Hope all is good with you as we bask in the early summer sunshine here in the UK.

In a totally un-cynical attempt to cash-in on another annual non-event (I can say this as I’m a father too!), we have a number of things that might tickle your father’s fancy, or tastebuds. Forget the usual aftershave, CDs and power tools – give him something that he will actually like and thank you for!

So here are our ideas for you and dad…

WHISKY SCHOOLS

The perfect day out for dad!
For a whole day (from 10am to 4pm) your dad (or you!) can learn all the basics of whisky production and what it all means.

There are ‘modules’ on world whiskies, styles and regions of Scotland, wood maturation and even a chance to blend your own whisky and take a miniature home with you. Plus the small matter of over 25 whiskies to sample…

We have schools happening in Newcastle, Manchester, York, Harrogate and London – click here or on the banner for more info on dates and prices. Ticket price also includes a lovely 2-course lunch at the venue.

Our summer tasting series is an extremely exciting one, with a fantastic line-up of 6 single cask, cask-strength single malts from this fabulous bottler. If you (and dad, obviously) like your whiskies pure and profound, then this is the one for you. You will be tasting a range of styles and with the minimum age of whiskies being 18 years old – this is a real rare treat indeed.

DATES & VENUES

LONDON            Wednesday 2nd July       The Red Lion, Crown Passage, 7pm
BRIGHTON         Thursday 3rd July           Hilton Metropole, Kings Road, 7pm
LEEDS                Wednesday 9th July       The Cross Keys, Water Lane, 7pm
LIVERPOOL       Wednesday 9th July        Jenny’s Bar, Fenwick St., 7pm
NEWCASTLE     Friday 11th July               Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm
MANCHESTER  Friday 11th July               Britons Protection, Gt. B’Water St., 7pm
YORK                 Saturday 12th July           Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm
SHEFFIELD       Tuesday 15th July            Sheffield Tap, Platform 1B, S’field Station

LIVERPOOL, YORKSHIRE & MANCHESTER

We have all of these events up and running on the website and as always, they are the must-do whisky events in their areas. What better than to wile an afternoon away amongst the great and good of the industry whilst tasting some truly fabulous whiskies.

Early-birds are still available on Liverpool and Yorkshire (2 for £50), whilst full-day and half day tickets are also available for Manchester…

LIVERPOOL WHISKY FESTIVAL       Sat. 6th September   The Crypts, Met Cathedral
YORKSHIRE WHISKY FESTIVAL      Sat. 13th September  York Racecourse
MANCHESTER WHISKY FESTIVAL  Sat. 25th October      Bridgewater Hall

If you catch us quick, we may even be able to email you a PDF ticket of the relevant event that you can print and trim to pop in a card of your choice!

I think that’ll do it for now but look out for more news in the coming weeks, plus write-ups of our trip to the Islay Festival last month and recent tasting series.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter – @thewhiskylounge – and like and share our Facebook page to keep bang up to date with the latest news about our events and more.

We look forward to seeing you over a dram or two soon.

Sláinte!

Eddie
& Team Whisky Lounge

Kilchoman Machir Bay 2014 – Tasting Review Last week we re-visited last year’s, 2013, expression of the Kilchoman Machir Bay. With each year the small Islay distillery continues the journey of this fantastic single malt by releasing a new bottling. Today we are blessed to be sat with this year’s bottling, the Kilchoman Machir Bay 2014.

To re-cap, Kilchoman’s Machir Bay, the distilleries core expression, was first launched in 2012. The single malt from the small farm distillery created a huge buzz amongst the whisky community and went on to win the prestigious IWSC 2012 Gold Medal – Best in Class. Since then, the distillery has released a new bottling every year, allowing fans to accompany this single malt through its aging process.

In last week’s tasting review I compared the 2012, one of my favourite whiskies of that year, to the 2013 bottling. Despite the 2013 still maintain a strong character; my preference still sided with the highly revered 2012. So how will the 2014 fare?

