FNB Whisky Live Festival
The Whisky Live Showroom in Soweto is just hours away. Make sure you don’t miss out. We give you a sneak peak at just some of the special extras we’ve got in store for you.
The FNB Whisky Live Showrooms have been a roaring success so far, with whisky lovers from Durban, Nelspruit and Cape Town flocking to the exclusive and intimate venues to taste some seriously good local and international whiskies. The new format shows have allowed Whisky Live Festival to spread the whisky love to other cities around the country that otherwise might have missed out. Next up: FNB Whisky Live Showroom Soweto, Walter Sisulu Hall, Kliptown, Friday 15 August-Sunday 17 August, 19h00-23h00 Fri-Sat, and 16h00-20h00 Sun.
With a new format boutique-style tasting event – think of a more intimate setting suited to networking with business associates or sharing whisky-tasting experiences with close friends – the Soweto Showroom is set to wow whisky connoisseurs, enthusiasts and first-timers alike. We spoke to a few of the vendors at the upcoming event to give you a teaser into some of the special touches you can expect to experience:
THE SOWETO HOTEL
Us: Are you planning anything special to attract people to The Soweto Hotel to coincide with the FNB Whisky Live Showroom?
TSH: We have a really great atmosphere at The Soweto Hotel when our bar area is buzzing with locals and people who have come in from all over Mzanzi to enjoy the Soweto vibe… What better place to experience that vibe than at our restaurant ‘The Jazz Maniacs’, featuring local jazz legends, or Rusty’s Bar, named after liberation icon, Lionel ‘Rusty’ Bernstein. The FNB Whisky Live Showroom ends at 23h00 on Friday and Saturday and at 20h00 on Sunday, but the party doesn’t stop there. Come join us just over the square to keep the chilled whisky vibes of the Showroom going with our kasi-style hospitality!
Us: Can you let us in on any details of your deli at the Showroom – what can Showroom attendees expect?
TSH: The deli will serve Sowetan-style food made by members from the SA Chef’s Association who operate from The Soweto Hotel… Think 4-star food with a Sowetan twist!
Us: And where tickets can be bought?
TSH: We are selling tickets for R150 each (which is R20 less than the door price) from our reception area right up until 18h00 on Friday/ Saturday and up until 15h00 on Sunday. Thereafter, you’ll have to walk across the square and purchase at full price (R170 each) at the door…
Compiled by Belinda Rose-Innes
BRENTWOOD CLOTHING
Us: Give us the goods … what can Showroom attendees expect from Brentwood Clothing?
BC:
• The new range of Brentwood clothing will be on display and available for purchase at the FNB Whisky Live Showroom, Soweto.
• Brentwood will be offering complimentary shoe shining to everyone attending the Showroom.
• Lastly, we’ll be running a competition on the day, and one lucky visitor could win a Brentwood voucher to the value of R1000!
AFICIANADOS
Aficianados will be hosting the Balblair Single Malt Scotch Whisky Stand at the Soweto showroom. Not only will you get to taste some amazing whiskies, you could walk away the owner of a once in a lifetime bottle of Balblair 2002 Vintage… Buy any Balblair whisky at the event, and be entered into a draw to win a bottle of Balblair 2002 Vintage (a rare bottling, not at all available in SA).
ROOTS RESTAURANT
To know (your) Roots is to love them…
Reggie Makhetha, owner of this fabulous Soweto mainstay, got us salivating with this little taste of what’s going to be at the Soweto FNB Whisky Live Showroom:
“We’ll be selling food with a Soweto twist – the dishes that are our signature at our restaurant… our famous Shisa nyama with feta pap; our Chizboy burger with two different cheeses; and our Sweet and chilly sticky wings. Our Deli has a cool shack chic – you can’t miss it! The FNB Whisky Live Showroom is going to be a great success, people in Soweto are very excited about the festival, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
BRANDHOUSE
Brandhouse invites fans to discover whisky at the Soweto Whisky Live Showroom. New and returning fans can expect a more intimate boutique-style event with the Discover Whisky stand, boasting the full Brandhouse portfolio of whiskies, where fans will get the unique opportunity to sample the bold, vibrant, rich and fresh flavours from some of the world’s most renowned brands.
