JACK DANIEL’S SINGLE BARREL OFFERS CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS THE PERFECT RESPITE 

This Christmas, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel has teamed up with The Whisky Shop to offer busy Christmas shoppers the perfect respite with a complimentary serve of the unique and craft whiskey, when purchasing a bottle to be personally engraved in-store.

Shoppers are invited to the Piccadilly or Manchester stores, where, as part of the price, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel will be engraved whilst they enjoy the smooth whiskey over ice.

Whether engraved with a name, a unique message, or simply ‘Happy Holidays’, a personalised bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel makes the perfect gift for that special someone this Christmas.

Not just any barrel of Jack Daniel’s is granted the status of Single Barrel. Every so often, the Jack Daniel’s Master Tasting Panel discover a barrel of whiskey so special, they put it to one side. Those that are, are carefully hand-bottled one at a time, each bearing an individual rick number and bottling date.

With a richer, robust flavour to its famous brother Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel has notes of toasted oak, vanilla and caramel. Each barrel offers individual nuances of colour and taste and is perfectly served straight, on the rocks, or with a dash of bitters and a twist of orange.

With no two barrels of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel the same, it presents the perfect chance to offer your loved one a whiskey truly unique this Christmas. Whether it’s for friends or family, it’s a gift like no other: the unique taste of Jack Daniel’s bearing a unique message from you.

This unique and special experience is available in The Whisky Shop Manchester on the 10^th and 11^th December, and in the London Piccadilly store from the 12^th to 14^th December.  Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel is priced at £49, with the complimentary engraving and serve included as part of the price. 

Notes: 

Engraving in-store and complimentary JDSB on the rocks is available at the two below stores: 

The Whisky Shop Manchester: 3 Exchange St, Manchester M2 7EA

10th Dec 12pm – 6pm

11th Dec 12pm – 6pm

The Whisky Shop London: 70 Piccadilly, London, W1J 8HP

12th Dec 1pm – 7pm

13th Dec 12pm – 6pm

14th Dec 12pm – 5pm 

The Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Serve:

– Ingredients –

2 parts Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel

– Instructions –

If desired, serve over ice. For an extra twist, add a dash of bitters and a twist of orange 

About Jack Daniel’s (http://www.jackdaniels.com)

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey-Based Ready-to-Drink Beverages.

Ladyburn 40 year old
Ladyburn was the shortest-lived distillery in Scotland, and is therefore one of the rarest malt whiskies you will find. If you can find it.  The Whisky Shop has acquired one of the last remaining casks of Ladyburn. Filled in 1974 and aged until its 40th birthday on 21st November 2014. Cask 89/199 No.74 has produced only 157 bottles. Now you’ve found it. Get one while you can.
£2500 Click here to buy

Jack Daniel’s Holiday Select 2014
2014 is the very first year in which Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett individually selected the Holiday Select barrels which were used to create this unique limited release. He has decided to showcase the depth and richness that a single barrel can offer and selected the most robust and complex whiskey he sampled.

£59 Click here to buy

Aultmore 12 year old
A little-known distillery situated in an area known as the Foggie Moss, between Keith and Buckie, Aultmore is finally emerging from its misty moorland to see the light of day as a range of single malts.
The Aultmore 12 year old showcases the fresh, grassy signature style of this distillery.

£50 Click here to buy

Glenfarclas 15 year old Gift Set
With greater complexity than the younger Glenfarclas, the 15 Years Old is a great whisky drinker’s whisky. It is bottled at 46% simply because Mr Grant ‘s grandfather preferred it at this strength. It’s still a family favourite. This stunning Glenfarclas gift pack comes with the award winning 21 year old and 25 year old miniatures – making it the complete Glenfarclas gift this Christmas!

£59 Click here to buy

December is here with just 17 shopping days left until Christmas. Christmas can certainly be a stressful time, something I know all too well having worked in retail as long as I have. For the past decade I’ve been putting together a Christmas gift guide to help our customers simplify their decision making process. Finding the right gift can be daunting, especially if you’ve not been indoctrinated into the world of whisky.

