The Hong Kong episode
First published in Prestige Magazine (July 2012 edition)
As it appeared.
There is little that’s quite as interesting for a whisky lover as a whisky excursion, whether it’s in the immediate locale, or somewhere a bit more far-flung. Out there is a whisky world teeming with possibilities: there are maltings, distilleries, maturation warehouses, cooperages, bottlers, heritage centres, speciality shops, and bars aplenty, all waiting to be visited and explored. I’ve tasked myself to get out and about and report back on my findings in a series of intermittent episodes, of which this, a bar tour, is the first. It’s a tough slog of a job I know, but someone has to do it and it may as well be me.
Almost everyone it seems is travelling east these days. China became South Africa’s leading trade partner in 2009, and its importance to our economy will almost certainly continue to grow in the future. Despite this situation, it’s near impossible to fly there direct. There are infrequent flights from Joburg to Beijing, but failing this somewhat impractical option one would likely be flying via the former British enclaves of Hong Kong or Singapore (subject of the next episode); and, finding oneself in either of these vibrant, cosmopolitan cities, one might be tempted to hang around for a bit. So peripatetic whisky lovers – take note. Here’s what one needs to know about Hong Kong.
Prince Charles was quoted as saying that Hong Kong has created one of the most successful societies on Earth. If his opinion is valid then it would stand to reason, by my standards anyhow, that a whisky culture should be prominent. And true it proved to be. After a spot of preliminary research on the city’s whisky scene, and a predictably overpriced dinner in the mildly loutish Lan Kwai Fong, the famous party district, I set out to visit the two places at the top of my list: Angel’s Share and The Chinnery.
The most striking feature of Angel’s Share, dominating the entrance to the bar, is a large cask…sufficient to set the heart of any whisky lover aflutter. My immediate impression was that this might be a “live” cask, an exciting thought. Imagine drinking a theoretically different whisky every time one ordered from the cask! Most distilleries however do not sell casks lock, stock, and…uh…barrel to the retail trade, and legislation now prevents single malts or single casks from being bottled outside of Scotland and effectively from being dispensed out of anything other than a bottle, so this was unlikely. And indeed Eric Wan, my genial host, confirmed that the cask was a replica, and that its inner surface was lined with a metal membrane. The illusion persisted nonetheless and I thoroughly enjoyed the undisputedly authentic ritual of being served from the cask – a heavy dram of Highland Park 1997 vintage having been drawn for me with a valinch*.
I would be doing the venue a disservice though if I were to fixate exclusively on the cask. This is the ideal place to enjoy a superb evening of whisky appreciation and casual conversation – it is all dim-lit, intimate-nooked, and leather sofa’d elegance. Whilst the brash whisky-drinking classes emerging in the Mainland might be quaffing the golden nectar with green tea (shudder), the clientele here is rather more refined and sophisticated. Hong Kong after all has always been, and remains, the leading edge of the wedge. The menu is somewhat modest by upper-tier whisky bar standards, but with a selection of 150 odd distinct whiskies, it is ample regardless. I spotted a Macallan 1936 at HK$ 1240 (about the same in Rands) for a 30ml serving. Perhaps when my ship comes in….
Eric twisted my rubber arm and had me linger longer over a glass of the excellent Laddie 17YO, his favourite of the moment. This was my first rum-casked whisky, and its big exotic fruit flavours were well worth the wait. Eventually however I reluctantly dragged myself away and hurried over to The Chinnery. They hadn’t responded (in time) to my request for an appointment but I thought I’d just pitch up anyhow. I arrived just before midnight only to encounter a massive disappointment – the place had closed for the evening. The Chinnery has a laudable reputation, and I’m sure that it’s spectacular, but I have to ask: what kind of whisky bar closes at 11pm on a Saturday evening? Especially in Hong Kong. I’ll have to wait for my next visit to get an answer.
As my train headed over the horizon and my leaving became palpable I felt my spirits buoyed by this visit to a very special bar in this very special town. If in the vicinity be sure to follow suit. May the dram be with you!
*Valinch – A tube-like instrument used for drawing liquor from a cask via its bunghole.
The Indy 