Balvenie Scotch Tasting at Bar Marmont

In the words of the impeccably-​dressed Scottish ambassador for Balvenie, as he toasted the entire room to rare craft and the tradition behind a really great product:
«I’LL DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH WHEN WE’RE TOGETHER, I’LL DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH WHEN I’M ALONE. I’LL DRINK TO YOU SO OFTEN, I’LL DAMN NEAR RUIN MY OWN… to craft!»
This event was posh, quiet, elegant and tasteful, but still felt easy and fun. It was the graduation up from theJohnny Walker House of Walker Tastings (
) which I loved as an initial introduction to the dark and brooding world of Scotch, but which in comparison seem young and less impressive. That’s how awesome this event was.
It’s part of the Rare Craft Roadshow, an event where the ambassador drives a BEAUTIFUL handcrafted car across the US in search of other craftsmen still doing things the slow, steady, traditional way. i fell in love with the concept and the company right there.
WHAT MADE THIS NIGHT ROCK:
LOCATION
–BEAUTIFUL venue, totally matched the feel of the event — old, rare, beautiful, elegant
–free parking on the streets behind Bar Marmont
–Casual atmosphere (this was the biggest plus. You could actually have conversations with whoever you wanted while still learning and enjoying the Scotch… just as the craftsmen intended. It didn’t feel like a mass classroom lesson, but like a sophisticated evening out with your new friend Balvenie).
THE FOOD
–Great food (in particular, the caprese tartlets, juicy sliders, and pigs-​in-​a-​blanket), enough to keep u drinking, not so heavy you felt sleepy
OF COURSE, THE SCOTCH
–What I learned and appreciated about Balvenie Scotches really showed me this was a 5 star event. Even though there was no formal teaching session, i still felt like I learned a TON about scotch and Balvenie. I have a newfound appreciation for the 49-​years-​and-​counting brewmaster, as even I (the most uneducated Scotch-​a-​tier there) could taste the differences between the Carribean-​rum-​cask 14 year (smooth, sweet, lovely) and the Punchy Single-​Barrel 15 year, and the Peety-​smoky-​medicinal 17 year, and lastly the ever so smooth 21 year.