THE BALVENIE WHISKY FETE  ST. ANDREWS SQUARE GARDENS, SEPTEMBER 26TH – 28TH
Whisky talks and tastings held in a unique handcrafted ‘stave domes’,
St. Andrews Square Gardens.

The green of St. Andrews Square Gardens will be transformed into a whisky fete, where people can mingle and discuss all things handcrafted, dram in hand. Open to the public each day, 12.00pm to 6.30pm on the 26th, 27th, 28th September 2013 – there will be tutored tastings with The Balvenie’s Brand Ambassador Dr. Andrew Forrester, and workshops with The Balvenie’s craft partners.

The Balvenie Whisky Fete is part of The Balvenie Master’s of Craft campaign, celebrating British craftsmanship through a series of events and an award programme. The Edinburgh Whisky Féte will feature bespoke Geodesic domes made from Whisky casks from The Balvenie distillery within which open-to-all demonstrations and exclusive tastings will be held. Royal Mile Whiskies will also be running whisky sales on site, for those who would like to take something home with them.

1. The Balvenie Cooperage Tasting Sessions
There will be tasting sessions available all afternoon where consumers can meet The Balvenie team led by Dr Andrew Forrester as well as Head Cooper Ian McDonald, who will be demonstrating the craft of coopering. Guests will be able to taste the range in an informal, intimate setting. Tasting sessions are free to attend and will be held on all three days at multiple times. See website for further detail.

2. The Balvenie Warehouse 24 Private Tastings
For The Balvenie Warehouse 24 members there will be free daily private tastings with Dr Andrew Forrester, with the chance to try something special liberated directly from the cask, with The Balvenie’s signature dipping dog. Sessions are free to attend and will be held on all three days at multiple times, please see mastersofcraft.thebalvenie.com  for more details.

Warehouse 24 is The Balvenie’s members club, and is free to join via the website: www.thebavlenie.com

Notes

About The Balvenie

* The Balvenie is a unique range of single malts created by David Stewart, The Balvenie Malt Master. Each has a very individual taste, but each is rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.

* Little has changed at Balvenie Distillery over the years. Uniquely we still employ all the traditional crafts of malt whisky making, which is why The Balvenie tastes the way it does.

* Born in Ayr on the west coast of Scotland in 1945, David Stewart joined William Grant & Sons in 1962, the year before Single Malt Scotch Whisky was first officially exported to England. He was appointed the distiller’s Malt Master in 1974 and his renowned ability to identify the finest casks of whisky for maturation has helped William Grant & Sons earn the Distiller of the Year accolade an unprecedented eight times (2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000 and 1999).

* The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today run by his direct descendants.

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Arran Devil’s Punchbowl Chapter II Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($129.99)
• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #5 Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($62.99)
• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #5 Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($62.99

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year old Blended Malt      Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Caol Ila 12 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky750ml ($54.99)

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

Wiser’s Re-launch Includes U.S. Exclusive

Wiser’s whiskies, so long in demand by cross-border shoppers from America, are coming to all 50 U.S. states beginning this fall. And there’s a bonus: JP Wiser’s Rye, a succulent rye-forward expression is a U.S. exclusive. Wiser’s parent company, Corby Distillers will also distribute Pike Creek and limited quantities of Lot No. 40 across the U.S. Don’t despair Canada, we’ve not been forgotten. They also plan to re-release the non-chill filtered Wiser’s Red Letter, and as with the original it will be on store shelves in Canada only.

Canadian Whisky News by Davin de Kergommeaux

Upmarket Future for Scotch Cited By Sector Veteran

by Ian McConnell

http://tinyurl.com/mtdl4t2

www.ralfy.com tastes a fancy bottle of single cask bourbon and reviews the results with Whisky Review 391 – Willett’s single cask Bourbon

WHISKY CLUB RAISES A DRAM TO THE START OF NATIVE OYSTER SEASON AND ITS 30th PEARL ANNIVERSARY 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society celebrates its 30th anniversary and new oyster season with pop-up whisky and oyster bar in London

The start of Britain’s native oyster season on Sunday 1st September coincides with the 30th anniversary celebrations of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. To celebrate these two auspicious events, the Society has joined forces with oyster mixologists, The Mother Shuckers, to open The Pearl Dram Whisky and Oyster Bar in Seven Dials, Covent Garden, London from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September.

