Malt Messenger No. 31
Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,
While there’s been a lot to tell you about over the summer, it’s been a few months since we’ve had a full edition of the Malt Messenger. Augusts’ edition of the Malt Messenger has been rushed to your inbox because our Fall Tasting Schedule goes active today. We have an excellent lineup of whisky and beer tastings this fall, including a Tullibardine Dinner at Buchanans with James Robertson, another round of Glenfarclas Family Cask Tastings (this time with George Grant, the man who selected the casks), a BenRiach cask release party with Alistair Walker, a Single Malt Festival and for the first time in Canada, we are also offering a 5 week Whisky Appreciation course. Our tastings are all open to registration, are live on the internet and I have provided a complete list of available tastings below.
Many people were sad to see the end of the original Benromach Organic. We had so much demand for the product we could have sold the last 24 bottles four times over. While there is a special edition peated Benromach Organic due out this fall, in the meantime what is one to drink. The Benromach Organic has such a unique palate owing to its maturation in new American oak: sweet and massively buttery with a round palate and soft fruits. Truth be told I have not tasted many whiskies with a similar palate, but I can think of two which are mentioned below!
Some of our single cask bottlings are becoming increasingly rare, like our Tullibardine 1987 Cask (5/191 bottles left) or our 1996 Springbank Manzanilla Sherry Cask (only 68 or 600 bottles left). If you had your heart set on one final bottle of either of these whiskies don’t delay, I expect they’ll both be gone by the end of September. For old times’ sake I’ve included a little on both of these incredible whiskies as well as our two other casks, OMC Port Ellen 25Yr and G&M Glen Grant 1966.
Finally, if you have any free time on your hands this fall and have a passion for single malts, why not take a guided whisky tour of one of Scotland’s major whisky regions like “Orkney and the Northern Highlands” or “Islay and the West Coast”. There is still room on both trips which will take place September 27th – October 3rd and October 4th – 10th respectively. Detailed information on both of these trips can also be found below.
Slainte!
Andrew
PS – Don’t forget, you can now follow me on Twitter for even more timely notifications about single malts and events. I can be found at: http://twitter.com/scotch_guy..
In This Edition
Fall Tasting Schedule
Benromach Organic-like Whiskies
Going-Going-Almost Gone – Tullibardine 1987 KWM Cask
Going-Going-Almost Gone – Springbank 1996 KWM Manzanilla Cask
OMC KWM Port Ellen 25Yr
G&M KWM Glen Grant 1966
Fall Whisky Tours
Fall Tasting Schedule
This fall’s tasting schedule is one of the most exciting we’ve ever offered, including guest appearances from James Robertson of Tullibardine Distillery and George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery. We are also launching our BenRiach cask in November with special guest Alistair Walker of BenRiach Distillery, have our 2nd Annual Fall Single Malt Festival and for the first time in Canada we are offering an intensive 5 week Whisky Appreciation Course. These tastings are all available for registration now, online ( www.kensingtonwinemarket.com ), over the phone (403-283-8000 / 888-283-9004) and in store.
Bunnahabhain / Tobermory Distillery Tasting – Thursday September 3rd – 7PM – $50 – THIS IS OUR ONLY WHISKY TASTING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER! – You’ll sample 6 whiskies, four from Bunnahabhain (12Yr, 18Yr, 25Yr and a 1978 Signatory bottling) and two from Tobermory (15Yr Special Edition and Ledaig 10Yr) while learning a little about the history of the distilleries and enjoying some photos of the island of Mull.
Whisky Appreciation Level I – Wednesdays Oct 14, 21, 28 and Wednesdays Nov 11 and 18 – 6PM – $450 – This 5 week course is designed for those who want to significantly up their knowledge of single malt whiskies. Week I will introduce the participants to the world of whiskies. Week II will focus on the different types of Scotch Whisky and how it’s made. Week III, IV and V will take a close look at the different whisky producing regions, respectively “The Lowlands and Islands”, “Highlands and Speyside”, and “Islay and Campbeltown”. The course cost includes 6 Glencairn Glasses (which each student will be responsible to bring every week), a reference book on single malt whiskies, a map of Scotland’s Whisky Regions and course materials. Each class will consist of a lecture on the specific topic including slides and photos as well as a tasting of 6 specific whiskies. Upon completion participants will receive a Whisky Tasting Level I certificate. Please note that these are classes, not tastings, and that there will be no food provided. Also note this class takes place over 5 Wednesdays.
