TheWhiskyBarrel.com Exclusive 21 Year Old Robert Burns Islay Cask

On 25th January Scots and expats and scotch aficionados celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s national poet and Haggis the world over come out of hibernation for their celebratory supper. What better way to join in than by raising a dram!

To mark the occasion www.TheWhiskyBarrel.com as released a special bottling of the Islay favourite Bunnahabhain, matured in a single fresh sherry cask aged 21 years and bottled at natural cask strength.

Limited to 120 bottles now available to order exclusively from The Whisky Barrel online whisky shop.

Bunnahabhain 21 Years Old Burns Malt / Sherry Cask / 54.8%

£49.99 GBP ($77 USD)

Order online at http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com

The Whisky Barrel

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CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

Come to the World’s with us!

THE WORLD’S As well as the coveted championship title decider, exciting competitive action across all Grades and the Drum Major contest, there are many exciting additions this year to keep you and your family entertained. Watch in awe as these strong men from around the world compete across several disciplines in the bid to claim glory! Games include favourites, caber toss, shot putt and the hammer. A day-long competition always draws the crowds! Enjoy the Scottish music and graceful dance displays in the Highland Dancing arena as the best highland dancers from around the world. Not to mention a full week long series of piping events throughout Glasgow. You’ll discover the experimental energy of today’s newest talent to the awesome accomplishment of established musicians from across the globe. There is something going on morning, noon and night. The venues are as varied as the performers, from workshops to masterclasses, ceilidhs to concerts and street performances. Its fast, fun, moving, informative, entertaining, exhilarating – it’s Piping Live! 6th – 12th August 2012.

THURSDAY 9, FRIDAY 10 & SATURDAY 11 AUGUST 2012. package includes; 3 nights accommodation in George Square, Glasgow city centre, overlooking the main events arena for the piping week, fully cooked Scottish breakfast each morning, ticket to the worlds, a ticket for the grand whisky pub tour with drams included (see below), fully printed tour notes with food & drink and event guide, mcleanscotland staff at hotel each day. COST per person sharing a double or twin room, from £295 We can offer you a “blend your own whisky“, take home a unique blended whisky, unique to you! Ask for details.

As above but with MORE WHISKY! 3 nights accommodation in 4 STAR Glasgow hotel, 3 x Scottish breakfasts, ticket to the worlds and the whisky pub tour, bottle of your own blended whisky and Auchentoshan distillery visit. COST per person from £355

Contact us for speedy booking; worlds@mcleanscotland.com            www.mcleanscotland.com/worlds2012package.asp

The whisky trail tour; Award Winning Whisky Tour in Glasgow. Covering: History, Theatre, Culture, Whisky and the great Glasgow “banter”! Jump aboard The Glasgow Whisky Tour bus & explore the passion, characters and FUN behind Glasgow’s whisky history. Hear how Glasgow was built at the many engineering works and shipyards…but fuelled by whisky, which by the way, is included in this tour!

For more information and to purchase tickets click here

The Dalmore Launches Cigar Malt Reserve

Whisky enthusiasts and cigar aficionados alike are rejoicing with the long awaited release of The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve.

The highly anticipated new expression, aimed to please cigar-loving whisky drinkers, will be available on general release and through Duty Free Travel Retail from late February onwards.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is 44% abv with a suggested retail price of £70 from selected whisky specialist retailers.

The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson

“Many of our fans were disappointed when the old Cigar Malt left the range in 2007, so we set about creating an even better whisky that would allow those fans to experience a great single malt that has been specifically crafted with cigar pairings in mind.”

“Aged in 30 year old Oloroso Sherry butts, American White Oak and premier cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques, this whisky provides cigar and malt fans with an incomparable experience and succinct pleasure. It’s a great match to a number of cigars but I would highly recommend enjoying it with a Partagas No2 Cigar as in my opinion the flavours work in perfect harmony together.”

