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The latest auctions produced a slew of multi-million-dollar bids for some amazing items including a magnificent fancy vivid blue diamond, a fearsome Ferrari, a sensuous Sanyu and some valuable whisky.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Royal Blue</h3>



Flawless diamond sets year record


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80171" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lot-87-copy_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


A recent jewellery auction in Geneva produced a slew of huge prices, and topping the lot was a magnificent internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond set in a ring. Sold for a gargantuan US$44 million (about HK$343.4 million), it represented the highest price achieved by a jewel at auction in 2023. The superb stone, known as ‘The Bleu Royal’, was the highlight of Christie’s autumn Luxury Week, which amassed sales totalling US$140 million.



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An intense bidding war took place to secure the gem, which eventually went to a private collection for the first time in 40 years. The whopping 17.61-carat fancy vivid blue pear-shaped brilliant- cut diamond is set in platinum and 18-carat rose gold and flanked by two pear-shaped brilliant-cut white diamonds of 3.12 and 3.07 carats, with all three stones internally flawless.



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The Bleu Royal is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever put up for auction. Christie’s jewellery expert Max Fawcett shared that it excited collectors from all over the world because of its long list of attributes, particularly the deep, rich blue colour that endows it with a unique quality.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Whisky Allure</h3>



60 Year Old Scotch stirs collector


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Considered the world’s most valuable whisky, a bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 created a buzz in the auction room at Sotheby’s in London. Bottled in 1986, the 60 Year Old elixir numbered just 40 bottles, and every time one comes up for auction whisky connoisseurs worldwide wish to raise their hands and their glasses. This most recent prize – one of 12 bearing a label designed by the Italian painter – fetched £2.18 million (about HK$21.6 million), almost three times the pre-sale low estimate of £750,000.



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The appeal among collectors was enhanced by the fact that Sotheby’s worked directly with The Macallan to recondition and authenticate the bottle – the first time this vintage has undergone reconditioning prior to being auctioned. This process involved replacing both the capsule and the cork, applying new glue to the corners of the labels and taking a 1ml sample to test against another 1926 bottle at the Glasgow office of Edrington, owner of the brand.



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Sotheby’s spirits specialist Jonny Fowle believes this was the most desiraxble bottle of whisky ever to come to market. He says: “The Macallan 1926 is the one whisky that every auctioneer wants to sell and every collector wants to own.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nude Nature</h3>



Sensual Sanyu arouses intense bidding


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A seminal Chinese modern painting led Christie’s evening sale of 20th and 21st-century art, with a packed Hong Kong saleroom witnessing the 1929 masterpiece change hands for an astonishing HK$187 million (about US$24 million). Femme nue sur un tapis (Nude on Tapestry) by Chinese-French artist Sanyu generated an electric atmosphere and such was the fierce competition that the auction attracted international participation from 24 countries. It was a bidder in the room, however, who landed this historically important work.



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Born in Sichuan to a family who made their fortune in the silk business, Sanyu moved to Paris as a student in 1921 and is often hailed as the Chinese Matisse. Nude on Tapestry was his first major nude painting and it depicts Kiki de Montparnasse, a popular muse for the era’s avant-garde artists, in a style that reflects his mastery of calligraphy.



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The valuable oil on canvas was entrusted to Christie’s from the prestigious Dreyfus Collection. A spokesperson for the auction house indicated that the outstanding result shows the resilience of the market and the enduring demand for Chinese modern art.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Red Racer</h3>



Fearsome Ferrari roars into history



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80174" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GT23_r0001_158-copy_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



A coveted Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962 was sold in New York by RM Sotheby’s for US$51.7 million, making it the most expensive of the marque ever to go under the hammer. It also whizzed into the record books by achieving the second-highest price for a car at auction – top honour here goes to a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.



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The whopping figure paid for this Ferrari is due in no small way to the 38 years of fastidious care lavished upon it by its previous owners, and the fact that this beautiful motor has a rich and distinctive history. It was the only GTO Tipo 1962 to race under the flag of the company’s own Scuderia Ferrari team. At the 1962 Nürburgring 1,000 km, it chalked up a class win and a second overall finish, before being driven by Mike Parkes and Lorenzo Bandini at the 24 Hour Le Mans. Three years later, it was the runner-up in the Sicilian Hillclimb Championship.