Brandon Weaver, Marketing Manager on Reserve Spirits, says that: “This year we decided to showcase 17 brands and we’re really hoping that guests will walk away with more whisky knowledge and a deeper understanding of their preferences. This will allow them to be more adventurous when choosing a whisky to suit their flavour profile. We also understand that whisky can be a bit intimidating, especially when you are new to it, so we’re hoping to make the whole process fun and worth-while for the guests.”
Some of the brands guests can expect at the Discover Whisky stand include: Johnnie Walker, Bell’s, J&B, Bushmills, Talisker, Lagavulin and The Singleton, just to name a few. Whether it’s hints of spice, fruit or honey that visitors are after, there is a match for every palate.
HOW DO I GET TICKETS?
The FNB Whisky Live Showroom in Soweto will take place at the Walter Sisulu Hall from 15-17 August 2014; the more intimate setting means that tickets are limited, so book well in advance on www.whiskylivefestival.co.za or on ticketpro.co.za to make sure that you don’t miss out. Tickets will also be available at The Soweto Hotel, for those who don’t wish to purchase online.
Tickets will cost R150 each at www.whiskylivefestival.co.za or on ticketpro.co.za. You can also buy at the door on the night for R170 but pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
All ticket prices include:
Complimentary tasting glass
2014 SA Whisky Handbook
500ml bottle of Valpré Spring Water
15 tasting vouchers
For regular updates about upcoming events, follow @WhiskyLiveSA on Twitter, ‘like’ the FNB Whisky Live Festival Facebook page, or check www.whiskylivefestival.co.za
Glenfiddich Launches A 26YO Beauty
You can always rely on Glenfiddich for absolute perfection. Not sure what to serve guests who’ve never had whisky before? Reach for a Glenfiddich. Not sure what to serve the whisky fanatic, the ultimate whisky snob? Reach for a Glenfiddich. It never disappoints. Their brand new (but very old) Excellence 26YO expression is no different.
Matured exclusively in American Oak Bourbon casks for a minimum of 26 years, the World’s Most Awarded single malt Scotch whisky Glenfiddich has just released its latest expression, Excellence 26 Year Old.
Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old is the first single malt from the Speyside distiller to use Bourbon casks throughout the entire maturation process, which is to be available to whisky connoisseurs in South Africa, from October 2014.
Presented in an elegant glass bottle with delicate gold lettering, Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old is finished with an oak stopper reminiscent of the Bourbon casks in which it matures. Packaged in an opulent purple presentation box, with an intricate embossed design inspired by the patterns made on wood cuts from the American Deep South, Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old will be a prestigious addition to the collections of single malt aficionados everywhere.
The Glenfiddich Excellence 26YO will retal for approximately: R3499.00
What do the experts who’ve actually tasted this whisky have to say about it? We spoke to Thamsanqa Banda, Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich South Africa:
Us: What were your own first impressions of the Glenfiddich Excellence 26YO?
Thami: This variant showcases the quality in wood management and the ever innovative character that Glenfiddich team has embraced over the years… this liquid is precious, warm and delicately sweet.
Us: What characteristics make this whisky really stand out?
Thami: Being matured in exclusively Bourbon Casks, for a period of at least 26 years, makes it a unique statement in its range, and thereby provide a different dimension to this age category.
Us: If you were going to gift someone a bottle of the Glenfiddich Excellence 26YO, who would you give it to and why? Who is special enough to receive such a gift, and why?
Thami: This is a whisky I would have love to share with my Grandfather who passed on 26 years ago. He believed in me, and he always knew that there was something special and purposeful around my life. Little did he know that I would become part of this precious company…the Glenfiddich family. Since, sadly, he is no longer around, my wife will definitely be the one!
Everybody loves a bit of celeb spotting at Sandton. But really why shouldn’t we all experience some VIP treatment at Sandton? How do you get it?
Want to be a VIP at the upcoming FNB Whisky Live Festival to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Wednesday 12 November to Friday 14 November, 18h00 to 22h00? Here’s how…
For just R750 a head, we are offering VIPs the following:
• Skip-the-queue! Entry for VIPs starts at 17h00 (the event starts at 18h00). This means you get to have the run of the Tasting Hall along with only 500 other people. This will ensure that your guests have the opportunity to engage one-on-one with whisky experts, master distillers and Keepers of the Quaich before the venue is open to all ticketholders.
