Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for September 2011, the author, Chris Goodrum, has some excellent insights of whisky, which makes for excellent reading on a Sunday. 

WHISKY NEWSLETTER No 49 – September 2011

Dear Whisky Customers

Well it’s been an interesting few weeks; a period of dilemma’s to say the least. Firstly I received around 30 odd Speyside samples to taste and score for this year’s Independent Bottlers Challenge, and only a couple of weeks to do it in! I have to say that there wasn’t as many sherry casks bottlings as there were the last time I tasted Speyside for the Challenge, and thankfully of those sherry matured samples that were submitted there was only one that I can recall was sulphur tainted. I’ll have more news and my reviews in the next newsletter, when the winners have been announced and I get to find out just exactly what I had tasted.

It made me wonder whether the Indies were becoming more aware of tainted sherry casks and not bottling them, or whether there was a dearth of sherry casks coming on to the secondary market. Maybe I’ll have to do some further investigation.

Dilemma number two was old grain whisky. In September Douglas Laing had decided to release five new bottlings! Oh, my god! As you know I have a weakness for old grains and I really couldn’t buy them all could I?! So a tough decision would have to be made. More on that later. Also coming up in this edition of the newsletter is the lastest releases from Dewar Rattray, both August and Septembers releases from Douglas Laing, a tasting of Glencadam, Tomintoul and Glenglassaugh, some new and not so new releases from James MacArthur, and…………. The Octomore returns!

Anyway before all of that. I had to laugh the other day whilst reading the Whisky Intelligence website, which amongst other things reproduces my newsletter. They had prefaced the August newsletter with the following comment.

“Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for August 2011, the author, Chris Goodrum, has some excellent insights of whisky, which makes for excellent reading on a Sunday. However W.I. has carefully excised any mention of r*m, c*gn*c, sh*rry or V*dk*.”

So, I can confirm that there will be no reviews of r*m, g*n, c*gn*c, or v*dk* in this months newsletter!!!! Oh and by the way, it’s definitely worth taking a look at www.whiskyintelligece.com  as it is crammed full of information on all things whisky related.

As you know I have started to reuse the Gauntleys wordpress blog as a home for my database of tasting notes. I’m currently up to S in the whisky tasting notes, so hopefully it will be completed in the next week or so. If you have had a look I would like to say thank you for doing so, and please feel free to leave a comment or two. I must say that I’m pleasantly surprised with the amount of ‘hits’ that it’s receiving. I mean last Saturday (10th September) it had 102 views! Now obviously it’s not going to receive that number of ‘hits’ everyday but it’s consistently getting views every day. So if you haven’t taken a look then wander over to www.gauntleys.wordpress.com and let me know what you think.

The next project that I’m kicking about in the back of my mind is to start doing video whisky reviews and uploading them to youtube as the only other guy posting reviews on there is someone called ralfy, and although his videos look quite professionally done, good grief he waffles on, and no offense but he bores me stupid! Can I do any better? Well that’s a good question! I’ll have to put in some practice first, so we’ll see!

Obviously I’ll let you know if or when I do my first posting!

Right enough of that waffle, let’s do some drinking……………………..

August Dewar Rattray bottlings

Now as you know I have a bit of a love/ hate relationship with Auchtentoshan (see October 2009’s Newsletter) and it seems to me that every time I taste it I’m disappointed. Not this month as both Dewar Rattray, James MacArthur and Douglas Laing have all released some cracking bottlings. The pick of them is the Rattray bottling, which is just a perfect example of a bourbon matured aged Lowland. Other highlights include the 18 year old Glenlossie and the 16 year old Mortlach. But the ‘must buy’ Dewar Rattray bottling of the month is the 21 year old Linkwood, which has a gorgeous maturity and a sublime complexity and balance..

Oh and it’s good to see that they have bottled another cask of Cooley. Back in October 2007 they bottled a sensational 15 year old, but followed it up in July 2009 with an over confected and slightly sickly 10 year old. This bottling of 10 year old is considerably better and a must have for you Irish Whiskey lovers!

Dewar Rattray Cooley 2000 (10 year old) 46% (website price £45.40)
Bourbon Cask 3240 – Sample at 58.8%
Dist: 2000 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A soft citrus infused nose. Slightly floral and grassy with plenty of subservient vanilla oak. Superb depth of soft fruit with the oak giving it a lovely sheen and a late spice note.

The palate is very much like the nose with the soft grassy, citrus fruit supported by the oak. Slightly floral when the alcohol passes, and finishing with the grass and herbal notes

With water (an approximation of what it will be like at 46%) the nose becomes even softer. Very elegant now with juicy apricot and citrus fruit again supported by the oak. The palate is very expressive now, quite full bodied with a slight oily sheen to the apricot and citrus. Lovely lemony length with hints of barley and spice in the finish. Extremely good.

Dewar Rattray Bunnahabhain 1997 (13 year old) 46%
Bourbon Cask 8374 – Sample at 57.4%
Dist: 1997 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A fairly phenolic and astringently coastal nose. Full of briny, gentle peat along with some barley and burnt wood. Seems a lot younger.

The palate is quite full and displays a good balance, opening with the smoky peat followed by some soft, pleasantly sweet barley fruit. Good length with an oily/ sooty finish.

With water (an approximation of what it will be like at 46%) the nose has become quite grassy and seaweedy, the rampant coastalness has now disappeared as has the oak. It’s still quite fleshy with the citrus the predominant theme. The palate has become rather sweet and almost confected. It’s also become a touch watery too. The intensity has definitely lessened and it’s only vaguely sooty now, but there is a pleasant sweetness to the peat.

Dewar Rattray Auchentoshan 1990 (20 year old) 55.9% (website price £50.54)
Bourbon Cask 17287
Dist: 1990 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose is quite aromatic and grassy with plenty of up front citrus aromas. Beneath sits some lovely, maturing honey. With time it becomes very peppery with some heavy oils now noticeable along with hints of rose petals and butter. A lovely complex old Lowland.

The palate is very oily – rose oil in fact with plenty of lightly mentholated flowers. The piquant alcohol does mask the palate a tad but there are some delightful Turkish delight (oily of course) moments in the finish.

A drop of water emphasises the oils on the nose, adding weight and density. Also a light tangerine note appears. On the palate it has the opposite effect. It’s less oily now and displaying a greater degree of maturity – dried citrus fruit sprinkled with castor sugar and some old wood. It has a lovely delicacy and length with a touch of liquorice, malt and coffee in the finish.

Dewar Rattray Glenlossie 1992 (18 year old) 56.1% (website price £52.56)
Bourbon Cask 3441
Dist: 1992 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
Quite a heavy and oily nose for a ‘lossie with no shortage of vanillins and toasted oak. This is by no means an oak monster as a beautiful floral perfume emerges with some musky notes. With time the fruit really starts to emerge – macerated apricots, lemon and orange fruit along with some light but mature honey.

The palate is oily and a touch on the tannic side. The alcohol emphasises that dryness but there’s a depth of honeyed fruit along with grassy and mineral notes. A slightly tart lemon finish with a slight minty/ menthol after taste.

Diluted the nose is beautiful. Still perfumed but the orange fruit has become very silky and liquor-like. It displays a wonderful maturity but there is still a lovely crystalline edge. The palate has become soft and a touch milky, maybe a touch less intense but the depth of mouth-filling apricot fruit is a joy. Very long with the alcohol drying the finish out a smidge, but all in all a lovely mature Spey.

Dewar Rattray Mortlach 1995 (16 year old) 51.1% (website price £52.35)
Bourbon Cask 2436
Dist: 1995 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A lovely mature nose, redolent of perfumed honey (lehua and white sage) sawdusty oak and barley. Robust and full aromas (as you would expect) with hints of satsuma, tangerine, banana and some bolstering oak vanillins.

The palate is lightly oily and sumptuously fruity – apricot, tangerine with a touch of old straw and mature honey. A short burst of piquant alcohol leads into a perfumed finish with hints of barley and a lovely dry, but sweet spice after taste. Another lovely, mature Spey.

Dewar Rattray Glenrothes 1990 (20 year old) 52.8%
Bourbon Cask 19022
Dist: 1990 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose displays an awful lot of burnt caramel and some surprisingly youthful cereal spirit notes. There is a touch of light perfume but it seems a bit disconnected. That burnt caramel note is to be honest brief and is replaced by some sawdusty oak notes.

The palate is quite light and taught with that burnt caramel note lingering in the background. It does seems to lack the usual ‘rothes honey and for its age it lacks real complexity although it does have a pleasant grassy, mineral, citrus finish.

Water emphasises the sawdusty oak and bring out a touch of light orange. The palate is even lighter now and lacks focus. Not bad, but not great either. And the finish is a bit too sugary as well.

Dewar Rattray Linkwood 1989 (21 year old) 55.8% (website price £63.94)
Bourbon Cask 7322
Dist: 1989 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
Oooh this is a bit of a herbal monster! A very leafy nose of old grass, flax and hemp with no shortage of mature, yet restrained honey and old wood notes. In fact you can almost smell the wood grain! There is also some Armagnac-esque dried fruit, which adds to the aged rancio. Very complex with hints of earth, malt and demarara sugar. Ooh that honey is expanding wonderfully, but it is showing its age with an almost grainy like spirit note in the background and one feels it has been bottled in the nick of time – Good!

The palate is oily and soft opening with some lactose wood notes and honey. The alcohol and tannins build, depositing a multitude of wood flavours – lactones, lignin and bark. A mouth-watering middle leads into a very herbal/ old grass finish with again an almost grainy spirit note. Highly entertaining and wonderfully mature.

August Old Malt Cask bottlings

Ah another month rolls by and another box of samples arrives from Douglas Laing! I wish I had more space in the shop. I mean the Douglas Laing selection now takes up an entire shelf, and that doesn’t include the double barrel and big peat bottlings! So even though I thought the 15 year old Arran, and the 15 year old Laphroaig were excellent, it was the 21 year old Laphroaig that was a must buy. Dense, complex and wonderfully mature. Sometime there is nothing like an old ‘Phroaig!

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Glen Ord 1997 (14 year old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC2069
Dist: Apr 1997 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A gristy and peppery nose with white liquorice, brittle honey, grassy fruit and granity notes. The palate is quite oily and full, but less granity. Quite fruity with some creamy oak and gentle spices. Good length with some granity citrus and gristy notes on the finish. Lovely sweet Satsuma note in the after taste.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Arran 1996 (15 year Old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC2073
Dist: Sept 1996 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A lovely nose, full of sweet, soft apricot, apple, banana along with a slight coastal edge and a touch of white grape. The oak supports the full and fruity aromas really well.

The palate mirrors the nose with regard to it’s immense fruitiness. Maybe a touch less coastal but it shows more honey and the fruit is pleasantly tropical in character. Seriously mouth-filling with a good balancing citrus thread. Very long with the citrus lingering along with a late salty flourish.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Tamnavulin 1989 (21 year old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC2072
Dist: Oct 1989 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose is just plain old with no shortage of old wood notes. Rather industrial and spirity. To be honest its lacking in fruit and the aromas are rather hard and waxy. A bit Dufftown-esque!

The palate is very much the same. Amongst the old wood notes there is some late leafy old tobacco and dried stalky notes, but frankly a bit charmless and hard going.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Laphroaig 1996 (15 year old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC2070
Dist: Jul 1996 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose is quite mature but it still possesses a lovely freshness. Spicy peppery peat aromas mingle with some burnt wood and fish, later to be joined by some rubbery notes. The spirit itself is pretty robust with some barley sweetness beneath.

The palate is quite sweet, opening with the sugar coated fruit, followed by the gentle, sooty peat on the middle and finishing with just a slight coastal nuance (mainland matured?). Good length with some herbal notes in the after taste.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Laphroaig 1990 (21 year old) 50% (website price £92.95)
Bourbon
Code: OMC2064
Dist: Mar 1990 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
Now this is a lovely and mature ‘phroaig! Dense, complex and inviting with hints of iodine, wicker fish baskets and gentle peat. Very earthy and wonderfully deep with some sweet barley fruit beneath. A stunning mature Islay nose!

The palate is gentle and mature with hints of fish, brine and sugar coated fruit. Gentle, soft peat rolls on by along with a touch of camphor, iodine, bog myrtle and burnt coastal wood. A lovely depth and length with a distinct warming feel. A superb, mature, gentle Islay.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Glenlivet 1977 (34 year old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC2057
Dist: Jun 1977 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A superb nose. Delicate and delightfully citrus (lemon, lime) in character with a touch of rind along with hints of earth, white flowers and a suggestion of phenolic peat. The lovely fruit sweetness builds wonderfully and is joined by some late oak vanillins. Wonderfully deep and mature.

The palate is ultra-smooth, opening with some softly spied honey which gently coats the mouth. Some granity hard notes appear on the middle along with some mature wood notes. This leads into a softly perfumed finish. Wonderfully long, the fruit is quite unassuming and delicate but it really lingers, as does the sweet spices.

August Provenance bottlings

I have found that the Provenance bottlings can be quite hit and miss. On the one hand the Caol Ila was beautiful and definitely worth forking out £46 for. The Aultmore and the Blair Athol were perfectly good and pleasant malts, well worth the £35 price tag, but the Highland Park was awful.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Aultmore 2000 (10 year old)
Bourbon
Code: PRV0717
Dist: Nov 2000 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A fresh nose of high toned, youthful cereal and grass with hints of apple and pear. The aromas are reminiscent of a cloudy/ traditional cider. The palate is quite sweet and gristy. A touch confected with grass and fresh citrus. Good length with some youthful cereal on the finish. Pleasant.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Blair Athol 1999 (11 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0720
Dist: Dec 1999 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
The aromas are exceedingly citrus in nature and a touch alcoholic, although some lovely musky perfumed white fruit emerge along with hints grass, barley, pepper and gentle oak. Fuller bodied in the mouth with plenty of malty-barley sweet fruit. A touch on the straightforward side but with a gorgeous depth. Good length with an oily, slightly candied orange finish. Very pleasant.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Craigellachie 1999 (12 year old) 46%
Refill-Sherry
Code: PRV0719
Dist: Jul 1999 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
Quite a subtle nose with hints of raisins and died plum along with some nutty sherry oak. Slightly hard in style with a sort of sub-industrial character. The palate is fuller with some sweet barley and subtle sherry notes giving a touch of dried fruit. Quite a dry and spicy finish again with an underlying sub-industrial note. Pleasant enough through.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Highland Park 1998 (13 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0718
Dist: Sept 1998 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
Serious off notes on the nose. It really smells like drains with burnt caramel and spirity notes. Very unpleasant. The palate is sickly sweet, almost butyric with burnt caramel/ toffee and decaying vegetation. It’s also a bit fizzy on the finish too!

