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Chivas Regal: ‘Here’s To Real Friends’ at QT Hotel

Real Friends.

The ones who stick by you through good and difficult times. The ones who pop into your life unexpectedly and make an indelible difference. The ones who celebrate your successes without jealousies. Real friendships are to be celebrated.

Chivas Regal Here’s To Real Friends - QT Hotel
Chivas Regal Here’s to Real Friends

Chivas Regal launched their Here’s to Real Friends campaign at Sydney’s new designer hotel, the QT, where a glass of Chivas was raised to celebrate real friendships. Guests who were invited to the event along with their ‘real friend’ were escorted to the Gilt Lounge through a speakeasy style private entrance off Market Street.

Chivas Ambassador, Ben Davidson, held a series of mini masterclasses educating guests in the various age whisky expressions and pairing them with a selection of fruits, cheeses and fine chocolate. Chivas 12 yo was paired with fresh pears, Rouzaire camembert and Maffra Cloth-bound Cheddar. Its older brother, Chivas 18 yo paired well with dried apricots, Cravero parmiggiano Reggiano, Mauri Gorgonzola Piccante and dark chocolate. The luxurious Chivas 25 yo was a great accompaniment to more mature cheeses such as the Roquefort Papillon, Marcel petit 18 months old Comte, fresh dates and almond Mazet chocolates.

Chivas Regal Here’s To Real Friends - QT Hotel
Chivas and food pairing*

In a private screening room, a short film by Academy Award director, Joachim Back, was shown on rotation while guests enjoyed ‘Chivas’ 18 neat. The film features the trials and tribulations of a group of friends with an underlying message that close bonds and memories never fade.

Chivas Regal Here’s To Real Friends - QT Hotel
Chivas Caraide*

A selection of Chivas drinks and cocktails were served throughout the evening prepared by QT’s mixologists. These included the Blood Brothers Punch, made with Chivas 12 blended with crème de framboise, fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, sparkling wine, fresh orange, lemon and berries and the popular Chivalry followed, a refreshing mix of Chivas 12 with fresh lemon juice, elderflower cordial, cloudy apple juice and soda water, served in a highball.

Moving up in age and flavour, Speyside Sour had Chivas 18 was made with egg white, fresh lemon, sugar, orgeat shaken over ice and served up with an orange twist and dashes of Peychaud bitters on top. And to finish, Caraide (‘Friend’) had a mix of Chivas 18, Dolin Blanc, 4 dashes of Black walnut bitters and brandy cherry.

Chivas Regal Here’s To Real Friends - QT Hotel
L-R: Chivas/Pernod Ricard Team – Oliver Dos Remedios, Laura Hay, Ben Davidson

Chivas recently sponsored the GQ Men of the Year Awards for 2012 and in continuation with the theme, the evening was a true celebration of friendship, reminding guests that real friends make time, and like good whisky, good friends take time.

For a photo gallery of the event, visit Gourmantic on Facebook and “Like” the page.

Chivas Regal Real Friends
www.chivasrealfriends.com.au

The Chivas Real Friends was held at QT Hotel on Thursday 22 November 2012.

* Images courtesy of Chivas, used with permission

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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