THE FNB WHISKY LIVE FESTIVAL – A JOURNEY OF NEW TASTES, NEW AROMAS, NEW FLAVOURS IN TWO CITIES.
Billed as the largest, liveliest and most exciting whisky festival in the world, the 11th annual FNB Whisky Live Festival continues to be an innovator. This year sees new whiskies entering the SA market, the return of festival favourites, as well as some interesting takes on whisky flavours and aromas. However, the big news is the fact that Soweto has been identified as one of the most exciting and fastest growing whisky markets in SA. The first ever FNB Whisky Live Festival will be hosted in the heart of Soweto from 24th – 26th October 2013, two weeks prior to the ever popular Sandton FNB Whisky Live Festival.
So what is great at this year’s festival?
GETTING WILD ABOUT WHISKY
No stranger to the FNB Whisky Live Festival, is gregarious Dullstroom whisky host, Steve Adams and his fellow whisky raconteurs, Dave Gunns and Eve Gunns. These legendary whisky hosts from Dullstroom have recently become online whisky importers and will be returning to the Sandton festival with their very own “Wild About Whisky Tasting Experience”. Exclusively available to whisky lovers who have opted in for the premium hospitality lounges, this tasting will include a range of rare whiskies new to South Africa, namely, The Tomatin 12 YO, Tomatin 18 YO and the Tomatin Legacy, as well the Indian whisky, Amrut. Having been recently appointed at the official Ardbeg embassy in Africa, Ardbeg followers will be in for a treat with a tasting of the Ardbeg Uigeadail and Corryvrekan. Hospitality enquiries: hospitality@whiskylivefestival.co.za
ADD TO YOUR WLF COLLECTOR’S LOCKER WITH THE NEW WLF SPECIAL LTD EDITION EDRUADOR 10 YO
It has become a festival tradition to purchase the Whisky Live Festival Limited Edition Special Bottling and this year WLF have teamed up with the owner of SA based on line premium whisky and spirits retailer, Paul La Cock of Aficionados, to bring you a single cask whisky from the smallest distillery in Scotland – the Edruador 10 YO. Only 263 bottles are available for purchase. Also available for tasting will be the standard Edruador, as well as the two other single cask offerings in the Signatory range – Bowmore 2000 and the Glen Keith (1992) – two new first entries to the SA market.
INTERACTIVE FLAVOUR ZONE
Brandhouse, who led the whisky category in SA, have created a unique “Flavour Zone” and will be interactively transporting whisky consumers in a world of whisky flavours. Whisky isn’t complicated; it just needs to be explained in the right way. The Brandhouse Flavour Zone will help you choose a single malt based on its flavour by comparing it to ones you may already be familiar with.
AND SOMETHING RARE
One of the most expensive bottles of whisky on display at this year’s festival will be the Dalmore Aurora, retailing for a mere R51, 600. Casting majestic patterns across the skies, the Northern Lights can make the human spirit soar. The same experience awaits those who taste The Dalmore Aurora. A heavenly 45 year old single malt. It offers a unique encounter for those lucky enough to enjoy this rare phenomenon. Filled to cask on 13th February 1964 and sampled annually to confirm its progress, this liquid has laid for 45 years in hand selected, bespoke oak casks from the house of Gonzalez Byass. It is packaged exquisitely with only 200 mouth-blown crystal decanters available worldwide. Each decanter is proudly protected in its own bespoke, carbon fiber case. One decanter will be on display at the FNB Whisky Live Festival.
STYLING WITH CHIVAS & FABIANI
The quintessential whisky drinker is all about style and sophistication. Being seen with the right whisky, keeping company with the in crowd, making a statement with your luxury car and styling in the latest fashion gear is all part of the package. So the place to be seen is the Chivas lounge, where you can savour a dram, whilst being measured up and styled by a personal tailor and have your bespoke Fabiani suit custom fitted. Sounds like the perfect serve.
LOCAL IS LEKKER
The award winning Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky will be showcased at both the Soweto and Sandton festivals. In Soweto, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky will be sharing its mixability, smoothness and richness in the Shisa Nyama zone which will be open to all ticket holders.
At the Sandton festival, master distiller, Andy Watts, who has for the past 22 years created many firsts for the South African whisky industry, will be conducting an exclusive workshop where patrons will have the opportunity to taste the limited edition Three Ships 10-year-old single malt. Only 8000 bottles of the limited edition were released of this expression, so it’s a must taste for all whisky lovers.
NEW RELEASES
New tastes, new flavours, new vintages. Travelling the whisky trails of the FNB Whisky Live Festival tasting hall and discovering new tastes, new flavours and new vintages is what makes this festival so exciting. And this year is no exception.
• Jack Daniels honours its world famous friendship with the legendary Frank Sinatra with their bold, smooth and classic Sinatra Select. Jack Daniel’s 7th Master Distiller has selected a number of specially crafted barrels, which are maturing a bold Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. These “Sinatra barrels” were crafted to provide full character and a rich amber colour by exposing extra layers of toasted wood on the inner surface of the barrels. Bottled at 45% ABV, these extra rich barrels are mingled with Jack Daniel’s classic Tennessee Whiskey to provide fuller character of oak and spice notes that give way to an exceedingly smooth vanilla finish.
• Another new entry is the Taiwanese single malt, which will be represented in five different expressions. Of particular interest will be the King Car Conductor, which will be launched during the festival.
• And for the real whisky connoisseur, look out for the 40-year-old Bunnahabhain, of which a select lucky few will be given the opportunity to taste. The bottle is one of only 750 bottles in the world. Make sure you own one of them.
• Did you know that 95% of flavour is due to the sense of smell? Kim Lahri of the Whisky Aroma Academy will be in SA for the first time sharing her “aroma academy kits” and taking you through two “nosing” workshops.
These experiences can be enjoyed at the Soweto and/or the Sandton FNB Whisky Live Festival taking place in Soweto from the 24th to the 26th of October and in Sandton from the 6th to the 8th of November.
Limited tickets for The Showroom at the Soweto event available from Morara Wines and Soweto Hotel or visit www.whiskylivefestival.co.za .
