Black Dog – The Unending Saga

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Over the last 30 days I have been writing about my favorite and one of the world’s finest scotch, Black Dog and still I feel I have so much to write. Yep, all good things in life can be praised endlessly and when it comes to an amber colored perfectly blended scotch, reasons are all the more.

 What all do I count –

 How it calms me down?

How it stands for me to be synonymous with luxury?

How me and Baba bond over it every single time?

How it helped me treat my friends after my first job?

How it stands for my country, India, evolving when it comes to knowing its scotch?

How women like me who enjoy scotch today are seeing Black Dog as a sign of gender neutrality?

How the various wonderful entertaining evenings the brand brings, each brings in just more and more happiness?

How I look forward to a snug evening with my glass of perfectly blended aromas and taste and then how in turn I also look up to when it comes to enjoying the evening in a posh setting?

How it soothes my croaking throat and my runny nose and then how my man pours me a drink to woo my heart?

How I discover every single time a new blend of chocolate that goes perfectly with the brand?

How I discover to use the drink to innovate lip smacking recipes?

How the brand converts me to a food lover with my curiosity to pair it with various dishes?

How it helps me smile, muse, philosophize and then again be the giggling teenage girl who might not be aware of her age, but knows her drinks

 I love the brand and I love how I don’t find a single blot in its rich 130 year old history *touchwood*. I love it some more and could continue writing. However, I must stop now. There’s a glass of the Reserve Black Dog by my side and I raise a toast to all good things that life has to offer. I just hope and pray that all my loved ones have enough reasons so that my toasts are unending and Black Dog keeps flowing in all those joyous occasions. Cheers!

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The Game Patience, Perfection – The Game of Black Dog History

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Yayyy, things did work out. I filed my tax proofs and I think they went it through. I will not know – but still I have done everything I could – and that is what matters right? It has been a roller coaster year and I am glad it is finally over. ISB happened and then there was joining a new job. Just when I thought I was settling in Mumbai – there was uprooting to Gurgaon. Somewhere I did wonder where was life taking me. Hey, but here 6 months into this job I feel pretty settled *touchwood*. Yes, it is indeed not a time for victory dance, but what the heck, I think I have earned myself a little bit of letting down of hair. Let me rejoice till life throws in a new challenge I say.

 Speaking of challenges, you know what exactly is a tough challenge – upkeeping the 130 year old history – that Black Dog, world’s finest scotch, seems to be doing with perfection. I do not know who these master blenders are, but trust me, I would bow to them when I met them. Day after day bottling the most perfect scotch is no easy feat. Yet, they do it and keep the flag of the brand soaring high.

Each bottle of the brand has the distinct aroma that sets Black Dog apart from the other brands. It is almost like there is no competition. Like this one in my hand – the Reserve edition has the most perfect woody and musky smell ever. Then the taste of fruits – oranges, marzipan, peaches and all – how do they blend them all so perfectly – there’s a tinge of spice and a hint of sweetness – every time I sip it is as if I am immersing myself in the lap of luxury. The after tastes of bitter chocolates and liquorices, do the trick for aftertaste after the sugar and spice combination.

 Perfection takes time and for a bottle like this it took 21 years of dark warehouses and endless care. Have you ever seen how one financial year of 12 months and we are already heaving and lamenting . No wonder they say that the best of things in life come with patience. As for me, all I can say is that I am glad that the masters at Black Dog have patience so that I can reap the fruit ;)

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Black Dog Calms Me Down

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Oh God, what a crazy day. I am running from pillar to post managing my investment proofs. The last moment hitches owing to a misunderstanding with HR and all this while I had thought that I had things within my control. Gosh, I don’t know what I will do. Even as I type this post I am nervous. I am sitting here this evening all tensed up with my glass of scotch, Black Dog for company. The 130 year old luxury drink is doing its best to calm me down – the amber colored liquid shining like gold with shimmer looks to me like a smile the sun is showering on me. Only I wish, the sun tomorrow is just as jolly. The smell of musk and wood – is oh so heavenly – it reminds me of the masculine smell I loved once on someone – gosh how I miss those strong arms but I am too proud to admit. However, there is another side too, the sweetness of the Seveille oranges, molten marzipan and peaches remind me of how sweet life was when all these Tax liabilities need not have been bothered about – childhood whisked by too fast now I feel. I wish life just does a turn and everything works out today. The lingering after taste of bitter chocolate and liquorices remind me that all things after they pass away do leave an after taste and that is determined by how we have perceived the experience.

