Bucket Scene: Whisky & Gin Live Celebration 2019

The ever popular Whisky Live returns to the shores of Durban this winter and this time has a new partner with it, Gin! While Whisky remains an acquired taste for many, for some it doesn't quite suite their palate, hence the introduction of Gin to make everyone happy! The organisers say it is "Whisky Live with a whole new flavour! That's the all new gin flavours!". For the first time at Whisky Live, Gin will be making an appearance, it's a brand new look, layout and offering that will appeal to the whisky connoisseur, the new emerging whisky drinker and to the gin lover. There will also be live entertainment from various performers, trendy food trucks, social areas and with the event being helf at the new Suncoast Globe, it's a much more open layout that makes this new event refreshed and a must-experience for many.

Tickets are available from R250 and can be purchased from Ticket Pro or at the door for R290. Whisky & Gin Live kicks off on Thursday the 13th of June and runs till the 15th of June, running times are between 5pm and 9pm.

Tops at Spar Wine Show 2019

Wine lovers rejoice! As the most anticipated Wine event on the calendar is just a few weeks away. Yes, the Tops at Spar Wine Show returns to Durban's famed Golden mile from the 9 to 11 May, bringing a thirst-quenching three day ensemble of wine-created activities to an all new venue, The Globe at Suncoast. This massive, experiential venue arrived at the Tsogo Sun property near the end of last year, offering a dynamic indoor space, ideally suited to the size and scale of the wine extravaganza.

This years show is built around a fresh and flirty burlesque theme, with the show comprising a tannic troupe of full-bodied features with earthy undertones of fun. It will showcase a perfectly paired menu of attractions and exhibitors with something to whet the appetite of every level of wine fan. For those with a well trained nose and palette for wine, there are wine theaters offering interactive presentations on wine in all its glory as well the ever exciting South African Wine Tasting Championships where the 'Search for a Superstar' will be taking place where anyone can contend. Also at the show, is the esteemed Wine Label Design Awards which is presented by Rotobel. The show will give wine enthusiasts time to mingle with other wine fudi's who will share some of their valuable oenphile-knowledge about what makes a wine great. 

For those that aren't seasoned veterans on the subject, not to worry because the show also has something for you! A highlight is the show will be the #SAWineShowcase theatre experience which will feature entertaining and informative sessions by the one and only Jon Meinking, brining you up to speed on the "(A)roma, (B)rut and (C)haptalizations" of the wine world. Learning how to make educated wine decisions, and the importance of the wine glass to drinking experience, are just some of the potential takeaways from this refined educational experience. 

Another great addition to the show is the "Sip & Ship" service that allows visitors to immediately purchase wine they've tasted, at cellar prices, with free and reliable delivery straight to your door.

Durban Show Information:

Dates:

• Thursday, 9th May: 17:00-21:00
• Friday, 10th May: 17:00-21:00
• Saturday. 11th May: 15:00-21:00

Venue: The Globe, at Suncoast

Ticket Prices:

• General Access: R185 per person (includes a tasting glass, show guide, access to wine theatres and unlimited tastings)
• Couples Combo: R385 per couple (includes two GA tickets, two tasting glasses, a show guide, access to the wine theatres, unlimited tastings and a six pack of Libbey wine glasses)
• VIP Lounge: R495 per person (includes a glass of premium MCC and amuse bouche on arrival, four elegant wine and food pairings, limited bar, including boutique wine selection, a glass of Noble Late Harvest dessert wine and dessert pairing, a corporate gift and a complimentary Platters Guide, plus all GA tickets benefits)

Tickets are available now, from the website: www.wineshow.co.za

Suncoast Casino Salon Prive Launch

Late last year popular Durban hot-spot, Suncoast Casino embarked on a R1.6 Billion makeover which included expansion to its gaming floor and an all new Salon Prive Casino for their elite clients. Yesterday I attended the official media launch of the new Prive floor and was honestly blown away with what I saw. As we all know Suncoast Casino's main theme is Art Deco, as Durban and Miami share many trends, Tsogo Sun saw this opportunity when initially building the multiplex to adopt this theme and it has added great value to the Durban Skyline ever since. With the expansion, this trend continues to flow but more bold and more wow factor and it is more evident that ever in the Salon Prive. 

