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Spirits and Wines

Diageo underlines its ultra-premium credentials at glittering Times DF event in Haikou

by Martin Moodie | | martin@moodiedavittreport.com

CHINA. Diageo Global Travel hosted a glittering dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, Haikou in association with Times DF earlier this month to showcase a selection of ultra-premium blended and single malt Scotch whiskies.

Diageo Head of Global Travel, Greater China Angela Chen welcomed executives from Shenzhen Duty-Free Group and DFS Group (Shenzhen Duty-Free Group’s support partner at Times DF), together with Ritz-Carlton senior management, Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development officials and other VIP guests, including local television and The Moodie Davitt Report.

On show were Johnnie Walker Blue Label; John Walker & Sons King George V; Johnnie Walker Blue City Edition (a newly launched Hainan global travel-exclusive – more details in a forthcoming story); Talisker Surge (another travel retail-exclusive); and Talisker 44 Year Old – Forests of the Deep.

Here we present a special Picture Gallery of the occasion. Look out for our special feature on Times DF in the May edition of The Moodie Davitt Magazine (print and digital). ✈ 

As reported, the outstanding Times DF wines & spirits offer at Mission Hills, near the Ritz-Carlton, includes a Johnnie Walker boutique opened last October
A guest signs in for what transpires to be an extraordinary celebration of great whisky, food, hospitality and partnership
Diageo Head of Greater China, Global Travel Angela Chen welcomes guests to the event

Johnnie Walker all dressed up in rich blue for the occasion
A sumptous setting at Ritz-Carlton was matched by a superb line-up of Scotch whiskies and suitably paired cuisine

Guests were treated to a boxed surprise at their dinner places. All would be revealed soon.
Martin Moodie begins the grand unveiling

Drinking a great whisky is an experience and the unboxing added to the evening’s immersive experience
Now this is what you call a well-balanced Scotch whisky

Ritz-Carlton, Haikou has won an outstanding reputation for its cuisine over recent years. The menu on offer, carefully curated to pair well with the ultra-premium whiskies on offer, lived memorably up to that status.

Martin Moodie and Angela Chen enjoying the evening
Now this is what you call a food and drink pairing. Guests were invited to enjoy their oysters with a drop or two of Talisker, the whisky’s edge of saltiness and smoke making for an exquisite match.

The Diageo Brand Ambassador leads an engaging nosing and tasting of Talisker

Toasting friendship (and great Scotch whisky) with Shenzhen Duty-Free Group and Diageo Global Travel management

Dessert evoked the natural attractions of Hainan island

Two expressions of Talisker, the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, were on offer

DFS Group China management joined in the celebrations. From left are Joanne Tu (Marketing Project Manager China); Lisa Zhu (VP of Operations China); and Eric Kong, AGM of Sales and Operation Hainan).

By royal appointment: John Walker & Sons King George V is an ultra-premium blended Scotch that celebrates the granting of the Royal Warrant to John Walker & Sons in 1934
The edition blends some of the rarest whiskies from distilleries in existence during the reign of King George V from 1910 to 1936, including Benrinnes, Cardhu and the precious casks of silent distilleries Port Ellen and Port Dundas
The hard-working Hainan IEDB team took a deserved break from the Hainan Expo to attend the evening. Pictured left is Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development Senior Supervisor Global Cooperation Division Vita Gong and right Director of Exhibition and Events Division Liu Peng

Thumbs up from Shenzhen Duty-Free Group, Diageo Global Travel, DFS Group and The Moodie Davitt Report for an unforgettable evening

Angela Chen with Sharon Chen, Sales Execution Manager, from the Diageo Global Travel China team
Key stories from China and related to Chinese travellers are featured each week on The Moodie Davitt Report’s WeChat Official Account. Please scan the QR code to follow us.


 

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