High Stakes & Highland Malts: An Exclusive Whisky Journey at the Hong Kong Jockey Club

February 5, 2025

We took over the prestigious E105 Lounge at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for a high-energy corporate masterclass, landing in the Highland region. Set against the vibrant backdrop of "The Thrill of Racing" neon lights and live track views, the evening brought together club members and guests to explore the rich heritage, distinct coastal geography, and complex flavor structures of Scotland’s premier Highland distilleries.

Just like horse racing, world-class whisky engineering requires absolute precision, patience, and the perfect environment to mature into a champion.

Here is a look at the two distinct Highland heavyweights that defined our tasting lineup:

1. Ben Nevis 10 Year Old (Highland)

• The Profile: Bold, oily, and traditionally structured.

• The Experience: We launched our flavour journey at the base of Scotland's highest peak. Ben Nevis is celebrated for its old-school, robust distillation character. On the nose, guests were treated to rich apricot jam, freshly cut oranges, dark chocolate, and a subtle whisper of wood smoke. The palate offered a beautifully medium-long finish dominated by orange chocolate and aromatic tobacco, showcasing how a thick, un-chill-filtered spirit body coats the mouth.

2. Oban 14 Year Old (Highland)

• The Profile: Smoky, maritime-influenced, and exceptionally balanced.

• The Experience: For our second pour, we moved west to the coastal gateway of the Hebrides. Oban bridges the gap between classic Highland sweetness and Islay-style peat. The nose brought forward prominent notes of fresh oranges, ripe peaches, pears, a distinct coastal saltiness, and a hint of peat smoke. On the palate, this 14-year-old classic delivered a creamy, smoky experience reminiscent of sweet marmalade, toffee apples, and pear cider, rounded out by a late development of warming holiday cloves.

The magic of hosting at the HKJC 105 Lounge is combining the fast-paced energy of the racetrack with the slow, contemplative appreciation of premium single malts. Watching our guests compare notes—debating between the oily orange-chocolate density of the Ben Nevis and the briny, orchard-fruit smoke of the Oban—showed just how diverse a single region's flavour boundaries can be.

A massive thank you to the Hong Kong Jockey Club team and all the guests who raised a glass with us.

Until the next gate opens, Down the stretch!

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