The Prive is located on the first floor and is only accessible to the serious gamers, there are two glass elevators, decorated in gold art-deco style borders, similar to that found in many American art-deco lobby's that take you from either the two dedicated basement parking levels, for Prive members only, directly up to the Casino. Once on the Prive floor, the attention to detail in decor grabs you, from the tiling to the large entrance doors, which lead you to the reception area to welcome you to Prive. From the striking ceilings, hand painted murals, the extravagant tiling and lavish art pieces, it certainly makes this new venue one of the best I've seen in the country. 

Prime Architects and Volume Design were responsible for articulating the incredible design, Howard Dembo from Prime Architects says;"The existing Art Deco exterior of Suncoast forms the basis for the Prive Interior Scheme as a natural extension of the architectural style. With Durban being considered the Art Deco Capital of South Africa and with various fine building examples of this Architectural style being protected and restored to preserve the rich legacy of this Style movement, it made sense that the designers drew from influences of this iconic design, creating a rich and vibrant interior that visually excites yet compliments the Architecture."

The Prive also has a deck which leads out from the exclusive restaurant and bar, it has 180 degree ocean views of the Golden Mile where guests can relax on the lounges provided while sipping their favourite beverage. The gaming area features 21 tables, 202 slot machines and 3 private gaming rooms and features a smoking and non-smoking area. It has everything you need for the ultimate gaming experience, 24 hours a day. 

Present at the opening was MEC of Economic Development & Tourism Sihle Zikalala who emphasized the value of private development in the tourism sector and not only by new developers but from continued support from existing investors too. This forms only part of the upgrade with the new attractions set to opening in December. Visitors to Suncoast can look forward to a whole new dining experience with a variety of restaurants, some new and others existing, the Banyard Theatre as well as a large multipurpose venue. When completed, it really will add such a great addition to an already fantastic establishment. 

Suncoast Casino Shines Again!

As most of you know, Suncoast Casino and Entertainment world has been undergoing renovations and extension over the past year, with the Casino set to be expanding, more parking and a whole new food court coming up. Last night I was invited to the launch of the refurbished Casino area, where we could get to see what the overall look of the new gambling floor was to look like. 

Suncoast has always been one of Durban's star attractions, and the packed crowds prove this point. With Durban always having that Miami vibe, it was with this in mind that the Casino was developed in an Art-Deco theme, this transcends from the exterior to the interior, with the bright colours, neon lights and lavish decor. With the new look Casino, much of this transpired with that, and while renovations are not 100% complete yet, we could see the difference between the old and the new. 

The new area is much brighter, this just highlights the extent of the refurb as it brings out the colours in the new plush carpets, makes the granite embedded in the new tables sparkle and the columns which are decorated lavishly marble just illuminate in it all. Apart from the new tables, Suncoast have also brought in some new slot machines for those that prefer thrill they bring. Overall the new look is definitely a good one but we were not just there to look at the new Casino but were also offered to try our luck at a bit of gambling, with the winner taking home R2500 for a charity of their choice. 

We started off with Black Jack, after a brief intro by our dealer it was time to knuckle down and win some money....for charity of course. It seems like the cards were not on my side though, as I was broke by the last hand, not to worry, I had a chance to redeem myself in the next game, roulette! Now I don't gamble often but when I do, I do fancy the spinning wheel on the roulette table, as luck would have it, the ball was bouncing in my favour as I turned my R1000 worth of chips into R4940 after 7 spins! I was in the lead for a short-while before I was pipped off by another player. Into to the finals we went, Black Jack was the game to decide it all, I did much better than my first round, ending off with R1500, but falling short by R50 of claiming the prize. 

It was a great night, loads of fun, tasty food which was catered by Suncoast's very own Cafe Vigor. The new Casino area is looking fantastic, even if you aren't an avid gambler it is certainly worth a trip to see, and while you're there you can have a look at the changes that have been made to the food court and Suncoast beach. 

Win a Maserati with Suncoast!

So this past Saturday I was invited by my good friends at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World for the unveiling of their new car prize, exclusively for their Black Card holders. I knew the car would be something really special since it was for their most valued clients and the event was being hosted in the exclusive Prive area of the Casino. Upon arrival I was greeted by the ever glitzy and gorgeous promo girls and handed some welcome drinks as we awaited the countdown to be completed and the covers lifted on this much anticipated prize. 