• Connoisseurs have the opportunity to sample special whiskies that presenters will bring in especially for the first hour of the event – find out what Master Distillers such as Ian MacMillan have got hidden ‘under the counter’ for those whisky connoisseurs among your clients!
• Gain early access to purchase of special bottlings exclusive to the FNB Whisky Live Festival before stock runs out and the Whisky Live Festival Shop gets too busy to browse – which it does!
• Light snacks will be served at intervals throughout the evening to VIPs only.
• All VIPs will receive a R200 voucher for Uber taxis (Please note, however: this is only valid for first-time users of the service).
• Your VIP Ticket includes: 2014 SA Whisky Handbook, a tasting glass, 25 x whisky sampling vouchers (Tasting Hall ticketholders get 15 vouchers), and guests can unlock additional value-adds at the event itself in exchange for answering a few simple questions about their whisky-drinking behaviour at the Reward Stations positioned around the venue.
• The VIP lounge area will be fully stanchioned-off but without walling, so people will be able to see inside… no point being a VIP if you can’t be seen strutting your stuff!
To make sure you get one of these coveted VIP spots, book early by emailing hospitality@whiskylivefestival.co.za. Then watch heads turn as you make your entrance.
Think you love whisky? Think again. Now Sidney Bilski, he loves whisky. We catch up with this whisky fanatic from Cape Town, who, thanks to a very understanding wife, was allowed to convert his garage into a whisky-flavoured man-cave.
Some people are pretty crazy about whisky. They’ll give you dirty looks if you so much as think about adding a block of ice to your dram, and probably clock you one if you talk about mixing your malt with, say, ginger ale. But until they’ve convinced their wives to convert the garage into a whisky bar cannot call themselves fanatical. Sidney Bilski can. We chatted to Sid on how he got his dream man cave.
Us: What was the impetus behind your conversion of a garage to an at-home whisky bar? Tell us about that moment when you decided ‘aha, this is what I am going to do with this space…’
Sid: I’d been collecting whiskies for a few years and was moaning to a friend of mine one evening that I was running out of space on my existing small bar counter. At the time I was keeping a family member’s car in our single garage and my friend suggested I kick the car out and turn the garage into a whisky bar. I wasn’t sure if he was joking, but it sounded like a great idea to me! My wife readily agreed, on condition that she could help with the design, and that we appoint a project manager so that she didn’t have to deal with the builders…
Us: Tell us a little bit about the process of the conversion – what did you do exactly, how long did it take, did you get professional help?
Sid: We’d done previous renovations at home and had used a retired draughtsman as a project manager. The first thing I did was call him to get his opinion, and he of course also thought it was a great idea. I had a builder recommended to me for doing the conversion of the garage into a useable space, and we accepted his quote. We then had to find someone to build the cupboards. By coincidence my wife, who is a physiotherapist, was telling a patient of hers about the bar and he suggested we contact his brother, who is a cabinet-maker. He gave us a design we liked and so we appointed him to do all the carpentry, counters etc. The whole process took about two months, and was actually relatively painless as the builders worked from the outside for most of the time, before creating an opening from the garage to the house as the last stage (there was no direct access to the house previously). Of course there were snags with plumbing and electrics, but that was the project manager’s problem.
Us: How many whiskies do you currently have in your bar?
Sid: At the moment I have about 100 different whiskies, with some spares of my favourites!
Us: What else, aside from whiskies, can be found in this little piece of heaven?
Sid: Other than the usual mix of wine and liqueurs, I have around a dozen different Grappas and a selection of craft, local and imported beers. Decorations of model Fiat 500s are courtesy of part of my wife’s collection. Of course no bar is complete without the obligatory TV.
Us: What is your most prized whisky in your collection?
Sid: My most prized whisky is a 12 year old Blair Atholl (only about a 1/3 left now!), which, although not the most expensive whisky, is really tricky to get hold of. A close 2nd for sentimental reasons is a 15 year old Glenfiddich single cask, which I bottled myself at the distillery.
Us: Where do you do most of your ‘collecting’ or shopping?
