King george v has arrived

Whiskey lovers in Uganda can add another brand to their list. Last Friday, Diageo international through their Ugandan arm- Uganda Breweries Ltd (UBL), unveiled a new luxury whisky- the Johnnie Walker King George V (KGV) to the Ugandan market.

UBL Luxury brands manager, Annette Nakiyaga said the latest on the list of premium whiskies available in Uganda costs Shs2.8m a bottle and that only 30 bottles of the whisky are available In Uganda.

The guest list and the evening’s main celebrants clearly reflected on the class that comes with the particular product that was being unveiled.
There were less than 50 select business captains from Uganda. The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Alison Blackburne , also the evening’s host, set the mood high as she kicked off her speech by ringing a bell, which she said she had just received recently. Every speaker of the night rang the bell before and during their addresses.

Nyimpini Mabunda, the UBL Managing Director would later interpret the bell as a symbol of their flagship brand- Bell lager.

The evening was presided over by a number of dignitaries, but it was special for a number of reasons. First, it was the first time Ivan Menezes, Diageo’s global CEO, stepped foot in Uganda, leave alone launching a product on our soil. Second, this special occasion was not in a top hotel, but at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Nakasero.

After thanking the Ugandan government for creating a smooth investment terrain for companies like Diageo, Menezes imparted some words of wisdom unto the guests.

Key in his message was to always do business the right way; “there’s no right in doing business the wrong way, always stick to the right course, that’s why UBL has stayed this long.”

State minister for trade and industry Dr James Mutenda represented the government on behalf of Amelia Kyambadde who was away on state duty. At about 8pm, Blackburne, Mbaunda, Dr Mutenda and Menezes unveiled the whisky.

While some of the guests were eager to taste the whisky that is the price of a new motorcycle, Nakiyage had to cut the anxiety short as she announced that it will be officially launched at the Kabale Johnnie Walker Easter Open Golf Tournament taking place this Saturday in Kabale.