It is true what they say: “the more things change the more they stay the same.” I was reminded of this when I came in to work this morning and my colleague Christine asked me if I was ready for my trip. As usual I’m not, there’s always last minute details you struggle to finish, and I’ll be going to the wire as I board the plane. Even more telling she followed it up with the question: “so will you be sending a Malt Messenger from the airport?” Cheeky, but not entirely inaccurate, I’ve been there before. I’d like to think I’m a little more organized this time around, with a little over 10 hours until my flight, I’m in a little better shape than usual…(Andrew departed May 6th…WI…we’re a little busy this week and are catching up)…

I’m off to Scotland tonight for 10 days, guiding a week long tour through the Speyside, Southern and Eastern Highlands. I’m also taking a few days to pop in to Islay and Campbeltown to catch up with some friends, sample some whiskies and see some familiar sights. I’m also planning to visit at least two distilleries I’ve never been to before: Deanston and Knockdhu. I’ll blog and tweet about my adventures as much as I can, but while I’m away things won’t be on hold here in Calgary, hence this Malt Messenger Bulletin.

Our annual birthday sale is coming up May 16-18, and I’ve prepared a Malt Messenger Bulletin sale notice to go out on the 16th detailing the specials. A few days earlier, Hunter has his Blockbuster Single Malts Tasting, Tuesday May 13, in the store. As of this morning there are just 3 tickets left. Upon my return on the 19th of May things get really exiciting. We have two great tastings that week: a sold out Balvenie tasting with Beth Havers and a Glencadam & Tomintoul tasting featuring a 1977 vintage Tomintoul.

The latter half of May will also see some new whiskies from Diageo, including: Caol Ila Stitchell’s Reserve, Talisker Storm, Talisker 25 Year, Brora 35 Year and Lagavulin 37 Year. There is also a new KWM cask, an Aberlour 1994 matured–unusually for the distillery–in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead cask. Last but not least on the final day of the month, May 31, Kensington Wine Market will be playing host to Ardbeg Day 2014 festivities. Jordan Cameron, Moet’s Brand Ambassador in Alberta, and I have put together a fun day of activities to celebrate Ardbeg whisky and the launch of the new Auriverdes.

There is much to look forward to over the weeks ahead. As always I hope this whisky news finds you well!

Slainte!

Andrew

In This Edition:
1. Please Vote for us in FFWD’s Best of Calgary
2. Berry’s Own Aberlour 1994 KWM Cask
3. New Diageo Releases
4. 4.5L BenRiach and Glendronach Bottles
5. Glencadam & Tomintoul Tasting
6. Ardbeg Day 2014
Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

 

Glencadam & Tomntoul Tasting

Tuesday May 20 – $55

We’ve put together a special lineup of 7 whiskies for our tasting with Bob Kyle of Rare Drams. There’s a trio of Tomintouls, including the stunning 1977, a pair of Glencadams, including the new 21 year and two even rarer treats!

More Information

Ardbeg Day 2014 Saturday May 31

Ardbeg Soccer 11:30-1:30 Green vs. Gold
$20
Ardbeg Day at KWM 2:00-5:00 and the After Party at Buchanan’s 5:00 – 7:00
$40

More Information

Please Vote for us in FFWD’s Best of Calgary Best Wine Store & Best Liquor Store!

Once again Fast Forward Magazine is compiling its list of the best of the best in Calgary. We need your help to retain our title as Calgary’s Best Wine Store, and while you’re at it, please nominate us for Calgary’s Best Liquor Store too! After all in addition to having an incredible selection of wines, Kensington Wine Market also has Canada’s largest and most comprehensive whisky collection, and one of the biggest and best assortments of beer in the country! Click on the link below to vote. Please note you need to select winners in at least 40 categories for your vote to count. People who complete the survey will be entered in a draw by FFWD for a couple of great prizes from the Talisman Center and Kensington Wine Market.

www.ffwdweekly.com/questionnaire/best-of-calgary-2014/

Thanks in advance for your help!

Berry’s Own Aberlour 1994 KWM Cask 4423

An untypical Ex-Bourbon Hogshead matured single cask.