Sid: I travel quite frequently for work and pretty much every trip sees me picking up a bottle at duty free. My most recent purchases were actually by colleagues from the Aberdeen Whisky Shop – I called the shop and said that colleagues would be visiting, and he should just give them two whiskies that he thinks I’d like. I ended up with a 16 year old Scapa from Orkney and a Kilchoman from Islay. Having said that, I buy from e.g. Makro or Pick n Pay if I see something I want, and the Wade Bales Wine Society contacts me whenever they have something unusual. I recently bough a MacMyra Swedish whisky from them, which was a really pleasant surprise.
Us: What is the one whisky you don’t yet have but are dying to pick up?
Sid: I’d like to get a Glenmorangie Signet, and there are a bunch of Tasmanian single malts which I haven’t yet bitten the bullet and bought. I have two already, from Sullivan’s Cove and Lark, but there’s an Overeem from the Old Hobart Distillery that I have my eye on for when I visit there in November….
Us: Tips for readers hoping to convince their spouse/partner to let them do the same? :)
Sid: Jewellery? Seriously, just let them help with the design and you’ll be halfway there. Plus it’s better for you to drink at home – at least that way they know where you are! And they can always book a girls’ night in the bar as well.
Thank you Sid for writing in and sharing your fantastic whisky collection with us! If you want to contact Sid or have a whisky story that you want to share, you can email us at contact@whiskylivefestival.co.za
International whisky writer, presenter, chef and pairing specialist, Martine Nouet, shares her latest whisky-inspired recipes and pairings.
Whisky chef and writer Martine Nouet continues to wow us with her amazing palate and taste for which whiskies pair well with which foods. And while our figures may not thank her, our taste buds certainly do. Herewith another of her delicious whisky pairing recipes from her website. With spring just around the corner, Martine suggests we focus on “Bright acid colours, raw, light and crunchy ingredients (that) convey the sensory identity of spring. We want freshness, simple and straightforward flavours. Exactly what a ‘springtime whisky’ will reflect.” How about using Martine’s recipe for Smoked Salmon Rounds, paired with a dram of The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, as an appetiser at your next dinner party?
INGREDIENTS
Serves 6
4 slices of lightly smoked salmon
2 lemon slices
3 sandwich bread slices (or mini oatcakes)
a few spinach leaves
3 Tbsp mascarpone
1 Tbsp whisky
1 tsp lime(or lemon) juice
pepper
a few sprigs of dill
HOW TO PREPARE
1) Cut the bread in rounds (or use mini oatcakes).
2) Cut the salmon and the spinach too to the exact size.
3) Mix the mascarpone with the lime juice, the whisky and the pepper.
4) Spread the mixture on the bread.
5) Top with a spinach leaf and a salmon round.
6) Decorate with a little piece of lemon pulp and a sprig of dill.
WHISKY PAIRING
Martine recommends pairing this with a springtime single malt… something “rather young, matured in bourbon casks, with a citrussy, grassy and minty or aniseed profile.” Her suggestions include any from this list: Glenrothes Alba Reserve, BenRiach Heart of Speyside, Auchentoshan Classic, Glenfiddich 12 Year Old or Glenlivet 12 Year old, a young Caol Ila (in this case replace the smoked salmon with raw salmon), or the lovely Ardbeg Blasda (if you are lucky enough to find it).
For more delicious recipes and whisky related stories visit Martine Nouet’s website at www.martinenouet.com
Meet the delicious, exotic, quirky, sexy and desirable whiskies you need to know.
In 1932, the very last drop of whisky left the Balblair warehouses, after the distillery failed to weather the tough economic times starting back in 1911. The Angels wept to see their share dry up. With the whisky moved out, the army moved in (in 1939), and it wasn’t until a cunning solicitor by the name of Bertie Cumming bought the place in 1948, that hope, and whisky, would once again come alive.
Having faced down tough economic times, a World War or two (and the accompanying army inhabitants), Balblair has had its fair share of rough and tumble. There’s nothing rough about their whiskies though. In fact, to prove how refined they are, in 2007, the distillery made the bold move to only release Balblair as a Vintage Whisky. Every bottle of Balblair captures the essence of its Vintage year, the year in which it was distilled and laid down in casks.
