Spirit Forwardis a series documenting the latest releases in the world of drinks. In this edition, we check out the latest offerings from Belvedere, The Macallan, and Penfolds.
Belvedere 10
To many of us, vodka serves as a reminder of hardy party days and bad decisions. From Vodka Cranberries to Vodka Redbull cocktails, the mere mention of this colourless yet potent spirit is a quick association with an easy—and not necessarily luxurious—drink. But that’s all set to change with Belvedere Vodka’s launch of the Belvedere 10. It pays tribute to Belvedere’s original vodka-making process in 1910 and uses organic Diamond Rye grown in a single field on an estate in north-east Poland. The spirit is crafted once a year in small batches, distilled four times, and then rested for 10 months (most distilled vodka are unaged). This results in a smooth and velvety texture, better depth, and enhanced dimension in the vodka. Expect tasting notes of coconut, vanilla, and dark cacao.
The bottle itself also lends the Belvedere 10 some prestige. The bottle design is immediately striking thanks to its extended length, with 10 “levels” as homage to the vodka’s 10-step creation. It’s all-white and faceted like a diamond with an engraved B that lights up once you find the discreet switch at the bottom.
While the Belvedere 10 is best enjoyed on the rocks or neat and chilled, you can experience the breadth of this vodka in a luxury cocktail at Bar Trigona. The team at this Asia’s 50 Best listed bar has created The Elysian, an interpretation of the dirty martini mixed with Premier Cru Chablis dry vermouth, rare Himalayan salt crystal, and paired with Tropical Oscietra Caviar.
The Macallan Rare Cask 2024
Ardent collectors of The Macallan whisky will already be anticipating this: the Rare Cask 2024 Release officially makes its debut in Malaysia in limited quantities. This year’s edition has a distinctive and complex flavour profile with notes of sweet raisin, hints of vanilla, dark chocolate, and citrus zest with a velvety mouthfeel. On the palate, you’ll get fresh apples, lemon, and orange, with a long finish. These elixirs came from the finest and rarest sherry-seasoned oak casks hand-selected by the brand’s Whisky Mastery Team.
As a collector’s item, the Rare Cask 2024 Release will be presented in a special box brushed with deep red to represent the whisky’s natural colour with wood grain to pay homage to the casks. The Macallan Rare Cask 2024 Release is available for purchase at The Chamber Starhill, The Chamber Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Cellar 18 Megah Rise, Cellar 18 The Linc and The Botle Shop.
Penfolds Bin 707 2021 Vintage
The Penfolds Grange and Bin 389 often take up most of the spotlight when it comes to the Australian wine brand’s offerings. Still, we are here to direct your attention to the Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon—an equally exquisite red variant that just so happens to be celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Quite commonly referred to as the cabernet version of the Penfolds Grange, the Bin 707 typically has characteristics of intensely-flavoured fruit, tannic, and rich. What makes the Bin 707 so special is that it is only released in selected vintages, when there is sufficient fruit of the quality and style needed for this variant. It then undergoes partial barrel fermentation and maturation in new American hogsheads.
The most recent vintage available is the 2021 Vintage, with fruits sourced from the Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, and Wrattonbully regions. On the nose, you have all the classics ticked: blackcurrant, mulberry, cooked black plum, and figs. On the palate, it is immediately lush and powerful, enveloping your tastebuds with fruity flavours of fresh mulberry, fig, Goji berry, raspberry, blackcurrant, and liquorice. It has also consistently received an average of 98 points.
The Penfolds Bin 707 2021 Vintage is available for purchase at The Chamber outlets in Malaysia at a price of RM3,099.
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