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The whisky scene has exploded, exhibiting a razzle-dazzle that is no longer exclusively reserved for rich, retired men with fading taste buds. In many countries, drinking whisky is a sign that you’ve made it in life.&nbsp;For a traditional dram fan, Scotland is to whisky as Champagne is to fine wine – the irrefutable elite. Yet, over the last few years, with a boom in independent craft distilleries, connoisseurs are swirling and warming to the idea of whiskies from unexpected, exotic and distant places. Mexico is one such emerging drinks powerhouse – and we are not talking about the agave-based tequila or mezcal that have enjoyed unprecedented success.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-62219" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2.png" alt="gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_2-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Mexican corn whisky is at the crossroads of something potentially disruptive – it doesn’t yet enjoy the status of Scotch or Yamazaki, which are made from malted barley – but evokes a charm and complex subtlety missing in the current, mass-produced market.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-62222" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn.png" alt="gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_corn-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Indigenous Diaries 
Several intriguing layers of Mexican spirits are yet to unfold that go beyond tequila and sotol. Many times, a new whisky trend is not just about the region, altitude or climatic factors, it’s also what grain is used in the production which drives up the demand.
In 2011, Mexican whisky pioneers Jonathan Barbieri and Douglas French, then essentially mezcal producers from Oaxaca in southwestern Mexico, started toying with the idea of distilling their ancestral grain after a massive shortage of agave shut down their businesses. For them, necessity was the mother of invention; what seemed revolutionary to the world was utterly natural to them. If their heirloom grain – 4,000-year-old corn – has nourished the Mexican civilisation and culture since ancient times and conquered the global palate with burritos, then why limit it to just cuisine? A series of nuanced experiments later, corn whisky, a true rarity of the region was born.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-62223" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink.png" alt="gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_ice_drink-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Most varieties of corn whisky are genuinely ‘artisan’, produced in small, dusty family distilleries of Mexico no larger than a Hong Kong apartment. Corn undergoes the ancient handcrafted process of nixtamalization – the soaking of kernels in alkaline solution before hulling. Its simplicity results in a standout, pale yellow colour awash with oaky, toasty notes and a hint of natural, honeyed sweetness.
Unlike the American bourbon, Mexican corn whisky is not necessarily barrel-aged; storing it in copper pots imparts a funky yet uplifting, even stimulating profile.
<blockquote>
“If Mexico’s heirloom grain – 4,000-year-old corn – has conquered the global palate with burritos, then why limit it to cuisine?”
</blockquote>
Also Read:<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/prosecco-rose-pink-wine-trendy-summer-drink/"> Cin Cin! Prosecco Rosé&nbsp; is a thing, here&#8217;s the lowdown</a>
Standout Spirits 
Abasolo is the only Mexican whisky that is made from 100-percent non-genetically-modified corn – other producers adjunct corn with grains like wheat and rye in the mash. Its intense, charred elegance with a finish of vanilla and sweet honey is unparalleled. Produced in Jilotepec to the north of Mexico City, the corn is soaked and cooked in lime water and made into a powder whilst preserving some whole kernels, which are malted like barley is in Scotch. After being distilled, Abasolo is aged in American oak barrels. It can be savoured on its own, in a cocktail (corn margarita, anyone?) or with a splash of pineapple juice and a dash of lime.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-62218" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1.png" alt="gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gafencu_mexican_whisky_absolo_1-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Sierra Norte, with its smoky, buttery, slightly grassy profile and complex character, is another brand to pour and contemplate. Double distilled in pot stills, refined in copper stills and aged in French oak barrels, this is a dark whisky reflecting the yellow, white, red or purple varieties of native corn used in the mash, along with 15 percent barley.
None of the Mexican corn-based spirits presently enjoys a wide distribution, but if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one, try it in a cocktail. Corn whisky and chilli liqueur, perhaps? Each spirit perfectly balances the other – you can taste both the maize and an authentic hint of poblano; they go well together as they grow together.
(Text: Nikita Mishra)
Also Read: <a href="//www.gafencushop.com/hongkong-organic-natural-biodyamic-wines-no-chemicals/">Natural, sustainable and organic wines, explained</a>

Introducing from Mexico: Corn Whisky

Japanese whiskies have, in recent years, risen in ranks in steep competition against widely loved Scotch, bourbon, Islay and Canadian whiskies — winning over the hearts of whisky aficionados&nbsp; the world over for its unique lightness and sweeter tones. From award winning bottles like the Yamazaki 12 and Hibiki 17, both products of the now internationally renowned Japanese distillery Suntory, premium whiskies are in-demand, and are increasingly hard to get your hands on given the supply shortage. Though if you’re looking to discover a new world of flavours through Japanese whisky, here are the top four bottles you must try…

