With the prospect of an exquisite mixture of two of the finest Hollywood actors and the world’s leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, the elegant Bulgari Hotel & Residences in Knightsbridge played host to an intimate group of VIPs and influencers who attended the UK premier of JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™’s ‘Gentleman’s Wager’ Screening on Tuesday evening before its official launch to the public on 30th July. Laura Bailey, Clara Paget, Camilla Rutherford, Natalie Pinkham, Izzy Lawrence, Natalie Coyle, Sam Hoare, Noelle Reno, Lord Harry Dalmeny, Alistair Guy, Yasmin Mills, Ozwald Boateng, Jemma Powell, Beatrix Ong and Joanne Sykes were among the VIPs who were welcomed with Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Gentleman’s Wager’ cocktails, innovative and refreshing, breaking down the barriers of whisky-drinking to bring it to the forefront of summer consumption. Cute little canapés of saffron aranchini, fresh burrata with black olive condiment, salmon rillettes, dill and capers made the perfect accompaniment alongside the pinnacle offerings from Johnnie Walker.
Before the screening commenced, guests were invited to taste the Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Perfect Serve’… straight, no ice. Relishing the enjoyment of this fine blend, the main event was introduced, the silence only pierced by the Propercorn popcorn served for the screening itself. Created by JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™, the world’s leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, ‘The Gentleman’s Wager’ stars Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini and tells the story of a wager between two men which results in a truly rare experience as part of their quest for personal progress. Commenting on his involvement, Law says: “The film is about improvement and progress and this is something I try to do in my work and my everyday life. I had to learn new skills shooting this film that combined with the places we visited and shot in, alongside working with Jake and Giancarlo, (this) made it a truly rare experience.” Such is the game of perception and reality….
Understated charm appeared to be the dress code with VIPs opting for sophistication on a warm summer evening in the heart of SW7.
Laura Bailey wore a classic pink Louis Vuitton waistcoat paired with culottes, Clara Paget’s gorgeous summer offering was from the Peter Pilotto collection and newly-engaged classical singing sensation, Natalie Coyle, wore a muted nude dress from ASOS, choosing instead to accentuate her beautiful engagement ring given to her a few weeks ago during a holiday in Santorini by her fiancée Zafar Rushdie (son of Salman). Noelle Reno looked stunning in a red V cut French lace dress by Adriana Minari whilst Ozwald Boateng dictated style with key pieces from his own collection.
Only sublime, rare whiskies at the pinnacle of perfection are used in the blending of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, with only 1 in 10,000 casks containing whisky of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste. Each is hand selected by the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blender himself, part of an unbroken lineage of Master Blenders stretching back over 190 years – it is the ultimate expression of whisky making today and an remarkable achievement for the modern era. Presented in individually numbered bottles, it is reminiscent of the 19th century style of whiskies. The Master Blender uses his decades of experience to select some of the rarest casks from the JOHNNIE WALKER reserves for their quality, character and flavour to create the powerful, complex, smooth character of BLUE LABEL. BLUE LABEL has a mellow, rounded nose, with a dry smokiness (a JOHNNIE WALKER signature flavour) mixing with raisin sweetness. It is best savoured with the palate cleansed and cooled by iced water. One sip reveals a velvety mouth-feel, then an explosion of flavour. At once you’ll discover hazelnuts, honey, rose petals, sherry and oranges. Subsequent sips reward you with more hidden secrets like kumquats, wispy aromatic smoke, sandalwood, tobacco, and dark chocolate. With just a little hint of ‘The Italian Job’ in the opening sequence of ‘Gentleman’s Wager’, the short film combined inquisitiveness with a smooth solicitous lust for grasping what appears unattainable… epitomising the brand, JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL.
A preview of ‘The Gentleman’s Wager’ film can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/johnniewalker
The Bulgari Hotel & Residencies, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 1D
Thanks to Harriet at Quintessentially
#GentlemansWager @JohnnieWalker_
Images ©Shane Finn at www.visual-devotion.co.uk