Past events
Simply Whisky pride themselves on the high quality of their events and their attention to detail. Some of our recent private hire whisky events are listed below.
Tasting event for 1100 people as part of the annual First.org conference which brought computer security professionals from 60 countries to Edinburgh, Scotland. Guests were able to relax while trying and learning about different whiskies from Glenfiddich, Arran and Johnnie Walker. We partnered with retailer Royal Mile Whiskies to enable guests to buy the whiskies they enjoyed the most to take home as gifts for themselves and others.
Simply Whisky hosted Facebook’s Burns Night celebration for 200 staff at their offices in London with a whisky tasting of specially chosen Scottish and English whiskies, our unique Burns Idol game involving audience participation, a lively Address to a Haggis following by traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing with our bagpiper and ceilidh band musicians.
Simply Whisky was hired to support the launch of the Cartier 2018 Santos collection. Created in 1904, the Santos de Cartier wristwatch was the product of experimentation between two visionaries and friends, Louis Cartier and Alberto Santos-Dumont. Louis Cartier granted the wish of his friend, a famous Brazilian aviator: to be able to tell the time while flying. This was the birth of one of the first ever wristwatches! We celebrated with a lovely selection of whiskies.
American Express Centurion Card members were treated to a Burns Night event hosted by Simply Whisky at the stunning Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk, UK, in collaboration with The Balvenie. Guests were transported to the Scottish highlands with traditional bagpipe music and lively ceilidh tunes that had everyone tapping their feet and dancing the night away. The evening’s entertainment included a captivating rendition of ‘Address To A Haggis’, along with selected Burns poetry and song performances such as ‘To a Mouse’ and ‘A Red, Red Rose’. But the highlight of the night was the mouth-watering food and cocktails provided by the incredible Native Restaurants. From the delicious haggis to the delectable cocktails, every bite and sip was a tantalizing taste of Scotland.
Simply Whisky were hired by Sound Royalties to host a special whisky tasting event for music industry insiders at ‘The Standard’ in Nashville, Tennessee. The whisky selection was carefully curated and paired with music to create a unique sensory experience. Guests were treated to a diverse range of flavors and aromas, from timeless classics to exciting upstarts, and from familiar favorites to tantalizing new discoveries. With a selection of whiskies hailing from Scotland, Japan, Kentucky, and of course, Tennessee, there was something for every palate to savour.
Whisky training for several nationalities of bartenders and waiting staff aboard luxury cruise liner in the Mediterranean Sea, covering what whisky is, how it is made, why whiskies taste different, how to taste whisky, when to enjoy it in a cocktail and how to inspire customers to step outside their comfort zone, upselling new whiskies and flavours.
Tasting for the South Africa national cricket team in collaboration with Standard bank and Burberry. The gents and their partners were treated to a whisky from their home country, Bain’s Cape Mountain (2013 World’s Best Grain at the World Whiskies Awards) along with a selection of Scottish single malts.
Evening of entertainment in celebration of the MIPI Alliance 15th birthday party/annual get together in Glasgow, Scotland at the famous Old Fruitmarket. Simply Whisky hosted 130 guests who enjoyed traditional scottish bagpipe music as they arrived, live music throughout the evening by The Whisky Band, a scottish whisky station where they could explore different whisk(e)y tastes, an educational whisky cocktail ‘highball’ station enabling them to create their own concoctions with different whiskies and garnishes, a heritage station staffed by our expert on topics from tartan, golf, scottish food and drink through to shipbuilding, engineering, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites, and our unique interactive games station featuring ‘whisky archery’, ‘pinpoint the distillery’, ‘whisky aroma’ and ‘play your drams right’ tasting experiences. Many thanks to the catering team at the Old Fruitmarket for their assistance.
Simply Whisky were chosen to help organise and run an auction in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco to raise funds for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation whose purpose is to protect the environment and to encourage sustainable development. The auction consisted of art, rare whiskies, one off yachting and dining experiences, and a signed jacket worn by H.S.H. on his recent trip to the scottish island of Islay. Live music after the auction was provided by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Post-dinner whisky tasting for charity Impetus-PEF at The Dorchester hotel in London for over 400 senior leaders from the private equity and financial services sector. Our specially selected whiskies were from Craigellachie, Port Askaig, Talisker, Aberlour and Royal Brackla.