Our 2014 Christmas Gift Guide starts with unique gift packs, accessories and miniatures, all perfect for stocking stuffers. The meat of the gift guide though is my whisky recommendations. I’ve given both peated and unpeated offerings in 9 different price ranges from under $70 to well over $2000 per bottle. I hope it gives you a little inspiration and helps make your shopping experience that much more relaxed! Most of the whiskies on the list are available for sampling, just in case you want to try them yourself. So print this off and, with paper in hand, pop by to pay us a visit.

Our Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule is also out and open for registration. I’ve highlighted all the whisky and spirits tastings below. The full tasting schedule can be viewed on our website. Highlights include Scots Wae Hae! our annual celebration of Robert Burns and Whisky, the Islay Mini Festival (our own little Feis Isles!) and The Bourbon Trail which will feature slides from my recent whisky pilgrimage to Kentucky.

Finally the the MS Calgary Whisky Festival is coming early in January. Tickets are $99, are for a great cause and make an excellent gift. Don’t hesitate, see the side pannel. Buy your tickets by December 15th and you’ll be entered to win the early bird draw.

I hope you enjoy the Malt Messsenger Christmas Gift Guide.

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Issue
1. Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule is Now Online
2. December KWM Winetime is Online and in the Mail
3. 2015 Malt Messenger Christmas Gift Guide
4. MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update

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

2015 MS Calgary Whisky Festival

Thursday January 15 2015
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. Buy your tickets before December 15th and you’ll be entered in the draw to win the gift basket pictured above which is a $400 value and includes a sold out Silver Seal Glendronach 22 Year! $99

Buy Tickets Now

Winter 2015 KWM Tasting Schedule

A Range of Exciting Tastings Including a Mini Festival Dedicated to Islay!

You can view the full KWM Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule Online including all or our wine, whisky, beer and other spirit tastings. Here is a breakdown of our winter spirits tastings:

 1. Hello Darkness – Tuesday January 13 2015, 7PM – Good old sherried whisky is increasingly hard to come by, as demand for sherry is plummeting while that for Scotch whisky is soaring. We’ll sample six heavily sherried whiskies to tease out the darkness within. – $60
2. MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2015 – Thursday January 15, 7PM – The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies from over 30 presenters and a capacity of 500 participants.Tickets are going fast and are available exclusively from the MS Society. – $95
3. Lost in Translation – Thursday January 22 2015, 7PM – For nearly 100 years the Japanese have been making whisky in the Scottish style, albeit with their own twist. Their reputation is soaring, as some of their whiskies are among the finest in the world. – $75
4. Scots Wha Hae – Sunday January 25 2015 7PM – Caledonians Unite! It’s time to celebrate all things Scottish. Glendronach and BenRiach are the distilleries we’ll be focusing on for this our 9th annual Robbie Burns Supper. We’ll have bagpipes, poetry, haggis with neeps and tatties and six amazing single malts all from Glendronach and BenRiach distilleries, including some new exclusives to KWM! No previous whisky experience required. Location: Fort Calgary 750 9 Avenue, SE – $99
5. Bob Kyle’s Rare Drams – Thursday January 29 2015, 7PM – Don’t let the fact that Bob cheers for Dundee United get in the way of the fact that he puts on a good tasting, besides, he has the accent! We’ll sample whiskies from Glencadam, Tomintoul and Carn Mor. -$50
6. Classic Single Malts – Thursday February 5 2015, 7PM – 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. – $35
7. The Bourbon Trail – Tuesday February 10 2015, 7PM – Follow our whisky expert Andrew Ferguson on a virtual tour of Kentucky’s Bourbon country while sampling a range of carefully selected Kentucky whiskies. – $35
8. Rare Malts – Thursday February 19 2015, 7PM – Only the rarest whiskies, those more than 20 years of age or from closed distilleries are considered for this very special tasting. – $80
9. Islay Mini Festival – Thursday February 26 2015, 7PM – Islay’s annual Islay Festival, or ‘Feis Isle’, usually takes place in Scotland in May, but with so many peaty Islay malts available, why wait till May! Surely a cold February night will work just fine. – $40
10. The Whisky Isles – Tuesday March 10 2015, 7PM – Islay’s not the only island whisky made in Scotland. Join us as we journey to all the other whisky isles starting with Arran and ending on Orkney’s mainland. Tue Mar 10 – $50
11. The Irish are Coming! – Tuesday March 17 2015, 7PM – The Irish Are Coming! $35 Will you be celebrating Saint Paddy’s Day with us? Ah, it’s sure to be a right Irish treat. Irish beer and Irish whisky. Is there a better way to be putting on the green? – $35
15. Master Malts – Thursday March 26, 2015, 7PM – 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! – $99

