Malt Messenger No. 39

In the more than 4 years that I’ve been writing the Malt Messenger it has taken on a life of its own. From humble beginnings as a “what’s new style” newsletter it’s grown into a forum for me to express my enthusiasm for the humble single malt. At times I’ve tried to impose some structure on it, but like a baby forced to take part in a multi-cultural themed sing along (refer to the movie Babies) it always finds a way to get away from me.

The May edition has turned into an early June edition and there will probably be a late June edition too because there is simply too much to write about. Our bi-annual whisky festival is tomorrow night, the Ultimate Auchentoshan dinner is Friday and we’ve just received a plethora of new whiskies including: a special edition Glen Breton 15 Year, 2 new Edradours, 4 exciting bottles from Signatory, Brora 30 Year, the third release of Kilchoman, three new Japanese whiskies and much, much more!

Speaking of the Ultimate Auchentoshan Dinner, if you don’t already have plans for Friday night you might just want to consider joining us. In addition to a sumptuous four course dinner at Buchanan’s you will also have the opportunity to sample 8 different expressions of Auchentoshan including a very rare 50 year old single cask bottling worth close to $3700.00.

If you didn’t register early enough for the Spring Single Malt Festival, and had hoped to attend, please accept my condolences. There are some incredible whiskies on offer. But there is still room in the Ultimate Auchentoshan Dinner (see above/below) and the Rare Malts tasting later this month will feature some incredible whiskies like a 40 year old Springbank and the Pittyvaich 20. And I’ll also have some news out shortly on the Festival whisky tasting we are helping the Calgary Opera to put on in early October as a fundraiser.

The weather may not be cooperating, but as far as whisky is concerned, the month of June is going to be a bumper crop! If you can’t make our festival or the other tastings you can always drop by the store for a complementary dram, some whisky advice and a friendly smile. There is always something new to see, and this month that’s especially true…

I hope you enjoy this and all future Malt Messengers!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

PS-You can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy !

 In This Edition:

The Ultimate Auchentoshan Dinner
Distillery in Focus: Laphroaig
Distillery in Focus: Springbank
Glen Breton “Battle of the Glens” 15 Year
Kilchoman Spring 2010 Release
Edradour Caledonia
New Signatory Bottlings Coming in This Week!
New Japanese Whiskies From Nikka
Upcoming Tastings
New Products
Returned Products
Coming Soon
Top 10 Whiskies March / April / May

The Ultimate Auchentoshan Dinner – Friday June 11th  – $220

This will more than likely be the whisky dinner of the year in at the very least Alberta! We will be sitting down to sample eight expressions of Scotland’s only full time triple distilled whisky while enjoying a four course meal carefully paired by the skilled experts at Buchanan’s Chop House. If you’ve never been to one of our Buchanan’s whisky dinners you don’t know what you’re missing.

Auchentoshan distillery was founded in 1823 not far from the Clydebank at the foot of the Kilpatrick hills. The distillery was bombed by the Germans in WWII who mistook it for an explosives plant. It was hit several times during the Clydebank Blitz, destroying several warehouses full of whisky and leaving a crater in front of the distillery which the proprietors cleverly repurposed as a cooling pond. The distillery is one of the three Scottish distilleries who form Morrison Bowmore Distillers and is the only distillery in Scotland which continues to employ full time triple distillation.

We will be sampling close to $5000 worth of Auchentoshan at the dinner including the following:

Auchentoshan 12 Year – $47.99
Auchentoshan 18 Year – $106.49
Auchentoshan 21 Year – $126.49
Auchentoshan 3 Wood – $73.49
Auchentoshan 1978 – $543.99
Auchentoshan 18 Year Sherry Matured – $119.99 – NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Auchentoshan 1957 50 Year – $3669.99
Duthies Auchentoshan 19 Year – $108.49

The dinner is mostly sold out, but there is still some room for a few more participants to enjoy The Ultimate Auchentoshan Dinner. Call the store 403-283-8000 or visit our website www.kensingtonwinemarket.com to register.

