Whisky Live 2015

Whisky enthusiasts and trade professionals had a ball of a time last weekend at a little corner on Sentosa Island in Singapore. The third edition of Whisky Live, a whisky and spirits event organised by Paris-based La Maison Du Whisky took place from 28 to 29 November 2015 at the luxurious hilltop hotel Capella Singapore.

Although I did not drive, getting to Capella on Sentosa was relatively easy with the complimentary shuttle bus from Harbour Front MRT Station. Not that parking would be an issue, since Capella offers valet service, but it is just smarter to take public transportation when going to any drinking event.

The largest whisky event of the year

Momentarily, I was quite lost as to where or how to begin as I walked down from the ticketing area. Wine events may be bigger compared to the size of Whisky Live, but this is the largest of its kind I have been to locally. Whisky and spirits tasting are also quite a different kettle of fish compared to wine. This year’s edition of Whisky Live was spread over 25,000 square metres and occupies two levels at Capella Singapore.

I should have consulted the programme booklet given at the entrance, and planned my itinerary instead of wandering around aimlessly with my Glencairn glass in hand. Note to self: always review the programme booklet at tasting events.

The Experience

Like all good tasting events, Whisky Live 2015 catered to a large spectrum of participants and no one should have left without feeling that it was worth the entrance ticket. Besides the fact that you could get a virtually free flow of booze – which should not be the impetus for attending – everyone should pick up something new on whiskies and spirits.

The event was divided into three main areas: Whisky Room, Spirit Room and Experience. Skipping familiar whisky labels I saw in the Whisky Room, which occupied the main ballroom, I focused on uncommon bottlings and was quite swiftly rewarded with new facts – I learned that there were independent bottlers who select and buy single-casks from key distillers.

For example, I had a tasting for the Ledaig 10 year-old earlier this year conducted by Tobermory, and I was quite pleased to see it again at the Signatory Vintage booth.  However, the Ledaig 10 year-old I tasted was significantly different! In fact, there were several other “indie” bottlers at Whisky Live such as The Ten, which featured a collection with labels running from Number 0 to Number 10, each with increasing complexity and intensity.

A walk down the aisle in the Spirits Room took me on a world journey through a spectrum of spirits and liquors, from British gin to Phuket rum to French cognac to Japanese sake.  I lost my virginity to the “green fairy” too, having my first taste of the infamous absinthe that was featured in the film Moulin Rouge.  It was something I have always wanted to try since seeing it on a liquor store shelf a few years ago.

Absinthe was ubiquitous in the late 1800; If you were cool, you drank it.  However, after a bout of bad press on absinthe’s alleged toxicity and adverse health effects in the early 20^th century, the spirit was banned in most of the world and was not widely available until the ban was lifted in 2007.  I digressed; talking about absinthe would need a separate article of its own.

The Experience area allowed me to take a breather between my tours in the Whisky Room and Spirits Room. FOC by chef Nandu Jubany was running the pop-up food corner shift in the Experience area when I joined the queue. The steaming hot mushroom croquetas prepared on the spot was sublimely paired with the gilda pinxto.  It was a pity that there was only one food corner running at any time, with each of the four participating restaurants taking half-day shifts over the two-day event. The two pop-up bars were also running similar shifts, and I got a complimentary Don Papa cocktail by FOC.

The Handover

Despite pacing myself and drinking plenty of water from the watering points, my liver started to protest after I made a few more rounds to the Whisky Room and Spirits Room. It was with great relunctant that I handed over the Glencairn glass and checked out of Capella Hotel. Perhaps participants who signed up for the Night Package had the best deal; just head back to the hotel room to clear the head and continue the revelry.