In search of something more luxurious than your standard spirits and drinks? New Asia Pacific distribution company Paragon Trading – led by Chairman and CEO Christopher Liang – has amassed a collection of worldwide brands that stock the most prestigious of products.
From hand-harvested New Zealand Pinot Noirs to the smoothest Irish whiskey and gin, and a Fortune Global 500 company-backed futuristic water… we take a closer look.
Premium Wine from Gladstone Vineyard, New Zealand
According to New Zealand Winegrowers, the global demand for wine from the country has remained strong in markets such as the UK and the US – and when you consider the industry’s reputation for distinct, premium, and sustainable wines, it’s no surprise it’s the island-nation’s sixth-largest export, reaching over 100 countries.
The Gladstone Vineyard is located in the central sub-region of the Wairarapa valley, home to the first plantings of Pinot Noir in New Zealand dating as far back as the 1880s. Gladstone Vineyard was first planted in 1986, and today has vineyards along the river terraces of the Ruamahanga River – where the optimal ripening conditions have created the Wairarapa’s uniquely rich and concentrated grapes.
Some of the standouts from Gladstone Vineyard include the Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir, which were both awarded 90 points by Cameron Douglas, New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier, and given four stars by Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide. And the Gladstone Vineyard Dakins Road Pinot Noir and Blairpatrick Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 are equally distinguished – with gorgeous textures and aromatic flavour profiles.
Gladstone is committed to environmental responsibility – producing healthy, high-quality grapes using organic principles and reducing its carbon impact through measures such as using 80 per cent recycled lightweight wine bottles, reusing packaging, and buying from local and environmentally-friendly suppliers where possible.
The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey and An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin, distilled at Sliabh Liag Distillers
The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey is true to name – a smooth blended Irish whiskey full of flavour. Inspired by folklore and mythical legend, it’s carefully distilled at Sliabh Liag Distillers in the mountainous County Donegal of Ireland.
The original whiskey has a rich and layered flavour profile, opening with fruity (including citrusy orange zest and green apple) notes and follows with honey, butter and floral undertones. Then maltiness and even a touch of ginger. The Dark Silkie is smokier, with hints of apple and salted-caramel sweetness developing to dark chocolate, liquorice and oak. And the core collection is completed with the smokiest Midnight Silkie, with four triple distilled single malts and a triple distilled peated single malt at its heart.
Named after an Irish folk song, An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin is the first gin distilled in County Donegal. It pays homage to an older time, with each bottle wax-sealed and given a batch number linked to the lunar phases. In order to capture the “Daíocht na Farraige” (the magic of the sea), Sliabh Liag Distillers use five locally harvested varieties of seaweed, as well as six other botanicals to make An Dúlamán – making it as unique as the Donegal coast.
An Dúlamán has a characteristic complexity and softness, evoking the “dry tang of a sea breeze over [the] wild coastline”. The seaweeds include Sweet Kombu, Dulse, Pepper Dulse, Dulaman and superfood Carrageen Moss, which bring an authentic and innovative “umami” twist to the gin category. The flavour profile includes a brisk salt, citrus and spice and, of course, the umami taste.
Plastic-free beWater™ Phenomenal, in partnership with Ball Corporation
Partnering with Fortune Global 500 company Ball Corporation – known for its innovative, sustainable aluminium packaging – beWater™ Phenomenal is putting a mission to eliminate single-use plastic bottles by making water better at the heart of its product.
One million plastic bottles are used and consumed every minute, with 91% of them ending up in the oceans or landfills. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, making beWater™ Phenomenal a stylish environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic-bottled water that is commonly available today.
beWater™ Phenomenal Pure is a still water produced in Vietnam from municipal water sources, and filtered with ISO-certified advanced reverse osmosis and UV light. Using municipal water reduces the impact on the natural water table, especially in one of the fastest sinking areas in the world. The beWater™ Phenomenal Sparkling Mineral Water is similarly purified before being enhanced with natural minerals for a fresh and clean taste. Environmentally friendly, socially sustainable and convenient.
And as the official water of the Vietnam government, beWater™ Phenomenal is supporting initiatives across Southeast Asia and globally to ban single-use plastic – starting in Vietnam, which will eliminate single-use plastic by 2025.
The post Premium Drinks: Fine Wine, Exceptional Whiskey, Gin & ESG-friendly Water by Paragon Trading Asia appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.