Text by Christy Yoong & Janice Teh
Now, here’s a thought: if you’re looking for a place that best embody the rare virtues of Hennessy’s cognac par excellence Paradis, look no further than Penang. The island state has always carried its heritage proudly, and it’s little wonder that Hennessy chose this historical location for a recent culinary expedition that celebrated the luxurious enjoyment of life, awakening the senses to the timeless heritage and cultures of Malaysia with Paradis cognac.
Subtle and Elegant
Our getaway started, fittingly enough, in the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, the grande dame of George Town. This bastion of heritage has been welcoming guests for 135 years, remaining a byword for timeless style and elegance, much like Hennessy itself. A welcome lunch at Palm Court with Nausicaa Charrier, the Marketing Director of Moët Hennessy Singapore & Malaysia, was heightened with a cognac tasting session with Chong Wai Keng, the Brand Ambassador of Moët Hennessy Malaysia, who also shared more in-depth information about Hennessy Paradis.
A Hennessy masterclass, held by the hotel pool, followed, where we gathered to make cocktails with Hennessy VSOP. The day ended with dinner at Planter’s Lounge, where we enjoyed Hennessy XO aperitifs with views of the sunset over the pool.
The Lingering Aftertaste
Early the next morning, we headed out to one of the island’s best-kept secrets. Located on the northeastern coast of Penang, the Tropical Spice Garden is Asia’s Hidden Eden. It’s a bio-diverse living museum of spices and other tropical plants that have shaped global history. Its five landscaped acres are a treasure trove of more than 500 living specimens of lush and exotic flora from around the world. Our guided tour was an eye-opening encounter with botanical glory and a deeper appreciation for how nature has shaped our history.
The same evening was the culmination of this Hennessy Paradis journey. A farewell dinner, at The White by CaTCH 10 on Jalan Burma, featured a delicious modern blend of European cuisine with an exquisite taste of Asian twist that served to highlight Hennessy Paradis. This lively Hennessy Paradis Sustainable Pairing Dinner has been carefully crafted to showcase the cognac’s great length of flavour with refreshing, zingy and lively acidity flavours. It was marvellous to discover the harmonious finesse found in every sculpted cognac decanter of Hennessy Paradis and a fitting end to a unique escapade.
SUBHD: Just A Taste
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Giving forth voluptuous and harmonious aromas, Hennessy Paradis is a blend of the most precious eaux-de-vie, conjuring up a delightfully supple, light and rounded cognac. Created by the sixth-generation Master Blender Maurice Fillioux in 1979. Hennessy Paradis is an exceptional cognac defined by its graceful, silky character, highlighting finely nuanced and balanced aromatic qualities. Its coppery gold colours are an indication of the many years it has spent ageing in old casks.
A blend of more than 100 kinds of eaux-de-vie that have been aged for up to 130 years. Hennessy Paradis is the epitome of harmony, delicacy and sophistication. Embodying the beauty of simplicity, Hennessy Paradis is housed in a stunning decanter designed by Italian artist Ferruccio Laviani.
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