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One of its former owners was the chairman of the Ferrari Club of America, and the sale came with a detailed documented history of the car, including copies of factory build sheets, owner’s correspondence, period of racing coverage and magazine feature articles.

Amazing Lots Under the Hammer

The Single Malt Scotch Whisky Brand Mortlach has put forth a multi-sensory experience titled “The Midnight Secrets” at K11 Musea from now until 14th March.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70118 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Gold-Ball-venue-located-on-the-2_F-of-K11-Musea-and-is-the-beginning-of-the-immersive-experience-1-e1677720870354.jpg" alt="Mortlach" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Gold-Ball-venue-located-on-the-2_F-of-K11-Musea-and-is-the-beginning-of-the-immersive-experience-1-e1677720870354.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Gold-Ball-venue-located-on-the-2_F-of-K11-Musea-and-is-the-beginning-of-the-immersive-experience-1-e1677720870354-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Gold-Ball-venue-located-on-the-2_F-of-K11-Musea-and-is-the-beginning-of-the-immersive-experience-1-e1677720870354-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
The first stop to “The Midnight Secrets” is located in Gold Ball, 2/F of K11 Musea. With the name Layer upon Layer, this piece of digital art is created by K11 Art Foundation artist, Jiayu Liu. Each pixel and particle from the sand bed to the waves is derived from real-time environmental data and geographic coordinates of the banks of the River Spey in Speyside, Scotland, to transport discoverers to the turbulent waves that hold the magic and mysteries of Mortlach, divulging the intricate details of the 2.81 distillation process created by the first legal distillery in the town of Dufftown. Viewers will be introduced to the brand’s history and its unique distillation method named “The Way”. They will also be invited to reveal their midnight inner beast amid the River Spey with the AR Instagram Filter at the entrance of Gold Ball.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70119 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Pop-Up-bar-the-second-stop-of-“The-Midnight-Secrets”-immersive-experience-by-Mortlach-is-located-on-the-5_F-of-K11-Musea-designed-to-bring-discovers-on-a-tantalising-tasting-journey.-1-e1677721003373.jpg" alt="Mortlach" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Pop-Up-bar-the-second-stop-of-“The-Midnight-Secrets”-immersive-experience-by-Mortlach-is-located-on-the-5_F-of-K11-Musea-designed-to-bring-discovers-on-a-tantalising-tasting-journey.-1-e1677721003373.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Pop-Up-bar-the-second-stop-of-“The-Midnight-Secrets”-immersive-experience-by-Mortlach-is-located-on-the-5_F-of-K11-Musea-designed-to-bring-discovers-on-a-tantalising-tasting-journey.-1-e1677721003373-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Pop-Up-bar-the-second-stop-of-“The-Midnight-Secrets”-immersive-experience-by-Mortlach-is-located-on-the-5_F-of-K11-Musea-designed-to-bring-discovers-on-a-tantalising-tasting-journey.-1-e1677721003373-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Next is the Mortlach Pop–Up Bar located on the fifth floor which is designed to prime taste buds for the darkest hours of the night. Each discerning discoverer will receive a dram of the 12-year-old Mortlach Single Malt whisky for tasting, unleashing its beastly and bold flavour upon the first sip.&nbsp;
For the final stop, Mortlach has partnered with Artisan Lounge with an exclusive Mortlach 2.81 Cocktail Pairing Menu. Discoverers will be invited to try 2.81 pieces of savoury or sweet canapés, harmoniously paired with a Mortlach cocktail inspired by the dead of the night (valued at HKD268/person or redeemable with the purchase of any single bottle of Mortlach at the Liquid Gold on 5/F of K11 Musea).&nbsp;
The sweet and savoury choices exclusively available for purchase during the exhibition period include:&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_70121" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70121" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-70121" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Mortlach-2.81-Sweet-Cocktail-Pairing-at-Artisan-Lounge-featuring-The-Wee-Witche’s-Perfume-cocktail-and-Mandarin-Mousse-Balls-e1677722548737.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Mortlach-2.81-Sweet-Cocktail-Pairing-at-Artisan-Lounge-featuring-The-Wee-Witche’s-Perfume-cocktail-and-Mandarin-Mousse-Balls-e1677722548737.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Mortlach-2.81-Sweet-Cocktail-Pairing-at-Artisan-Lounge-featuring-The-Wee-Witche’s-Perfume-cocktail-and-Mandarin-Mousse-Balls-e1677722548737-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70121" class="wp-caption-text">The Wee Witche’s Perfume cocktail, a secret 2.81 alchemy formula from the Wee Witchie, releases the tempting fragrance of fresh citrus&nbsp;and blossoming flowers and pairs beautifully with the Mandarin Mousse Balls.</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_70120" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70120" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-70120" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Mortlach-2.81-Savoury-Cocktail-Pairing-e1677722604814.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Mortlach-2.81-Savoury-Cocktail-Pairing-e1677722604814.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Mortlach-2.81-Savoury-Cocktail-Pairing-e1677722604814-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70120" class="wp-caption-text">The Beast’s Throne cocktail, a spicy twist on an Old Fashioned with notes of ginger and wood, reminiscent of the boldness and strength of the Dufftown Beast and complements the Caviar Toast Bites perfectly.</figcaption></figure>
Visitors who want to enjoy the meaty flavours of Mortlach at home can purchase any bottle of Mortlach at Liquid Gold located on the fifth floor of K11 Musea and redeem a 2.81 canape set at Artisan Lounge&nbsp;for free, exclusively during the exhibition period.
Registration is now open. Limited spots available.
Click <a href="https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/mortlach-the-midnight-secrets-at-k11-musea-tickets-496129656157" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to make your booking.

