A hidden whisky school is coming to Manchester where you can blend your own batch and take it home

At some point on the path to adulthood, most of us will wake up one day with the  realisation that Scotch is the epitome of sophistication.

We’re talking real deal, owning-more-than-two-good-pairs of shoes sophistication. It’s like when you discover that coffee doesn’t actually taste like bitter soil mixed with water and wine doesn’t taste like sour grapes. Or when you finally figure out the appeal of golf, although we’re still waiting on that one.

If you fancy upping your sophistication game in the new year, or know someone who is partial to a glass of the good stuff, we’ve got some good news.

There’s a whisky school coming to Manchester.

While degrees in booze are a very real and beautiful thing, usually the institutes dishing them out also offer classes in English Literature and Modern History, with 20 page thesis deadlines due every other weekend.

That’s not the case for students of the The Blend, a pop-up whisky joint coming to Manchester in the new year courtesy of Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury Scotch whisky.

It’s an opportunity for you to hone your skills and create your own bespoke, blended whisky in an intimate and captivating setting.

It’s a well known fact that when you truly love a spirit, it’s important to know as much as possible about it, or at least be able to effectively BS about it.

So you’ll learn all about the heritage and history of premium whisky, including the origins of single malt and grain whiskies.

You’ll have the chance to sample different malts with flavours varying from creamy, smoky, citrus, fruity and floral, as well as delicate grain Scotch whisky. It’s the perfect opportunity to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to pretend you know what you’re talking about next time you’re at an exclusive dinner party.

You’ll get to study the craftsmanship of a master blender and learn how the different flavour notes are blended to create the distinctive Chivas Regal house style.

You’ll then have the chance to sip from your own sample bottles, decide which flavour combinations you prefer, then blend them together to create your own bespoke bottle of Scotch.

You’ll even get to name it before you take it home.

The Blend’s new bespoke event space is a bar in its own right, reminiscent of the famous Manhattan speakeasies, and promises to be the latest jewel on Manchester’s vibrant night scene.

Whether you consider yourself an expert or a complete novice, a visit to The Blend will let you master a new craft and bring out the whisky expert in you. At the very least, you’ll feel like a sophisticated city slicker for an evening.

First release tickets for the hour long Art of Blending experiences start at £15, including a complimentary Chivas cocktail and a 200ml bottle of your own bespoke blended whisky.

The Blend, hosted by Chivas Regal, is opening its doors to the general public at 13 Quay Street, on 23 February 2018. You’ll want to be there.

Bookings are being taken now. Get on it.

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