Taste your way to the best oils, vinegars and spirits

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — When you buy a bottle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar, don’t you wish you could taste the product before you buy? At Vom Fass, you can. The German-based company practices a unique concept of “look, taste, enjoy.”

At a Vom Fass store, your experience is an interactive one. You get to sample various specialty oils, vinegars and even sip on alcohol, all straight from the cask. The products are sourced from all over the world; hand picked olives from Italy, whiskys from Scotland, cognac from France, and avocados from New Zealand, to name a few.

This makes it a magical playground for foodies since there is now access to oils, vinegars and other libations rarely found on our shores. Customisation is also key to your purchase, as you can opt for how much you wish to purchase. You can also choose from glass bottles of all shapes, making this also perfect as a gift.

Vom Fass Malaysia Managing Director Teoh Eng Sin, 55, ventured into this franchise business in October 2010. His first outlet was and still is at Jasons Food Hall, Bangsar Shopping Center. Teoh had left a career as an electrical and computer engineer to become a stay-at-home dad for his young children but was lured out of retirement by a friend who introduced him to this business. It is also one that he believes in strongly because the company practices good business ethics.

Wooden barrels filled with precious spirits (left). Teoh Eng Sin is passionate about the Vom Fass brand (right)

The German company is backed by 18 years of experience and boasts 260 shops worldwide. Being a worldwide player, their products are carefully curated with a high emphasis on quality items including artisan produce. The company has a legacy of 150 years in the wine and vinegar business. It also manufactures its own fruit-based vinegars using pure fruit juice under the Waldburg brand.

Franchises are only given out to individuals rather than corporations. “They prefer that the proprietor is an operator rather than just an investor,” explains Teoh. Despite having no knowledge in the business, Teoh impressed them with his passion. “I told them that I am not a retailer or a foodie but I am interested to learn.”

Pick up a gift of oils and vinegars

When we met the enthusiatic Teoh for the interview, we discovered how deep is his passion, since he is knowledgable about all the products he carries. He usually brings his work home, tasting each of the products for a few days to think about how it can be mixed and utilised.

Aged balsamic vinegar pairs well with vanilla ice cream (left). A dash of hazelnut oil enhances your piece of bread (right)

With each tasting, our tongues got a lesson in new flavours. Who knew Styrian pumpkin seed oil paired well with vanilla ice cream? Even kids can enjoy the oils and vinegars, as Teoh demonstrates how hazelnut oil paired with raspberry vinegar tastes just like everyone’s favourite Nutella.

Vom Fass stocks balsamic vinegars infused with fruits, like this apple infused balsamic vinegar

One of Teoh’s innovations is the creation of a vinegar bar, a new innovation for Vom Fass where drinks are made from the aromatic fruit vinegars. The rise of using vinegar in drinks is a new phenomenon, as more people embrace it for health reasons. As gifting is an important element for the business, Teoh also created gift sets with fruit vinegars accompanied by cocktail jiggers and their specially created vinegar drink recipes for customers.

All kinds of gift sets including a single malt whisky sampler or even a mix of oil and vinegars are thoughtfully packaged for people to pick up as presents. Teoh prints his own plastic containers for the gift sets using a 3D-printer. It also gives him more flexibility to print smaller quantities and custom make it to the size of the gift bottles.

Whisky lovers can grab this special Glen Derry Islay whiskey from a single cask

Vom Fass carries a wide range of olive oils, nuts-, seeds-infused oils and even wellness ones. Some of the oils are artisanal, like the hand pressed nut oils from Huileirie Beaujolais in France with its delicate aromas. It’s not only for cooking as the oils can also be used for health.

For instance, the argan oil is highly sought after as a beauty product. “Ladies literally scream when they see the argan oil as they pay double for the oil at cosmetic houses,” says Teoh. The food grade oil contains squalene which prevents drying of the skin. He also stocks wild rose or rosehip oil treasured for keeping away scars and used to soothe burn victims.

