Food & Drink

Loch Lomond Whisky is a Highland single malt distillery in Alexandria, Scotland. The master blender is Michael Henry, who created the selection of single malt, single grain and blended whiskies under the guidance of renowned master blender John Peterson.
The distillery uses cylindrical copper pot stills that permit production of alcohol at a higher ABV than usual, up to 90% ABV. This allows a wide range of flavours that can be selected to produce the final single malt.

Midleton Whiskey unveiled their latest Very Rare Vintage 2017 last week at the Midleton Distillery in Cork with an exclusive tasting of each vintage from the Midleton Very Rare Collection from 1984 to 2017. As the whisky, and whiskey, expert for International Excellence Luxury Magazine, I flew over to beautiful Cork to sup, sample and partake of these superb tipples.

I have been a fan of good Cognac since I toured around France learning from some of the finest sommeliers to appreciate the different ages and blends. So I was delighted when Rémy Martin invited me out to visit their cellars for the launch of the new unremittingly exclusive L’Odyssée d’un Roi. Really, really, really exclusive as only three bottles have been produced!

Bruichladdich (pronounced Brooik Laddie) is one of the finest single malt scotch whisky distilleries in the world and its master distiller is a legend in the whisky world. So I was delighted to be invited to a whisky sipping party for him at Quaglinos, where he was hosting a Bruichladdich tasting for a very select few. The Bruichladdich distillery is based on the Scottish island of Islay on the upper west coast of Scotland and is famous for both the breath taking scenery and its Scotch whisky. They are also well known for the Botanist Gin they produce for Remy Cointreau.

Spiced Hot Chocolate
Indulge in the warming sensations of a
sumptuously creamy cup of hot chocolate
enriched by delicately spiced Ballantine's
Christmas Reserve, completed with something
soft and sweet.
SERVE IN:
A Glass cup or ceramic mug
INGREDIENTS:
50ml Ballantine's Christmas Reserve
% mug of high quality hot chocolate
Mini marshmallows
Chocolate sauce
METHOD:
Make hot chocolate to suit your tastes. Add the
Ballantine's Christmas Reserve and decorate

Golden Saffron Martini
With a rich, velvety texture and subtle nutty
flavours, this is the ultimate in winter elegance.
SERVE IN:
A Martini glass or coupette
INGREDIENTS:
50ml Ballantine's Christmas Reserve
15ml saffron-infused sugar syrup
5ml hazelnut liqueur
25ml double cream
Saffron threads (garnish)
METHOD:
Shake Ballantine's Christmas Reserve, sugar
syrup, hazelnut liqueur and double cream and
strain. Pour into glass and garnish with saffron
threads.
 
 

The Clementine Bauble
Experience the fruity flavours of Ballantine's
Christmas Reserve enhanced by deliciously
fragrant clementine and a bitter twist of
cranberry.
SERVE IN:
A brandy balloon
INGREDIENTS:
Juice of 1h clementine
50ml Ballantine's Christmas Reserve
2 teaspoons cranberry sauce
3 teaspoons sugar
Crushed Ice
Sliced clementine (garnish)
METHOD:
Shake the clementine juice with Ballantine's
Christmas Reserve, cranberry sauce and sugar,

Hot Christmas Punch
Savour the subtle tastes and seasonal aromas of
the perfect winter warmer with friends and
family this Christmas. Enriched with spices and
winter fruits.
SERVE IN:
A Cup, mug or glass
INGREDIENTS:
3 parts Ballantine's Christmas Reserve
1 part apricot liqueur
2 parts spiced berry cordial
8 parts hot water
Orange peel, raspberries and raisins (garnish)
METHOD:
Pour all ingredients into a punch bowl, kept
warm by a candle underneath. Ladle into

Misty Hazel Whisky Cocktail
A rich, nutty treat. The perfect accompaniment
to a roaring fire, twinkling tree lights and the
clink of glasses.
SERVE IN:
A glass.
INGREDIENTS:
40ml Ballantine's Christmas Reserve
IOml hazelnut liqueur
1 egg yolk
METHOD:
Mix thoroughly and serve.
 

Cinnamon Sleigh Whisky Cocktail
A deliciously warming drink that uses cinnamon
to underline the blend's fruity depths.
SERVE IN:
A mug.
INGREDIENTS:
50ml Ballantine's Christmas ReseNe
25ml cinnamon and pear syrup
1 bar spoon/5ml lemon juice
1 bar spoon/5ml cranberry juice
Peel of~ an orange
2 cloves and 10-12 raisins
~a pear chopped into small pieces
METHOD:
Add all the ingredients to a sauce pan and heat.
Make sure the mix doesn't boil. Strain and seNe
with a Cinnamon stick.