Page 40 - Thirst Magazine Issue 2 June 2017

12th Release -
Old Speyside
1973/2016 43YO
(47.8%) 118 bottles

and is also an ex-Malt Maniac, a prestigious
recognition in the whisky industry. In the
beginning, Eiling’s bottles still had Luc’s
name as recommender but it soon became
unnecessary when the brand quickly gained a
reputation among whisky lovers.
EDUCATING THE LOCAL MARKET

When asked about the biggest obstacle
faced in the Malaysian market, Eiling said
that education is important because many
whisky drinkers don’t really understand that
there are regulations in whisky production.
“I get people who ask me if I ‘made’ these
whiskies (in Malaysia) in my house,” with
a helpless smile.
To be qualified as Scotch whisky, the
spirits have to be produced and distilled in
Scotland, aged in oak barrels for at least 3
years and bottled in Scotland at a minimum
40% ABV. “But I am made in Malaysia!” said
the Ipoh girl cheekily.
ately in the market, we have been Eiling’s surname “Lim” in Chinese is a
getting supplies of rare single cask combination of two “wood” characters – .
whiskies produced in small batches It is apt, as wood is essential to making good
by independent bottlers at reasonable whisky and the calligraphic character on the
Lprices, similar to any commercial label makes the brand stand out.
bottling between RM300 – RM500 per bottle. It is the independent bottler’s mission
Why bother with this if there is already all to introduce more whisky options to the
that supply from the big distilleries? Simply Malaysian market. “I want people to know
so that you can try more variety of whiskies that you have to keep trying different types
that are straight from the cask as their of whisky to find out what your favourite is.
original expression. Lim Eiling is one such Ruling out whisky because you have tried just
independent bottler who was determined to one which happens to be one you don’t like is
introduce more distinctive whiskies to the such a shame.”
Malaysian market by starting the business 3 Though the general market sentiment
years ago in Belgium. is less encouraging, the actual excitement
is among true whisky enthusiasts who are
STARTED AS AN AFTER THOUGHT knowledgeable and appreciate the value of
good content in independent bottlings.
“The first batch of bottling was from a closed
Lowland distillery, Littlemill. When we (with HOW IS A WHISKY CHOSEN
husband Luc Timmermans) bought part of
the barrel, we only wanted to have it because FOR BOTTLING?
it was so good. Bottling was an after-thought Eiling and Luc have to taste 20 to 50 types of
and the start of my independent bottling whisky at every single tasting. Their source
adventure. To date, 13 batches have been would supply them with samples and they
bottled under the Eiling Lim brand.” have to taste them quickly and decide on their
Eiling’s Littlemill 1990 23YO (49.8%ABV) prediction fast. Good whiskies are bought up
ended up in 68 bottles from a shared cask at the speed of lightning and there is simply
that was quickly snatched up before it was no room for procrastination.
even released. “Word gets around quickly and The nose of the whisky is the most
people know when it’s a good whisky,” says important as there is no point bottling
Luc Timmermans, who is an ex-independent something that doesn’t have good aroma to
bottler himself under the Thosop Handwritten start with. Then it is the test of the palate: the
label. He has over 5,000 whisky tastings whisky must have the right flavours and be
from the past 20 years in his whisky library balanced in its taste and finish.

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