Erlebniswelten für Whisky sind momentan DAS angesagte Ding. Erst gestern berichteten wir von The Macallan Experience in Shanghai, heute erreicht uns von Diageo UK die Pressemitteilung für eine Dining Experience anlässlich des Launches des Singleton of Glen Ord 39yo. Dabei wurden Gaumenfreuden, die Bewegung der Gäste während des Festmahls zu einem digitalen Kunstwerk verbunden. Ollie Dabbous, Chefkoch des HIDE in London, hat für diese Experience ein eigenes Menü kreiert, aber die Experience selbst wird auch in anderen Ländern abgehalten werden – wer daran Interesse hat, kann sich auf malts.com dafür anmelden (auf Deutsch finden wir derweilen noch keinen Eintrag).

Wie das alles funktioniert? Die nachfolgende Presseaussendung schafft mit Bildern, der Menüfolge, den Tasting Notes und einem Video mehr Klarheit:

THE SINGLETON SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY LAUNCHES ‘THE COURSE OF A FEAST’: A WORLD-FIRST DINING EXPERIENCE THAT ALLOWS GUESTS TO CREATE A UNIQUE ARTWORK

A one-of-a-kind embodiment of the art of feasting, has been created by The Singleton, as part of a new dining experience which distils the movements of guests throughout dinner into a digital artwork, “The Course of a Feast”. The first of these new dining experiences which will be popping up globally, took place in London, with a five-course feast created by Ollie Dabbous, mapping a gastronomic journey in celebration of the launch of new single malt Scotch whisky, The Singleton of Glen Ord 39-Year-Old.

The inaugural “Course of a Feast” artwork is both a moving digital piece showing the bursts and contours of the guests’ movements over the evening, as well as a still portrait that exhibits the evening in one layered composition. The artwork charts the journey of a feast, a decadent odyssey of flavour which reflects the maturation journey of The Singleton 39-Year-Old. Aged in a variety of casks which had previously held wines from the vineyards and Chateaux across Europe, the feast took us through these regions and then back to the Highland home of The Singleton at Glen Ord where the whisky was nurtured by Master of Malt for The Singleton, Maureen Robinson.

Ollie Dabbous, chef patron of Michelin starred HIDE London, took inspiration from these influences which helped shape the rare whisky, and together with Julien Sarrasin, his award-winning head sommelier, created a five course feasting menu paired with the finest wines and The Singleton Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. Julien used his intimate knowledge of and access to the incredible 6,500 strong library of Hedonism Wines, described as a museum of fine wine, for the pairing for the evening. The evening culminated in a celebratory tasting of The Singleton 39-Year-Old, which was paired with a specially invented dessert in tribute to the whisky, a millefeuille of blackberry and muscovado crumble, containing drops of the precious whisky within its many layers.

These individually sublime components, slowly crafted by experts, came together harmoniously to create an indulgent feast of taste and depth, enjoyed by guests including Charles Maclean, a leading whisky writer and leading world authority on the subject, Master of Malt Maureen Robinson, Head Sommelier at HIDE Julien Sarrasin and Diageo’s Senior Global Brand Ambassador Ewan Gunn, who gathered together at Woods Quay, London’s newest floating landmark and private space on the River Thames. The transient moments, expressions and movements of the guests throughout the convivial feast were captured by overhead cameras, creating a bespoke piece of artwork to be savoured long after the moment of the dining experience.

The Course of A Feast by The Singleton dining experiences will be appearing in countries across the globe, where guests will be taken on a sublime flavour journey, a feast where they discover true richness in each other’s company, in an event which is then recorded in a beautiful artwork which they can cherish forever. To register your interest in attending one of these exclusive events, visit Malts.com.

Maureen Robinson, The Singleton Master of Malt said:

“The Course of a Feast was an unforgettable experience to be a part of. To see the flavour journey of The Singleton 39-Year-Old, some of my life’s work during my 40 years at Diageo, come to life and inspire the menu by Ollie Dabbous was incredible.

“The 39-year maturation journey of The Singleton 39-Year-Old was an epicurean exploration of the purposeful layering of texture and flavour, creating a topography of richness on the tongue. The artwork we created at The Course of a Feast was the perfect embodiment of this, as we mapped the interaction between one another to create a multi-layered one-of-a-kind piece of art. I will cherish the artwork we created forever as a memory of an outstanding evening, and of a special whisky we bring to the world.”

Ollie Dabbous said:

“The five-course paired dining experience is a physical manifestation of the flavour of The Singleton 39-Year-Old. When I first tasted The Singleton 39-Year-Old I was impressed by the layers of richness and boldness of the spirit. Blackberries and muscovado crumble come bursting onto the palate, which I honoured with the creation of a special millefeuille of blackberry and muscovado crumble.”

Julien Sarrasin said:

“As Head Sommelier at HIDE, working alongside Ollie, we work with exquisite flavours and pairings daily with rare fine wines. Meeting Maureen and delving further into the world of whisky was fascinating and it was a delight to taste the journey of this particular whisky, which was finished in casks that had previously held wine hailing from my home of Bordeaux.”

This December, HIDE London will also be the first location in the world where The Singleton 39-Year-Old will be available by the dram for guests at the restaurant and bar to purchase and enjoy.

The Singleton 39-Year-Old is now available to purchase globally from selected retailers and Malts.com. The Recommended Retail Selling Price in GBP is £2,295 including UK Duty and Taxes and $2,680 excluding Duty and Taxes in USD.

Ollie Dabbous’s Course of A Feast Menu, with paired wines and whiskies from The Singleton’s archives, and the Hedonism cellar

The Singleton 12-Year-Old Cask Sample

Beetroot in two servings: red & white, hot & cold Nest Egg

Pedro Ximinez and Oloroso bespoke blend

Sea bass cooked in wood shavings; honeyed turnip dressing; perilla and cucumber wrap

Domaine de la Pousse D’Or Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets ‘17 Rose veal fillet, celeriac & black truffle; creamy lardo dressing Château Beychevelle St-Julien 1996

Millefeuille & blackberry & muscovado crumble

The Singleton 39-Year Old

PRODUCT INFORMATION FOR THE SINGLETON 39-YEAR-OLD ABV: 46.2%

SKU FORMAT: 3×1 70cl, 3×1 75cl

RRSP (GBP): £2,295 (including UK Duty & Taxes) RRSP (USD): $2,680 (excluding Duty & Taxes) RELEASE VOLUME: 1,695 bottles

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE EPICUREAN ODYSSEY RANGE: The Singleton 38-Year-Old

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: Red-hued amber, polished rosewood. Fine beading

Nose: The nose-feel is mellow, and the aroma is profoundly complex. Mild at first and vinous, with fruity top notes suggesting a rich fruit cake with wine-soaked raisins, candied orange peel and toasted almonds. Later some butterscotch emerges, with a slightly burnt edge to the cake. Water dials back the fruit and introduces a cooling effect.

Body: Medium to full

Palate: At natural strength, light yet creamy-smooth; a very slightly waxy texture and mouth-watering, sweet start with a notably fruit clove-studded spiciness, succulent

blackberries and muscovado crumble. Then gently drying, with more spice towards the end yielding a light peppery warmth. Richly flavoured and perfectly balanced, it drinks well neat. With just a dash of water, the texture is thinner, and the sweetness comes forward slightly; there is a share of salt not at the expense of spicier warmth, which returns to the finish.

Finish: Very long, fruity, and warming, with a lingering spicy warmth and a hint of salted plums in the aftertaste. The latter is increased by a drop of water, when the whole aftertaste becomes unusually menthol-cool, with perhaps a suggestion of cherry liqueur chocolates.