Whisky wasn’t always on the cards for me. I remember my first taste of the spirit a few years ago, when I naively took a shot at a New Year’s Eve party. It was foul.
Fast forward a few years and I’ve progressed from blankly staring at a bottle, to a self-certified whisky aficionado.
It was as Whisky Live that I truly discovered the beauty of brown liquor - the drink of choice for older demographics (or so I thought).
It turns out that more millennials are drinking whisky. Is it the smoky sweetness? The chill and the kick? The smooth, mysterious depth of caramel and vanilla undertones against the warming burn of alcohol? Maybe it’s all of those, maybe none - but one thing I know for certain: Whisky Live is where it’s at.
Hosted at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre - Level 5 Parkade, Whisky Live Celebration kicked off on Thursday evening, and is set to end today, May 19. Whisky novices and connoisseurs alike were treated to a wide range of whiskies to suit their palates, whether it be a Scottish Single Malt or a Blend, American or Irish Whiskey, Speyside or even perhaps something local and proudly South African.
I was immediately drawn to local brands like Bain’s, Three Ships and Drayman’s. All these whiskies were first sniffed, then tasted neat to get a sense of the spirit in its raw form. Post that, a few drops of water are added to release the tannins. For the final tasting a block of ice is added and the whisky re-tasted
With today being World Whisky Day, it is the best way for everyone to try a dram and celebrate the water of life with the gang!
Each ticket includes a whisky tasting glass, 16 tasting vouchers and a bottle of Consol Still Water. 1 – 4 vouchers are exchanged for a tasting. Vouchers are based on the retail value of the whisky and more vouchers are available for purchase. Unless you have a liver made of stone, I can assure you that these will suffice.