It’s been a busy few months for Morrison Bowmore (the owners of Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch), so we thought we would sum it up just in time for Bowmore’s newest and most exciting release of the year – The Devil’s Cask.

Bowmore Devil’s Cask, 56.7%abv, Bottled 2013, Sherry Casks

Limited release 10 year old Bowmore matured solely in sherry casks, a stunning dram full of peat and spice.   Tasting Note: Rich peat and a hint of blood oranges on the nose. Rich dried fruits, a hint of coffee and liquorice with the peat showing well on the finish.

£50.95

Bowmore 23 Year Old, 50.8% Port Matured

Incredibly this Bowmore has been aged entirely in Port casks for its entire 23 years, demonstrating perfect cask selection that has resulted in a wonderful whisky.   Tasting Note: Rich smoke, sea salt and a leathery aroma. Dark fruits, blood oranges and deep spicy peat smoke dominates the palate. The blood orange and earthy peat linger on the finish.

£345.00

Email lee.tomlinson@milroys.co.uk to pre-register interest

Glen Garioch Virgin Oak, 48%abv, Bottled 2013, Virgin Oak Cask  

This Glen Garioch has been fully matured in North American Virgin (or new) Oak Casks, for a rich and spicy flavour profile.

Tasting Note: A rich buttery aroma with higher notes of orange zest and caramelised sugar greet the nose. This is followed by melted chocolate, old fashioned marmalade and Scotch Tablet on the palate, leading into a lingering, spicy finish.

£64.50

Glen Garioch 1999, 56.3%abv Distillery Bottled, Oloroso Sherry Cask

The latest Glen Garioch vintage release is a fourteen year old sherry matured cask from 1999. This Highland malt has been fully maturated in ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks for a deep and warming character.   Tasting Note: Maple syrup and Demerara sugar form a sweet and alluring aroma that lead to deeper notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and rum-soaked sultanas on the palate with a gloriously syrupy mouth feel. The finish kicks off with classic sherry cask raison notes leading into dark chocolate and liquorish allsorts.

£59.95

Auchentoshan Virgin Oak, 46%abv, Bottled in 2013, Virgin Oak Cask

The Auchentoshan Virgin Oak has been fully matured in new American oak casks for a powerful yet complex flavour profile.   Tasting Note: The nose brings together the jammy sweetness of Auchentoshan new-make spirit with the bolder notes of fresh American oak. The palate allows the fruity subtleties to play off the spicy oak notes with a slight florality emerging towards the finish.

£64.50

Have you heard the news? We are having a 2 day

this weekend to give thanks, all of our single malts are at least 10% off with some up to 30% off! The sale is only in store and online, no phone orders. Single Malts discounted more than 10% are detailed below.

Also coming up in the next week are a number of exciting events. This Thursday at Kensington Wine Market is our biannual Raucous Rums tasting, where we’ll sample some of the finest sipping rums in Alberta. At the time of writing, there are just 6 spots left, $50/person. Then on Friday we have our first of a number of distillery specific tastings and whisky dinners; Buchanan at Buchanans! The BenRiach/Glendronach Whisky Dinner at Buchanan’s Chop House on Friday October 18 at 7PM will be hosted by the Brand Ambassador for both distilleries, Mr. Stewart Buchanan. Some of our customers have taken calling it “Buchanan at Buchanans”, wish we’d thought of that. The dinner will feature a range of BenRiachs stretching back to 1976 and the second edition of the Glendronach Grandeur. Most of the spots have already been sold! Tickets are $150 and can be bought  at: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php  or by phone, 403-283-8000. If you’ve never sampled some of the 1970’s and 80’s vintage Benriachs, you owe it to yourself to check some of them out.

There are a couple of other interesting and noteworthy whisky events this coming week that I’d also like to give a shout out regarding. Georgie Bell, Global Brand Ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is in town for two nights this coming week. She is conducting a Scotch, Chocolate & Perfume pairing on Tuesday night October 15 for the Femmes Fatale YYC brown spirits club. Details on this ladies only event can be found at: http://femmesfatalesyyc.webs.com/events.