 5 sips down and I can already feel my nerves relaxing a bit. It must have been a difficult job for the master blenders too, make this liquid to perfection without actually touching it. They too must have been tensed, irritated and bugged beyond explanation. However, the truth is that they did manage to conjure up this wonderful drink which for me is best in the world. Black Dog has a 130 year heritage and I am sure it must have seen the other side of the day too.

 I feel the same would be with me, everything would eventually work out. Coz as they say if things don’t it is not the end. I am sure that if not perfect I will pull through learning my lessons and then someday maybe perfectly blend in too, just like this bottle of Black Dog.

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Holi Hai aur Black Dog Na Ho?

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“Holi kab hai, kab hai holi?” – this dialogue has been made immortal by Sholay and is still doing rounds

 For a color loving person like me, Holi comes with a different flavor altogether. During childhood my Holi began with me eagerly listening to my grandmother’s stories from mythology  and loved how Krishna wooed Radha. Then I would join the other kids of the neighborhood and we would drench ourselves till wee hours into early evening.

 Leaving home I tried to make Holi memorable wherever I lived and last year was one of the best Holi affairs ever. ISB spelt magic entire year around – however Holi was completely a different ball game. The mood at the campus is usually upbeat because the placements are done and thus even the authorities join in the fun. The shallow mirror pools are filled with myriad colour water and the drums and barrels kept aside spell color and some more color. Bhang is served till the last of the student pleads that he cannot drink another drop more.

 For my gang however, the festival had much more than above. Being the designated cook, I was asked to serve breakfast to the entire group – canteen breakfast would do was the chant. I dunno how but I did innovate and make bhang pancakes for 15 people served with freshly whipped cream laced with some more bhang and maple syrup. I innovated with the bhang batter and thus it wasn’t the usual milk water proportion – the world class friends deserved a little bit more – they deserved the taste of one of the world’s finest whiskeys in place of water, thus I used Black Dog. The concoction turned out to be amazing and the pancakes where over even before I could ask anyone for second helpings.  One of them quipped about how there was a distinct woody aroma and how there was a lingering smell of oranges and peaches when I smiled and told them that I had laced the batter with Black Dog. Black Dog has over 130 years stood as the stoic symbol of royalty, luxury and rich heritage – my friends stood just like that all through the most important year of my life and thus it was an ode to them.

 The moment I told them about Black Dog, they stood up and bowed and gave the ISB special group hug before we went out to play Holi. Yup, I was touched by their display of emotions and them making my holi so special. The real hero however as usual remained Black Dog.

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Cruising Along and Singing The Black Dog Song

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Have you heard of Greenock?

If you haven’t, could you please put aside the ticking clock?

I am here you see, to take a slice of your time,

I know you are important and wasting your precious resource would be a crime.

But then, how can I not enlighten you about this magnificent port,

About its history, the hidden gems and the mysteries that hold fort!

A traditional pipers welcome awaits you there,

Trust me when I say that is one of the world’s fanciest fare.

Encircled by the magnificent views across to the mountains and beyond,

To the to and fro ships that share with the land an unspoken bond.

History says that the name means a sunny land,

To me however, it seems a land which was touch by a magic wand.

Then there’s another school that speaks about a local song – The Green Oak Tree,

However let me ask you not to strain your eyes as no green oak can ever be spotted here by thee.

It evolved from being a small fishing village to a luxurious and natural deepawater port,

The friendliness and character for which Scotland is well renowned will make this city the one you shall forever dote.

It boasts of viewpoints like  Long Long, Holy Loch , Loch Goil, Gareloch, the Argyll Hills and a number of Munros on a clear day,

An ideal for lovers, for it makes them fall in love with each other in a uniquely new way.

