WINE. GIN. BEER.
Alcoholic drinks are a fixture at most Filipino celebrations, fiestas and parties. But many of us like it “hard,” so there’s whisky.
Whisky or whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented barley, or in some countries, grain mash. Known for its bold flavor and full-bodied mouthfeel, whisky was once considered the preferred drink of distinguished, mature adults — think Sean Connery, or CEOs, authority figures, even elderly relatives and family members. Fortunately, thanks to the ease of travel and globalization, the younger generation now has the chance to better enjoy and understand this well-loved, prestigious drink.
Whisky undergoes a time-earned distillation process to achieve its complex taste, distilled and aged in oak casks. Made from barley, corn, wheat, or a combination of grains that are germinated before being dried and ground into mash, the liquor is extracted from the soluble sugars produced when the barley or grain is mixed with water. That extracted liquor is then fermented in large tanks called washbacks for about two days before being distilled two or three times in stills, or bell-shaped containers.
Like other alcoholic drinks, whisky comes in a variety of types. One of the most popular is single malt whisky, which simply means it’s produced by one distillery. Single grain whisky, on the other hand, is made from grain sourced from only one distillery. Blended malt whisky refers to a spirit produced using 100% malted barley from two or more different distilleries, while blended scotch whisky is a mix of both grain and malt scotches from various distilleries.
This year, Grand Cru Wines and Spirits, Inc. once again lets novice and serious whisky lovers have a dram or two of the best whiskies sold worldwide at Whisky Live Manila 2017. This highly anticipated whisky tasting and sampling event will run from October 20 to 21, 2017 at the Shangri-La Hotel at the Fort at Bonifacio Global City and will host more than 100 whisky variants of premium whisky brands, including the award-winning Kavalan whisky from Taiwan. It will also hold intimate talks on whisky appreciation from renowned whisky experts.
The fete doesn’t end there. Newcomers to the world of whisky also stand a chance to taste and create their own whisky-based cocktail through a mentorship program organized by Grand Cru Wines and Spirits. Select college and university students interested in expanding their mixology techniques will be mentored by industry experts.
Find out what the buzz is all about at Whisky Live Manila 2017. Grab a glencairn and book your tickets now to the most flavorful liquor sampling event of the year. For more information, log on to www.whiskylive.ph.