Tents were set-up in the garden.

Fancy tent

It was quite an event.

There are three varieties now, in lil 250ml bottles – the Blond (gold, abv 6.7%), Blanche (white, 6%) and Amber (dark, 6.5%). I’m impressed with the alcohol levels. The Blanche is also available in draft.

One of many

The Blond is an easy-drinking ale, light-tasting and a lil sweetish. Good for most situations. It’s been available here since April last year.

The Blanche has a fruity nose, some citrusy notes even, and in the mouth its light and clean, with no hints of bitterness at all. Refreshing.

Mad Max losin it

The dark guy, Amber (aka Grimbergen Double) is also an easy-going ale, and considering its colour, it’s only a light malt, and a sweetish finish.

Super colour

The beer is served in a chalice, to add a barbarian touch.

The fathers at the Abbey of Grimbergen founded by St Norbert in the village of Grimbergen near Brussels logically used the hops and barley that grew around the abbey to make beer, which was consumed by travellers at the attached inn.

The phoenix logo is actually the abbey’s coat-of-arms. The Carlsberg Group has acquired its license to brew.

Garden gig

The beers are brought in by Luen Heng, and the RRP is between $20-25 at selected bars. Brussels Beer Cafe definitely has them.

The sprinklers almost went off

Brain damage: 7.5/10

I prefer mine with rum.

All set

Since it’s already mixed, firepower is low, like a strong wine, at 15%.

Others in this range are Tuscan Lemonade, Grand Cosmo, and Pomegranate Martini.

Nice ass

For lazy butts, and those who want sumtin that’s convenient, ready to go.  Good for a travel pack i guess.

Johnnie Walker has taken first place in Brands by Value, a list of the world’s 50 most valuable drinks brands.

The list is compiled by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.

Brand Finance created the list using a complex matrix of calculations based on financial results, future forecasts, brand strength and ‘royalty relief’.

According to the report, the top five was made up of international stalwart brands but two Chinese baiju brands, Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye, also had successful years, rising to sixth and seventh respectively!

Baiju (literally, white alcohol) is a grain liquor. It’s typically Asian – it’s basically rice wine that’s been distilled, with an abv of between 40-60%, like lao lao (Laos) or langkau (Malaysia).

Anyway, here’s the Top 10.

1         Johnnie Walker

2         Bacardi

3         Hennessy

4         Smirnoff

5         Chivas Regal

6         Kweichow Moutai

7         Wuliangye

8         Baileys

9         Moet & Chandon

10       Jack Daniel’s

Kickin ass

Number 6, the Moutai shit (53% abv) is serious business. Here’s what the website says about this high-ranker: “It is the monument of liquor culture that brewers have used magic talent, distilled the cream of broomcorn, picked up the soul of wheat, exploited the nimbus of the sky and earth, and captured irreplaceable microorganisms of special environment for fermentation, mixing and sublimation.”

Nice.

Had some at Moet Hennessy Diageo’s media night recently. This is a super-premium 18-year-old blend, to be launched soon.

Session on at the media nite

The Platinum is primarily for the Asian market. It’s also time to say goodbye to the Green Label.

I tried a glass of this Scotch neat, and it was silky, sweet-ish, with a tinge of smoke. The finish was easy and pleasant, with an urge to have another sip almost immediately. That’s how nice it feels.

Jim Beveridge has outdone himself.

Cant wait. Stay tuned for the post-launch post.

It’s from the Sauza family, the people who bring us Sauza tequila, which is the house-pouring and cocktail base at Frontera Bar & Grill in Jaya One.

The last time i was at this Tex-Mex joint, i got blasted (tx to Kenny Sia) on some crazy Mexican chili called habanero, and tequila of course.

Ramesh of Frontera introduces us to the first of two Tres Generaciones, the Reposado (which means it’s aged between two months and a year). This one did four months in American oak. Obviously it’s 100% agave.

Reposado

The bottle is cool, like some ol skool Aztec shit. Funny, i just talked about the Aztecs in a recent post.

It has a citrusy nose, while very easy on the palette. You can swirl it around your mouth without any facial reaction then swallow. It’s got a smooth, and a lil spicy finish. No salt or lime necessary of course.

Yup, a tequila that can be sipped. But as it’s the super premium range of Sauza, expect to pay 50 bucks a shot.

The other one is the Anejo (meaning aged minimum of one year, but less than three years).

Style

The Anejo has a caramel tinge, but is less sweet and spicier. This one did 12 months in toasted American oak.

Frontera makes all its margarita from Sauza gold (which is 100% agave tequila), so u can be sure its good shit. And, rather than regular sugar syrup, the cocktail is sweetened with imported agave nectar. It tastes like herbally honey. Awesome flavour. Almost like a Ricola! Haha

And the margaritas are made with fresh lime juice. No cordial crap. A pitcher is 110++ (7.5 shots of Sauza).

Special

Frontera has the $50 for 3 deal for Guinness etc all day. Happy hours is 5-9pm, where margaritas are 2+1.

There are a total of 11 different tequila here (including Patron), besides a wide range of Mexican food. The nachos platter kicks ass.

Brain damage: 7.5/10

One of ‘em is John John Hazelnut Ale. Named after two Johns.

When i last checked out the range of Rogue beers, the Hazelnut Brown Nectar, the base for John John, was one of my faves.

This brew spends six months in barrels that were used to age rum. Tried it recently, it’s quite yummy, a lil sweetish with nutty hints. ABV is 5.6%.