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Caol Ila 2001 (10 year old 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0711
Dist: Jan 2001 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A lovely nose of high toned white fruits and phenolic briny, seaweedy notes, underpinned by a good barley sweetness and unassuming oak. With time a hint of perfume appears. A lovely, fresh Caol Ila! The palate is a touch on the sweeter side and slightly gristy to begin with. Gentle, spicy peat and perfumed white flowers leads into a fresh spicy, tarry and sooty finish.

August Double Barrel bottling

Douglas Laing ‘Double Barrel’ Mortlach/ Laphroaig 10 year old 46%
Bourbon
Code: DBS0028
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose takes awhile to get going as the rich Mortlach initially dampens the enthusiasm of the young Laphroaig, but give it time and the classic seaweed, peat, bog mrtyle and coastal nuances arrive. The palate is quite oily and dense, opening with the Mortlach fruit and building sugars, followed by a gentle peat note along with hints of burnt wood, soot and salt. Like the best ‘vattings’ the Mortlach forms a bedrock for the for the Islay characteristics to shine. Even though it’s all Laphroaig on the finish the rich, fruitiness is still there as well.

August Premier Barrel bottling

Douglas Laing Premier Barrel Glen Grant 1998 (12 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PBR0102
Dist: Sept 1998 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
Quite a perfumed nose with a slight muskiness along with hints of wood shavings and crisp citrus fruit. The palate is pretty much all oak – light nutty, toffee’d caramel and alcohol. Not much of a mid palate or a finish to be honest. The nose was pretty enough but the oak had a strangle hold of the palate.

August Clan Denny bottling

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Cambus 1975 (36 year old) 52.1%
Bourbon
Code: DEN0069
Dist: Jul 1975 Btl: Aug 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A gorgeously sweet and demerara sugar coated nose. The rum like dried fruit aromas mingle with some edgy rye like notes and wonderfully soft and succulent honey. The oak vanillins are pretty robust and bring some violet and cream notes. A stunning nose with a late hint of earth.

An expansive and gorgeous palate. Off sweet and spicy! The oak is less ‘in yer face’ and a lot more subtler, almost delicate in character, which gives full rein to the juicy honeyed grains and dark, fruit cake. Lovely length with hints of rum like dried fruits, tobacco, spice and a touch of smoke before the oak returns and slightly bitters out the finish. Yet another wonderful old grain!

Glencadam tasting

I had a visit a few weeks ago from the new rep from Angus Dundee Distillers, the owners of both Glencadam and Tomintoul. He said would like some samples of our new stuff? Now there was an offer I couldn’t turn down. I love the exuberantly tropical character of Glencadam and I was keen to see if the 21 year would be a bit over powering in the oak department, as that was my impression of the 15 year old the first time I tasted it in 2008, although by the time I re-tasted it last year I felt that there was a lot better balance between oak and spirit.

I had absolutely no issues with the 21 year old, it was superb and retailing for around £52, it is an absolute steal. I do have issues with the 12 year old Port finish though. The finishing cask has stripped this beautiful malt of any semblance of complexity, and it left me wondering why they bothered.

Glencadam 14 year old ‘Oloroso Sherry Finish’ 46%
Tasted: Aug 2011

Obviously this has been given a relatively short (6 months?) finishing as the sherry aromas are quite delicate and they blend well with the rich, tropical fruit adding a very pleasant demerara sugar coating. Very polished with hints of earth, liquorice, honey and perfumed Satsuma.

The palate is full and soft; however the finishing has muted the usually exuberant tropical character. In fact it’s all a bit simple with quite a tart citrus and mineral middle. The finish is a bit non-existent but quite mouth watering.

Glencadam 21 year old 46% (website price £52.27)
Bourbon
Tasted: Aug 2011
A seriously deep and gorgeous nose of mature tropical fruit – guava, kiwi, apricot, mandarin and a touch of pineapple and pure honeycomb. Some cereal and edgy citrus balance the mature honey and sawdusty oak, which with time becomes slightly buttery.

The palate is super smooth and decadently honeyed. Gentle, mature, macerated tropical fruit fills the mouth. Not as perfumed as the nose but wonderfully dense. This density is balanced superbly by the crisp, granity citrus and alcohol. Lovely length with some malty cereal, white liquorice and light coffee wood notes and tannins coming through on the finish. Quite a herbal aftertaste too!

Glencadam 12 year old ‘Port Finish’ 46%
Tasted: Aug 2011

I would assume that this has seen 1 to 2 years finishing as the winey port notes really subdues the tropical character. There are some pleasant earthy/ manure notes from the finishing cask and a lovely orange aroma tries to emerge, but one has to wonder why such a beautiful malt needed this?

The palate is soft and simple, again the finishing cask has removed any complexity and has left the middle somewhat hollow, although it is not overtly tannic, the oak grips and dries the palate, thus like the sherry finish it has a non-existent finish.

Tomintoul tasting

So is the Tomintoul 12 year old Port finish as much of a disaster as the Glencadam? Yes and no. As you can see from my notes a semblance of distillery character has been left in tact, well on the nose at least, but the palate has been swamped, so I’m afraid that I’m going to have to pass on that one. The 14 year old is ok, but it’s well and truly eclipsed by the 16 year old, but the 21 year old is a real gem, which hopefully will be added to the list once I an find out how much it’ll cost us.

Tomintoul 14 year old 46%
Bourbon
Tasted: Aug 2011

A seriously lemony nose, reminiscent of lemon curd with grassy notes. With time there is a hint of perfumed white flowers.

The palate is soft, yet crisp and like the nose full of castor sugar sprinkled lemon curd. A good intensity if somewhat linear. Reasonably palate cleansing finish. Pleasant, but lacks the depth of the 16 year old.

Tomintoul 21 year old 40% (price to be confirmed)
Bourbon
Tasted: Aug 2011
A lovely, sub-tropical, crystallised nose with hints of grass and barley sugar. Some lovely mature honey drifts in along with some creamy oak. Lovely complexity with a hint of hessian and Colombian coffee. With time a beautiful liquid orange aroma appears.

Soft and juicy with a pithy quality. Opening with a lovely melange of sub-tropical melon, lemon and apricot. Seriously succulent and mouth filling with globs of mature honey on the middle, leading into a grassy, mineral finish. A very gentle dram with a gorgeous depth.

Tomintoul 12 year old ‘Port Finish’ 46%
Tasted: Aug 2011

The nose is pretty much all winey, red fruits (redcurrant jelly) with a slight hint of grassiness and lemon.

The palate is swamped by the finish. There is a sensation of some honeyed fruit beneath but the peppery port fruit puts paid to it coming through. Like the Glencadam 12 year old Port finish it’s not overly tannic but unlike the Glencadam, the spirit is more robust and stops the wood drying out the finish. This at least gives it some length but sadly no distillery character.

New James MacArthur bottlings

So as I said at the beginning of the newsletter, one of the highlights of my recent tastings is the MacArthur 12 year old Auchentoshan. I must admit when I saw that the sample was at 62.9%, my first thoughts were that it was going to taste like dirty rose petal infused paint stripper! However I was way, way off the mark. In fact I was stunned. This is just how young ‘Tosahn should be. Yes it’s always going to be a bit sort of Dufftown-esque with regard to its character but that should be balanced by a fresh rose petally character, which this bottling definitely does.

Other highlights include a lovely 12 year old Linkwood, a superb 13 year old Clynelish and a gorgeously honeyed 19 year old Glen Grant. We’ll forget about the Benriach and Bruichladdich and instead wallow in the butch and briny 12 year old ‘Phroaig!

Old Masters Clynelish 1997 (13 year old) 52.1% (website price £51.35)
Bourbon Cask 4643
Dist: 1997 Btl: 2010
Tasted: Aug 2011
A fresh and quite fruity nose. A lovely burst of mature honey along with hints of grass. There is plenty of American oak, but it is wonderfully balanced. The aromas seem older than 13 years.

The palate opens with some sweet barley and soft fruits. After the alcohol bites the middle shows some lovely granity hard honey, accented by some grassy notes. Good length and finish. The palate is more representative of its age.

With water the nose becomes wonderfully perfumed, now showing hints of liquorice, orange and some light coffee. Very polished and succulent. The palate is softer and grassier, still quite sweet with banana and fleshy fruit now showing. Very mouth-filling with a slight smoked bacon note on the finish.

Old Masters Benriach 1996 (14 year old) 54%
Bourbon Cask 43219
Dist: 1996 Btl: 2010
Tasted: Aug 2011
Quite an oily nose with plenty of youthful cereal, grist and malt. The aromas are tinged with a sort of molasses aroma, which is quite unusual for Benriach. There is a let hint of peat which grows stronger with time, along with some manurey elements.

The palate is like the nose, oily and youthful with a peppery Tequila-esque character. It’s a bit simple and straightforward but it has a good length and an earthy finish.

A drop of water brings out the typicity off the nose. Very grassy and Sauvignon-esque now. Some nascent orange fruit lurks in the background as do some oak notes. Quite a change! The palate is still quite oily and a tad muted now. It is a lot less complex than the nose and there is an off putting cardboard note which clamps down on the grassy fruit, although said grassiness does put in an appearance on the finish.

Old Masters Auchentoshan 1998 (12 year old) 62.9% (website price £53.20)
Bourbon Cask 102338
Dist: 1998 Btl: 2010
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose is quite dense and woody, heavy on the coffee and wood spices, although not unpleasant. In fact it is quite complex with hints of pepper and boiled sweets along with some perfumed rose petal notes. I have to say that I’m impressed with the cleanliness of the aromas, as young-ish ‘toshan can be quite dirty. With time the peppery notes really come to the fore.

I’d have to describe the palate as sub-industrial, although that is not a criticism. Often ‘toshan can be quite hard going but these sub-industrial notes are countered by the sweet rose petal notes and mingles well with the boiled sweet, pepper and wood spices. The alcohol although pretty high is impeccably behaved, although it does strip the sweetness away and I have to say it is very well integrated. Very good length with some unsweetened Turkish delight notes and a touch of perfume.

A drop of water emphasises the peppery notes on the nose and makes the palate softer and less confected and slightly oilier with some barley sweetness emerging now the alcohol has been tamed. Actually this is rather enjoyable and beats the distillery bottling hands down!

Old Masters Linkwood 1998 (12 year old) 54.6% (website price £51.35)
Bourbon Cask 11650
Dist: 1998 Btl: 2010
Tasted: Aug 2011
A crisp, fresh nose of brittle honey with a touch of heavy oils. Quite alcoholic with some lovely perfumed barley moments. Unusually there is a hint of something phenolic in the background.

The palate opens like the nose with the brittle honey followed by some lovely barley sweetness and gentle oily spices, which build with the alcohol, ending in a mouth-watering, slightly grassy finish.

Water makes the nose gorgeously soft with more of the typical Speyside citrus and grass notes showing. It seems a tad older now with the heavy oils and wood notes relegated to the background. The palate is softer has an icing sugar dénouement. The latent vanilla arrives and it has become quite fleshy and mouth-filling. A beautifully gentle length. Very enjoyable!

Old Masters Bruichladdich 1991 (20 year old) 51.5%
Bourbon Cask 2493
Dist: 1991 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
A lovely perfumed, musky acacia nose with some light honey and plenty of coastal accented fruit. Very fresh with a beautiful maturity. With time some heavy camphor notes appear and the coastal notes increase with intensity. To complete the nose some late distant smoke and wood spices drifts in.

The palate is gentle and honeyed with hints of salt and white flowers. The rather mouth watering alcohol masks the palate, but the finish is pleasantly briny and fishy. I’m hoping that a drop of water opens it up.

Water brings out a gorgeously sensual tangerine/ Satsuma note along with some fish oils, but………. On the palate it is a different story. It really feels old now and the spirit has metaphorically rolled over with its legs in the air and surrendered to the oak. It’s dry, distinctly lacking in the fruit department and all that is really left is some confected fish oils. This is a real tale of two halves as they say!

Old Masters Laphroaig 1998 (12 year old) 57.2% (website price £59.52)
Bourbon Cask 700233
Dist: 1998 Btl: 2010
Tasted: Aug 2011
A full, butch, briny and phenolic nose with coal tar and creosote. A lovely substantial depth of coastal fruit and just a touch of medicinalness! With time it becomes more manurey. Classic!

The palate is lightly oily with the peat carry a slight coffee inge. Quite sugary and violety, this makes the peat wonderfully sweet but the sooty, coal tar and rubber notes soon barrel in on a wave of fish oils. Really robust and full and even though the alcohol is imposing it is sublimely balanced. Good length with a violety/ sooty finish.

A drop of water mellows the nose a tad, the sugar has become quite crystalline in form and there is a slight grassiness now. The peat intensity has dropped off a bit, but it’s still wonderfully manurey though! The palate follows the same theme and has become a lovely sooty mouthful. Seriously long leaving the mouth coated in a slightly oily, rubbery coal dust!

Old Masters Glen Grant 1992 (19 year old) 59.4% (website price £65.81)
Bourbon Cask 35955
Dist: 1992 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose opens with some beautiful floral honey. Said honey has a lovely brittle, crunchy and edgy character, showing a touch of maturity. Some high toned botanical spirit notes appear along with some late creamy oak and earthy nuances.

Wonderfully soft and fruity – crushed apricots and a touch of orange along with some straw, earth, brittle honey and sweet malt. The middle is very earthy with hints of white flowers and cream. Lovely length with the sweetness carrying right through to the death, where it finishes with a Sauvignon-esque, cut grass after taste.

With water the nose becomes fresher and grassier. It seems younger now, with the creamy oak more prevalent, adding a touch of toffee. The palate is soft and unctuous, with the malt and barley now coming to the fore. Very full, wonderfully soft and polished. Great length.

Will the real Peat Monster, please stand up!

80, 131, 140, 152 and now peated to 167 part per million. As Jim Murray said “Great whisky is not about numbers; it’s about excellent distillation and careful maturation.”

Bruichladdich Octomore 04.1 (5 year old) 62.5% (website price £89.99)
Bourbon
Peated to 167ppm
Limited to 15,000 bottles worldwide
Dist: 2006 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose, as expected is extremely phenolic with a lovely density of peat aromas, bog myrtle, heather and mint. Beautifully robust with some cerealy-barley, seaweed, mint, and seriously crisp, briny white fruit. With time some perfumed white flower (lily) aromas appear along with an earthy/dunnagey note.