Distillery In Focus Laphroaig

Canada has long been a forgotten corner of the world when it comes to whiskies from Laphroaig. In 2005 the 10 year old bottling was pulled from the Canadian market and replaced with the good, but very different Quarter Cask. Four or five months back Alberta received a dozen bottles of 25 year old; the 2007 bottling at 40%. About 2 months later another 25 year old expression popped up, and again only about 12 bottles were available for the whole province; but this one, excitingly was bottled at 51%. Sadly this was still nowhere near enough to meet demand, or fill requests from customers. The second 25 year old was followed by some of the 18 year old and a tiny allocation of 10 year (60 bottles for the whole province). Hopefully a sign of things to come…

Laphroaig is one of the three Kildalton distilleries on the southern coast of Islay. At one time there were four Kildalton distilleries, but sadly Port Ellen closed its doors to whisky production in 1983.The Johnson brothers began farming at Laphroaig around 1800 and a few short years later were asked to do some distilling. They began their work in 1810 and by 1815 had caught the attention of the excisemen.  Forced to take out a license, the brothers formed a firm they called Johnson & Johnson (no relation to the American pharmaceuticals firm), and the rest is history.

Laphroaig is unique even among peated Islay whiskies for its medicinal-peaty character. This is owing to the peat used by the distillery to dry their malt. It is harvested from low lying areas along Loch Indaal which have at various points over the last few thousand years been below sea level. This exposure to sea weed and surely some salt deposits give Laphroaig a distinct character not found in any other whisky. It is also one of the reasons why Laphroaig was one of the only whiskies legally available in the US during prohibition. Prescribed for medical conditions, authorities never considered that anyone would drink it if they didn’t have to.

Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to malt some of their own barley. The distillery produces close to 3,000,000L of spirit a year. Given that, the fact that they are able to malt 15% of their requirements on traditional floor maltings is quite surprising. 70% of the remainder is malted down the road at Port Ellen and the rest comes from the mainland. The malt specifications are for a phenolic level of 50-55 PPM, and the barley being typically dried for 18 hours over peat, followed by another 15 of just hot air. The resulting spirit generally comes off the still at about 25PPM.

The flavour profile of Laphroaig changes enormously with time. Older expressions mellow enormously from the fiery aggressive younger bottling. Having sampled both of the recent 25 year olds I was shocked by how gentle and smooth they were. There are currently 6 different bottling of Laphroaig available in varying quantities in the province. They are listed below:

Laphroaig Quarter Cask – This young whisky, little more than 5-6 years of age, has been finished for 7 months in casks literally ¼ the normal size. This process increases the surface area exposure of the whisky, rapidly increasing the aging process. Sweet smoky and spicy, the whisky isn’t for the faint of heart, but should be tried by everyone! – 48% – 95pts Jim Murray – $50.99
Laphroaig 10 Year – Only 60 bottles of this have come in to Alberta for the year. Kensington Wine Market has 12 bottles. They are limited to one bottle per customer. Salt, peat, seaweed and tar with a long peaty finish. – 43% – Silver Medal Whisky Magazine – $57.49
Laphroaig 18 Year – The 18 year old replaces the 15 year old that has to the best of my knowledge never been available in Alberta. Judging by Jim Murray’s review, that isn’t nescesarily a bad thing. He loves the new 18 though: “talk about taking a giant step in the right direction… brimming with character and panache… [Hickory, fisherman’s friend and sweet Demerara with licorice, spice and soft oils]” – We are taking special orders for the next shipment. – 48% – $101.99
Laphroaig 25 Year – Currently on the 2009 bottling which was bottled at a happy 51%. My tasting notes: Nose: very fruity, peach crumble, doughy with tropical fruit notes, some salty-briny smoke and vanilla pods; Palate: creamy, fruity and very rich; some buttery-briny peat, with more lush tropical fruit notes, gentle smoke with sea breeze, burnt orange and traces of sherry; Finish: darker, peatier and saltier with loads of chocolate and spicy warming oak. – We are taking special orders in anticipation of the next shipment. – 51% – $549.99
Duthies Laphroaig 11 Year – Bottled by Duthies, a brand owned by William Cadenhead, Scotland’s oldest independent bottler (1842) this Laphroaig has been bottled without chill filtering or added colouring.  Nose: Peat, smoke, iodine. Oily and warming. Palate: Oily rich, peat smoke, dry burning embers. A lingering dry smokey finish. – $98.99
Coopers Choice Laphroaig 1999 – Independently bottled by Coopers Choice, matured in a refill sherry butt. Nose: peat smoke, heather honey, some fruity wine notes and dusty malt; Palate: malty with lots of peat, some cocoa and heather; Finish: malty, nutty and oaky with a faint trace of heather, finishing in peaty maritime notes. (Tasting Note Abridge from www.whiskyintelligence.com..) (Hey! That’s us!!!) – 46% – $69.99  