The Pearl Dram Whisky and Oyster Bar will offer a truly shucking sensory adventure, celebrating rich maritime flavours by carefully selecting and pairing combinations, such as salty oysters with a smoky whisky and creamy, nuttier oysters with a lighter, floral dram. Guests will indulge in beautifully matched oyster and whisky pairings and discover how the complex flavours of the Society’s whiskies can combine with the characteristics of the different varieties of oysters.

The Pearl Dram Whisky and Oyster Bar will debunk the myth of pairing brown spirits with this prized delicacy in spectacular fashion, while special events will also be staged at the pop-up each day. The line-up includes the Experimental Cocktail Club holding a tailored cocktail session, Telegraph columnist and former editor of The Erotic Review, Rowan Pelling exploring the stories behind oysters as aphrodisiacs, and pearl expert Juliana Landmann divulging everything you need to know about pearls.

The pop-up will be staged at 53 Monmouth Street in Seven Dials, Covent Garden with the venue transformed into a swashbuckling maritime bar. Spread across two floors and complete with a whisky and oyster bar, guests will also enjoy whisky tutorials and oyster shucking demonstrations with the resident experts throughout the pop-up.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in 1983 and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.  A members-only whisky club and bottler, with 26,000 members, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has private members bars in Edinburgh and London and branches in 19 countries worldwide. The Mother Shuckers take oyster addiction to the next level, regularly holding tastings where they expertly pair drinks with exceptional oysters.

The Pearl Dram Whisky and Oyster Bar will pop-up at 53 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9DG from Thursday 5th September to Sunday 8th September (Thurs-Sat noon-9pm, Sun noon-5pm). Entry is free and entrants must be aged 18+.

www.smws.co.uk/pearldram

Twitter @SMWSLondon #pearldram

Special events:

Thursday 5th @ 7pm – Pearls of wisdom with Juliana Landmann Learn everything you’ve ever needed to know about nature’s most beautiful creation, the pearl, with pearl expert and dealer, Juliana.

Friday 6th @ 7pm – The food of love: oysters & aphrodisiacs with Rowan Pelling Telegraph columnist and former Editor of The Erotic Review, Rowan Pelling, leads you on a sensory session as she explores the stories surrounding oysters as aphrodisiacs.

Saturday 7th @ 5pm – Mixology and molluscs with The Experimental Cocktail Club For a truly experimental sensory sensation, we welcome the wonderfully talented chaps from The Experimental Cocktail Club for a special whisky cocktail session.

Entry to the events is free. Places are limited to two per person – to apply for places, email pearldram@smws.com and specify which event you would like to attend.

Notes 

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society:

•           The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international membership club which bottles the world’s widest selection of exceptional single cask, single malt whisky for its members.

•           The Society bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 300 single casks every year from a range of more than 129 distilleries. The very nature of the single cask means that each bottling offered by the Society is limited.

•           The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members around the world with branches in 19 countries, with Members’ Rooms in Edinburgh and London.

•           www.smws.co.uk

About The Mother Shuckers:

•           The Mother Shuckers bring Londoners locally sourced British oysters, whilst taking oyster mixology to the next level. Founded in 2012, it began with a simple idea, a desire to bring a taste of the sea, locally sourced brews and ingredients live and direct to the people, one shuck at a time.

•           The Mother Shuckers run a range of unique oyster-centric events and pop-ups from tastings, to spirit pairings, shucking lessons, outside catering and fun collaborations.

•           www.mothershuckers.co.uk

About Seven Dials:

•           Seven Dials, Covent Garden’s only Village, brings you seven streets of independent boutiques, heritage brands and indulgent beauty and grooming salons all carefully selected for shoppers of discerning taste.