Details are pretty thin on this one right now, other than the price, I don’t even have a photo. The cask was selected in the fall by myself and a few trusted associates, and bottled at a strength of 54.1%. An official tasting note will come shortly after my return from Scotland on the 19th. What makes it so unique, is two fold. Firstly, single casks of Aberlour are very rare, the distillery keeps most of it production in house. Over the last 12 years I’ve not seen more than a couple independent bottlings of Aberlour. Secondly, and more interestingly in my opinion, all distillery bottlings of Aberlour contain at least some sherry cask whisky. There are no straight American oak expressions of the whisky released by the distillery. This is a chance to try a whole different sort of Aberlour, and, of course, its good!

The whisky will start trickling in the week of May 19. In the meantime we are taking pre-orders. Berry’s Own Aberlour 1994 KWM Cask 4423 will retail for $139.99 + GST. Pre-order it and save 5%!

 

New Diageo Releases

Lagavulin and Brora and Talisker Oh My!

It is not often that we see older expressions of Lagavulin, Talisker and Brora. The principle reason is that the distilleries owners don’t have much in the way of older stock. The whisky is increasingly rare and accordingly increasingly dear. Diageo’s annual Special Releases have become a hot commodity over the years. For a long time the Alberta market was spoiled with an abundance of Port Ellen, Brora and other expressions. Over the last few years our access has been increasingly spotty as global demand skyrocketed and prices rose. I wasn’t expecting to see any of the 2013 releases this time around, but curiously, a few of them have just turned up. And at surprisingly good prices. Here’s what we know were getting. There may be more, but even Diageo Canada doesn’t seem to know what’s coming until it turns up:

1. Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve – 59.6% – Named for distillery manager Billy Stitchell who retired in 2013 after 39 years at the distillery. Matured in American Oak, Re-charred American Oak and Ex-European Oak Sherry casks. – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Palate: Drinks well straight; has an intense and in your face style, with a most appealing smooth, lightly oily texture. Firm, clean and fresh throughout. Intense and mouth-filling, with a great initial surge of sweet spiciness unaccompanied by the usual signature phenols of peated Caol Ila or indeed, much fruit. Becoming honey-nutty (nut brittle, with a dark edge of treacle bitterness) then finally, warming and drying. A good splash of water develops these flavours; it’s tongue-coating and appetisingly bitter-sweet now, leaving a spicy dryness as the tide of flavour ebbs.” – $179.99
2. Talisker Storm – 45.8% – Matured in rejuvenated and refill casks at different ages. – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Palate: At first sweetly mellow and rich in the mouth then quickly very spicy and increasingly stormy as the Talisker heat comes through. It’s as if the pure, tongue-coating sweetness joins hands with a deep nutty smokiness to embrace those spicier notes. The flavour is elegantly drawn out with a good balance between sweetness, smoke and salt, which is all the more evident when a little water is added. – $104.99
3. Talisker 25 Year 2011 – 45.8% – Tasting Note by Serge at www.whiskyfun.com: “Nose: a completely different planet after the Dark Storm, this is smoother of course, but also more complex, with some lilac, tangerines, roses, almonds, this very ‘tropical’ smokiness that only old peaters can display, beauty cream, brine, oysters… It’s a lovely nose, delicate and subtle. Mouth: once again, a slightly smoother version of an old Talisker but power is there. It’s no straight brute as older versions could be but it’s not lacking oomph. Smoked overripe apples and lemon curd plus brine and kippers. There. Finish: long, maybe a notch woodier, with this feeling of strong green tea but also a perfect brine. Little pepper this time. Comments: I know some whisky lovers and Talisker aficionados were shocked by the drop in strength and in theory, I should be shocked too, but let’s be honest, this remains a mightily powerful dram.” 90pts – Estimated Retail $250
4. Brora 35 Year – 49.9% – Distilled 1977 – Bottled 2013 – 2944 Bottles – Tasting Note by Serge at www.whiskyfun.com : “It is the 12th release of Brora. Already! An incredible Brora and I couldn’t believe it’s all from the 1977 vintage, since there are obvious notes of ‘1972’ (and adjacent vintages). So the peat is less discreet than I had thought, while the rest is of an incredible complexity, sometimes soft and elegant, sometimes bigger and full of seashells, oysters, seaweed and tar. I remember having found, both in the nose and in the palate, some verbena, some absinth (that was in the 1978 as well, now I remember) some kippers, smoked salmon and even fish oil, a lot of wax (of course), some grapefruits, some liquorice and a feeling of bone dry white wine of very high quality. And in the finish, a slight smoky and fresh acridness that I simply adored. Having said that I have to confess I was a little disappointed because I had hoped Diageo would have granted us with a 40 yo 1972 this year, but in fact I found this new 35 quite… flabbergasting. That, I remember very well.” 95pts – $954.99 (priced CAD$1400-1500 in UK)
5. Lagavulin 37 Year – 51% – Distilled 1976 – Bottled 2013 – 1868 Bottles – Tasting Note by Serge at www.whiskyfun.com: ” the oak feels a bit (astringency) but only for fraction of a second, because lemons, smokes and especially lapsang-souchong tea are soon to come to the rescue. I think we’re really in the world of tea here, it’s sharing many similarities with an old pu-erh, the soft kind of woodiness (incense once again, sandalwood, ‘sweet’ cinnamon), the mild fruitiness around kumquats and dried papayas, the earthy smokiness… Then there’s some honeydew, lemon pie, a faint camphory touch, certainly some cough syrup ‘as always’, some black chocolate, oysters, lemon balm… We’re experiencing the same phenomenon as on the nose, it keeps changing. Oh, and there are lovely touches of ripe melon.” 94pts Read the full tasting note here. – $2749.99 (priced over CAD$3,500.00 in UK)