The Machir Bay 2014 is a vatting of 5 and 6 year old ex-bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts 46%ABV. According to John MacLellan, Distillery Manager at Kilchoman, the sherry butts give the whisky a desired taste that has proven to be this drams unique selling point.

The team at Kilchoman aim for Machir Bay to be the distilleries flagship product, hoping that it will become a staple choice amongst whisky connoisseurs around the world.

Anthony Wills, Managaing Director at Kilchoman, says; “it is important that we are able to offer our distribution partners a consistently available product while also offering Kilchoman followers the opportunity to enjoy the development of our spirit”

John MacLellan, added; “We are delighted that each release of Machir Bay shows a little more cask maturation than the previous one….the 2014 is no exception”

So yet again I sit with Kilchoman’s prized whisky, the Machir Bay. But how will the 2014 compare to its younger siblings?

On the nose is a summery mixture of fruit, heavily leaning towards a more dominant citrus kick. The classic character of Islay peat is also heavily present which balances well with a slight vanilla aroma.

On the palate again those fruits dominate whilst the vanilla deepens bring forward a welcomed sweetness; possibly gifted to the dram by those oloroso sherry butts.

As with the 2012 and the 2013 Machir Bay, the finish is long and lingering; less harsh than the 2013. Overall the Kilchoman Machir Bay 2014 is another positive step towards something truly remarkable and again displays this small, farm distilleries talent for distilling superb whisky. The 2014, is for me more well balanced and shows more clearly the development of character that has taken place than that of the 2013.

It’s hard to say, without a dram of 2012 sitting before, me whether the 2014 is indeed more favourable; after all the 2012 left a big impression on me. But what is clear, is that the Machir Bay 2014 is a truly sublime dram and is just a glimpse of the superiority we can expect to see from this distillery in coming years. Discover the Kilchoman Machir Bay 2014 for yourself today!

Joe’s Father’s Day Scotch Selections

Like the idea of a bottle of scotch or other spirit but don’t see anything that feels just right?  I’d love to help you find the perfect gift. The most important thing is just to tell your father that you love him and appreciate all that he has done. But a bottle of whisky is nice to receive in addition. 

Glenmorangie  Original Nose: The scent of citrus and ripening peaches is softened by the aroma of vanilla. Palate: First, vanilla is detected on the tongue before it ripples along the palate bringing a burst of flowery fruitiness. Finish: About a minute after tasting, you are left with a clean and salving aftertaste with hints of orange and peach.  Regularly $44.99 On Sale $37.99 

Gordon & Macphail Glenturrett 11 Y.O.  46% Glenturret is one of the main components of Famous Grouse and is also a big visitor destination for tourists and scotch fans. Nose: Sweet toffee notes, with a freshness present and a citrus edge. Some vanilla with a touch of mixed  spices becoming apparent. Taste: Delicate rum and raisin notes, with a touch of marzipan / almonds. Some festive spices emerge – cinnamon. With a tropical fruit edge. Finish: A lasting finish, very pleasant.

Regularly $69.99 On Sale $62.99 

 Balvenie 15 Y.O. Single Barrel Sherry Cask : This is a new product and was very tough just to get a few bottles. This is a full term sherry cask matured. Notes: Dried Fruits are overlaid with a gentile nuttiness, leading to a long and sherried finish. 

$119.99 NET  (ONLY 5 Bottles) 

Gordon & MacPhail Mortlach 21 Y.O. 43%  Nose: Sultanas, a hint of vanilla and sherry. Palate: Hints of black pepper and nuts. A fruitiness also emerges. With water: Very creamy with a distinct cocoa element. A very slight presence of aniseed. Mouth coating.

We have turned many people on to this wonderful bottle. Now many of them only want a MORTY. You really should try this – you’ll taste why.

Regularly $174.99 On Sale $159.99

Please pass this on to any friends who are whisk(e)y enthusiasts! 

