www.ralfy.com savours a classic American bourbon moment with Whisky Review 393 – Pappy Van Winkle 20yo Bourbon

GRUPPO CAMPARI BRINGS PACKAGING CAPABILITIES BACK TO THE  WILD TURKEY® DISTILLERY WITH NEW US$43 MILLION FACILITY, SPARKING JOBS AND REVENUE FOR COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

GRUPPO CAMPARI BRINGS PACKAGING CAPABILITIES BACK TO THE

Johnnie Walker: Platinum Label

“From the earliest days of their business, the Walker family and subsequent generations of Master Blenders have crafted exclusive Scotch Whiskies for the directors of their company and for private gatherings – treasured whiskies that have only ever been shared with a select few, at special occasions.

Inspired by this tradition, JOHNNIE WALKER PLATINUM LABEL™ is a supremely rich and full-flavoured 18 year old Scotch Whisky, created for those truly special moments.

JOHNNIE WALKER PLATINUM LABEL is drawn from a limited number of casks, carefully chosen and retained throughout their maturation because of their exceptional character. It is an intense, smooth and subtly smoky blend, crafted from Single Malt and Grain Whiskies, each matured to perfection for a minimum of 18 years.”

Our Price: $110 (750ml)

Please note that we can only include this bottle’s packaging in shipping upon request – which may result in additional fees.

High West: The Barreled Boulevardier

To create the The Barreled Boulevardier, Park City Utah distillery, High West mixes Bourbon with Vya® sweet vermouth and Gran Classico®, a bitter amaro from Switzerland. They marry the mixture in American oak Bourbon barrels where it rests until it reaches perfection. A complex and strong cocktail with a taste bud inspiring interplay between sweet and bitter. Very satisfying.

Our Price: $53 (750ml)

About the name:
Erskine Gwynne, the creator of the Boulevardier Cocktail, moved to Paris and began The Boulevardier, a monthly magazine patterned after The New Yorker, catering to the upper-class expatriate. Its contributors included such luminaries as Joyce, Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, and Sinclair Lewis. Literally speaking, a Boulevardier was a wealthy and fashionable man who had knowledge of advanced cultural pursuits and frequented Parisian boulevards, New York City, and possibly Park Avenue (Park City!).

Oyo: Michelone Reserve Bourbon

This small-batch whiskey from Ohio pairs Kentucky straight bourbon with their award-winning OYO Whiskey to create a smooth, smoky, and softly sweet bourbon that proudly bears the name of the grandfather who inspired it all. The Michelone Reserve is a flavor-forward blend of sweet yellow corn, soft red winter wheat, dark pumpernickel rye, and two-row barley.

Tasting Notes: “Dark amber color. Aromas of banana, coconut cream pies and toffeed nuts with a supple, fruity medium-to-full body and a sweet cream, dried fruit, honeyed whole nut, incense and baking spices driven finish. A flavorful and elegantly balanced bourbon.” – International Review of Spirits, Beverage Testing Institute

Our Price: $55 (750ml)

Oyo: Whiskey

Oyo’s flagship wheat whiskey is a unique addition to the crowded field of corn-, rye-, and barley-based (blended) dark spirits. Made from 100% Ohio soft red winter wheat, OYO Whiskey is produced and aged in small batches and offers a one-of-a-kind flavor profile distinctive to its Ohio origins. The distillery uses single-source Ohio grains to emphasize regional “terroir,” and barrel-ages the whiskey in white American oak cooperage sealed with beeswax.

Tasting Notes: “Brilliant amber color. Aromas of fruit pastry dough, nougat, suede and buttercream with a supple dry-yet-fruity medium body and a graceful refrain of spiced nuts, dried cherry, wheat bread, and baking spices on the finish. An elegantly styled whisky for sipping or cocktails.” — International Review of Spirits, Beverage Testing Institute

Our Price: $55 (750ml)

Tatoosh: Bourbon

Tatoosh Bourbon, aged for three years, and is based on a Southern family moonshine recipe enhanced with glacial water from the Cascade Mountains. It has a winter wheat light amber color with red highlights in the glass.

First Impression: Rather aromatic, full barley notes, leather, apricots, and slight citrus, with barrel char and light vanilla notes.

