For some, whisky is a type of liquid gold. From Scotch to Single-Malt, Bourbon to uncommon blends, every has its personal advanced profile and multi-layered vary of flavours. Nobody understands this higher than Benjamin Tan, the Head of Enterprise Growth and “Chief Butler” for TSH Company. Whisky Journey began off as Singapore’s first island-wide bar and restaurant whisky path that spanned throughout 10 days in 2020 and 2021. After witnessing its preliminary success, Whisky Journey returns in 2023 for its most expansive exhibition but, happening at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Conference Centre. This yr sees Whisky Journey goes again to its orginal convention-exhibition fashion showcase. The present will function over 20 exhibitors, with over 100 totally different whiskies and expressions out there for friends to find, discover and take a look at. LUXUO sits down with the face of Whisky Journey, Benjamin Tan to search out out extra about his ardour for whisky, what we will count on to see from this yr’s Whisky Journey and the way forward for this one-of-a-kind exhibition.
You have got been working Whisky Journey since 2019. Inform us extra about how Whisky Journey’s idea got here to fruition?
Really, I joined the corporate in 2020. Whisky Journey was on account of happen in 2019, however given the event of the Covid-19 pandemic, the staff determined to take a pause on the occasion till authorities rules had been a little bit extra slack in 2020. So the primary version of the “Bar-hopping” whisky journey occurred in 2020 and I used to be then helping my predecessor on working the occasion. Subsequently, I might say the preliminary concept was developed by the earlier staff and at the moment the staff and I’ve enhanced it and introduced a convention-styled (exhibition fashion) Whisky Journey since final yr.
What’s the relationship between Whisky Journey and Whisky Butler, Singapore’s most vibrant whisky-tasting membership?
So once I joined TSH Company Ltd, Whisky Butler was introduced along with me; and now each Whisky Journey and Whisky Butler are a part of the ideas beneath TSH Company Ltd, offering an array of whisky services to our customers.
The 2022 Whisky Journey version staged at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has been an amazing success. What ought to we count on to see, expertise and style with respect to the 2023 version?
Do count on this yr’s version to be larger with extra fascinating manufacturers approaching board. We even have an impartial bottler from Taiwan that’s flying in to participate on this yr’s occasion! On the identical time, a few of final yr’s exhibitors are additionally attempting to place collectively some experimental masterclasses for our customers. So count on extra thrilling manufacturers and masterclasses coming on this yr at Whisky Journey 2023!
Do you propose to introduce extra workshops this yr 2023?
Sure, we’ve elevated the variety of masterclasses this yr on each days to offer everybody an opportunity to take part within the masterclasses that they’re wanting ahead to.
Who conceptualised the sensible concept of the Whisky Journey Passport? Are you able to clarify the passport idea to our readers and whisky lovers?
This was the collective effort of the earlier staff after many rounds of brainstorming, they determined {that a} jet-setting format of whisky exhibition is a novelty and an fascinating theme to go together with, and therefore the passport as a instrument to make the entire jet-setting expertise extra actual (particularly in occasions of Covid).
Learn Extra: Prime 5 Whiskies To Maintain an Eye Out for at Whisky Journey 2022
Why is Singapore the perfect location to host Whisky Journey?
Being a Singaporean firm, it’s at all times good to construct our base from right here. Though we acknowledged that competitors is stiff right here, however we firmly imagine that additionally it is the (whisky) hub and trendsetter for the area.
Who’re your main 2023 companions?
Our official water sponsor is Perrier, our media associate is Coronary heart Media (you guys) in addition to our occasion goodie baggage sponsor is Black Bull by Duncan Taylor, which can be certainly one of our premium exhibitors.
How is Whisky Journey totally different from different Whisky occasions?
“EEE” is our idea and the important thing differentiators to different whisky occasions. The three “E” are particularly: Discover; Educate; Expertise. You want to permit customers to discover themselves fairly then telling them what is sweet or unhealthy; educating them concerning the model philosophy, model historical past, and the method of making the merchandise permits customers to grasp and respect the model extra; lastly, you must permit customers to expertise it themselves by permitting them to strive it. “Discover” is paramount amongst the three; we guarantee that contributors will get to search out a variety of whiskies supplied by the official manufacturers, and purchase immediately from these manufacturers. Subsequently, at Whisky Journey, yow will discover restricted version whiskies; aged whiskies as previous as 40 years previous opened by the dram for customers to have an opportunity to try to expertise them.
How do you see the Whisky Journey evolving three years down the street?
I hope to take Whisky Journey to a number of cities with extra fringe occasions being organised in several components of the world for customers across the globe.
Will you carry this occasion idea to different capital cities in Asia?
Sure. That’s undoubtedly in our plan for the subsequent three to 5 years.
Learn Extra: The Nuances Between Japanese And Western Whisk(e)y
What’s your favorite second of true accomplishment within the lifetime of Whisky Journey?
The largest second undoubtedly comes from the grins of all my contributors and exhibitors. As a result of they’re all my stakeholders. Solely when they’re pleased, we’re completed.
Are you able to share with our reader the identify of the mentor who has impressed you essentially the most in your profession and life?
I’m truly very lucky to have met many individuals in my life. I imagine that everybody is exclusive in their very own approach and there may be at all times one thing you may be taught from everybody. Combining all these distinctive experiences collectively, I turned them into my very own life rules that information me to stroll my very own path. Subsequently I wouldn’t say there’s a single individual that impressed me in my skilled life, however as a collective entire; I’ve discovered from everybody that crossed paths with me. Not too long ago, a speech by an area feminine entrepreneur resonates with this perception of mine. She mentioned, “One of many largest life classes is studying the right way to admire somebody’s present with out questioning your personal”. The assertion coincides with how I imagine that everybody is exclusive and as a substitute of being jealous of somebody’s expertise, we embrace and be taught from these individuals. As a result of life shouldn’t be about what occurred to us, however how we reply to it. You possibly can select to be bitter or be a greater particular person.
For extra on Whisky Journey, click on right here.
To get the most recent in way of life and alcohol, click on right here.