Joe Howell

Federal Wine & Spirits

Phone: (617) 367-8605

Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

www.ralfy.com has a North-of-Islay moment with Whisky Review 463 – Jura Superstition @ 43% vol:

Ireland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Jameson Gold Reserve Irish Whiskey 750ml ($59.99)

Japan – Single Malt Scotch

• Suntory Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese Single Malt Whiskey 750ml ($59.99)
  The Suntory whiskies are handcrafted at Japan’s oldest distillery, built by the founder of Suntory–Shinjiro Torii–in 1923.This 12 year was awarded a Gold Medal by the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2006. Medium-bodied with scents of dried fruits and honey. Elegant, sublte and mellow on the finish, with woody spice.

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Sheep Dip Blended Malt Scotch 750ml ($39.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Balcones Brimstone Corn Whisky 750ml ($69.99)

• Rock Hill Farms Kentucky Straight Bourbon 750ml (ships as 3L) – 9 available ($44.99)

• Stranahan’s Colorado Small Batch Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($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

THE FAMOUS GROUSE LEADS INNOVATION AND INVITES CONSUMERS TO ‘BE PART OF SOMETHING FAMOUS’ 

The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has demonstrated its continued commitment to innovation as the brand invites consumers to personalise a bottle of their famous whisky with their own treasured photograph. 

The UK’s number one selling whisky recently adopted a new brand ethos – Be Part of Something Famous – borne out of the human truth that people ultimately desire to belong to something bigger. 

Inspiring consumers that Famous Moments Are Worth Sharing, the leading whisky brand has created a microsite (www.makesomeonefamous.com) where purchasers of any 70cl or 1L bottle can go and add a prized moment or favourite photo, absolutely free of charge. This is a significant move for the brand who, for the first time, will allow their beloved Grouse to be removed from personalised bottles and replaced by moments that are special to their consumer. 

Committed to ensuring widespread pick up of the new mechanic, this latest innovation from The Famous Grouse will be supported by a fully integrated campaign. The brand has invested in national press and digital advertising, as well as large scale activation in multiple retailers. 

On top of the brand’s new personalisation mechanic they have also unveiled a new 70cl limited edition gift pack for Father’s Day. The design of the gift carton celebrates the characteristics consumers think fathers are famous for, including The Famous Cyclist, The Famous Moustache and The Famous Bowler. The limited edition gift packs are now available in all major supermarkets with bottles that can also be personalised free of charge by visiting www.makesomeonefamous.com . 

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director Maxxium UK, commented:

“As the UK’s leading whisky it’s important to us that we lead the category in innovation. 

“Everything we do and produce is through an effort of collaboration, with everyone playing an important role in creating something famous, however small. Be Part of Something Famous is all about extending this spirit of collaboration to consumers and offering them ways to get involved. Personalisation does this job for us. 

The new personalisation offering is available on all 1L and 70cl bottles of The Famous Grouse (RRP £17.10 and £23.10). The move follows the brand’s pre-Christmas personalisation campaign, allowing consumers to change the text only, which saw Maxxium UK working around the clock to fulfil high demand. 

The Famous Grouse is a blend of the finest malts and grains, married and matured in sherry casks.

NOTES

About Maxxium UK

• Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and Edrington.
• Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club, Red Stag), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock)

About The Famous Grouse

• The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in Scotland and no. 4 standard blended whisky worldwide (IWSR data 2012)
• The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries

It’s been a busy couple of weeks since the last Malt Messenger Bulletin. The Ardbeg Day events were a great success, and the first tasting of the Ardbeg Auriverdes was very well received. Nearly 100 bottles have been pre-ordered, and it’s not too late to reserve one for yourself! They are expected to be in store later in the month.

Speaking of Ardbeg, I was very surprised to learn that a small amount of the Ardbeg Galileo was re-released in Alberta. We managed to get our hands on a few cases and don’t expect it to last long. The Galileo was released to celebrate the first whisky in space, sent up on a rocket to the International Space Station. You can read more on the Ardbeg Galileo below!

