DIAGEO Rare and Exceptional whiskies delighted the palates of Cebuano at the recently concluded whisky tasting event held in the Queen City of the South.
The event gathered 40 spirits aficionados to try the whisky collections of Diageo, owner of more than 200 brands of rare and exceptional spirits. Hosted by Mandaue-based Charlton Trade and Enterprise, a wines and spirits distributor in Cebu, the whisky tasting event featured four of Diageo’s rare and exceptional whiskies.
Served before the Cebuano tasters were single-malt Scotch whiskies Teaninich-17 Year Old from Highlands, and Glen Elgin-18 Year Old and Inchgower-27 Year Old, which are both Speyside Special Releases; and the blended Scotch whisky Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Glenury Royale, after savouring a five-course plated dinner at the event held at the Maple Room of the Oakridge Executive Club in Mandaue City on May 12, 2022.
“Whiskies can be mysterious on their own and you will need to taste them before you judge them,” said Catherine M. Seniedo, General Manager of Charlton Trade and Enterprise and www.sugbowine.com, addressing the guests in her welcome remarks.
The tasters were treated to the rich and light sweetness of Teaninich-17 Year Old, finishing with lengthy and warming spicy oak-wood; Glen Elgin-18 Year Old which comes in hotter and spicier at the front of the palate but moves into a honeyed sweetness, culminating in a nut brittle and a touch of oaky smoke.
Inchgower-27 Year Old has loads of oak character with tropical fruit peels, orange oil, and orchard apples, not to mention a little nutmeg warmth along with walnuts and cashews—and capping into marzipan and orange oil wrapped in one.
An exceptionally balanced whisky is the very smooth Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Glenury Royale, that begins with the nuttiness of dark chocolate, with vanilla that comes through a long, satisfying finish.
“It’s not simply about how the drink looks or how much they cost,” Seniedo said in her welcome remarks during the event, adding that tasting events are a great way for spirits aficionados to tell certain brands apart. “There’s nothing better than tasting whiskies in the company of tasters who have more history with drinking than you,” she added, also explaining that being in their company helps one train the palate and understand the meaning behind the flavors of the whisky.
Diageo releases special limited editions yearly. Special Releases, like the Glen Elgin-18 Year Old and the Inchgower-27 Year Old presented at the tasting event, usher this year’s new collection. They include small releases from important closed distilleries and come in tiny quantities, which are certainly less known but offer the rarest of flavors.
Charlton Trade and Enterprise and www.sugbowine.com aim to upscale the Cebuanos’ whisky culture, and for the guests that night to also appreciate the commitment of John Walter & Sons to supreme quality and well-crafted whiskies. (PR)