The following night, Wednesday October 16, Georgie will be hosting the Scotch Malt Whisky Society partner bar launch at the Brasserie Kensingtonin Calgary. The event will run from 6:30 until 8PM, and guests will have the opportunity to sample some never before released SMWS bottles. 59.43: Caramel Swirl Ice Cream, the first of the 30th Anniversary bottlings available in Canada, and which sold out instantly last month, will also be on offer. For more details and to register please visit: http://www.smws.ca/whisky-tastings/scotch-malt-whisky-society-launch-at-the-brasserie-kensington/.

A similar launch, also hosted by Georgie Bell, will also take place at the Society’s first partner bar launch in Vancouver, at Fets Whisky Kitchen on Monday October 21. Details for that event can be  found here: http://www.smws.ca/whisky-tastings/fets-whisky-kitchen-launch/.     I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and that we see you this weekend for the sale, or at one of the amazing events next week!

Slainte!   Andrew Ferguson Kensington Wine Market   PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

BenRiach/Glendronach Whisky Dinner w/ Stewart Buchanan

“Buchanan @ Buchanans” – Friday October 18 – 7PM – $150

The rise of BenRiach and Glendronach over the last decade has been impressive. BenRiach has gone from relative obscurity with banal bottlings, to one of the most innovative and interesting distilleries in Scotland. They purchased BenRiach in 2004, re-branded it and almost overnight the new whiskies released caught the public’s imagination. Over the last 9 years, respect for the distillery has continued to grow. By 2008 they were in a position to scoop up another distillery from Chivas Brothers Glendronach, which they’ve also successfully re-branded. The new Glendronachs caught on even more quickly than the BenRiachs and at least in our store, are some of our best selling whiskies. This year, BenRiach Distillery Co., the shell company for both distilleries, made another acquisition purchasing Glenglassaugh.

Stewart Buchanan, the recently appointed travelling Brand Ambassador for BenRiach and Glendronach Distilleries will be in Calgary for a special whisky tasting dinner Friday October 18th at Buchanan’s Chophouse. Stewart got his start in the industry on the production side and was serving as BenRiachs production manager when he was asked to take on the role of Brand Ambassador. With more than 20 years working in the whisky industry, and having come on board at BenRiach when the distillery was reopened, Stewart has a unique insight into the BenRiach and Glendronach whiskies we’ll be sampling. We’ll sample 3 whiskies from the Glendronach range before moving into some vintage releases of BenRiach. In addition to the whiskies participants will enjoy a 3 course meal prepared by Buchanan’s Chophouse.

Here is the list of whiskies we’ll be sampling:

1. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 2

2. Glendronach Parliament 21 Year

3. Glendronach Grandeur Batch 2

4. BenRiach 1998 Cask 7633 – Peated Virgin American Oak Finish

5. BenRiach 1983 Cask 296 – Hogshead Cask

6. BenRiach 1978 Cask 1047 – Moscatel Finish

7. BenRiach 1977 Cask 1031 – Moscatel Finish

8. BenRiach 1976 Cask 2013 – Classic Speyside

You can register for this tasting at https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php, or by calling 403-283-8000.

Giving Thanks 2 Day Sale!

Save at least 10-30% on all whiskies!

SALE RULES
• Sale will be in store and online only, Friday October 11th and Saturday October 12th.
• No phone orders, please order over the web, by email or in store.
• All in stock single malts are 10% off save for Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings.
• Some whiskies are discounted between 15-30%, please refer to the list below.
• We will honour the pricing on exclusive whiskies we sell out of in store.
• Payment must be provided at the time of purchase.
• In the event of a discrepancy in price between this email and our Point of Sale, the latter will be taken as correct.

