Taking on the mosaic depth of Chivas Regal 18
Living in the bustle of a city like Kuala Lumpur, you learn to appreciate speed and simplicity. Your commute to work should be straightforward, your internet quick and your day devoid of obstacles. You want things to be easy and instant, but when you get home and kick off your shoes, or when you are celebrating an evening with your mates, you no longer need simple. That is the time you are game for a little variation, something different. Your tastebuds crave something unique and complex.
Reaching for a dram of Chivas Regal 18, you notice how the dark amber liquid elegantly swirls in your glass. Aromas of dried fruit, buttery toffee and dark chocolate fill your senses, transporting you through memories and familiar sensuous moments. And then you taste. The sweet, mellow smokiness of the whisky coats your palate, with a hint of marmalade and a creamy butterscotch mouth feel. As a Speyside creation, it even has traces of lavender from the Scottish landscape of its birth. Really proving that craft takes time, this blended whisky is matured in American oak casks for 18 years, and claims 85 unique flavour notes in every drop.
Chivas Regal 18 is complex in its flavour and creation. The brainchild of one of the world’s most experienced master blenders, Colin Scott, this spirit was launched in 1997. It went on to be awarded the Best Blended Scotch Whisky at the prestigious IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) 2014. Marrying carefully selected whiskies, Scott created a unique blend that follows the Chivas Regal style created in the time of the founders John and James Chivas in the early 19th century, with a distinctive quality that is all its own. As a true endorsement of the blend’s quality, the master blender’s signature in gold is found on every bottle.
If the indulgent and rich flavours of the Chivas Regal 18 were not enough to prove that the best things are not simplified, Chivas has unveiled the world’s most complex whisky pouring machine. Resisting our modern proclivity for instant gratification, the Rube Goldberg-inspired machine turns even the serving of a quality dram into a crafted work of art that is definitely worth the wait.
Director of blending at Chivas Sandy Hyslop says, “Too often in today’s busy world, we are tempted to choose the easy route or take a shortcut. One thing I have learnt during my 35 years of blending Scotch is that it takes time and effort to bring together the many components of a great whisky to ensure they work seamlessly as one. Our elaborate machine takes 85 seconds to pour two serves of whisky — a nod to the 85 flavour notes found in every drop of Chivas 18. And that is why I love it — it’s fun, but it also reminds us to slow down and appreciate the time, craft and skill required to create the more complex things in life.”
Built with upcycled parts from the home of Chivas, Strathisla distillery, the bespoke machine presents key parts of the whisky-making process — which includes fermenting, distilling, blending and maturation. Commencing with a metallic ball dropped into a copper pipe, the machine hypnotises you with an elaborate journey through spiral stairs, levers and lifts that finally pour out two smooth, complex drams.
We live in an era where people are obsessed with instant gratification, instant success. However, in the quest for success and excellence, there are certain ingredients that need to be put in place, such as the craft of achieving 85 flavour notes in a whisky, which would not be achievable without talent, the correct equipment and patience — ultimately, it means ensuring sustainability.
Chivas recognises the individuals who espouse these values in pursuing their dreams. Watch this space as we bring you the inspiring young leaders we will be celebrating together with The Edge.