The week in pictures: Hong Kong

With Vinexpo now a distant memory, dbHK was gripped by auction fever and sank spirits with the defiantly non conformist author of the Whisky Bible, Jim Murray.

Christie’s head of wine, Simon Tam at the helm of its spring ‘super sale’ which saw a bottle of Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 2005 go for HK$343,000 (US$44,000), well above its high estimate. 

Bruno Guignard, winemaker of Chateau d’Uza in Graves discusses his wines at Business France’s Graves and Pessac-Leognan tasting held in the swish environs of the French Consulate.

Aye, behold: One of the last surviving producers of Campbeltown single malts in the southern Kintyre peninsula, Springbank’s aged whiskies were in the spotlight at Zachys’ May pre-auction tasting held at Club Qing in Central.

A rare chance to experience The Last Drop 50-year-old in Crown Wine Cellars, courtesy of Ben Howkins, director of The Last Drop Distillers and Beanie Espey, sales and marketing director and daughter of founder and Chairman, James Espey. 

A raucous evening at Crown Wine Cellars ensued with the inimitable world whisky expert, Jim Murray hosting an eclectic tasting of The Last Drop 50 year old, Hibiki 21 year old and 2016 Whisky Bible winner, Canada’s Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye which scored 97.5pts. Murray also ventured some of his closely guarded whisky tasting secrets including black coffee to neutralise his palate – and led guests through the ‘Murray Method’ which includes warming the whisky to body temperature before tasting and never adding ice or water – “none of this whisky diluting crap, please.”

Chateau Palmer was the star of the show at Sotheby’s recent sale which saw the first ever offering of a barrel of 2015’s vintage up for grabs. The pre-auction tasting also highlighted other exciting lots, including Palmer 1970 and 1961.

One of Hong Kong’s best loved dining destinations, Bibo hosted its second year anniversary (a lifetime for Hong Kong’s fast-paced restaurant scene) complete with DJs, decks and daiquiris. 

The Bibo team in celebration mode, including sommelier, Wallace Lo enjoying a rare night off.