Golden Promise Whisky Bar in Paris: A Sanctuary for the True Whiskynerd

When travelling through Europe, I do try to fit in whisky related visits to the schedule. On the occasion of Mrs. Whisky Odyssey’s birthday, we travelled to Paris. We had done so the previous two years, and were actually on a museum quest. After the wonderful but very touristy Louvre, we enjoyed Musée d’Orsay much better. The amount of amazing works of Claude Monet there is just breathtaking. This year we completed our trilogy by visiting Musée de L’Orangerie. On this location you will find Monet’s masterpiece The Water Lilies. Needless to say, it was so impressive, we went to visit the gardens that inspired the famous painter in Giverny one day later. Also worth your time!

When you say Paris to a whisky geek, he will answer “La Maison”. Short for La Maison du Whisky, the most renowned importer of France and all round pioneer with a plethora of series that tickles the senses as much as the tastebuds. If you take a look at the Foundations series, you will discover they do not only put impressive whisky into glassware, but they also put a lot of thought and effort into the presentation. Some labels could well be on display in d’Orsay too, couldn’t they?

What is whisky if you have no chance to taste it? Well, La Maison created a solution for that in the opening of the Golden Promise Whisky Bar in the Quartier Montorgueil. This bar feels like you enter a sanctuary. You get guided down the stairs where you will find a darkly lighted bar where you can taste contemporary bottlings. But there is more… and this is what we came for! A separate cellar where the classic, rare and old whisky are stored. And ready to taste, if you are happened to bring a credit card in good shape!

Our visit to this sanctuary was on the 5th of October 2024, and our host for that evening was the eminent Salvatore Mannino. He and his trusted vinyl player make you feel right at home. But when you take a look at the other guests at the long table, you also realize that this is a place for serious enjoyment. There was an Asian gentleman that we already met at the door on the street, where he was smoking a cigar as thick as a log, before joining us downstairs again. Another couple was burning through an apparent random set of delicious whisky. I decided to just do the same.

After an introduction by Salvatore, we started browsing through the catalogue. An important tip for us was that it is possible to order 1 cl portions. This allows to taste more different glasses, and it also cuts the mentioned prices for a dram in half. I kicked off the evening with a St. Magdalene 1966 bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, while ordering a 1972 Caperdonich for my wife. Needless to say, this raised the bar to quite a level. The Magdalene was at a modest 40% abv, but despite that there was a lot of life in it. I gradually went up to higher strength, but since it was impossible to chose from all these single malts, old blends, Irish, Japanese and world whisky, I just looked around and picked bottles at random. I ended my evening with an Ardbeg Kildalton 1980. My wife stayed in the fruity corner with a BenRiach 1976 and another Caperdonich 1972, which charmed her enormously with its tropical character.

One bottle I want to single out, because it was such a delight to be able to taste it. Being in Paris only one week after Whisky Live, the inventory of old bottles got some impulses. Salavatore told us he had sent for an old Littlemill 30 years old from the La Maison archives, to have something interesting to pour at the festival. I guess no-one asked for it, since the bottle was still closed. Maybe this cunning Salvatore used our interest in tropical whisky to have an excuse! Sure enough, the cork came off (broken) and he poured me a glass. My impressions… well, you go read below. We paid are dues at the end of the evening, but ever being the gentleman, Salvatore filled up a sample for the birthday girl, which turned out to be a 1973 Inchmurrin bottled at the same age my darling had reached. Now that is hospitality! I cannot recommend a place for whisky enjoyment any more than the Golden Promise Whisky Bar. Who knows, you might even get seduced to try one of the best whisky in the world. This one.

Littlemill 30 years old, bottled at 40 % abv

Makeup: 100 % single malt, the label says, and matured in oak wood. A bottling exclusively for the Italian market, mentioning F&G – Bruino (Torino) on the main back label. Another, smaller sticker on the back mentions “Imported by Grösste Whisky Bar der Welt, Waldhaus am See, 7500 St. Moritz in Switzerland”. Numbered bottles, this one being # 120.

General impressions: The broken cork stopper did not rub off on the whisky. So we are treated on a rich bouquet of fruits, flowers and grassy notes. This being a 1960s distillate, the tropical fruits that we came to love in later vintages are not really so obvious in this Littlemill. Probably quite a different type of cask that this matured in. I am not bothered by the low abv, and considering there is also an older 30 year old Littlemill at 38,5% abv, this is already a step up. The taste however suffers just slightly from the dilution, creating a hint of cardboard, but not disturbingly so. The mouthfeel is a little oily and very bright, offering marmalades, apricot and sweet bread. The finish is equally fruity.

Conclusion: For what I could gather while tasting this in a whisky cellar surrounded by legendary bottlings, I got a very good impression. If you ever want to do a tasting that starts off with a 90-point single malt, this could be your candidate. Old style, old fruit, new pleasures.

Score: 90 points