The Art of Wrapping: Suntory Whisky X Shinsuke Kawahara For Father’s Day

In honor of all fathers, and en homage to Shinjiro Torii, the founding father of Japanese whisky, Suntory is partnering with screen print designer Shinsuke Kawahara to create a limited-edition furoshiki, or authentic Japanese men’s scarf.

The black silk scarf features a block print image of Shinjiro Torri’s face, in a playful interpretation of Kawahara’s iconic rabbit motif. Kawahara has etched the face of Torri – who established the Yamazaki distillery and Japan’s first in 1923 – in muted grey and white tones, in reference to the wise and humble ways of the Japanese father.

While the scarf looks sharp draped or tied around the neck, the furoshiki is expressed best when it is wrapped around a bottle of Yamazaki, Hakushu or Hibiki. This elaborate tying of the scarf forms part of the ancestral art of wrapping – or in Japanese tsutsumu – which is pivotal to gift giving on Father’s Day in Japan. The art of enveloping the whisky bottle in the furoshiki evokes the protective embrace the father extends over his family. The Japanese hero their fathers as daikokubashira or the pillar on which everything rests and the home is built. The intricate layering of the furoshiki not only symbolizes the reassuring role the father plays within the family, but also adds a dimension of utter elegance when wrapped around your favorite bottle of Suntory whisky.

Participate in the art of furoshiki across the country this Father’s Day. In New York, you can find the scarves in select liquor stores. In San Francisco, you can join Suntory’s West Coast brand ambassador, Neyah White, for a Japanese whisky tasting presented by Umamimart & Cask, where all participants will walk away with the scarf and a bottle of Hibiki blended whisky. The San Franciso event is happening on June 17th at Local Edition in SOMA. For tickets and information, please visit: https://www.snagtickets.com/53668/Fathers_Day_Japanese_Whisky_Tasting

The furoshiki gift idea is meant for both the connoisseur and the whisky newcomer. Please visit Facebook.com/SuntoryWhisky for tips on how to wrap a bottle of Yamazaki, Hibiki or Hakushu, to present as a gift this Father’s Day.

About Shinsuke Kawahara

Shinsuke Kawahara is an illustrator and painter, specializing in screen printing. In the late 1980’s, he completed his seminal design work for Madam Figarom, which was pubslihed in Maria Claire, Le Figaro and Vogue. Renown for his mini rabbit motif, he has partnered with brands as wide ranging as Louis Vuitton, Le Coq Sportif and Hermes. Visit shinsukekawahara.com for more information.

Suntory Ltd.

Suntory Ltd. is one of the world’s leading wine and spirits companies. Founded in 1899, Suntory was the first company to introduce western-style spirits to Japan. Suntory’s businesses today encompass liquor, including whisky, shochu, wine and beer; food products; soft drinks; floral products; restaurants; and sports. Suntory exports a wide range of authentic Japanese whiskies and liqueurs to 35 countries, including the United States. Made with exceptional Japanese craftsmanship, these include the unique melon liqueur MIDORI, which is especially popular in the U.S., YAMAZAKI Single Malt Whisky, Japan’s premier single malt whisky, Hibiki Japanese Blended Whisky and the new Hakushu Single Malt Whisky. With its head office in Osaka, the Suntory Group comprises 170 companies operating in 17 countries.

About Campari America

Campari America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), together with its affiliates Gruppo Campari. At the heart of Campari America are two legends in the American spirits industry. The first, Skyy Spirits, was founded in San Francisco back in 1992 by the entrepreneur who invented iconic SKYY Vodka. The second is the world-famous Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they have been making the world’s finest whiskies since the 1800’s. Both companies were purchased by Davide Campari-Milano and together they form Campari America, which has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Campari America manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell’s Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón® Tequila, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur®, Frangelico®, Cynar®, Carolans Irish Cream®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Sagatiba® Cachaça and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®. Campari America is also the exclusive US distributor of Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, McClelland’s® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Hibiki® Whisky, Hakushu® Single Malt Whisky, and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky.