 SAVE 15% ON:

1. Benromach 2004 KWM Cask
2. Benromach 2005 KWM Cask
3. Nikka Pure Malt White
4. Nikka Yoichi 15 Year
5. Nikka Pure Malt Black
6. Nikka Miyagikyo 15 Year
7. Nikka Miyagikyo 2002
8. Nikka Yoichi 1989
9. Nikka 1998 Coffey Malt
10. Nikka 2000 Coffey Mal
11. BenRiach Authenticus 25 Year
12. Hammer Head Czech Single Malt 1989
13. Berry’s Blue Hanger
14. BenRiach 17 Year Septendicem
15. Karuizawa Asama 1999 & 2000
16. Duthies Caol Ila 17 Year
17. Duthies Springbank 11 Year
18. Duthies Glen Ord 16 Year
19. Duthies Bruichladdich 20 Year
20. Duthies Royal Lochnagar 10 Year
21. Duthies Glen Scotia 12 Year
22. Kavalan Solist Vinho
23. Kavalan Solist Fino
24. MacKinlay’s the Journey
25. Signatory Ben Nevis 1990
26. Signatory Royal Lochnagar 1991
27. Signatory Dalmore 1990
28. Signatory Teaninich 1983
29. G&M Glen Albyn 1976
30. Chichibu The Peated
31. Chichibu Floor Malted
32. Chichibu Mizunara
33. Jura Paps Collection (only 1 left!)
34. O&R Port Ellen 30Yr
35. Celebration of the Cask Bladnoch 1990
36. Celebration of the Cask Girvan 1989
37. Fettercairn 30 Year

SAVE 20% ON:

1. Tomintoul 1976
2. Karuizawa 1969
3. Dalwhinnie 25
4. G&M Private Collection Glenlivet 1954

SAVE 25% ON:

1. Glen Garoich MS Cask
2. Port Ellen 12th Release
3. BenRiach 1977 2588
4. G&M Private Collection Glenlivet 1963
5. Glenglassaugh North American Cask

SAVE 30% ON:

1. Glenglassaugh 1972 KWM (off off the original $699.99 retail)
2. Abhainn Dearg First Edition
3. G&M Glen Grant 1952 60 Year Diamond Jubilee

Unconventional Scotch Malt Whisky Society Events

Calgary and Vancouver

Georgie Bell, Global Brand Ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society will be in Western Canada for three events beginning next week:

1. A Sensory Scotch Experience – Scotch, Chocolate and Perfume Tasting for the Femmes Fatales YYC – Tuesday October 15 – Details: http://femmesfatalesyyc.webs.com/events
2. SMWS Brasserie Kensington Partner Bar Lauch – Wednesday October 16 – $20 – 6:30-8:00 – Details: http://www.smws.ca/whisky-tastings/scotch-malt-whisky-society-launch-at-the-brasserie-kensington/
3. SMWS Fets Whisky Kitchen Partner Bar Lauch – Monday October 21 – Details: http://www.smws.ca/whisky-tastings/fets-whisky-kitchen-launch/ (WI will be there! 🙂 )

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger!

Contact & Disclaimers

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

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, don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

OCTOBER UPDATE: IRRESISTIBLY DELICIOUS

Spread before you are October’s Top 5 delectably diverse bottlings. Young and old, light and rich, sweet and peat, they will lure you in with their flavours and tempt you with their tastes. Why even try to resist?

Sweet, fruity & mellow

121.64 Maggie Thatcher at the funfair
£48.10

Peated

53.195 Smoked ham and pineapple
£60.00

Juicy, oak & vanilla

35.96 Tour of a stately home

£44.70

Young & spritely

125.70 A dram of two halves
£68.40

Spicy & dry

50.52 Tales of the River-bank
£95.90

Browse all bottlings

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.

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

The Worshipful Company of Distillers is delighted to remind you that our unique autumn event is taking place at Apothecaries’ Hall, in the heart of the city of London, on Thursday 17th October 2013.

 Please click here to find further information about the inaugural Distillers’ Charity Auction.

 Run by Christie’s, the auction will be limited to 50 highly collectible lots, including bottles of great historical significance, rare bottlings, and whiskies not commercially available, generously donated from private collections as well as company archives and stocks.

 Click here for the application form to attend the Auction in person and receive your copy of the Auction catalogue priced £100, telling the story behind each whisky in this extraordinary collection, or register to bid by telephone.

