Last week, the team at Dappertude and others converged on Sydney’s famed Bennelong for a wonderful evening of food and celebration in light of Johnnie Walker’s newest addition to the ghost distillery’s series – Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen.
What was to be an incredible experience at Sydne’s Bennelong began with a trio of canapes incorporating fried prawn dumplings, sashimi of coral trout and Zucchini, goats curd, and pepita accompanied by hemp seed arancini. The first course was where executive chef Peter Bennelong truly showcased his culinary skills with a delightful slow braised pig belly, shiitake and lion’s mane mushrooms served with shaved squid and sea cucumber crackling.
In short succession, David Blackmore wagyu, roasted onion Yorkshire, and horseradish emulsion were served followed by the night’s sublime finishing companion Crème caramel vs mille-feuille. Johnnie Walker whiskies were a welcome feature throughout, specifically, the acclaimed Johnnie Walker Blue followed by two iterations of the Ghost series including the rare Brora and of course rare Port Ellen.
Johnny Li, our founder had the below to comment on the evening: “it was definitely a night to remember, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen are exquisite whiskies with precious malts and grains which I had to chance to enjoy with an exceptional whisky matched menu by Executive Chef Peter Gilmore”
Presenting some of the world’s most recognisable blends, Johnnie Walker’s six-generation deep master blenders have composed series upon series of bold and instinctively recognisable flavours. This second iteration of the Walker ghost series features a whisky that has been painstakingly crafted in limited batches utilising three indispensable ‘Apparition whiskies’ and five fantastically uncommon malts from the unparalleled Johnnie Walker Reserves.
Ghost whiskies from Caledonian and Carsebridge incorporate layers of smooth vanilla sweetness, whilst uncommon malts from Cragganmore, Mortlach Dailuaine, Blair Athol and Oban regions convey breaking influxes of citrus, rich malt and distinctively tropical organic flavours. Superbly offset with the delightful ghost whiskies from Port Ellen there is a certain a one of a kind sea smokiness that waits in the long warming completion.
Fittingly showcased in a bespoke deep blue bottle featuring the distilleries responsible for this truly magnificent blend, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen is available at most alcohol stores from early January 2019, RRP $480 for a 750ml bottle (46% ABV).
There’s no denying that on any other night, a three-course food menu prepared by Bennelong Executive Chef, Peter Gilmore would have been the sole crux of the evening, but by and large, Johnnie Walker’s latest ghost whiskey iteration played a much-welcomed accompaniment. We thank the Bennelong and Johnnie Walker for this truly memorable evening.
