLD CLASS is on mission to inspire people to drink better. Supported by the world's biggest bartender competition, WORLD CLASS aims to elevate the drinking experience of consumers by training and inspiring bartenders around the world and working together with bars, restaurants and hotels to elevate and foster a fine drinking cocktail culture. By bringing PDT, one of the world’s best bars and home to some of the world’s best bartenders to Hong Kong, we are giving local bartenders and consumers alike an opportunity to experience a truly unique drinking experience.”

Inside PDT there will be an exclusive menu of 12 drinks, these will be a mix of PDT classics and new creations crafted just for Hong Kong. Some of the drinks they are bringing to Hong Kong include the: ‘Benton’s Old Fashioned’ (Don Lee, Winter 2007) made with bacon infused Bulleit Bourbon, bitters and maple syrup; ‘Cardinal’ (Jeff Bell, Spring 2014) a rosy hued aperitif using Tanqueray No. TEN gin, a bittersweet aperitivo known as Casoni,, Italian red vermouth and a touch of grapefruit and lemon; and ‘1-2 Punch’, a Scotch and beer combination using the Singleton of Glen Ord, lemon, grapefruit, citrus oleo-saccharum topped with a crisp lager.

A menu of hot dogs will be offered alongside the cocktails, inspired by Crif Dogs, the hot dog stand that serves as the entrance to PDT in NYC. Richard Ekkebus, Culinary Director of Amber, has created his own hot dog and a menu featuring hot dogs from leading Hong Kong chefs; part of the proceeds of each hot dog sold will be donated to charity.

PDT HK opens inside MO Bar at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental on the 5th January, it will be open from 5pm to 1230am Tuesday to Saturday until the 30th January."

For reservations, contact MO Bar by phone: 2132 0077 or email: lmhkg-mobar@mohg.com 



Johnnie Walker Blue Label Special Release: Celebrating the Year of the Monkey
Following two previous annual releases (celebrating the Year of the Horse and Year of the Ram editions, Johnnie Walker is launching a third special release Blue Label, to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

"JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Special Release: Year of the Monkey continues the tradition of Chinese calligraphy with blue brushstroke and golden hints. The bottle design features the energetic and joyful nature of monkey leaping fearlessly. When placing four uniquely white porcelain bottles side by side, the canvas unfolds to a stunningly beautiful visage, depicting monkeys leaping into the New Year with great joy and a daring spirit.

Drew Mills, Marketing Director of Diageo Brands noted, “JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL Year of Monkey Special Release truly marries the best of Chinese ceramic art with the very finest blend of Scotch whisky. This classic combination introduces unrivaled creative elements to the global whisky market, and I’m confident it will quickly become the premier choice for discerning collectors.”

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL Special Release: The Year of Monkey will be available for sale at retail outlets in January 2016. (750ml/bottle)."

Chivas 12 year old re-design
We noticed something during our recent visit to the House of Chivas in Hong Kong. In the "Heritage Room", which charted the history of Chivas Regal back to the early 1900s through as series of bottle displays, what we've known as the "current" 12 year old bottle was not in fact, the last bottle on display. That honour went to this guy - the revised, 2015-onwards 12 year old.

"The new Chivas Regal 12 Year Old bottle retains the round generous shape for which it is renowned, while its shoulders have been raised higher to reflect the brand’s pride as one of the world’s leading Scotch whiskies. The brand signifier is now included as a more prominent, organic feature of the bottle, and the signatures of founders James and John Chivas have been added to the glass to display the value of brotherhood at the heart of the brand. The label has evolved to present a simplified and more vibrant look. 

The outer carton has been re-designed retaining the icons that hold depth of meaning and provenance to Chivas’ rich heritage, and select areas have been embossed and debossed to add a texturalised element to the packaging."

Same same, but different? We like it.

Congratulations Starward Whisky - $10m AUD investment including a minority stake from Diageo
Not so much a press release - more so a congratulations. Starward whisky (from the New World Whisky Distillery, whom we've become good friends with over the past few years) have recently announced the closing of an investment round of more than $10million AUD, including a minority stake taken out by Diageo

Let's just let that sink in a minute - spirits behemoth Diageo, who own brands such as Lagavulin, Talisker and Johnnie Walker, have taken out an investment stake in an Australian whisky distiller from Victoria who only filled their first barrel in 2010.