Campari America is headquartered in San Francisco, California. More information on the company can be found at www.campariamerica.com, www.facebook.com/campariamerica, Twitter: @CampariAmerica and www.camparigroup.com. Please enjoy Campari America brands responsibly and in moderation.

The Macallan launches ‘The Last Word’ photography competition in celebration of the Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz

Following the launch of the Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz Edition, The Macallan, the luxury single malt whisky, today announces a photography competition ‘The Last Word’ marking the third in its prestigious Masters of Photography series.

Celebrating Annie Leibovitz’s world famous portraits, from Tuesday 12th June, photography aficionados will be able to upload a portrait they have taken with one word – ‘The Last Word’ – capturing the mood of their photograph. The theme ‘The Last Word’ reflects The Macallan’s standing as the last word in luxury; the ultimate Scotch for the most memorable drinking occasion.

Showcasing the photographic talent of The Macallan fans around the world, The Macallan Masters of Photography website, www.themastersofphotography.com, is a global platform which will both profile the photographs submitted and allow users to vote on the portraits – entrants to the competition will also be able to share their work through Twitter, Facebook and google+ and there will also be a dedicated Pinterest board.

Each week one portrait will be chosen as ‘The Last Word of the week’ which will become Macallan’s Facebook profile picture for the following week. Prizes will be awarded monthly leading up to a final selection of winners as chosen by esteemed judges from the Royal Photographic Society. The judges, Roy Robertson Hon FRPS, President of The Royal Photographic Society, Leo Palmer FRPS FPSA MPSA and Vanessa Slawson FRPS FBPPA ASWPP AFIAP DPAGB, will also provide their top tips on how to take great photographs. Monthly prizes include the ‘making of’ book that details the collaboration between Annie Leibovitz and The Macallan; and a pewter hipflask encased in leather. The overall winner will receive a photography themed visit to the home of The Macallan.

This is the second year that The Macallan has run a photography Master Class celebrating its Masters of Photography series. Last year’s competition was judged by the 2nd Master of Photography – Albert Watson, with over 7,000 entries and nearly 100,000 votes received.

The Macallan Masters of Photography series features exclusive collaborations, conjoining the art of whisky making with the artist’s interpretation of the world of The Macallan. This year, Annie Leibovitz has interpreted the four single cask variants released for the first time and created four powerful images, using Scottish actor Kevin McKidd as her leading man. Leibovitz captures the brilliance of a moment where everything comes together, showcasing the stature of whisky as an icon of taste and masculinity and confirming The Macallan as ‘The Last Word’ in luxury.

To enter the competition, please visit www.themastersofphotography.com

www.themacallan.com 

ABOUT THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
The Macallan Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz Edition comprises 1,000 limited edition bottles, of which there are four different versions. Each bottle contains one of four unique single malts, crafted to reflect the mood of the signed Annie Leibovitz print that it is paired with. The four single cask whiskies have been matured in different cask types to be completely unique and original. The bottle and print are presented in a bespoke photo-archival box, stamped with The Macallan brand and Annie Leibovitz’s name.

ABOUT THE MACALLAN
Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.

SPRINGBANK SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

Greetings Society Members, at last I have had time to sit down and compose the next newsletter. Things have been a bit hectic here, not helped by the fact that I am going on holiday for two weeks and am getting a bit excited!!!

Tours – this year saw a first for Springbank/Glengyle distilleries with 85, mostly Danish, visitors from a ship taking part in a Premier Tour. They were split into 3 groups with each group having a different starting point for their walking tour, incorporating a tour of both Springbank and Glengyle distilleries and a tasting by Frank and Gavin in one of the warehouses. Following their tour the group enjoyed a buffet lunch in the malt barn, prepared by a very nervous Donald, although he need not have worried as everyone thoroughly enjoyed the lunch and the unique experience. He assured us afterwards that he is quite prepared to repeat this if asked.

