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The Tatler Bar recommends these exquisite whiskies and cognacs that will pair extremely well with your CNY dishes

Chinese New Year is a time of celebration with loved ones and that often means glorious feasts—with matching tipples to sweeten the occasion. Perhaps, by this time, you would have already planned out how to enjoy your reunion dinners this year with social distancing in mind, and whether you'll dine out or enjoy it in the comfort of your home. But what about the bottles you'll pop open to ring in the Year of the Ox? 

"Brown spirits like cognac pairs extremely well with rich dishes such as steak and duck," explains Mathieu Chapoutier, APAC director of Tesseron Cognacs. And for this reason, our team at The Tatler Bar has curated a special selection of whiskies and cognacs to elevate your CNY festivities. 

(Related: What to Do in Singapore to Celebrate the Year of the Ox)

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1. Hennessy XO

CNY celebrations call for special bottles such as this, created by Maurice Hennessy in 1870 and hailed as the emblematic icon of the Hennessy Maison. The blend is made up of over 100 eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne that had been aged in young oak barrels. Rich, spicy and complex, the drink will hold its own when paired with rich dishes.

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2. Pierre Ferrand Original 1840 Cognac

Another stellar cognac to sweeten the festivities is the result of a collaboration between the house’s owner Alexandre Gabriel, cellar master Christian Guerin and cocktail historian Dave Wondrich. This premier cru brandy uses an original recipe from 1840 using the 19th-century Pinet-Castillon Cognac as its base. The result is a fruity, floral expression and a high ABV that makes it a suitable match for your desserts.

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3. The Glendronach 15 Year Old

More of a whisky connoisseur? That’s not a problem when you’ve got The Glendronach Revival on hand. As the name implies, this creation was halted in 2015 as there weren’t enough maturing stocks, but it’s now back on the shelves due to its popularity. Its beauty lies in its production process—the distilled liquid is aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks to give it its complex characters packed with spice and fruit. It’s so delicious, you’ll be drinking it even before the reunion dinner starts.

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4. Taketsuru Pure Malt

Our drinks round-up won’t be complete without whiskies from Japan, and this no-age-statement blended malt has a high percentage of malt from Miyagikyo and the rest is from Yoichi. The sumptuous combination is matured in various casks for about 10 years, making for a creamy and rich malt taste enriched with smoky notes.

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5. Nikka Tailored

Nikka Tailored is the distillery's premium blend that encapsulates the craftsmanship, culture as well as expertise of its Japanese distillers. In typical Japanese fashion, it's blended with utmost precision and care using malts from Nikka's Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries that are combined with grain whisky. The result? A beautifully balanced liquid that culminates with a round and soft finish.

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6. The Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask

A perfect match for red meats dishes such as roast duck and steak, the crème de la crème of The Macallan's Double Cask range is matured for 18 years in both American and European sherry seasoned oak casks. It boasts a range of flavours that excites the palate—delicate vanilla and spice from spending time in the casks, and rounded off with sweeter flavours and a warm finish.

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7. The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Set (CNY Edition)

This is a limited-edition offering made just for the Year of the Ox, and consists of two precious bottles of The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask. The rich whisky boasts a melange of fruity citrus, caramel and spicy ginger characters, thanks to the distilled liquid spending time in American oak and ex-sherry casks for at least 12 years. 

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8. Plantation Rum Experience Gift Set

If you're visiting your relatives for reunion dinners, surprise them with this special rum gift set. It comes with six 100ml bottles of rum that take your palate on a journey through different plantations and islands with their variety of styles and flavours.

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