Well incredibly this years festival is over for Cape Town anyway we have Johannesburg starting on Wednesday. Thankfully Jack Daniels left their Harley at home so I still have a voice.
Thank you to all of you that came to say hello and all of the new folk I met it was great to meet you.
They were here once more in bright blazing technicolour, the Brands we all know Johhnie Walker, J&B, Bells, Jack Daniels, Glenfiddich with lounges, extended areas and all the marketing Rand thrown to create that space in our minds as first associated with whisky.
This year there had an underlying intelligence from the smaller stands, the back to basics area succeeded in achieving exactly that showing that knowledge allows for more discerning tastes and less gimmicks.
Ryan O'Conner was a great MC the music was vibrant and fitting all in all it was Wow. The calibre of people attending was so special, I must say though I still dread the Friday night, it seems as though this year was no different.
The lady who sold the extra coupons was rushed off her feet by 7.30 she had sold more tickets than she had sold the entire Wednesday and Thursday combined. It amazes me how many people bought extra coupons before they even started tasting so it would appear they were there for a reason, and polite conversation was not high up on their lists.
The crazy rush and vibe though allows the night to zip past and before you know it the vultures arrive waving their glasses as they slurr as honestly as they can," ag jist ooonnnnne mooore pleeeshhh." Now I would love to say that its my high standard when it comes to promoting responsible drinking that allows me to instantly reject and possibility of giving them even a sniff of what's before me. The truth is how on earth could I live with myself knowing that I poured a 32 Year old Glen Scotia for someone who had lost all sense of feeling a least 30 minutes ago.
No No its not going to happen I will not allow the Friday binging to spoil what is an otherwise very good production and certainly a world leader in its field , Whisky Live is here to stay and Cape Town and Johannesburg will continue to be the biggest and brightest.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The State of Idependents
Whisky Live Cape Town 2007 kicked off last night and whilst I would love to comment on the festival as a whole, I cannot, as I found myself bogged down on my stand.
What I did get to see is surely one of the very best shows the world has to offer.
I am very fortunate to be manning the Independent Bottlers Challenge stand this year, and those of you lucky enough to have sought me out last night I am sure will agree. The collection of malts is absolutely superb.
One has to wonder how much longer the independents are going to be able to get hold of such gems as they have over the last decade or so. As demand increases distilleries are less likely to let go of their casks opting rather to release proprietary labels only.
Having said that the malts on offer are as always of the highest quality with most of the older whiskies attracting the most attention. It is probably the hardest thing to convince someone that age does not mean better especially when whiskies like The Balblair 40 from whisky exchange and Duncan Taylor's 39 years Old Bunnahabhain not to mention Dun Bheagans 31 years Old Glen Scotia offer such a good argument to the contrary.
Of the independents on show though its rather interesting that more and more now own distilleries too. Ian Macleod owns Glengoyne, Signatory owns Edradour, Cadenheads owns Springbank or is it Springbank owns Cadenheads, Gordan MacPhail owns Benromach, I guess its a trend and there are many more examples.
What is evident though is that the independents are still offering some of the very best casks of whisky available and I for one would be very sad to see them fade away. My favourite drams thus far have got to be the Highland Park 18 and Port Ellen 24 from Dewar Rattray , The Tamdhu 13 and Rosebank 15 from DunBheagan. Old Malt Casks Port Ellen 25 and Ardbeg 15 I have to get through at least another 50 drams over the next 2 days and will report on the actual results from whisky magazine too and then decide for once and all which are my favourites of the lot.
Get yourself to the stand and try some for yourself, it is truly an experience not to be missed.
See you then Slainthe Mhath.
What I did get to see is surely one of the very best shows the world has to offer.
I am very fortunate to be manning the Independent Bottlers Challenge stand this year, and those of you lucky enough to have sought me out last night I am sure will agree. The collection of malts is absolutely superb.
One has to wonder how much longer the independents are going to be able to get hold of such gems as they have over the last decade or so. As demand increases distilleries are less likely to let go of their casks opting rather to release proprietary labels only.
Having said that the malts on offer are as always of the highest quality with most of the older whiskies attracting the most attention. It is probably the hardest thing to convince someone that age does not mean better especially when whiskies like The Balblair 40 from whisky exchange and Duncan Taylor's 39 years Old Bunnahabhain not to mention Dun Bheagans 31 years Old Glen Scotia offer such a good argument to the contrary.
Of the independents on show though its rather interesting that more and more now own distilleries too. Ian Macleod owns Glengoyne, Signatory owns Edradour, Cadenheads owns Springbank or is it Springbank owns Cadenheads, Gordan MacPhail owns Benromach, I guess its a trend and there are many more examples.
What is evident though is that the independents are still offering some of the very best casks of whisky available and I for one would be very sad to see them fade away. My favourite drams thus far have got to be the Highland Park 18 and Port Ellen 24 from Dewar Rattray , The Tamdhu 13 and Rosebank 15 from DunBheagan. Old Malt Casks Port Ellen 25 and Ardbeg 15 I have to get through at least another 50 drams over the next 2 days and will report on the actual results from whisky magazine too and then decide for once and all which are my favourites of the lot.
Get yourself to the stand and try some for yourself, it is truly an experience not to be missed.
See you then Slainthe Mhath.
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