Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

The next full Malt Messenger is out early next week. But some news just can’t wait. So in the meantime I thought I’d give you a little taste of what to expect. I’ve kept it short and sweet, enjoy!

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2010 is here! – $30

Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide by the late whisky writer Michael Jackson is here! – $49.99

Springbank 1996 KWM Manzanilla Cask – Do you remember our exceptional cask of Springbank? You know, the one that sold out about a two months ago (600 bottles in 5 months!)? Well, its not quite sold out yet. The distillery held back six cases (36) bottles from the order shipped to us in February, and when we selected our follow up cask (due to land in late November) the existence of these six cases came to light. We requested that they be sent too, and they quietly arrived in store last Wednesday. There are now only 30 bottles left. If you’d like to sample our Springbank 1996 Manzanilla Cask before it truly sells out, don’t delay! Full tasting note and description to be included in the next Malt Messenger! $109.99

Bruichladdich Organic 2003: Following in the wake of the Benromach Organic is Bruichladdich’s crack at organic whisky! My initial thoughts: Nose: light, honeyed malt, very grassy, buttery creamy notes underlie it all with olives and almonds; Palate: surprisingly big mouthfeel given the nose, apple juice, sweet & bitter vanilla oak notes and malted milk; Finish: sweet, more vanillans and licorice root. Available in limited quantities: $77.99 + GST

Bruichladdich Black Art 1989: Aged 19 years in bourbon casks with a wine cask influence, Jim’s not saying much more than that. The whisky was rumoured to be similar in style to the legendary Blacker Still of years back, but that comparison does a disservice to both the Blacker Still and Black Art. People will be talking about this dram not least because of the mystique surrounding its creation, but also because once poured from the black opaque bottle they won’t know what to make of it. I don’t often talk about colour, unless it is exceptional or unusual, and it is both in this case. It looks like a young tawny port or rose wine; I’ve never seen anything like it before in the world of whisky. Nose: like a nice young tawny port with a balance of caramel and fruit, caramelized, grapey, dark orchard fruits, fruit syrup, fresh cherries and much more going on; Palate: very grapey, lots of wine notes, some soft tannins, very earthy, strawberry, more dark orchard fruits, cooked plum, toffee cake with a blueberry sauce; Finish: very drying, lots of oak tannins and traces of fruit syrup! This is the kind of dram which people will either love or hate. I think it’s both interesting and fun… Available in limited quantities. – $132.99

Also just in this week:

1.       Duthies Cragganmore 15Yr – 94.99

2.       Kilchoman Innagural Release – $89.99

3.       Signatory Bomwore 1972 – This stuff is the colour of mahogany and is a baby brother to the legendary black. – $634.99

Kilkerran “Work In Progress”: will hit the shelves next week. This first release of Kilkerran single malt is very collectible, and there are only 300 bottles available in the province. Kilkerran is a whisky from Campbeltown’s newest distillery, Glengyle. Glengyle was opened by Springbank distillery in an effort to refurbish the town’s distilling heritage and give it its own regional classification again (you need 3 distilleries). I’ll have much more on this next week, but for now a tasting note of mine: Nose: creamy and salty, sea breeze on a stormy day, soft vanillans, gentle oils, and jasmine; Palate: sweet buttery vanilla, so soft it caresses your palate, gentle oils which softly coat your mouth, briny with clean smoke. This whisky  tastes older than its 5 years, and was clearly selected from superior casks! Finish: clean and sweet, some smoky oils and soft briny sea notes. – $69.99

Also coming in next week is a new line of independently bottled whiskies called Duthies which are exclusive to Kensington Wine Market. We selected four whiskies from the eight available for our first release. They are: Auchentoshan 19Yr, Caol Ila 13Yr, Cragganmore 15Yr and Glen Scotia 17Yr. I’ll have more info on all of these next week in the Malt Messenger, including tasting notes and pricing.

Finally, don’t forget we still have some incredible fall events coming up:

1.       Fall Single Malt Festival – Thursday November 12th – This event is 80% sold out. It is your opportunity to sample more than 80 premium single malts including many old and rare whiskies, some of which aren’t available in Alberta. The cost to attend is $60 which includes your own crystal single malt glass.

2.       BenRiach Cask Release Party with Alistair Walker – Tuesday November 17th – This is the release party for our eagerly anticipated exclusive single cask bottling of BenRiach finished in a Madeira barrel. On Tuesday November 17th special guest Alistair Walker from BenRiach will be on hand to help us celebrate. Alistair is the distillery’s Brand Ambasador and is also the son of its director and Master Blender. He will give us our first taste of this latest cask as well as talk about the other incredible whiskies from BenRiach and Glendronach distilleries (all of which will be open for sampling). Special deeply discounted prices will be available this night only on all BenRiach single malts including pre-orders of our new cask. This event is limited to 60 people, and a crystal whisky glass is included in the $40 admission!

I hope you enjoyed this Malt Messenger bulletin!  Keep your eyes open for the next full edition later in the week!

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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