Connoisseur of scotch single malts, The Balvenie, recently commemorated its exceptional the Balvenie Thirty at Gordon Ramsay’s Bar and Grill. The exclusive event marked the unveiling of the whisky-inspired masterpiece of local architect-turned-artist Pamela Tan.
The one-of-a-kind piece named ‘Flux’ was the indisputable star of the evening, fetching a grand RM29,000 at the private auction. All proceeds will go to Helping Hands Penan, a non-profit accredited social enterprise that strives for the empowerment of the Penan community in Sarawak. Committed to honouring the value of time-honoured traditions, the Balvenie carries this on by commending the remarkable artisanship of the indigenous Penan.
Wholly grasping the Balvenie’s pursuit for unrivalled craftmanship, Tan ensured this was evident when bringing her work of art to life. So, she ventured out to recount the journey of this highly rare malt, beginning with barley and concluding at barrel. Here, every element from the traditional farming methods to the intricate expertise of The Balvenie Malt Masters, come together to form the fundamentals of The Balvenie Thirty.
Speaking about her oeuvre, Pamela comments: “My sculptures are more than art; in creating ‘Flux’ I wanted to honour The Balvenie’s unique multi-generational whisky-making process of combining expertise, skill and ambition through what is known as The Balvenie’s Five Rare Crafts.” She proudly adds that her collaboration with The Balvenie was nothing short of ideal – both parties share an obsession for crafting the finest products (of whisky and art alike) through meticulous attention to detail.
The evening also witnessed an exciting tasting session conducted by Mijung Kim, the Balvenie Brand Ambassador for Korea. A palatable dining affair only enhanced this – an excellent pairing of flavours where signature dishes like the Beef Wellington complemented The Balvenie Thirty.
In producing the splendid The Balvenie Thirty, the distillery’s Malt Master David C. Stewart’s (MBE) married decades-matured traditional American and European oak casks. The result was a whisky lover’s dream: retaining an incredible sweetness and complexity, the whisky allows lush oaky tones and traces of candied citrus to seep through. With its honeyed expression and distinctively smooth finish, this whisky is one that lingers.
The Balvenie Thirty is a true homage to David’s commitment to building sensational flavours of luxury Single malts – and the ‘Flux’ is instilled with this common artistry.
Images by The Balvenie.
