The Perfect Blend: History, Whisky and Chocolate
May is Whisky Month and to celebrate, The Real Mary King’s Close will be launching The Perfect Blend a brand new whisky tasting experience in partnership with Royal Mile Whiskies, multiple winner of Whisky Magazine’s Retailer of the Year award.
The Perfect Blend is a unique whisky tasting experience in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Combining Scotland’s most iconic exports, history and whisky, this tour will take guests back in time as they uncover Edinburgh’s incredible hidden history whilst getting to grips with the national drink.
Guests will enjoy five drams of whisky: a grain, a blend, a malt, a sherry cask matured and a peaty whisky. Each one has been specially selected to highlight the diverse nature of Scottish whisky. The tour, as well as taking guests on a journey through history, will provide an insight into the varieties of whisky available in Scotland; why they are different and how the flavours have been shaped by the methods involved in their production. As guests savour a peaty dram, they may find themselves transported to the west coast of Scotland or they may find themselves doing the work of a noser as they try to work out the different components of a blend.
Each nip of whisky will be accompanied by a sample of award winning organic craft chocolate from local suppliers, Chocolate Tree. Guests will be able to taste how this combination of flavours works together to enhance the subtle nuances of each specially selected whisky. From Madagascan Sambirano 72% dark chocolate to sea salt and caramel, each craft chocolate has been chosen to bring out the individuality of the whiskies. As the chocolate and the whisky combine, guests will be able to experience the flavours transform on their palate.
“This is a really exciting opportunity to work with local businesses to create a truly unique and Scottish event for Whisky Month.” Comments General Manager Craig Miller “It will be a chance for those who have visited the attraction before to come back and experience the Close in a different way and it will also be a great event for those visiting the capital to tick off some of the must-do experiences when in Scotland: taste whisky and discover fascinating history.”
The Perfect Blend will run throughout the month of May and tickets are now on sale. Advance booking is recommended and tickets can be purchased online at www.realmarykingsclose.com/, by phone on 0131 225 0672 or in person at The Real Mary King’s Close.
The Real Mary King’s Close is operated by Continuum Attractions. Continuum Attractions offers a host of cultural visitor attraction experiences across the UK, from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to the story of chocolate at York’s Chocolate Story.
NOTES:
Ticket Price: £35
Time: 21:30 (1 hour and 30 mins)
Dates: 1st, 6th, 13th, 20th, 29th May 2016
Whiskies are subject to change and images show an example selection
Over 18s only (ID may be required)
The Real Mary King’s Close
Hidden beneath the Royal Mile, lies one of Edinburgh’s deepest secrets – The Real Mary King’s Close. This warren of hidden ‘closes’ or narrow streets where real people lived, worked and died, lay forgotten and covered by the City Chambers on the Royal Mile for centuries, until in 2003 it opened as a fascinating new visitor attraction for Edinburgh.
Operated by Continuum Attractions, this VisitScotland five-star attraction allows visitors to step back in time and be guided through these famous underground closes to witness some of the most dramatic episodes from Edinburgh’s incredible past.
Further details: www.realmarykingsclose.com/.
Chocolate Tree
Chocolate Tree is Edinburgh’s only bean to bar chocolate maker, working in small batches using superior natural ingredients, ethically sourced and organic. Chocolate Tree aims to deliver fine flavour chocolate whilst at the same time offering impoverished farmers better profits and preserving biodiversity.
A variety of Chocolate Tree bars are available in the shop at The Real Mary King’s Close.
Further details: www.choctree.co.uk/
Royal Mile Whiskies
Royal Mile Whiskies was established in 1991 and has steadily grown its range and reputation and is now known worldwide as being one of the world’s great specialist whisky merchants. Royal Mile Whiskies was set up as a specialist malt whisky retailer, based on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile.
An independent, Scottish-owned shop located in Scotland, Royal Mile Whiskies specialises in single malt Scotch whisky, but also sells Irish whiskey, bourbon whiskey, grain whisky and blends. Royal Mile Whiskies won Whisky Magazine’s ‘Retailer of the Year’ award in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2015.
Further details: www.royalmilewhiskies.com/
For more information on Continuum Attractions, please visit www.continuumattractions.com/
Continuum Attractions owns, operates and manages cultural attractions across the UK:
Continuum Heritage Attractions
The Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh
The Canterbury Tales, Canterbury
Oxford Castle Unlocked, Oxford
York’s Chocolate Story, York
Continuum Icon Attractions
Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
Emmerdale The Tour, Leeds