The palate is robust with a slight sweet entry. Although it’s very heavily peated the peat flavours are surprisingly gentle, but they do build into a dusty alcoholic mouthful, and when the full force of the slightly medicinal, bog myrtley peat and alcohol hit, you really know about it! The nascent oak character sits beneath, adding body and the finish is exceptionally long for such a young spirit.

With water the nose becomes more oilier and shows more of its youthful cereal side. The peat has now taken on a wonderful sweetness with some hints of manure and rubber. The palate likewise is sweeter and oilier with more emphasis on the lovely soft fruits. The peat has taken on a more woody dénouement, but it is still pretty intense, leaving an oily/ briny coating to the mouth and finishing with a dry salty twang. Seriously good stuff!

September Clan Denny bottlings

Damn, they must know by now that I have a weakness for old grains! So like I said in my introduction, due to the constraints of space I had to be ruthless in my selection criteria. So, even though the Dumbarton is stunning I do have some bottles of the 45 year old bottled in April this year left, so that’s one down. The Cameronbridge was far too young, in grain terms, so that’s two down.

I couldn’t pass up the Port Dundas. I mean a 33 year old spirit for less than £80 is a real bargain, plus the fact it is lovely too is a real bonus. As for the other two, well I just couldn’t resist them!

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Port Dundas 1978 (33 year old) 54.2% (website price £77.95)
Bourbon
Code: DEN0077
Dist: Jan 1978 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A lovely, deep, richly oaked nose, accented with some delightfully crumbly spices. A serious hit of sweet oak vanillins but balanced by hints of barley sweetness and lithe, slightly rum-like dried fruits.

The palate is soft, yet intense with a distinct rum-like dried fruit rancio. The oak is really well behaved and sits in the background as some beautiful spice, alcohol and vanilla notes build. Stunning depth and length with a delicate oiliness to the fruit.

A drop of water makes the nose subtler and less intense but it brings out the oaks toasty character and the grain takes on a wonderful rye bite. The palate like the nose is subtler and softer. More mouth-filling and with less of the oak character, the dried fruits show wonderfully. Maybe it lacks the punch of taking it neat but either way it’s yet another stunning grain cask. And at this price a real bargain.

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Carsebridge 1965 (45 year old) 44.7% (website price £130.95)
Bourbon
Code: DEN0072
Dist: Oct 1965 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A grainy and very earthy nose. In fact it is almost peated with some edgy, toffee’d American oak followed by a lovely burst of perfumed orange. The grains are beautifully crisp and fragrant. Later a touch of light coffee and herbs appears.

The palate is lovely and soft. Slightly grainy with gentle dried fruit and a very subtle touch of oak. Quite oily, but the grains nip and keep it vibrant. Ooh the middle displays a wonderful Guyana-esque dried fruit combination, which mellows into a long spicy and subtle citrus finish.

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Cameronbridge 1990 (21 year old) 58.2%
Bourbon
Code: DEN0076
Dist: Jun 1990 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A very grainy and youthful nose with no shortage of alcohol, grated citrus rind, a touch of apricot, barley, candyfloss and subtle toffee’d oak, which builds with time.

The palate is quite sweet and sugary as well as being pretty oily. A distinct apricots/ peaches soaked in syrup character. However the crisp grain and alcohol wade in on the middle, cleansing the palate but it does shorten the finish somewhat. In saying that it has a wonderful intensity and displays a slight spice note in the finish.

Water has a tendency to mute the nose and palate, emphasising the heavy oils and the oak blankets with a distinct toffee character.

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Caledonian 1965 (45 year old) 47.3% (website price £128.95)
Bourbon
Code: DEN0073
Dist: Aug 1965 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose is pure, liquid butterscotch, warm toffee and buckets of oak vanillins. It’s big, bold and bourbon-esque with some lovely, sweet and spicy grains shooting the through the oak morass. With time some slightly floral aromas appear as do hints of burnt toffee and popcorn.

The palate is quite dry and tannic, but it quickly moves into soft toffee and almonds. The oak is no where near as obtrusive and overblown as the nose would suggest and thus the palate displays a greater degree of graininess. Wonderfully soft and succulent on the middle with some gentle rum-like dried fruit. Stunning length with hints of mocha and burnt toffee on the finish.

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Dumbarton 1964 (46 year old) 47.4%
Bourbon
Code: DEN0075
Dist: Dec 1964 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A huge, beastie of a nose! A nuclear blast of spicy oak is followed by some brown sugar coated, almost savoury macerated brambly fruits. Astonishingly intense with a hint of toffee ice-cream. The gentle grain, are just about detectable through the morass. Stunning complexity!

The palate is expansive and envelops the mouth. It opens with the gentle but serious oak, dried fruit, black toffee, dark coconut and brown sugar building wonderfully. The middle is shot through with some tartly citrus grains, which balances the oak wonderfully well. Extremely long with a slightly earthy, botanical grain finish and a mocha/ dark chocolate after-taste. Absolutely stunning!

September Old Malt Cask bottlings

Now what was I saying about Auchentoshan. After the Dewar Rattray and MacArthur bottlings I was amazed to taste yet another reasonably good bottling. ‘Tosahn has never been a fully paid up member of the Axis of Evil, but it’s sort of teetered on the brink, however on the strength of these bottlings I think it has possibly saved itself!!!!

As you can see from my notes, Douglas Laing does seem to bottle some odd Blair Athol’s, and to be honest with you it would have been a really hard sell. On the other hand the two Bunnah’s will definitely not be a hard sell. Take note please Burn Stewart – Your distillery produces a lovely characterful spirit that deserves better than being swamped in sherry, and sulphurous sherry at that!

I do love Clynelish, but it can be a bit hit and miss. Certainly the last time I tasted any of the distillery bottlings they were definitely ones to forget about, as have been a few private bottlings. This 28 year old is however seriously good. Unfortunately the same thing couldn’t be said about ‘Possibly Speysides Finest’.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Auchentoshan 1997 (13 year old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC1985
Dist: Dec 1997 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose comes as a complete shock. It’s very sweet, honeyed and almost tropical. Most unusual!! This is followed by hints of cider apples and malt vinegar, which is not entirely unpleasant. Although the aromas are quite sweet there is a balancing citrus freshness and a slight earthiness to it.

The palate is soft and rounded, slightly honeyed with some gently oiled, slightly floral yellow fruits. Again this is most unusual for ‘Toshan, but the spell is kind of broken as it shows it’s industrial side toward the end – I mean it’s still ‘Toshan after all! Good length with hints of rose petals in the finish. On the balance of things it’s not bad – really!

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Bunnahabhain 1997 (14 year old) 50% (website price £58.95)
Bourbon
Code: OMC2052
Dist: Aug 1997 Btl Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose is pleasantly tropical, almost Aran-esque in character with hints of mulch, wet leaves, peat and a touch of burnt wood and a building coastal intensity. All too often bourbon casked Bunnah can be quite disappointing – this definitely isn’t!

The palate opens with some soft barley, and sugar coated, gently tropical fruit. Wisps of developing smoke and some gentle peat waft in. The middle has a lovely mouth-watering intensity of earthy, spicy malt and alcohol. Wonderfully complex finish with burnt wood, leather, citrus and brine coming through on the finish

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Blair Athol 1990 (21 year old) 50%
Bourbon
Code: OMC2080
Dist: Aug 1990 Btl Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A fresh, citrus (lime) infused honeyed nose with a Ben Nevis like doughy character. There are some high toned, peppery marc/ rose petal notes and some edgy ripe, sherberty fruit notes too. Hmm, all quite odd it has to be said.

The palate is reasonably sweet and syrupy with hints of honey. Overall it does feel a bit flat though and bordering on the industrial. The out of left field one is hit by a plethora of pure cracked black pepper notes, which linger through to the finish. It’s a rather unusual to say the least but Douglas Laing do seem to bottle some unusual Blair Athol (see June’s Premier Barrel bottling for example!)

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Bunnahabhain 1990 (21 year old) 50% (website price £82.95)
Bourbon
Code: OMC2082
Dist: Feb 1990 Btl Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
Ooooh, this is stunningly deep and veritably dripping in succulent, mature honey, floor polish and beeswax – It reminds me of some of the old bottlings of Glenrothes by Duncan Taylor. Seriously complex with hints of sawdust, earth, violets and menthol. I would assume that it has spent many years maturing on the mainland as there is only a slight coastal note (that’s not a criticism by the way!)

The palate is velvety soft and rich. Wonderfully complex with mature honey, earthy spices, old macerated orange, which is almost liqueur-like given time rolling around the tongue. This is punctuated by some heavy dark chocolatey wood notes but a piquantly alcoholic middle and peppery spice finish stop the wood from dominating. Lovely length with hints of old, leafy herbs on the finish

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask ‘Possibly Speysides Finest’ 1991 (18 year old) 50%
Bourbon – Red Wine finished
Code: OMC1889
Dist: Nov 1991 Btl Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A sweet yet granity, slightly estery nose with some hard red berry fruit. Later some gentle malty, honey and marzipan tries to soften the proceedings but the hardness of the wine finish wins out.

Soft and spicy on the palate. Full of almost fortified dried, sweet red fruits and malt. Very full bodied and quite chewy in texture with a tartly alcoholic middle. Add to that a fair dollop of wood tannins and the finish is painfully dry.

A drop of water sort of mutes the nose, maybe emphasising the marzipan notes. The palate has become exceedingly confected, simple and short. It may have been Speysides finest once upon a time until the wine finish kicked it in the nads!

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Clynelish 1982 (28 year old) 50% (website price £106.95)
Bourbon
Code: OMC2078
Dist: Dec 1982 Btl Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A beautifully fresh, elegant and citrusy nose. Quite bready in a Ben Nevisy sort of way and boisterously honeyed. The citrus keeps the afore mentioned honey under control rather well, but the depth is phenomenal. It’s definitely not one-dimensional though and just to prove it, it offers up a lovely flourish of warming spices and a touch of late butter-toffee emerging as the oak starts to grip.

Elegant and soft on the palate, opening with the juicy citrus and fleshy apricot, all liberally sprinkled with dusty spices and castor sugar. It opens into a serious mouthful of brittle, mature honey and oak, but like the nose a beautiful thread of fresh lemon keeps the balance. Very long with hints of spiced orange on the finish. Another seriously good bottling of Clynelish!

September Provenance bottlings

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Ardmore 2003 (7 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0690
Dist: Sept 2003 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
As expected the nose is high toned and botanical, reeking of ‘off the still’ cereal along with a slightly damp/ wet leaves note. It’s a baby really! The palate pretty much follows the same course opening with some sweet cereal and a touch of nascent peat/ soot, but not much else. The finish is tart and alcoholic

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Braeval 1999 (11 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0730
Dist: Sept 1999 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A slightly honeyed nose with plenty of toffee’d/ caramel oak and hints of high toned floral notes and a touch of cereal. The palate is relatively sweet with an abundance of pure, liquid caramel, hints of peppery spices, youthful cereal and a touch of honey. Pleasant if rather non descript.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Tormore 1999 (11 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0686
Dist: 1999 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
Another high toned nose, but the aromas are rather murky and a touch industrial. Yes there are some floral and honey notes but they fail to really escape the murkiness. The palate is young and unsurprisingly a tad industrial with latent honey, cereal overlaid by some toffee’d oak. Quite peppery on the middle with a tartly citrus and alcoholic finish.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Bunnahabhain 2001 (9 year old) 46%
Sherry
Code: PRV0721
Dist: Oct 2001 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A brief waft of nutty, slightly peppery sherry is followed by a truck load of very sweet oak vanillins, marzipan and butter (American sherry cask?). Distinctly lacking in distillery character. The palate is lightly sherried too – chocolate, dried fruit and tannins. Then the oak stops dead leaving the quite peppery and youthfully spirit showing. To be honest it’s really light years away from being ready to be bottled.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Laphroaig 2001 (10 year old) 46%
Bourbon
Code: PRV0722
Dist: Feb 2001 Btl: Sept 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
Initially the nose is rather muted and oily but given some time the youthful peat gets going. The sweetness builds as do some sweet, malty, biscuity aromas. Lightly phenolic and smoky, and I would imagine mainland matured judging by the lack of coastal character.

The palate opens with sweet, malt biscuits and burnt toast, followed by some sweet, sooty peat. Quite full and rounded with the peat, although relatively subtle lingering, with the addition of some late liquorice and rubber. Again distinctly un-coastal, well, maybe there is a bit of salinity in the finish.

I suppose if this was retailing for say around £35, I would say that it’s not to bad value for money, but with a price tag of around £50, I’m not convinced.

And finally from Douglas Laing

As we are now out of the Ardbeg/ Glenrothes I asked for a sample of the current bottling, which is just as good as the previous one, so that will be arriving in the shop in November priced at £46.95, and so will the Big Peat@Christmas, which will retail for £43.95.

Douglas Laing ‘Double Barrel’ Ardbeg/ Glenrothes 10 year old (?) 46%
Bourbon
Bottling Code DBS0030
Tasted: Sept 2011
Like the previous bottling, the nose is dominated by the Ardbeg with its phenolic and gently peated, burnt wood, rubber, violet and fishy notes. The Glenrothes sits in the background giving richness to the nose. Seems younger than the previous bottling with some high toned floral notes.

The palate is dense oilier than the nose would suggest and subtly honeyed. The Glenrothes initially blunts the Ardbeg until it bursts through on the mid palate with the phenolic fruit, peat and rubber. Great length with the Ardbeg lingering and adding hints of burnt wood and a coastal salinity.

Douglas Laing Big Peat@Christmas 57.8%
Bourbon
Tasted: Sept 2011
A vatting of Caol Ila, Ardbeg, Bowmore and Port Ellen
An astringent and briny nose (more briny than the standard Big Peat) with a gentle sweetness followed by plenty of manuery peat. Quite heavy on the Caol Ila but one gets the feeling the Ardbeg and Bowmore add weight to the aromas as well as a touch of violets.

The palate displays plenty of youthful cerealy/ peaty Caol Ila, brine and mouth puckering alcohol. The Caol Ila is still predominate on the middle with leafy herbs and bog myrtle-peat. The Ardbeg adds some burnt wood notes whilst the Bowmore adds some sweet depth and a late rubbery note. Good length with the sweetness lingering.

With water the nose becomes a lot more youthful and maybe emphasises the manurey-peat. On the palate it has become a lot sweeter with a seriously sooty mouth coating. It’s definitely big peat but the Ardbeg and Bowmore add a lovely sweet oiliness. Very long and a tad less youthful.