The Double Choc. O yea, there's also bingo Friday nights. Cash prize

Another addition is the Double Chocolate Stout, flavoured with bittersweet chocolate. This one’s in your face, full and robust. There are sweetish, cocoa aromas. In the mouth, it’s creamy with a long bitter finish.

Morimoto Black Obi Soba sounds like some Jap lizard dish, but it’s a beer with specialty malts & hops, making it full and crisp.

Tastes better than it sounds

The McRogue Scotch Ale was also tested. This comes in a little bottle, and is malty, hearty Scotch ale.

There’re various food options that can be paired with the beers there, and the staff can give recommendations. I usually sink my face into pork ribs. Always works.

This crazy-lookin rogue is found on many bottles

Brain damage: 7.5/10

Nice

The Porsche Design Studio, created in 1972 by Dr FA Porsche (whose cool granddad designed my cool car), has collaborated with JW to produce the ‘Blue Label Collection by Porsche Design Studio’ – four fancy collector’s items, including a luxurious ‘mini’ bar.

Chillin with the Chiller

The design classics from the Collection are the Cube, the Mini Cube and Chiller. All three follow the blend of beauty and functionality epitomized by The Private Bar, fusing the classic and the modern through luxurious leather and brushed metals.

The Mini Cube

They’re priced from $860 for the Chiller, which i think is real cool and a good deal. The bottle’s case opens up to double as an ice bucket!

The Cube

The Private Bar? It’s this eight-foot tall bar in a vertical cube. Hit a button, and the cube’s top rotates automatically and opens up to reveal a luxurious bar, with a couple of Blue Label bottles, four glasses and an ice bucket, ready to rock. An alcohol Robocop.

The tall, robotic bar, aka Porsche Design Studio Collection Private Bar

It’s crafted from the finest materials, including luxurious leather and brushed titanium. Also has a chiller built-in.

Strictly for Blue Label

If you get order one, JW will throw in an ultimate Blue Label luxury experience in Scotland giving you access to the secrets behind the Walker family’s blending crafts and some of Porsche’s most powerful cars.

But at 500 grand apiece, you better be a multi-millionaire eh?

Here it comes

Grant’s 12 is made of a blend of fine single malts and grain whiskies, matured in oak for a minimum of 12 years. It also does an additional three months in American oak casks. The result – a full-bodied whisky that’s real smooth and rich. It’s main notes – mix of vanilla n spice, and a lil fruity too.

Grant’s is from William Grant & Sons (how come it’s never … and Daughters?) Ltd, a family-owned distillery since 1886. It won Distiller of The Year at the IWSC in 2010 and 2011.

Starter

The event took place at one of my favourite-lookin lounge, Flo. Food was great, and there was haggis too. Tender stuff.

Funky joint

Main bar

There were guys in skirts dancin

I’m pretty sure that the award-winning Grant’s 12 has been in Malaysia before, I’ll tell u why. My bro got married a few years ago, so after the ceremony in the morning, there was a drinking session at a members club for the groom’s posse before the lunch. Within that short period before we makan with the bride’s side n all, we polished 20 bottles of Grant’s 12. Good stuff.

We were very late and very high by the time we showed at the hall for lunch. And the dancing began.

Ready to party

Great to see you again Grant’s.

While the can was mostly gold, it’s now got two shades of brown, making it look more attractive. A bit like a coffee i gotta say, but i prefer it over the old design. Bolder.

Special eh?

The bottle, in line with the redesign of Carlsberg’s bottles, has a more radical change. The new bottle is minimalist, with not much of a label. A lot like the Green Label beer, but in a brown bottle.

This classic lager has some history with me, tho not as much as the Night Train.

Kicked my ass a few times. Never could get used to the strong flavours though. At 8.8%, it’s a good bang for your buck.

The new large SB bottle (left), and the new Gold (right) vs old

Many drinkers have a past with this beer.

I’m tempted to try it again tho. It’s been years since my last dose.

With the number of brands of strong beers available here now, I feel Special Brew has a tough battle ahead. There probably 15 lagers above 8% around. (Some up to 13%! Haha). That was probably one of the incentives to change its looks. The other – all Carlsberg’s main brands are undergoing  a change, even the Gold.

The new look is currently in Malaysia only.

Amazingly, the beer was originally brewed by the Danes for Winston Churchill (England’s WWII PM). His visit to Copenhagen in 1950 was commemorated with a ‘special’ brew (originally 9%) produced in his honour.

Churchill’s favourite drink was cognac, so in brewing him a commemorative beer, the brewers at Carlsberg created a stronger lager with cognac flavours among its tasting notes.

Interesting eh? I bet 90% of Special Brew drinkers never knew that part.

Sudah mari

It’s been available since Nov last year at duty-free, and was meant to be exclusive to that segment, but not anymore.

Should be enough for our table

“Overwhelming demand dictated that it should be introduced to a wider audience but still as a limited edition targeting key gifting occasions,” says Charles Wright, JW brand manager.

Charles, a major fan of the DB

It uses whiskies from Scotland’s west coast, thus making it peatier, smokier and more intense. I enjoy it with water. Anyway i reviewed it a few months back here.

The bottle is nice – shape-wise, the same at the Black Label, with a charcoal tint. Labelling is a lil different. ABV is unchanged at 40%.

We also enjoyed a guided tasting session

U can get your thirsty throats satisfied with this award-winner at Cold  Storage, Jusco, Sunshine and other retailers. Recommended retail price is about $209.

U want it, get it, coz it’s estimated to run locally until CNY 2012.