  

4.5L Jeroboams of BenRiach and Glendronach Available

How Cool Would These Look on Your Bar?

1. BenRiach 12 Year 4.5L – 43% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Honey, vanilla, floral, fruity with well balanced wood overtones. Palate: Rounded medium to full bodied, rich honey, vanilla with hints of cream, spice and chocolate.” – $399.99 *3 Available
2. Glendronach 12 Year 4.5L – 43% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet, creamy vanilla, with hints of ginger. Spiced mulled wine and pear. Palate: Rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry sweetness, full mouth feel, raisins and soft fruits. Spicy with medium length and a dry finish.” – $414.99 *1 Available

 

Glencadam & Tomintoul Distilleries Tasting

Tuesday May 20 – 7PM – $55 – Featuring the Tomintoul 1977 ($809.99)

We’ve put together a special lineup of 7 whiskies for our tasting with Bob Kyle of Rare Drams. There’s a trio of Tomintouls, including the stunning 1977, a pair of Glencadams, including the new 21 year and two even rarer treats from Celebration of the Cask!

Call 403-283-8000 to register or visit our website Tasting Page.

 

Ardbeg Day 2014

Festivities Kick Off Saturday May 31

As Canada’s first Ardbeg Embassy, Kensington Wine Market is playing host to Ardbeg Day Festivities in Calgary May 31. The distillery’s Ardbeg Day release this year is the Auriverdes, or Green and Gold. This is a nod to the World Cup of Soccer in Brazil, but also to Ardbeg’s iconic green bottle and golden nectar. The theme this year is soccer, and that will be no different here in Calgary. We’re organizing a match of Ardbeg Green vs. Gold soccer at a field near Kensington Wine Market. Participation costs $20, but will include a special t-shirt, some swag and a dram or two. Two teams of 15 will be assembled in the school yard fashion from those who register. Limited to 28 participants. It’s been a wild spring here, and in the Scottish tradition the game will go ahead come bad or worse weather!

Later in the day festivities will to the Kensington Wine Market where we’ll be hosting fun activities between 2 and 5. There Ardbeg range will be available for tasting, along with new Auriverdes and some Ardbeg cocktails. Braizen Meats will be on hand serving up BBQ and there will be fun games. Registration costs $40 and is limited to around 60 participants. You need not register for one to participate in the other. The Kensington event registration includes a cocktail and appetizers at Buchanan’s Chophouse which is hosting the after party, from 5PM on.

Don’t hesitate in purchasing your Ardbeg Day tickets. Events are expected to fill quickly.

1. Ardbeg Day Soccer Match – 11:30-1:30 Saturday May 31 – Limited to 28 Participants – $20
2. Ardbeg Day at KWM – 2:00-5:00 Saturday May 31 – Limited to 60-80 Participants – $40

Call 403-283-8000 to register or do so on our website at https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php.

Ferguson Whisky Tours

Follow me as I travel the Speyside Next Week May 11-16
or
Join me for Islay September 7-13 2014 or Kentucky October 5-10 2014

I will be tweeting my way across Scotland in the days ahead, and blogging when possible for the store and my whisky tour website.

Interested in joining me on one of my fantastic whisky adventures? It’s too late to join me in Speyside this May, but not too late to take part in my Islay and Kentucky Tours, departing in September and October respectively. More details on these tours will be available on my website in the coming weeks. www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

 

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

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000