Tasting Notes:

Aroma: Cinnamon, vanilla and red fruits

Palate: Tropical fruits, banana toffee and vanilla ice cream

Finish: Orange zest, bergamot and crushed spices

www.thedalmore.com

NEW PRODUCTS FROM DUNCAN TAYLOR SCOTCH WHISKY LTD

The Dimensions collection is an outstanding range of single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies encompassing the full breadth of the Duncan Taylor portfolio. Containing whiskies aged for up to 39 years, the Dimensions collection showcases the multi dimensional levels of character and flavour available from individual distilleries and casks. The Dimensions collection features single cask, cask strength releases and exclusively numbered small batches at 46% abv. Neither chill filtered nor coloured, only the finest whiskies are selected for inclusion in the range, ensuring that every bottle delivers the Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky ethos: Whisky Without Compromise.

Aberlour 18yo 54.3% £71.00 inc VAT

Glenlivet 30yo 44.3% £110.00 inc VAT

Bunnahabhain 23yo 53.5% £87.00 inv VAT

Auchentoshan 11yo 46% £43.00 inc VAT 

Glen Moray 17yo 46% £47.00 inc VAT         

Linkwood 15yo 46% £51.00 inc VAT

Single Malts Limited | 36 Gordon Street | Huntly | Aberdeenshire | AB54 8EQ |

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

We now find ourselves half way through January and well into the winter of 2012. Here in the NYC area, its been a mild one so far…but I’ve managed to have a few fires, and enjoy more than my fair share of the wee dram while watching my NY Football Giants suddenly find inspiration over these past few weeks.

The year has certainly gotten off to a hectic start here at ForScotchLovers, what with all the hullabaloo one would expect to follow Whisky Magazine naming ForScotchLovers “Whisky Retailer of the Year Online” in the Icons of Whisky America 2012. So after a flurry of appearances by “The Neck” on Letterman, Leno and Law & Order, things have finally died down a bit, and we’re back to the business of finding great opportunities on wonderful whiskies…which brings me to this weeks Whiskey Wednesday opportunity from a truly unique distillery: Auchentoshan Valinch 2011

For those of you not familiar with Auchentoshan, it was established in the Dumbartonshire estate of Auchentoshan at the foot of the Old Kilpatrick Hills, overlooking the famous River Clyde in 1823. Since then it has had six careful owners and is one of the few remaining Lowland malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.

Auchentoshan, meaning `Corner of the field’ in Gaelic, produces a delicate, smooth and light single malt whisky. The subtle aroma and flavor of its spirit is achieved by their unique triple distillation process, whereby the spirit is not distilled twice, as elsewhere in Scotland, but instead distilled three times. This triple distillation, complemented by unpeated malt, gives Auchentoshan a delicate flavour and a final spirit strength of 81% ABV (162 proof).

Auchentoshan Valinch is a limited editon/small batch release whisky that is essentially a cask strength version of the popular Classic expression. It is named after the metal tube used to extract samples of spirit from the cask.

Fortunately for us, our man Nicky “The Neck” was able to extract several cases of the whisky from our contacts, and hence we are able to offer the lucky few who act quickly Auchentoshan Valinch for $58.95/ bottle. If you want a bottle, I urge you to act fast, because once its gone…

Until next Wednesday….

Doug Stone
Founder
http://www.forscotchlovers.com/

______________________________________________________________________

AUCHENTOSHAN VALINCH TRIPLE DISTILLED CASK STRENGTH WHISKY

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TASTING NOTES: VALINCH 2011 CASK STRENGTH WHISKY

COLOR: Pale straw.

NOSE: Crème brûlée, tinned peaches in syrup, Madeira, cinnamon, newly-planed wood, coconut, and vanilla notes

PALATE: Sweet and spicy on the creamy palate, with vanilla, honey, praline and full bodied orange zest.

FINISH: Sweet, crisp and lingering. Oak and spice in the peach liqueur-like finish.

Springbank 10 Year Old

Rundlets & Kilderkins

Tasting Notes

Colour: Russet
Nose: Honey, vanilla, chocolate, nougat, and toffee inabundance followed by hints of wholesome freshly ground nutmeg.
Palate: Creamy and rich as expected from the nose, with notes of chocolate covered honey comb mixed with pistachio and crushed almonds. Rich and oily from its maturation in small casks, it gives an impression of being older than its ten years.
Finish: The ground nutmeg is still evident on the finish but the creaminess outstays the spices to a long smooth and sweet finish. With water this dram develops an even sweeterfinish, fruity and sugar candy, it becomes even smoother.