Distillery In Focus: Springbank

Springbank is Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, and has been in the possession of the Wright/Mitchell family since its inception in 1828. It is also Scotland’s most traditional distillery, and accordingly, probably it’s finest. It is the only distillery in Scotland to malt 100% of its barley and is one of a very few that bottles its whisky on site. This gives the distiller more control over quality than any other in the country, and also means that it employs more people. Even though Springbank’s production is relatively small, it employs 10 times as many people as most distilleries 4 to 5 times its size.

Springbank is located in the Victorian town of Campbeltown near the mull of the Kintyre peninsula. At one point, in the late 19th and early 20th C, the town of Campbeltown was the heart of the Scottish whisky industry, supplying whisky to the burgeoning American market. Its 32 distilleries were only outnumbered by its churches. Distilleries wary of the temperance movement kept empty churches open to keep the movement at bay. Today there are only 3 distilleries in Campbeltown.

The distillery is currently owned by Hedley Wright, a descendent of the founders. He has one living relative, with whom he has unfortunately fallen out. The good news for is that on his passing the distillery is to be run in trust for the benefit people of Campbeltown, protecting the jobs, identity and heritage which Springbank gives to the town.

The distillery is also noteworthy because it produces three distinct styles of single malt whisky. The first is Springbank, a lightly peated single malt, that the distillery distills two and a half times. Two and a half times distillation is achieved by redistilling half of the middle cut in the second run. The second style is Longrow, named for a closed Campbeltown distillery, and also the name of the street Springbank is located on; “The Longrow”. Longrow is only double distilled and is very heavily peated giving the spirit and resulting whisky a flavor profile more common on Islay. The third and final style of whisky made at Springbank is Hazelburn. Hazelburn is an unpeated, triple distilled single malt made in the traditional Lowland style. Hazelburn is also named for a long lost Campbeltown distillery. It is only a small fraction of Springbank’s production and next to Auchentoshan is the only other triple distills whisky in Scotland.

Kesnington Wine Market currently has 15 expression from Springbank in stock:

Springbank 1996 KWM Oloroso Cask – Bottled exclusively for Kensington Wine Market. Bottled at a cask strength of 55.8% Nose: sweet, Christmas spices, brown sugar, milk chocolate; palate; really spicy and sweet, candied fruits, drying oak and some salty smoke; finish: rich, long and smooth with more spicy-sweet notes. – $109.99
Signatory Springbank 1969 – Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market. This whisky is the product of a single sherry butt, cask 263, bottled at a cask strength of 54.4% at 40 years of age! Tasting note to come soon… – $1267.99
Springbank CV – This junior expression of Springbank was bottled to show what is at the core of Springbank whisky. Palate: Subtle sherry notes with a depth of oak and spice,and traditional Dunnage warehouses. – $59.99
Springbank 10 Year – This is the workhorse of the Springbank brand, and much improved over the last few years with the increased use of sherry casks. Malt, oak, spice, nutmeg and connamon, vanilla essence. – $66.49
Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength – The best bottling of Springbank in the store next to our own cask. 60% Sherry 40% Bourbon, dark, deep, rich and spicy! – $76.99
Springbank 12 Year Claret Cask – Limited to 9000 bottles, matured 7 years in Bourbon, 3 years in Fresh Claret casks and a final two in recharred casks. Dark, rich, leathery and spicy with firm oak tannins. – $82.99
Springbank 15 Year – This is the distillery’s flagship bottling, and an old standby. Sherry dominated with loads of toffee and chocolate. – $96.99
Springbank 18 Year – The oldest Springbank in the stable right now. Named the best Campbeltown whisky by Whisky Magazine the 2010 bottling is rich and oily from the moment it hits the palate, eventually revealing dried fruits and just a hint of smoke. – $130.99
Springbank 2001 Small Casks – This small batch whisky was matured 8 years in small bourbon casks as an experiment. The result: a whisky that tastes much older than its age statement. – $85.99
Longrow CV – The CV is matured in a mix of Bourbon, Sherry, Port and Rum casks, and is a vatting of whiskies aged 7, 10 and 14 years. Dissolves on impact with the peats melting first, followed by molassed barley and mocha. – $70.99
Longrow 10 Year – 60% of the spirit is matured in bourbon casks giving it a rush of sweetness and the other 40% in sherry which is the source of the rich spices. – $95.99
Longrow 14 Year – If you didn’t know any better you’d swear it was from Islay. Nose: milk chocolate, slight smoke & mint. Palate: initially sweet, the subtle peat takes over. Finish: soft smoke. – $106.49
Longrow Gaja Barolo Finish – Absolutely massive, this young heavily peated whisky has picked up big tannins and dark sweet fruits from the Gaja casks. – $95.99
Hazelburn 8 Year – Springbank’s third style of whisky is the triple distilled Hazelburn. More Lowland in style than a typical Campbeltowner it is soft, sweet and malty with lots of vanilla. – $86.99 

Glen Breton Battle of the Glens 15 Year – $132.49

Glenora distillery in Glenville, Nova Scotia, is Canada’s first single malt distillery. Established in 1990 the distillery released its first single malt whisky, Glen Breton 10 Year in 2000. The whisky, made in the style of single malt Scotch whisky, was clearly marked as a Canadian product. A whisky may only be called Scotch if it is made in Scotland, and Glenora, conscious of that, labelled their product clearly as “Canada’s Only Single Malt Whisky”; the bottle and box both prominently displaying a maple leaf.

Never the less the product caught the attention of the Scotch Whisky Association, or SWA, a very powerful industry funded body which lobbies the UK and EU governments on behalf of the Scotch industry and which directs and funds legal actions against both domestic and international “threats” to the industry. Most of the time the SWA uses its power and resources to combat counterfeit and knockoff Scotch whisky mainly produced and available in developing countries.

However the SWA, which is mostly funded and directed by the multinational beverage giants who dominate the Scotch whisky industry, often uses (or tries to use) its clout against the smaller players in its neighbourhood like Springbank, Arran, Bruichladdich and Compass Box. These smaller players, who generally produce better quality (non-chillfiltered, and no added colouring) and more innovative (different cask types and combinations) products, are seen as a threat to staler big volume brands owned by the likes of Diageo, Pernod Richard and William Grant and Sons. The SWA also goes after producers of single malt whiskies in other countries who they feel are intentionally—or not—misleading consumers into thinking their products are Scotch whisky. Enter Glenora distillery and Glen Breton single malt.

In 2001 the SWA launched a legal fight with Glenora, claiming their product, Glen Breton, was misleading consumers into thinking it was Scotch. The SWA took umbrage with the distillery’s use of the word “glen” which they believe should be reserved for the naming of whiskies from Scotland where the term originates. Glenora took the position that “glen” is an established name in the province of Nova Scotia, and in particular on Cape Breton Island, and that they should be allowed to use it. An opinion I happen to share. In 2007 the Trademark Opposition Board ruled in their favour. In 2008 a Federal Court overturned the ruling. Later that same year Glenora applied to the Federal Court of Appeal which early in 2009 gave another ruling in its favour.  But this David and Goliath story wasn’t over yet; 5 months after losing at the court of appeal the SWA figured it would go for broke by appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Finally, in June of 2009, after nearly 10 years of legal challenges and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees that this small distillery could ill afford, the SWA’s appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was dismissed without reason and costs were awarded to Glenora throughout. To celebrate their victory and an end to the legal wrangling which very nearly left them financially crippled the distillery has released 4000 bottles of a special edition 15 year old, called, The Battle of the Glens. This bottling will be very limited in Alberta. Kensington Wine Market has purchased just 20 bottles which will be retailing for $132.49. The Distillery’s Tasting Note Follows:

Colour: A rare dissolution of gold – at break of dawn, the first brushing of the sun upon the snow-covered lakes of the Bras d’Or;

Nose: Subtle, summer-cut applewood, with undertones of Highland honey;

Taste: Taking by surprise, come the waves of malt, powerful, but without overbearing, then a complex orchard of flavour;

Finish: Rich, almost lubricious mouthfeel, The malt withdraws into heat, resolving into the warm caress of an enduring companion, Peat character is very subtle – rather wisps of hardwood smoke, evoking memories of autumn leaves;

Balance: The play between lightness of the whisky and the strength of the malt is a work of harmony….and mystery…….

Kilchoman Spring 2010 Release – $89.99

Kilchoman is Scotland’s youngest active distillery. Established in 2005 in the north-west corner of the Island of Islay, it released its first single malt in the summer of 2009. The first bottle of this 3 year old was sold at auction for £5,400.00 with the proceeds donated to charity. The other 9000 bottles of the first ever whisky offering from this distillery sold out quickly and now sell for at least double the original price at auction. Only 60 bottles made it to Canada, and they sold out almost immediately.

The second release, Autumn 2009, also sold out quickly. Only 120 bottles made it to Alberta and all 66 of Kensington’s sold out before they even hit the floor. We have at least 60 of the Spring 2010 release on order, and they will be in store as of Wednesday June 9th. The reviews are thus far very positive, and some have called this the best release yet. The third release of Kilchoman is already sold out in Europe, and very likely won’t make the floor. Half of our allocation is already spoken for and I haven’t even told anyone it’s here. Whether you are building a collection of the releases or want to try it for the first time, don’t hesitate… if you blink it will be gone!

Tasting Note Courtesy of Master of Malt:

Nose: Weighty and strong, just like the Kilchoman we’re used to. The Spring release kicks off with the sort of inimitably muscular peat smoke that only Islay can offer. There is fruitiness too – warm citrus – as well as pine oil, grape and sparkling oak.

Palate: Musty and rich – it’s hard to believe this has just passed its 3rd birthday! Buttery, malty, with tangy slabs of hot Islay peat. Toffee sweetness, oily smoke, fruit conserves, olive brine.

Finish: The intensity comes into its own, as it pretty near explodes with waves of tingling peat, touches of iodine, earthy, musty suggestions of sherry.

Comment: The most fruity Kilchoman yet…

Edradour Caledonia 12 Year – $93.99

Originally released as a single cask bottling to celebrate Scotland’s Homecoming 2009 festivities this 12 year old, heavily sherry finished Edradour is a new permanent addition to the distillery’s range. Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market, this whisky was originally released as a single cask bottling, selected by Dougie MacLean. Dougie MacLean is famous for a very popular and patriotic folk ballad he published in 1979. It was called Caledonia, which is an archaic name for Scotland and Northern Britain.

Though it has long been Scotland’s smallest distillery, it now has to share those honours with Kilchoman. Established in 1825 in the hills above Pitlochry, the distillery is one of the most picturesque and tranquil in Scotland. Its white-washed buildings with red trim and black shingles line both sides of a small burn that runs through the distillery grounds. The name Edradour is Scots-Gaelic for “the place where waters meet”; very appropriate considering a storm nearly washed the distillery away in 2002 only days after a new owner took over. Only 30 bottles available for the time being, and they are surprisingly good!

Tasting Note by John Hansell of Malt Advocate:

Full sherry impact, but contained—not excessive or sappy. Rich, with nutty toffee, pot-still rum, complex raisin, date, honeyed fruit, polished leather and a hint of tobacco. Good resinous grip on the finish to balance the sweetness. The flavors are nicely integrated.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 86

New Signatory Bottlings In This Week!