Networking event for the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association in London’s May Fair hotel which brought together 80 of the UK’s financial leaders. Simply Whisky hosted two tasting areas sponsored by private bank Investec and law firm RPC showcasing whiskies from The Balvenie, The Glenrothes, and Laphroaig, and an LBV port from Taylor’s, all matched with specially selected cheeses, chocolates and chutney’s. Second event for the BVCA as part of their flagship annual event at London’s Hilton Park Lane hotel for 300 guests who enjoyed whiskies from America, Japan, Taiwan and Scotland, all paired with specially selected chocolates, and served from a customised tasting station.
Tailored whisky tasting as part of Hoare’s annual Burns Night Celebration at their offices in Fleet Street in central London, featuring a 200th anniversary special edition of Lagavulin, the new Oban Little Bay (originally a travel retail exclusive and now part of Oban’s core range), Grant’s Distillery only edition (a limited edition of a classic) and Kavalan’s Classic Single Malt (a belter from the company that won World’s Best Single Malt for their Solist Vinho Barrique in 2015 at the World Whiskies Awards).
Blind tasting of celtic malt whiskies from France, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for Monte Carlo Whisky Society members, guests and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, at the Hermitage hotel in Monte Carlo. Those with the best performing senses were invited to Walk The Whisky Trail.
Four whisky tastings for Burberry at their menswear stores in Knightsbridge and Bond Street, London. The first in support of a book launch by city banker Alex Buchanan with a brief to select Scottish, Indian and Japanese whiskies to match specially prepared fish, meat and vegetable based canapes. Delectable! The second was in collaboration with men’s fashion and style magazine GQ for which we profiled an American bourbon, a single pot still Irish whiskey and a classic Scottish speyside single malt. The third was for VIP customers who were tantalised with whiskies carefully paired for enjoyment with handmade ginger nut, lemon confit and passion fruit truffles. Delicious! The fourth showcased the personalisation of taste and tailoring as the event was in parternship with Brummell magazine. Stylish!
Tasting for clients of luxury furnishings designer and manufacturer Soane Britain at their London showroom. Whiskies were specially selected to celebrate craftmanship and all that is great about Britain.
Whisky tasting for staff of mobile health start-up medopad at their offices in central London featuring whiskies from Ireland, Scotland, England, America and Japan.
Two whisky tasting events for legal firm Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP for their holiday party on the top floor of London skyscraper The Gherkin, and then in the palatial Banqueting House in Whitehall. Featured whiskies were from England, Canada, America and Scotland, responding to the brief for an international line-up.
In-house event for 50 staff of global investment management group, BlackRock. Whiskies included Ballantine’s, Balvenie, Old Pulteney, Dalmore, Littlemill and Ardbeg. Tastes were heightened with liquorice chocolates from Baruzzo and a specially selected parmesan cheese. Proud to be invited back to peform a follow up tasting in which we drove palate’s wild with whiskies from Hibiki, Stranahan’s, Compass Box, Chivas Regal and a special single grain bottling from That Boutique’y Whisky Company.
Informal whisky tasting at the Welcombe Hotel Spa and Golf Club in Stratford Upon Avon for aluminium company Alcoa Fastening Systems. Conference delegates from France, Italy, Germany and the UK had the chance to unwind, network and dram the night away as we presented whiskies from various corners of the World.
Personalised tasting experience for a group of 150 digital media professionals on behalf of advertising technology company OpenX. Simply Whisky supplied branded OpenX whisky glassware and a branded portable bar around which their clients could network whilst being introduced to three different styles of whisky by our whisky experts.
Two whisky tasting events for Longview Philanthropy as part of their private annual retreats, the first for 65 guests at Ditchley Park in Oxfordshire and the second for 45 guests at Coworth Park in Ascot. Guests were introduced to a variety of whisky ages and types including rye, corn, single grain and single malt. The sessions also including Q&A on aspects of whisky making.
President’s Day (Washington’s birthday) themed tasting of American whiskies for Walkers and their client Goldman Sachs at the famed Middle Temple Hall in central London. Whiskies were chosen to showcase the effect different grains corn, wheat, rye and barley can have on whiskey flavours.