Miniatures
1. Auchentoshan 12 Year 50ml – Auchentoshan’s flagship bottling in all its glory. $3.99
2. Big Peat 50ml – Same Big Peat blended Islay malt whisky with a dash or Port Ellen in it, much smaller bottle! – $10.99
3. Bowmore 12 Year 50ml – The distillery feels it is best paired with oysters, probably best not to put those in the stocking too! – $3.99
4. Glendronach 21 Year 50ml – If you think the full size bottle is bargain priced, check out the miniatures. Very low stock! – $7.99
5. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength 50ml – The only cask strength miniature in the market. – $10.99
6. Glenfarclas 40 Year 50ml – At this price it is almost the same price per ml as the full size bottle! A great whisky and a top notch stocking stuffer. – $55
7. Jura Superstition 50ml – Jura’s moderately peated expression is a perfect stocking stuffer. – $4.99

Gift Packs
1. KWM’s Wee Whisky Gift Box – We’ve taken four 50ml miniatures (Auchentoshan 12 Year, Bowmore 12 Year, Jura Superstition and Glendronach 21 Year Parliament) and tucked them into a Christmassy box, that you won’t event need to wrap. It’s all ready to go! – $29.99
2. Auchentoshan Collection – Three 50ml single malts from this Lowland distillery in a compact gift pack. – $25.99
3. Bowmore Collection – Three 50ml single malts from Islay’s oldest distillery. Bowmore 12, 15 and 18 year olds. – $25.99
4. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength, 12 & 15 Year – Glenfarclas’ entry level gift pack includes the world’s first cask strength whisky, the 105 and the 12 and 15 year olds. – $35.99
5. Glenfarclas 15, 21 & 25 Year – It’s not often you see gift packs featuring older whiskies like these, and the price is great! – $49.99
6. Kilchoman Gift Pack – Includes a full size bottle of Machir Bay and two Glencairn glasses, for about $5 more than the bottle alone! – $79.99
7. Tomatin Gift Pack – 12, 15 and 18 year olds in a compact stocking stuffer. – $22.99
8. Tomintoul Tri-Pack – This pack like the Glenfarclas has some mature malts in it, 10, 16 and 33 year olds! – $32.99
9. Scotch Malt Whisky Society New Members Kit – Much more than just a gift pack, this is your portal to membership in the World’s largest whisky club. The Society bottles single cask cask strength whiskies exclusively for its members and launches 7 new ones every month in Canada. For more info visit: www.smws.ca – $230.00

Accessories
1. Glencairn Glass – The classic glass for drinking whisky, specifically single malt Scotch whisky. – $15.99
2. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2015 – The most comprehensive list of tasting notes on world whisky updated annually. We will remove the dust jacket for you at no added cost. – $21.99
3. Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015 – The best annual reference on the world of Malt Whisky, highlighting all Scottish, Irish and Japanese malt whisky distilleries, as well as many of those in the world beyond. My favourite annual whisky book. – $29.99
4. Glencairn Cut Crystal Glass – Take the classic Glencairn glass and make it fancy. This elegant glass is a must for the connoisseur. If only it were available in Ron Burgundy’s day, he would certainly have swapped a tumbler for it. – $49.99
5. Glenfarclas an Independent Distillery – A wonderful book on Scotland second oldest family owned distillery. – $49.99

Whiskies Under $70
1. Bowmore Small Batch – Naked Bowmore, malty, grassy and briny; youth is its asset! – $54.99
2. Glenglassaugh Torfa – The first peated whisky to come out of Glenglassaugh may be young, but it is sweet, lightly peate and citric with white fruits. – $64.99
3. Compass Box Great King Street – This is an easy drinking crowd pleasing blend at a great price. – $49.99
4. Tomatin 12 Year French Oak – Sweet and creamy with lots of spice, this limited edition will not last long, especially at the price. – $66.99
5. Breuckelen 77 Rye & Corn Whiskey – A curiosity to be sure, 85% rye and 15% corn mash, matured in small batches. – $67.49

Whiskies Under $100
1. Tomatin Cu Bocan Sherry Ltd. Ed. – Big sherry meets big smoke and they live happily ever after. Nice addition. – $80.99
2. BenRiach 15 Year Madeira Finish – We used to stock this years ago as an exclusive, and it has come back, once again exclusively from KWM. Sweet spicy and very smooth! – $87.99
3. BenRiach 15 Year PX Finish – Also exclusive to KWM, this BenRiach is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry and is syruppy and fruity, but still soft and smooth. – $87.99
4. Hepburn’s Choice Braeval 12 Year – You don’t see Braeval, AKA Braes of Glenlivet bottled very often but this sherry matured independent bottlings stands tall. Rich, nutty and creamy with spices and dark fruits. – $87.99
5. Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Edition – Both classic Islay and Kilchoman with both the sweet Bourbon notes and the medicinal, salty peat shining through! – $99.99

Whiskies Under $150
1. Glendronach 2003 – Our latest cask, and 5th from Glendronach landed only 3 weeks after the 1993. Matured in PX Sherry it is a sweetly sherried malt and flying off the shelves. – $114.99
2. G&M Glentauchers 1994 – A malt you almost never see bottled, this stunner from Gordon & MacPhail caught our attention, as well as that of the 2014 Whisky Bible, 96.5pts. – $114.99
3. Whistle Pig 100/100 Straight Rye – Canadian rye whisky from right here in Alberta matured 5 years in new American oak and finished in Ex-Bourbon. Sweet, dark, decadent and spicy with layers of spice. – $119.99
4. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 526 – One of the oldest Arrans ever bottled, this KWM exclusive sherry cask is a delight with candied fruits, spices and a very smooth finish. – $129.99
5. Berry’s Aberlour 1994 KWM Cask – A very unusual Aberlour, in that there is no trace of sherry, with prominent Bourbon notes: honey, toasted oak and nutty tones. Bottled exclusively for KWM. – $139.99

Whiskies Under $200
1. Yoichi 15 Year – Our best selling Japanese whisky is one of our best drams under $200. Tropical with subtle smoke and lots of spice. – $144.99
2. Springbank Society Madeira 15 Year – You have to be a member to buy Springnbank Society bottlings, but membership is just a onetime fee away. This Madeira finish is Springbank at its finest. – $159.99
3. Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 – Finished in 80L Octave sherry casks this malt is more delicately sherried than its sister Mortlach bottling. Only six of 71 bottles left! – $179.99
4. Cadenhead Glen Garioch 1990 24 Year – Juicy and toasty the palate is surprisingly peated with lots of clean, crisp smoke – $195.99
5. Glendronach 1993 KWM – This 20 year old stunner from the hills north of Huntly has been bottled exclusively for KWM. It is deep and very fruity with lots of spice. – $199.99

Whiskies Under $300
1. Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 – Aged Bruichladdich is getting hard to come by these day, this 23 year old from a Refill Sherry Butt is an anomaly and an exceptional dram. Exclusive to KWM. – $234.99
2. Tasliker 25 Year 2011 – When this started to fly last week when we announced the price pending increase we snapped up a couple extra cases. Tropical fruits, clean salty smoke and classic Talisker cayenne spice. – $249.99
3. Signatory Bunnahabhain 1988 – This 25 year old was matured in a Refill Sherry Butt and have been very popular with our customers. Exclusive to KWM. – $274.99
4. Cadenhead Linkwood 1987 – This 26 year old Linkwood is the product of two Sherry butts, though the sherry influence is very subtle. Lush, coating and toasty with French baked goods, candied orange and melons; becomes more floral, with white chocolate and juicy oak. – $284.99
5. Highland Park Freya – The 3rd release in the Valhalla series is matured in American oak and is a big departure from the earlier two bottlings. Very limited and selling quickly! – $299.99

Whiskies Under $600
1. Yoichi 20 Year – More than just the big brother to the 15, this is the oldest core expression in the distillery’s range. Only 24 bottles came to Alberta, all to KWM, and just 3 remain. – $329.99
2. Signatory Caol Ila 1983 30 Year – A different single cask than the one we just sold out of, this one was matured in a Hogshead and bottled at 51.6%. Only 187 bottles, with just 6 coming to Canada exclusively to KWM. – $399.99
3. Black Gold Bunnahabhain 1995 – Mahogany in colour the whisky is 18 years old and a sherry monster. We only received 6 bottles and have just 2 left! – $399.99
4. Highland Park 30 Year – I remember when I could order this for the shop anytime I wanted. Now it’s not so easy to come by, we have just one bottle coming. Big fruit, balanced sherry, honey and peat. – $549.99
5. Glendronach Grandeur 24 Year – Batch 5 is yet a stunner, 48.9% from a small parcel of sherry casks. It was a hit at Ancient Malts. Notes of maple syrup, treacle, chocolate and classic sherry cask notes. Only a handful left! – $519.99

 Whiskies Under $750
1. Glencadam 1982 32 Year – Like drinking silk this very limited single cask of Glencadam showed very well at Ancient Malts. Lots of melon, white chocolate and toasty oak. – $629.99
2. BenRiach 1977 Cask 7114 – Only 12 bottles of this 37 Year Batch 11 release have come to Canada, exclusively to KWM. Matured in Sherry and Finished in Bourbon. Well received at Ancient Malts. – $574.99
3. BenRiach 1977 Cask 1891 – A 37 Year old Dark Rum finish, only 6 bottles have come to Canada, all to KWM. Notes of Demerara, boiled sweets, toffee and vanilla with berry fruits. – $574.99
4. BenRiach 1978 Cask 5469 – A 36 year old release from Batch 11 matured exclusively in ex-sherry, and bottled at 41.7%. Only 12 bottles for Canada, all from KWM. Fairground candy apple, cinnamon and delicate ground black pepper mellow to touches of fig, sultanas and stewed sweet barley. – $524.99
5. Glenglassaugh 1972 KWM – If you haven’t sampled our 39 year old single sherry cask of Glenglassaugh, make your way down to KWM for a sample. of the 150 bottles we had filled of the very tropical, lightly sherried whisky, only about two dozen reamain! – $699.99

Whiskies Under $2000
1. Glenfarclas 40 Year – This used to be $500 a bottle, and if you’re taken aback by the new price, $720, consider this, the price is going up again and will be over $1000 next year. They could sell everything they make to Taiwan, and are struggling to keep up with demand. At $720, this is still excellent value and a beuatiful Speyside malt. – $719.99
2. Brora 35 Year – Available by request this bottling of Brora is one of the finest ever from the distillery which closed in 1983. A fine expression and available by special order. – $949.99
3. Benromach 1969 42 Year – Sampled with Michael Urquhart at his farewell tasting in November, this is the last of the bottles we brought in exclusively this fall. Big Christmas Cake, spices, chocolate and some deep tropical fruits. – $1,299.99
4. G&M Port Ellen 1979 34 Year – I thought this was the last sub $2000 Port Ellen, but I’ve bee proven wrong, see below. Regardless this is a stunner at 34 years of age, from an unusual vintage, 1979. – $1,449.99
5. Executive Decisions Port Ellen 30 Year – Just when I thought we’d seen the last of the Laing family’s Port Ellen casks, and state as much in my newsletter, this pops up! – $1,649.99

