The DLS-CSB team of Mark John Jaybriel and DJ Buenviaje mentored by Patricia Fernandez of Banter and Jive walked away with top honors at this year's Whisky Live Mentorship. Photo by Jeeves de VeyraEvery year, those who enjoy their whisky look forward to Whisky Live, an annual festival where whisky lovers get to explore the world of whisky, liquor, and spirits.
Drinking an inordinate amount of alcohol in such a limited time would not be wise. My experience at Whisky Live was by no means exhaustive. I’m sure I missed some excellent drams . Here are some of the highlights from this year’s Whisky Live: New this year were the workshops right outside the ballroom. These were for new drinkers just starting their journey into whisky with sessions like the Chivas Regal session where brand ambassador Owen Robers guided students how to blend their own whisky complete with a souvenir blending kit to take home. Photo by Jeeves de Veyra
The lesser-known brands were also out in full force. For those new to whisky, the ideal destination was the Douglas Laing booth, where they were sampling their established Remarkable Regions Collection. Each bottle provided a delightful introduction to the unique characteristics of each Scottish whisky region, ranging from the approachable Speyside, Highlands, and Lowlands to the more distinctive flavors of Campbelltown and Islay whiskies.
Getting to meet the rock stars behind the bottles was a highlight of the show. One such celebrity was Ann Ho, the whiskey blender from the Taiwanese distillery Kavalan, which has been awarded Best Whisky in the World for its single cask Solist whiskeys. Ann sampled the new Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask whiskey, which is much lighter with just a hint of the distillery’s trademark spice, all while signing the occasional bottle for her fans.