Last Tuesday, the global scotch portfolio Whyte & Mackay celebrated World Whisky Day at the Cellar du Vin at Lafayette.
The evening was filled with guided tastings and engaging experiences highlighting the history and personality of their 3 branded Scotch Whiskies Jura, The Dalmore, and Shackleton.
Named after its place of origin, Jura Whisky comes from a remote island off the West Coast of Scotland. As guests sipped on the cocktails they had the opportunity to view the island through an VR experience. Last month, three of New York’s leading bartenders journeyed to Jura to take over the one-and-only Jura Pub. Mixologist, Patrick Winston Mathie Smith created Dead Ringer in inspiration of the gathering made from Jura 10, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup, Amontillado sherry, Grand Marnier and Absinthe.
The Dalmore, is made in different stills, of various sizes, to produce a stronger and more complex character. Many expression of The Dalmore is matured in two precious wooden casks: American white oak ex-bourbon casks and exclusive aged sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass. The Dalmore is the only distillery in the world permitted to use select aged casks. Whyte & Mackay’s Master Distiller Richard Paterson hand-picks every cask, and each one has matured exceptional sherry, packing the wood dense with character. It’s from these casks the spirit is gifted with its deep copper colour and flavours of crushed almonds, cinnamon, ginger, and citrus.
In 1907, Sir Ernest Shackleton personally ordered 25 cases of Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky. In 2007, a century after the expedition, three cases of the perfectly preserved whiskey were discovered, frozen into the ice beneath Shackleton’s base camp at Cape Royds. Shackleton Master Blender, Richard Paterson traveled to New Zealand to personally escort these bottles home to Scotland where he subjected the whiskey to sensory and chemical analysis to establish its flavour and composition. Guests got a chance to try Shackleton on The Rocks, inspired by the spirit supplied to the original 1907 Expedition as well as Arctic Seas presented by mixologist Logan Ronkainen made from Shackleton Blended Malt Whiskey, Blue Curacao, Coconut cream, Spiced Raison syrup and fresh lime juice.