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1. Yamazaki 12 Years Old Single Malt Whisky 
Almost a decade ago, this bottle put Japanese whisky (and Suntory distilleries) on the map. Offering a new flavour to traditional scotch distillation, the Yamazaki 12 years is an excellent introduction to Japanese whisky given its floral, vanilla and fruity notes. 
Price: HK$2,880 / bottle 
Available at <a href="https://www.thebottleshop.hk/suntory-suntory-yamazaki-12-years-old-single-malt.html">thebottleshop.hk.</a>
2. Hibiki 17 Years Old Blended Whisky 
Suntory’s flagship bottle, Hibiki, truly shows off the distillery’s mastery of blending. The Hibiki 17 years in particular is an aged whisky blended grain and malt whiskies. It boasts a silky smooth and fruit-laden flavour that offers whisky aficionados a versatile bottle to serve neat or in a highball.&nbsp; 
Price: HK$6,980.00 
Available at <a href="https://www.thebottleshop.hk/suntory-suntory-hibiki-17-years-old-blended-japane.html">thebottleshop.com.</a>
3. Hakushuku 12 Years Old Single Malt Whisky 
Expressing scotch influence in Japanese whisky making, the Hakushuku 12 years is a smokey single malt, also owned by Suntory, produced in the Japanese Alps where the water used to craft the distillery’s whiskies run deep in the forest nearby. Yet, it boasts a unique lightness that contrasts the more peated scotch whiskies, while offering sweeter notes of fruit and honey. 
Price: HK$2,580.00 
Available at: <a href="https://www.hkliquorstore.com/hakushu-12-years-single-malt-whisky.html">hkliquorstore.com.</a>
4. The Akkeshi Usui (2021 bottled) Blended Whisky 
The Akkeshi Usui by Hokkaido Akkeshi Distillery is a blended whisky from a combination of bourbon, sherry, mizunara and wine casks which explains the complex notes this bottle offers. Although aged relatively young (three years), this vibrant and harmonious blend of sweet, fragrant and peaty flavours that feature custard, cacao and raisins with citrus overtones makes for a deliciously refreshing tipple. 
Price: HK$3,480.00 
Available at <a href="https://www.hkliquorstore.com/index.php/the-akkeshi-usui-bottled-2021-blended-whisky.html">hkliquorstore.com.</a>
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gafencu magazine wine whiskey Top four must-try premium Japanese whiskies

Top four must-try premium Japanese whisky brands

Even as the whisky world bemoans the&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/whisky-revival/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=//www.gafencushop.com/whisky-revival/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1545294986991000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHertNaRpZOCxPUbXI3_ODXt3KsSg">doomed distilleries of Scotland</a>&nbsp;that shut down in the ’80s, Johnnie Walker Blue Label has resurrected the taste of a bygone era in its limited-edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen bottle, at the heart of which lies the unique flavours of the Islay single malt produced at Port Ellen, a ‘ghost’ distillery that shut its doors in 1983 – one of the rarest and most highly sought-after single malts in the world (according to the&nbsp;RW101 Database Statistics&nbsp;in May 2018).
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="m_-7696474938303806822gmail-aligncenter m_-7696474938303806822gmail-size-full m_-7696474938303806822gmail-wp-image-41685 CToWUd a6T" tabindex="0" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/DW20x9kXrZKi5XEAnHLhAvKsVd-Q5a5xck9LFD0VxrirOR6LXrnM0BeC-lupzYkUlS8urMDwYt84xuvzamnkBIbfh8wOtVhJAJ5AbYLA6MI44Y0tg8nFne6k87Hruur-rMVCjEBhoNVh9SA_FmIhmV1XPWQikfndavZ1P2DkGcg1xw=s0-d-e1-ft#//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Nestled on the edge of Kilnaughton Bay, watched over by the four-sided Carraig Fhada lighthouse and the occasional ethereal glow of the Northern Lights, the Port Ellen distillery is now silent but the memory of the ships setting sail with their precious cargo of unique single malt whisky is one that still endures.
To recapture this spirit, Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge has hand-selected seven of the rarest expressions of individual whiskies, none less than 20 years old, from the unparalleled Johnnie Walker Blue Label reserves and has intricately crafted them to balance the unique peaty character of Port Ellen single malt.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="m_-7696474938303806822gmail-aligncenter m_-7696474938303806822gmail-size-full m_-7696474938303806822gmail-wp-image-41686 CToWUd a6T" tabindex="0" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cViXZ5kkWKEQyKAQY04N_irdD-y_E-78y-oUnrFD2N4LvsvvnrNRAAXFW_S_QA-GfzUpJMgzu17vEm8__0MUltRZwGpMWycio9BT0_AwusX9VSQ7ifxsaPhlkr6hBpzNocG_Z1P3fQye1zvtoXlKP2-6dbsh90df8qhZQp7iDSrwEg=s0-d-e1-ft#//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-Ghost-and-Rare-Port-Ellen-2-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Beveridge explains the blending process, saying: “The incredibly rare ‘ghost’ whiskies from Caledonian and Carsebridge add layers of creamy, vanilla sweetness, while rare expressions of malts from Mortlach, Dailuaine, Cragganmore, Blair Athol and Oban deliver rolling waves of waxy citrus, rich malt and tropical fruit flavours – all perfectly balanced by the distinctive maritime smokiness of Port Ellen that lingers in the long and warming finish.”
A single sip of this unique creation is a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of Scotch whisky. Let’s raise a toast to that!
Info: Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen offers a sip from a bygone time