OPEN DAY
Another successful day with a change of format for a few things this year. Frank kick started the day by welcoming everyone to the Open Day and hoped all our visitors would spend a pleasant day with us. Jenny started off the events with a Springbank tasting and food pairing in the Tasting room, using local produce as her accompaniments. This was followed by Ranaldʼs masterclass, who held his, again seated class, at Glengyle Distillery in the filling store. Everyone got to taste whiskies from the first six casks which were filled at the distillery when it opened in 2004 – bourbon, Demerara rum, port, fino sherry, oloroso sherry and madeira wine. They were also given a control sample of each of those drinks and had to try and work out which whisky had come from which cask type. Only five people managed to get them all correct and Ranald very generously gave them a sample bottle from one of the casks as a prize! Next in line was the Springbank Masterclass with Frank and Gavin in the malt barn. This year they had set up a seated area for their Masterclass, with Gavin taking samples directly from casks, this was indeed a very popular class with almost full capacity! While the Masterclasses were in progress we had Campbeltown Brass Band sitting in the sweltering heat of the car park playing their hearts out. They are always very willing to come along and cheer us up with their rousing music.
Grantʼs Masterclass was the last one of the day, at full capacity, again seated in the malt barn. Grant had prepared a power point presentation, and I hope they were all paying attention as he had spent some time in the preparation!! He had also asked “Pop” to come along and regauge a cask during the Masterclass which I am sure everyone enjoyed seeing. I hear he also had a wee surprise cask for everyone to taste which I am sure went down very well. All in all a great day for the “teachers” of the masterclasses and I am sure a fabulous day for the pupils.

Also on offer were free distillery tours which again were very popular – the guides of the day were Jim and Lea who were kept very busy – I donʼt even know if they had time for a lunch break. Our popular local violinist Frank Rochford made an appearance in the afternoon to entertain us with some lively music, as did one of our Society Members, Peter Ferguson with the bagpipes.

The marquee was very busy, keeping Lisa and Julie on their toes all day selling from the two single casks, the poor girls had to keep running in and out as our credit card machine was playing up, but they must have been enjoying themselves as they just refused to take a break. They were assisted by Ian and Robert who were the men of the moment, filling from the all important single casks, labeling and capsuling the bottles to keep the girls stocked up.

On Masterclass ticket sales were the girls from the J & A Mitchell office, Fiona, Jenna and Michelle who took it in turns to man the ticket sales, while still manning the office.

This year we had fourteen local craft stalls, ranging from hand made cards, hand made candles, wood turning, jewellery, hand made chutney, bath time cafe soaps, wood carving, so a wide variety of stalls for everyone to browse. We also had food from Ifferdale Lamb, Auntie Mo, MacMillan Smokehouse and Mull of Kintyre cheese. In the afternoon Donald was offering afternoon tea and coffee and cream cakes in the Tasting room for those who needed a wee walk and a quiet sit down – again a popular venue.

At the distillery we also had tastings in the warehouse, hosted by Melanie, a new member of the sales team. She had a very busy day and was indeed “thrown into the deep end” but coped remarkably well.

Linda and Catherine were also very busy handing out free tastings of our CV Range, the new Kilkerran WIP and of course the Open Day single cask bottles. They had a steady flow of visitors all day giving their valued opinions on our new products.

Both John and Charlie were on hand all day to do any running about that was needed, fetching and carrying tables and chairs and any other tasks set for them. Willing helpers indeed. In the evening there was a BBQ ruled over by Donald who shouted at anyone and everyone, bossing us all about as usual. In the marquee we had a spirit bar set up and of
course Fyne Ales, who had been there all day, gladly stayed on until the very end.

Music was supplied by the Juvenile Pipe Band, a very popular choice, followed by music from local artistes Dave Bissett and Davie Robertson who played and sang till the end. A spooks tour was also on the cards this year, with Lea, Catrona, Ian, Derek and Amanda throwing themselves into scaring the life out of us (assisted by Kenneth and Rhys). We also had a group of young local dancers “Foot Notes”, performing Thriller as you emerged from the dark warehouse into the sunshine. A very popular tour this year, demand being so high they had to repeat it six times!!

A big thank you is due to every single member of staff who made the Open Day run smoothly. They are all very willing to help wherever they can and just make things so easy, a great “family” to work with. We could not have asked for a better day for the Open Day this year, the sun shone from morning till night and we all went home, eventually, exhausted but  ery happy that it had been such a fun day.