We also received some exciting news! The Kensington Wine Market was named the Best Wine Store and 3rd Best Liquor Store in FFWD’s 2014 Best of Calgary. Thank you to all our wonderful friends, partners and customers for your patronage and votes! You can find the full list of winners here!

(This note arrived after the event commenced- WI) The store is going to be a busy place tonight with our Spring Single Malt Festival. 115 whiskies and 100 guests! We’re showcasing some old favourites and a number of new whiskies. Most of our new Japanese whiskies and those from Cadenhead have come in just in time for the event. If you missed out on tickets for the Festival (it sold out 2 months in advance) you can pop in to the store on Friday or Saturday for an opportunity to sample many of the whiskies that were poured!

We have two more great events coming up in the days ahead. Tomorrow night (Now tonight!) we have the Glendronach Batch 9 Dinner at Buchanan’s Chop House ($160). The dinner will feature nine rare single cask vintage Glendronachs from 1971-1995 paired with a 3 course meal. And then on Tuesday there is our Ancient Malts 4 Decades tasting ($200), an opportunity to sample 7 very special whiskies from 30 to 70 years of age. More details on both of these great events can be found below!

We have a number of really hot whiskies in our store right now, including our new Berry’s Own Aberlour 1994 single cask which is already 1/4 sold, and we’ve only had it for 2 weeks! As a matter of fact it is sold out in store right now, but don’t fret, there’s more on the way! Our Duncan Taylor Octaves are also doing nicely. We sold 8 bottles of the Deanston 1994 KWM Octave after last night’s tasting alone! Only 24 bottles left… Another one which is selling briskly is the Brora 35 Year. It is a stunning dram, and flying off our shelves.

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and I hope we’ll see you in store soon to share a dram and check out some of our exciting new offerings.

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

Thank You Calgary

For voting us Calgary’s Best Wine Store and 3rd Best Liquor Store!

Glendronach Batch 9 Dinner Tonight

9 Vintage Glendronachs from 1995 – 1972 @ Buchanan’s Chop House – $160

Glendronach’s reputation has been soaring since it was bought by BenRiach Distillery Co. in 2008. They revitalized the product line, invested in casks and started a tradition of releasing batches of vintage single cask whiskies. These batches have been very successful since they first began trickling into KWM 4-5 years ago. In some cases as few as one or two cases of each vintage find their way to Canada, and KWM is the only store to always get at least one case of each one. A case in the whisky world is just six bottles and that doesn’t go very far, so we try to set aside one of each for a tasting, and that’s what this dinner is all about. We’ll be sampling whiskies from 19 to 41 years of age, carefully paired with a 3 course meal at Buchanans.

Click Here for more details or to register. Alternatively call 403-283-8000.

Ancient Malts 4 Decades Edition

A very special tasting featuring 7 whiskies, four of them more than 40 years of age…and one of them is 60 years old!

Our very special Ancient Malts tasting will feature seven whiskies ranging from 30 to 60 years of age. The 60 year old is part of a trilogy of whiskies, 40, 50 and 60 years of age from a “Secret Distillery” (see photo in the right column), the bottler can’t tell you where they were produced, but we are under no such constraints… You’ll just have to come to the tasting to find out more! We will feature 4 whiskies from the same distillery at 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of age. We will also be featuring a very special and very tropical 41 year old Glenfiddich bottled by Cadenhead, and exclusive to KWM in Canada. Only 6 spaces are left!

Click Here for more details or to register. Alternatively call 403-283-8000.