The luxurious cruises by the quay, when the sky turns orange and blue,

Will leave you to wonder, how little mankind knows of this hue.

Sipping on the world’s finest scotch, Black Dog, then you shall try to soak in all that lies before you,

Trust me the mix of luxurious drinks and fine living on the cruise is a novelty that blesses very few.

They say Greenock is un spoilt by the vices of the human race,

It is thus a city filled with beauty, elegance and grace,

What made our ride all the more enjoyable was the company of a drink just as rich, royal and luxurious,

With a 130 year old history, the Black Dog brand indeed has a heritage which is glorious.

Go discover the Scottish waters, dine by the quay,

Make you however that to Black Dog’s tune you sway.

Trust me, nothing will make the getaway more memorable,

Than having Scotland in the backdrop, the presence of your loved one and the bottle of Black Dog on the table!!!!  :)

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Totten = Best Impersonator, Black Dog = Best Original Scotch

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Impersonating is not a good thing – my grandmother told me once. You should be yourself and no way play to be somebody else. True, thus I never was a part of the sheep mentality and did turn out to be unique – weird :P

However, for Melissa Totten things are different. When the original Madonna stepped in to rate her to be the best impersonator in the world, I am sure my grandmother if around would roll her eyes and say “of course exceptions are always there”. What is credible about her is definitely the fact that she can impersonate the best qualities of her idol. She croons to perfection, dresses to leave an impact and yes her presence does set the stage on fire.  

Totten surely enjoys being pop diva Madonna’s lookalike, as it gives her the chance to travel across the globe. Melissa’s career started in Chicago in 1988 when she was first approached (on a city bus) to do occasional lookalike work for celebrity themed corporate events. Then it was more of a playing dress up event for her and she was unaware of an entire industry out there that was looking out for people like her. In 1991, friends started to realized that the Chicago Tribune’s reported, “Madonna sightings” were actually Melissa (Madonna was in town filming “A League of Their Own”), and the amused columnists called her in for an interview.  The next day her photo hit the papers and thus history was witness to what happened afterwards.

Black Dog apart from being one of the best scotch whiskey, I have ever tasted, also organizes Black Dog Easy Evenings where they give invite only guests a slice of the celebrity life. It didn’t come to me as a surprise when Totten was a part of the Black Dog’s Madonna Forever tour. Across 6 cities in India it was the event of a lifetime. I visited one in Kolkata and closely followed the tour in general. For the first time I also got to see a limo being brought into picture to promote a tour. For Black Dog luxury and fine living are the brand highlights which, makes them the brand they are today. They truly personify the kind of celebrity life one lives when one is a Black Dog connoisseur. I may not drive a limo yet, but when brands with whom you associate so closely with puts out there celebs and such luxurious experiences, going by the law of 6 degrees of separation you are just 2 degrees away from Madonna or Totten. That my mate, surely is a wonderful feeling to raise a toast to luxury :)

Cheers!

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Not Cheers, Say Yumm with Black Dog :)

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I love spring mornings, they fill me up with enthusiasm and energy which I often spend by lounging on my terrace swing and singing our aloud. Yes, in the process I do hear some windows shit, but frankly my darling I don’t give a damn!

 Saturday morning the Spring Goddess decided to bless me with what I called a picture perfect morning. I lazed around before I started my work schedule and sang along all my favorite songs as the playlist blared from the computer.

I was tired by the time I reached office. You see, favorite songs also deserve a dance along sequence and how could I miss out on that? As a result by the time evening rolled in I had a voice worse than a croaking frog. The worst was a very close mate was throwing a Saturday evening party and I didn’t want to go there and whine about my state in a croaking voice. I called her up to cancel from my end but she wasn’t ready to hear a ‘no’. I tried explaining that I wouldn’t even be able to enjoy my usual rounds of Black Dog scotch and thus it wasn’t worth it. I mean you go to a party where you want to let your hair down with friends over a peg of one of the world’s favorite scotch and then fate pulls you down – wouldn’t you feel cheated? However, her puppy pout was better than mine and as usual I gave into her demand, however made her promise to cook something for me which would uplift my mood. She agreed happily and this made me wonder what’s got into my friend who usually runs away from the kitchen on all occasions. Almost.