Roll on next year!!!!!!!

Open Day Bottles
We do have some Open Day Bottles for sale in the shop. There are a very few of the Longrow and a few cases of the Springbank. The price is £50 per bottle, so if you would like to buy any of these single cask bottles, please contact the shop direct as I wonʼt be here to answer your emails. The shop number is 01586 551710 ext 1.

Golf Competition
Not to be outdone by the Open Day, Friday the 25th saw our second Golf Open, this year at Machrihanish, with the sun shining again from early morning. The entry for this year had increased, a good sign, and hopefully will increase in popularity as the years go on.

The winning team were Olof Lundin, A Bengtson, B Edshage and L Regner, Second were Don Greaves, F Greaves, A Reed and M Robertson and Third Finlay Wylie, John Biggins, Angus Brown and Ross Robertson. A “special” prize was given to the team Ailsa De Haas, J McIntyre and J McGeachy. The Longest Drive was won by Nathan Long and Nearest the Pin by Ken Greig. I am pleased to say that last yearʼs winners did come to defend their title but sad to say they did not pick up any prizes this year.

The golf was followed by lunch in the Machrihanish Club House which I am assured they all enjoyed.

Society Bottle
The next Society Bottle is a Springbank 14 year old, which was matured for 7 years in a Port cask and 7 years in a Refill Bourbon cask. It will be bottled at about 55% ABV and will yield 600 bottles. I donʼt have a price for this as yet, and it will be bottled while I am on holiday, ready for action as soon as I get back at the beginning of July. We intend taking orders as usual, and for those members in Europe we would send your bottles to the Cadenhead shops and you would contact the appropriate shop to arrange payment and shipping from them. Initially I would take the order and let the shops have a note of your name and membership number (this will give me an idea of how much I have to allocate to each shop). The price for the bottles should be much the same as you would pay in the UK. If you would rather come and pick your bottle up from Campbeltown we are of course happy to keep it here until you visit. (We like visitors).

I would ask that you donʼt email me with orders until I send out the next newsletter as your emails wonʼt be answered and I wonʼt get a fright when I return from holiday to see my in box full of hundreds of emails. Thank you in advance for that.

Longrow Red
We will have a new Longrow this year round about August/September. It will be called Longrow Red and is an 11 year old, matured for 7 years in Refill Bourbon casks and 4 years in Cabernet Sauvignon casks from the Long Row Winery in Australia. It will be bottled at 52.1%ABV and will retail at approximately £50 – to be confirmed. There will be 9000 bottles.

Further news on this nearer the time.

Well, thatʼs it for now, I will be back in two weeks, raring to go.

Slainte
Janet

Contact Janet at society@springbankwhisky.com to join the Springbank Society

Our New Family Home

Monday saw the opening of our new family home in Dufftown. Located inside the original Malt Kiln of William Grant’s first distillery, the Grant Family Home comprises of 3 separate areas: the family room, the dining room and a fully functional blending room.

While spending time with friends there on Monday night, we realised the…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

Tamdhu 21 Year Old Platinum Old & Rare

Winner!
Scottish Field Summer Whisky Challenge 2012

Single sherry hogshead distilled 1989 yielding just 205 bottles.

Richly spiced and full bodied Scotch bursting with dark fruit, dark chocolate, cedar wood with a subtle smoke flavours.

£179.99 (£149.99 ex VAT)

At the first hint of autumn one’s spirits need a boost

London: The Japanese know what to do as soon as the temperature makes that imperceptible change downwards. Keep the weather at arms’ length with cocktails that raise the spirits a few degrees. Their 24 seasons calendar calls for two cocktails in August which are appropriate to the weather. Rishuu means the first sign of autumn and Shosho means the summer heat is on the way out.

To raise your spirits in August mixologist Zoran Peric uses the award-winning Suntory Yamazaki and Hakushu Single Malt whiskies to create two delightful cocktails.

Rishuu – first sign of autumn (6 August).

The temperature downturn calls for a Yamazaki Rishuu cocktail.

Yamazaki Rishuu: 50ml Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

150ml soda, lemon and orange peel infused ice ball, Pour whisky and soda over ice ball in a highball, glass. Stir to extract taste of lemon and orange. Garnish with lemon and orange slices.

Shosho – summer heat is a lingering memory (22 August).

This is the time to soak up the garden scents and savour them as autumn breezes in. Hakushu Shosho: 50ml Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, 150ml soda water, 15ml Rose water, Fresh mint. Pour Hakushu over crushed ice in a highball glass and stir in Rose water, Add soda water. Garnish with mint sprig and rose petals

Comments Zoran Peric, creator of many whisky based cocktails: “Suntory Japanese whiskies are world beaters having won more than 60 international awards since 2003 and whisky lovers have taken to them. The latest accolade is for Yamazaki 25 Year Old Single Malt voted this year as World’s Best Single Malt Whisky. There is something about the subtle aromas and delicate flavours of Suntory whiskies which appeal to many palates whether taken neat, over ice or in cocktails”.

Yamazaki 12 year old Japan’s leading single malt whisky and Hakushu 12 year old single malt have become firm favourites here in the UK. Taste both at their best in the Yamazaki Rishuu and Hakushu Shousho cocktails above.

Suntory Japanese whiskies are available from: Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, The Whisky Exchange, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:

Yamazaki 12 year old – £42

Hakushu 12 year old £52

Suntory Japanese whiskies are distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

Jura single malt whisky, in partnership with Olympus, is launching an online photography competition (www.jurawhisky.com/communityspirit) to find images from across the world that best embody the theme of ‘community spirit’.

Three budding amateur photographers are being offered the chance to win an unforgettable trip to the island of Jura, off Scotland’s dramatic West Coast. The island is famed for its small and close-knit community of less than 200, united by the island they love and the warmth of its people. The walls of the Distillery Visitor Centre are adorned with photos of Diurachs (the Gaelic name for the people of Jura) past and present, who have all played their part in contributing to the island’s famous community spirit.

To experience Jura’s island life for themselves, amateur photographers are invited to submit photographs that best tell a story of community spirit. These images could include photos of groups or individuals that evoke the spirit of the neighbourhood in which they live, or even photos of festivals and events that conjure the character of a particular place.

Each one of the three winners and their partners will enjoy a week’s all-expenses stay in the exclusive Jura Lodge and a VIP tour of the Jura distillery and island. The winners will also receive an Olympus PEN E-PL3 camera to create a lasting memento of their visit to Jura, and a photography workshop on the island from award-winning photographer David Nightingale (www.chromasia.com).

To enter, applicants must upload a photo that captures community spirit onto an e-postcard template along with a description in 50 words or less of why that picture tells a story of community spirit. Jura will assess a shortlist of the very best ‘postcards’ and pick three lucky winners – one from North America, one from the UK and a third from the rest of the world.

The competition, which can be found by visiting www.jurawhisky.com/communityspirit, opens today (Monday, 11 June) and will run for eight weeks, closing on Friday, 3 August.

Entrants are encouraged to share their e-postcards with friends and family. Every week for eight weeks, Jura will be awarding an Olympus VG-170 camera and a bottle of Jura 16 year old to the photo which receives the most public votes during the course of that week.

Willie Cochrane, Distillery Manager, said:

“We may only have 200 people living on the island, but as a community we possess a spirit that is unique to Jura, and I’m not just talking about the whisky! Many people, both islanders and tourists, have captured our spirit on camera over the years. These photographic records of people and events that have helped to define what it means to be a Diurach are a significant part of Jura’s history, telling the story of our culture and community. We look forward to welcoming the winners of this competition to the island and sharing the Diurach spirit with them.”

About the competition
1. All competition details can be found at www.jurawhisky.com/communityspirit
2. Entrants must be of legal drinking age
3. Entrants must be free to travel between the dates of 29 April and 5 May 2013
4. Entrants must register to become a Diurach before entering the competition
5. Full terms and conditions can be found on the competition website

About Jura
Off the west coast of Scotland lies one of nature’s best kept secrets, the Isle of Jura. Populated by a community of less than 200 known as Diurachs (the Gaelic name for the people of Jura), it is a place of myth, legend and intrigue – and an award-winning range of single malt whiskies, which hold the promise of good fortune for all those that believe.