(We first heard about this a month or two ago, but now that it's been publicly announced, we're happy to be able to share the good news! The full press release can be found here.)

Clearly Diageo, see what I've been seeing in Starward all along - absolutely fantastic whisky. Look out for a write-up on a masterclass we helped host in Hong Kong (Starward's first international masterclass), which gave a few lucky Hong Kongers a taste of a number of stunning releases.

Well done David & team!

Thats all for this week. Until next time...

Cheers, 
Martin.

Chivas Regal "The Icon" Hong Kong Launch - Lunch at the House of Chivas (Tasted #228)

We attend a lot of whisky events here at TimeforWhisky - a lot of really enjoyable whisky events. Between the events Hendy attends in Australia, and the ones Steph and I attend in Asia, we've probably covered 50+ events this year alone, and all of them have been great.

...but every now and then, an event comes along that sets a new standard, and manages to blow us away (in Sydney, Ardbeg Day sits in that category every year, as did this year's "Great Whisky Rumble"). In Hong Kong, that event for 2015 was clearly Chivas Regal's "The Icon" launch - at "The House of Chivas", held this week.

Actually, calling it an "event" doesn't really do it justice. Taking over Hong Kong's newest bar Foxglove, "The House of Chivas" spanned 5 days, 20 events, and saw a mix of media, industry folk, VIPs and others get together to enjoy lunches, dinners, a cocktail competition, social ventures, blending sessions, tastings, parties and of course plenty of Chivas Regal, including the incredibly rare "The Icon" (which we mentioned last month and which Hendy tasted recently at the Australian launch).

We attended a lunch (actually two - greedy, we know) and blending and tasting session with none other than Chivas Regal's Master Blender, Colin Scott. We'll cover the blending session in another post, and focus on the lunch / launch here, which also saw us revisit the fantastic Chivas Regal 25 year old.

From the moment we stepped into Foxglove, it was clear Stir PR and Pernod Ricard had left no stone unturned turning the entire venue into "The House of Chivas". Upon entering, we were first welcomed with a personalised key, and asked to hold onto it until the time came, then ushered into a hallway where our Tuxedo-wearing host explained a little about "The Icon" and the history of Chivas Regal, before a hidden door opened to reveal the "Heritage Room".

The "Heritage Room" (a library-like room filled with books, whisky and vintage cocktail equipment) contained a brief history of Chivas Regal, including bottles from the 20s, 40s, 70s, 2000s and today - the full history of Chivas Regal. We clearly must have looked thirsty, because before we knew it, we were offered our choice of welcome cocktail. Opting for the Chivas and Aperol-based choice, we found it the perfect antidote to the uncharacteristically humid winter's day outside.

After finishing our cocktail (and enjoying a brief chat with Colin), we were taken to the bar, shown our seats, and presented with a choice of three ingredients - cranberry, ginger or passionfruit. Opting for cranberry (with good friend of TimeforWhisky Eddie opting for passionfruit), we then watched as Chivas Regal's global brand ambassador Max Warner whipped up two stunning drinks, and served them alongside two large mystery boxes.

This was where the keys came into play - opening our boxes revealed two sensory items (for nosing), and two canapés - one sweet and one savoury. Certainly an interesting (and elaborate) take on the welcome cocktails and canapés!

After finishing our cocktails, it was off to yet another room (by this point we're starting to get a taste of Foxglove's huge-by-Hong Kong-standards 4,300sq ft) - the "Icon Room".

As the name might suggest, the "Icon Room" was where we got to see the Icon up close and personal, and watch a brief video explaining the background and philosophy, which Colin later elaborated on. A lot of ultra premium whiskies carry incredibly intricate and detailed bottles and packaging, and "The Icon" was no different - with a handblown crystal decanter (by the UK's Dartington Crystal), and an impressively detailed leather case. Of course it's all about the liquid inside, and Colin explained more about that over lunch.

After our tour, it was time to visit the dining room and take our seats for lunch. At each of the forty places was a trio of Chivas Regals (Brothers' Blend, Extra and Chivas Regal 18), and our menu. Rather than a traditional pairing menu, guests were invited to sample each whisky with each course and choose what worked for them (a trend we're seeing more and more these days - and one we enjoy).

