JOHNNIE WALKER® Black Circuit Lounge KL 2012

April 18, 2012 Comments (0) Sponsored Post Like

I’m sure some of you saw tweets about the Johnnie Walker party a few weeks back. It was undeniably epic. Johnnie Walker, the world’s leading Scotch Whisky (and Malaysia’s #1 whisky) is the global partner of Formula One™ team VMM since 2005 because they both share the values of innovation, winning and leadership.

In hand with this partnership, exciting experiences are presented for us all via the Black Circuit Lounge. Being one of the grandest VIP race parties that happens during Formula 1™ week in KL, over 1500 A-list guests and JOHNNIE WALKER_® fans were invited to Step Inside The Black Circuit Lounge with Jenson Button for insider access into the stylish and sophisticated Formula 1 lifestyle.

I just managed to edit and upload pix from the party which totaled up to 300! I can’t believe there are so many pix from ONE party. I edited them down to 60 so this is still a super long party post! This party was so anticipated that i found out the next day, of friends who took leave the day after. So smart. I gotta learn from that.

The event happened in a spacious modern venue within the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (MAEPS). It was quite far; so Danny, Aps and i decided to share a taxi together and i called the number that was included on the JW invite. Very efficient! The operator guessed that we were calling for the JW party and scheduled one to pick us up from our meeting point in Bangsar. So glad we didn’t drive… else we would have got stressed getting lost, etc. It was bad enough trying to make it on time to the meeting point.

Aps, Danny, me

We spotted Vodafone McLaren Mercedes™ F1™ driver, Jenson Button, walking from the media area to the entrance of the event, where he was interviewed. He was there as part of the JOHNNIE WALKER_® STEP INSIDE THE CIRCUIT global platform that gives some of us the inside access into the high-flying lifestyle of Formula 1™.

Jenson also signed the Johnnie Walker “JoinThePact.Com” signature wall, pledging he’d never drink and drive. Here he is below with other celebs Hannah Tan, Dominic Lau, Leng Yein, Thanuja Ananthan and Alex Yoong.

Kudos to JW and the F1 drivers for pushing Responsible Drinking. Clem and myself avoid driving when we go out together on weekends, and opt to take taxis back and forth instead. Your life is priceless compared to an RM30 taxi bill.

There were two lucky Facebook contest winners who managed to meet Jenson personally, ask him a question and get autographs on their exclusive JOHNNIE WALKER_® and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes™ team merchandise. I wonder how much that’d be worth on eBay *Chinese in me comin’ out*

Before entering the main dance and event area, the Black Circuit Lounge had an array of cool, interactive digital experiences. For instance, everyone’s invite was RFID-enabled so we could instantly upload our arrival, party activities on FB, and photo booths. There’s also an opportunity for F1 fans to play with a video simulation called ‘Drive of a Lifetime’ that put us right into the seat of a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes™ F1™ driver preparing for a race, with the resulting personalised video instantly uploaded on our Facebook!

Swanky JOHNNIE WALKER_®bars called the BLACK FLAVOUR LAB – where world class mixologists prepared new and evocative cocktails.

I saw all these coconuts piled atop each other on a bar which piqued my curiosity to try one:

It was quite cool to taste JW served with green coconuts and dry ice! The cocktail was made to unlock the signature bold flavours of Johnnie Walker in a fresh way 😉

How cool is the mist from the dry ice? I also heard that the JOHNNIE WALKER_®Global Brand Ambassador Tom Jones was in Malaysia for the first time to introduce the JOHNNIE WALKER_® Gold Label Reserve™ to guests at this party in a specially-crafted Gold Celebration Bar within the party and take guests through an exclusive whisky mentor / tasting session. There was even a cocktail served in a champagne flute.

When i walked into the main event area around 9:15pm, i was taken aback to see how packed it was. “How did everyone leave work in time to get here before us?!” i said to Danny and Aps.

Jenson was up on stage in the main area being interviewed by Dom Lau from E! News Asia and Thanuja Ananthan.

Jenson is quite the kacak kan?

