One of Cape Town’s finest watering holes offers an elegant evening out surrounded by super yachts moored at the dockside and a picture perfect view of Table Mountain. Manager, George Novitskas, hosts a whisky tastings tailored to the guest’s experience on the subject on most evenings. Don’t know ‘whiskey’ from ‘whisky’?  Not to worry, you’ll soon learn the difference as well as how the inventors of the spirit – Ireland – came to lose out on market share to the Scots as they were not prepared to supply the mob during prohibition in America.

You will be taken through a six-glass tour of single malts which show that the flavours of whisky have about as long and interesting a story as the history of the drink. Bourbon has a deep red colour – fermented in barrels that, by law, can only be used once. Whisky which comes from Isla is generally intense and smokey in flavour as a result of the peat. George also pairs whisky with chocolate truffles, blue cheese and smoked salmon to compliment the flavours of the whisky.

There is such intricacy in the flavour of a malt.  As the evening advances you will notice that your palate softens, and adapts to the whisky as you run through the different glasses. The Bascule Bar is a great place to meet just for a social drink at the end of a long day or for the beginner, or connoisseur, to educate themselves a little more in the gentle art of taking a dram.

There is, of course, the well-known Bascule Whisky Club – members get a named locker in the bar for storing a bottle or two of their chosen tipple. Along with a climate controlled wine cellar, you can keep most of your closest treasures in one place. Some of the appeal of this bar is that you are surrounded by framed, cellared or locked away treasures belonging to patrons from all around the world. The shelves and walls have a story of their own to tell.

If you force yourself to leave the masterpiece that is this bar, where you are surrounded by golden amber bottles of single malt, you will discover a stunning alfresco dining and sipping area right on the water’s edge. You will be outside in the cooling shadow of super, luxurious yachts, listening to the lapping sound of the sparkling ripples of the Atlantic, watching the sky turn pink as the sun sinks behind Table Mountain.

The Bascule Bar is made for leisurely moments of joy, just like a fine glass of Scotland’s best…

Bascule Whisky, Wine and Cocktail Bar

Cape Grace, V&A Waterfront Cape Town.

General Enquiries: + 27 21 410 7082
Email: bascule@capegrace.com

Whisky, Wine and Cocktail Bar,light lunches | Elegant & Sophisticated