As part of a trio of vintages launched in February of 2007, we particularly like the 1989 Vintage. It is another superb example of the refined flavours we have come to expect from the Edderton-based distillery, exhibiting a beautiful vanilla spice and cereal sweetness. Matured for over 21 years in American ex-Bourbon oak casks, lending familiar vanilla and toffee notes, the Balblair 1989 has a notably light colour with a rosy hue. In other words, it both tastes, and looks, like vintage perfection.
Official tasting notes
Colour Subtle amber with rose-gold highlights.
Nose Full bodied with raisin, green apple and hints of banana and lemon.
Palate Raisins and fruits with a rich spiciness.
Finish Long, complex and smooth.
To find out more about Balblair click here
If you are interested in getting your hands on Balblair 1989 single malt whisky, simply click here
Purchasing on the website is easy, simply add the Balblair 1989 to your online basket, choose your quantity, click checkout, fill out your delivery details then proceed to payment. The Whisky Live Festival Shop website accepts Mastercard, Visa and Diner’s Club; you can also pay through direct EFT. Delivery is usually within 48 hours or up to 5 days, dependent on your region or purchase. If you are looking to give whisky as a gift, the shop provides free gift-wrapping and a card – gift vouchers are also available.
Enter the world of whisky in comfort from the Whisky Live Festival Shop website with easy-to-browse whisky directories and quick delivery. Keep reading the monthly newsletter or log onto www.whiskyshopsa.co.za for more delectable and collectable whiskies.
For the latest news, ideas and innovations coming out of the world of whisky.
700-STRONG WHISKY COLLECTION FOR SALE – COMES WITH PUB
Got about R5 million lying around? A UK pub, which claims to have one of the world’s largest collections of whisky, has been put up for sale with an asking price of £250,000.
Mike and Karin Willgoose, landlords of The George Hotel in Leadenham, Lincolnshire, have collected more than 700 whiskies over the last 35 years, all of which are on offer to their patrons – the most expensive being a 50-year-old 1937 Pride of Strathspey which sells for £500 a dram. The pub’s collection also includes Highland single malts, Speysides, Scottish single malts, Indian, Japanese, American, Canadian and English whiskies, among others.
Now, after 45 years under the couple’s ownership, the pub has been put on the market along with its illustrious whisky collection. So, if you’re looking to turn your ‘local’ into something really, really ‘local’, you can put your offer in to the Leeds-based agency Fleurets.
The Scottish Government has pledged almost £1 million (around R18 million) to revamp a Speyside whisky route popular among tourists. As reported on a UK news channel, politicians have said that an upgrade of the A95 Keith to Aviemore road – a main route for whisky tourists – is “vital” to sustain interest in the area.
Distilleries situated along the route include The Glenlivet, Cardhu, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant, Strathisla, Glen Moray and Dallas Dhu.
If you’re one of the lucky ones who snapped up a bottle of the Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt, released in limited-quantities in October 2012, consider yourself a genius. This SA whisky has just been honoured with a gold award at the 2014 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) held in London. And while the award doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know about just how delicious the whisky is, it does add enormously to its prestige and rarity.
The international panel of judges praised the proudly South African single malt, for its “Rich, full malty nose with bakery dough and ripe stone fruit. Some apricot and pear. Gracious entry with slow spread of flavours. Malt dried fruit and some very pleasant vanilla notes. Little wisp of attractive smoke. Firm, light and clean with beautiful balance. Full fruited finish with some mature notes beginning to show.” Launched in 2003, as a limited release, the Three Ships 10 Year Old is South Africa’s first single malt whisky. The whisky is crafted at the James Sedgwick’s Distillery in Wellington, by master distiller Andy Watts.
MEET ‘THE ONE’ (JUST DON’T ASK IT TO GO STEADY)
The first ever blend of whiskies from around the British Isles – called ‘The One’ – has been classified as one of the best blended whiskies in the world less than a year after launch.
The prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) revealed its 2014 winners awarding the blend, produced by The Lakes Distillery, the Silver Legend in the ‘Worldwide Whisky’ category. Speaking about their win, Paul Currie, founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery, said: “The IWSC sets the international benchmark for quality and we are delighted that The One has been included. It combines the finest whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England, and is now listed alongside the wine and spirit world’s top brands, which is where we feel it deserves to be.”
