At the Norwood Room, Basin Reserve, Mount Cook, Wellington 6021
(South end of Kent and Cambridge Terrace, entrance under the RA Vance stand - then turn left).
........

It's time once again to pit the best whiskies of the year against each other in our perennial end-of-year whisky fest known as Best of the Best.

Here's the cracking lineup as chosen by tasters over the course of the year...

• Blackadder Ben Nevis 25 Year Old 1996 Statement 41 Raw Cask 51.9%
• The Boutique-y Whisky Company Secret Distillery 2008/9yo 60.5%
• Elements of Islay 'Beach Bonfire' Feis Isle 2023 54.5%
• Caol Ila 'Adelphi' DramFest 2025 2014 / 10 years old 54% Ex-sherry hogshead
• Craigellachie 'Signatory' 2012 / 11 years old 68.2%
• Caol Ila 'Gordon & MacPhail' Sassicaia Cask Finish 2009 / 13 YO 45%
• Mystery Whisky

There will of course also be palate-cleansing beer supplied by Kereru and the address to the haggis, then served as a taster with neeps & tatties matched with Kereru's Beast in Show Scotch Ale.

It will be amazing, it will be outrageous, and at the end, we will find out which whisky is the best of the best for 2025.

Basin Reserve Cricket Ground, Norwood Room

Cancellations must be made no later than 72hrs in advance..

If sold out - please email John at online@regionalwines.co.nz to be placed on the wait list.

Upstairs at Regional Wines

It's never too early to start getting into the festive spirit!

Join JC from Maison Vauron for a decadent evening of top-flight champagne and caviar. Taste grower champagnes from exceptional producers and grand crus vineyards both non-vintage and vintage - and pair caviar served first neat as a "bump" and then as a canape with stunning cool climate bubblies from the chalky limestone soils of this infamous region.

Here's the lineup...

• Saincharny Crémant de Bourgogne ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Brut NV - welcome drink
• Charles Orban Champagne Carte Noire Brut NV 
• Albert Le Brun Champagne Grand Cru Brut NV 
• Pierre Peter Champagne ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Brut NV 
• Lacourte Godbillon Champagne ‘Terroir d’Ecueil’ Brut NV 
• Laherte & Freres Champagne Extra Brut ‘Ultradition’ NV 
• Nathalie Falmet Champagne ‘Œil de Perdrix’ NV 
• Pierre Moncuit Champagne Extra Brut Vintage 2014

Accompanied by cheese and bread.

 .....................................

At Regional Wines, Beers and Spirits - 15 Ellice Street, Wellington 6011.

Cancellations must be made no later than 48hrs in advance.

If sold out - please email John at online@regionalwines.co.nz to be placed on the waitlist.

We're squeezing one last exciting tasting into the year, and we are hoping you can join Daniel Bruce McLaren as he tastes his way through a lineup of eight exciting releases from one of Islay's most famous distilleries - Ardbeg.

Here's the lineup...

Ardbeg 17YO 40%
Ardbeg Vintage Y2K 23 year old 46%
Ardbeg Anamorphic 48.2%
Ardbeg Anthology 15 YO 'The Beithir’s Tale 15 Years Old' 46%
Ardbeg BizarreBQ 50.9%
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Committee Release 50.2%
Mystery Whisky

At Regional Wines

Cancellations must be made no later than 48hrs in advance.

If sold out - please email John at online@regionalwines.co.nz to be placed on the waitlist.