Some customers even consume flaxseed or walnut oil for health to reduce bad cholestrol, while pumpkin seed oil is historically used to prevent prostate problems. Their vinegar range is also extensive with aged balsamic vinegars from Italy that range from six to 25 years and a wide variety of fruit vinegars.

Running Vom Fass has been a learning experience for Teoh who admits to being a novice in retailing. Initially, people reacted strongly to tasting the oils. Comments ranged from “are you crazy, do you expect me to drink oil?” to “is it fattening?” are some of the common comments. Some even refused outright to taste it.

With this in mind, he now uses smaller tasting spoons since some had qualms about swallowing a spoonful of oil. Three years later, KL folks are more gourmet-savvy and will not hesitate to stop to taste. “The market has grown and changed,” saysTeoh.

Bread tastes better with lemon infused extra virgin olive oil and apple balsamic vinegar

Teoh also discovered how to match his products to local tastes. For instance he recommends pairing aged Aceto Balsamic vinegar with siu yoke or roast pork for a tart taste. Even a humble plate of nasi goreng is uplifted with a touch of Waldburg fig with chillies vinegar for its mellow spicy after notes.

A plate of steamed prawns works well with lemon vinegar as the hint of acid brings up its umami taste. Customers’ feedback is also important. “Our regulars teach us over time,” says Teoh. He has discovered from a makcik that she uses their lemon infused vinegar in her chilli dip for ikan bakar to give it a tinge of citrus.

Moving forward, Vom Fass introduced a range of single malt whiskys, spirits and liqueurs about four months ago. Drinkers serious about their tipple can enjoy the pleasures of a fine selection. You won’t see these single malts in duty free shops or other places. The prized collection of single malt whiskys aged from 12 to 45 years, rums and grappa are stored in wooden barrels at their outlets in 1 Mont Kiara and Jaya Grocer, Intermark. Each whisky boasts its special character, from smoky to mild. According to Teoh, some of these whiskies come from single casks, as Vom Fass purchases special consignment stocks from these breweries.

Taste your way to your favourite whisky

In addition, you find a small range of smooth tasting rums, a drink not often seen on our shelves except as a mixer in the popular cocktail Bacardi Coke. You get a varied selection from Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Martinique. Expect to also discover Cognac X.O., Armagnac X.O, Calvados and the rarely seen honey wine or mead, in his spirit collection.

The liqueur selection carries the highly sought after wormwood liqueur absinthe, known through urban legends as the “green fairy.” Once thought to be a poison, it was popularised in Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. He also carries a decadent tiramisu cream liqueur, a refreshing elderflower liqueur and a delicate nussino or nut liqueur.

Vom Fass is also the only place where you can grab ouzo, an anise aperitif popular in Greece. Popular choices include the Italian limoncino and the zingy lime-based Brazilian caipirinha. Since the spirits can be purchased in small quantities, these can be used to enhance desserts or even cakes. Teoh also brings in rare wine collections like the Glenderry Islay 17 years single malt that is bottled from a single cask which only produced 401 bottles.

Fill up what you want in your choice of glass bottle (left). Vom Fass also has a range of spices (right)

The alcohol business is still a fairly new venture for Teoh. He estimates another six months to one year to see what the market wants.

Rounding up the Vom Fass range are gourmet products like spices produced under their Fasszination label. Vom Fass extends their ethos whereby “taste is very important” by introducing fine gourmet products like aioli spice mix, grill mix spices and fleur de sel salt infused with truffles.

Currently Teoh, who is the master franchise holder of Vom Fass in Malaysia, is not keen to distribute franchises. “I rather not sub-franchise it out as if they are not successful it will kill my brand before it can grow.” The business has grown though, relying on word of mouth recommendations throughout the years. Now they boast three outlets, including one at the newly opened Jaya Grocer at The Intermark.

Vom Fass is located at:

Level 1-23, 1 Mont Kiara Mall,
Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, KL,
Tel:03-62063119;

Jasons Food Halls, Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre,
285 Jalan Maarof, KL; and

Jaya Grocer, Lower Concourse,
The Intermark, 348,
Jalan Tun Razak, KL

This story was first published in Crave in the print edition of The Malay Mail on December 27, 2013.