If you serve it, they will come

Several years ago we discovered that the Narcissus bar in Shanghai was serving whisky with green tea. At the time, we felt that this drink would provide the perfect accompaniment to the live Backstreet Boys tribute band on stage, yet we also believed it would be a short-lived fad. Until the new middle-class Chinese got ahold of it, that is.

Chinese growth boosts whisky exports

Booming exports to China helped half-year figures for worldwide sales of Scotch whisky shatter the £1 billion barrier for the first time since 2007, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said yesterday. [In China] exports grew 124 per cent to a value of £22m.

As the Chinese economy grows, the aspiring middle class becomes more attuned to quality European products, and whisky is exactly the kind of quality product they aspire to. Since China joined the WTO, it has reduced its tariff on whisky from 65 per cent to 10 per cent, and there has been a gradual process of liberalisation of distribution within the market.

The Famous Grouse has even opened an office in Shanghai, and it seems like whisky joins the infinite list of products that are ready to start loving China and it's unlimited marketing possiblities. Shanghaiist has so far steered well clear of the mixed drink, as we prefer our whisky Jim Beam style, drunk on the porch singing sea shanties with a loyal mutt asleep and dreaming at our feet. Also, Chivas isn't our favourite. But then we haven't been to any Sasha events recently.

So can anyone recommend this green tea and whisky concoction? Will it turn a good night great, or just turn our stomachs?

Picture from mygreenhead.com