Classic Single Malts – Thursday October 15th – 7PM – $40 – It’s been a while since we’ve offered an introductory tasting of single malts, and we felt it was time to return to our roots. You’ll be introduced to the different regions and styles of malt whisky produced in Scotland in six drams.
Rare Malts – Friday October 23rd – 7PM – $85 – This tasting will be on a selection of rare and old whiskies that are very limited, 20+ years of age or from closed distilleries.
Tullibardine Dinner w/ James Robertson – Tuesday November 3rd – Buchanan’s Chop House – 7PM – $100 – Join us at Buchanan’s Chop House and Whisky Bar for a whisky dinner hosted by special guest James Robertson of Tullibardine distillery. You’ll sample 6 single malts while enjoying a fine meal and some tales about this excellent distillery! 7PM.
Whisky, Women and Chocolate – Friday November 6th – 7PM – $50 – It’s been almost a year since we last gave Calgary’s lassies the opportunity to attend a ladies only single malt tasting. We’ve had a lot of success with this event, even those ladies who didn’t think they liked scotch leave with a taste for at least one at the end of the night. This is probably our most playful event where we experiment in pairing different styles of whisky with chocolate treats!
Fall Single Malt Festival – Thursday November 12th – 7PM – $60 – The most fun you can have with your sporran on… This festival style tasting is limited to 100 participants and will feature more than 80 whiskies from some of Scotland’s finest producers to sample from. The tasting also includes your own Glencairn crystal single malt glass.
BenRiach Cask Release Party – Tuesday November 17th – 7PM – $40 – Kensington Wine Market has purchased a cask of single malt whisky from BenRiach, and Alistair Walker, Sales Director for the distillery will be on hand to help us celebrate. The whole range of BenRiach whiskies will be available for sampling, most importantly our new cask, and there will be a special promotion on the whisky just for the occasion. The event also includes your own Glencairn glass.
Glenfarclas Family Cask Tasting w/ George Grant – Thursday November 26th – 7PM – @ The Petroleum Club – $150 – This is round 2 of Kensington Wine Market’s Glenfarclas Family Cask tastings. Last fall we were fortunate enough to have Robert Ransome of Glenfarclas on hand to do the tasting. This fall we are proud to present special guest George Grant, family owner of Glen Grant and the man who selected the casks for an incredible tasting of 6 different vintages: 1954, 1962, 1978, 1984, 1985, and 1987. This is one event not to miss!
You can register for any of these tastings online at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com , by phone at 403-283-8000 or in store. All tastings are first come first serve and must be booked in advance.
Benromach Organic-like Whiskies
Nothing can replace the Benromach Organic and while many of you are eagerly awaiting the Special Edition Peated Benromach Organic due out this fall, some of you just can’t wait! Over the last week I’ve been asked for alternatives to the Benromach Organic, and I’ve come up with a couple. The key thing about the Benromach Organic is its massively buttery palate, with creamy vanilla and soft fruits. Here some other whiskies with similar flavour profiles:
Simth’s Glenlivet 21Yr – $126.99 – Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, this bottling kick the snot out of the distillery edition 21 year old. Its palate is far more complex, round and rich. I find the palate to be enormously buttery and creamy with a touch of anise, and soft fruits like apricots and pear. This whisky is a step up from the Organic price and quality, but to be fair, it is also more than twice the age. I highly recommend this whisky!
Bruichladdich Bourbon Cask Matured 16Yr – $88.99 – Normally when it comes to Bruichladdich I am most fond of their peated expressions like the now discontinued 3D Peat Proposal line, Port Charlotte or even the new Octomore. But I took a liking to this buttery Laddy while at a distillery function on Islay in May. It was one of two whiskies being served on the occasion–I have long since forgotten of the other–and with every passing sip I was blown away by its rich creamy notes.