Whiskies $2000 And Up
1. Bunnahabhain 40 Year – The star of our Ancient Malts tasting late last month, this rare whisky is all about finesse. Tropical with some faint maritime notes, it is a study in subtlety. – $2,899.99
2. Macallan ‘M’ – The pinnacle bottling of the 1824 Series now has company, see below. We’ve sampled this in store and it is a stunning dram, available by special order. The palate opens rich in wood spices, slowly showing all their viscosity. Wood smoke flits in and out. – $3,799.99
3. Macallan No. 6 – Is a celebration of the collaboration between Macallan and it sherry producers matured in first fill casks. Heavy and sumptuous. Like a rich fruit cake with raisin, dates and figs, apples, sultanas, orange; then ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and hints of clove. – $3,899.99
4. G&M Glen Grant 1952 60 Year – Just 2 of 85 decanters have found their way to Alberta of this Diamond Jubilee bottling. Matured in a single 1st fill sherry cask laid down just days before Elizabeth’s coronation, the whisky is very well balanced and soft for its advanced age, showing no signs of exhaustion. It scored 92pts from Whisky Advocate: “Superb mature nose with subtle whisky rancio, mixing fragrant mango with a little mint, rosewater, and waxiness; there’s even some custard and a whiff of woodsmoke before sandalwood brings back the exotic edge. The palate is delicate with an amazingly fresh acidity that becomes herbal (basil and tarragon).” and 92.5pts from the Whisky Bible. – $13,999.99

MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update

Thursday, January 15, 2015 w/ 2 Ticket Options

The Macallan Reflexion
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS
Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. New this year we are offering a VIP package, which will include a Macallan Master Class featuring a very rare and special bottling. The VIP Ticket is $149 (SOLD OUT) and the regular ticket $99. Only 40 VIP tickets are available!

Get your tickets now, they won’t last long.

Order tickets through the MS Society by clicking here!

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

Glenglassaugh 51 Year Old – 1963 Single Cask #3301

With the three distilleries The BenRiach Distillery Co Ltd now owns, Glenglassaugh has the oldest stock with some casks dating back to 1963. The oldest cask available from the distillery has been chosen for this very special release. Distilled in 1963 single cask #3301, a bourbon barrel was filled 15th February 1963 and left to slumber for an incredible 51 years before being bottled in 2014.

A stunning and historic release from Glenglassaugh distillery – each bottle has been hand numbered, is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Master Distiller Billy Walker and is housed in this beautiful hand crafted wooden presentation box.

£4750.00 (£3958.33 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glenglassaugh 51 Year Old – Vintage 1963

BenRiach 35 Year Old

Released to fill the void left from the now discontinued 30 year old BenRiach is this super premium 35 year old expression. Bottled at 42.5% vol and presented in this rather swanky whisky presention box.

£425.00 (£354.17 ex vat)

Click here to purchase BenRiach 35 Year Old

Glendronach Grandeur 24 Year Old Batch 006

Batch 6 of the Grandeur series from GlenDronach distillery has been specially selected by Master Distillery Billy Walker from from some of the oldest and most unique Oloroso sherry casks at GlenDronach. A 24 year old expresion bottled at 48.9% vol.

£297.50 (£247.92 ex vat)

Click here to purchase GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 6

CHRISTMAS PARCELS OUTTURN: PANEL PICKED PRESENTS

The Society’s Tasting Panel take enormous pleasure in uncovering truly exceptional and interesting single casks for our members. The only thing they enjoy more is sharing their thoughts with you and, judging by our selection of Panel picked presents, our nosers have been very good boys and girls this year.

Boasting 4 new Japanese bottlings (including 2 rare grains), 3 new distilleries, a long-lost friend from a closed distillery, a powerful 3yo bourbon and our oldest ever bottling from our first ever distillery, this bottling list is exceptional. There are 4 perfectly paired parcels and 4 spectacular singular bottles available, all bursting with flavour and very limited in numbers.

#happysharing

Spicy & Sweet Rollercoaster Pair

120.7

Sweet, fragrant and satisfying

Deep, rich & dried fruits
14 years old

UNUSUAL & DELICIOUS Japanese single cask malt from a first-fill bota corta

G12.1

“Oh so sweet”

EXTREMELY RARE Japanese single cask grain whisky from a re-charred hogshead.

Juicy, oak & vanilla
11 years old

120.7 & G12.1 for £229 BUY

*both bottles exclusively available in the pair

Meaty Peaty Trio

4.199

Boy scouts and bikers

Lightly peated
14 years old

Drinking tip: For the hip-flask at a wedding

53.216

BBQ in pine-clad dunes

Lightly peated
21 years old

Drinking tip: For your evening barbeque by the sea

3.234

Scallops cooked on a puffer shovel

Peated
16 years old

Drinking tip: Barbeque – with meat, fish or marshmallows

4.199, 53.216 & 3.234 for £169 BUY

*all three bottles exclusively available in the pair

Sweet Seduction Pair

24.127

Northern Lights

Spicy & sweet
23 years old

A sweet dram matured in a refill bourbon hogshead from a very popular distillery.