After the introduction was over, Miss Universe Malaysia 2010 Nadine started spinning on the decks. I never knew she could spin! Not bad for breaking the rules of convention.

And here come the party pix i took that night…

Evonne and i

With Dawn, whom i met on the media trip to Brisbane for FMF

With my colleague Joshua

Thanks to the PR team who so thoughtfully gave me a table at the VIP section 😉

These chocolates were LUSH. We stuffed ourselves with a few cos we didn’t have time for dinner! At least we line our stomaches a bit… right…!?

Chelsia looking freaking fabulous with Josh

Resh & Danny

Rozie & Serena

Kevin!

Serena, Kevin, Aps

Rudy La Faber and i
I’m wearing a vintage gold top i bought of Chelle, necklace from Kyla Ruiz, and pleather shorts from Azorias.

Serena and i were schmoozing around when we bumped into a magician, whom we later discovered is the current World Champion Close-Up Magician Shawn Farquhar flown in from Canada.

He blew up a balloon and asked for Serena’s phone. Check out her outstretched fingers just waiting for her BlackBerry to be back in her safe hands… haha

Once the balloon was blown, he pressed the BlackBerry to the bottom of the balloon… and PLOP! I blinked and the phone was IN the balloon!

Danny and i

Love this happy pic of Aps and Danny

Louis is one of the first friends i made in KL outside school and college

Wassup with the non-smile Rudy, poserrrrr

Jacie

Sa nd i

Greg & Matt

Aps and Rahul

The whole night Danny was having problems with taking pix using my cam. I’d ask him to take pix of me and someone, and after a few failed tries, i’d snatch the camera from him and go, “It’s okay! Lemme ask aha!” and pass it to someone else.

After like 5 failed attempts, he started practicing on me out of nowhere.

We gonna party hard in Belgium for ROCK WERCHTER!!!

Lots of blur and drunk shots taken by random friends holding on to my cam. Like this one of the ceiling. WHY?!

Louis and his gf Stephanie

me, Frederic and Louis

Hmm

Danny modeling Aps’ thirtyfour handbag rather dashingly. I threw the bag to Kevin and said, “Model it!” And this is what he gives me:

Gotta take some lessons from Ming…

Gila poyol wei some of the pix i found in my camera… this is the least of the worst.

Andrew, me, Danny

Nick and Aps

Kevinnnn

There was a GOLD CELEBRATION MOMENT at the peak of the party, when DJ Smith Agent Smith put on a specially-mixed soundtrack that kicked off with Kanye West’s Gold Digger. Suddenly there was a flash mob of dancers in gold outfits against a curtain drop that revealed gold drapes behind.

The Gold Celebration Moment ended with a gold confetti blizzard that got everyone screaming happily (noone can resist confetti) just as

had guests awash in a sea of gold and JOHNNIE WALKER_® Brand Ambassadors and service staff providing guests with JOHNNIE WALKER_® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ cocktails and bottle service through the rest of the night.

Throughout the night, various DJs headed the turntables like DJ Dim Sum who spins at the hottest clubs in Hong Kong; Smith Agent Smith from USA; and headliner DJ Politik from Hollywood.

Even when the party supposedly ended, people were still staying and drinking and nobody wanted to go home i guess! Danny, Aps and i were trying to maintain our adult responsibilities going, “Yeah yeah we should go home… we have to work!” Even tho Aps said she might want to leave at 1am cos of work, there was NO mention of leaving once the party really took off around midnight haha!

I was a bit worried about getting a taxi home from such a crowded event and am SO impressed with the efficiency of the taxi arrangements! We walked out and easily got into a line of waiting taxis right away. I’m very happy that Johnnie Walker promotes responsible drinking and prepared Evian water for us as we went out. There was even a dexterity game for guests to play called “Winners Always Stay in Control” with those failing it being guided to the reserved premier taxis on standy. Haha… but in all seriousness, i don’t understand how people go to an event KNOWING there’s gonna be so much alcohol and want to drive back home…

In the taxi, Danny INSISTED on trying to take more pictures with my camera. He just had to PROVE he could do it. Maybe because i tipsily jested earlier, “What kind of architect are you? Can’t even take pictures.”