Pernod Ricard Sales & Marketing Manager Murray Lang welcomed guests, before handing over to Colin, who talked us through a brief history of Chivas Regal - starting with the Chivas Regal 25 (which was introduced in 1909, disappeared during prohibition and didn't re-emerge until Colin brought it back in 2007), and introducing The Icon - likening it to Hong Kong ("an iconic city"), and explaining the increasing thirst for ultra-premium blends in Hong Kong and the broader Asia Pacific.

We learn from Colin that "The Icon" is not a "Limited Edition", but a "Limited Release", with only 1500 bottles released in 2015 (10 destined for HK), and 1800 to be released in 2016. Colin explained that the philosophy behind "The Icon" was to include "nuggets of lost distilleries" - little flavour nuggets from distillers no longer in operation - whilst staying true to the Chivas Regal style. Whilst those nuggets will differ from year to year, the overall style and profile will stay the same. We'd love to know a little more about the composition of the whisky (i.e. the oldest whisky, the youngest whisky, which closed distilleries were included etc...) but the focus with The Icon seems to be on the flavour as a whole, rather than the individual whiskies that make up the blend (fair enough). We did get a little more insight later in our blending session.

Lunch consisted of two courses followed by a tray of stunning petit fours. We found the first course (Loch Fyne Smoked Salmon Tartare, Crisp Toast and Cauliflower Cream) paired best with the Brothers' Blend - the smooth confectionary notes of the whisky blending well with the salmon's saltiness and the cream's tartness.

The second course (Seared Wagyu sirloin, glazed baby carrots on potato quenelle and sautéed French beans) matched the heavily-sherried Extra brilliantly (though also paired well with the 18).

After finishing our courses, the lights dimmed and the distinct sound of a sole violin could be heard, getting louder. The curtains opened and a violinist entered, followed by waiters carrying trays of domes, under each, a Riedel Vinum whisky glass glass. Hmm, what was this?

Colin then got up to introduce it as the Chivas Regal 25 year old, and explained that whilst there are no records of the original composition from 1909, it was known to contain Strathisla at its heart, just as the current release does today.

Chivas Regal 25 (40% ABV, 25yo, Blend, Scotland, $2,980HKD / $379.90AUD / £165.79)
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Colour: Golden Orange
Nose: Peaches and fresh summer fruit salad (I have to say though - I'm not a big fan of the Riedel Vinum whisky glass for nosing).
Palate: Huge (considering we're only talking 40% ABV) but very smooth. Almonds, marzipan. Cadbury dairy milk, caramel. Hazelnuts! Definitely a dessert whisky.
Finish: Long with a smooth milk chocolate (not dark chocolate) hint.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100, and very enjoyable with nutty milk chocolates (which there just so happened to be several of in front of us!)

After several hours enjoying brilliant cocktails, food, whiskies and company, it was time for a few of us to join Colin in the "Icon Room" for an intimate blending session and, most importantly, a tasting of "The Icon" itself - but we'll save that for another post in a few days.

TimeforWhisky would like to say a tremendous thanks to Pernod Ricard Hong Kong and Stir PR Hong Kong for the invitations to all the wonderful events at the "House of Chivas".

Cheers,

Martin.

Australian launch of Chivas Regal "The Icon" with Colin Scott and the Art of Blending (Tasted #227)

The launch of Chivas Regal "The Icon" in the Australian market follows the launch of the Chivas "Extra", this time last year. Despite belonging to the same Chivas family, these two expressions are markedly different, with The Icon being an exclusive travel retail bottling targeted at the ultra-premium end of the market, contrasting with the Extra which is now available across bars and liquor retailers nationally. The difference between the two expressions does not instantly mean a difference in quality - in fact I am a fan of the Extra with its inherent richness and depth derived from a portion of Oloroso sherry cask matured whiskies.

