World Whiskey Day is this Saturday, May 21, 2016!
If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you’ll probably know that I am developing a taste for Scotch. (I am not a drunkard! Hahaha, said the girl who likes Scotch.) But truthfully, I am not a big alcohol drinker at all. I only ever drink during social occasions, often only served wine, and even this is quite rare since my usual kumares are goody-goodies who don’t drink. My other experiences with hard liquor were during group or company outings, where the booze was cheap and appreciation of the fine alcohol was not the point of the drinking, LOL.
What I do love to do with wine is to cook with it, but that’s a story for another post.
But ever since I swiped a taste of good Scotch from my dad’s glass a few years ago, I have developed an affinity for good Scotch. It was at a party, and the oldies were pouring drinks for themselves and they only offered the Scotch to men! Hmpht! Why? I don’t want the crappy red wine, dammit! Let me try some of that Scotch, I thought. But I didn’t want to make a fuss over it so I just took a sip from my dad’s glass.
My first sip of Scotch was a revelation, it was a Johnnie Walker — so this was what Scotch drinkers were raving about! All my life I have always appreciated smooth & mellow drinks — this was why I always preferred smooth & smoky & mellow pu-er tea over astringent green teas. And the JW that I sipped had those smooth, smoky, mellow goodness in spades.
And thus my relationship with Scotch began…
What is Scotch? Scotch is a whiskey made in Scotland. Of course, there’s more to it than that, but that’s the quick definition.
I was so happy to have been invited to Diageo’s #LoveScotch event. The exclusive event was held at the Revel at The Palace in Uptown BGC.
We had a quick lesson on how to appreciate Scotch from whiskey expert Ewan Gunn.
- Singleton of Glen Ord 12 – this is a single malt (came from one batch only) scotch that is light, smooth and mellow, fruity with a little vanilla
- Johnnie Walker Black Label – this is a blended Scotch, meaning it was blended from several different Scotch whiskeys; this one was stronger with a more pronounced smokiness
- Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve – this one was creamy smooth, light and gentle
There was an open bar where we got to try 3 drinks:
- Johnnie Smash – A refreshing whiskey cocktail – Johnnie Walker Black Label with lemon juice, sugar syrup and mint leaves
- Citrus Gold – Enjoy Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve’s smooth, honeyed tones with crushed ice and orange slices
- Singleton 12 Old-Fashioned – Nothing beats the classic – The Singleton of Glen Ord 12, sugar syrup and dashes of bitters
This is the bartender making our Johnnie Smash:
This is the Singleton Old Fashioned:
Personally, I found that I prefer to drink Scotch neat where I get that wonderful smooth and smoky finish. Everybody’s preferences and palates are different, there is no right or wrong way to drink Scotch, but to me, I seem to get a lot of medicinal flavors when my Scotch is iced or has water added. It could be different for you, it’s really a personal preference.
We also had the wonderful Raymond Gutierrez and the famous Coco Rocha hosting. Raymond is the Brand Ambassador for Johnnie Walker and supermodel Coco is the Global Brand Ambassador. They both seemed very nice and down-to-earth!
#LoveScotch is a global movement that celebrates the world’s love affair with Scotch and ignites a passion amongst a new generation of whisky drinkers. From its humble beginnings in the terrains of Scotland, Scotch is now considered the universal drink for celebrations around the world, ever-present in the lives of those who honor their unique thirst for life. The timing of #LoveScotch could not have been placed any better as World Whisky Day, happening on May 21, is a global celebration that invites everyone to try a dram and celebrate the ‘water of life’.
Diageo invites everyone to join the global movement on World Whisky Day. On May 21, Filipinos are encouraged to have a dram of Johnnie Walker Black Label, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve or The Singleton of Glen Ord 12 Year Old, and post a #LoveScotch selfie with their drink. Under the #LoveScotch tag, millions of Scotch lovers on World Whisky Day will come together to toast to drinking better and the people whom they share a drink with.
Here are some more pictures of the party and of Revel at The Palace:
