What do whisky and batik have in common? A few things come to mind, most noteworthy of which is that both are a time-honoured craft that requires equal amounts of passion, talent, and finesse to master.
This is what The Balvenie aims to bring to the forefront through The Makers Project, an inaugural exhibition that will be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur from 3 to 12 December 2021, featuring specially commissioned artwork by homegrown batik designer Fern Chua.
Distinguished as a pioneer of redefining techniques in batik printing, Fern prides herself in bringing a contemporary approach to the traditional art form to inspire newfound appreciation among current and future generations. She joins five other Southeast Asian artists—or, as The Balvenie calls them, “Makers”—hailing from Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and The Philippines, who have been appointed to showcase their respective art forms around the region.
Celebrating craftsmanship
The exhibition heralds the launch of the brand’s global campaign that’s inspired by the craftsmen behind the Five Rare Crafts that The Balvenie distillery upholds in its whisky-making process. Underpinned by the shared passion for the creative process as well as the time and labour that goes into creating something exceptional, the partnerships celebrate each of their natural talents and groundbreaking work, born from unwavering passion, personality, and heart—a true embodiment of The Balvenie’s spirit of craftsmanship.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Fern Chua in Malaysia as we resonate strongly with her ideals for her brand, which is to bridge the traditional with the contemporary through her designs, as well as uplift the community and celebrate other local artisans and designers through collaborations,” said Brett Bayly, regional brand ambassador for The Balvenie Southeast Asia.
“This is what The Makers Project is all about—celebrating those who craft with passion and produce exceptional works of art.”—Brett Bayly
A sensorial journey
Highlighting The Makers Project exhibition in Malaysia is the unveiling of Fern’s exclusive designs inspired by The Balvenie. Visitors will also be brought along a sensorial journey that brings the Five Rare Crafts to life: from the farmers of the homegrown barley fields, the maltmen who manage the malting floors, the copper stills that influence the unique taste of The Balvenie, the coppers at the cooperage, right down to Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE—a pioneer of whisky-making who has spent close to six decades honing his craft.
The journey will then culminate in a curated cinematic tasting experience in an immersive personal space, where visitors will be able to enjoy two drams of The Balvenie whisky, The Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood and The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask.
The Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood has a complex and distinctive character from being matured in two wood types, but is light enough to enjoy at almost any occasion. It has a warm fruit and honey nose that slips into a darkly sweet, fruity palate with hints of cinnamon spice, fading out into a long, warm finish.
On the other hand, The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask bears rich notes of tropical fruits and creamy toffee on the nose. Round flavours of vanilla, sweet oak, and fruits hit the palate next, before leaving a soft, lingering finish.
Those interested to explore The Makers Project exhibition at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur between 3 December to 12 December 2021 may purchase tickets priced at RM70 and RM90, which will include the following:
- RM70: includes an exclusive chocolate collection from Chocolate Concierge + The Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood Miniature (5cl) and admittance for one person to the cinematic experience with two complimentary drams.
- RM90: includes an exclusive chocolate collection from Chocolate Concierge + The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask Miniature (5cl) and admittance to the cinematic experience with two complimentary drams.
*BURO readers will also be entitled to a RM10 discount with the code OFF10BURO!
For more information or updates on The Makers Project, follow @TheBalvenieSEA on Instagram.
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