The Icon launch was held at the Ivy Penthouse, an exquisite establishment overlooking Ivy Pool Club, and featuring a spa on the balcony (though the spa did not feature as part of the launch). The venue may well have been selected by the folks at Pernod Ricard as a a suitable match for the perceived exquisiteness of The Icon. As Colin Scott, the Chivas Regal Master Blender noted at the launch, The Icon shows of Chivas' past to resemble an Icon of the future. Clichéd as it may sound, The Icon does inherently carry some unique 'iconic' features which may (or may not) explain its place at the premium end of the market, including:

• The blend of whiskies, which feature rare, extremely well-aged whiskies from mothballed distilleries (though Colin was careful to not reveal the name of those distilleries)
• The whisky itself is housed in a specially hand-blown crystal decanter crafted by the guys at Dartington Crystal in Devon, United Kingdom. 
• A signature "luckenbooth" symbol stopper which represents the traditional Celtic symbol of love - featured as a seal for the bottle.

 

Before presenting The Icon for tasting, Colin suggested a brief whisky blending masterclass to explain the blending process and exemplify the variation in notes that can be derived from different blends. Colin spoke to the beauty of blending and how having a large amount of different whiskies and flavour notes can be advantageous and quite a blessing to blenders. Having been a fan of single malt and extremities from one single malt to another over the years, I was intrigued at the idea.

Two whiskies were presented for blending. The first whisky presented was an aged Strathisla, the core malt in any Chivas blend. The particular whisky presented was matured in ex-oloroso sherry casks for over 25 years. It carried a gold appearance and was fruity and sweet on the nose, with fruit cake, honey, raisins and sticky date notes all around. The palate of this particular whisky was soft - apple and dried spices were prominent with some meringue and chilli chocolate notes. It finished long and gentle with a hint of lingering peppermint.

The second whisky, a blended grain, matured in an ex-Bourbon barrel provided typical ex-Bourbon matured Scotch notes including honey and orange/citrus. Grain whisky plays a pivotal role in the composition of blends, often used as a base. This particular grain whisky was quite volatile on the palate, there were Christmas cake, clove, black pepper and cherry notes. The finish was soft and peppery though rather short.

Mixing the Strathisla with the grain whisky, various notes from both whiskies amalgamated with the blend becoming less volatile and the raisins and fruitcake notes from the Strathisla becoming more dominant. Depending on the ratio of Strathisla and the grain, we could balance between the dominant notes of the ex-oloroso and the dominant notes of the ex-bourbon. It was certainly an interesting experiment and adding a splash of water further transformed the blend.

The art of blending is no easy feat and Master Blenders can spend hours on end experimenting with different permutations of anywhere between two to over fifty different whiskies to try and maintain consistency with their blended whiskies.

Following our brief masterclass on the art of blending, it was onto the main highlight, The Icon. The Icon encompasses "nuggets of flavours from lost distilleries", Colin described as he passed the remarkably heavy and dense green-hued crystal decanter around the room.

Colin explained how, each year, only a limited number of bottles will be released to the market, potentially making it a limited edition, collectors item for whisky fans (though that is in contrast to the beliefs of many that whisky should be enjoyed rather than collected). Only 1,500 bottles will be released globally this year with an increase to around 1,800 bottles in 2016 and in 2017. 

Despite the total global allocation, Australia will only receive 30 bottles for its duty free market. With the small number of international airports and duty free stores across those airports, and the significant price point ($4,699AUD), the allocation may well be appropriate - clearly The Icon sits deep into the high ultra-premium whisky end of the market.

So how do all the unique features and exclusivity of the Icon stack up with the whisky that it represents?


Chivas Regal Icon (40% ABV, NAS, Scotland, $4,699AUD)
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A premium limited edition blended whisky that features some of the rarest, oldest whiskies from mothballed distilleries in its blend. Collect it or drink it, personally, The Icon is an enjoyable whisky and presents a level of complexity on the nose and palate. 

Colour: Copper

Nose: The nose is rich and fruity; oranges, honey syrup are prominent during the initial whiff followed by a layer of spice, perhaps cloves. The nose then mellows into a more grassier note

Palate: The palate is soft, gentle almost creamy. The orange citrus appeared on the palate as it did on the nose, peach, vanilla cake and (gummy bears) notes followed. There's a hint of peat on the finish.

Finish: The finish is rather sweet initially before presenting a long lingering, white pepper spices

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100

Chivas Regal The Icon is an ultra-premium travel retail offering and one that has been crafted with a mixture of new and old. Overall, The Icon is a complex blend and showcases the output of the art of blending, especially the art of blending with old whiskies from mothballed distilleries. Look out for The Icon next time you pass through duty free, and take the time to appreciate the finer details The Icon displays.

