Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

As promised our Winter Tasting Schedule is now online: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php !

We have an excellent line-up of winter whisky, rum and beer tastings to tempt your palate ranging from our 6th Annual Robbie Burns Supper on the 26th of January to our first Ancient Malts Tasting in more than a year! There is something there for everyone and it’s online and open for registration now! You can register for our tastings by visiting our web site https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php , by paying us a visit in person or by giving us a call at 403-283-8000. If you haven’t been to one of our fun and educational tasting events I sincerely encourage you to give us a try.

First up in 2011 is our 6th Annual Robert Burns Supper. There is something hear for everyone from the diehard Burns Aficionado to the casual whisky drinker looking for a fun night out. Our event combines the traditional core elements of a Burns Supper with a tasting 6 premium single malt whiskies from a guest distillery. This year we will be featuring the Isle of Arran distillery, from whom we are looking at buying our own cask!

And don’t forget our Gordon & MacPhail Benromach Tasting with Michael Urquhart next Thursday December 9th! You’ll be professionally lead through a sampling of 8 whiskies (4 each from Benromach and Gordon & MacPhail) by none other than the co-director of both companies, Michael Urquhart. The proceeds of this tasting will be going to the Children’s Hospital Aid Society, so come join us for an exceptional tasting and give a little something back to the community at the same time!

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

GORDON & MACPHAIL/BENROMACH TASTING WITH MICHAEL URQUHART – Thursday December 9th 7-9PM – $50

Michael Urquhart is in town for the week, and with some new G&M exclusives and Christmas on the way it seemed like a great opportunity for a tasting. Further, it’s a great opportunity for us give back to the community, in this case the proceeds from the night’s event will be going to the Children’s Hospital Aid Society. For just $50 (at least $30 of which will go to CHAS) you will enjoy a tasting of 8 single malt whiskies led by Gordon & MacPhail’s co-Director. We will be tasting the following whiskies:

1.       G&M KMW Glen Grant 1966 – Exclusive – $449.99

2.       G&M Cask Strength Imperial 1997 – Exclusive – $114.99

3.       G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glen Keith 1993 – Exclusive – $87.99

4.       G&M Connoisseurs Choice Convalmore 1984 – Exclusive – $182.99

5.       Benromach 10 Year – $68.99

6.       Benromach Origins #2 Port Pipes – $83.49

7.       Benromach Origins #3 Optic Barley/Oloroso – 83.49

8.       Benromach 21 Year – $129.99

Gordon & MacPhail is Scotland’s second oldest independent bottle—est. 1895—and unlike most independent bottlers they purchase their whiskies as new make spirit, filling it into their own barrels.  In 1993 Gordon & MacPhail bought Benromach Distillery. It took them 5 years to get it in ship shape, but it has been back in action since 1998 and is the smallest distillery in the Speyside. Michael will be available to sign any bottles purchased that evening, and there will be some excellent deals on both G&M and Benromach whiskies.

The Children’s Hospital Aid Society or CHAS is volunteer group of 70 Calgary women who raise money for the Children’s Hospital and other Calgary agencies which advocate on behalf of children. The organization has been in existence since 1908 and in the last 20 years has raised over 4 million.

This will be an excellent event, with proceeds going to a worthy cause.  Hope to see you there.

For more information or to register call 403-283-8000 or visit our website www.kensingtonwinemarket.com.

WINTER 2011 TASTING SCHEDULE

All tastings start promptly at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise noted
Seating is strictly limited, so book early to avoid disappointment
It is recommended that you use public transportation, walk or arrange a ride to and from the class. Please pre-book your taxi!
Tastings are complete with light snacks

Cancellation Policy: Seating registrations are transferrable so you are welcome to send someone else in your place if you cannot attend a tasting. If you contact us more than 48 hours prior to the tasting date to cancel one or more seats, you will receive a store credit for the value of the cancelled seat(s). Store credits can be used for any future purchases, including tastings or products. Cancellation requests received within 48 hours of the tasting date are not refundable.

1.      Scots Wha Hae? Caledonians Unite! It’s time to celebrate all things Scottish. Isle of Arran is the featured distillery for our 6th annual Robbie Burns Supper, and Andrew Hogan is our special guest. We’ll have bagpipes, poetry, haggis with neeps and tatties and six amazing single malts all from Arran, including—we hope—a new single cask bottling exclusive to KWM!. No previous whisky experience required. Location: Fort Calgary, 7:00pm. Wednesday January 26th. $99

2.      Classic Malts Back to basics, “Classic Malts” is our introduction to the world of Scottish single malt whisky: its regions, history and taste profiles. No this won’t be a “Diageo Classic Malts” tasting, though we may include a few of those for good measure. This is a great opportunity to learn why Scotch is the hottest spirit in the world! Tuesday February 8th. $35

3.      Rare Malts Only the oldest and rarest whiskies need apply! Taste whiskies that have been matured more than 20 years in oak, and are from closed distilleries or are exceptionally rare! Thursday February 24th. $75

4.      Whisky, Women & Chocolate Round up the gals and join our Scotchguy, Andrew Ferguson, for a pairing of fine whisky and premium chocolate from Calgary’s only true “chocolatier”, Chokolat, located in Inglewood. No whisky experience needed, we’ll convert even the most sceptical into a lover of fine whisky! Friday March 4th. $50

5.      Ancient Malts Our blockbuster tasting for 2011 is going to feature the Gold Bowmore 1964, a 44 year old Bowmore bottling valued at $4389.99 which scored 96pts. We’ll also sample 5 other whiskies 30 to 50 years of age! We’ll only do one tasting like this all year, don’t miss it! Tuesday March 15th. $225

6.      Diageo Special Releases Dinner Caol Ila 10 Year Unpeated, Mannochmore 18 Year, Pittyvaich 20 Year, Benrinnes 23 Year, Port Ellen 30 Year and Talisker 30 are the rare whiskies you will sample at Buchanan’s Chop House while enjoying a 3 course meal! If you haven’t been to one of our whisky dinners yet, you don’t know what you are missing! Thursday Mach 31st. $140

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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