Going-Going-Almost Gone – Tullibardine 1987 KWM Cask – $189.99
Kensington Wine Market’s cask of Tullibardine 1987 was matured in Re-fill Sherry Hogshead cask #632, from which 191 bottles were produced at a cask strength of 54.6%. Cask #632 was selected from more than 30 samples of Tullibardine distilled between 1964 and 1993. I selected it because it had the greatest depth and complexity of all the samples, full flavoured and intense without being overpowered by the oak. The whisky has rich sherry notes which beautifully compliment Tullibardine’s house style, of creamy marzipan and milk chocolate.
The bottles are individually numbered and come with a special Glencairn Glass, engraved with the logos of Kensington Wine Market and Tullibardine distillery. The glass is Glencairn’s newest model, made of a clearer crystal and with a thinner lip. The bottle and glass retail for $189.99 + GST.
Only 5 of the 191 bottles are left!
The tasting note for our new cask is as follows:
Colour: The colour betrays its European Oak heritage; rusty gold with amber hues.
Nose: White chocolate, burnt sugar, fresh creme and light Christmas cake notes with a touch of marzipan.
Palate: Burnt sugar and gentle spices, marzipan and creme, with a touch of honey and crisp oak; a thread of milk chocolate traces the breadth of the palate.
Finish: Medium to long in length, starts big and slowly fades with the white chocolate lingering long after all other traces of the whisky have disappeared.
Going-Going-Almost Gone – Springbank 1996 KWM Manzanilla Cask – $109.99
Kensington Wine Market was given the opportunity to purchase a cask of Springbank single malt whisky in the fall of 2008. On September 16th, our “Scotch Guy”, Andrew Ferguson was at the distillery in Campbeltown with a group of 6 whisky enthusiasts from Calgary. With the guidance of Peter Currie and the legendary Frank McHardy, they sampled 6 expressions of 1996 vintage Springbank single malt, each matured in a different type of Sherry cask: Oloroso, Fino, Cream, Manzanilla, Pedro Ximenez and Amontillado. The group unanimously chose the Manzanilla cask.
Cask No. 258 has been bottled exclusively for the Kensington Wine Market at a cask strength of 56.4%. Matured exclusively in a single manzanilla sherry cask, the whisky is surprisingly soft and sweet at its strength, and has a very long finish. The cask yielded 600 bottles, of which there are fewer than 68 left! The whisky is available only at the Kensington Wine Market for $109.99, and if you’re nice we might even offer you a taste!
Nose: rich and spicy, brown sugar and cedar wood notes give way to fig bars and young Christmas cake. Palate: sweet and spicy with firm tannins, and great depth, this is an after dinner whisky, or at least in need of a juicy steak; toffee cake and dark chocolate notes dominate the late palate with fig-like fruits. Finish: mouth-coating and rich, the finish is long, smooth and full with a rich nuttiness.
I expect this whisky will be sold out by the end of September!
OMC KWM Port Ellen 25Yr – $249.99
In 1983 Mount Kilauea on the big island of Hawaii began erupting molten lava, which it continues to do to this day; Pioneer 10 became the first man-made object to leave the solar system; Vanessa Williams is the first African American crowned Miss America; the Nintendo Entertainment System debuts in Japan; Microsoft Word is sold for the first time; and the video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is first broadcast, going on to become the most viewed video of all time!
1983 is also a significant year for Scotland’s whisky industry; it is in fact one of the darkest years. Tough economic times and a surplus of capacity prompt the closure of at least 13 single malt distilleries in 1983 alone (there are further closures in ’82, ’84, ’85 and ’86) 10 of these distilleries will never produce again! Among the distilleries closed in 1983 were Banff, Brora and Port Ellen. There is no bigger cult distillery in Scotland than Port Ellen. This long-lost Islay distillery is believed to be by many–myself included–the smoothest and most elegant Islay whisky ever distilled.
