Yesterday was a first for me. Rather intrigued by the prospect, I had booked myself on a whisky tasting session at Cardiff’s 10 Feet Tall. Now it should be known that I am not an avid drinker of Whisky, sticking more to Port, Brandy – drinks that I had thought a little easier on the palette. But the thought of trying a few different types of this tipple and learning a little in the process, seemed like a reassuring step into another world of taste.
10 Feet Tall, was as usual, full of very friendly staff, I was quickly led to the second floor, where things kicked off to a tasty start – A sweet and citrusy ‘Blood And Sand’ Daiquiri, accompanied by a canapé of black pudding and a juicy Duck bonbon. Some real thought had gone into the pairing, which perfectly accentuated the Chivas Regal Whisky in the cocktail – sampling 10 Feet Tall’s expertly made cocktails is a must! Following the more-ish nibbles, we were led to the tasting room, in the top floor of the venue. The whole room was laid out in a way that really set the scene … we were given tasting sheets, plenty of mixing tools and of course plenty of whisky.
Black pudding and a sweet duck bon bon to complement the Blood And Sand daiquiri.
The session was led by Phil Huckle – Brand ambassador for Chivas Regal and John-Paul Podvoiskis – brand ambassador for Pernod Ricard – a globally successful producer of premium spirits, of which Chivas is a part. Both were very enthusiastic hosts and clearly very passionate about the brand. Phil gave a brief but enlightening talk on the blends of Scotch Whisky we would experience – Speyside, Islay, the Highlands and Lowlands and also the Grain Whisky or ‘Mortar’ which would prevent the grains overpowering each other. With a few helpful pointers we were left to our own devices to mix a blend to take away with us at the end of the night – very generous! The room bustled with excitement and curiosity.
Single malts and grains are mixed and tasted, with water to aid the tasting.
The whole evening was a lot of fun and things were made even more interesting with a little bit of competition (best blend name and best tasting blend). I have to say (even with prior warning from Phil), I mized a little on the smoky side adding quite a bit of the peaty Islay blend – maybe romancing too much about the smell of wood fires. Another on my table went a little more subtly down this route, naming her blend ‘Dragon’s Cough’ – swiftly swiping the best name prize of Strathisla 12 (single malt Speyside). I have to say that the winner for me was ‘The Point Of No Return’, which was a lovely sweet mix, with more of the delicate notes of the Lowland blend, it contained a high proportion of the grain whisky, which gave it a beautiful brandy like tone – reminiscent of Christmas time.
Phil had earlier given a nod to the fact that blended whiskies are sometimes associated with being the poorer cousin of the single malt. The evening definitely served to highlight that blended whiskies can indeed be a flavour sensation and offer as much if not more than single malts. I’ve never really paired whisky with food, but the canapés and the array of different colours and flavours has definitely inspired me to use them more both in and to accompany my cooking. A great evening was finished with a rich and warming sip of the some of the more aged whiskies. Definitely give Chivas 18 or 25 a try! The event was clearly enjoyed by all who attended and there was a definite buzz about the place that night. The momentum was maintained throughout and there was plenty to entertain and no shortage of tastes to tingle the tongue. I would definitely recommend booking a place on one of 10 Feet Tall’s tasting events!
A finished personal blend from one of the attendees. A loving leaving memento.
bightsbitesbytes 