Springbank Distillery is one of the last surviving producers of Campbeltown Single Malts. The distillery, located on the southern Kintyre peninsula of Scotland

For the most part of the 17th and the 18th centuries Campbeltown was a smuggling centre, an occupation that was supported by the area’s geography, topography…. and the local gentry. One famous story tells of an old woman living in the town who was up before the Sheriff for smuggling. She had been found guilty and before passing sentence the Sheriff told her:

£47.99 inc VAT

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

**Despatch date mid February**

THE GLENROTHES VINTAGE MAKER 2012: LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES

Running since October 2011, closing date for entries for The Glenrothes Vintage Maker 2012 competition is 31st January 2012. The competition can be entered at www.theglenrothes.com/vintagemaker

Winners will be recruited to work as The Glenrothes Vintage Makers in the heart of single malt production, Speyside, Scotland, culminating in the creation of The Glenrothes Vintage 2012.

As part of this opportunity, the successful candidates will learn the time-honoured art of making The Glenrothes and the skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. The winners will spend time working at each stage of the whisky-making process: testing the purity of the water source at the distillery’s two springs; milling the malt to achieve the golden proportions of husk, grits and flour; mashing to ensure maximum extraction of sugars in the wort; adding yeast to the washbacks and overseeing fermentation; slowly and carefully distilling new make spirit in our tall copper pot stills. From there our Vintage Makers will be involved in making casks at the cooperage, laying down casks for maturation and rolling casks to the warehouse.

The Vintage Makers will nose single malt from maturing casks to assess whether the contents are of sufficiently exceptional quality and maturity; only the top 3% of the distillery’s output is bottled as The Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Whisky. Finally, the Vintage Makers will have the opportunity to create the Vintage 2012 of The Glenrothes, to be released when it reaches the peak of maturity.

After work, our Vintage Makers will enjoy the simple pleasures that Speyside has to offer; a spot of fishing, dining in the local Highland restaurants or perhaps a picnic in the hills surrounding the distillery. The Vintage Makers will stay in Rothes House, a private home belonging to the family that owns The Glenrothes. As with the distillery, Rothes House is not open to the public but is reserved for VIP visits.

Entrants must submit 1500 characters or less in answer to the question ‘Tell us about your Vintage Moment.’ Entrants may also upload a picture or link to an online video to supplement their written entry (but this is not necessary). The winners will be the entries that in the opinion of the judges, best represent the definition of a Glenrothes Vintage Moment: A perfect combination of time, place, people and/or occasion when everything comes together to create a moment that will stay in the memory forever.

www.theglenrothes.com

NOTES

The Glenrothes was founded in 1879
Only 2% of the distillery capacity is bottled as Single Malt to ensure exceptional quality
Of the 17 Vintages released to date, 13 have entirely sold out
It is matured in a combination of Spanish and American oak casks – the best of both worlds
The Glenrothes 1972 was awarded a Trophy at the 2005 International Spirits Challenge
The Glenrothes 1978 was Best Speyside Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2008
“I have always felt that Glenrothes deserved to be more widely appreciated. Beautifully rounded…sophisticated after-dinner malt.” Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion
Jim Murray, in his Whisky Bible, refers to The Glenrothes Select Reserve; “One of the softest deliveries on Speyside, the silky barley and citrus caress the tastebuds with rare tenderness” and scores it 24 out of 25

Awards and accolades for current bottlings:

The Glenrothes Select Reserve
·         Silver medal, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2009
·         Scotch Whisky Master 2008, The Spirits Business
·         Best in Class, World Whiskies Awards 2008

The Glenrothes Robur Reserve
·         Best in Class, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2009
·         Gold, International Spirits Challenge 2009

The Glenrothes Alba Reserve
·         Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2010
·         Silver, International Spirits Challenge 2010

The Glenrothes 1998 Vintage
·         93/100, Excellent/Highly Recommended, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011
·         Silver, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2010
·         Silver, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010

The Glenrothes 1995 Vintage
·         92/100, Excellent/Highly Recommended, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011

The Glenrothes 1991 Vintage
·         Best in Class, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2009
·         Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2009