Our cask of 25 year old Port Ellen Single Malt Whisky was distilled in February of 1983, the last year the distillery was in production. It was filled into a refill sherry hogshead where the spirit was nurtured 25 long years; that is until it came to our attention. This cask has been purchased from Douglas Laing, which is one of the finest independent bottlers in Scotland. The family owned business has been bottling single malt whisky for more than 50 years and has an unrivaled reputation for quality. Douglas Laing also has larger stocks of Port Ellen single malt than any other independent bottler, possibly even more than Port Ellen’s owner Diageo.
Our Refill Sherry Butt of Port Ellen produced 210 bottles which are selling for $249.99 + GST/bottle. Officially released at our Port Ellen Cask Release Party on Thursday November 13th by Stewart Laing of Douglas Laing close to 80 of the bottles have sold in the last month. This exceptionally rare and special whisky won’t last long.
Tasting Note:
Nose: the light peat, heather and honey are right in your face, and there is much more to this whisky than is hinted by its colour. Later it becomes salty, and a touch tarry while keeping the sweet and herbaceous notes. Do I detect a hint of citrus behind the smoldering peat?
Palate: the first sip has some heat, but its clean and rolls out into green earthy notes, then sweet honey and finally salty smoke. The second sip is classic Port Ellen, all the taste buds in my mouth are alight with sweet, smoky, earthy, fresh and fruity notes. Towards the back of the palate the smoky-briny take over and lead the charge with some dark chocolate-peat close behind. The third sip is creamier, with buttery-briny-peat; very lovely!
Finish: soft rich buttery peat with highland toffee and a touch of sea-breeze!
More than half of our exceptional bottles of Port Ellen have sold…
G&M KWM Cask Strength Glen Grant 1966 – $499.99
What were you doing in 1966? In 1966 the Russians landed the first unmanned probe–Luna 1–on the moon; England won the World Cup of Soccer; Mao Tse-tung launched the Cultural Revolution in China; British model Twiggy stunned the world with the introducing of the mini-skirt; actor Ronald Regan was elected Governor of California, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister of India, and only the second female head of state in the modern era; and the original Batmobile hits the road. Closer to home, Bobby Hull set the record for most goals in an NHL season; the CBC begins broadcasting in colour; the Montreal “Canadiens” beat the Red Wings 4 games to 2 to win the Stanley Cup; the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Ottawa Roughriders 29-14 in the Grey Cup; and the Centennial Flame is lit at Parliament Hill on New Year’s Eve.
Also in 1966 Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin, Scotland, had cask 6718, a Refill Sherry Hogshead filled by Glen Grant distillery on the 28th of November. The cask slowly matured over the following 41 years and 10 months until bottled for KWM on September 25th of this year. A specialist bottler of whiskies from distilleries all over Scotland, Gordon & MacPhail has been buying and selling casks of single malt whisky since the 1890’s. It is the most respected independent bottler in Scotland.
The “Cask Strength Glen Grant 1966” was selected from a number of samples including another 1960 Strathisla (in 2007 we bottled a Strathisla 1960), a 1967 Longmorn and several other rare old whiskies from the Gordon & MacPhail warehouse. The whisky was distilled on the 28th of November 1966 and was bottled on September 25th of this year. I chose the 1966 with the assistance of a couple of other skilled noses for its balance, complexity and its delicate palate. Aged nearly 42 years in a Refill Sherry Hogshead, the whisky from Cask No. 6718 is incredibly soft at its natural cask strength of 49.4%. The whisky’s colour is a dark-brown-gold-tawny with hints of rust. The bottle is presented with Gordon & MacPhail’s “Cask Strength” label; KWM’s logo and the bottle number can be found on the back. The Cask Strength Glen Grant 1966 is packaged in a handsome rosewood box, with an engraved glass front featuring the logos of Gordon & MacPhail and KWM. Accompanying the bottle inside the box is a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.
Tasting Note:
Nose: ripe orchard fruits, citrus, poached apple, sauternes, chocolate orange and gentle spices and moderate hints of sherry.