 Anyway, the evening arrived and sulking I made my way to her house. The guests had already started pouring in and I communicated with all of them through sign language. One of them made talk so that he could laugh at my expense. Meanie – but what the heck that’s what guy friends are for ;)

As their raised their glasses to toast to our friendship they all ‘aww’d’ seeing me raise my glass of lukewarm water. However, just then the hostess appeared with a bowl of soup and asked me to toast with it. I gave her the ‘are you kidding me look’ while the others sniggered and laughed. She whispered ‘ just do it’ and I rolled my eyed, muttered curses and raised my bowl. The customary sip to your drink after a toast made me take in mine and I was blown away~! “What on earth is it” I hollered as I smacked my lips. The host smiled and gave me an ‘I told you so look’ and asked me what all I could taste. So I counted, woody musky flavor, a slight hint of bitter chocolate, molten marzipan and spices. As I counted I shrieked – OMG this a soup with my favorite scotch Black Dog and her smile confirmed it. I hugged her tight for making me feel so special and insisted that she tell me the recipe. By the way, in the meanwhile I had stored away the rest of the soup as seeing my reaction everyone wanted to taste it and it was my turn to be mean.

She then told me that she had made the famous “Arbroath smokie cream soup” however altered it a bit and instead of whiskey had used my favorite scotch and left out the fish. I was over the moon and trust me I was in the land of Food Heaven that evening. I think I even sent up a little prayer for begetting the sore throat. Else how would I know that Black Dog in a soup form is just as delicious and makes for luxurious enjoyment. Yummm and Cheers all the way! :)

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Black Dog and A Lesson In Gender Eqaulity

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Ah, where were we? Ah right, contemplating over what R said that made me stop stand and look at me as if he were from Mars. Here was what he said -

R: Isn’t scotch an unlikely drink for a lady? It is too hard and un lady like. You should get yourself a vodka or a gin. I am not even sure half the ladies who drink it even know how to!

It was enough for me to raise my glass against the mellow sunlight flooding the ground around me and watch the shimmering golden highlights and tell him the history of Black Dog - how it spread over 130 years, hailed from Scotland, the importance of the right malts being fermented in the special Scottish waters. Or, if he knew about the dark barrels in which the liquid lay, how it was made by expert blenders who made sure that during the entire process, the liquid was devoid of human touch. Then I moved to how show him the aroma is to be inhaled. Holding the glass near my nose, but not very close, whiffing in the woody musky aroma with the sway of my hand. R was stunned. I did not stop there but, instead I went on and took a sip and let the liquid roll on my tongue for about 10 seconds and then told him about the burst of fruits – from Seville oranges to peaches and marzipan and as I gulped the after taste of bitter chocolate and liquorices.

I asked him then – if that was enough or is there anything extra a lady should know about a drink which a man according to him knows, that makes him enjoy his scotch better.

He was visibly embarrassed and me offended enough not to bother about the colour of his ears. So, I continued to tell him about a lady who made me appreciate scotch in days when drinking was a taboo – my mother. I told him how I loved her way of being sure of her drink and how I have seen her know her drink and to enjoy it rather than giving into the herd mentality and just drinking to fit in. Just before I walked away, I sarcastically commented that it is indeed not for a local beer guzzler to know what a sip of one of the world’s best scotch holds. Black Dog, was definitely not for narrow minded people and thus I am not surprised that he passed the comment.

I felt empowered by the drink in my hand and since I am a responsible drinker I told all the above in my full senses.

Black Dog, through its enriching and regal history just added to my confidence. Thank You Black Dog for helping me dish out that dose of gender equality :)

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The “What Do You Think Happened Next” Game and Black Dog

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At a party recently:

 Hostess: Hey S, why are you without a drink? Can I get you something?

 Me: No darling, I’ll help myself. You know I love pouring my own drinks.