Cheers,
Hendy.

Time for Whisky would like to thank Pernod Ricard Australia and Cav Con for having us as part of the Chivas Regal 'The Icon' launch.

This week in whisk(e)y #25 - Chivas Regal "The Icon" launches, Chivas/QT/Movember packages, The Last Drop Distillers release two new whiskies in Australia

As you might know if you read this blog regularly, we get a fair few interesting press releases and news articles here at TimeforWhisky, and usually try to feature them with our own spin, experiences or comments. Sometimes though, they come thick and fast, and we just don't have time to do them all justice.

So we've decided to take a leaf out of some other excellent whisky blogs, and feature a "PR roundup" every now and then - basically a wrap-up of relevant press releases we've received in the previous week or so (including other interesting whisk(e)y news Steph, Hendy & or I think you might enjoy). So on with it then...

Chivas Regal "The Icon" launches
Hendy recently attended the Australian launch of Chivas Regal The Icon - an ultra-prestige blend including whisky from a number of mothballed distilleries (edit: detailed write-up and tasting notes here).

More recently though, "The Icon" has been launched in HK, and in a few weeks we'll be bringing you all the news, including Martin's tasting notes. Until then, here's a snippet from the press release:

 

"Chivas Regal The Icon is the perfect balance of old and new, with each distillery imparting its own unique characteristics. At its heart lie the rarest malts from Strathisla, the spiritual home of Chivas Regal, and the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Accented with hand-selected single malts from Longmorn and Glen Keith, Chivas Regal The Icon is a bold, balanced and unforgettable blend specifically developed with discerning whisky connoisseurs in mind. 

Each year,  a limited number of bottles of Chivas Regal The Icon will be available, making it a must-have product for whisky adorers and collectors alike.

Presented in an elegant bottle, each decanter of Chivas Regal The Icon has been hand-blown by dedicated master craftsmen at Dartington Crystal before being hand-filled with the luxury liquid. The glass is delicately etched and finished with precision crafted metalwork and presented in sublime green glassware in homage to the original green Chivas Regal bottle that captured the world’s attention in 1909. Adorned with a signature luckenbooth stopper, a traditional Celtic symbol of love, the distinctive bottle is certain to be adored by whisky enthusiasts around the world.

The limited edition of Chivas Regal The Icon is available by private order only at HK$28,800"

Chivas Regal & QT Hotel Movember packages
Ok so this one's not purely whisky-related, but Movember is a charity we strongly support (I'm  actually doing it for the 7th year this year - feel free to donate a few bucks if you like!) and when we heard they teamed up with QT Sydney and Chivas Regal to further their excellent causes, we figured it warranted featuring.

A launch event was held recently (which although we couldn't attend, seemed to have a number of similarities to this event in 2014), to celebrate QT Sydney's Movember packages, which are as follows:

• QT Shave –Tidy-Shave package. Valued at $120, the package costs $100 with $25 donated to Movember
• QT Sydney will donate $10 from all other shave services undertaken during the month to Movember ensuring guests who may not be ‘Mo-ing’ can still shave for the cause.
• QT Sydney will donate $4 from every Parlour Lane MO’hito and all gold coin stick-on moustache proceeds to Movember.

The Last Drop Distillers Limited brings two new releases to Australia
Back in May of this year, we mentioned The Last Drop Distillers had releases their 1967 Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky & 48 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky in Hong Kong. Fast forward a few months, and those same whiskies are now available in Australia, via Dan Murphy's.

We expect to have tasting notes for both whiskies available in the next few weeks, but until then, here's the press release:

"November (Sydney, Australia) - Purveyors of exclusive, super premium spirits, The Last Drop Distillers Limited, announces the launch of its newest expressions in Australia; The Last Drop 1967 Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky and 48 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky – both awards winners in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2015.

Founders and whisky industry veterans, James Espey, Tom Jago and Peter Flack, have enjoyed long and illustrious careers in the wine and spirits trade. The trio have channelled their unrivalled passion for premium spirits into creating the world’s most exclusive spirits company, The Last Drop Distillers Limited. Today, James and Tom, with the help of their daughters, Creative Director, Rebecca Jago and Marketing Director, Beanie Espey, tap into their combined 120 years experience in the industry to seek out the rarest and most exclusive distillations and deliver them to discerning spirits enthusiasts around the world. 