The award comes weeks after The Lakes Distillery announced luxury retailer Harvey Nichols as its first UK-wide retailer of The ONE, which was launched in September 2013. Production is also set to start this summer on The Lakes Distillery’s whisky, gin and vodka. Consider it your one-stop shop when looking for ‘the one’. (If only it were that easy in your romantic life, eh?)
Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is now available on SAA and Kenya Airways! International visitors travelling on South African Airways (SAA) and Kenya Airways this August and September will have the unique opportunity to purchase Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, the award-winning South African grain whisky, on-board. According to global marketing manager, Eliska Botha, these two new listings form part of steps towards making Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky available to consumers worldwide:
“Since launching in South Africa in 2009, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has performed phenomenally at all the major international whisky competitions. The whisky has also ignited quite an interest globally but the high demand from consumers in South Africa has resulted in limited availability in the rest of the world. Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky currently sells only through duty-free and a select few retailers in the UK and Canada.
“Through this new on-board listing, international travellers will now be able to get to know our proudly South African whisky and take a bottle home with them.”
PS. Did you know that Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has also been awarded gold for the sixth consecutive year at the 2014 International Wine and Spirits Competition, won gold at the 2014 China Wine and Spirits competition, and double gold at the 2013 New York International Spirits Competition? Well now you do.
WALK ON, BUDDY
Johnnie Walker’s new collection of blended whiskies has to go exploring for a new name as it has been ordered to change the name of its Explorer’s Club whisky line, first launched in 2012.
A Manhattan judge has ordered the whisky manufacturer Diageo to stop using the name of the prestigious The Explorers Club to brand and promote the line of liquors sold exclusively in duty free shops in airports around the world after it was sued by the Upper East Side-based The Explorer’s Club for using its trademarked name without permission.
Diageo has promised to keep fighting though, as they plan to appeal.
What’s on offer this month?
Want to win one of three sets of double tickets to the FNB Whisky Live Showroom in Soweto for Sunday 17 August? Of course you do.
TO ENTER:
Email your name, phone number and answer to the question below to competition@whiskylivefestival.co.za with ‘Sunday’ in the subject line. Competition closes on 16 August 2014 and the winners will be called with the great news!
Question:
“What time does the event open and close on Sunday?”
Did You Know?
Find out some dram interesting facts about your favourite tipple – the FNB Whisky Live Festival.
Did you know that the FNB Whisky Live Festival in Sandton, running this year from 12-14 November at the Sandton Convention Centre, is the largest event of its kind in the world?
Read on for 10 more fascinating facts about Whisky Live and the South African whisky market.
Did you know that…
1. South African FNB Whisky Live events this year will see over 20 000 people engage with and learn more about their favourite dram in Durban, Nelspruit, Cape Town, Soweto and Sandton. (This is based on expected attendance at the Soweto and Sandton events.)
2. The FNB Whisky Live Festival started in Cape Town in a marquee on the V&A Waterfront 12 years ago, with about 600 people attending.
3. Karen Chaloner and Sian Neubert co-founded the event – both are Keepers of the Quaich, an invite-only society for those who have offered a lifetime of service to the whisky industry.
4. Whisky Live is a global brand with events in China, Australia, Belgrade, Canada, America, France, Holland, India, Israel, Dublin, Singapore, to name a few!
5. South Africa is the only country in the world to attract so many visitors to events that more than one FNB Whisky Live event is required.
6. According to a Food and Drink article in The Stornoway Gazzette, published on 22 July 2014, SA is the second largest export market for Scotch Whisky in the world!
7. SA Whisky brands are considered some of the world’s best grain whiskies – Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, South Africa’s first single grain whisky made from the finest
local grain, won a gold medal at the 2014 China Wine and Spirits competition. Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish has been named as Africa’s Best Spirit, receiving a trophy and gold medal at the 2014 China Wine and Spirits competition, the first South African whisky to achieve such an accolade at this competition.
8. Last year at the Soweto and Sandton FNB Whisky Live events, over 13 000 people consumed over 28 000 samples of whisky over 24 hours (3 days per event, 4 hours per day).
9. Increasingly, more women see whisky as a tipple of choice and the attendance at the shows supports this with 2013 events seeing a 5% increase in the number of women attending the events.
10. Last year, the Bunnahabhain 40 year-old, normally a whopping R3200 per tot, was sampled by a few lucky competition winners at the Soweto and Sandton events.
Related Articles
