After a long and stressful day at work, some may come home and put the jug on, while others might choose to pour themselves a dram and unwind.
Whether you find yourself in camp tea or on team whisky, two Waikato businesses have teamed up to demonstrate how the two beverages are more alike than you might think.
Zealong Tea Estate’s blend master Amy Reason, together with Ash Parmar from Eight PM, have pooled their expertise and created a one-off tasting menu which pairs select Zealong teas with rare whiskies.
While each pairing will be accompanied by a bite-sized “flavour cue”, the menu is unique in that the focus is on two beverages, rather than pairing one beverage with food.
Amy explains that pairing the whiskies with the teas is all about identifying the flavour notes in both that will work in harmony with each other.
“You don’t want to just match up the same flavours, rather identify flavour notes that complement each other and highlight the different complexities of each.”
And with both kinds of beverage boasting aroma and tasting notes spanning from smoky to floral and everything in between, it is not a simple task. Luckily, Amy has 15 years of tea industry experience behind her, and Ash has been in the whisky business for 14 years.
The two will share their knowledge during an event for Father’s Day, demonstrating how to taste, smell, and appreciate whisky and tea like a connoisseur, and highlighting the reasons they have chosen each pairing.
They will also give insight into how provenance and production methods can allow these different flavours to develop.
The featured whiskies are from The Single Cask, an award-winning label which Eight PM is importing into New Zealand for the first time.
“This whisky company has an interesting concept — they select just one cask at a time from an independent Scotch distillery and allow it to age before releasing it at cask strength with no additives, so it’s whisky presented to you at its purest form,” Ash says.
This results in rare whisky expressions, a perfect match for pure New Zealand-grown tea, which is itself a prize-winning rarity in the tea world.
For whisky-lovers or tea-lovers, those who enjoy both or those who are new to either, this upcoming event is the perfect introduction to how the worlds of premium tea and fine whisky intertwine.
Father’s Day Whisky & Tea Pairing will be held at Zealong Tea Estate on August 31, 6pm-9pm. Tickets include:
• Tasting menu of five Zealong teas and five The Single Cask whiskies, each accompanied by a petite flavour cue.
• Tea and whisky expertise from the menu designers, guiding you through each pairing
• A selection of canapés inspired by the tasting menu
A cash bar will be available following the tasting, for those who wish to further indulge in their favourite whisky or tea.
Tickets are limited and available now from www.zealong.com/shop (under Vouchers).
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