There are four classic bottlings in the Jura Collection: Origin 10, Superstition, Diurach’s Own and Prophecy. Many of the Jura whiskies have their own distinctive drinking rituals, but one cuts across the range. Islanders believe that it brings good fortune to knock on wood before they drink a dram.

For those who love the great outdoors, Jura is an idyllic place. Its three ‘Paps’ – or mountains – dominate the skyline, distinguishable from miles around and the focus for the tough Jura Fells Race which takes place every May. For those who like to explore, whether by foot, bike or yacht, there is a wealth of historical sites and natural phenomena to discover, from stone circles and standing stones to ruined castles and Iron Age forts; from sandy beaches and secluded coves to stacks, pinnacles and caves, as well as raised beaches from the Ice Age. Golden eagles, sea eagles, otters, seals and, not forgetting the 5,000 red deer which inhabit the island, are all a common sight, and carry on about their business uninhibited by humans.

www.jurawhisky.com

A New Blog post about Father’s Day Whiskies – our favourite top 10.

http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/blog/post/id/fathers-day-whisky

Kind regards,

Alastair @
The Whisky Barrel
www.thewhiskybarrel.com

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers, 

Father’s Day is coming and KWM is right in the thick of our Spring Whisky Week. The timing couldn’t be better to find that special treat to spoil dad. We have three great events coming up this week and a slew of new products coming in to coincide with our whisky festival and other special events. First up is tonight’s sold out Japanese whisky tasting Lost in Translation. We will be featuring some very rare single cask Japanese whiskies exclusive to our store tonight. 

Thursday night is our whisky festival, which is also sold out and has a stellar whisky lineup, 118 whiskies at last count, including new whiskies from Duncan Taylor, Kilchoman, Adelphi, Old Malt Cask, Signatory, Nikka, Diageo and more. Some very rare whiskies will be opened specially for the event like the Glen Garioch 1978, Old & Rare Port Ellen 28 Year, another Port Ellen brought back especially from Scotland for the event and the Glenfarclas 175^th Anniversary Chairman’s Reserve. 

And finally on Friday, we are hosting the Ultimate Dalmore Tasting, an event which would have cost $500 a person, were it not for the support of the distillery, Authentic Wine & Spirits and some wiggle room in the Kensington Wine Market budget. The tasting will feature a flight of 8 Dalmores: starting with the new Cigar Malt Reserve and Dalmore Castle Leod; we will then work our way through three vintages: 1979 ($661.99), 1978 ($769.49) and 1974 ($1655.49); finishing the event with a walk through three 40+ year old whiskies: the old Dalmore 40 Year ($2645.99), the new 40 Year Astrum ($1886.99) and the 45 Year old Aurora ($3587.99). We are offering this very rare once in a lifetime tasting opportunity for the very reasonable price of $175 + GST. More information on the tasting can be found below, and on our store blog at http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/blog/ . 

And as a special treat for Father’s Day, please find below my gift guide with some ideas on how to treat your father this weekend. 

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin. Don’t forget you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Stay tuned for the next full Malt Messenger, and of course Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there! 

Slainté! 

Andrew Ferguson

FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Gift Ideas Under $50

1. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2012 – $21.99 + GST
2. Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert – $24.99 + GST
3. Malt Whisky Yearbook 2012 – $29.99 + GST

Gift Ideas Under $75

1. Glenglassaugh Revival – A lovely 3 year old matured and bottled by the new owners. – $60.49 + GST
2. Nikka Pure Malt White – A massively fruity new whisky. – $61.99 + GST
3. Fettercairn Fior – A lightly peated, sweet and spicy whisky. – $71.99 + GST

Gift Ideas Under $100

1. Nikka Yoich 10 Year Single Malt – Round and chewy with soft peat. – $88.99 + GST
2. Berry’s Selection Bowmore 1994 – Sweet, smoky and salty. – $95.59 + GST
3. Bowmore Laimrig 15 Year – Big, chocolaty and fruity. – $87.99 + GST

