WHYTE & MACAY WHISKY AND CUBAN CIGAR TASTING AND DINNER
Hosted by
Richard C Paterson & Simon Chase
MONDAY 8 SEPTEMBER , BOISDALE OF BELGRAVIA 7.30
Master Blender for Whyte & Mackay since 1970, Distiller of the Year 2001, Blender of the Year 2002, a cult figure in Japan (a significant character in “Oishimbo #70” a hugely popular cartoon series devoted to food and drink connoisseurship) and a wonderful host, Richard C Paterson will guide us through a superb selection of Whyte & Mackay whiskies on Monday 8 September at Boisdale of Belgravia.
Co-hosting the evening will be Simon Chase of Hunters & Frankau, the exclusive trade distributors of Havanas in the UK and many other fine cigar brands. Cigar roller Eduardo Diaz, the head of production at Cohiba, will be present throughout the dinner to prepare custom made cigars for guests (subject to the number of guests attending the event each person will have a cigar to take home) with the tasting taking place on the Cigar Terrace and the dinner enjoyed on the ground flood in the Back Bar.
MENU
Dalmore 15 Years Old, Single Highland Malt
The H. Upmann Magnum 46, 5 5/8”/143mm x 46 ring gauge
Light to medium flavour
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Atlantic prawn cocktail with green harissa mayonnaise & mixed leaves
Montagny 1er Cru- La Grande Roche 2005, Louis Latour
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Aberdeen Angus purebred sirloin steak (served medium rare),
freshly shaved summer black truffle, soft polenta & Parmesan
Domaine des Anges Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
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Selection of farmhouse cheeses served with grapes, celery and quince jelly
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Whyte and Mackay, 22 Year Old, “Supreme Limited Edition”, Blended Scotch Whisky
The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial, 5 ½”/141mm x 50 ring gauge
Light to medium flavour
The Dalmore, 1263 King Alexander III, Single Highland Malt
Cigar
The Romeo y Julieta Hermoso No. 2, Limited Edition 2004
6 ¼”/157mm x 48 ring gauge
Medium flavour
TASTING NOTES
Dalmore 15 Years Old, Single Highland Malt
Good attack on the mouth, more elegance than muscle. The aged Matusalem, Apostoles & Amoroso Oloroso butts smooth its rich, fleshy body with great harmony. Almost a concentrated citric mouth-feel captivates and tantalises the middle part of your tongue. Thanks to the great influence of the finest sherry wood – three styles no less we have produced a single malt of unsurpassed quality. An aftertaste of great abundance rewards the palate. Truly a Highland malt of great distinction.
Whyte and Mackay, 22 Year Old, “Supreme Limited Edition”, Blended Scotch Whisky
The nose is reflected on the taste a rich fleshy body with positive full flavour drifts long on the tongue. The hand of time has fashioned this blend into a class of its own. To appreciate this high quality, this Masterpiece must be sipped and savoured. A good even balance prevails which results in a classic finish – long and deep. The sensual Speyside malts linger lovingly on the aftertaste to complete this golden nectar.
The Dalmore, 1263 King Alexander III, Single Highland Malt
This gallery of ecstasy continues to unfold on the palate with immense pleasure. These enticing complex flavours are attributed to one thing only – wood. Not just any wood but six different styles of casks specially selected and meticulously blended to produce this Royal Dram for your enjoyment. Aged Oloroso and Madeira provide the perfect backbone and structure, displaying warm flavours of crushed almonds and rich citrus fruits. While the heavy Port and Marsala casks add hints of wild berries and fleshy ripe plums. Warm whispers of vanilla and creamy caramel from Bourbon barrels combine perfectly with the sensual elegance of the Cabernet Sauvignon. A feast of flavours which reflect Dalmore’s royal heritage and noble spirit.
Yes rolling fresh robustos in the C.Gars offices today!
Eduardo Diaz Gonzalez – Head of Production at Cohiba
33 year-old Eduardo Diaz, Head of Production at Havana’s top cigar factory El Laguito – the headquarters of Cohiba, is in the UK for a ten week tour to demonstrate cigar rolling from mid-July to the end of September 2008.
Eduardo’s path to his present, prestigious post has been unusual. He started his career in photography where he developed visual skills. Then twelve years ago at the height of the cigar boom, his ability was spotted by the H. Upmann factory, which recruited him as an escogidor or colour grader.
Colour grading in Cuban cigar factories has always been one of the most respected and best paid jobs. It demands an acute sense of colour because the finished cigars must first be sorted into over 60 different shades and then all the cigars that will be placed in a single box must be matched precisely so that they please the eye.
Eduardo proved so adept at this task that a year later he was appointed to manage the colour grading department at the Romeo y Julieta factory.
Romeo’s Director at that time insisted that all his senior people should be able to roll cigars, so Eduardo was sent to the school where he soon qualified as Grade 8, which allowed him to make cigars like Robustos.
Since then he has not only achieved the top grade in rolling, which means he can make cigars of any size, but also, when the Romeo factory was closed for refurbishment in 2006, he went straight to El Laguito first to manage its colour grading department and now to be Head of Production.
Eduardo has two children, a girl of seven and a baby boy. The baby was born just one week before Eduardo came to England giving him the perfect excuse to celebrate with his favourite cigar – the Cohiba Robusto.