The recently released Chivas Ultis XX blended malt Scotch whisky is aged for 20 years

The unique blend of five single malts from legacy brand Chivas Regal was launched at the Ajio Luxe Wkend held in Mumbai

The concept of a speakeasy might be hard to get right in India, but for the launch of Chivas Ultis XX in Mumbai this past weekend, the custom-built lounge hit all the right notes. Behind black container doors, the Ultis Lounge was a jazz-inspired oasis at Ajio Luxe Wkend held at the Jio World Garden; a table for 30 was elegantly set around a raised stage gleaming with cut-glass accents. At the opposite end, the bar was staffed with women from The Pontiac, the famed Hong Kong establishment, currently ranked at number 33 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. 

 On Friday night, it is where Chivas Regal unveiled the Ultis XX–aged for 20 years and featuring a blend of five different malts–to celebrate the house’s five master blenders. The five Speyside malts each bring a distinct flavour to the final product which is bold and buttery, with a sweetness that isn’t usually associated with single malts. 

Over bite-sized canapes, each of which emphasised the component single malt’s various notes, Sam Alexander and Smriti Narendran, Chivas’s scotch whisky ambassadors in India,  guided the guests through the experience. The dishes were made by Sage & Saffron, where chef Akshat Agarwal had included an interactive element to each dish, be it a lemon spray to accompany a bite-sized donut or phyllo-wrapped feta garnished with beetroot-and-cinnamon dust. 

On a reflective glass table, guests played around, taking photos of each dish and reel-ready interactive elements. A quiet hush descended once the explanation was shared, as Alexander and Narendaran took turns to introduce the flavours that each malt brings to the final product. For example, the third course, inspired by the fruity Strathisla Malt, comprised an injection of Granny Smith apple and melon that had to be added to a malted hazelnut and caramelised peach tart. From start to finish, the overall experience highlighted the Tormore, Longmorn, Strathisla, Allt-A-Bhainne and Braeval malts.

Armed with a considerable amount of information, it was now time to taste the Chivas Ultis XX, which is packaged in a distinctive bottle with a closure inspired by a pen-clip. The slimmer flagon sets it apart from the squat design of the Chivas Regal bottle. When had neat, the Ultis has a well-rounded fruitiness with notes of pear and honey. With a few drops of water, the whisky opens up with floral notes to the fore, and a smoother sip. "Our new launch -- the Chivas Ultis XX, aged for  20 years -- is a step further in that direction. It offers a unique blend of five different 20-year-old single malts. With less than one per cent of the millions of casks within our inventory used, each cask is individually hand-selected and nosed. We have ensured only the highest quality is included in a blend worthy of a celebration,” says Kartik Mohindra, CMO, Pernod Ricard India.

For those seeking a further immersion, Jen Queen and the team from The Pontiac were on hand to guide drinkers through a sensory journey that emphasised the dram’s flavour profile. Guests were encouraged to inhale charred rosemary and cinnamon to understand its earthy, menthol-like qualities, following which a banana chip topped with dark chocolate was tasted before sipping on the Ultis to see how both flavours are made distinctive.

Chivas Ultis XX is a unique blend that brings together five single malts in a surprisingly complex yet mellow pour. With an appeal that spreads across drinkers who look exclusively at age statements (in this case, 20 years) and those that have progressed through the Chivas range, it is an exciting new addition to the country’s whisky landscape.

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