The DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits event is back for its eighth edition.
Obtaining the very finest things in life often requires a little legwork, but for over half a century the DFS Group has taken it upon itself to bring the world’s most precious liquids easily available to discerning travellers everywhere. The culmination of those efforts is presented every year at the DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits event.
As the leader in global travel retail, DFS has the ability to bring together leading wine, spirits and champagne brands to offer customers exclusive access to one of-a-kind products. Thanks to the group’s close ties to the brands and merchants who have spent a year travelling the globe to source these gems, DFS’s selection is peerless, demonstrated once again in eighth edition of one of the most celebrated and prestigious events in the industry.
Masters of Wines and Spirits 2019 was held on March 23 and 24 at Infinite Studios, and it was a celebration of the theme of “Masters at Work”, where homage was paid to luminaries whose commitment and knowledge have raised the bar in their respective industries.
Guests were taken through an immersive and interactive journey that explored what the various categories of wines and spirits had to offer, including classes by the four masters: Diageo’s Ewan Gunn as Master of Whisky, The Macallan’s Sarah Burgess as Master of Malt, Fabrice Papin of Chateau Lafite Rothschild as Master of Wine, and Hidetsugu Ueno of Ginza’s Bar High Five as Master of Cocktail.
The 140 products showcased at the event are now available at DFS Changi Duplex Stores in departure terminals 2 and 3, with selected items also available on iShopChangi.com – but here’s a guide of what to look out for.
For information on more DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits products other than those highlighted on these pages, visit www.ishopchangi.com/mows2019.
A. IN THE SPOTLIGHT
When it comes to elevating whisky enjoyment, don’t underestimate the power of exclusivity. These are editions that will raise your Scotch collection to a new level.
A01 THE MACALLAN FINE & RARE DECADES COLLECTION
A02 THE MACALLAN 72 YEARS OLD IN LALIQUE — THE GENESIS DECANTER
B. SINGING IN THE GRAIN
Just like wine, the diversity of whisky is truly remarkable, and discovering lovingly crafted gems from around the world is an unparalleled indulgence for the astute connoisseur.
B01 KARUIZAWA SINGLE CASK 1995
The Karuizawa Single Cask 1995 is possibly the last ever cask from Karuizawa to be bottled in Japan and was distilled in 1995, just a few years before the distillery closed. It spent 23 years in red wine casks before being bottled at cask strength in 2018, bringing with it a unique richness and complexity, and a dark amber tone.
B02 PORT ELLEN 39 YEAR OLD
Islay’s Port Ellen distillery may be closed now, but its imminent revival by Diageo will make its original stock all the more precious. The 39 Year Old, dubbed The Spirit Safe, is married from a selection of ex-bourbon and ex- sherry casks and is the oldest Port Ellen ever to be released to the public. The Spirit Safe marks the start of a new collectible series, Port Ellen: Untold Stories, and only 1,500 bottles are available worldwide.
B03 THE GIRVAN PATENT STILL 28 YEAR OLD
C. RARE GEMS
There are people in the know, and there are people who want everyone to know. The folks who fall in the latter category want their containers to be as outstanding as the liquids they hold, because an appreciation of craftsmanship begins with the vessel.
C01 WULIANGYE FENGTAN JIU
No spirit demands conviviality and community more than baijiu. As people gather to share the impressively strong Wuliangye Fengtan Jiu, they can also admire its bottle, made from porcelain reserved for use in state ceremonies. The luxurious packaging uses kaolin clay from New Zealand, bone china from England, glaze from Japan, pigments and gold paste from Germany and plaster from Taiwan, to name a few resources. The lightweight bottle is also acid- and alkaliresistant and free of lead and cadmium, allowing for better ageing over long periods of time.
C02 RARE LE SECRET MAGNUM VINTAGE 1997 WITH EMERALD/ RUBY/SAPPHIRE
C03 REMY LOUIS XIII LE MATHUSALEM
D. INNOVATION NATION
Whisky’s reign over the spirits category is far from over, and fresh ideas from the industry’s esteemed distilleries are going to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.
D01 GLENMORANGIE RARE CASK 14 YO
Glenmorangie ages spirits in various casks — from port to sherry butts — to boost their flavour just before bottling. Occasionally, a single cask is so exceptional it demands a release of its own. Such was the case with the Rare Cask 14 Year Old. First distilled in 2004, it was aged for a decade in American white oak ex-bourbon casks to obtain the distillery’s signature notes of orange, peach and vanilla. It was then moved into oloroso sherry casks to develop notes of cocoa, treacle toffee and spice, resulting in a whisky with a long finish, integrated complexity and great depth.
D02 HIGHLAND PARK EXCLUSIVE SINGLE CASK 15 YO
D03 COMPASS BOX LIMITED EDITION TOBIAS & THE ANGEL
E. A VINE PAIR
A good wine is capable of elevating everything it touches, from food to company. Here are two outstanding examples to savour.
E01 CHATEAU PICHON BARON 1988
No cellar is complete without a stellar Bordeaux and Chateau Pichon Baron has a reputation for producing some of Bordeaux’s best “super seconds” (second growths that can rival the quality of their first growth peers). Its Grand Vin captures the nuances of the vineyards’ unique terroir, and the Chateau Pichon Baron 1988 is a vintage not to be missed. Rated 90 points by Robert Parker, the deep red 1988 rolls out layers of blackcurrant and spice aromas, with gentle tannins and density on the finish.
E02 LUX VITIS 2015