 She smiles and leaves me to be at it. I walk up to the makeshift bar at one of the Sainik Farm houses which are so well known for their brunches, extravagant parties and marriages.

 I usually keep at bay from parties, however I love brunches. There’s nothing more soothing than to while away a later spring morning that converts into a warm afternoon surrounded by the best blooms of the seasons and laughter. It was a gathering where I could chat and not feel  conscious, yet another check list met for me.

 I reached the bar, submerged in my thoughts of how much I love such parties and smiling at the warm hospitality and the bright sunny smiles that spoke for itself about the good times we were having. As I surveyed the counter, I hear a familiar clearing of the throat. I turn around to see R smiling at me. Me and R share a history, I liked his brother once and unfortunately his brother wasn’t a good fit to be liked  by normal people. Hey, before you judge me, we’ve all had our share of bad boys and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. So, while that was a bad choice, R and I have kept in touch on an irregular basis.

That particular afternoon I was meeting him after about more than a year. I smiled at him and raised an eyebrow seeing a glass of beer in his hand. R was one of those who counted calories even in the air he inhaled, or so the joke went. He smiled and whispered “taking a break from looking fit” – the other eyebrow automatically followed the lead. I smirked and looked away and was contemplating whether to order a cocktail or stick to my usual when R pitched in to order on my behalf. He asked for a vodka and lime cordial, when I put my hand on his to stop him and instead asked for my all time favorite – Black Dog over 8 cubes of ice. It was now his turn for the eyebrows to go up I think and they did. As I raised my glass to raise a toast to the afternoon and we started walking towards the bunch, I could feel he was dying to tell me something. I probed a bit and it didn’t take him much time to give it away …

What he said, made me stop midway and look at him in utter surprise – can you guess what was it?

Try, till I enjoy my glass of Black Dog here ;) Cheers!

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Black Dog Helps Me Plan A Surprise – Part II

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Picking up threads from the last post, let us continue on the surprise that I planned keeping in my Lindt and Black Dog and Baba’s warning look that said “Do not mess with my favorite scotch”.

I reached the factory a little late, as I got lost in the beauty of the Zurich lake and spent an hour wandering down its shore line. Yes, the lost child attitude of mine comes out quite often. At the factory, I decided that I shouldn’t act like the kid in the candy store – but then when it has the option of being true literally, how can you avoid? My only note to self was – pick up variety that will help in the pairing game. And I did, I picked up 5 varieties of chocolates and wrapped them in same packages.

I was all set for the evening and when it did arrive I was excited to try it out. Out came the glasses and our favorite bottle of Black Dog. Just as my sister was to reach out for the munchies that would go with the drink, I hurried to stop her from doing so. Giving me a quizzical look she sat down with others. We were 5 of us (including me) and I handed each one a wrapped package containing a bar of chocolate- the game was to pair the chocolate you’ve got with your own glass of scotch and then tell us the taste that accentuates well with Black Dog 21 year old.

To kick start it, I opened mine and found A dark Chocolate Truffle (yes I cheated, I know!) and was thrilled, and took a bite. As I took a sip of Black Dog afterwards, the taste of sweet mangoes was accentuated with the bitter taste of chocolate.

Ma got a bar of Liquor chocolate and loved it too as she took a bite. She then sipped Black Dog and told us that the chocolate accentuated the taste of oranges that is present in Black Dog.

Jiju paired it with Lindt white chocolate and told us about the accentuated taste of ginger spice lingering on his palate.

For Didi who got the Hazelnut truffle bar of Lindt, Black Dog helped her discover the aftertaste of liquorices.

Lastly, when Baba tried out his Lindt mini macaroons, which had little cocao he exclaimed that this was the perfect pairing as it helped him discover the after taste of bitter chocolate.

Yes, it was fun discovering the various tastes that Black Dog, one of the world’s finest scotch, accentuated through the pairing. The intense amber gold, with shimmering highlights liquid, coupled with the aroma of soft peaches and ripe citrus fruits coupled with pear, marzipan and bergamot, truly made the evening a memorable one!

Thank you once again Black Dog and yes, Cheers!

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