Finally, Some New Whiskies from Bruichladdich

Bruichladdich Scottish Barley, Port Charlotte Scottish Barley, Bruichladdich Black Art 4 & Octomore 6.1

In the last year and a half Bruichladdich was bought by Remy Martin, and in Canada representation was taken over by Remy’s Canadian importer. It is not surprising that there was a hiccup in getting the new products here. Well after 9 months of waiting I can confirm that 4 new Bruichladdichs are due in to KWM next week! Here are the details:

1. Bruichladdich Scottish Barley – 50% – From the Distillery:Made from 100% Scottish barley, trickle distilled, then matured for its entire life by the shores of Lochindaal in premium American oak, it is a testament to the quality our ingredients. – $60.99
2. Port Charlotte Scottish Barley – 50% – From the Distillery: “This whisky is testament to our belief that raw ingredients matter. Trickle distilled from 100% Scottish Barley the spirit gently matures in the lochside village of Port Charlotte before being bottled here at the distillery using Islay spring water.” – $60.99
3. Bruichladdich Black Art IV – 49.2% – From the Distillery:”
Working with the very finest American and French oak to explore that most esoteric relationship between spirit and wood, Black Art is Master Distiller Jim McEwan’s personal voyage into the heart of Bruichladdich.” – $174.99
4. Octomore 6.1 – 57% – From the Distillery:”The world’s most heavily peated whisky, this is the sixth edition of the uber-experimental cult Octomore. Titanic amounts of peat but with a light, delicate complexity and a beguiling finesse. Young, yet eminently mature, it defies us. It remains an enigma. We embrace that. Here, we pay tribute to its pedigree, to the land from which it came and the raw materials that gave it life: Octomore Scottish Barley. We believe challenging convention matters.” – $131.99

We are taking pre-orders on all these bottles, the Black Art and Octomore likely won’t last long!

Another Chance at Some Rare Old Macallans

25 Year Sherry Oak & 30 Year Fine Oak

We haven’t seen either of these in a while, and we have just a couple of both! First come first serve on these two iconic drams. Shudder to think at the price on them the next time we see them!
1. Macallan 25 Year Sherry Oak – 43% – From the Distiller: “Nose: Citrus, balanced with cinnamon, sherry and wood smoke. Palate: Full and rich with dried fruits and wood smoke. Finish: Long with dried fruits, wood smoke and spice. – $949.99
2. Macallan 30 Year Fine Oak – 43% – From the Distiller: “Nose: Rich, exotic, heady and aromatic, orange. Palate: Intense, macadamia nut and vanilla with a hint of sandalwood and black cherry. Finish: Soft, silky and extremely elegant. – $1249.99

Only 2 of each available at this time. Send me an email or call 403-283-8000 to order!

Ardbeg Galileo is Back!

But only for a very limited time…

A limited Ardbeg 11 Year old distilled in 1999, and released to celebrate the first whisky sent into space! Bottled in 2012 after maturing in Bourbon and Marsala cask, it is 49%. This whisky sold out very quickly in the Fall of 2012, and we were thrilled to get some back. Only 30 bottles left, they won’t last long!

Ardbeg Galileo – 49% – 11 Year – 1999 – My Tasting Note: Nose: surprisingly mellow for Ardbeg (but not Blasda mellow), lots of barley sugar, biscuitty peat, chocolate orange and candied coated fennel; very fruity with raisins and figs, ripe oranges and grape fruits, and mixed berries; Palate: creamy, earthy, peaty, sweet and spicy all at once; the citrus fruits, creamy vanilla and chocolate are all there but loosely buried under the surging peat and barley; more candied fennel along with oily-heathery-peat; Finish: drying, peaty and still sweet showing more chocolate, fennel and orange and lime peels; Comments: this whisky will take off like a rocket! – $119.99

Please send me an email or call the store 403-283-8000 to order!

Lots of Great New Whiskies in Store.

It’s time you dropped in again!

More than 30 new whiskies have come in to the store in the last couple of weeks, most of them exclusive. We have 13 new exclusive whiskies from Cadenhead, 10 of which will be sampled at our Spring Single Malt Festival tonight. We have also received the first of more than a dozen Japanese whiskies, most of them exclusive, with a few more to trickle in over the next couple of weeks. There are also new single casks from Berry’s Own Selection, and Aberlour 1994, bottled exclusively for KWM ($139.99) and a Linkwood 1993 bottled for the Companions of the Quaich ($124.99). Many of these whiskies will feature in the next Malt Messenger. In the meantime, you may want to pop in and have a look around!