Taste: Quite a bit different from the nose. Strong char and a ‘cowboy style’ start to it. Upon swirl, rapid onset of wood char notes, some spiciness, with papaya, citrus, and vanilla oak notes. Medium mouth feel, with some bite to it. Nice drying finish is quite long with slight lingering and tingling to the tongue and lips.

Let us just mention in conclusion that their website states, “We Make Damn Great Whiskey.”

Our Price: $38 (750ml)

Michter’s: US-1 Sour Mash

Here’s one not enough people know about.

December 2012 marked the first release of Michter’s Original US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey in 23 years. It’s made according to the traditional sour mash whiskey making process whereby some previously fermented mash is used as the starter for the new mash to be fermented. Typically in most sour mash whiskeys, this “setback” from the prior fermentation accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of the new mash to be fermented. More than just a sour mash process whiskey, Michter’s Original US*1 Sour Mash is made from a special selection of grains, barrel aged, and later on filtered according to the exacting Michter’s standards. Michter’s US*1 Small-Batch Original Sour Mash Whiskey has notes of dried fruits (particularly strawberries and oranges), herbal tea and a hint of roasted nuts. The finish, which lingers, is slightly bitter and has a touch of pine needles, along with notes of roasted coffee and oak.
Our Price: $46 (750ml)

www.parkaveliquor.com

These are just a taste of some exciting new bottlings that have arrived at our store. Please contact us with any questions you might have and know that due to ever-changing inventory – we cannot guarantee availability. Pricing subject to change at any time. Oh, and we promise to not be such strangers.

WHISKI’s Xmas Menu

Call us on 0131-556-3095 to book WHISKI on the  Royal Mile for your Christmas celebration.View WHISKI’s Xmas Menu here

WHISKI Rooms Xmas Menu

Call us on 0131 225 7224 to book WHISKI Rooms overlooking the Mound for your festive celebration.View WHISKI Rooms Xmas Menu here 

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Hope to see you in WHISKI or WHISKI Rooms soon.Best Regards from all at  WHISKI Bar and WHISKI Rooms

www.whiskibar.com    |    www.whiskirooms.com

Enter The Dragon: St. George’s Chapter 13

St. George’s distillery have been releasing their whiskies as Chapters for a few years now.  It’s a pleasing conceit: each release takes the story of the development of England’s first malt whisky distillery in 300 years a little further, coming … Continue reading >>

UK vlogger Joe Ellis a.k.a Whisky Wednesday reviews Glencadam 14 Year Old Oloroso Finish

http://youtu.be/9gAcJO52NeY

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

AUCHENTOSHAN SINGLE MALT WHISKY LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION RELEASE OF SILVEROAK 1990

EXCLUSIVELY FOR TRAVEL RETAIL

Auchentoshan, Scotland’s only triple distilled Single Malt Scotch Whisky, will add to its travel retail range with a new limited edition release of the Auchentoshan Silveroak 1990. Following on from the success of the first batch of Silveroak, this limited second release of the 1990 vintage has been matured for an additional year making it 22-years-old. Therefore the second release of the Auchentoshan Silveroak expression demonstrates the increase in complexity associated with longer maturation.

Established in 1823, Auchentoshan triple distils every drop meaning the spirit produced reaches 81.5% ABV, significantly higher than most distilleries in Scotland. The lightness of the liquid enables it to absorb every characteristic it is exposed to in the cask. It is this smooth distillate paired with the carefully selected oak casks that gives Auchentoshan an unmistakably light and fruity flavour. The Auchentoshan Silveroak is no exception to this rule.

Auchentoshan Master Blender Rachel Barrie says “Having spent an additional year maturing in fine North American bourbon and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, the 2013 bottling of Auchentoshan Silveroak reveals additional complexity which lifts the taste with silky oak, mint and almonds.”

Boasting the same classically modern livery as its peers in the Auchentoshan Travel Retail range, the new Silveroak 1990 carton is masculine yet elegant. As with the liquid inside, the oak casks are the stars of the show on the pack. The North American bourbon and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks are pictured on three sides of the carton, reflecting how the flavours from the sweet bourbon oak perfectly compliment that of the rich Oloroso sherry.

