Like many MCO-weary, housebound city dwellers, we’re finding ourselves in two minds. The wanderlust in us itches to fling ourselves on the next flight out, restrained only by the cautious voice at the back of our minds that is not quite comfortable with jumping back into international travel yet.

Luckily, Chivas Regal and Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel, a Marriott Bonvoy Hotel and Resort, have sensed our internal struggles, partnering to bring us an exclusive, whisky-filled solution: The Ultimate Dining Journey, a staycation offering gourmet cuisine expertly paired with a curated collection of Chivas blends, finished off with a pampering night’s stay at a Sheraton room.

Check-in

The journey begins as guests are whisked away from the hotel check-in counter to their stylish accommodation that features a spacious marble bathroom. Before giving into one’s natural instincts of throwing open the curtains to reveal the expansive city skyline, or diving onto the towering pillows resting on the plush beds, an elegant platter on the desk beckons from the corner of the eye. 

Marking the start of what will become an unforgettable staycation is a surprise welcome gift – a sleek rustic tray embellished with an array of chocolates and sweet treats. However, the eye is immediately drawn to the striking miniature bottle of Chivas Regal Extra, complimenting the platter with its glowing amber hue and rich flavour notes of ripe pears, cinnamon and vanilla caramel. Its smooth, fulfilling finish awakens the imagination, readying guests for the taste experience to come.

Pre-dinner drinks

Once ready, guests will head over to Chime, the hotel’s signature, in-house bar and a serene sanctum for cigar and whisky lovers. Recalling bars of decades past, unhurried notes of jazz plays in the background while the bartender deftly crafts the pre-dinner cocktails. If a more secluded atmosphere is preferred, guests can also enjoy their drinks in one of the six private rooms that Chime has to offer. Wherever seated, it is not long before the stars of the show promptly arrive – two sublime Chivas 12 infused cocktails, fizzing away in anticipation. 

The Classic Whisky Highball cocktail honours the tried and true combination of scotch and soda, featuring Chivas’ signature 12-year-old blend. Hints of wild herbs, orchard fruits and heather waft up to meet the senses, enveloped by the creamy notes of hazelnut and butterscotch.

The crisp flavours lend well to the Elderflower Highball cocktail, with a refreshingly light addition of elderflower cordial to further draw out the honey and fruit flavours. The zesty touch of lemon tops off the cocktails, a perfect way to tantalise the senses and prepare the palate for the sumptuous dinner ahead.

Omakase dinner

After whiling away the late afternoon at Chime, thoughts of life in the outside world appropriately and fully banished, an omakase dinner awaits guests at Miyabi, the hotel’s authentic Japanese dining venue.  

As they take their place at the dining table, Chef Tetsuya Yanagida pilots them on a culinary passage of Japanese delights. The feast kicks off with Hokkaido scallop drizzled with truffle oil. The melt-in-your-mouth taster is followed by an indulgent selection of tuna belly, katsuo and sea bass sashimi, freshly air flown from Japan. Comprising the meal’s entree is a choice of the elaborately presented lobster teppanyaki or the seared Japanese Kuroge beef steak.

Fittingly, the omakase menu is paired with the Chivas Mizunara Camomball cocktail, made with blended Scotch whisky finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks. The Japanese inspired whisky perks the senses with its distinctive and spicy flavour, coating the mouth with notes of sweet honey and hazelnut. Combined with the delicate flavours of camomile and effervescent sparkling soda water, the Camomball cocktail harmoniously balances out Chef Yanagida’s decadent Japanese courses.

Dessert

Now with every gastronomical desire granted, dessert and post-dinner cocktails call guests from the rooftop Sala Bar. Taking in the twinkling cityscape set against the inky evening sky, guests are treated to the Kidavoa Noisette Banana Passion Composition and Tonka ice cream infused with Chivas XV. A sleek glass of espresso martini, also crafted with the 15-year-old Chivas XV blend, completes the Chivas succession in celebratory style. The velvety blend, featuring notes of poached pears entangled with butterscotch and toffee, wonderfully ties the dessert’s contrasting creamy and crunchy textures together with the foamy, caffeine-laced martini.

After toasting to an evening well-spent sampling the best that Chivas Regal has to offer, a short amble to the hotel room is all the travel required before retiring for the night. Guests might melt away the day with a relaxing soak in the bathtub, or plummet straight onto the cloudlike bed for a restful slumber.

Breakfast

The next morning, guests won’t have to wake up from their dreamy staycation just yet, as the culinary team at Feast, the hotel’s All-Day Dining restaurant, dishes up an extravagant breakfast spread as a warm send-off. Guests will have their pick of breakfast favourites, from the quintessentially local Nasi Lemak to a carb-tastic stack of Nutella waffles, all served with a vodka-splashed bloody mary on the side. Those who understandably cannot bear to spend their last moments of the staycation apart from their comfy guest room can arrange for breakfast in bed.

By the end of this, the fortunate few privy to this immersive Chivas Regal staycation experience at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel, will have become deeply familiar with the nuances of the signature Chivas taste and what a truly relaxing city staycation should feel like. Having fully experienced the meaning of Chivas’ central ethos, ‘maintaining exceptional’, and relished in the outstanding hospitality at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel, guests re-emerge rested, rejuvenated, and ready to face the day.

The Ultimate Dining Journey staycation package in partnership with Chivas Regal is priced at RM 888 nett for a deluxe room and RM 938 nett for an executive deluxe room. Reservations are open for stays from 15 October to 15 December, 2021.

For reservations or enquiries, visit the Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel website here.

(Photos: Robin from OneThreeFour Studio)