Glenglassaugh tasting

I had a pleasant phone call from Ronnie Routlege, who looks after the sales of Glenglassaugh to say thanks for stocking their products and in turn he kindly sent me some samples of the rest of their range. I have probably said before, but the only way to really understand the part that wood maturation plays in whisky production is to taste new make spirit. However new make spirit by its very nature can be quite hard going but I have always loved the Glenglassaugh Spirit drink because it has a lovely innate sweetness. See https://gauntleys.wordpress.com/category/scotch-whisky-a-g/glenglassaugh/ for all my Glenglassaugh tasting notes.

Of the other samples I have to say that I wasn’t exactly over enamoured by the 26 year but the 34 year old and especially the 45 year old were absolutely stunning. So I would like to say a big thank you to Ronnie for allowing me the opportunity to taste those two amazing, venerable bottlings.

Glenglassaugh ‘The Spirit Drink – Fledgling XB’ 50%
12 months ageing in ex-Bourbon casks
Tasted: Sept 2011
Quite sweet on the nose with plenty of bourbon oak influence – toffee, butter and vanilla. However there is a crisp green fruit note which to me had a sort of celery –like quality? With time it becomes more herbal with some cider vinegar notes and hints of barley and citrus.

The palate is soft and barley sweet with the toffee’d oak less dominant. Intense, malty and cerealy on the middle with a touch of rose petals. Good length with a tart citrus finish.

Glenglassaugh ‘The Spirit Drink – Blushes’ 50%
6 months ageing in ex-Californian wine casks
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose is pure redcurrant/ raspberry in syrup. Very liqueur like with hints of straw and subdued new make notes. The palate is a bit peculiar as the red fruits sit rather oddly with the new make cereal notes. However it does have a lovely spicy, citrus finish with some tannins mingling with the syrup.

I think it would make a good mixer, so in a heretical manner I added a drop of lemonade! And….. It gave the nose a slightly confected but distinctly redcurrant jelly like character, whilst taking the edge of its new make character. Actually my girlfriend rather liked it, so there you have it another one for the girlies!

Glenglassaugh 1983 (26 year old) 46%
Sherry
Dist: 1983 Btl: 2009
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose is quite reserved, almost astringent with sub-industrial brittle honey followed by mature oak, dried fruit, walnuts and malt. I feel the aromas are at odds with itself – one minute there is a hint of sweet perfume the next some slightly murky linseed oil.

The palate is hard and almost industrial in character. Subdued and low key with a bit of a murky character. It also seems old and the wood is a tad tired.

Glenglassaugh Aged Over 30 years 52.3%
Single cask bottling (270 bottles) – 34 years old
Approximately 33 years in refill hogshead/ 15 months in ex-Sauternes cask
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose opens with a beautiful intensity of mature tropical fruit, dried grape and lovely mature sawdusty oak, which moves into creamy butterscotch. The complexity of the honey aromas is stunning, deftly melding sweetness and brittleness. With time some Armagnac-esque dried fruit and citrus oils emerge. It does have some sub-industrial moments but the weight of honey never lets them dominate.

The palate opens with some gentle mature honey and the Armagnac-esque dried fruit, followed by hints of demarara sugar, dried grape, walnuts and no shortage of wood notes. The honey takes on a brittle, edgy character and fights back against the wood and with some aplomb holds out until the death even though some chocolate and coffee notes seep through. Eventually the oak does bitter out the finish but in saying that the lovely natural oils balance it out. A wonderfully venerable and entertaining dram.

Glenglassaugh Aged Over 40 years 49.2%
Single cask bottling (202 Bottles) – 45 years old
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose reeks of maturity, as one would expect. The oak presence is stunning, sometimes cedery, sometimes a bit bourbon, sometimes a bit fir like with buckets of dried spices. However the palate is not all about the wood there’s a lovely depth of honeyed dried fruit, which displays a molasses/ rum-like dénouement before becoming reminiscent of an old grain. Hints of smoke and burnt wood drift in and out just to add to the complexity.

The palate is impressively fruity, opening with mature cherries in light syrup before the rum-like dried fruit and spices arrive. A sensationally beautiful melange of extremely mature, earthy honey, sweet spices, bitter oak and dried fruit caress the tongue. The melding of spirit and wood is mind bogglingly good. Superb length with some serious coffee/ mocha moments, finishing with some luscious juicy date and prunes. A truly stunning dram that almost defies a tasting note!

Cooley tasting

It’s been a long time since I have tasted the Tyrconnell. It must be a good 9 or 10 years ago and unfortunately those tasting notes have become lost in the mists of time, along with a number of others. However I remember being relatively unimpressed by it and I’m afraid to say that even after this tasting I have not changed my opinion of it.

As for the blended Kilbeggan, it was ok, but a bit vague on the palate. Personally I prefer the slightly more grippy Clontarf Black Label blend. And finally I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to re-taste the Connemara. Although my preference is for the cask strength bottling, the 40% bottling is definitely no slouch in the flavour department. This particular bottling would go down with my Sunday morning plate of bacon and beans rather well I think!

Kilbeggan 40%
Tasted: Sept 2011
The nose is initially quite grainy but there is some lovely balancing honey notes and caramel oak. Good depth with a touch of citrus and sweet peat.

The palate is soft, maybe a bit vague with the caramel oak up first followed by some juicy malt. There is a big hit of citrus grain and spice on the middle but the intensity is a bit brief. Reasonable length with a slightly honeyed finish.

The Tyrconnell 40%
Tasted: Sept 2011
A robust and oily nose with a slight perfumed note. Plenty of honey with some assertive sooty peat and earth. The palate is soft and gentle, veering a shade towards homogeny and less assertive than the nose would suggest. There are some lovely honeyed moments and a big, spicy finish, but I’m not going wild about it.

Connemara No Age Statement 40% (website price £29.62)
Tasted: Sept 2011
A soft and quite meaty nose, redolent of smoked bacon – Hmm, a good breakfast malt! It still has its trademark crisp citrus character and the gentle sooty peat becomes quite enveloping, however there is a good depth of malty fruit beneath.

Full and rounded in the mouth. Again delicately peated with no shortage of slightly oily soot. Like the nose there is plenty of supporting malt. Excellent length with a spicy, kippery finish, exiting with a delicious mouth-coating oiliness.

The General round up

Going back to the Axis of Evil for a moment. It would appear that the MacDuff distillery is putting in an audition to become a member of that fraternity! I mean the old bottling of Glendeveron was ok and had an odd aroma reminiscent of boiled sweets and rum toffees, with a trace of diesel oil, violets and a whiff of smoke. Yes I know not everybody’s cup of tea, but interesting nevertheless. This bottling however is pretty dreadful to say the least.

Glendeveron 10 year old 40%
Sherry
Tasted: Aug 2011
The nose is a tad acerbic and industrial along with some sweet nutty sherry and unfortunately a light sulphur blemish as well. This is really hard going with a late touch of rubber and engine oil.

Quite full and like the nose, industrial and hard with thankfully only just a suggestion of the dreaded sulphur. Soft and slightly flabby on the middle with an overwhelming oiliness and a dry, old, woody finish. Hmm, that’s my taste buds knackered!

Suntory Hibiki 12 year old 43%
Tasted: Aug 2011
The Hibiki is a blend comprising of malts from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries along with a variety of grain whiskies. It was aged in what I would imagine was new American white oak casks (given the large amount of oak character, and finished in casks that once held plum liqueur. Finally it is filtered through bamboo charcoal.

A soft and pungently aromatic nose with plenty of fresh oak, giving it quite a Bourbon-esque character. The gentle grain component sit just below the surface. With time some oily spices and a definitely plumminess appear. This is a beautifully crafted nose.

The palate is super smooth, given the filtration. Opening with the juicy barley, vanilla oak and plum notes. There is a lovely grainy/ spicy bite on the middle. The oak flavour drop off quite quickly, leaving the oily grain on its own, but it’s still wonderfully long. The exuberant spices return on the finish along with a gentle perfumed note.

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 year old 43% (website price £77.35)
Tasted: Sept 2011
A big, full on nose of dried fruit, walnuts, orange oil, crushed fruit, malt and a touch of sweet peat. Seriously complex and monumental with hints of aged honey. In saying that it does have some lighter moments but it truly is a monstrous nose, especially when the oak gets going adding a bourbon-esque violet note.

The palate is soft and full with a superb depth of malty, dark, semi-dried fruit, mature honey and walnuts. Then all of a sudden it lightens up on the middle, mind the alcohol kicking in does help and it cleanses the palate leaving a slightly grainy note in the finish. I would guess that there is a proportion of Coffey Still malt in this vatting. Lovely length with some gorgeous spicy moments and a touch of toasty oak, which bitters out the finish. The after-taste is quite smoky, meaty and savoury. Stunning stuff!

Caol Ila 18 year old 43% (website price £62.45)
Tasted: Aug 2011
A very leafy opening – bog myrtle and mint followed by briny peat. Quite phenolic but just delicately peated with a serious weight of rich, oily, rubbery fruit along with a brief, stinky, manure note. A touch of citrus just about balances the oiliness.

On the palate it is full and weighty. Very oily and herbal. It’s a veritable sweet mouthful of butch, malty almost savoury fruit. Some gentle sooty peat wafts in on the middle and tries it’s best to force away through the oils, but that oily, rubbery character hangs on in there! Just like the nose a vein of briny citrus accented by shellfish notes runs through it and balances it – just! Good length with a long, sooty finish.

Benromach Burgundy Finish 45%
4 yrs in sherry/ 7 yrs in Pinot Noir casks
Dist: 2000 Btl: 2011
Tasted: Sept 2011
A rich and spicy red fruit nose mingling rather pleasantly with some dense, nutty sherry aromas. Reasonably mature with a touch of peat and a slight perfumed note.

The palate is soft and delicately winey. Like the nose, spicy red fruits are given weight and sweetness by the sherry influence. Very smooth, warming with some gently peated dried fruit in the finish. There is minimal distillery character but both casks have blended together in a balanced way.

And finally…………..

No not Springbank this time but Bruichladdich. As is their way you here nothing from them in ages and then all of a sudden a whole raft of new bottlings are being prepared for release next month. Hopefully the guys there will be sending me some samples to review for the next newsletter.

First up is a brand new 10 year old, which will replace the old 12 year old. Now back in October 2009 I tasted the Laddie ‘classic’ and I remember being incredibly impressed by its overwhelming fruitiness, but not by the way the oak clamped down on the palate, and I wondered what it would be like when it reached 10 years of age. Hopefully the oak will have integrated better, and if that is the case it should be a cracking good dram.

Also being released will be PC9, although after releasing PC8 and then creating a ‘multi-vintage’ bottling it looked like that would be it for the Port Charlotte series, but no as plans are afoot for a 10 year old release in 2012, presumably to be called PC10 then they couldn’t not release a PC9 now could they? There will only be 6000 bottles produced of which just 960 are for the UK market, so if you would like one please let me know as soon as possible.

Also being released is the inaugural bottling of their ‘Islay Barley Series’. There are only 600 bottles for the UK of this 7 year old, distilled in December 2004 from Chalice barley, grown on Kentraw farm, just a mile from the distillery. This range could be as interesting as the Benromach origins series, that’s assuming that they stick to American oak maturation.

And lastly is the third release in the DNA series. Jim McEwan has made a selection from the last of their mid 1980’s sherry butts for this 25 year old. It’ll be bottled at its natural cask strength of 50.1% and there will only be 1665 bottles released, of which only 300 are for the UK.

Right that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed the read.

Regards

Chris Goodrum

Visit Gauntleys of Nottingham at www.gauntleys.com

Sazerac Company Announces The Purchase of Selected Brands and Manufacturing Facility

Strategic Acquisition Marks Further Expansion in Canada

Louisville, KY (Sept. 2011) – Sazerac Company, Inc. (“Sazerac”) announces that it has entered into an agreement to purchase from Corby Distilleries Limited (“Corby” or the “Company”) (TSX:CDL.A, TSX:CDL.B) certain Corby-owned brands as well as the shares of its subsidiary that owns the manufacturing and bottling facility in Montréal, Québec, for a purchase price of $32.9 million, plus the value of inventory on hand at closing. The transaction is expected to close on October 31, 2011.

The transaction involves the purchase of 17 brands, including De Kuyper Geneva Gin, De Kuyper Peachtree Schnapps, Red Tassel Vodka and Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky, as well as the Montréal-based manufacturing facility where a significant portion of the brands are produced. On closing, all employees of the facility will be employed by Sazerac, and a number of Corby-owned brands will continue to be blended, bottled and warehoused in the facility through a contract manufacturing agreement entered into with Sazerac.

“Canada has become an important market for Sazerac over the past decade and we are delighted to be able to further increase our presence in the market. We are particularly pleased at the prospect of being able to develop the De Kuyper brand in Canada,” added Mark Brown, Sazerac president and chief executive officer.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement on this strategic divestiture,” commented Patrick O’Driscoll, Corby president and chief executive officer. “We had some brand overlap in certain spirit categories and this transaction helps us streamline our portfolio with a more focused and targeted collection of brands, as part of our brand prioritization strategy. It also frees up more of our resources to create growth opportunities for our priority brands including Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Lamb’s Rum, Polar Ice Vodka and McGuinness Liqueurs; resulting in increased shareholder value.”

The large majority of Corby’s remaining brands will continue to be manufactured in the Hiram Walker & Sons Limited facility located near Windsor, Ontario, which is managed by Corby on behalf of Pernod Ricard S.A.

“Corby is committed to a strategy of value growth and a focused brand portfolio that positions us for long-term growth in key categories with premium spirits and wines,” added O’Driscoll. “This divestiture is an important step in moving that strategy forward.”

About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is based in New Orleans, Louisiana and is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies. The company has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; and Montreal, Canada. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

About Corby Distilleries Limited

Corby’s portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Lamb’s Rum, Polar Ice Vodka and McGuinness Liqueurs. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT vodka, Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet and Ballantine’s Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Beefeater gin, Malibu rum, Kahlúa liqueur, Mumm champagne, and Jacob’s Creek, Wyndham Estate and Graffigna wines. The existing Voting Class A Common Shares and Non-voting Class B Common Shares of the Company are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols CDL.A and CDL.B, respectively.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements concerning possible or assumed future results of Corby’s operations. Forward-looking statements typically are preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “intends”, “plans” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and, as such, the Company’s results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Whisky Review 220 – Nosing kits & how to buy Whisky (with some sound advice from Ralfy @ www.ralfy.com )

*LADIES ONLY WHISKY TASTING – THURSDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2011*

For our next Ladies only whisky tasting in November we are delighted to be welcoming along Céline Têtu from Compass Box Whisky. Surprisingly, this will be the first time we have had a woman presenter for any of our tastings so this is definitely one to look forward to, with Céline bringing a certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ to the evening (as well as a great deal of whisky knowledge).