Signatory is among the finest independent bottlers in Scotland. Family owned since it was founded in 1988, it specializes in rare and old single malts and has a well deserved reputation for the quality of their whiskies. I’ll have more on each of these whiskies in the next Malt Messenger after I’ve had a chance to taste them. In the interim, here’s a heads-up on what’s coming in this week. All four of these are exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market, where possible I have provided my own tasting note:

Signatory Springbank 1969 – Only 4 of these are coming in, and I am hoping to open one for my Rare Malts Tasting. Aged 40 years… and packaged in a beautiful presentation case. – $1,267.99

Signatory Bowmore 1972 – All 10 bottles of this heavily sherried (Sheriff’s Oloroso) Bowmore sold out this past fall, so I’ve brought another 10 bottles in. Those attending the Spring Single Malt Festival will have a chance to taste it. Nose: big jammy buttery fruit, treacle sauce, red berry pie, fudgy and overall sublime; Palate: stewed fruits, fresh cream, soft clean buttery peat, faint smoke, Moroccan marmalade and chocolate covered coffee beans; Finish: long, sweet and creamy with more jammy fruit. A poor man’s Black Bowmore! 45.4% / Sherry Butt / 36 Year – $634.99

Signatory Glenlossie 1984 – Single sherry cask, and there are only 18 coming in. This will also be available at the Spring Single Malt Festival. Nose: burnt citrus, ginger snaps, candied orange, aloe and flower shop; really spicy, big buttery sherry notes, milk chocolate, candied orange, burnt sugar and young Christmas cake. – Sherry Butt / 59.1% / 24 Year – $209.99

Signatory Dufftown 1984 – Also from a single sherry cask with but 18 bottles coming in, and open for the Spring Single Malt Festival. Nose: biscuity, charred oak, some nutty tones, jujubes and burnt hair; sweet, soft and spicy, lots of black liquorice with clove and some hints of rubber; Finish: drying, long and warming with more cloves. This is for the sherry bomb fan. – 57.5% / Sherry Butt / 25 Year – $209.49

New Japanese Whiskies From Nikka

The Japanese have been making single malt whisky for nearly 100 years and by all accounts do a very good job of it. Sadly, most of it never leaves Japan, let alone find its way into the maze North American liquor jurisdictions. However in the last week three new Japanese whiskies have become available from Nikka Distilling. Nikka is a Japanese distilling company owned by Asahi brewing. The company owns two Japanese single malt distilleries as well as a further grain distillery. They also own Ben Nevis distillery in Fort William on the west coast of Scotland.

Nikka’s founder Masataka Taketsuru travelled to Scotland in 1918 to learn the practice of whisky making. He studied Organic Chemistry at the University of Glasgow and worked for a number of Scottish distilleries. In 1920, against the wishes of both families he and Jessie Cowan of Middlecroft were married. For a short while they settled in the town of Campbeltown where he worked for a period at the Hazelburn distillery. A short time later he returned to Japan where he helped Shinjiro Torrii establish a distillery at Kotobukiya in 1923. That distillery would come to be known as Yamazaki, the cornerstone of the Suntory Group which in addition to Japanese interested also owns Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch distilleries in Scotland.

In 1934 Masataka decided to go his own way, opening his first distillery, Yoichi (AKA Hokkaido Distillery) on the northern island of Hokkaido. It remains to this day the most northerly distillery in Japan, and the only one on Hokkaido. It mainly uses cask iron worm tubs for condensation which are increasingly rare and its stills are the only direct coal fired stills in the world.  The other distillery, Miyagikyo, was opened in 1969; it is sometimes referred to as Sendai. It also has a pair of very rare Coffey stills that were originally installed in another distillery.

In 1989 Nikka purchased Ben Nevis distillery from Whitbread. Sadly Masataka did not live to see Nikka purchase a Scottish distiller, having died a decade earlier. However he would almost certainly have approved of the move which brought his own journey full circle. His son Takeshi managed the acquisition and subsequent renovations. Ben Nevis had closed 3 years earlier and was sorely in need of refurbishment.