 We hope you can join us for an unforgettable evening,

 Brian W. Morrison
The Master

A flavour of lots on offer
1964 Bowmore
1946 The Macallan (pictured)
1956 Bowmore (pictured)
Johnnie Walker Director’s Blend series (2008-2013)
Hazelwood collection
The Dalmore 1964 One Off bottling
Laphroaig HRH visit
North British 50 Years Old
The Macallan Easter Elchies opening
Glenury Royal 50 Years Old one off

For more information or to reserve a catalogue, please contact:

Assistant Clerk, Mrs. Kim Lyons

Email: KLyons@lbmw.com

Telephone: 020 7960 7173

New videos: Part III – Ale Cask Edition

Hello,

Today I’m presenting Grant’s Ale Cask Edition, the only Scotch whisky which has benefited from extra maturation in ex. beer casks. It’s particularly crisp, fruity and floral – one of my favourites. Tomorrow I will be introducing our second Cask Edition, Grant’s Sherry Cask, in part IV.

THE LINK

Until then, slainte!

Ludo

#auchentoshanswitch

THE AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH EUROPEAN WINNER IS ANNOUNCED

AIDAN BOWIE from THE BLYTHSWOOD SQUARE HOTEL is selected to represent Europe in transatlantic bartender swap

LONDON. 2nd OCTOBER 2013: Last night, Aidan Bowie from TheBlythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow, battled it out against 11 of the most talented and creative bartenders on the continent to become the European winner of the Auchentoshan Switch – the transatlantic mixology competition like no other. Aidan’s prize will be to “switch” continents with the North American winner and spend two weeks working in the prestigious Dead Rabbit in New York City.

Last night’s European final was held at a unique warehouse location in London Bridge where the finalists were put through a series of challenging mixology tasks that were judged by an esteemed panel:

* Rachel Barrie, Auchentoshan Master Blender

* Edmund Weil, co-owner, Nightjar

* Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan), cocktail genius

In each round, the finalists demonstrated their skill and creativity in front of the judges and guests. The first round ‘Creativity and Presentation’ saw the bartenders present their original competition entry of their Auchentoshan Three Wood creation. Round two ‘Working Under Pressure’ tested bartenders’ ability to think on their feet with a secret bag of ingredients given to them just minutes before their presentation. The final round, ‘A Cocktail Showdown’, saw the two outstanding finalists create Rachel Barrie’s favourite cocktail, Blood and Sand.

The competition has been happening throughout the summer, with mixologists from the UK, Sweden, Germany and across the pond in North America entering via the Auchentoshan website and then attending regional heats in their countries. The actual Switch will take place in 2014 when the North American bartender will spend two weeks at the highly acclaimed Nightjar in Old Street, London. The North American final takes place in New York City at the end of this month.

Jennifer Meenan, Brand Manager for Auchentoshan said “This year’s Auchentoshan Switch has seen such a high level of skill from the bartending world. We wanted the competition to reflect the brand’spersonality and we feel that last night’s European final did just this with something totally unique. We can’t wait to see what happens in the North American final. Next stop New York.”

Edmund Weil, competition judge and soon to be mentor of the North American winner alongside the Nightjar team, commented: “The Switch finalists showed so much talent and passion in their Auchentoshan Three Wood creations, the judges were blown away and some difficult decisions had to be made but Aidan just had the edge”.

Award winning Auchentoshan Three Wood is the chosen expression for all Auchentoshan Switch entries as its complex flavours add tremendous dimension to whisky cocktails. As with all Auchentoshan whisky, Three Wood is triple distilled, which produces an immensely smooth spirit. It is matured in three different types of casks – first in North American Bourbon casks, then in Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks and finally in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks, a wood famed for drama and darkness. This triple cask maturation produces a rich whisky with deep toffee and sherry oak influences, a touch of hazelnut with hints of cinnamon and lemon and a butterscotch sweetness that adds to the overall complexity. It is  produced at the Auchentoshan Distillery which was established in 1823 and has produced triple distilled whisky since this time. It is located in the Lowland region of Scotland, on the outskirts of Glasgow and is the city’s only distillery. Its name, pronounced “ock-un-tosh-un”, means “corner of the field” which is evident to visitors as the distillery sits near farmland on the banks of the River Clyde, in the shadow of the Old Kilpatrick hills between Glasgow and Loch Lomond.