Palate: sweet and gentle with rich spices, and buttery sherry notes; becomes drier, darker and more chocolaty with each sip; traces of raw cocoa and coffee bean.
Finish: long and soft with warming sherry notes; drying with soft but firm oak and more hints of citrus.
If you would like to taste a sample of the Cask Strength Glen Grant 1966 drop by the store and ask for the Scotch Guy. The Cask Strength Glen Grant 1966 sells for $499.99 + GST. The bottles, numbered 1 through 134 are being sold on a first-serve basis; if you would like a specific bottle number act now. More than half of the bottles have sold!
Fall Whisky Tours
There is still some space available for my fall whisky tours. If you have some free time on your hands this fall and a taste for single malt whiskies perhaps a Scotland distillery tour is exactly what the doctor ordered. I have two tours going out this fall, the first to the Orkney’s and Northern Highlands, and the second to Islay and West Coast. If this is something you might be interested in feel free to drop me an e-mail. The details can be found below:
Orkneys and Northern Highlands
The Orkneys are one of the most beautiful places in the world, let alone Scotland. They are an archipelago of islands off the northern tip of mainland Scotland. There are some 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The main island, or “Mainland” to the locals, is the sixth largest island in Scotland and boasts a large town—Kirkwall—complete with Cathedral. The Orkneys are rich in history, in fact it is nearly impossible to turn over a stone without uncovering something. The “Mainland” is home to the finest chambered tombs (Maes Howe) in Scotland, and has a curious stone age settlement older than the pyramids (Skara Brae). The Mainland of the Orkneys is also home to two distilleries, Highland Park and Scapa. This tour will begin in the Orkneys(you have the option to fly in, or drive up with me), where we will spend two days, after which we will then wind our way down through the Northern Highlands with stops at some historic sites and of course tours of some of Scotland’s finest distilleries, including: Highland Park, Old Pulteney, Clynelish/Brora, Dalmore, Balblair, Glenmorangie and Dalwhinnie. There will also be the opportunity for a round or two of golf. More details and a proposed itinerary below.
Start Date: Sunday September 27th 2009
Starting Point: Glasgow
End Date: October 3rd 2009
Final Destination: Edinburgh
Estimated Cost: $2500-3000
Cost Includes: Guide, accommodation (4th-9th), ground and ferry transport, gasoline, all distillery and visitor center costs, most breakfasts, SMWS Dinner/Tasting.
Cost Does Not Include: Most lunches/dinners, airfare, first and last nights accommodation, travel and medical insurance.
Islay and the West Coast
If the Speyside is the heart of Scotland’s whisky industry, then Islay is its soul. This small island of only 239 sq/mi is home to just 3,400 people, but has 9 distilleries, 10 if you count that on nearby Jura as well. The whiskies from Islay are the most varied and distinct in Scotland. Islay is renowned for being home to Scotland’s most heavily peated and smoky whiskies, but if fact the island actually boasts a range of whisky styles from sweet and grassy to medicinal and peaty with shades of everything in between. The island was also once home to the Lords of the Isles who ruled the islands of Western Scotland and Northern Ireland, independent of England, Scotland and Denmark during the late Middle Ages. On this tour we will spend nearly four full days on Islay, but will also make stops on the Isle of Arran and Campbeltown at the end of the Kintyre Peninsula. In addition to visiting some of Islay’s iconic distilleries we will also spend time at Springbank, Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, and the most traditional, hands on distillery in all of Scotland. There is time and opportunity too for up to 2 rounds of golf, at Machrihanish near Campbeltown, and at Machrie on Islay!
Start Date: Sunday October 4th 2009
Starting Point: Glasgow
End Date: October 10th 2009
Final Destination: Edinburgh
Estimated Cost: $2500 – $3000
Cost Includes: Guide, accommodation (4th-9th), ground and ferry transport, gasoline, all distillery and visitor center costs, most breakfasts, SMWS Dinner/Tasting.
Cost Does Not Include: Most lunches/dinners, airfare, first and last nights accommodation, travel and medical insurance.
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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!
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
