I will admit, I nearly didn’t go… Whisky tasting events can be great fun but making the trek from Mumbai to Singapore isn’t exactly like driving down the road for a wee nip.

While a trade pass was very kindly offered, I knew I couldn’t miss the VIP section – particularly as there was no Collector’s Room this year. So splurged both on flight and entry to indulge in a day of hopefully delights.

I was joined by fellow Singapore based enthusiasts and knew there was no point even attempting to “try” everything so was rather selective with where we spent our time.

Just to get into the “spirit” of things, I actually started my sampling before the official festival with an evening at La Maison du Whisky with Mario of the Nector of the Daily Drams. My friend and I tried the Ben Nevis, Highland Park, Springbank, Anniversary Dram. I followed this up with a Deanston at Whisky Live.

Then the Sunday arrived and our first whiskies were in the VIP room exploring the latest La Maison du Whisky Artist #8 – this time with both non-sherry and sherry expressions:

• Benrinnes 20 year (1995/2018) Hogshead Cask #9063 49.4% (279 bottles)
• Glenrothes 20 year (1995/2018) Sherry Butt Cask #909700 52.8% (530 bottles)
• Glenturret 30 year (1987/2018) Hogshead Cask #371 55.3% (214 bottles)
• Ben Nevis 25 year (1991/2018) Sherry Cask #2375 55.3% (561 bottles)
• Bruichladdich 25 year (1993/2018) Hogshead Cask #1640 46.9%
• Caol Ila 15 year (2003/2018) Hogshead Cask #302465 54.2% (282 bottles)
• Bowmore 15 year (2001/2018) Sherry Cask #108 55.3% (679 bottles)
• Ardmore 10 year (2008/2018) Cask #800168 60.3% (233 bottles)
• Glenlivet 10 year (2007/2018) 1st Fill Sherry Cask#900214 Batch #2 64.1% (308 bottles)
• Bunnahabhain 35 year (1979/2018) Sherry Cask#9521 47.9% (472 bottles)

Plus a few more La Maison du Whisky exclusive bottles:

• Clynelish (1997/2017) Cask 6922 55.8% (LMdW)
• Glenburgie (1995/2018) Cask #6542 55.6% (LMdW 20 rue d’Anjou)
• Edradour 10 year (2008/2018) Cask No 8, Bottle 515 57.9% (LMdW)

And another Edradour – this time combined with Ballechin 8 year (2009) 46%.

One of the more curious developments in the industry is “constructing” whiskies from existing distilleries to “craft” the potential profile of a new distillery… along with an artful story or two… enter Ardgowan’s Expedition 20 year which was retailing for an astounding SGD 1,200!

In the main floor, it was such a treat to meet Patrick Maguire of Sullivan’s Cove to sample:

• Double Barrel (12 Dec 2007/24 Jan 2018) Double Cask No DC098 Barrel No 45%
• American Oak Single Cask (9 Jun 2006/20 Aug 2018) Barrel No TD0108 47.5%

Gordon & MacPhail is always  “must”… this year I checked an interesting range in the main floor and VIP room:

• Miltonduff 10 year (2008/2018) 43%
• Inchgower 13 year (2005/2018) 55.1%
• Glenlivet 14 year (2003/2018) 56.5%
• Mannochmore 18 year (1999/2018) 46%
• Caol Ila 33 year (1989/2018) 52.8%

Yet not everything was about whisky. One of the highlights was a chance to catch up with Luca Gargano plus a special Jamaican Rum Masterclass. Between the two, we sampled rums from Caroni, Foursquare, Habitation Velier, Hampden, Long Pond and Worthy Park.

Phew! So that is my summary of our explorations… tasting notes coming over the next few months.

Want even more Whisky Lady posts? Follow this blog on:

• WordPress https://whiskylady.co/
• FaceBook Whisky Lady in India – https://www.facebook.com/WhiskyLadyIN 
• Twitter @WhiskyLadyIN