For more information please visit www.auchentoshan.com

Notes:

The Nightjar is situated

129 City Rd, London, Greater London, EC1V 1JB. www.barnightjar.com

The Dead Rabbit is situated 30 Water Street, New York.

http://www.deadrabbitnyc.com

Auchentoshan – The Modern Classic

-­‐ A traditional and authentic single malt, distilled three times and matured in the finest wood
-­‐ A whisky produced with passion and enriched with heritage
-­‐ Favours the classic but with a nod to the contemporary
-­‐ It’s a combination of two worlds; old and new
-­‐ It’s a throwback to the future
-­‐ It’s style not fashion
-­‐ The very best of the past with the very best of the present…

Auchentoshan Classic is available to buy from a wide range of retailers including Asda, Waitrose, and a range of on line retailers and whisky specialists with a RRP approx £27.00.

As Glasgow’s closest Distillery, Auchentoshan is truly unique as it is the only distillery to use a third still in the whisky making process. It means Auchentoshan is the only Single Malt Scotch whisky to triple distil every single drop. This third distillation takes the new spirit to 81.5% ABV (not 70% which is achieved through only distilling twice) making it the highest distillate of any Scottish distillery. The result is a light and delicate single malt of unmistakable smoothness.

Awards 2011

IWSC

− Gold Medal, 1975 Bourbon
− Best in Class Silver, 18YO
− Best in Class Silver, Classic

International Spirits Challenge

− Silver Media, 1975 Bourbon
− Silver Medal, Valinch
− Silver Medal, Three Wood

Scottish Design Awards

− Best Packaging – Auchentoshan Travel Retail Award

Awards 2012

San Francisco Spirits Competition

− Double Gold Medal, Three Wood
− Silver Medal, Classic
− Silver Medal, 12YO

World Whiskies Awards:

− Best Lowland – Auchentoshan 1999 Wine Matured

Ultimate Spirits Challenge:

− 94 points/Excellent-Highly Recommended – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Ultimate Cocktail Challenge:

− Chairman’s Trophy – Best Scotch Whisky in a classic Rusty Nail cocktail – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Thomas Chen & Barry Dunner

request the pleasure of your company

at our Premium Series

Bruichladdich Whisky Tasting

Wednesday, the 16th of October

two thousand and thirteen, at seven thirty pm

A Veritable Vertical

Sample five 20-year old + Bruichladdich whiskies

Cuvee 640 Eroica

Cuvee 382 La Berenice

Cuvee 407 PX

20 year old Bourbon Cask

22 year old Laddie

Venue

Legacy Liquor Store

1633 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 0B8

• Seating limited to 25 guests •

RSVP

Companions of the Quaich
140-6751 Graybar Road,
Richmond, V6W 1H3
email info@vanquaich.com

Programme

Whisky tasting: 7:30 pm
Casual attire
Quaich Members: $65
Non-members: $75

(Payment must be received by cheque or cash in advance of the event)

The Companions of The Quaich is a non-profit society dedicated to sharing knowledge and enjoyment of Single Malt Whisky.

A ‘Quaich’ is the traditional Scots drinking vessel for whisky.The name comes from the Gaelic ‘cuach’ which means ‘cup’.

www.vanquiach.com

Old Pulteney Navigator (46%)

Limited release to commemorate 2013 Clipper Round the World yacht Race reflecting the distillery’s maritime heritage.

Matured in American bourbon and Spanish
sherry casks.

Buy – $51.44

New, Limited Release, American Whiskey Available Now at Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits (E. Setauket, New York)

Low Gap 2 Year Old Wheat Whiskey 86.2 Proof – $56.99

9 bottles available 

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey 94 Proof – $57.99

7 bottles available

Corsair Ryemageddon Rye Whiskey 92 Proof – $54.99

5 bottles available

Wild Turkey Forgiven Whiskey 91 Proof – $49.99

9 bottles available

Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Whisky 106 Proof – $64.99

3 bottles available

Anchor Distilling Company Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey 102.4 Proof – $70.99

3 bottles available

Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits

www.moraswines.com

631-941-4458   sev.clemens@moraswines.com

The Whisky Exchange Shop’s 8th Birthday

Posted: 10 Oct 2013 03:50 AM PDT

Before we get on to tooting our own trumpets about our recent Whisky Show, we’ve got something else to celebrate that’s been pushed to the side because of that very same show. Back at the end of September The Whisky … Continue reading >>