Founded by John Glaser, Compass Box is a small independent specialist whisky company who make some fabulous whiskies through the art of blending and vatting. Individual casks of quality whiskies from different distilleries are specially selected for what they can bring to a particular blend, thus allowing Compass Box to cover the spectrum of Scotch whisky styles and resulting in small batch whiskies with great flavour profiles.

Although contemporary in approach Compass Box maintain and expand the tradition that drinking Scotch whisky should be a pleasure. With a signature style that they describe as whisky with an underlying richness, sweetness, and softness their range has something for everyone – from the delightful silky smoothness of Asyla through the spicy delights of the Spice Tree right up to the rich smokiness of the Peat Monster, and of course we mustn’t forget the wonderfully indulgent Hedonism.

So ladies, whether you’ve already discovered the delights of Compass Box whiskies or have yet to have the pleasure then come along and sample these sublime drams. And if you’ve got some friends still stubbornly sticking to the belief that they won’t like whisky then this is the ideal tasting to bring them along to…

The tasting will be held at Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren (www.stantonhouse.co.uk), and will commence at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and, as most of you already know, these tickets sell very quickly so it is best to book ASAP. To buy them just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire.

Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

These ladies tastings are always very convivial evenings and are a great chance to try some new whiskies that you might not encounter otherwise, and to be educated and entertained at the same time. Come along and join us!

Slainte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

 

The Whisky Train

Hi,

This morning I received an interesting link to a radio interview from the 1980s with the late George Grant, Chairman of the famous Glenfarclas distillery in Speyside between 1950 and 2002.

In this interview on a local station called Moray Firth Radio, George Grant shares a fantastic story about ‘the whisky train’ and the length people…

THE LINK

Kind regards,

Ludo

Malt Messenger No. 49

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you’ve had a great summer. Our Alberta summer was predictably… unpredictable! Spring arrived late and brought with it lots of rain. Summer didn’t arrive until the second week of August, but what little we had was great and we’ve been compensated with a fantastic September. Yes, we’re having Indian summer with temperatures nearing 30oC today and tomorrow. For many parts of the world reaching 30oC in September is probably a given, but at nearly 3,500 feet (a full kilometre above sea level) and just a stone’s throw from the Rocky Mountains, anything can happen! In this light, I thought this would be a good opportunity to recommend a couple of great Indian summer whiskies to toast the waning days of warm weather.

There are of course some new and returned whiskies to tell you about: the An Cnoc 16 Year, Bowmore 1981, Forty Creek John’s Private Cask and some new independent bottlings from Berry’s Own Selection and Douglas Laing. But, the bulk of this news letter will be dedicated to a preview of what’s coming this fall and this is a first for the Malt Messenger. I will focus on some of the new and exciting whiskies to keep an eye out for. We’ve already seen a few of them start to trickle in, like the MacKinlay’s Shackleton replica, the Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Year (the world’s oldest whisky) and the Private Collection Glenlivet Decades. But these are just the first of many exciting new product launches we’ll see over the next few months. Here’s an important note, look for “The Scotch Malt Whisky Society” which was just awarded Independent Bottler of the Year 2011 by Whisky Magazine, and some new KWM casks!

It is also worth pointing out that the Kensington Wine Market has launched a new Blog, which can be found at http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/blog/ or by navigating from our home page. The Malt Messenger takes a lot of time to write, and our other store newsletters don’t often have the flexibility to tell stories, show photos or go into great detail. For this reason, our new store blog will allow us to do this and publish information in a more timely manner. There is an RSS feed you can subscribe to and we will also be announcing new posts via Twitter. In addition to reading the posts, you’ll be able to click directly to the products and have the ability to leave comments. It’s just another way we can serve and inform our customers. We hope you find it helpful.

Next month we’ll get back on track with the regular Malt Messenger, the 50th full edition of the Malt Messenger. There will be a “Distillery in Focus”, “Collector’s Picks”, “Whisky 101” and the second half of my “Closed Distilleries of Scotland” feature. Look for this in early October. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this Fall Preview Edition of the Malt Messenger.

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

PS-Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy !

In this edition of the Malt Messenger:

1. Up Coming Events

2. Whiskies for an Indian Summer

3. Bin Ends We’re Blowing Out This Month

4. Introducing the An Cnoc 16 Year

5. Three New Releases From Berry’s Own

6. Two New Whiskies from Douglas Laing

7. Two New 18 Year Old From Cooley Distillery

8. Bowmore 1981 28 Year

9. Amrut Intermediate Sherry Is Back!

10. Forty Creek John’s Private Cask

11. Fall Preview

I. MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt – The Shackleton Replica

II. Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Year and 5 Decades

III. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is Coming to Canada!

IV. Exclusive Casks

V. Exclusive Whiskies

VI. Other Whiskies

VII. Tastings & Events

UP COMING EVENTS

1. MacKinlay’s Shackleton Whisky Launch – Ernest Shackleton, the great Antarctic explorer, was forced to abandon 3 crates of whisky in 1907 to try to save his doomed expedition. Discovered 100 years later, these rare malts have been painstakingly recreated by the distiller Whyte and MacKay. The presentation package is authentic, inspired by the original crates, the bottle was made with the same imperfections as the original and the lable has been hand drawn to reproduce a now extinct typeface. This is no gimmick; the whisky has been carefully blended to duplicate the original, and is mostly composed of whisky from the original, now closed Glen Mhor distillery. Only 180 bottles of this very limited whisky are coming to Alberta, all of them to Kensington Wine Market. We will be throwing a party to celebrate the launch, with special guests, a commemorative glass and your first opportunity to sample whiskies from the Fettercairn distillery! – Friday September 30th – $30

2. Rare Malts – Only whiskies 20+ years of age, from closed distilleries or the very rare, need apply for this staple of our tasting schedule. This will be an epic tasting by Rare Malts standards, three of the six whiskies are from closed distilleries, and two of the whiskies are more than 35 years of age and one is more than 40! – Monday October 3rd – $75

3. Kilchoman Tasting with Anthony Wills – Anthony Wills, founder of the Kilchoman micro distillery on Islay, will be in town for a special vertical tasting of whiskies from his cult distillery including a new KWM cask and the 100% Islay bottling! – Tuesday October 11th – $30

WHISKIES FOR AN INDIAN SUMMER

1. An Cnoc 16 Year – Much more information on this below, but in short it is a soft, creamy and toasty whisky with big Bourbon notes. This is one of the most exciting new releases of the summer! – $87.99

2. Glenmorangie Sonnalta – This whisky is going, going, and very nearly gone. A onetime release from the Northern Highlands, and a store exclusive, it’s been our best seller since March. Since then we’ve sold more than 400 bottles, and at the time of writing, there are but 42 bottles left until its gone! – $74.99

3. Arran KWM Fresh Bourbon Cask – I’m a sherry cask man through and through, but when came time to select an Arran cask for the store last winter I was torn. Both the best Bourbon and Sherry cask samples were superb and in the end we decided to do both, but faced to make a “Sophie’s Choice”, I’d have to go with the Bourbon! – $84.99

4. Balvenie 17 Year Madeira Wood – Anyone who’s been in to the shop and chatted whisky with me knows I’m a proponent of whisky being bottled above 46% without any colouring or chill-filtering. But there are exceptions to every rule and this Balvenie is one of them, soft, sweet and spicy. A limited edition bottling, already sold out in most other parts of the world, it won’t be around for much longer. – $137.99

5. Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Year – I wouldn’t say that The Glenlivet and I don’t get along, but we’ve never really seen eye to eye. The Glenlivet Nadurra though may be the long sought after middle ground in our dispute. It has bags of honey, ginger and natural caramel. I love the fact that it is cask strength (57.7%), that it is non-chill filtered and am presuming that they’ve added no caramel colouring. Now why can we move the rest of the line in this direction? – $77.99

6. BenRiach 15 Year Madeira Wood – 94pts in the Whisky Bible a few years back, this dram is sweet, soft and gently spiced. Best served around a camp fire with Chips Ahoy cookies. – $82.49

7. Auchentoshan 18 Year – This bourbon cask matured Auchentoshan is very citrusy with loads of toasted oak. It is a light refreshing dram. – $106.49

8. Amrut Intermediate Sherry – A small amount of this soft, light, sweetly sherried whisky has returned to the market, more info can be found below! – $114.99

BIN ENDS WE’RE BLOWING OUT THIS MONTH

1. Duthies Cragganmore 15 Year – 25% OFF – Only 11 left! – Honeyed and grassy with wet leaves, you don’t often see Cragganmore from Independent Bottlers. – Was $94.99 – Now $74.24

2. G&M KWM Glen Grant 1966 – 25% OFF – Only 11 left! – This nearly 42 year old whisky was selected by and bottled exclusively for our store. It shows great subtlety for a whisky of its age. – Was $449.99 – Now $337.49

3. Duthies Glen Scotia 17 Year – 25% OFF – Only 18 left! – This whisky won a silver medal in the Whisky Magazine Independent Bottler’s Challenge. What is truly amazing is how impressive this whisky is, given the derelict nature of the distillery which produced it! – Was $101.99 – Now $76.49

4. Duthies Laphroaig 11 Year – 25% OFF – Only 8 left! – This dram is a bit of an enigma for a Laphroaig, especially a younger one given that it is not a heavily medicinal whisky! – Was $98.99 – Now $74.24

AN CNOC 16 YEAR

In May of this year I had the honour of being inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich, a by invitation only society founded to recognize those who make significant contributions to the global success of Scotch whisky. The induction ceremony was held at Blair Castle in the Northern Highlands, home of the Duke of Athol, and spiritual home of the Keepers of the Quaich. The great and good of the whisky industry were all assembled for the biannual event, everyone was kitted out in Highland regalia and the Athol Highlanders (the last private army in Europe) were providing a level of pomp and circumstance above that of the 700 year old castle we assembled in. I didn’t think I’d be, but I was very nervous, most of the inductees were members of the big beverage companies, National importers from around the world or ambassadors of this distillery or that. And there I was a humble self professed whisky expert from a single small retails store in Calgary, the first Canadian retail expert to be so honoured. The generous dram of An Cnoc 16 Year I was handed couldn’t have come at a better time. After a few pulls I relaxed and it dawned on me that this An Cnoc was a lovely little dram, I made a mental note to inquire about it on my return.

An Cnoc for those of you who don’t know is a pseudonym for Knockdhu distillery. When the brand was first launched as a single malt, it was felt that the name Knockdhu might be confused with another not too distant distillery Knockandoo. Even though Knockdhu predates Knockandoo by the better part of five years, the latter had gone to market first with its single malt (both being primarily made for blending until a relatively short time ago) and it was felt that single malt from Knockdhu should have a distinct moniker.

An Cnoc 16 Year – 46% – American Oak – My Tasting Note: Nose: floral, bourbony and citric; dandelions, geraniums and rose petals; barley sugars, firm toasted oak and roasted coconut chips; citrus notes include shades of lemon and lime zest; Palate: is massively bourbony with vanilla icing, shredded coconut and more firm toasted oak; the citrus notes are much more prominent on the palate with lemon drops, candied orange and lemon/lime zest; there is a soft creamy component to it too but the whisky retains a soft character and is far from over the top; Finish: drying and toasty with burnt orange, a late wave of lemon drops and more vanilla icing; Comments: this whisky will be forever linked to Keepers of the Quaich inauguration in May of this year. It was our welcome dram, it was three fingers deep and it cut my nerves just before the ceremony. This is the first An Cnoc which has really impressed me, and I’m sure it won’t be the last! – Exclusive to KWM – $87.99

THREE NEW WHISKIES FROM BERRY’S OWN SELECTION

Berry’s Own Selection is a line of independently bottled single malt whiskies sourced, selected and bottled by Berry Brothers & Rudd in London. They are one of the world’s oldest wine merchants, and have been trading from the same shop at 3 James Street for more than 300 years. The company began retailing whiskies in 1909 under the “Berry’s Own Selection” label, making it one of the oldest independent bottlers in Scotland. For two successive years, 2010 and 2011, Berry Brothers has been awarded Independent Bottler of the Year by Whisky Magazine as part of their “Icons of Whisky” awards.

Kensington Wine Market has carefully selected three bottlings from Berry Own Selection for exclusive sale in Canada! I sat down with my good friend and fellow whisky lover Dr. Jane Cameron and a batch of samples for review some months ago. After the tasting we settled on three favourites which I arranged to bring in to the store.

1. Berry’s Own Teaninich 1973 – 41.8% – 37 Year – Bottled 2010 – Cask 10418 – My Tasting Note: Nose: fruit flan, shortbread with icing sugar and softly toasted oak; it is so decadent with Crave vanilla cupcake icing, peaches, almond paste and buttery French croissants right out of the oven; there are some green floral and herbal notes but they never manage to dull the lustre of the more decadent ones; Palate: very soft, grassy but buttery with more sweet decadent notes; the oak is firm, thick and oily with roasted coconut chips, vanilla extract and cocoa beans; there are citrus notes to the palate which I didn’t pick up on the nose: like lemon drops and candied orange; Finish: drying and oily, but sweet with rich sugars and warm toasted oak; the oils linger as the sweet oak coating the palate long into the finish; Comments: this is dollar for dollar a better buy than the Daluiane (see below) and the one which will please the greater number of whisky drinkers. – $246.99

2. Berry’s Own Daluaine 1973 – 50.6% – 37 Year – Bottled 2010 – Cask 6074/5 – My Tasting Note: Nose: at first warm with caramelized fruit and gentle spices; the spices develop into ground cinnamon, coriander, cardamom and anise; the toasted oak develops next followed by some stewed and poached fruits like apple and pear then figs and prunes; as it opens up the fruits come to the fore and dominate all else with peaches, plum and dried apricots; Palate: the fruits waste no time coming out on the palate, though they are immediately accompanied by sweet spices like ginger, cardamom and liquorice; the oak makes its presence felt with some earthy notes, wet leaves and clove; fresh peaches, strawberries and dried apricots also emerge with some stronger notes of coffee bean, candied orange, moist ginger snap and glazed raisin Danishes; Finish: round and chewy with more notes of glazed raisin Danishes, burnt liquorice and espresso bean; some of the stronger sherry notes like wet leather and tobacco start to show later with some nutty-chocolaty notes. Comments: hands down my favourite of the three, it shows the most growth and the most depth of any of these whiskies. – $286.99

3. Berry’s Own Bowmore 1994 – 46% – 14 Years – Bottled 2008 – Cask 1682/3 – My Tasting Note: Nose: very herbal with fresh green grass, salty and medicinal notes, cured fish and clean smoke; shortbread with granular sugar topping, candied lemon, something a little rubbery and burning grass; steamed mussels in broth, Salt n Vinegar chips and rubber tubing; Palate: a little ashy with clean burning wood smoke, liquid honey and vanilla; the palate shows more steamed mussels in a very salty broth with a sweet sugary backbone that never really disappears; the whisky has an oily-mouth-coating character and some balancing acidity; Finish: fine cigar tobacco, gently peat oils and sweet toasted oak, with clove and more clean wood smoke Comments: this is a night and day different whisky from the Tempest which is more creamy and buttery, this one is much more salty, smoky and sweet! – $95.59

TWO NEW WHISKIES FROM DOUGLAS LAING

Douglas Laing & Co. is a Glasgow based Blender and Independent Bottler of Scotch whisky. Headed by brothers Stewart and Fred Laing the company has some enviable stocks, especially of older whiskies and those from closed distilleries. I have always been a big fan of their Port Ellen bottlings, and the older casks of Glenfarclas they somehow manage to get their hands on. Port Ellen distillery closed in 1983 and its whiskies are getting older, rare and more expensive with every passing year. No one has as much Port Ellen, or is as prolific in bottling it as Douglas Laing. And their Glenfarclas bottlings are especially curious, as they can’t mention the distillery by name, instead giving it an appropriate pseudonym: Probably Speyside’s Finest Distillery.

