Meet TIMAH, the first Malaysian-made award-winning whiskey, a well-crafted blend of two aged peated malts, and a neutral spirit of Malaysian origin.
We were invited to attend its official virtual launch in early October, which was officiated by Mr. Gilbert Yeo & Mr. Kenny Yeo; the directors of Winepak Corporation, the firm that founded and produced TIMAH. The event also featured a live cocktail-making demonstration by YouTuber, Whiskey Folks.
Why TIMAH Whiskey?
The word TIMAH means ‘tin’ in Malay, which harkens back to the tin mining era of British Malaya. It also symbolises Captain Speedy, the iconic face on the bottle. He was a key player in re-establishing order and peacekeeping back in the 19th century Larut War, which was a result of the conflict in the mining areas. He was also the person who introduced whiskey to Malaya. TIMAH is an embodiment of his courageous spirit and thirst for adventure.
Taste, Aromatics and More
TIMAH is a double-peated whiskey, and the extra peat gives it its characteristic smoky flavours and aromatics. On the nose, its light, fruity which boasts a harmonious balance of smokiness, and a hint of a floral bouquet, with a sweet, light oak finish.
We felt it was indeed lighter in terms of colour, compared to your usual whiskey, and it was smooth, drinkable. It was blended for the Asian palate, and its light profile and slight sweetness makes it good for non-whiskey drinkers who would like to give it a try. Great as a cocktail base as well, why not try making a TIMAH Whiskey Sour or TIMAHattan?
TIMAH Making a Splash – Awards, Awards & Awards!
Newly launched in early October 2021, TIMAH has already created a name for itself in the market, bagging silver medals in both the International Spirits Challenge 2020 (ISC) and the Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 (SFWSC). It was even described by the SFWSC judges as, “an outstanding spirit that displays refinement, finesse and complexity”.
TIMAH was also awarded a solid 92-points in the International Wine and Spirit Competition, and the highlight – snagging the gold medal for the ‘Best Malaysian Whisky’ award at the International Whisky Competition® 2021.
Fun Fact: Why TIMAH Uses ‘Whiskey’
We asked the team why they chose to use “whiskey” instead of “whisky” for TIMAH, and they explained that because TIMAH is a new generation whiskey in a category of its own, they opted to use Whiskey with an “EY” because it is distinctly different from the traditional trademarked whisky without an “EY”.
Aside from Malaysia, TIMAH is officially being distributed in Singapore, Taiwan, USA and Dubai. If you’d like to purchase a bottle of TIMAH for yourself in Singapore, you may do so at this link.
Disclaimer: We were guests of Winepak Corporation, but all opinions remain our own.
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