The world of whisky is slowly but steadily starting to make quite an impact on my palate. On the celebration of World Whisky Day which has been celebrated every 3rd Saturday of May since the last five years, William Grant and Sons organised an event at Hoots, a speakeasy Bar in Vasant Vihar. Before I launch into the frivolities of the evening, a quick note on what Hoots. With Vasant Vihar brimming with a number of secret places to drink, Hoots can only be accessed with prior reservation.
The evening had quite a few stellar stars: Be it Jeet Rana’s cocktails or the drinks that flowed but the star of the evening were the stories that exemplified the history of William Grant and his descendants. Although I have tried out a few of Grant’s offerings including the Family Reserve and Glenfiddich 12, 15 and 18, this time was a little different. I tried out the Balvenie 12, Glenfiddich 21 and Monkey Shoulder.
The Balvenie is typical of the younger whiskies with its spicy sweetness. What sets it apart is the smoothness with which it flows down the throat. The Glenfiddich on the other hand is a newbie for me. It is matured in rum casks made specifically for its maturation. The tropical fruits are in dominance here but its the Banana aftertones that make me fall in love with this whisky. The Monkey Shoulder is one of the innovations of Grant’s in view of the burgeoning cocktail industry. I try out an Old Fashioned that Jeet Rana makes for me. I had met Jeet for the first time when he was preparing for the Diageo World Championship at The Westin, Gurgaon. His cocktails push the boundaries of innovation and the Old Fashioned just skims my tongue with the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
Do try your hands on the three whiskies from William Grant and Sons I have written about and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
