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Top bottlings at DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits

Travel retailer DFS Group and Singapore Changi Airport’s Masters of Wines and Spirits showcase is to return for a sixth year, with rare, collectible expressions coming to the fore.

More than 60 Cognacs, wines and whiskies from over 50 houses will form the curated collection for 2017, with the bottlings to be unveiled during a private gala event in Singapore on 25 March.

Invited guests will be able to learn about the creation of each piece from brand ambassadors in a masterclass format, which will also feature a virtual experience.

In celebration of his 50th year in whisky, The Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson will host a bespoke tasting, while Frederic Dezauzier, Camus Cognac global brand ambassador, will introduce guests to the Borderies cru.

A session called Innovations of Today Shaping the Heritage of Tomorrow, a panel of whisky luminaries will discuss the theme of heritage moderated by DFS director of spirits, Frederik Vanden Bulcke. In the debate, guests will hear from Brian Kinsman, malt master at Glenfiddich; David Charles Stewart, malt master at The Balvenie; Mike Miyamoto, global brand ambassador for Hibiki; and Brendan McCarron, head of maturing whisky stocks at Glenmorangie.

Following the gala, the Masters of Wines and Spirits collection will be available to view and purchase from at Singapore Changi’s Wines and Spirits Duplexes at Terminals 2 and 3.

“We are thrilled to return to Singapore for our sixth Masters of Wines and Spirits this March and deliver another exceptional collection of the world’s finest and rarest wines and spirits,” said Philippe Schaus, DFS chairman and CEO.

“This year’s exclusive collection has been globally sourced and carefully curated by our expert merchants at DFS to inspire and excite both novice and seasoned collectors. At the core of this portfolio lies an unwavering passion for the intricate composition of a bottle and for the unforgettable moments each offering is sure to create.”

Brooke Supernaw, senior vice president of spirits, wines and tobacco, DFS Group, added: “The collection captures the heritage and craftsmanship of our selected brands, and is a true reflection of DFS’ long-standing relationships with these exceptional houses.

“Masters of Wines and Spirits provides access to prominent producers and their in-depth knowledge, and of course their limited edition products, many of which are extremely rare or one-of-a-kind exclusives to DFS that represent the ultimate expressions in Cognacs, wines and whiskies.”

The 2017 collection comprises 27 whiskies and Cognacs. Read on for The Spirits Business’s pick of the most exciting expressions not to be missed.

Hibiki 35 YO Arita-Yako and Kutani-Yaki limited editions

The Masters of Wines and Spirits event will see 35-year-old Hibiki expressions Arita-Yako and Kutani-Yaki make their debut outside of Japan. In 2001, brand owner Suntory launched an ongoing collaboration with the Arita and Kutani porcelain regions to produce these stunning bottles. 2017 marks the 400th anniversary of Japanese porcelain, the perfect excuse to indulge in these beautiful pieces. The whisky inside is special too – the 35-year-old blend is a blend of 35- to 40-year-old malts with grain aged for at least 35 years for a “rich, mellow” and “refined” flavour. To top it off, the whiskies are presented in boxes crafted from 100-year-old Japanese cedar wood.

Louis XIII Le Mathusalem

Awe-inspiring in its stature, the 6-litre crystal decanter which houses the Louis XIII liquid was thought to the first of its kind for Cognac when it was unveiled in July 2016. It takes no fewer than 20 House of Baccarat craftsmen to form the hand-blown decanter, which is presented in a fittingly luxurious display case along with eight crystal glasses, a serving platter and a pipette. “Louis XIII Le Mathusalem is truly the result of a work of art and genius, a tribute to craftsmanship and time,” said said Ludovic du Plessis, Louis XIII global executive director, when the decanter was first launched.

Glenmorangie Pride 1974

Said to be Glenmorangie’s “rarest, oldest and deepest” whisky, the Pride 1974 edition dates back to two parcels of spirit laid down in that year – one in ex-Bourbon barrels, the other in ex-oloroso Sherry casks. The “smooth and stylish” resulting whisky has “complexities which create a harmony” and given nosing and tasting notes of salted caramel, toffee, Turkish delight, cedarwood and clove.

Martell Grande Champagne 1920

Eight generations of cellar masters have presided over this 1920 Grande Champagne Cognac for Martell – quite the piece of liquid history. The “intensely aromatic” expression has been bottled straight from the cask – no chill-filtration here. The “powerful, finely balanced” Cognac offers “candied citrus and crystalised fruits” on the nose, “dried flowers, Virginia tobacco leaves and hints fo honet and spice” when swirled, and “red berry and black fruits” on the palate.

Dalmore 50 Years Old

Released to commemorate distiller Richard Paterson’s 50th year in whisky, this 50-year-old expression is a masterclass in cask management. Liquid inside the bottle comes from a 30-year-old oloroso Sherry cask from Gonzalez Byass, and a Henri Giraud Champagne cask. The whisky is presented in a bespoke Baccarat crystal decanter finished with a silver stag from royal silversmith Hamilton & Inches, encased within a hand-made wooden case from furniture house Linley.

Bruichladdich Special Release

Islay whisky fans listen up – this trio of “profound” whiskies are certainly something to get excited about. The expressions here are limited to just two bottles per edition – and the distillery will retain one. Why? These bottles contain some of the last remaining spirit distilled at Bruichladdich in the 1980s. Three generations of whisky-makers have nurtured these expressions which feature some unusual cask maturation; some Pedro Ximénez, some Jurancon sweet wine casks, and then some “Triple Bourbon” maturation. DFS describes these whiskies as “a thought-provoking time capsule” – we agree.

The Macallan Fine & Rare Treasury Collection

This spectacular presentation of 30 5cl Fine & Rare miniatures certainly cuts through the swathe of full-size bottles on display. The whiskies forming the collection were previously only available from The Macallan distillery, giving collectors the opportunity to get their hands on something trult exclusive. Housed in specially designed cabinet, the vintages in the collection span 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991.

Camus Rarissimes Minimum Age 65 Years

A blend composed using eaux-de-vie from the personal reserve of Camus president Cyril Camus, this ‘Rarissimes’ was put together specially for DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits by master blender Patrick Leger. The “aromatic, rich and subtle” liquid is safely enclosed within a Baccarat crystal decanter, authenticated by an official wax seal from the French government – how’s that for exclusivity.

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