Gift Ideas Under $150

1. Blue Hanger 5th Release – A big mature blended malt Scotch whisky. – $117.69 + GST
2. OMC Highland Park 15 Year – A robustly sherried single cask of Highland Park. – $134.99 + GST
3. Nikka Tsuru 17 Year – A luscious silky malt heavy blend. – $140.99 + GST

Gift Ideas Under $250

1. The Ultimate Dalmore Tasting – A flight of 8 very rare Dalmore whiskies. See below for more details. – $175 + GST
2. Dalmore Castle Leod – A chewy, earthy Dalmore with soft fruit and leather. – $183.99 + GST
3. SMWS Canada Membership – Memberhips to the Canadian branch of the world’s largest whisky club. Visit www.smws.ca for more details. – $230 + GST

Gift Ideas Under $500

1. Glendronach 1972 KWM Cask 711 – Less than 20 of our amazing single cask bottles left! – $439.99 + GST
2. Glen Garioch 1978 – One of the oldest expressions of Glen Garioch on the market, with a subtle hint of peat. – $448.99 + GST
3. Glenglassaugh North American Cask 37 Year – Coming in tomorrow! – $484.99 + GST

Gift Ideas $500 and Up

1. Glenmorangie Pride – Finished 10 years in Sauternes and possibly the most creatively packaged whisky ever! – $4,499.99 + GST
2. Highland Park 50 Year – We are releasing this at the whisky festival on Friday, to my knowledge the only one of its kind in Alberta! – $15,529.99 + GST
3. G&M Generations Glenlivet 70 Year – The world’s oldest whisky, bottled from a 1941 cask. – $5,999.99 + GST/200ml and $21,999.99 + GST/700ml. 

THE ULTIMATE DALMORE TASTING – $175 

I’m not sure if any of you are aware, but Dalmore distillery has launched an unprecedented collection of malts this year. They are called the Constellations, and comprise 21 vintage bottles which have been ranging from 19 to 46 years of age, and have been priced at never before seen levels for whiskies of comparable ages. The 19 year old, a 1992 vintage is starting out at CDN$3,300.00 and the 46 year old is topping out the list at CDN$33,000.00. This is as bold statement being made by Whyte & MacKay and either an overreach on their part or a bold wager on where the market for premium and older whiskies is going. That release also serves to highlight the far more reasonable price which we are charging for an epic Dalmore tasting, of whiskies launched before this most recent surge in price for older whiskies. 

On Thursday June 15th, at 7PM, the Kensington Wine Market will be hosting The Ultimate Dalmore Tasting, a vertical of 8 different Dalmore expressions. Starting off with the new Cigar Malt Reserve and the Dalmore Castle Leod, we will then sample 3 vintages (1979, 1978 and 1974) before getting on to the older expressions. We will be comparing two different 40 year olds, the Dalmore Astrum 40 Year and the original Dalmore 40 Year before wrapping up with the Dalmore Aurora 45 Year. This epic Dalmore vertical tasting is one we will never be able to repeat and if the pricing of the new Constellation Collection holds this could be the last tasting of older Dalmores we ever have. The price to attend the tasting is $175, a very reasonable sum when you consider the actual cost of this tasting is closer to $500. Thanks to the support of TheDalmore and their Canadian distributors Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants, as well as some budget at KWM we have been able to more than halve the cost of the event. You can register by phone 403-283-8000 (or toll free 888-283-9004), on the web https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php and in store!

More in formation on the Dalmore bottlings being featured at the Ultimate Dalmore Tasting follow below:

Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve More heavily sherried than the old Cigar Malt, older and bottled at a beefier 44%. This Dalmore has been matured mostly in bespoke Matusalem Sherry Butts. 92pts Gavin Smith, Malt Advocate: “Back due to popular demand in the U.S., this new incarnation of the Cigar Malt sees the percentage of ex-oloroso ‘Matusalem’ sherry wood ramped up from 60 to 70 percent. Pass the Partagas! Spicy Christmas cake with rich sherry notes on the nose. Fragrant, with figs, cinnamon, ripe oranges, and glacé cherries. Robust sweet toffee and mango flavors, with oloroso sherry, vanilla, and lively spices. Medium to long in the finish, with ginger, treacle, and licorice.” – $116.99 + GST 

Dalmore Castle Leod The second bottling in a trilogy highlighting Dalmore’s connection to the MacKenzie clan. Matured in both American and European oak it was finished in Chateau Lafite Premiere Cru Bordeau casks. Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market in Alberta it is bottled at 46% and is unchillfiltered. – $183.99 + GST 

Dalmore 1979 This vintage bottling was matured in American Oak before finishing for years in Gonzalez Byas Matusalem sherry casks. This slightly younger 1979 bottling is approximately 1/12th the cost of its new Constellations Collection compatriot! – $661.99 + GST 

Dalmore 1978 A great vintage, if for no other reason than its the year I came into the world. That interesting fact aside, this is a really interesting Dalmore, and one of the most cherry heavy whiskies I’ve ever had. The nose was bigtime Halls Cherry and the palate showed both candied and dried cherries. This 1978 vintage release from The Dalmore spent 29 years in American white oak before being transferred into Gonzales Byass ex-Sherry casks for two years of additional maturation. The out-turn is 477 bottles. The new Constellations `1978 is 13x the price! – $769.49 + GST 

Dalmore 1974 This is a vintage which has been around for a few years, and which is also know as the Matusalem Sherry Finesse. The malt’s early years were spent in Apostoles Palo Cortado casks, before polishing for the last five years in Matusalem Oloroso sherry butts. 1/5th the price of the Constellations release, though it must be added quite a few years younger too! – $1655.49 

Dalmore 40 Year “By far the softest and gentlest of the range, and oh so drinkable. Hard to believe that this whisky is 40 years old, actually, as it shows no sign of excessive oak. Instead, there are soothing layers of caramel and toffee as the whisky’s foundation. Add orange marmalade and other juicy citrus fruits, cinnamon spice, graham cracker, and lightly toasted almond. A gentle, subtly sophisticated Dalmore, and an interesting comparison to the much different, more visceral 50 year old. If I were a rich man, I could drink this whisky every day – it’s so easy-going.” 93pts John Hansel Whisky Advocate – $2800.00 ish… 

Dalmore Astrum 40 Year Only 500 bottles of this 1966 vintage have been released at 42% after maturing nearly four decade in American oak and finishing for 18 months in Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Sherry Casks. Astrum is Latin for constellation. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “The shimmering dark golden colour of Astrum is instantly alluring. Its exquisite nose is provocative and pleasing and its flavours enchant and sparkle with an orchestrated display of brilliance. Nuances of honeyed pear, banana and passion fruit stimulate the senses, while unfettered pleasure is drawn from evocative bursts of blood oranges, fleshy peaches, figs and roasted Columbian coffee. Clusters of Black Forest fruits, crushed apples, spicy cinnamon and bitter chocolate crown this heavenly creation.” This 40 year old Dalmore is a steal compared to the old 40 year old ($2800ish) and the new Constellation 1971 at almost $22,000.00 (12 times as much). Your last chance at a 40 year old Dalmore for under $10,000.00?! – $1886.99 + GST 

Dalmore Aurora 45 Year 

Only 200 bottles released from this 1964 bottling from an Oloroso sherry cask and bottled at 45%. The inspiration for this bottling is said to be the Aurora Borealis. Richard Patterson’s Tasting Note: “”A dynamic fusion of aromas of blood oranges, crushed apples and pear, and hints of Bulgarian roses, jasmine and coriander. A heart of ripe mandarins, kumquats and pineapple is intertwined with highlights of Madagascan vanilla, creamy caramel and darkest Swiss chocolate.” The new Constellations Collection bottling at this age is very nearly 8 times the price. – $3587.99 + GST 

PS-Don’t forget to check out my tour blog at http://fergusonwhiskytours.com/?page_id=10 or that you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy . 

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If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included. 

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change. 

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger. 

Slainte! 

Andrew Ferguson

Manager & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com 

Owner & Operator

Ferguson’s Whisky Tours

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com