The lights dimmed as the clock struck zero, all you could hear was an engine roar. The sweet sound of a twin turbo powered V6 is music to any car enthusiasts ears, finally we saw what lay underneath the black cloak, the new Maserati Ghibli! Invited guests were in awe, of the beauty as well as the magnitude of this R1.8 million rand prize on display. "The stunning Maserati is one of the most spectacular vehicles that Suncoast has ever given away" says Meshalin Naidoo, Events & Promotions Manager at Suncoast. "This exciting promotion will give our valued Black Cardholders the opportunity to not only become the proud owner of this spectacular car but also win amazing cash prizes."

The car forms part of Suncoast Reign Supreme promotion, which launches tomorrow, Thursday the 1st of December and runs until 31st March 2017 where one lucky person will walk away, or rather drive away with this impressive vehicle. Suncoast Black cardholders will need to play their favourite slots and tables from 1 December to 9th March 2017 to qualify for the cash and car draws. Every 15,000 points accumulated will earn them an entry in the Crash Draw to win a share of the R250,000. This draw takes place on the 10th of March 2017. Black Cardholders who have earned 400,000 points or more between 1 December and 9 March 2017 will qualify for the car draw on 31 March 2017 where they stand the chance of driving off a classy Maserati Ghibli V6 and R200,000 cash.

As part of the launch, guests were given the opportunity to go for a drive in the Ghibli as well as the Quattroporte and Gran Cabrio Sport models. All of which left guests speechless with the power, elegance and luxury of them all. To tell us more about the Ghibli, Brian van Blerk, the National Corporate Sales Manger for Maserati was on hand to do so. "Ghibli is the Libyan word for 'Sirocco', the hot, dry, southwesterly desert wind. The sporty, sophisticated yet dynamic model is the embodiment of the soul of the Maserati brand and is a magnificent vehicle to own. It was first launched in 2013 at the Shanghai Motor Show."

For more information on Suncoast's exiciting Reign Supreme promotion, visit www.suncoastcasino.co.za or follow them on Facebook and Twitter

Tsogo Sun: High Tea at Jeera, Suncoast Hotel &Towers

Afternoon tea is a must for many and those wanting to spoil themselves often opt for a High Tea which is offered in many establishments but whilst most are great in offering the traditionalist what they expect, the team down at Jeera, located on the pool level of the Suncoast Hotel & Towers decided to give their High Tea a Durban twist. Durban is known to have the highest population of Indians outside India and we all know the significant cultural impact they have had on this city with keeping things spicy and that's exactly what Jeera has done with their high tea.

Last week Tuesday I was invited to par-take in their offering, not knowing what to expect, I was left mouth gaping open at the spread that lied before me. It's not your typical high tea and but at the same time they keep to the aesthetics of what it is meant to be, so you not going to be served a bunny chow and a cup of tea, although some might fancy that? Sandren Govender, executive chef at Suncoast Towers, who has experience in cooking throughout the world has meticulously created a menu to delight everyone's taste buds, with savoury and sweet delicacies to send you into a journey of food ecstasy.

A seating for two will get you a wonderful selection of sweet delights such as burfee shortbread, poli truffles - a modern twist on a traditional Indian favourite, blending chocolate, coconut and cardamom as well as cinnamon eclairs. On the savoury side, the offering expands to an equally wide selection including smoked salmon bagels with paneer cheese; chicken tikka, sheekh kebabs and my personal favourite, Sandrens butter chicken cigars, which is bread, flattend and filled with rich butter chicken curry, then rolled into a cigar shape, crumbed and fried till crispy on the outside.

"This tailor-made approach allowed for authentic creativity to come through quite strongly in the kitchen. We know at the end of the collaboration with our team, we have something unique to offer our guests" says executive chef Sandren Govender. He added that the concept was carefully planned and created incorporating the sense and relaxation associated with the afternoon tea experience.

You probably read this far and must be wondering, high tea but I have not mentioned anything about the tea? Well yes, there is the tea but the food offering is simply that great but the selection of teas will not only awaken your senses but the aromatic flavours and smells will entice you to want to smaple them all. Jeera offers a host of teas with various spices and scents from around the world, each guest has their on glass tea pot with warmer so you can see the flavours fuse with the boiling water. It really was a fascinating experience for me as it was the first time I had the opportunity to indulge a high tea and I'm glad this was the place I did it at.

