Caribbean Wines & Spirits Raises $7,200 for National Art Gallery with Immersive Art and Dining Experience

Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS) hosted an intimate and immersive dining experience with the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) for the opening of NELEVEN: Into the Void a national exhibition of 23 Bahamian artists.

The evening was the perfect blend of culinary finesse and art. Throughout different stages of the experience guests enjoyed the finest champagnes, wines and cognacs provided by CWS.

Keeping true to its philanthropic pillar, CWS sold all tickets and raised $7,200 for the NAGB.

Waylon McHardy, General Manager for Caribbean Wines & Spirits spoke to what prompted CWS to host, “A Night at the Museum.”

“As a 100% Bahamian owned company which is focused on the advancement of culture. We felt it was important to contribute towards the growth of Bahamians in the orange economy.” McHardy said.

Mayelynn Ford, Director of the NAGB expressed her gratitude in receiving such a generous donation from CWS.

“I am so pleased that Caribbean Bottling saw the opening of this National Exhibition, not only as an opportunity to showcase their phenomenal wine selection, but also to donate to the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. We look forward to deepening this partnership.” she said.

The 60 philanthropists were welcomed to the gallery with glasses of Bleu Brut and Brut Rosé from CWS’ Besserat de Bellefon champagne line along with various hors d’oeuvres. For an hour they had exclusive access to view NELEVEN: Into the Void a national exhibit, which was unveiled to the public only days before.

DeCarlo McPhee, Sales Advisor for CWS shared why Besserat de Bellefon champagne and rosé were the perfect sips to start the evening.

“For an evening such as this there is no better way to greet our guest than with champagne from the “Maison” Besserat de Bellefon. Founded in 1843 this champagne house is known for its elegance and finesse. Its fine bubbles that are pleasing to the sight and palate making a great start to a beautiful night.” he said.

Following their gallery exploration, guests were invited into the ballroom which held various art pieces, one being from artist Jonnique Beadle. Before dinner host Nicholas Mitchell gave a warm welcome and an overview of dinner, officially starting the culinary portion of the night.

Patrons indulged in a delicious six course Italian tasting menu fused with various Bahamian delights prepared by Chef Alexandra Maillis-Lynch.

Dishes such as the: thyme and goat pepper braised Bahamian octopus, with roasted bone marrow, on squid ink risotto and seared fish, with creamy coconut sauce, on fried breadfruit bruschetta offered an explosion of flavor.

Guests enjoyed a curated selection of exceptional Italian wines from CWS’ extensive collection. The wines—Villa Matilde Greco di Tufo, Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo, Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto, Michele Chiarlo Barbaresco, Michele Chiarlo Barolo, and Fonseca 10-Year—were carefully curated to complement each course, creating a complete gastronomic experience.

At the dinner’s midpoint Beadle spoke to the audience about her straw mannequin piece ‘Straw Sentinel’ along with the exhibit’s Assistant Curator, Letitia Pratt.

Artist Jordanna Kelly was also in attendance. Her piece titled ‘95%’ which she co-created with fellow artist Jenna Chaplin is partially sponsored by Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), CWS’ sister company.

After the final course, guests were escorted outside to the gallery’s lawn which was transformed into a tropical lounge for the final treat of the night; cognac and cigars.

Guests got exclusive access to CWS’ newest product, the finest French cognac in The Bahamas, along with hand rolled cigars from Graycliff.

“In our desire to give our guests the ultimate dining experience we chose to give them a taste from our ABK6 line, an exquisite French single estate cognac. We featured the VSOP, XO Renaissance and the Honey Cognac Liqueur, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed.” McPhee revealed.

Guests left the evening captivated by the incredible blend of culinary and artistic experiences. CWS is proud to have hosted such a successful event in support of a worthy cause.