MORTLACH REVEALS “THE MIDNIGHT SECRETS” IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AT K11 MUSEA

Create an everlasting memory for dear dad this father&#8217;s day with an imbibe that expresses your love and appreciation.
Islay&#8217;s pioneering distillery, and the oldest licensed distillery on the land, Bowmore, masters the Art of Time by crafting masterful single malts. Swirling in rich layers of smokiness, fruitiness and notes of sea salt, the renowned Scottish distillery continues to stir delight in whisky lovers with its distinct and timeless house style.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-66884" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu.png" alt="celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/celebrate-fathers-day-bowmores-timeless-flavours-scottish-whisky-gafencu-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
This comes as no surprise given that celebrated whisky distillery is one of the oldest whisky brands in the world. It continues its tradition of hand-selecting casks — individually nosing each one before filling with new make, and hand-turning barley in its proprietary malt barns. It&#8217;s little wonder then that its creations are billed as masterpieces sculpted by time — its rich single malts paying tribute to its 240 year-heritage and craftsmanship.&nbsp;
This makes the perfect gift and heartfelt gesture to the leading man in your life by raising a glass to the father of the year. Cheers to dad!
For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.bowmore.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.bowmore.com</a>.

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Celebrate Father’s day with Bowmore’s timeless flavours

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

Decadent yet nuanced, powerful yet palate-pleasing, the&nbsp;Johnnie Walker Blue Label stands at the very pinnacle&nbsp;of fine blended whiskies. So exacting are the standards 
of its production that only one in every 10,000 casks in Johnnie&nbsp;Walker’s expansive reserves are deemed worthy enough to be&nbsp;bottled under the illustrious ‘Blue Label’ name.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-58188" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle.jpg" alt="gafencu magazine luxury lifestyle magazine perfect father's day gift Johnnie Walker Blue Label product lifestyle" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-product-lifestyle-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a>
Masterminded by award-winning Master Blender Jim&nbsp;Beveridge and his team, this delicious tipple boasts an&nbsp;exceptional combination of flavour and character. Every sip 
reveals fruity, citrusy notes punctuated with spice and vanilla&nbsp;sweetness that round out in a smoky chocolate finish. A&nbsp;masterclass in the art of blending, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label&nbsp;is the perfect gift to show your appreciation for whisky-loving 
dads this Father’s Day.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-58192" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice.png" alt="gafencu magazine luxury lifestyle magazine perfect father's day gift Johnnie Walker Blue Label and ice" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/gafencu-magazine-luxury-lifestyle-magazine-perfect-fathers-day-gift-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-and-ice-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
To make this celebration even more special, the famed&nbsp;distiller is even offering a complimentary engraving service for&nbsp;any bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label purchased between&nbsp;now until 27 June. This affords lucky buyers the opportunity to 
customise this delicious Father’s Day gift by engraving it with&nbsp;one of eight pre-set messages and a name of up to 16 characters&nbsp;– a memorable means of ensuring each bottle is as unique as the&nbsp;delicious amber ambrosia within.
To purchase click <a href="https://bit.ly/3f25JmT">here</a>.
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gafencu magazine luxury lifestyle magazine perfect father's day gift Johnnie Walker Blue Label cover