Kensington Wine Market has 3 whiskies in from Nikka Distillers:

Nikka Straight From the Barrel – Reference 16114C this cask strength single barrel whisky has been bottled at 51.4%. Nose: soft toasted oak, plumy fruits, floral tones, candied ginger and a touch of milk chocolate; Palate: soft, light and very fruity with more plumy fruits, melted brown sugar and burnt orange; Finish: drying and long with lots of toasted spicy oak. – $53.49

Miyagikyo 12 Year Single Malt – “Nose: that familiar gooseberry nose with barley and custard; Palate: juicy and sweetens superbly mainly with gristy barley, though that oaky vanilla lurks nearby; Finish: drier, a hint of bitterness, but that persistent sweet barley compensates.” 89pts Jim Murray – $119.49

Taketsuru 21 Year Blended Malt – This whisky was named Blended Malt Whisky of the Year recently by Whisky Magazine. Peppery and salty with prunes, dried orange, walnut and ginger. – $139.49

Upcoming Tastings

Spring Single Malt Festival – SOLD OUT
Ultimate Auchentoshan Dinner – Some Space Available – Friday June 11th – $220 – See Above for More Details
Whisky Traveler Islay – SOLD OUT
Rare Malts – Tuesday June 22nd – More on this dinner in the next couple of weeks, I am definitely considering the Pittyvaich 20 and the Signatory Springbank 1969. – $80
 

 New Products

It’s been a couple of months since the last full Malt Messenger, and there are lots of new whiskies to tell you about. I’ll try to keep this short.

Signatory Dufftown 1984 – Sweet, soft and spicy, lots of black licorice, clove and a touch of rubber. Single Sherry Butt, 57.5%, 455 bottles – $209.49
Signatory Glenlossie 1984 – Really spicy with big buttery sherry notes. Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market. Single Sherry Butt, 59.1%, 549 bottles – $209.99
Signatory Springbank 1969 – A 20+ year old Springbank is a rarity at the best of times, let alone a 40 year old. Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market. Tasting note to come. – $1267.99
Edradour Caledonia – This is a special edition Edradour, see above, Kilchoman Spring 2010 Release – For more information see above. Limit 2 bottles per customer. – $89.99
Springbank CV – What’s at the heart Springbank whisky? There is only one way to find out! – $59.99
Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength – Next to our own cask, this is the finest expression of Springbank in the store… 60% Sherry 40% Bourbon, dark, deep, rich and spicy! – $76.99
Springbank Claret 12 Year – Limited to 9000 bottles, matured 7 years in Bourbon, 3 years in Fresh Claret casks and a final two in recharred casks. Dark, rich, leathery and spicy with firm oak tannins. – $82.99
Laphroaig 18 Year – The 18 year old replaces the 15 year old that has to the best of my knowledge never been available in Alberta. 94pts Jim Murray – $101.99
Glenlivet XXX 25 Year – 91pts Jim Murray, this sherried whisky comes in a beautiful presentation case. – $339.99
Caol Ila 10 Year Unpeated – Surprisingly approachable at 65.8%, a lovely though unusual unpeated Caol Ila. – $103.99
Mannochmore 18 Year – A softly sherried and complex bottling of one of Diageo’s more obscure distilleries. – $274.99
Pittyvaich 20 Year – An obscure bottling from a closed distillery, only the second ever official bottling! Very rare indeed. – $289.99
Benrinnes 23 Year – A sherry monster from another of Diageo’s lesser know distillery’s, who exist only to pump out whisky for Johnny Walker and other blends. – $314.99
Port Ellen 30 Year – 9th Release. Can’t wait to sample this at the Whisky Traveller Islay Tasting. Only 9/30 left. – $449.99
Brora 30 Year 2009 – $459.99
Compass Box Spice Tree – This whisky is so sweet, soft and spicy it has to be sampled to be believed. And a steal at the price! – $63.99
Coopers Choice Laphroaig 1999 – Coopers Choice is bottling their whiskies at 46% and have updated their packaging. Palate: malty with lots of peat, some cocoa and heather. – $69.99
Coopers Choice Glen Mohr 1982 – This whisky is from a rarely seen closed distillery. Tasting note to come! – $178.49
Arran Pomerol Cask – After maturing 8 years in Bourbon and Sherry casks this whisky was finished for 6 months in Pomerol casks from Bordeaux, creating a sweet, crisp and malty whisky with plum sauce and ginger biscuits  – $76.99
Arran Pinot Noir Cask – Matured in Bourbon casks, finished in Pinot Noir. Nose: grapefruits and orange with toasted almonds; Palate: intially very peppery it becomes sweeter with citrus notes; Finish: lingering spice and cherry flavoured fruit drops. – $76.99
Glen Breton Battle of the Glens – A special edition 15 year old from Glen Breton released to celebrate the distillery’s victory over the SWA. See above. – $132.49
Sullivan’s Cove Single Cask Port – The nose is chocolate but the palate is licorice and corn whisky oils. – $114.99
Sullivan’s Cove Single Cask Bourbon – Lots of toasted oak, sweet vanilla and a big full palate. –  $111.99
Connemara Sherry Finish – The sweetness and spiciness of Sherry interact beautifully with the malt and peat. – $83.49
Nikka From the Barrel – Palate: soft, light and very fruity with more plumy fruits, melted brown sugar and burnt orange! – $53.49
Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Single Malt – Light, fruity and full of character, distilled at Sendai distillery. – $119.49
Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Blended Malt – Blended Malt of the Year World Whisky Awards and Gold Medal Winner in Whisky Magazine. – $139.49