1. Provenance Port Ellen 27 Year – 46% – Distilled: Spring 1983 – Bottled: Spring 2010 – Refill Butt – DL Ref # 6101 – My Tasting Note: Nose: creamy, oily and buttery with grassy/heathery notes and clean peat smoke; very soft on the nose and creamy rich with vanilla, citrus and doughy notes; I’m trying to resist calling it sweet, because the nose can’t detect “sweet” as an aroma but it seems very honeyed, sugary and promisingly sweet; Palate: the palate definitely has a sweet honey/barley sugar character but it is also very creamy, oily and soft with gentle peat smoke and a salty tang; there is a lot of depth to this Port Ellen, and while I would suggest the peat and smoke are on the light side for a whisky from this Islay distillery they are made up for by great complexity; melons, peaches and dried apricots dance across the palate through a base of cream with tiny islets of grassy/heathery peat; Finish: drying, salty and cleanly smoked the fresh cream lingers for a long time with tingling traces of grassy smoke, sea salt, leather and sweet oak; Comments: one of the creamier Port Ellen’s I’ve had, this may be from a Refill Butt, but if I had to wager I’d suggest it was an American Oak sherry butt! – $346.99

2. O&R Probably Speyside’s Finest Distillery 45 Year – 54.2% – Distilled: July 1965 – Bottled: March 2011 – Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: Nose: Christmas cake, brown sugar, candied nuts and all things “sherry cask”; It is like walking down the bulk candy isle at a grocery store with the aromas of mixed nuts, dried fruit, jujubes and other candies; there is oak presence in the whisky but not dominance, with plenty of room left over for gentle but rich spices, anise and even some notes of fresh mint and marzipan; Palate: the spices and candied fruit don’t take long to develop with the oak emerging later; for my taste it is the spices which are the most dominant and interesting characteristic, with hints of cardamom, clove, ginger sticks, and cinnamon; there are big Christmas cake and candied fruit notes to this whisky along with shades of leather and strong cigar tobacco; Finish: drying, leathery and oaky with some traces of nutty sherry and old oak; spices linger throughout the finish along with some fatty oak notes and soft leather; Comments: there is something about Glenfarclas spirit which allows Glenfarclas to mature longer than most other single malts at a similar age; perhaps it is the spirit or their choice of casks, but I’ve had more good whisky from Glenfarclas than from any other distillery; possibly because next to no-one else has as much mature stock! – $499.99

TWO NEW 18 YEAR OLDS FROM COOLEY DISTILLERY

Cooley Distillery is one of only 4 distilleries in Ireland, and along with the Kilbeggan Distillery (the 4th distillery) which it is in the process of bringing back to life; together, they are the only independent distilleries in Ireland. At the end of the 19th Century Irish whiskey had a reputation and demand second to none in the world, but the 20th Century put paid to this in just a few short years. First off there was the War of Independence which cut Irish whiskey off from the world’s largest market, the British Empire. This was shortly followed by the bitter Irish Civil War which tore the country apart. As though these troubles weren’t enough, then came the American prohibition, severing the last remaining major market for Irish whiskey. By the second half of the 20th century there were but four remaining distilleries in Ireland, Bushmills in the North and three in the Republic. The three in the Republic banded together to create Irish Distillers, closing their old independent distilleries and moving production to a single massive new distillery, Midleton Distillery. In 1972 Bushmills too fell under the control of Irish Distillers (today it is owned by Diageo), and all distilling in Ireland fell under the control of one firm, which has been owned by Pernod Ricard since 1988.

Cooley Distillery is the brain child of John Teeling who purchased an old industrial potato alcohol distillery in 1987 with the intent of turning it into an independent Irish distillery. The distillery had some difficult early years, including an attempted hostile takeover by Irish Distillers in 1989. But the distillery has stuck to its vision and today produces some of the best whiskies in Ireland. The distillery produces two different styles of single malt whiskey: the unpeated Tyrconnell and the lightly peated Connemara. They also have a blend called Kilbeggan, named for Ireland’s oldest distillery (1757; note Bushmills wasn’t founded in 1608 but rather 1784 making it younger than some operational Scottish distilleries). They are in the process of bringing the Kilbeggan distillery back to life, but in the interim the whisky that bares that name is a blend of malt and grain whiskey from Cooley. The distillery also bottles the only known single grain whiskey in Ireland.

Here are the two new additions to KWM:

Greenore 18 Year – 46% – American Oak – Made from Corn – My Tasting Note: Nose: vaguely Bourbon-like with thick vanilla, robust notes of corn and corn-mash and an aloe-like floral top note; some faint spices: cinnamon and cardamom with Fig Newtons; Palate: very sweet with vanilla and sugary oak notes; the corn makes its presence felt in a big way with soft thin oils and more gentle spice; there are also notes of juniper, grapefruit and orange rind which strike me as being vaguely gin-like; Finish: sweet with vanilla, toasted oak and more of the Juniper-citrus notes; Comments: good but not great, lacking a little complexity, but it will please anyone looking for a soft sweet tipple. – $109.99

Kilbeggan 18 Year – 40% – American Oak Matured – A blend of corn and malt whiskies. – My Tasting Note: Nose: honey, oranges, unmalted barley and other grains; the nose is a tad dusty but very soft and smooth without even the faintest rough edge; grassy floral notes develop with patience with both ripe green grass and geraniums; Palate: the palate is silky soft and sweet with more vanilla and honey than I expected from the nose (a pleasant surprise); the grains show well with both corn and wheat notes which develop into more of the floral and ripe green grassy notes found on the nose; there is a touch of earth and spices too with an orange citrus character as well; Finish: a touch oily and coating, though it is a light touch; the grassy/floral notes take center stage with traces of honey and the oak starting to show some age (but not in a bad way); the finish is of medium length and is drying; Comments: by far my favourite of the two; much smoother and more complex than the Greenore 18 Year and worth the extra $45 and then some. – $154.99

BOWMORE 1981 28 YEAR

Sadly, if you don’t already own a bottle of this whisky, there isn’t any to be had! Only 12 bottles of it came to Canada, all of it to KWM, and they were all sold before they even hit the floor. But don’t feel too badly, there is a follow-up 1982 Bowmore coming in, in just a few months, and we will be getting approximately 18 bottles of it. It will also be exclusive to KWM. More info can be found below in the Fall Preview section. But seeing as I wrote one, here is the tasting note for the 1981 anyway:

Bowmore 1981 28 Year – 49.6% – 402 bottles – Only 12 in Alberta, all of them at Kensington Wine Market – American oak matured in the storied No. 1 Vaults – My Tasting Notes: Nose: very soft and creamy white and orchard fruits; there is a faint whiff of something salty and smoky but is the soft fruits that are on the charm offensive; treacle sauce, toffee and Highland toffee back up the whisky’s assault; old brown sugar and bacon fat show up late; Palate: creamy, sweet and complex; vanilla pods and fresh cream with faintly spicy herbs and clean wood smoke; there are notes of melon, apricots and some buttery tropical fruits; this whisky is a little like the Tempest (Batch 1) left in the warehouse to mature another couple of decades; Finish: an extension of the palate it is long, creamy and fruity with more bacon fat and clean salty smoke. – $490.99

AMRUT INTERMEDIATE SHERRY IS BACK – $114.99

90 bottles of this whisky came in earlier this year and sold out immediately. Currently we only have 18 bottles so this whisky is limited to 2 bottles per customer. It has been bottled at a cask strength of 57.1%. My tasting note follows below after Jim Murray’s which explains the origin of this whisky. Me thinks he may have had something to do with it…

“Amrut Intermediate Sherry – 96.5pts Jim Murray – “Nose: instead of the usual biscuit aroma, we now get moist cake. And my word: is it fruity and spicy!! Love the freshly waxed oak floor, too. Brain-explodingly complex and multi-layered with one of the most intriguing sherry-style-bourbon-style marriages on the market; Taste: cracking delivery and entirely unique in form. The structure is decidedly oak-based, but acts as no more than a skeleton from which the juicy sultana and spices drape. Salivating, too, as the barley kicks in powerfully. But the liquorice-orangey-honeycomb bourbon theme quietly shapes the flavour profile; the spices pulse and glow; Finish: quite a chunk of natural caramel quietens the more exuberant characteristics, long and elegant; Balance: how do you three freshly emptied oloroso butts from Jerez to Bangalore without the casks spoiling, and not use sulphur? Answer: empty two cases of Amrut cask strength whisky into each of the butts before shipping them. Not a single off note. No bitterness whatsoever. And the fruit is left to impart its extraordinary riches on a malt also matured in American oak. Amrut is spoiling us again. 57.1%” – Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2011

My Tasting Notes: Nose: good depth, sweet candied fruits, papaya and mango, vanilla milkshake, mixed berry jam, ginger snaps, molasses and caramel aplenty; there is fresh green grassy character; Palate: lots of spice, cinnamon, clove and ginger, sweet sherry notes, firm but not overpowering oak warms the palate; the whisky has a nice weight to it, silky oils stroke the back of my palate while the spice (or the alcohol) leaves it pleasantly tingling; vanilla custard and boiled cream show up late to represent the early Bourbon maturation of this whisky; Finish: drying with more spice and pleasant oak notes; Comments: very good, and very drinkable; the cask strength is nowhere near as overbearing as it is on some of the other Amruts; overall a very pleasant sherried whisky!

FORTY CREEK JOHN’S PRIVATE CASK – $65.99

Every fall Forty Creek Master Distiller John Hall launches a new Canadian whisky on to the market. Last year it was the hugely successful Confederation Oak, this year it is “John’s Private Cask”. Although the whisky is called John’s Private cask it was actually a marriage of whiskies from 23 hand selected casks which he felt emphasized the traditional characteristics of good Canadian whisky, bringing the spicy rye flavours to the forefront. The result is a limited release of 9000 bottles available in small quantities nationwide. Kensington Wine Market is expecting at least 60 bottles.

As I haven’t tasted it just yet I will borrow the work of a friend, Davin de Kergommeaux, who runs a website called www.canadianwhisky.org and who has just published a book on the subject with photos by Jane Cameron whom many Kensington Wine Market customers will be familiar called: Canadian Whiskey (the editor chose to insert an “E”).

“Nose: Very fruity and rich, the nose is immediately reminiscent of those old fruity lumber smells of whiskies like Canadian Club 30-year old with its prunes and dry figs and sweet wood and lushness. This dark fruit slowly evolves into fresh fruit – maybe berries, maybe kiwi – while rye spices, ginger and some slight herbal notes simmer away well below the surface. Gradually the rye ripens into cloves and especially ginger with lots of that generic Canadian rye whisky smell. Butterscotch envelopes a sweet Canada balsam woodiness, or is it dry wood strapping in a hot attic? Campfire notes teasingly hint at smoke, leaving more room for wood than char. A certain brightness is cloaked in heavy fruit, muskiness and the muggy weight of a sweet virgin redwood forest. Imagine a damp West Coast Trail on a brilliantly sunny morning. Palate: Bursting blasts of candied ginger quickly overpower a huge surging creamy butterscotch. Oh, it’s hot, but a spicy hot, not peppery. These are real rye spices – traditional rye spices – with ginger at the fore. They immediately take siege of the palate, yet the palate remains broad and rich with constant action from bittersweet citric elements such as candied orange rind. And every here and there a few odd things creep in such as milk duds, gelatin caps and brown sugar, only to scurry quickly away. A warming Christmas-fire glow coats the throat. The rich, mouth-filling, medium-to-robust body, though creamy, is by no means smooth. No: Eruptions of spice take care of that. Hot glowing ginger dominates the middle and as it fades into the finish it tingles like ginger ale. Rich dark fruit permeates supple tannins that pull gently at your cheeks as cedar lumber and pencil shavings linger long on the tongue and in the nose. Finish: Very long; it never really disappears. Spicy and refreshingly citric with lots of ginger and grapefruit pith.” – Davin de Kergommeaux www.canadianwhisky.org

KWM 2011 FALL WHISKY PREVIEW

This is shaping up to be the most exciting and interesting fall with respect to whisky that Kensington Wine Market has had in the 9 years I’ve been here. We have some really interesting brands and whiskies already here, with many more on the way! Next week we are launching the MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt, a replica of the whisky discovered lying under Ernest Shackleton’s Hut for more than 100 years. The first half of our 300 bottle allocation was sold before it even landed in Alberta, and I expect the same will be true for the other half due in December, especially after next week’s event!

We also launched the Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 1940 70 Year late last month, the oldest whisky in the world! We held two packed sold out tastings with the whisky here at the store which raised more than $4000.00 for the Children’s Hospital Aid Society. I’ll have more on that tasting in the next Malt Messenger, including my tasting notes on the 70 year old, as well as the five decade bottlings (1954, 1963, 1974, 1980 and 1991) which accompanied it.

One of the most exciting product launches this fall is the arrival in Canada of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. “The Society”, as it is known to members, is the world’s largest whisky club. It selects and bottles single cask, cask strength whiskies exclusively for members. In partnership with the Canadian branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the Kensington Wine Market is very excited to be able to exclusively offer memberships and Society bottlings to beginning in mid-October.

