Distillery of the week #1 : Kingsbarns Distillery

thewhiskylady - 2015-01-03

Where to enjoy a good dram in Dubaï ?

thewhiskylady - 2015-01-03
As some of you may have noticed reading my Facebook and Twitter updates, I was off to Middle East for a couple of days over the Christmas period. Before leaving, I asked some of my whisky buddies if they had heard of any great place in Dubaï to enjoy a good dram but unfortunately the blingbling paradise didn’t seem like a whisky-friendly place.
 
I decided to do some researches by myself and to ask locals (taxi drivers are always happy to share their knowledge) and found a few interesting spots. 
 
Here is my top 3 addresses in Dubaï to sip a good dram (and other spirited drinks)
 

1. The Uptown Bar – Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Dubaï being a skyscrapers city, what best way to enjoy a dram there than sipping it on a somptuous terrace located at an upper floor of a 5-star hotel with direct view over the famous Burj al Arab ?
Head to The Uptown Bar for astonishing cocktails but also a nice selection of whiskies, from mainstream blends to refined single malts.
Along with the scenic view, the cheese platter offering 5 different cheeses happened to be one of the highlights of my 2-hours stay up there (I might sounds a bit too French but I really like pairing my whisky with some quality cheese).
 
Dress code : Smart casual


2. The Cigar bar – Fairmont Hotel

For those who like pairing whisky with cigars, The Cigar Bar is definitely the place for you. The bar features a cosy atmosphere within the luxury Fairmont hotel (All the spots I am mentionning in this article are located in hotels as they are the only place where alcohol is allowed in Dubaï, which remains a Muslim territory) and is a real must when it comes to chilling.
This bar offers an exclusive experience where you will be provided with a personnalised approach thanks to a dedicated “cigar sommelier”. Top-class selection of Cognacs and whiskies.
 
Dress code : Smart casual


3. Girders – Ocean View Hotel

If you’re more the casual type of person and would appreciate to enjoy your dram in a relaxed atmosphere, head to Girders pub. Happy hours, reasonnable prices and sport playing on TV… I think this place is really refreshing for Dubaï where the amount of luxury might sometimes be a bit too much for me. Let’s be honest, the whisky selection is not over the top but still enough to be mentionned here.
Girders is said to be the “Gaelic Sport bar” of Dubaï and is runned by a really friendly staff which has made my stay really pleasant and enabled Girders to appear on my top 3 whisky addresses of Dubaï !
 
 
Do you know any other whisky-spots in Dubaï ?
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