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-26264" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-230-421x280.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="386">
Narcisa Pheres, talented jewellery designer and CEO of Italian fashion label Pheres, recently added one more feather to her cap when she was invited to the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mentorship Programme. As a mentor to the brand, she travelled to Scotland’s picturesque countryside and explored the almost ‘mystical’ process of whisky making.&nbsp;We recently caught up with Narcisa to find out more about her exhilarating experience.
How did you feel about being named a Johnnie Walker Blue Label mentor?
I was honoured to be chosen by Johnnie Walker and, more specifically, to represent the Blue Label brand because it is such a unique product.
It was also a pleasant surprise. I did not expect a woman to be chosen to represent a whisky brand in the beginning, but then I learnt that a part of Johnnie Walker’s early success was actually due to the efforts of one woman in the late 18th century. More power to us!
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-26267" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-421x280.jpg" alt="" width="578" height="384" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-800x532.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/D280717-082.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" />
How was the experience of travelling to Scotland as part of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label brand?
I went to Scotland as part of the mentorship programme for Johnnie Walker Blue Label. They invited me to explore the local scenery and to visit their distillery to learn the process behind creating each bottle.
Given my background in artisanship, design and craftsmanship, it was a thoroughly educational trip for me.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-26265" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo-187x280.jpg" alt="" width="273" height="409" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo-500x750.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo-400x600.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Narcisa-Pheres-Interview-Photo.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px" />
Where did you stay?
We stayed at the Craigellachie Hotel in a beautiful part of Scotland called Speyside, which is close to the Johnnie Walker distillery.
The hotel was wonderful, and looked like a castle. In the room they even prepared lovely cashmere socks with my logo on them, as well as a beautiful vintage basket holding a complimentary bottle of whisky for me. Such a lovely touch!
What intrigued you about the Blue Label brand?
How much effort goes into making just a single bottle! Only one in every ten thousand bottles of blended whisky makes the cut to becoming a Blue Label. It’s not only about attention to detail and having the right skills, it’s also about maintaining a very high quality every single time.
Of course, this is challenging because making whisky relies so heavily on nature producing perfect crops of wheat and barley, clean water and just the right amount of rain and sunlight. Since nature isn’t so reliable, there are years where nothing is added to the Blue Label stock.
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Which part of the crafting process left an impression on you?
Watching the specialists at the Cardhu distillery – which supplies some of the best whiskies that go into Johnnie Walker blends – building the casks was simply amazing. They source rare white oak trees from America which they shape into barrels without any nails. It’s just oak and metal rings!
The casks are then fired and smoked for conditioning, which, in turn, allows the oak to flavour the whisky that is aged inside it. Attaining this level of cask-building skill can take up to ten years. I really admired their dedication to their craft.
Do you feel like this trip has inspired you?
Yes, of course. I draw inspiration from the places I travel to. Being surrounded by the beautiful Scottish countryside with its trees, clear sky, cold water and crisp air, all these things open up a brand new perspective for me. It’s a sharp contrast to being in Hong Kong!
Thank you!
Interview: Sadia Lima 
Text: Tenzing Thondup

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