Whyte and Mackay

News Release
October 2009

Celebrity Chef and Blender Star in Bollywood TV Show

Celebrity chef Vivek Singh and Whyte and Mackay master distiller Richard Paterson have created their very own show on Bollywood TV.

For the first time ever, a half-hour TV programme called Nibbles and Whisky – recorded live at the Cinnamon Club in London’s Westminster – will show viewers how to pair the whisky with Indian food. It will go on air at 6.30pm on digital channel Bollywood For U Music (B4U) on the night of Diwali (October 17th 2009). *

Telling the story of the important Hindu festival of lights – Diwali – Vivek has created a selection of street food style nibbles from around the Indian subcontinent to match with a range of Scotch whiskies.

Vivek Singh, Cinnamon Club Executive Chef, commented: “Whisky is a favourite in India and it was fascinating to explore how well Whyte and Mackay complimented modern Indian food. The resulting pairings provide a delicious offering for Diwali, best enjoyed with friends and family.”

Richard Paterson, Whyte and Mackay Master Distiller, added: “Diwali is all about coming out of the darkness into the light and a lot of people do not know how well whisky matches with Indian food. The programme is full of surprises and I guarantee viewers will learn something new about Scotch whisky.”

The Nibbles and Whisky programme delves into matching savoury dishes such as beetroot mini fritters and an onion salad ((Bengali style vegetable cakes with mustard-ketchup) paired well with Whyte & Mackay 13 years old. The spicier nature of the two dishes matched the delicate softness and sweetness present in the whisky.

While ladoo (a sweet chickpea ball) and kulfi (a frozen reduced buffalo milk dessert covered in crushed pistachio nuts) – were paired with the Whyte & Mackay 30 year-old blended whisky to create a lovely combination of flavours.  This whisky won the Best Blended Scotch whisky at the prestigious International Spirit’s Challenge last week.

A selection of the whiskies and nibbles will be available every evening at the Cinnamon Club from now until October 24th.

The platter containing five nibbles costs £15 per head. Whiskies to match including Dalmore 12 and Whyte and Mackay 13. The nibbles and whisky pairing starts at £22.50 and are available in the Cinnamon Club bar.

– Ends –
For further information contact:
     
Shirley Kumar     Laura Hadfield    
Vikas PR     Roche Communications
T: 07554 453999    T: 0207 436 1111
E: Shirley.Kumar@vikaspr.com   E: Laura@rochecom.com  

M/F

Notes to editors:
* 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday October 17th-18th and October 24th-25th on B4U Music, Channel 781 on Sky Digital.
Bollywood For You (B4U) is an Asian digital channel accessed via Sky.
The programme will be aired on the number one Asian channel, B4U MUSIC (free to air on Sky, which has over 8million viewers that showcases blockbusters, comedies, thrillers, and gossip.

Video links from the filming are available on: http://www.themasterblender.com/2009/10/13/celebrate-diwali-whisky/

About Diwali

Diwali, traditionally known by its Sanskrit name Deepavali, means ‘a row of lights’. It’s a five-day festival that will fall on October 17th. There are numerous myths about how the festival originated. Some Hindus believe that Diwali marks the homecoming of the much-idolised King Rama, who returned after defeating the evil Ravana in a battle that lasted for 14 years.
Others believe it’s the day on which the beautiful goddess Lakshmi was rescued from an evil king. Yet others insist that it’s the day on which the blue-skinned god Krishna destroyed a much-despised demon.
It is traditionally celebrated with gifts, fireworks and food shared with family and friends.