Whisky Lovers gather round for The London Whisky Weekender 1st-3rd April

Celebrate the end of a four-day week with a toast of some of the finest Whisky’s from around the world. The London Whisky Weekender is back and returns to the popular East London venue, The Oval Space. From only £30 ticket-holders can revel in trying a whole host of new and traditional Whisky’s from American bourbons through to Japanese, Irish, Scotch and more. This year sees a particular emphasis on Old and Rare World Whiskies, along with a programme of unique ‘blendathon’ workshops, tastings, guest appearances from distillers, whisky cocktails, street food and music all weekend, making it the whisky event on the London calendar.

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With four sessions to choose from from Friday-Sunday, there will be plenty of time to try, buy and ask any burning questions to the expert exhibitors who include, Talisker, Chivas Brothers, Jamesons and Jura to name a few. Included in the ticket price is a bottle of water, a festival guide and a Glencairn glass for you to try drams from any of the eclectic exhibitors. With the opportunity to try out some of the legends or the newer craft and small batch distilleries, The London Whisky Weekender is your grain-filled oyster. If you’re after something extra special, why not try one of the Under-the Counter drams this gives you a chance to purchase tokens to try some of the more exclusive and rare Whisky’s on offer.

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Soaking up the whisky will be a roster of tasty street food offerings and local organic suppliers, whilst a soundtrack of rock and blues will set the tone for a whisky fuelled weekend. We think it’s the hottest ticket for the Weekend, whether you’re a connoisseur or novice, trying something new or enjoying an old favourite, toast away your winter blues with a decent old dram.

For more info or to purchase tickets visit;

 The London Whisky Weekender

Special offer if you visit on Friday 1st April session 2 tickets for £40

Oval Space, 29-32 The Oval, London, E2 9DT

Peter Aspden & Bettany Hughes debate luxury & culture at the V&A Museum

 Thursday 6th September, 3.45pm
 V&A Museum
What does it take to create something of note? 

That is what Frost went to find out.  Arts & culture commentator Peter Aspden and award-winning historian Bettany Hughes were a great match together. The bounced off each other perfectly. Peter noted iconic moments in history – Elvis Presley singing Hound-dog to an actual hound dog, Michael Jackson – and Bettany, just back from a trip to Albania funded by Lord Rothschild,  certainly knows her stuff. Things I found out from her during the debate: it took 18 years to build the pyramids and they were made not by slaves as is popularly thought, but by citizens of Egypt for the gods.

While Peter said we should not be beholden to the past, Bettany said: “we live with the past, it is in everything we think and do”.

It was a lively debate with lots of good questions being asked. Chivas Brothers hosted the event at the beautiful Victoria & Albert museum. Chivas Brothers certainly know about good things taking time. Their whiskey takes 20 odd years to make. I saw one bottle which was thirty years old. They started making whiskey in the 1800s. They are now in the top 3 whiskey makers in the world.

The debate also raised the point that one of the reasons a 21-year-old whiskey is such a luxury is that the moment you drink it 21-years is gone.

If whiskey does not have an age statement then it is three years old, as whiskey has to be at least three years old.

Other things I learnt:

“Did you know that most of us only live for 800 months?” A.C Grayling.

The Taj Mahal took 25 years to build

Alcohol is an Arabic word.

Symposium  means “drinking together”.

What do you think?

The Duke Of Cambridge And Prince Harry Head-To-Head at Sentebale Polo Cup Sponsored by Royal Salute

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry demonstrated polo at its finest today, with the Duke’s team coming out on top, in front of a star-studded crowd at The Sentebale Polo Cup sponsored by Royal Salute.

Neve Campbell, Dougray Scott, Claire Forlani, Ellie Goulding and Greg James, were hosted by the luxury Scotch whisky Royal Salute, as they overlooked a spectacular game of polo at Coworth Park just outside London. The exclusive invite-only event raised funds for Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who also attended the event.

Prince Harry said: “I’m delighted to be at the second Sentebale Polo Cup in the glorious setting of Coworth Park. While my team didn’t finish as champions, it’s encouraging to see the level of support here today for this great cause that gives hope and help to the children of Lesotho.”

Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO, Chivas Brothers says, “Royal Salute is honoured to be associated with polo and more importantly today, with Sentebale, a very special charity that is helping and changing the lives of many in Lesotho. It’s been such a privilege to watch this incredibly historic and skilful game in the beautiful surroundings of Coworth Park.”

The exclusive Royal Salute Dinner and After Party, attended by The Prince, the Duke of Argyll, models Karolina Kurkova and Tallulah Harlech, model and actor Douglas Booth, and actors Toby Kebbell and Sally Hawkins, further treated VIPs to a special viewing of Tribute to Honour, Royal Salute’s finest and rarest limited edition expression of only 21 bottles. Adorned with over 400 black and white diamonds, Tribute to Honour is a collaboration with Garrard, the royal jeweler and fellow supporter of Sentebale.

The Sentebale event, sponsored by Royal Salute included an auction to raise vital funds for the charity, set up five years ago by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, in support of the neediest and most vulnerable people of Lesotho.

The Sentebale Polo Cup sponsored by Royal Salute further highlights the whisky brand’s growing commitment to international polo, with sponsorships of some of the world’s most prestigious polo events currently spanning China, India, Dubai, Brazil and the UK.

Royal Salute World Polo Series continues on the 18th June 2011 at a charity event held at the Beaufort Polo Club in Tetbury, Gloucestershire and closely followed by The Foundation Polo Challenge, at Santa Barbara, California, to raise funds for the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry on 9th July 2011.

For further information
http://www.chivasbrothers.com