A five course meal and great whiskey are a complementary ideal experience of dining out.

And I didn’t have any different last night as event company owner Jill Groger, invited me to the launch of the luxurious private Athol Place Boutique Hotel in Sandton. Not sure what to expect, I kitted myself in black, even the weather agreed on the dress code, as it was raining and chilly out.

At arrival guests were served chilled Chivas with ginger ale, while they took a chance to browse around the tranquil 10 roomed hotel, that boasts of an ethnic modern feel in decor, fully made with a library filled with books about South Africa, a built in fire place, open plan lounge, dining room and a large pool situated in beautifully landscaped gardens. Owned by the Moloko investment Group under the chairman Advocate Richard Moloko, the place is so peaceful and soothing, one would think it was far out of the buzzing streets of Joburg.

Guests such as socialite Jeniffer Su, Jacaranda FM’s Liezl van der Westhuizen and hot couple Unathi and Thomas Msengana, were treated to a educational lesson and a tasting session of the whisky’s different years by the Scottish brand Ambassador Max Warner who flew out from London, to share his knowledge 12year-old to the 25 year-old whiskey’s to also sharing is cocktail recipes.

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The executive chef Marc Van Rooyen paired an exquisite five course  gourmet tasting dinner that also featured the duck, peppered beef fillet with the 12, 18 and 25year whiskies.

I must say hanging with Thomas and Unathi, I realised having  a private life is the best thing they could ever do for themselves as they enjoy each other more without worrying which of their dirty laundry might be exposed all over the Sunday papers. They are so alike talkative, funny and smart, they make conversations turn into a great sharing experience.

In a hilarious chat to Liezl as we spoke about all van Der Westhuizen’s making it in the news this week, with Joost for admiting to cheating, Minki who is related to Liezl for ending her marriege and man was she quick to point out that they were “not related to Joost”, sending us all into a giggle. But after telling her that in our black culture people of the same surname are regarded as related, she just resigned into a huge roar of laughter, saying “not in the Afrikaans culture”.

But since she was training for triatlons she had to skip dinner and head to bed as her curfur of 9pm was just around the corner.

Great meal, company, dining experience all in all , must admit, think I am going to save up for that place, just because I deserve a break from the rushed fast lane called Johannesburg.

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