In past roles, James and Tom have worked together on some of the most iconic names in Scotch whisky, including Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Chivas Regal 18 Years Old, as well as Malibu and Baileys Irish Cream; two of the most original and successful new drinks categories in the world.

Tantalising the tastes of Australian whisky aficionados, the brand’s newest drops, the 1967 Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky and 48 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky, are now available in limited supply through Dan Murphy’s online and selected Dan Murphy’s stores.

The Last Drop 1967 Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Last Drop’s Directors regularly look to the cellars of Scotland where they have long procured some of the most elegant barrelled spirits in the world. Unearthed at Glen Garioch, one of the Scotland’s oldest distilleries, the 1967 Glen Garioch Scotch Whisky is a 47-year-old single malt. Initially created as a robust and ‘peated’ whisky, the liquid was stored in a Bourbon style remade Hogshead cask and has matured into a more mellow, beautifully balanced whisky with an unexpected hint of honey and apple sweetness.

The spirit has been awarded 96.5 points by leading international Whisky commentator, Jim Murray, and is the recipient of the 2015 Single Malt Scotch Whisky of the Year.

Of 118 bottles existing in the world, just three bottles are available in Australia and can be purchased via Dan Murphy’s online and selected Dan Murphy’s stores for an RRP of $9,000 AUD.

The Last Drop 48 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

Several of the distilleries represented in this unique blend have long since closed, making this a truly rare and luxurious Scotch whisky unlike any other in the world.

It was developed after a small volume of this bottling’s original blend was selected by the Chief Blender to be refilled into fresh ex-bourbon cases and aged further. Since then, this small batch whisky has been slowly maturing in one of the older traditional warehouses in the Highlands of Scotland resulting in a balanced chestnut-hued liquid that is both rich and fragrant

This unique blend has been awarded 96.5 points by leading international Whisky commentator, Jim Murray, and is both the 2015 Scotch Whisky of the Year and 2015 Scotch Blend of the Year.

Of 592 bottles existing in the world, only three bottles are available in Australia via Dan Murphy’s online and selected Dan Murphy’s stores for an RRP of $5,500 AUD.

“At The Last Drop, we’ve made it our mission to unearth the rarest and most discerning spirits in the world and bottle them for the enjoyment of spirits aficionados. We’re thrilled to bring these two exceptional expressions that are truly unique and provide Australian drinkers with a once-in-a-lifetime taste that can only be found in The Last Drop bottles,” says James Espey, Found and Chairman of The Last Drop Distillers.

Each of The Last Drop’s selected spirits are bottled straight from the cask, corked and wax-dipped by hand before being housed in a signature Last Drop Distillers leather case. Each case includes a generous 50ml miniature as well as a leather-bound booklet that not only certifies the bottle, but also serves as a record of the buyer’s personal tasting notes as they explore the exceptional drops.

The Last Drop soft launched in Australia in 2014 with the release of The Last Drop 50 Year Old, six bottles of which are currently available via Dan Murphy’s online and in selected Dan Murphy’s stores for an RRP of $6,000 AUD."

At $9,000AUD and $5,500AUD, these whiskies are clearly not every day drinkers, but considering their worldwide release of 118 and 592 bottles respectively, you don't find whiskies much rarer... (we can't wait to try them!)


Thats all for this week. Until next time...

Cheers, 
Martin.

Chivas Regal cocktails with the "Chivas Global Master" at Aberdeen St Social

We've attended more than our fair share of Pernod Ricard and Chivas events over the years and they've always been enjoyable and held in well-suited venues. Tonight was no different, as Pernod Ricard HK (with their very new PR Partner Stir Public Relations) launched a range of new Chivas cocktails at Aberdeen St Social, in PMQ.

Pernod had brought in Josh Reynolds of London's Hawskmoor Spitalfields bar, who earlier this year was crowned Chivas' "Global Master" in the cocktail competition final held at Tales of the Cocktail. The event was to introduce us to the range of new Chivas cocktails which were designed to reflect the "flavours of Hong Kong".

