First luxury whisky club opens in Beijing

An exclusive whisky club just opened in Beijing this week, giving the city's young and wealthy a new to place to enjoy themselves.

Horse-drawn carriages...bagpipe players...and graceful ladies...This is not a scene from a medieval film, but the opening night of Beijing's first luxury whisky club. The Johnnie Walker House has brought top quality scotch to Chinese elites at this exclusive venue in the country's capital.

The opening attracted both Chinese and foreigners... They came for a new taste and small talk with people of the same class. Zhao Yongyao, who organized the opening night, believes the club will prove popular.

"People will spend the money, no problem. Since China has opened up, a lot of people have become very rich and are starting to know what's the best."

Scotch whisky makes up 40 percent of international spirit imports into China. That gives confidence to the British company, Diageo, which is behind the venture.

Its regional president said that investing in China made perfect sense.

Gilbert Ghostine, Asia-Pacific President, Diaogeo, said, "We give them exposure to the different flavours of whisky."

And, it's not only for the new flavours. People here can relax, chat with friends and enjoy the exotic music.

For the city's young rich, the whisky club means another choice of gathering.

But for the city, it's a new luxury destination, contending with traditional dance performances.