But as if this were not enough, we have much more planned for this fall including a couple of casks. We have selected a second bottling from Kilchoman(this one from a sherry cask), and we’ve gotten our hands on a spectacular 1972 Glendronach sherry cask. The Glendronach was a serendipitous discovery of my May Speyside whisky tour. While touring the distillery we were given the opportunity to sample a couple of casks, and one of them completely blew us away. It is one of the most complex, fruitiest whiskies I’ve ever had, and I know it will be a huge hit with all of you!

There are so many interesting whiskies coming in this fall that I couldn’t possibly fit them all into this Malt Messenger, but I’ll try. Here’s a taste of what to expect over the next 3-4 months:

I MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt – The Shackleton Replica

· More than 100 years ago Ernest Shackleton’s South Pole expedition chose to abandon 3 crates of MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt to the frigid Antarctic climate. For more than 100 years the bottles lay forgotten, packed with straw in wooden crates under the expedition’s hut. Discovered by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust two of the bottles were given to the owners of the brand Whyte and MacKay. Their Master Blender Richard Patterson, “AKA the Nose” using meticulous sensory and chemical analysis has recreated the whisky’s profile, even going so far as to include whisky from the original distillery Glen Mhor which has been closed nearly 30 years. The whisky, in the words of expert Dave Broom is: “absolutely bang on,” and Malt Advocate Magazine has scored it 92/100 pts. In Alberta this interesting little dram is exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market!

· We are having a tasting on Friday September 30th to celebrate the launch at which we will also be showcasing the soon to arrive Fettercairn whiskies and some other Dalmore/Jura whiskies. The event is only $30, includes a unique Glencairn glass created just for the event and will feature a Shackleton expert Susan Eaton and penguin photos by amateur photographer and whisky connoisseur Dr. Jane Cameron. For more info refer to Up Coming Events above.

· Only 300 bottles are coming to Alberta, all of them to the Kensington Wine Market.

· 144 bottles arrived in August and have already sold.

· 156 bottles due in December, 10% of which are already spoken for.

· $194.99 + GST

II Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 1940 70 Year and Private Collection 5 Decades

· The whisky, filled into cask in 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain, has been bottled at its natural cask strength of 45.9% after maturing 70 years in a single First Fill Sherry Butt. The hand blown crystal decanters are in the shape of a tear and have a British Hallmarked silver stopper. The decanter is cradled in a sterling silver base, in a bespoke Scottish Elm box handmade in Scotland.

· Gordon & MacPhail Generation Glenlivet 70 Year – 45.9% – 100 Numbered Bottles – My Tasting Note: Nose: peaches and cream, mulled fruits, hard candies and fruit leather with some deft Christmas Cake notes; it is like opening a fresh bag of assorted jujubes on a new leather sofa, and there is something vaguely smoky (it was after all the war years and coal was in high demand); Palate: soft and so, so delicate, surprisingly some soft smoky notes to start with more peaches and cream and the softest-warming-buttery fruit imaginable; it becomes richer as the palate develops with brown sugar and spices: cinnamon, cardamom, clove and ginger; leather and tobacco notes also develop but remain delicate and smooth; there are so many layers to this whisky: citrus, smoke, soft coating oils and much, much, more; nutty tones and vanilla; I can’t believe how gentle this whisky is, and how soft the oak; Finish: long and warming, sweet with subtle spice and nutty oak, my palate is moist, damp and coated with soft oils; Comments: much more than I ever expected a 70 year old whisky could be and more complex and far less oaky than expected!

o Only 2 700ml bottles of the 70 Year Old are available to Canada, both exclusive to KWM, $21,999.99.

o 10 200ml bottles of the 70 year old are available for $5,999.99, also exclusive to KWM.

· Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivets: 5 different vintage Glenlivets were released along with the 1940 70 Year Old, available individually, as part of the 5 Decade Boxed Set and as 5 Decade Loose Set:

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 5 Decade Boxed Set – 50 Sets Available World Wide– The 1st one in Alberta sold immediately, we have 2 more coming. – 1 bottle each of the following vintages: 1954, 1963, 1974, 1980 and 1991. – $5664.99

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 5 Decade Loose Set – I put this together at the shop, because there were only 3 bottles of the 1980 vintage to come in. – Only two of these are available, with each vintage individually boxed. – 1 bottle each of the following vintages: 1954, 1963, 1974, 1980 and 1991. – $5664.99

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1954 – 56 Year – 135 bottles – Only 6 bottles to Alberta – 50.6% – First Fill Sherry Hogshead – Tasting Notes to Come in a Future Malt Messenger – $2193.99 – A few left in stock, we are getting a few more.

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1963 – 47 Year – 169 bottles – Only 6 bottles to Alberta – 40.6% – First Fill American Oak Hogshead – Tasting Notes to Come in a Future Malt Messenger – $1325.99 – A few left in stock, we are getting a few more.

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1974 – 36 Year – 189 bottles – Only 6 bottles to Alberta – 50.1% – First Fill Sherry Hogshead – Tasting Notes to Come in a Future Malt Messenger – $923.99 – A few left in stock, we are getting a few more.

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1980 – 30 Year – 61 bottles – Only 3 bottles to Alberta – 48.5% – Refill American Oak Hogshead – Tasting Notes to Come in a Future Malt Messenger – $496.99 – SOLD OUT – Unable to get any more…

o Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1991 – 19 Year – 203 bottles – Only 6 bottles to Alberta – 54.4% – Refill Sherry Hogshead – Tasting Notes to Come in a Future Malt Messenger – $202.99 – Currently we are sold out but getting more…

III The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is Coming to Canada!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is coming to Canada, and Kensington Wine Market will be its exclusive Canadian embassy. “The Society”, as it is known, traces its origins to the 1970’s and the passion of one man, Philip “Pip” Hills, who travelled around the Scottish Highlands sampling whiskies straight from the cask. Eventually he convinced a group of friends to pitch in for a cask of whisky from Glenfarclas distillery. The first cask was a huge hit and a syndicate was formed which began buying and bottling casks for members. From there the organization grew, attracting new members and then establishing venues for members first in Edinburgh and then in London. Today the Society has branches in more than 15 countries, , including its newest in Canada!

This curious Society selects and bottles whiskies only for its members, relying on a panel of experts to make the selections. The distillery of origin is assigned a number; for example, as Glenfarclas was the first whisky bottled by the Society, it is distillery number 1. A second number is then assigned according to how many casks from that distillery have been bottled; the 159th cask of Glenfarclas bottled by the distillery would be referenced as 1.159. Each of these single cask bottlings, bottled at their natural cask strength and without added colouring or chillfiltering, is also given a colourful tasting note and quirky name like “Lively and Explosive” (which incidentally is the name given to 1.159). This specific bottling from the Society will be available in Alberta in the next few weeks (not to mention “Naughty Nectar”, cask no. 7.70)! And if those teasers aren’t enough to tempt your taste buds, The Society was just named Independent Bottler of the Year by Whisky Magazine.

Starting in the second half of October Scotch Malt Whisky Society Memberships and bottlings will be available exclusively from the Kensington Wine Market. Memberships include a membership pack, including 4 x 100 ml bottles of Society whisky, a coveted membership card, which will gain entrance to the members’ rooms in Edinburgh, London and elsewere, and a subscription to Unfiltered, The Society’s award winning magazine for members only. We are also informed that The Society aims at releasing five new bottlings EVERY month! Because these are bottlings of single casks, each is completely unique – once they’re gone, they’re gone forever – so members need to stay at the top of their game and act fast to grab the ones they like.

For more information on The Society and its Canadian arm, and to be kept in the loop regarding Society news pay a visit www.smws.ca  , or send an e-mail to curious@smws.ca ..

IV Exclusive Casks

1. Glendronach 1972 KWM Cask – As mentioned above this whisky was discovered purely by luck while visiting the distillery in May of this year. It is exceptional, and we will be getting 300 bottles, of which we’ve managed to pre-sell no fewer than 85. I haven’t had the opportunity to write a proper tasting note yet so I am a quoting the “Malt Monster”:

o “1972 CASK # 711 39 YEAR OLD ABV – CASK STRENGTH , ADVANCE SAMPLE KENGINGTON WINE MARKET , OLOROSO SHERRY BUTT – NOSE: Fruit explosion.. Pineapple , bananas , mango , melons , cherries and oranges.. Cocoa and mint TASTE : Melons and prunes.. Tannins from the sherry.. Raisins , coffee and cinnamon FINISH : Long and fantastic..Begins creamy & spicy , then warms up and fades gently.. little briny at the back end ASSESSMENT : Complex and balanced older sherry fruit bomb.. What a nose.. Would put this whisky right between the Black Bowmore and the Glenfarclas 40 year old.”

2. Kilchoman KWM Sherry Cask – Our first Kilchoman cask, from a fresh ex-Bourbon barrel, was a huge hit this past year, and of the 267 bottles we have just two left! I have been very impressed by their whiskies since they started releasing three year olds just a few years back and I’m not alone. There is something about their raw spirit and the casks they’re filling which has allowed Kilchoman to bottle excellent whiskies, even at a young age. While visiting the distillery in May I asked the founder Anthony Wills (who’ll be here for a tasting October 11th—while I’m at Kilchoman coincidentally) if there was any chance we could do another cask. He said we could, and we’ve selected a Sherry Cask, 322/06.- $114.99

3. Glenfarclas 1997 KWM Cask – The first to my knowledge, private cask of Glenfarclas in Canada! This won’t be available until the New Year and will be launched at our Robbie Burns Supper on the 25th of January 2012, with special guest George Grant. – $TBA

V Exclusive Whiskies

1. GLENFARCLAS 175th ANNIVERSARY CHAIRMAN’S RESERVE – 46% – A combination of 4 of their best Sherry Casks with a combined age of 175 years, the youngest of which was 42 years of age. – 1296 bottles have been released worldwide complete with glass, water jug and certificate. – Only 60 bottles to Canada, exclusively for Kensington Wine Market – My Tasting Note: Nose: brown sugar and beer nuts; espresso roast, rich buttery sherry notes; roasted marshmallow with musty/earthy dunnage floor notes and dark aged rum; spices aplenty with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and other sweet spices; there is a tropical fruit backdrop to the whole thing but they are hidden behind the burnt sugar and other caramelized notes; burnt butter and coffee cream; Palate: rich, bold and yet very soft with silky buttery sherry notes; sweet spices with mocha and espresso; burnt fruits, melons, and then the tropical fruits start to emerge, and fruits aplenty though they remain tempered by the burnt sugar and sherry notes; there is a chocolaty element to the whisky too, including cocoa nibs, Terry’s Chocolate Orange and Cadbury milk chocolate with fruit and nuts; Finish: more sweet spices with dried tropical fruits, burnt brown sugar and fading tones of chocolate; long and oily the oak spices and fruit linger; Comments: needs a little time to open up, but once it does its full of layers, depth and complexity. As rich as the 40 year old, but perhaps a little darker! – $TBA ($700 range)

2. BenRiach Firkin 1978 Only 40 bottles of this whisky are available in the world and just one if coming to Canada. This unusual whisky was matured 32 years in an unusual cask. “Firkin casks were traditionally used for the maturation of fine ale and the name is derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘vierdekijn’, meaning ‘fourth’ – in other words, a quarter of a full-size barrel.” Would love to have bought one of these for myself, as I share the vintage, but its a little out of my range and I’ve already found a buyer! – $2599.99

3. Fettercairn Fior – 42% – Heavily peated single malt from one of the eastern Highland lesser known distilleries. I will write my own tasting note sometime soon, but in the meantime: “Official Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, coffee beans and peat smoke, with nutmeg, mint, citrus fruits and truffle. A finish of sherry trifle, marzipan and pineapple.” $TBA

4. Fettercairn 24 Year – 44.4% – 1984 Vintage – Only 6000 bottles worldwide. – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Honey gold in colour, with aromas of crushed pear, toffee apple and hints of cinnamon and vanilla. A kiss of peat smoke with hazelnuts, orange rind, ginger and coriander complete the nose. Taste is of bold dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and peat smoke fused with nutmeg, mint, citrus fruits and truffle. The lingering finish proffers sherry trifle, marzipan and pineapple. “ – $TBA

5. Fettercairn 30 Year – 43.3% – 1978 Vintage – Only 3000 bottles worldwide. – Distiller’s Tasting Notes: Nose – Warm and inviting. Sweet juicy grape pulp, crushed apples and soft pear with subtle hints of cinnamon. This pleasurable experience is quickly followed by oatcakes, freshly baked bread and creamy caramel, with nuances of lemon grass, pineapple and sensual jasmine. Taste – Firm and positive. Elegant and distinguished. The warmth of American White oak has nurtured this Highland classic single malt and moulded its noble character to perfection. Luscious soft fruits of apple, pear and Cape gooseberries linger long on the palate before the next wave of ecstasy follows on. Nutmeg, peaches and spice brings this fanfare of flavours to a pleasing finish. – $TBA

6. Fettercairn 40 Year 40% – 1969 Vintage – Only 463 bottles worldwide. – Distiller’s Tasting Note: Nose – Rich and pleasing. Marmalade, ground coffee with whispers of crushed almonds, marzipan and spice open the initial bouquet of complex aromas. Matured for 30 long years in the finest wood, you can easily taste the influence of our Spanish Oloroso sherry butts. Taste – A treasure chest of flavours gently unfolds on the palate and exposes its many hidden secrets. Warm, sensual and inviting. Citrus fruits, sweet mango and wild berries tease the tongue with their tantalising flavours. Enjoy subtle hints of freshly cut pineapple, tangy grapefruit and cranberries. This fruit bowl of abundance truly rewards the palate providing it with a long lasting memorable after taste. As the saying goes ‘ all good things come to those who are prepared to wait.” $TBA

7. Bowmore 1982 – 29 Year – 47.3% – 501 Bottles Released – 18 of them are coming to Canada/KWM – Matured in the No.1 Vaults – Distiller’s Tasting Note: Nose: On the nose, the Bowmore 1982 reveals barley sugar and gentle peat smoke coupled with delicious Peach Melba ice-cream and vanilla pods. Taste: On the palate, anticipate fresh lemon pepper followed by warm, earthy smokiness. Finish: The sweet, fruity finish lingers on perfectly. – $TBA