After a brief chat with Josh, Chivas' global brand ambassador Max Warner introduced the night before both Josh and local bartender Tunny Alexander Grattidge briefly talked us through their cocktails.

Josh explained that his two cocktails (which he came up with in 3 hours) reflected his views of Hong Kong, but in very different ways. The first - Live Longan Prosper, a mix of Chivas 12, Longan Nam and Chocolate bitters, was based around the flavours of Hong Kong. The latter, #IKnowThatFace (also Chivas 12 based) was a tribute to an earlier mentor, who lived a frenetic/crazy life, much like how Josh sees Hong Kong life. 

Both were very enjoyable cocktails - with the Live Longan Prosper not dissimilar to a richer Old Fashioned, and the #IKnowThatFace being a rich, slightly bitter short cocktail with a lot of berry notes (my favourite of the night).

Tunny was up next, presenting his two cocktails - the Papaya Don't Preach (we love these names!), a mix of Chivas 12, Aperol, Fresh Papaya and Chilli Purée, Jasmine Tea and Orange Bitters and the Mile High Tea, combining Chivas, Chamomile Tea, Homemade Almond and Manuka Honey Orgeat, Fresh Lemon and Abelha Organic Cachaça.

The former was a tall, fresh take on a whisky cocktail (great for HK's climate), with a nice little chilli kick (also great for the cooler months), and the latter was like enjoying a strong boozy HK milk tea. Both delicious. We were also excited to learn that Tunny plans to open an Australian-style café/bar in a few weeks in Sai Ying Pun, just a few blocks from where we live!

The cocktails (along with two more Chivas creations by new bar manager Audrey) were all unique, individual and of a very high quality, and are all currently available for $100HKD at the bar. We're told that Josh's cocktails are also available Hawskmoor Spitalfields in London, should you be one of our UK-based readers feeling thirsty after this write-up!

Cheers,
Steph & Martin.

Chivas 18 Architecture Awards 2015 dinner

Earlier this week saw the 2015 Hong Kong Architecture Awards dinner held in conjunction with Chivas 18. I say "held in conjunction" because it was quickly apparently upon arrival that this was more than simple sponsorship (where, for example, you might be served a Chivas on arrival, and see a few logos around).

No, Chivas were clearly at the core of this event, from the presenters (including Colin Scott, Chivas Brothers' Master Blender, and MD of Pernod Ricard HK & Macau Frantz Hotton), to the bar (serving signature Chivas 18 cocktails), to the entertainment (more on that below), to the theme of the night - "The Art of Blending".

On arrival at the Conrad Hong Kong, guests were served cocktails made with Chivas 18, with something to suit everyone's tastes - from a stronger, citrus-driven take on the Manhattan, to a taller, lighter punch-based concoction, through to the classic whisky sour. Canapés were served as guests (from both architecture and whisky fields) chatted and waited for the main event.

Now, that entertainment? After taking our seats (Steph and I being fortunate enough to be seated at the head table), we were introduced to the gentleman below (whose name we didn't catch unfortunately) - a speed painter. We weren't quite sure what was being painted at first - there was a crescent moon, the outline of a city, and something in the middle we couldn't quite make out...

..but just a few minutes in, all became apparent when, as a finale, a handful of glitter was thrown all over the canvas, revealing an impressively detailed bottle of Chivas 18:

Afterwards it was time for a few speeches (including a discussion on the Art of Blending from Colin), a toast, and then dinner. We were lucky enough to spend some time chatting with Colin (who also kindly signed a bottle for us), seeing as Steph and I had missed him (by one day!) when Hendy covered his visit to Sydney.

The dinner, with courses matched to Chivas Regal, was fantastic, with the highlight surely being the "Salmon Trio", which played off brilliantly with the rich honied notes in Chivas 18.

(The dessert, a series of chocolate delights including sea salt chocolate Mille Feuille and white chocolate pafait, was also expertly matched.)

With the awards handed out, dinner finished and everyone having enjoyed a good Chivas or two, it was time to head home, full, content, and with another signed bottle to add to the growing collection!

TimeforWhisky.com would like to thank Pernod Ricard HK & Macau and the South China Morning Post for the invitation.

Cheers,

Steph & Martin.