•           The Seven Dials village is also home to food and drink from around the globe, as well as a rich heritage; from Dickensian times through to the offices of Monty Python’s Flying Circus – be sure to take a look at their famous blue plaque when you’re next in the area

•           www.sevendials.co.uk

 Teeling Whiskey Company Blaze a Golden Trail

at Irish Whiskey Masters

TWC collects 2 Gold Medals in its first year in operation

The Teelings have continued their incredible record of producing gold standard Irish whiskeys as two of its Teeling Whiskey Company brands were awarded Gold Medals at the 2013 Irish Whiskey Masters which took place in London this week.

The Teeling Whiskey Company (TWC) collected two of the nine Gold Medals awarded at the 2013 Irish Whiskey Masters. When the Teelings where at the helm of Cooley Distillery, the Co. Louth operation won over 50 international Gold Medals for distilling excellence.

The two TWC whiskeys that attained the gold standard at the 2013 Irish Whiskey Masters were the Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey in the Irish Blended category and the Teeling 21YO Single Malt Silver Reserve in the Irish Single Malt – Super Premium category.

This is just the latest industry accolades awarded to the Teeling Whiskey Company. The Teeling Whiskey Small Batch received an “exceptional rating” of 91 and was awarded a Gold Medal by the Beverage Tasting Institute, the independent Chicago based drinks rating group. Whisky Advocate, the World’s leading Whiskey Magazine awarded a score of 91 to the Teeling Whiskey 21YO Vintage Reserve and the TWC also picked up two medals at both the 2013 International Wine & Spirits Competition and the International Spirits Challenge.

Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company, commented, “We are delighted that the first offerings from the Teeling Whiskey Company have been recognised by industry experts as being of Gold Medal standard. Our team’s wealth of Irish Whiskey industry experience has given us the confidence to diversify the category by producing interesting and unique small batch bottlings. We will continue to innovate and create new expressions of Ireland’s greatest export.”

Irish Blended Category

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey Gold Medal

Irish Single Malt – Super Premium

Teeling 21YO Single Malt Silver Reserve Irish Whiskey Gold Medal

TWC Single Malt Silver Reserve

The Silver Reserve is the first release from the TWC Vintage Reserve Collection. The bottling consists of 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey distilled in 1991 and matured firstly in Bourbon casks then allowed to marry in Sauterne wine casks. This small batch bottling, limited to only 5,000 bottles, is the first ever Irish whiskey to be finished in Sauterne wine casks. The Silver Reserve 21 Year Old retails for approximately €180 (USD$239.00 / GBP£150).

TWC Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey

Teeling Irish Whiskey is a small batch bottling from hand selected casks of Grain and Malt whiskey which are further matured in former Rum barrels. Teeling Irish Whiskey is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration which provides an extra sweet and smooth flavour making it truly a unique Irish Whiskey. Teeling Irish Whiskey retails for approximately €35 (USD$42 / GBP£32)

About the Teeling Whiskey Company

The Teeling Whiskey Company was founded by Jack Teeling in 2012 to bring back an independent voice to the Irish whiskey category. The Teeling Whiskey Company aims to be Ireland’s leading independent Irish Whiskey producer driving category choice and innovation through a selection of unique handcrafted small batch Irish whiskeys.

The Teeling family are more recently synonymous with Cooley Distillery– which when established in 1987 was the first Irish whiskey distillery set up in Ireland in over 100 years. However the family’s whiskey heritage dates back to distilling in Dublin in 1782 and Walter Teeling who set up a distillery in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties.

Jack and his brother Stephen, Sales & Marketing Director, continue the Teeling entrepreneurial spirit and while initially starting out as an Independent bottler aim to get back into the distilling game to ensure a constant supply of Irish whiskey. The Teeling Whiskey Co.reviving the Independent Spirit of Ireland.

www.teelingwhiskey.com

www.facebook.com/TeelingWhiskeyCompany

www.twitter.com/teelingwhiskeyc

Miner’s Delight Inn, 2nd Saturday, every month, 6 – 9 p.m.