Tasting notes:

To the eye: Rich golden.

To the nose: Honeysuckle and jasmine with traces of baked banana, spearmint and silky oak.

To the palate: Elegant and refined with apricot filo pastry, icing sugar and liquorice.

The finish: Creamy cappuccino, cooling mint and sugared almonds.

There will be 300 8.4ltr cases of Auchentoshan Silveroak 1990 available globally in a range of international airports priced at £90.00 with an ABV of 50.9%.

For more information visit www.auchentoshan.co.uk

Notes:

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…

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

Auchentoshan Travel Retail Product Range – Tasting Notes 

Auchentoshan Silveroak 2013 Release (£RRP: 90.00)

TO THE EYE: Rich golden

TO THE NOSE: Honeysuckle and jasmine with baked banana, spearmint and silky oak.

TO THE TONGUE: Creamy cappuccino, cooling mint and sugared almonds.

TO THE END:  Creamy cappuccino, cooling mint and sugared almonds.

Auchentoshan Springwood (£RRP: 34.99)

TO THE EYE: Pale barely sugar

TO THE NOSE: A scattering of malt and vanilla sugar

TO THE TONGUE: Intense nuttiness with a citrus pink grapefruit twist

TO THE END: A crisp, clean mouth watering finish

Auchentoshan Heartwood (£RRP: 41.99)

TO THE EYE: Dark honeycomb

TO THE NOSE: Fresh cappuccino complimented by rosewood and tobacco leaf.

TO THE TONGUE: A light sweetness develops into a rich, fruity mouth feel.

TO THE END: Dark and drying with rich fruit lingering on and on.

Auchentoshan 14 Years Old Cooper’s Reserve (£RRP: 49.99)

TO THE EYE: Warm amber

TO THE NOSE: Intense nuttiness

TO THE TONGUE: Praline, sugar almonds complimented by a sweet cream cheese frosting.

TO THE END: A lingering and sweet nuttiness.

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

We have a couple of great whisky tastings coming up in the next few weeks, starting off with a Jura Distillery tasting to be hosted by Willie Tait tomorrow night. We are thrilled to have Wee Willie back for the third consecutive year as he is one of the whisky industry’s biggest personalities. We’ll be working through a range of 8 Jura whiskies, including the new 1977 ($879.99 +GST) and 30 Year ($509.99 +GST), both of which are stunning. Tickets are just $50, and there are only a few left. More info can be found below.

We are also thrilled to be playing host to the legendary Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich Distillery at the Kensington Wine Market on Fri Sep 27. This event has been sold out for nearly two weeks, and if you weren’t able to get tickets I may have another option for you. The Companions of the Quaich whisky club is holding a special tasting with Jim on the night of Sun Sep 29, and we have room for some guests. Please send me a note if you’re interested in attending this event.

It is also worth noting that our Fall Single Malt Festival,

Thr Nov 14 is almost 70% sold. The Festival is limited to 100 participants and will feature at least as many whiskies. The whisky festival and the rest of our fall lineup of tastings can be found here: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php . You can register in store, by phone, 283 8000 and online!

Finally, we are in the process of building up the whisky section for the fall, and every week the shelves will start looking a little fuller. There are lots of new things on the way, and some old favourites set to return. Balvenie whiskies fit neatly into both of these categories. We’ve seen the return of the Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask, 15 Year Single Barrel and Balvenie 30 Year in the last few weeks. And, we’ve also seen the arrival of a few new expressions including the Balvenie 12 Year Single Barrel, Balvenie 17 Year Double Wood and the Balvenie Tun 1401. Many of these whiskies won’t last long, so we’re getting the word out now. You’ll find more info on the available Balvenies below.

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin. Be sure to stay tuned for the next full Malt Messenger due in a couple of weeks.

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

Glenglassaugh 1972 KWM Sherry Cask

ON SALE!

$699.99 Regular

$524.99 Special Price

This single cask bottling of Glenglassaugh was selected by and bottled for our store because it is an exceptional example of a nearly 40 year old whisky….. Have a special number, birth year or anniversary in mind? We may have the bottle number for you!

Whisky Advent Calendars More than half sold out!

TAKING PRE ORDERS!

