food
A symphony for the rare blend in Johnnie Walker Blue Label
The Flavour Conductor in flaming red as Simon Little hits spicy on the organ. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 25, 2015.The setting for a recent spectacular show by Johnnie Walker Blue Label was cool Genting Highlands, where the rare blend of whisky was showcased in an elaborate performance engaging the senses.
Blended to perfection from a hand selection of one in 10,000 casks by the Johnnie Walker Master Blender, it was truly a blend of the rarest whisky.
“We take whisky from about 30 distilleries, and find the best to make this wonderful blend of Johnnie Walker Blue Label,” said Tom Jones, global brand ambassador for John Walker & Sons, the luxury collection from Johnnie Walker.
The “Journey” at Genting took us through 190 years of Johnnie Walker. The first stop inside the dome was the original shop in the 19th century, a treasure trove of rare spices, fragrant teas, dark chocolate, honey, fresh apples, oranges and celery.
They represent aromas and flavours in the whisky. Then it was the Whisky Woodlands where Johnnie Walker Blue Label and whisky cocktails were served, before the main event.
The six flavours of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label – fresh, fruity, malty, woody, spicy and smoky – were explored through the Flavour Conductor, a pipe organ.
It’s the world’s first organ, designed by renowned architectural foodsmiths Bompass and Parr, to change the perception of taste. Each pipe is tuned to highlight each of the six flavours.
The organ was played by musician, composer and producer Simon Little, and as he touched the chords for each tune, a certain colour denoting the flavour dramatically lit up the organ. For instance, fresh was green, spicy red and smoky was like a grey cloud consuming the instrument.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label infused Creme Brulee. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 25, 2015.We were “mentored” through the tasting by Tom Jones, as the Flavour Conductor was played. Our senses were manipulated in the most incredible and melodious way.
When silky honeyed sweetness, apples and chocolate were suggested, we could actually get the aromas and flavours in the Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Whether it was of spices, ginger, dried fruits, red berries, roasted chestnuts or of rare casks of American and European oak, they magically turned up on the nose and palate.
“It’s like a cake sliced into six, with lots of different flavours – fresh, fruity, malty, spicy, woody, peaty,”
Tom had said earlier. “But underneath these are many other flavours. For instance, smoky would be like Lapsang Suchong tea or from a bonfire, and fruity like the Pippin apple."
As for the perfect serve for whisky, it should be iced water to cook the palate before sipping it in order to appreciate the true flavours.
The satelite Blue Dome in Genting. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 25, 2015.Dinner was served to complement Johnnie Walker Blue Label, with every dish inspired by the five elements – water, wood, metal, fire and earth.
The menu was specially created by Resort World Genting Group’s Chef Oliver Lopez and his team of chefs.
Each dish was matched to the flavour profiles of the whisky, from the Buri Kaburamushi & Uni with spinach sauce to the Blazing Phoenix of double-boiled chicken soup infused with herbs, to match the woody character of the whisky.
The palate was ignited with the Pearl of Paragon, a whole abalone in curry, to go with the spicy notes of Blue Label. A Summer Affair of lamb cutlet and lobster tail with calamansi dressing encapsulated the element of fire with a light bitter finish.
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Infused Crème Brulee, served on a bed of edible earth with ice-cream concluded dinner.
Then it was time to “pluck” at the chocolate truffles embracing the bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label at the table. They were heady and unforgettable with the liquor.
Malaysia is the third country after Britain (London) and Monaco to experience this amazing show of Symphony in Blue, memorable for the performance on the Flavour Conductor, the bespoke dinner, the Rouge Dolls Burlesque Show, and of course the rare blend that’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label. – August 25, 2015.
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