8. Glen Garioch 1978 – 30 Year – 57.8% – 1320 bottles worldwide – 24 to Alberta/KWM – Distiller’s Tasting Note: Nose – The nose is filled by the fresh and fragrant aroma of pear drops, orange fruit loaf, dark chocolate and toasted oak. Palate – Poached pears and sweet red apple fill the mouth before nuances of smoked oak begin to emerge. The aftertaste is of Seville orange zest with a pleasant wood spiciness. $TBA

9. Bowmore Laimrig – This is a cask strength version of the 15 Year Darkest, originally created for the Swedish market and will be exclusive in Alberta to the Kensington Wine Market. We are expecting 300 bottles beginning this fall! $TBA

10. Premier Barrel Highland Park 10 Year – Further details and tasting notes to be provided upon arrival. – $126.99

11. Old Malt Cask Talisker 10 Year – Further details and tasting notes to be provided upon arrival. – $129.99

12. Old Malt Cask Littlemill 19 Year – Further details and tasting notes to be provided upon arrival. – $154.99

13. Old & Rare Port Ellen 31 Year – Further details and tasting notes to be provided upon arrival. – $699.99

14. Glendronach 1972 Cask # 712 – 39Yr – Oloroso Butt – Only 6 Coming in to Canada

15. Glendronach 1992 Cask # 161 – 19Yr – Oloroso Butt– Only 6 Coming in to Canada

16. BenRiach 1971 Cask # 1947 – 40Yr

17. BenRiach 1972 Cask # 802 – 39Yr

18. BenRiach 1976 Cask # 6942 – 34Yr

19. BenRiach 1977 cask # 1034 ­- 34Yr – PX Sherry Finish

20. BenRiach 1978 Cask 4387 – 32Yr – Virgin American Oak Finish

21. BenRiach 1979 Cask # 11195 – 31Yr – Peated

22. BenRiach 1980 Cask 2531 – 31Yr – Virgin American Oak Finish

23. BenRiach 1984 Cask # 7193 – 26Yr – Peated Virgin American Oak Finish

24. BenRiach 1989 Cask # 4813 – 22Yr – Sauternes Finish

25. BenRiach 1989 Cask # 5620 – 22Yr – Virgin American Oak Finish

26. BenRiach 1992 Cask # 972 – 19Yr – Tawny Port Finish

27. BenRiach 1993 Cask 7415 – 18Yr – Barolo Finish

VI Some Other Whiskies

1. Springbank 21 Year – Back from the dead, finally a new 21 year old…

2. Longrow 18 Year – If its half as good as the last one it will be terrific!

3. Hazelburn 8 Year Sauternes Wood

4. Kilchoman 100% Islay – The first Islay grown, malted, distilled and bottled whisky, possibly ever? At least from Kilchoman who grew the barley themselves!

5. Big Peat Santa – $87.99 – A ask strength version of the Big Peat dressed up in a Santa’s hat for the holidays.

6. Really Big Peat – $469.99 – 4.5L of the Big Peat Islay Blended Malt Whisky (Contains at least a drop of Port Ellen!)

7. Glendronach 1971 Cask # 1436 – 40Yr – PX Puncheon

8. Glendronach 1989 Cask # 2917 – 21Yr – PX Puncheon

9. Glendronach 1990 Cask # 1032 – 20Yr – PX Puncheon

10. Glendronach 1994 Cask # 97 – 17Yr – Oloroso Butt

11. Dalmore Castle Leod

12. Dalmore 40 Year

13. Dalmore Astrum

14. Dalmore Aurora

VII Tastings & Events

1. Glenfarclas Family Casks w/ George Grant – George Grant, Glenfarclas’ larger than life ambassador will be back for the fourth annual Family Casks tasting at the Petroleum Club. 319 – 5th Ave Sw..This year we have a special treat, a 40+ year old special bottling, The Chairman’s Reserve, celebrating the distillery’s 175th year. – Mon Oct 31 7pm – $160.00

2. Scotch Malt Whisky Society Friday I – This is the first of our monthly SMWS tastings. $25 for members and $35 for neophytes. These tastings will highlight 5 new releases every month from the most prolific bottler of single cask, cask strength, single malt whisky. You have to be a member to buy the bottles, but we’ll let you have a taste, and membership is open to all… For more information on the Society visit www.smws.ca or call our Scotch Guy at 403-283-8000 – Fri Nov 4 7pm – $35.00

3. Jura Distillery with Willie Tait – Jura’s brand ambassador and employee of nearly 37 years, Willie Tait, will be in town to shed some light on the distillery, its whiskies and the mysterious island they come from. – Tue Nov 8 7pm – $40.00

4. Glendronach 1972 Launch Dinner – Our exceptional new cask will be launched this night during a special whisky dinner with Alistair Walker at Buchanan’s Chop House, 738 3 Avenue, SW. – Wed Nov 9 7pm – $135.00

5. Fall Single Malt Festival – Our iconic whisky festival is back for another year with a line-up of up to 100 premium whiskies from some of Scotland’s finest distilleries. Don’t hesitate, it sells out every year, and there are only 100 tickets! – Thr Nov 10 7pm – $60.00

6. Whisky, Women & Chocolate – Nothing pairs better with whisky than chocolate, so gather the gals for a sumptuous ladies only sampling of fine single malt Scotch and premium chocolate. Fri Nov 25 7pm – $50.00

7. Master Malt – Only the most rare and special whiskies are showcased at this tasting which always highlights some of the most exciting whiskies in the world! – Tue Nov 29 7pm – $99.00

8. Scotch Malt Whisky Society Friday I – This is the second of our monthly SMWS tastings… $25 for members and $35 for neophytes. These tastings will highlight 5 new releases every month from the most prolific bottler of single cask, cask strength, single malt whisky. You have to be a member to buy the bottles, but we’ll let you have a taste, and membership is open to all… For more information on the Society visit www.smws.ca or call our Scotch Guy at 403-283-8000 – Fri Dec 2 7pm – $35.00

9. Universal Whisky Experience “Epicurean Scotch Tasting Indulgence” – Is being held in 7 American cities and Calgary. The Calgary event will be held at Buchanan’s Chop House as per my recommendation and you can find out more and buy tickets at http://universalwhiskyexperience.com/events.. This is an ultra-premium whisky dinner which will feature the Dalmore 40 Year Astrum and Dalmore 45 Year Aurora amongst others…

10. Victoria Whisky Festival – January 20th -22nd 2012 – One of the best organized and most fun whisky events in Canada, with proceeds going to Children’s charities. Visit http://www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com/  for more details.

11. Kensington Wine Market’s 7th Annual Robbie Burns Supper with George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery – Tickets will go on sale in mid November. Save the date!

12. Universal Whisky Experience Nth 2012 – This Super Premium whisky festival in Vegas was a lot of fun last year, and I’ll be going down again this March. – March 2nd-3rd 2012 – Visit http://universalwhiskyexperience.com/ for more info. If you are interested in attending, please contact me for a special Malt Messenger discount code.

____________________

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

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1992 Dalwhinnie Distiller’s Edition Oloroso Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($76.99)

Wemyss “The Peat Chimney” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($39.99)

Wemyss “The Smooth Gentleman” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 10 available ($39.99)

Wemyss “The Spice King” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($39.99)

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

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL EDITION OF “PARKER’S HERITAGE COLLECTION” AMERICAN WHISKEY SERIES

10-year-old Bourbon Finished in Cognac Casks Represents Joint Effort Between Industry Legends Parker Beam and Alain Royer

BARDSTOWN, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the September release of the fifth edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection, a limited annual series of rare, aged American Whiskeys that pays tribute to 6th Generation Master Distiller Parker Beam. This 2011 release represents a bold new direction for the series and for the company, being the first “wood-finished” Bourbon produced by Heaven Hill, a two-time Distiller of the Year winner. It also represents a collaboration between two industry giants—Parker Beam, the legendary grand-nephew of Jim Beam who has practiced his craft at Heaven Hill for more than 50 years; and Alain Royer, 6th Generation Cognac Master Blender, founder of A. de Fussigny Cognac, now working for the Cointreau family within the Renaud Cointreau group.

This year’s release of Parker’s Heritage Collection promises to be a worthy successor to the previous four releases, which stand as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Last year’s highly acclaimed 10-Year-Old Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon captured Whisky Magazine’s “World’s Best North American Whisky” at the World Whisky Awards. The prior release, the “Golden Anniversary” Bourbon, was Malt Advocate Magazine’s “American Whiskey of the Year” and Whisky Magazine’s “Best New Release of the Year”. And the 27-Year-Old Bourbon edition released in 2008 was the first American Whiskey to ever win “Best of Show, Brown Spirits” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The new release marks the first in the Parker’s Heritage Collection to utilize the practice of “wood finishing”, whereby a mature whiskey is dumped out of its original cooperage and transferred into another barrel that had previously contained a different type of spirit. Commonly used in Scotland, where the newly made spirit may age in any type of barrel (typically Scotch is aged in used Bourbon barrels, but some Scotch producers use Sherry, Port or other types of used barrels), wood finishing is less common in American Straight Whiskeys partly because by law an American Straight must spend a minimum of two years specifically in a newly charred American White Oak barrel, typically much longer. There have been other American Whiskeys finished in other types of spirit barrels over the past few years, as US producers look for a way to differentiate a very tightly defined and regulated product to meet growing connoisseur demand.

In an interesting historical twist, the very first nationally released wood-finished American Bourbon was produced in 1999. Called Distiller’s Masterpiece, it was also a Franco-American collaboration between Alain Royer and Parker Beam’s first cousin, the late Booker Noe, long-time Master Distiller at Jim Beam.

This latest edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection utilized as its base select barrels of a 10-Year-Old Bourbon that had aged in high storage on the 6th floor of Rickhouse “V” in Bardstown. Last February, 15 French Limousin Oak barrels that each held 350 liters (92.5 gallons) of 3-year-old Grande Champagne Cognac from the Frapin cellars were emptied, the barrels were then wrapped to keep them wet and leakproof, and three days later they were shipped to Kentucky. There the oversized (by Kentucky standards) casks were filled with the aged Bourbon and transferred to the 6th floor of Rickhouse JJ, where they rested for 6 months to extract the delicate floral notes that permeated the Cognac barrels. On August 22, when Royer and Beam deemed them ready, these large Cognac barrels were dumped by hand (they were too big to fit the standard 53 gallon Bourbon barrel equipment), yielding 6000 750ml bottles of a spicy, yet slightly floral and sweet whiskey.

This fifth edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection is bottled at a robust 100 proof and is not chill-filtered prior to bottling, which helps maintain the natural esters and compounds that provide a rich texture and mouthfeel. It will be distributed nationally, albeit in limited, allocated quantities, and available at fine whiskey retailers in major US metro markets as long as supplies last.

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous four editions, the Parker’s Heritage Collection Cognac Finished Bourbon is available in a three bottle case that should start hitting retail shelves and back bars in early October, in time for the cooler weather that traditionally signals “whiskey season”. And while several of the past Parker’s Heritage Collection annual releases have been priced in excess of $100, including the 27-Year-Old Bourbon that carried a $200 national average retail price, this year’s Cognac Finished edition will retail for an average of $80 for the 750ml bottle, welcome news for whiskey lovers in these still-unsettled economic times.

“All the previous editions of my Parker’s Heritage Collection have been very special products” noted Heaven Hill’s Parker Beam. “And this one may be the most unique of them all. It has been a real pleasure to work with Alain in selecting the kind of Bourbon to use, the kind of barrels to finish this with, and the length of time and location in which to finish this Bourbon. And it has turned out to be a really great and different type of whiskey. It’s nice to know that even after 50 years here at Heaven Hill, this old dog can still learn some new tricks.” Alain Royer added “Parker and I have really enjoyed this entire process. From looking at different ages of Bourbon to use, rye versus wheated mashbills, different ages and proofs, to deciding on Cognac versus Armagnac barrels, and how long the Cognac should remain in the barrels…all these factors and variables were analyzed, discussed and tested. And what has emerged is truly emblematic of the whole collaborative process—well structured, integrated, and thoroughly enjoyable to drink.”

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

Hello Dell Friends! Congratulations to Pat and Lori who got married last weekend, it was a beautiful wedding!!

Scotch Tastings

October 2 (Sunday) @ 4 p.m. & October 6th (Thursday) @ 7 p.m.

This months theme is to compare younger distilleries (Arran, Kilchoman…) to older distilleries. It will be fun to debate the new ways vs. old ways. Make sure to call 402.553.9501 or email www.dundeedell.com to make a reservation.

October Outturn Previews: 64.32 & 93.46
October Outturn lands with a bang next First Friday..in the meantime wet-your-whistle with two great preview bottlings…

64.32 Nutty delights
Speyside Lossie
£46.20 inc free p&p
This was like a chocolate box – light fudge, hazelnuts, Maltesers, Tracker or Harvester bars but there was also grass, mint, tobacco, and a perfumed floral note

PREVIEW SAVINGS PAIR: 64.32 & 93.46 only £83.50
What happens when you mix a nutty character with a party animal? This naughty little pair…

Oct Naughty Pair: 64.32 & 93.46
(64.32 +) 93.46 Tar, tea-chests and engine oil
Campbeltown
*Cask 93.46 is exclusive to this pair offer (not for sale individually)
The nose started out with wood polish and pear, before turning sweeter (strong honey, toffee crunch ice-cream)

Sept Outturn Browse all bottlings (35 single casks online)

EXCLUSIVE Whisky Show Cask: 35.59 Arabian Nights
To celebrate the up-and-coming Whisky Show taking place at The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis in London on Fri 7 and Sat 8 Oct, we have bottled this very exclusive 39YO cask…

35.59 Arabian Nights
Speyside Lossie
£227 inc. free p&p
A fragile nose, delicately scented with rose petals, face cream, expensive soap and after-shave balm. Soon we were transported (by magic carpet) to a Persian garden at night, with musk, jasmine and sandalwood

A great example of ‘when it’s ready, it’s ready’ – (life doesn’t always begin at 40!). A VERY high Tasting Panel scorer, this bottle is extremely limited – only 24 bottles available.

You can also sample this bottle as part of our Dream Dram Flight, taking off at our London Members’ Room from Wed 5 – Thu 13 Oct

Enter our competition to WIN Whisky Show tickets

October Outturn PREVIEW Tastings:
Brighton – Hotel du Vin, Fri 30 Sept
Manchester – Malmaison, Fri 30 Sept

October Outturn Tastings:
London – 19 Greville St, Sat 8 Oct
Vaults – (with Sunday Roast) Leith, Sun 9 Oct
London – (with Steak), 19 Greville St, Mon 10 Oct

More Society tastings

Whisky Magazine’s 2012 Independent Bottler of the Year www.whiskymag.com/awards/ibc/2011/

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.