No reservation required for tastings, but we appreciate advance notice for groups

Here’s what you get for $25:

♦ 5 half-ounce pours of single malt Scotch whisky:

♦♦ 3 Saturday features, including the Publican’s Pick *

♦♦ You roll a die and pick a whisky from 1 of 6 Scotch regions

♦♦ Pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our single malt menu

♦ Hors d’oeuvres to cleanse your palate between pours

I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer, and that this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well. The weather is glorious in Southern Alberta, and if the first few days of September are any indication the rest of the month should be great. With the Labour Day weekend, and Labour Day Classic (Calgary won… in case you didn’t already know!) football game behind us it is time to open up our Fall Tasting Schedule; and we have an incredible lineup this year!

September will be starting off with a Trio of tastings for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada, which will feature the first of the 30th Anniversary bottlings released to celebrate the Society’s first 30 years. There is still room in the Friday 6PM seating, as well as the Saturday 5PM seating, and non members are welcome! The following week Graeme Macalanoey will be back for another free tasting to highlight his planned Victoria Caledonian Distillery. The first one sold out quickly, so don’t hesitate. Later in the week we will be hosting the rescheduled Last Samurai Part 2 tasting, which will feature of range of Japanese whiskies, including 4 from the new Chichibu distillery.

This fall we have an exciting number of special guest presenters peppered through our tasting schedule. Starting with Wee Willie Tait of Jura Distillery on September 17th, and followed less than 2 weeks later by Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich fame. Both are wonderful ambassadors for their brands, and very entertaining speakers. Other notables who’ll be gracing the store this fall include: Michael Urquhart of Benromach and Gordon & MacPhail; Ranald Watson of Springbank Distillery, George Grant of Glenfarclas; Stewart Buchanan on behalf of BenRiach and Glendronach distilleries; and last but not least James Robertson of the retooled Tullibardine distillery. All will be excellent tastings, and two of these events will be Whisky Dinners at Buchanans; you’ll have to browse the schedule to determine which.

Some of the usual staple tastings have returned, including: the Fall Single Malt Festival, Classic Malts, Raucous Rums, Master Malt, Whisky Americano and a really special tequila tasting, Tequila Sunrise. For this special tequila tasting we will be opening a bottle of 1800 Ortis Tequila (valued at $1800). Our by annual Single Malt Festival sells out quickly, so don’t delay in buying your ticket for it.

Our full Fall Tasting Schedule can be viewed online at: http://tinyurl.com/mxo4vx7 , where you can purchase your tickets through our website. You also find the full list complete with descriptions below.

I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well, and that we’ll see you at one of these great events this fall.

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

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

Our Fall 2013 Whisky Tasting Schedule

1. SMWS First Friday IX – Every month the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Calgary branch holds a couple of tastings to feature the month’s new releases. This month we are holding two Friday sit down tastings, and a third on the Saturday. For more info on the World’s largest whisky club visit: www.smws.ca Friday September 6th – 6PM – $45/$35 for Members – Only 4 Spots

2. SMWS First Friday IX Friday September 6th – 8PM – $45/$35 for Members – Sold Out

3. SMWS First Friday IX Saturday September 7th – 5PM – $45/$35 for Members – Only 8 Spots

4. Macaloney Distillers Free Tasting – Join us for a free tasting and information session, Monday September 9th at 6PM with Graeme Macaloney of Macaloney Distillers. Graeme Macaloney PhD, an experienced fermentation engineer and a Scotsman, is launching a full scale single malt & pot still whisky distillery, and real ale brew pub – the Victoria Caledonian Distillery – and is conducting a series of complimentary “Show & Tell” presentations including complimentary whisky tasting. – Monday September 9thth 6PM – $FREE

5. Last Samurai Part 2 – My recent whisky trip to Japan has left me with a treasure trove of photos and insight into one of the world’s lesser known whisky producers. We are proud to offer North America’s largest selection of Japanese whiskies, and when it came time to putting on July’s Last Samurai tasting it quickly became apparent we had too many photos and too many whiskies to limit ourselves to just one tasting. The Last Samurai Part 2 will consist of four whiskies from the Chichibu distillery, as well as others from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. This event is sure to delight, and not leave you feeling Lost in Translation! – Thursday September 12th – $50