Johnnie Walker Blue Label: The perfect gift to give this Father’s Day

Accepted wisdom has it that the world’s first whiskies were distilled in Scotland more than five centuries ago when its then-king, James IV, ordered 500 bottles of aqua vitae (water of life) from a local monastery. In the intervening half-millennium, Scotch has become beloved the world over, with the global market valued at a staggering US$1.5 billion in 2020. Yet, some 6,000km-distant from the Highlands where it all began, an entirely different whisky has captured the hearts of discerning drinkers – bourbon, the tipple typically titled ‘America’s native spirit’.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56560" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon.jpg" alt="Bourbon Vivants How to enjoy the true spirit of the US...Blanton's_Bourbon" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Blantons_Bourbon-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a>
The exact origin of bourbon, however, remains shrouded in controversy. While some maintain it was created by the Samuels family in Kentucky in 1783, others believe it was invented by Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister, in 1789 as a variant of moonshine recipes.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56558" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery.jpg" alt="Bourbon Vivants How to enjoy the true spirit of the US...ASW_Distillery__Atlanta's_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...ASW_Distillery__Atlantas_hometown_whiskey_bourbon_craft_distillery-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Still another vocal lobby holds that it evolved ‘in barrel’ from one of the existing whiskies of the day, with its name said to be derived from Kentucky’s Bourbon County, home to a popular port for the shipping of various imported spirits. Wherever the truth may lie, bourbon is now one of the state’s most famed exports, with local distillers still accounting for 95 percent of all production.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56559" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house.jpg" alt="Bourbon Vivants How to enjoy the true spirit of the US...Beam_Rack house" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Beam_Rack-house-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
This near monopoly may, in part, be down to the strict legal definition of what can officially be sold as ‘bourbon’, with the requirements still vigorously enforced to this day. Firstly, the spirit must be made in the United States and from a mash consisting of at least 51-percent corn. It must also be aged in new charred American oak barrels (whereas other whisky varietals, such as Scotch, are typically aged in barrels that have previously held port or wine) with ageing beginning at no more than 125 proof. The final product must then be bottled at 80 to 160 proof with no flavouring, colouring or other additives allowed aside from the basic ingredients&nbsp; –&nbsp; malted barley, rye, wheat and water.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56565" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch.jpg" alt="Bourbon Vivants How to enjoy the true spirit of the US..scotch" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US..scotch-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Despite the simplicity of its ingredients, bourbon comes in a surprisingly large array of flavours, ranging from floral and fruity iterations to spicy, dry concoctions and pretty much everything in between. While the ageing process all but guarantees that such spirits will be sweet to a certain degree, this can easily be enhanced by varying either the barrel dwell time or the exact composition of the mash, options that can impart notes of vanilla, caramel, honey or even chocolate as desired. Any floral flavours, meanwhile, are typically by-products of the yeast used during the fermentation process, which can yield hints of honeysuckle, rose petals or herbs. As a general rule of thumb for the unwary and uninitiated – the darker the bourbon, the higher the alcohol content.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&#8220;As a rule of thumb for the unwary&nbsp;— the darker the bourbon, the higher the alcohol content&#8221;
</blockquote>
As with Scotch, bourbon can be served in countless different ways. While classicists often enjoy it neat, on the rocks or maybe with just a dash of water, cocktail aficionados have, meanwhile, incorporated it into any number of iconic tipples, most notably Manhattans, Old Fashioneds or Mint Juleps, with the latter’s trifecta of bourbon, mint and sugar still a particular favourite in Kentucky, bourbon’s original stomping ground. Indeed, there are varieties of this flexible, flavourful alcohol capable of suiting any mood or fitting any occasion, which no doubt explains why it remains such a perennial favourite in the US and far, far beyond.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage-.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56563" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage-.jpg" alt="Bourbon Vivants How to enjoy the true spirit of the US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage-" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage-.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage--200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage--421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage--120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage--500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage--400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bourbon-Vivants-How-to-enjoy-the-true-spirit-of-the-US...Suntory-whiskey-blanton-bourbon-liqueur-distilled-beverage--600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Mint Julep
Ingredients:&nbsp;
1. 4-5 sprigs of mint (leaves only)
2. 2 sugar cubes
3. 2.5 oz bourbon
4. Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
1.&nbsp;Place mint and sugar cubes in glass
2.&nbsp;Muddle well to dissolve sugar and release mint aroma
3.&nbsp;Add bourbon
4.&nbsp;Fill glass with crushed ice and stir well
5.&nbsp;Garnish with mint sprig and serve