Ferguson Whisky Tours

Islay September 7-13 2014 or Kentucky October 5-10 2014

Only 2 spots left for Islay in September!
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

JUNE OUTTURN: ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR

Roll up, roll up! See all the wonders of the Society from far and wide: amazing pairings, the best of the June list, tastings to stir the senses and emergency Fathers’ Day solutions…

All The Fun Of The Pair

37.57 A Rollercoasterboaster!
Flavour: Spicy & sweet
More £107.00

48.45 Big, juicy, mouth-watering, fruity sweets
Flavour: Juicy, oak & vanilla
More

Exclusive to offers

Buy together for £129
Only 39 left!
BUY PAIR

The Thrilling Three

5.37 Lazing on a Sunday afternoon
Flavour: Juicy, oak & vanilla
More
Exclusive to offers

3.221 Starry, starry night
Flavour: Oily & coastal
More £76.00

121.71
Eating the Italian way
Flavour: Spicy & sweet
More £48.10

Buy together for £169
Only 21 left!
BUY TRIO

The Big Wheel

10.78 Sing along with Julie Andrews
Flavour: Light & delicate
More £49.00

26.101 An autumn feast at springtime
Flavour: Young & spritely
More £55.70

35.109 A class act
Flavour: Old & dignified
More £116.40

G7.6 Like summer (Grain)
Flavour: Spicy & sweet
More £69.80

121.71 Eating the Italian way
Flavour: Spicy & sweet
More £48.10

48.45 Big, juicy, mouth-watering, fruity sweets
Flavour: Juicy, oak & vanilla
More Exclusive to offers

Buy together for £359
Only 15 left!
BUY CASE

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 here for membership information This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

• Kavalan Classic Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99)
  After so much time spent merely reading about the great single malt whiskies from Taiwan’s Kavalan distillery, we can finally get our hands on them here in the states! The first release from Kavalan was their classic single malt expression that uses ex-sherry, ex-Bourbon, and ex-wine casks of between four and four and a half years of age for the marriage. The first thing that strikes you as you taste it is how un-youthful it is. It might as well be a 12 year old malt from the Scottish Highlands, but with an incredible supple-fruited character. The malty character, the stone fruits, the accents of vanilla–they’re all there, round and supple, but there’s something just a bit different going on from the classic Scottish profile. It’s the humid conditions of Kavalan’s warehouse that allows the maturation to take place much faster — and while I’m normally skeptical of such accusations, the proof is in the pudding here. This is real deal whisky from the next big thing. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• Kavalan Concertmaster Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($89.99)
  After so much time spent merely reading about the great single malt whiskies from Taiwan’s Kavalan distillery, we can finally get our hands on them here in the states! The Concertmaster is aged in ex-Bourbon casks for the first three years of its maturation, before being transfered to Ruby Port pipes for an additional year of finishing. The integration is flawless and perfectly balanced — there’s enough malty texture from the Bourbon maturation with just enough red-fruited sweetness to round out the edges. It never tastes gimmicky or overdone. It’s somewhere in between the Glenmorangie Quinta Rubin and the Balvenie 21 year. The Concertmaster is less decadent than the Balvenie, but has more chocolate and cocoa flavors than the GlenMo. Lovely. It’s the humid conditions of Kavalan’s warehouse that allows the maturation to take place much faster — and while I’m normally skeptical of such accusations, the proof is in the pudding here. Thi s is real deal whisky from the next big thing. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

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

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #89

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries Amrut! Amrut is a single malt from Bangalore, India. They have won many awards the world over with their standard range as well as their special releases. The Amrut Kadhambam is one of them. Kadhambam, meaning ‘combination’ in Tamil, is their Indian single malt finished on rhum, sherry and brandywine casks. 

http://youtu.be/51tGcIhaDgY