Pop-up gives Londoners chance to blend their own Scotch

A nine-week pop-up is giving Londoners a chance to try their hand at something usually pursued by highly skilled experts working in secret across Scotland
Just a dropper: Lizzie studied single malt and grain whiskies
Lizzie Edmonds @lizzieedmo26 September 2016

It is an art usually pursued by highly skilled experts working in secret across Scotland.

Now Londoners can learn how to blend their own Scotch at a nine-week pop-up from drinks brand Chivas Regal. It is set to launch The Blend bar offering its popular “Art of Blending” experience at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane from October 3.

The Standard tried out the experience, which is hosted by Chivas Regal experts and costs £22.

Participants first learn the history and origins of single malt and grain whiskies before sampling top spirits from Speyside, Islay, and the Highlands and Lowlands plus a grain Scotch. They are then taught how to blend and create the Chivas Regal house style, before making their own to take home.

Phil Huckle, brand ambassador for Chivas, said as well as being “a bit of fun” the workshop was designed to challenge perceptions of blended whisky. “It has got a bit of a bad rep as an inferior product — as something cheap and cheerful. But in reality blending is a highly skilled job and can create bespoke products,” he said.

“Some of the most expensive whiskies in the world — which cost £150,000 a bottle — are blended.”

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The pop-up will be at the brewery for nine weeks, with the first taking place as part of London Cocktail Week.

Like last year, the event’s “cocktail village” will be at Old Spitalfields Market, with 40 pop-up bars.

Highlights include a coffee cocktail class by Tia Maria and a Cahoots vintage train-turned-bar hosted by Bombay Sapphire where drinks can be enjoyed while “journeying” through the Hampshire countryside where the spirit is made.

Festival director Siobhan Payne said: “We love creating the most unique and exciting opportunity for thousands of cocktail lovers to taste and learn about new drinks and visit great bars they’ve not been to before.”

Entry wristbands cost £10 per person, which gets visitors access to the market and £5 cocktails there and at hundreds of partner bars.

London Cocktail Week runs from October 3 to 9. For wristbands, go to DrinkUp.London

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