Speaking to Palvi Oddone Aquino, who is the guest relations manager at Suncoast Hotel and Towers, she had this to say, "Much time was invested in crafting this concept where our primary goal was to take our guests through a journey of spice and distinctive flavour through confectionery - where tea becomes a conversation piece."

Jeera serves their high tea throughout the week (Monday to Friday depending on availability) between 14h00-16h30 and will be available for groups of four or more. Cost per person is R150 and each will get one or two of every serving on the platter, whatever is not eaten can be opted to be taken away for you to indulge at home.

Durban Bierfest 2015 with Tops at Spar! - COMPETITION

It's that time of the year again Durban, time for the Tops at Spar Bierfest! With Spring just a few days away, temperatures are heating up and with that, there's nothing better than a cool refreshing beer, so the timing is just right for the event. In it's 5th year running, the event will be held inside a 4,000 seater mega Bavarian Brauhaus tent at Suncoast Casino. Like the previous years, the event is themed on the much loved Munich Oktoberfest and the organisers, Tops at Spar have gone all out to ensure this year's event surpasses the ones before in it's own unique way. 

There will be friendly fetching frauleins in drindl skirts to be at your service through-out your time there, a live oompah band that is sure to get you off your bench with some festive tunes, along with a host of artists and bands lined up at this years Bierfest. 

The host for this year, dubbed the "Mayor of Munich" is local comedian and actor, Brendan Murray. Like the previous years, there will be activities for the crowd as well, some of them include Tapping of the Keg, Best Dressed, Mass-Heben (stein lifting). 

One of the presenting partners, No. 3 Fransen Street will be presenting their three small batch bands - a Cream Ale, a pert Ired Red Ale and a traditional Krystal Weiss. Along with an long-time favourite, the limited edition Bavarian styled ale, specially named the Roayal Bavaria Oktoberfest Bier. 

Tops at Spar have pulled out all the stops in partnering with major brands for the event and are responsible for the #DrinkSmart campaign, that encourages visitors to not drink and drive with the mobile app DRYVER in association with Good Fellas, Uber, Becks Non- Alcoholic and JIGUJA detox drink. Safety is their number one priority and they want people attending the Bierfest to get home safely and responsibly. 

Ticketing information: 

The Braumeister Package: R875 (excl. VAT) includes:

• Premium 3 - course traditional Bavarian Meal
• VIP seating
• Dedicated Fraulein to your table
• Complimentary premium bar (Limited)
• Premium costume accessories
• Complimentary 1L Beirfest stein (1 per person)
• Complimentary can of JIGUJA Detox Drink
• Glamcam photo

The Brauhaus Package: R445 (excl. VAT) per person includes:

• Traditional 2-  course Bavarian Meal
• Complimentary Bar (Limited)
• Costume accessories
• Glamcam Photo
• Complimentary can of JIGUJA Detox Drink

Uber Bier Hall DAY TIME ticket: R195 per person includes:

• Entrance to the event
• 1 complimentary 500ml bier
• His/Her apron
• Free bier tasting
• Free can of JIGUJA detox drink
• Glamcam photo

Uber Bier Hall NIGHT TIME ticket: R215 per person includes:

• Entrance to the event
• 1  complimentary 500ml bier
• His/ her apron
• Free bier tasting
• Free can of JIGUJA detox drink
• Glamcam Photo

Option 5: Standard Bier Hall DAY TIME ticket: R125 per person includes:

• Entrance to the event
• Free bier tasting

Option 6: Standard Bier Hall NIGHT TIME ticket: R140 per person includes:

• Entrance to the event
• Free bier tasting

There will be an additional R20 at-door price. All purchases at Bierfest are made using "crowns". Crowns are available in denominations of R30 and purchased in packs of 5 (value R150). Crowns are NON-REFUNDABLE.

All packages can be booked through the office TOPS at SPAR Bierfest website: www.bierfest.co.za or through the events Facebook page, SA Bierfest.

The event is not open to visitors under the age of 18.

COMPETITION TIME! Win double tickets for you and a friend to either the DAY TIME event or NIGHT TIME event. 

To enter for the DAY TIME event:

Simply follow me @AMG133 on twitter and tweet: "I want to win with @AMG133 and @SABierfest #SABierfest"

To enter for the NIGHT TIME event:

LIKE the Bucket Facebook Page and comment on the post about Bierfest: "I want to win with the Bucket and #SABierfest!"