6. Jura Distillery w/ Willie Tait – They may call him Wee Willie Tait, but don’t be fooled, as he is one of Scotland’s biggest whisky personalities. Willie will guide us through a range of whiskies from the Isle of Jura Distillery, Scotland’s loneliest whisky isle, including the new 30 year and 1977 vintage – Tuesday September 17th – $60

7. Tequila Sunrise – To launch the new 1800 Ortis Tequila ($1800/bottle) we are holding a special tasting of the 1800 tequila range as well as a selection of other premium tequilas. – Tuesday September 24th – $75

8. Bruichladdich Distillery w/ Jim McEwan – Jim McEwan is one of the whisky industry’s most iconic and charismatic figures having long served as the distillery manager at Bowmore before taking a leading role in the resurrection of Bruichladdich. Join us for a very memorable tasting of Bruichladdich single malts guided by the man who crafted them. – Friday September 27th – $50

9. Classic Single Malts – This is our classic introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made, and sample six distinct styles. – Thursday October 3rd – $30

10. Raucous Rums – We’ll round up of some of the finest sipping rums the world has to offer. Come sip a sampling of new, old and rare offerings, including unique independent rum bottlings. – Thursday October 17th – $50

11. Benriach/Glendronach Dinner w/ Stewart Buchanan – Stewart Buchanan only recently took over as Brand Ambassador after spending the last couple decades making whisky and managing distilleries. He’ll guide us through a tasting of 7 BenRiach and Glendronach whiskies including a new KWM cask. That’s not all! Enjoy a sumptuous 3 course dinner at: Buchanan’s Chop House, 738 3rd Ave SW, 7PM. – Friday October 18th – $150

12. Whisky Americano – Bourbon may hog all the attention, but there’s much more to American whisk(e)y in the lower 48 states than what Kentucky produces. Sign up for a taste discovery of the Americanos. – Thursday October 24th – $45

13. Tullibardine Distillery w/ James Robertson – Tullibardine Distillery may have sold recently and revamped its core range, but their gregarious Brand Ambassador, James Robertson, is still with the team. We’ll sample their new range and at least one older expression. – Monday November 4th – $30

14. Springbank Distillery w/ Ranald Watson – Ranald Watson will guide us through a range of Springbank whiskies including expressions of Hazelburn, Springbank and Longrow. We’ll be featuring the new Gold Medal Marketing exclusive cask for Alberta and the 21 Year. – Tuesday November 5th – $35

15. Glenfarclas Distillery w/ George Grant – Gorgeous George will be hosting a whisky tasting for KWM for the 6th year in a row which will feature some vintage Glenfarclas, as well a couple of special editions, including the new 25 Year Quarter Cask release. – Thursday November 7th – $50

16. Benromach/Gordon & MacPhail Dinner w/ Michael Urquhart – The scotch whisky industry’s gentleman statesman, Michael Urquhart, will be hosting a whisky dinner featuring whiskies from Benromach Distillery & Gordon & MacPhail, including: Benromach 1969 & 30 Year, Highland Park 1973 and Dallas Dhu 1979. The whiskies will be paired with a 3 course meal at Buchanan’s Chop House 738 3rd Ave SW, 7PM. – Friday November 8th – $125

 17. Fall Single Malt Festival – Our iconic whisky festival is back for another year with a lineup of 100+ premium whiskies from some of Scotland’s finest distilleries. Don’t hesitate as this one sells out early every year and tickets are strictly limited! – Thursday November 14th – $60

18. Master Malts – Only the rarest and very special whiskies are showcased at this tasting which always highlights some of the most exciting new whiskies in the world! – Thursday November 28th – $99

To register for one our our great tastings please call the store at 403-283-8000 or register online at: http://tinyurl.com/mxo4vx7  .

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

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

Voting open for the 2013 World Wide Whisk(e)y Design Contest

The Final voting for the 2013 World Wide Whisk(e)y Design Awards is now open and ends on 30-November-2013. Voting is open to public. No registration required. This final voting round is based on the rated nominations that received a total … Continue reading →