An Unhurried Christmas with Glengoyne at Cutler
December in Melbourne is a marathon of deadlines, dinners and deflating inflatable Santas. If your festive spirit’s feeling more frazzled than fizzing, here’s the cure. On Wednesday 19 November, Fitzroy’s Cutler will host An Unhurried Christmas with Glengoyne, a one-night-only whisky masterclass led by Glengoyne’s Global Brand Ambassador, Gordon Dundas.
He’s flying in from Scotland to show us how the Highland distillery does Christmas: slowly, deliberately and with an eye for detail. Glengoyne has been doing things the unhurried way since 1833, distilling its whisky through Scotland’s slowest stills to coax out a smoother, more complex spirit. Think of it as the patient person’s reward for waiting their turn at the bar.
The evening begins with a Honey Bee cocktail, a bright mix of Glengoyne 10 Year Old, lemon, honey and ginger ale. It’s paired with bites like pea and curd tartlets and yellowfin tuna on toast to set the mood before the main event: a guided tasting of Glengoyne’s 12 Year Old, Cask Strength, and the show-stopping 21 Year Old single malts.
Cutler’s kitchen will keep pace with the pours, serving dishes designed to bring out the whiskies’ layers. Expect truffled Emmental gougères with the 12 Year Old’s apple-and-toffee lift, wood-grilled beef rib to complement the Cask Strength’s bold spice, and scallops in butter to match the 21 Year Old’s deep sherry warmth. Dessert follows, naturally, because whisky and chocolate are an underrated marriage.
Between drams, Dundas will share insights from decades in the Scotch world. And if you’re wondering; a “dram” isn’t an exact measurement but rather a friendly Scottish term for “a small pour of whisky,” usually around 30ml. It’s the kind of pour you sip, not shoot.
Whisky Tips for the Night
- Don’t swirl it like wine. The high alcohol can knock out your nose before you even get a whiff of the good stuff.
- Add a drop of water. It opens up the aromas and softens the alcohol’s edge. Just don’t drown it.
- Hold the ice. At least until you’ve tasted it neat first. Whisky at room temperature reveals its full character.
- Breathe through your nose and mouth. You’ll pick up flavours you never knew existed from baked apples to toffee and spice.
Tickets are $89 per person and include the full guided tasting, cocktail, and matched dining experience. There’s only one night to catch it, and seats are limited, so don’t sleep on it.
Whether you’re a whisky enthusiast or simply whisky-curious, this is Christmas done right... unhurried, unpretentious, and deliciously informative.
Experience modern Australian dishes crafted with seasonal produce in a refined yet welcoming industrial setting, featuring an open kitchen.
Experience modern Australian dishes crafted with seasonal produce in a refined yet welcoming industrial setting, featuring an open kitchen.