Cover Tatler invited guests from the Singapore-China Business Association to sample whiskies from the Diageo Rare & Exceptional range
Tatler invited guests from the Singapore-China Business Association to sample whiskies from the Diageo Rare & Exceptional range
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Guests from the Singapore Chinese Business Association were able to savour The Singleton 25, Talisker 30, Royal Lochnagar 1981 and Port Ellen 1980 at the intimate whisky appreciation night
Great whiskies have a way of bringing people together. That was exactly what happened last September when guests from the Singapore-China Business Association (SCBA) gathered at Como Metropolitan Singapore’s Sky Bar for a special whisky masterclass featuring four prized expressions from the Diageo Rare & Exceptional portfolio. These were The Singleton 25, Talisker 30, Royal Lochnagar 1981, and Port Ellen 1980.
After the SCBA members caught up with friends over canapés prepared by Como Cuisine and cocktails by the bartenders at Sky Bar, they took to their seats to begin the tasting session. Welcoming them was director of sales & marketing Effandy Kumess, who shared how the hotel’s F&B spaces were thoughtfully crafted to host a variety of celebrations such as this whisky-tasting session.
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Single malts from the Diageo Rare & Exceptional range
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Eager to dive into the whiskies, Diageo’s private client director Raymond Poon began the tasting with The Singleton 25—a sweet and spicy single malt that was matured for 25 years in a combination of sherry oak and ex-bourbon casks. Poon invited the guests to nose the whisky first, redolent of tropical fruits, baking spices and honey, before taking a sip and letting its notes of ginger, pear, passionfruit and pineapple expand on the palate.
It was indeed a great way to start the session, and it only got better with the Talisker 30—elegant and complex, giving imbibers a “taste of the Isle of Skye itself “ with its smoke and pepper notes that culminated in a rounder and softer finish.
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SCBA members
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Poon admitted to the crowd that the Royal Lochnagar 1981 is one of his favourite expressions, and it was easy to understand why upon tasting. It was smooth and waxy, full of sweet and oaky notes balanced by that delicate spice. What guests enjoyed the most was the long and warm finishing that lingered long after the first sip.
Last but not least was the prized Port Ellen 1980, an exquisite expression from the Prima & Ultima series that ended the night on a high note thanks to its sweet, salty and smoky characters, and peaty finish.
Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