The Glenrothes 1978 Vintage
·         92/100, Excellent/Strong Recommendation, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011

Ireland – Single Malt Whiskey

2000 Cooley 11 Year Old A.D. Rattray Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Irish Single Malt Whiskey 375ml – 12 available ($49.99)

Longrow 18 year old, Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($199.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Leopold Bros.Maryland Style Rye Whiskey 750ml – 3 available ($46.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

BenRiach 20 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($99.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

1989 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Rediscovered” Bourbon 375ml – 1 available ($99.99)

1991 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Rediscovered” Bourbon 375ml – 2 available ($99.99)

1993 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Rediscovered” Bourbon 375ml – 4 available ($99.99)

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Zinfandel Aged After Six Years” Bourbon 375ml – 1 available ($199.99)

Vintage 17 year Bourbon 750ml – 3 available ($67.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com/
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

This Thursday the MS Society of Calgary is holding a whisky festival to raise funds for their organization. The MS Society offers self-help groups, counseling, equipment support, family support, seminars, advocacy and funds for research. To support their works the MS Society in collaboration with the Kensington Wine Market and the finest distributors of single malt Scotch and other whiskies in Alberta is putting on a night of whisky, art, music and highland dancing at the Art Gallery of Calgary. Attendees to the event will have the opportunity to sample from more than 125 whiskies (120 Scotch whiskies) in a special glass created specifically for the event. The whiskies are represented by more than 15 Agencies, and have the opportunity to meet 5 Scottish brand ambassadors including: Anthony Wills, James Robertson, Jamie MacKenzie, Michael Urquhart, and Ranald Watson.

There are still tickets available for this worthy event at $95 apiece. In addition to whisky there will be great food, beer, art work, a piper, silent auction items and possibly some highland dancers. All of the proceeds from this event will be going to the MS Society. The event is also an opportunity to meet some principals from the Scotch whisky industry mentioned above and described in detail below. The whiskies and beers are all being donated by the participating agencies.

If you have nothing better to do than stay home and huddle for warmth this Thursday night, why not consider coming down to the Art Gallery of Calgary to warm up with a few drams of uisge beatha, the water of life! I’ve included a few more details on Thursday’s event below to tempt you. You can buy tickets through the Kensington Wine Market at 403-283-8000 or online at https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php  , and through the MS Society of Calgary at http://mssociety.ca/chapters/calgary/whiskey.htm  .

MS Calgary Special Guests

Anthony Wills of Kilchoman Distillery. Kilchoman is one of only six distilleries in Scotland to malt some of its own barley, and is one of an even smaller number that grows some of its own barley on site. Anthony Wills, the distillery’s director and one of its owners was the driving force behind its founding in 2005.

James Robertson of Tullibardine Distillery. Tullibardine was almost an unknown quantity until it was reopened in private hands in 2003. Since then its brand has been skyrocketing thanks in no small part to the efforts of James Robertson.

Jamie MacKenzie of Morrison Bowmore Distillers. Morrison Bowmore owns three Scottish distilleries: Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch and Bowmore which is one of Scotland’s oldest. Jamie is the firms most senior brand ambassador and one of the industry’s most respected ambassadors.

Michael Urquhart Co Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail and Benromach Distillery. Gordon & MacPhail is Scotland’s most respected independent bottler, and established in 1895, it is one of its oldest. The company bought Benromach distillery in 1993 and has brought it back to life.

Ranald Watson brand ambassador for Springbank and Glengyle Distilleries. Springbank is Scotland’s most traditional distillery; little has changed there in the last 100 years, and it is like stepping back in time. Ranald, a native in Campbeltown is the distillery’s senior brand ambassador.

