Whisky Quest

— by Philippa Rose-Tite —

Photographer Kim Maxwell | Styling Café Hemingway’s

“Drinking winewas not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary...”

Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast.

Ilike tequila. I like it a lot. And, as my despairing father can attest, I even learnt to respect it a little after returning from a particularly raucous Grahamstown festival sporting both a tattoo and the kind of hangover that would make Mickey Rourke question my health choices.

Time has taught me a few things. Friends are important. Tattoos are permanent. Being passionate about my work makes me happy. And life is too short to imbibe, forever, the kind of swill that passes for drinks when one is a penniless student.

It is for this final reason that I fell in love a little with Bar Hemingway’s in Kyalami, Johannesburg. Nothing makes you feel quite so “sophisticated New Yorker” as sitting at a beautiful, 20-foot, hand-crafted copper bar, sipping an Old Fashioned while dangling a sparkling sandal from a perfectly pedicured toe (so this has to be about 10 seconds after leaving the salon).

As soon as you walk into this special venue there is a sense of time slowing down. The exposed red-brick walls and aforementioned bar counter are a perfectly posh counterpoint to the comfortable couches and elegant, almost kingly chairs that beckon you into their midst. As is not the case in many bars I have frequented (and yes I’m thinking of you dodgy dive-bar from Boston), the lighting is simply perfection, with beautiful WillowLamp chandeliers (proudly made in South Africa) accentuating the string lights to create a cosy, romantic ambience that still allows you to read the menu.

And what a menu! The hefty 28-page tome reads like a favourite fairy tale for those among us who like their liquor with a touch a class. Just like the food menu at next door Café Hemingway’s, every cocktail is named after a literary character and comes with a story of its own.

Bar Hemingway’s offers every conceivable cocktail in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties and they have even developed a craft G&T menu which is not to be missed!

While we can all agree that cocktails are a great distraction on a night out, there may come a time when there’s a little something special to celebrate, and it is in this that Bar Hemingway’s excels. Sparkling wine? Champagne? There are enough options to keep even the fussiest of us happy and I for one have my beady eye on the Louis Roederer Cristal, a gorgeous champagne that I have been dying to take for a night out. Alas, it was not to be on the night I visited, as I got … distracted.

Distracted, that is, by 140 varieties of whisky.

I have to admit I came late to the whisky game. By the time my taste had matured enough to appreciate fully the finer points of a malted whisky, I had missed many a whisky tasting and many an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating process of making a fine whisky. But I’ve now found a place where I can do as much research as it requires to turn me into an expert!

There are whiskies from all over the world. Ireland, Scotland, Japan, even India, so this is clearly just the place to continue my education.

To assist in this (ahem) noble endeavour, Bar Hemingway’s can arrange tastings for you and your party of nine friends. This can be a whisky, rum, tequila or even a gin tasting. Pair that with a small but elegant and deeply satisfying bar-food menu, a small side trip to experiment with a little absinthe, and your recipe for a great night out, or at the least a great story, is complete!

+27 (0)11 466 0195 reservations@cafehemingways.co.za

Kyalami Downs Shopping Centre Corner Kyalami Boulevard & Kyalami Main Road (R55), Kyalami, Midrand, 1684

www.cafehemingways.co.za

@HemingwaysJozi www.facebook.com/HemingwaysJozi www.instagram.com/hemingwaysjozi

Portrait Photographer Post Production Food Photographer Styling Project Management Ingrid Alice Irsigler Alex Sedova Big Shots Photography Café Hemingway’s Purple Raindrop

— HOUSE OF THE MACALLAN — Craigellachie, Scotland – Considered the most prestigious whisky house in Scotland. Sienna Ruby Amber Rare Cask

— SCOTCH TOUR — A journey through the different whisky-producing regions Jura 10yo – Isle of Jura Ardbeg 10yo – Islay Highland Park 12yo – Orkney Islands Aberlour 12yo – Highlands Auchentoshan 12yo – Lowlands Glenrothes 1995 – Speyside

— THE BOURBON ROUTE — A tour of the main bourbon distilleries in the US Maker’s Mark Knob Creek 9yo Four Roses Small Batch Bulleit Elijah Craig 12yo Woodford Reserve

— HOUSE OF HIGHLAND PARK — Orkney Islands 12yo Dark Origins 18yo Freya (very rare)

— HOUSE OF JAMESONS —

12yo Gold reserve Select reserve 18yo

— HOUSE OF NIKKA — JAPAN Pure Malt Red label Pure Malt Black label From the barrel All Malt (rare)

— HOUSE OF LAPHROAIG — For the peaty whisky fans 10yo Select Quarter Cask

— ORIENTAL TOUR — A tour of the lesser known but incredibly tasty whisky makers Amrut Cask Strength – India Amrut Kadhambam – India Kavalan Solist sherry cask – Taiwan Kavalan Concertmaster port cask – Taiwan