Bourbon: Exploring the charming history of America’s native spirit

The iconic Johnnie Walker Black Label has long been lauded as the benchmark for blended whisky-making. In truth, this comes as no surprise, particularly when you consider that its unmistakable smoothness and complexity have been skilfully derived by co-opting only the best whiskies from distilleries across Scotland and aging them for at least 12 years, all under the guidance of its master blenders. These factors have made the Black Label a particular favourite of discerning drinkers and bartenders the world over.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51559" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Black Label Highball 2" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-3-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
While many choose to enjoy the tipple in its simpler forms &#8211; neat, on the rocks, with a spritz of water &#8211; others may appreciate a more complex concoction. To that end, Johnnie Walker has partnered with five of Hong Kong’s most well-loved bartenders to create five exclusive Black Label Highball cocktails that you can enjoy from the comforts of your own home.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51558" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Black Label Highball 1" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-4-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
While the classic Highball &#8211; traditionally including a whisky, some ice, a garnish and a mixer &#8211; has been a staple on many bar menus, these unique recipes will bring that added sophistication to your at-home imbibement. Take, for instance, Irre-zest-ible, created by Quinary’s Shelley Tai, which blends the Black Label with light citrusy notes with the addition of an Asian twist in its dried plums. Then there’s Summer Isles, the tropical interpretation from Bar 001’s Henry Ho that enhances the whisky’s inherent flavours with a zing of pink pepper, mellowed by refreshing notes of passion fruit and yuzu jam.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51560" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Black Label Highball 3" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/700x466-2-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
To help enhance your home mixology experience, the online tutorial videos for these Johnnie Walker Black Label Highball cocktails and their recipes can be easily accessed online at <a href="https://www.mhdhk.com/en/JohnnieWalkerBlackLabelHighball">https://www.mhdhk.com/en/JohnnieWalkerBlackLabelHighball</a>.

Johnnie Walker shares the joy of DIY mixology with exclusive Black Label Highball tutorials

It’s no secret that Johnnie Walker Blue Label enjoys a reputation for being among the most illustrious, delicious and rarefied blended whiskies in the world. In fact, so elusive are the qualities required to produce this Scottish whisky’s signature flavours that just one in every ten thousand casks make the cut.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51623" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Blue Label" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-20-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
This attention to detail is more than apparent, with every sip revealing a wonderfully nuanced palate dotted with ephemeral notes of vanilla, honey, rose petals, dark chocolate, zesty orange and much more besides. If your father is an aficionado of fine whiskies, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label makes just about the perfect gift to show your appreciation for dad this Father’s Day.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51621" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/466x700-3.jpg" alt="Johnnie Walker Blue Label for dad" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/466x700-3.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/466x700-3-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/466x700-3-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/466x700-3-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/466x700-3-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
To add an enhanced dimension to your present, Johnnie Walker is even offering a special complementary personalisation engraving service for Blue Label bottles purchased at selected retailers including APITA, Rare &amp; Fine Wines, Wai Shing Wine &amp; Spirits and Watson&#8217;s Wine. What better way to say ‘thank you’ than by offering the special man in your life a truly unique, extraordinary whisky?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51622" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21.jpg" alt="Beloved Johnnie Walker Blue Label" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/700x466-21-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />

Johnnie Walker Blue Label: The iconic tipple makes for the perfect Father’s Day gift

It’s no secret that Scotland boasts more than its fair share of world-class whisky distilleries. In fact, this relatively small region boasts some 120 active producers across five distinct districts. Among them, the picturesque isle of Islay &#8211; just 25 miles long &#8211; remains one of the most best-loved for the smoky, peaty flavours its whiskies produce.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51633" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1.jpg" alt="Bowmore Father's Day" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
This is the home of Bowmore, the world-renowned distillery that opened its doors in 1779 and stands as the world’s oldest Scotch whisky maturation warehouse. Over its nearly 240-year history, Bowmore has built an unassailable reputation for creating drinks that perfectly balance Islay’s iconic smoky-peatiness with notes of exotic fruit.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51634" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1.jpg" alt="Bowmore Father's Day 2" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
These unique palate-pleasing flavours are the culmination of a recipe that includes just three ingredients: barley grown and malted on Islay itself, painstakingly cultivated yeast and water taken right from the nearby, pristine River Laggan. All are lovingly fermented in the finest oak casks under the careful eye of Bowmore’s master distillers.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51635" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1.jpg" alt="Bowmore Father's Day 3" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
So, when drinking a Bowmore single malt, what you get isn’t just a perfectly-crafted tipple &#8211; it’s an embodiment of the love, skill and knowledge of the distiller’s experts; it’s experiencing the rich history and culture of Islay; it’s the pride of knowing you’re drinking some of the best that Scotland has to offer. And that is exactly why Bowmore Scotch whiskies make the perfect gift for whisky-loving dads this Father&#8217;s Day.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51636" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4.jpg" alt="Bowmore Father's Day 4" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Please contact Jebsen Fine Wines for more info. 
Simon Gilligan: <a href="http://mail.itotalmedia.com/webmail/horde/dimp/#">simongilligan@jebsen.com</a>

Exclusive, alluring and aromatic, Bowmore is perfect for the whisky-loving dad

The Macallan 72 Years Old, one of the finest scotches on offer from <a href="https://www.themacallan.com/en-hk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Macallan</a>, that most renowned of single malt whisky brands, is soon to land in <a href="//www.gafencushop.com/macallan-edition-no-4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hong Kong</a> as the distiller celebrates its epic legacy and enduring impact.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50522" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1.jpg" alt="Macallan 72 Years Old" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-min-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Limited to a release of just 600 bottles on a global basis, each one comes housed in an exquisite Genesis decanter, specially designed by <a href="https://www.lalique.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lalique</a>, that most classic of French crystal creative houses. With a design said to embody the ultimate fusion of contemporary chic and time-honoured tradition, each glass repository is a clear testimony to the brand’s commitment to flawless craftsmanship.
Assessing the import of their singular partnership, Geoff Kirk, the Macallan’s Head of Brand Development, said: “Lalique has a deep and true understanding of our brand, one imbued over more than a decade of joint endeavours.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50523" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1.jpg" alt="Macallan 72 Years Old" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2-min-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Commenting on the significance of this particular launch, meanwhile, Nick Savage, The Macallan’s Master Distiller said, “The Macallan 72 Years Old is an incredibly rare single malt and one defined by years of dedication and craftsmanship. The oldest whisky we have ever bottled, this is a truly momentous occasion and a fitting celebration of our remarkable new distillery.”
To find out more about The Macallan 72 Years Old and its underlying flavour tones of lemons, apples, raisins and vanilla, click <a href="https://www.themacallan.com/en-hk/the-macallan-72-years-old-in-lalique" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Tag: whisky