This falls greatest gift idea is selling fast, and it isn’t even here yet! Behind each of the 24 doors is a different 30ml sample of delicious whisky! Behind one a sample of 50 year old Scotch, the full-sized bottle of which is worth $600! Exclusive to KWM in Canada!

$299.99

Jura Distillery Tasting with Willie Tait

Tuesday September 17th – $50

The Isle of Jura is a remote sparsely inhabited island on Scotland’s west coast. Located to the north-east of Islay and running along the Kintyre peninsula for about 40 miles. Most of the island is wild and uninhabited, dominated by its three large volcanic mountains, ‘the Paps’. There is just a small single track road leading from the Ferry port at Feolin to the main town of Craighouse. From there the road only continues 2/3 of the way up the island’s east coast, after which there is little more than a jeep track. It is along this remote and isolated stretch of coast that George Orwell wrote 1984.

The Jura distillery was reopened in 1963 in part to revitalize the island economy and prevent further erosion of its population. In the last few decades the island’s population has stabilized at 196 people, a far cry from the 3,000 inhabitants which may have lived there in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The island’s people are outnumbered 30 to 1 by its population of red deer.

At times the ugly step child to Dalmore in the Whyte and MacKay portfolio, Jura has been reinvigorated in the last few years and is finally coming into its own, and earning the respect it deserves. Join us for a tasting with former Jura Distillery Manager and travelling Brand Ambassador Willie Tait on Tuesday September 17th to learn the history and legends behind the lonely isle, and its namesake distillery.

We’ll sample the following Isle of Jura malts:

Jura 10 Year
Jura Superstition
Jura Prophecy
Jura Elixir – $58.49
Jura Boutique Barrels 1993
Jura Boutique Barrels 1996
Jura 30Year – Limited Release – $509.99
Jura 1977 – Exclusive to KWM – Only 5 bottles in Canada! – $879.99
To register, visit https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php or call 403-283-8000
Available Balvenie Single Malts

New & Returning Whiskies from Balvenie Distillery

Balvenie is one of the most sought after whiskies in the world. We’ve been out of most of their expressions for a little while, so it was great to have the opportunity to stock up recently. Here are some of the new and returned items from Balvenie.

Balvenie Double Wood 12 Year – $68.99
Balvenie Signature 12 Year – $82.99
Balvenie 17 Year Peated Cask – $142.99
Balvenie 17 Year Double Wood – NEW – $159.99
Balvenie 12 Year Single Barrel – NEW – $92.99
Balvenie 15 YearSingle Barrel – New Cask – $140.99
Balvenie Tun 1401 – $399.99
Balvenie 30 Year – $794.99
Balvenie 21 Year Port Wood – $288.99 – Coming Soon

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

Owner & Opperator

Ferguson’s Whisky Tours

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Glenfarclas 1953 Queen’s Coronation Decanter

It’s difficult to believe that Her Maj has been sixty years on the throne.  But on 2nd June 1953, Elizabeth Windsor was crowned Sovereign of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth territories in Westminster Abbey. A little later the same year, … Continue reading >>

 

Auchentoshan Battlehill 8 Year Old
£29.00 Buy Now
On the outskirts of Huntly is a place renowned for its skirmishes between clans, and of course our Sassenach neighbours. The Battlehill, an important landmark in Scotland’s history!

Imperial 13 Year Old Duncan Taylor NC2Range
£48.00 Buy Now
Duncan Taylor promotes non-chillfiltered and non-coloured whiskies. Every whiskey bottled in Duncan Taylor’s The NC2 Range is in its natural form without chill filtration and without the addition of colouring. Completely natural.

Aberlour 12 Year Old Madeira Finish Whisky Galore
£41.00 Buy Now
The Whisky Galore range consists of the finest single malt scotch whiskey producing regions. Casks are hand picked for quality of spirit.
Each bottling has been matured over many years in the highest quality casks.

Aberlour 12 Year Old Duncan Taylor NC2Range
£39.00 Buy Now
Duncan Taylor promotes non-chill filtered and non-coloured whiskies. Every whiskey bottled in Duncan Taylor’s The NC2 Range is in its natural form without chill filtration and without the addition of colouring. Completely natural.