Returned Products

Laphroaig 25 Year – Come and gone, let us know if you want to be on the waiting list. More info above! – $549.99
Tullibardine Moscatel – Soft, fruity and chewy taste with a long, floral and raisiny with a tang of lemons finish. – $83.49
Signatory Bowmore 1972 – 10 bottles came in last fall and all sold out in a matter of days. 10 more have just arrived, and we cracked one to make sure it was still tasty… good news it is. This is the poor man’s Black Bowmore! – $634.99
Edradour 10 Year – Its back! So rejoice… – $76.99
Royal Lochnagar Distiller’s Edition – A sweet and doughy dram from Queen Victoria’s favourite distillery. – $85.99
 

Coming Soon

Highland Park Earl Magnus
Dalmore MacKenzie – Kensington Wine Market Exclusive…
Glendronach Grandeur 31 Year

Top 10 Whiskies

This is a new feature that will let you know what everyone else is buying. Each edition I will list in order the previous month’s 10 best selling whiskies. I will try to post these results monthly in store.

May’s Top 10 Whiskies

Bowmore Tempest – Matured exclusively in first fill Bourbon casks this whisky is massively creamy, with soft salty peat and notes of tropical fruit. Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market. – $81.99
Springbank 1996 KWM Oloroso Cask – $109.99
Caol Ila 10 Year Unpeated – $103.99
Laphroaig 18 Year – $101.99
BenRiach 1994 KWM Madeira Cask – $109.99
Duthies Auchentoshan 19 Year – $108.49
Duthies Clynelish 14 Year – 91.99
Duthies Laphroaig 11 Year – $98.99
Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength – 76.99
The Big Peat – $79.99 

April’s Top 10 Whiskies

Springbank 1996 KWM Oloroso Cask – Our exceptional cask showed very well at this weekend’s Campbeltown Spirits tasting and was the best selling whisky. It’s a big sherried Springbank with lots of depth. – $109.99
BenRiach 1994 KWM Madeira Cask – $109.99
OMC Probably Speyside’s Finest Distillery 41 Year – $275.99
Bowmore Tempest –$81.99
Port Ellen 30 Year Old 9th Release – $449.99
The Big Peat – $79.99
Laphroaig Quarter Cask – $50.99
Benromach Organic Special Edition – $84.99
Macallan 12 Year – $73.99
OMC KWM Port Ellen 25 Year – $249.99

March’s Top 10:

Bowmore Tempest – $81.99
BenRiach 1994 KWM Madeira Cask – $109.99
Kilchoman Autumn 2009 Release – $89.99
Springbank 1996 KWM Oloroso Cask – $109.99
Springbank 18 Year 2010 Bottling – $130.99
Ledaig 10Yr – $73.99
Springbank 11 Year Madeira Wood – $87.99
Longrow Gaja Barolo Finish – $95.99
Bruichladdich Bourbon Cask 16 Year – $77.99
Duthies Auchentoshan 19 Year – $108.49

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