Kitchens International Hosts Six Nations Preview with Against The Grain: Pierre Schoeman & Duhan van der Merwe
Updated: Sep 10
Earlier this week, Kitchens International welcomed almost 100 guests to our Dundas Street showroom in Edinburgh for an exclusive Six Nations Preview with Hirundine Whisky, hosted in partnership with Murray & Currie & Ondine Restaurant.
Held ahead of the 2026 Men’s Six Nations Championship, the evening brought together three very Scottish passions: exceptional whisky, great food and international rugby.
The story behind Hirundine Whisky:
At the heart of the evening was Hirundine Whisky, the 12-year-old Speyside single malt founded by Scotland rugby internationals Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe.
Guests had the opportunity to discover the story behind the whisky, from its inspiration in the migratory hirundine bird to the founders’ shared passion for adventure, heritage and craftsmanship beyond the rugby pitch.
The tasting was accompanied by delicious seafood canapés prepared in the KI showroom, showcasing Gaggenau’s Essential Induction hob and Expressive Series collection – bringing together exceptional ingredients, cooking and design in the heart of the kitchen.
Rugby, whisky and a Six Nations preview
Following the tasting, guests enjoyed an engaging Q&A with Pierre and Duhan, hearing more about their professional rugby careers, life at the highest level of the sport and their thoughts ahead of the 2026 Six Nations Championship.
The conversation also explored the journey behind Hirundine Whisky – how an idea inspired by their experiences, friendship and shared interests developed into a distinctive Scottish single malt.
Guests also had the opportunity to have a bottle of Hirundine 12 Year Old Single Malt signed by the founders, making for a memorable memento of the evening.
A memorable evening at Kitchens International
With almost 100 guests joining us, the evening was a fantastic opportunity to bring together our customers, partners and friends for an experience that extended well beyond the kitchen showroom.
From tasting Hirundine’s 12-year-old Speyside single malt to enjoying food prepared using Gaggenau’s latest cooking technology and hearing directly from two Scotland rugby internationals, it was a fitting way to build anticipation for this year’s Six Nations.
We’d like to thank Murray & Currie, Ondine Restaurant and Hirundine Whisky's, Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe for joining us, and everyone who came along and made the evening such a memorable one.
Watch the video below to discover more about the evening, Hirundine Whisky and the story behind this exciting partnership.
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