The Whisky List – In No Particular Order

1.       Glendronach 1972 KWM Cask 711
2.       MacKinlay’s Old & Rare Highland Malt
3.       Nikka Yoichi 10 Year
4.       Nikka Yoichi 15 Year
5.       Berry’s Own Selection Bowmore 1994
6.       Berry’s Own Selection Teaninich 1973
7.       Duthies Ardbeg 16 Year
8.       Duthies Auchentoshan 11 Year
9.       Bruichladdich Sherry Classic
10.   Bruichladdich Laddie 10 Year
11.   Bruichladdich 17 Year Rum Cask
12.   Bruichladdich Islay Barley
13.   Port Charlotte PC 7
14.   Port Charlotte PC Mulitvintage
15.   Benromach Peat Smoke
16.   Benromach Traditional
17.   Benromach Organic
18.   Benromach 10 Year
19.   Smith’s Glenlivet 21 Year
20.   Athol Brose
21.   Tullibardine Aged Oak
22.   Tullibardine 1988
23.   Tullibardine 1er Cru Classe
24.   Tullibardine Port Finish
25.   Tullibardine Sherry Finish
26.   Tullibardine Rum Finish
27.   Hazelburn Sauternes
28.   Springbank CV
29.   Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength
30.   Springbank 15 Year
31.   Springbank 18 Year
32.   Longrow CV
33.   Kilkerran Work in Progress 2
34.   Kilchoman KWM Sherry Cask
35.   Kilchoman Winter
36.   Kilchoman Spring
37.   Kilchoman Summer
38.   Kilchoman 100% Islay
39.   Adelphi Private Stock Blend
40.   Adelphi Liddesdale
41.   Adelphi Fascadale
42.   Adelphi Bowmore 2001
43.   Adelphi Aultmore 1982
44.   Adelphi Night Cap
45.   Cragganmore 12 Year
46.   Dalwhinnie 15 Year
47.   Glen Kinchie 12 Year
48.   Lagavulin 16 Year
49.   Oban 14 Year
50.   Singleton of Glendullan
51.   Talisker 10 Year
52.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 3.175
53.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 7.69
54.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 7.71
55.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 29.105
56.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 35.62
57.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 36.49
58.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 37.50
59.   Glenfarclas 10 Year
60.   Glenfarclas 12 Year
61.   Glenfarclas 15 Year
62.   Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength
63.   Glenfarclas 17 Year
64.   Glenfarclas 25 Year
65.   BenRiach Birnie Moss
66.   BenRiach 15 Year Madeira Finish
67.   Glendronach 15 Year Tawny Port
68.   Glendronach 14 Year Virgin Oak Finish
69.   Dalmore Castle Leod
70.   Fettercairn Fior
71.   Whyte & MacKay 21 Year
72.   Black Grouse
73.   Highland Park 12 Year
74.   Highland Park 15 Year
75.   Highland Park 18 Year
76.   Macallan 12 Year
77.   Macallan 18 Year
78.   Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year
79.   Macallan Fine Oak 21 Year
80.   OMC Blair Athol 21 Year
81.   Provenance Braeval Sherry
82.   Big Peat
83.   Big Peat Santa
84.   Double Barrel Macallan-Laphroaig
85.   Double Barrel Ardbeg-Glenrothes
86.   Double Barrel Highland-Park Bowmore
87.   Forty Creek Barrel Select
88.   Forty Creek Double Barrel
89.   Forty Creek Confederation Oak
90.   Forty Creek John’s Private Cask
91.   Auchentoshan Classic
92.   Auchentoshan Valinch
93.   Auchentoshan 3 Wood
94.   Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve
95.   Glen Garioch 12 Year
96.   Glen Garioch 1994
97.   Glen Garioch 1978
98.   Bowmore Laimrig
99.   Bowmore 12 Year
100. Bowmore 15 Year
101.   Bowmore Tempest III
102. Amrut
103.  Amrut Fusion
104. Amrut Intermediate Sherry
105. Stronachie 12 Year
106. Stronachie 18 Year
107.Rough Stock Single Malt
108.Rough Stoch Cask Strength
109.Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey
110.Arran 10 Year
111.Arran 14 Year
112.Arran Sleeping Warrior
113.Arran Westie
114.Arran Sauternes Cask
115.Finlaggan Cask Strength
116. Glenmorangie Original
117.Glenmorangie Lasanta
118. Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or
119. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
120. Ardbeg 10 Year
121. Glenrothes Select Reserve
122. Glenrothes 1994
123. Glenrothes 1988
124. Balvenie 12 Signature
125. Balvenie 14 Caribean Cask
126. Balvenie 15 Year

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If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com . All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

You can follow me online on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy..

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2N 3P8

scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com