Both competitions close on Tuesday at 12pm.

Tsogo Sun: Coffee & Chocolate Expo - Suncoast Casino

This weekend see's the Coffee and Chocolate Expo being held at the Suncoast Casino & Entertainment world from the 1st to the 3rd of May. Get ready to have your taste bud's explode with the various flavours and combinations that await you at this years Expo, there will be barista's perfecting the right blend, chocolate work shops and many more on offer.

We all love chocolate and most of us cannot live without coffee, this expo showcases some of the best in the world of both, so it's the ideal opportunity for you to see and taste the goodness that these two things have to offer. Coffee connoisseurs will enjoy the Coffee Theatre as they will be able to appreciate and learn about the origins, roasting and pouring of pure coffee beans from the selected roasteries. 

For the first time at the Expo in Durban, after two successful years in Jhb, the  KZN Barista Championship will be also taking place, visitors to the show will see the best in coffee professionals battle it out for the title. This event always draws big public interest, so be sure not to miss it!

For the Chocolate Lovers, there will be workshops with top executive chefs, where they will teach you to transform dreams into reality to enhance your lifestyle, home and tantalize your chocolate edition. 

The Cocoa Mokka Music Lounge is a must visit area, to sit back and relax with your favourite cup of coffee, wine or craft chocolate beer and be entertained by some of KZN's favourite Indie Bands, featuring Motherland.

Event Dates: 1-3 May 2015

Location: Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World

Ticket Prices: R60 for Adults, R40 for Kids under 12 and Pensioners. (tickets available through the website)

For more information, visit coffeechoc.co.za, email info@coffeechoc.co.za or follow @SUNCOASTDurban on Twitter.

Whisky Live Showroom: Durban

The organisers of the popular Whisky Live Festivals that have been taking place across the country for the past few years with great success have announced that they will be hosting Whisky Live Showrooms in 3 cities around the country. Durban and Cape Town remain on the list whilst Pretoria is added on for the first time. The showrooms in essence will be a much intimate experience for the visitor as each event is purposely handcrafted for the cities and displays some of the best that the whisky world has to offer. 

The showroom kicks off this weekend, the 24th and 25th of April in Durban at the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World with the exclusive tasting areas designated at the Suncoast Sun Zone.  Visitors to the showrooms can expect the best in whisky from local to international distilleries with experts at hand to answer any question , some of the familiar names include the House of Walker,  Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie and Bunnahabhain and new comers Tomatin and Smokehead. For the more curious folk, Innis and Gunn a craft beer made in whisky barrels will be present as an intriguing interlude to the norm. 

Visitors to the event can also look forward to products that enhance the whisky lifestyle and that will add to the experiences, these include high-end fragrances from the likes of - Issey Muyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Bulgari and Burberry. Premium cigars from The Cigar Club and selection of Twisp's flavoured filters. The showroom in its sophisticated and luxury setup is the perfect place for friends to mingle, business associates to network and connoisseur's to chat and discuss the variety of products displayed. 

Tickets for the event cost R170 each and are available via the website www.whiskylivefestival.co.za or via www.ticketpro.co.za, visitors who register for the Whisky Live Festival Club at the event will receive R20 cash back or an additional 5 tasting vouchers. All tickets include a complimentary tasting glass, a 500ml bottle of Spring Water and 15 tasting vouchers. First 500 visitors through the doors in Durban each night will receive a free copy of the iconic whisky guide, the 2015 SA Whisky Handbook.

Tickets are limited for this event and its best for you to book tickets online to avoid disappointment. If you are a fan of fine whisky, you wouldn't want to miss out on this as it is the premier event to sample some of the finest and get to know more about this drink. 

For more info on the event, you can visit the website, follow them on twitter @WhiskyLiveSA or 'Like; the Whisky Live Festival on Facebook.

For those of you on Twitter, tonight we bring you a unique experience as myself along with other other whisky enthusiasts bring you a Live Whisky tasting with our host @JezzTheDJ, we will be sampling some of the great single malts from the Glenfiddich distilleries between 7pm and 8pm tonight, so be sure to join in on the conversation by following the hashtags #WhiskyLiveOnTwitter and #GlenfiddichLive