Hot Scotch

"A CUSTOMER just walked in looking for whisky made in 1964 because he was buying a birthday gift for someone born in that year," says Timothy Goh, director of sales at Vinum Fine Wines. "You can hardly find wines with such great vintages. A bottle of whisky could be an alternative."

He is referring to The Whisky Library, a new retail store by Vinum Fine Wines, devoted to rare Scottish and Japanese whiskies. More than a few of the single malts on display have been around longer than the 33-year-old Mr Goh.

While Vinum (an established wine purveyor that was set up in 1995) is well known for its trophy wines, the whisky retail concept is a response to the strong demand from its existing clients, says Mr Goh. "There's perhaps a shift in appreciation of the products or progress from wines to whiskies."