25.66

Bette Davis doing DIY

Extremely rare example from a CLOSED DISTILLERY

Spicy & sweet
23 years old

24.127 & 25.66 for £209 BUY

*both bottles exclusively available in the pair

Tongue-tingling Twosome

2.91

Buck’s Fizz and Gewurtztraminer

Young & spritely
12 years old

Drinking tip: Could liven up jaded senses or taste-buds.

5.42

Bathed in a bakers shop

Juicy, oak & vanilla
13 years old

Drinking tip: At a christening perhaps?

2.91 & 5.42 for £109 BUY

*both bottles exclusively available in the pair

Browse New Outturn

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!

Paul is chatting to Merry Beth Tomaszewski, Co-Founder/VP. MB Roland Distillery. 

http://www.mbrdistillery.com/

MB ROLAND DISTILLERY 137 BARKERS MILL RD PEMBROKE, KY 42266

Merry Beth, can you give me a brief rundown on the distillery.

A; MB Roland Distillery is a completely “grain to glass” craft distillery in Pembroke, Christian Co. KY, using local white corn to hand make a very unique “distillation & barrel proof” Kentucky Bourbon. The distillery was founded by myself (“MB”) and Paul Tomaszewski in 2009 as Kentucky’s first completely “grain to glass” craft distillery. Paul is a native of south eastern Louisiana and arrived to the area via nearby Ft Campbell, while MB is a local native. An Amish dairy farm came up for sale and proved to be a wonderful foundation for a Kentucky craft distillery.

Why at this location?

A; One of the major benefits of the location is the proximity to a local grain supplier, Christian County Grain, located in nearby Pembroke. The operation started out with Paul as the one and only full-time distiller in 2009. Since then our team has grown to more than 14 total employees, including myself coming over full time. The one constant with us with both our production process and our location is that we love what we do and strive to make that come through in our products, the distillery, and our onsite events.

How do you make your whiskey?

A; There is no minimum aging time for whiskey, but for certain whiskies (like bourbon or rye) to be designated as “straight,” they must be aged in the barrel for at least two years. However, there is one whiskey that, by law, does not need to be aged; corn whiskey. In fact, IF corn whiskey is aged, it can only be aged in used, charred oak, or toasted oak barrels. Unlike most other grain whiskies, corn whiskey also needs to be at least 80% corn, while bourbon, rye, and other whiskies need only to be at least 51% of their respective major grains. There are some specifics for the type of barrels that must be used (new vs. used charred, toasted, etc.) for certain whiskies, and that’s where it starts to get confusing. Bourbon is a whiskey that must be produced in America, distilled from at least 51% corn, and aged in new, charred oak barrels. There are some other specifics, but the main idea is that it’s American, corn-based and aged in new, charred oak. There is no requirement for bourbon to be made in Kentucky. However, 95% of all bourbon is made in Kentucky. At MB Roland Distillery, in addition to our bourbon we take pride in making other unique whiskies made a typical Kentucky distillery. We’ve made everything from our “Black Patch Whiskey” to a wheat-based whiskey. There’s no end to the variations and we’ll be trying out new things anytime we get a chance or an excuse to do so.

What is your description of moonshine? A; My description? Paul; sorry, US Moonshine – my cousins in Ireland make their own! A; Unlike whiskey, moonshine has no legal requirements. In fact, when you really get down to it, moonshine is simply ILLEGAL distilled alcohol. Over here in Kentucky, we take our moonshine seriously, so if you do a little looking into the “art of moonshine,” you’ll find our “True Kentucky Shine” is just like the real deal. First of all, it’s made with what we consider a true moonshine recipe, 50% corn and 50% cane sugar, hence the name “True Kentucky Shine.” Due to us using some sugar in the mash, it can’t be called whiskey. We don’t distil our shine to a pure alcohol (there’s an ethanol plant 5 miles away producing grain alcohol at 200 proof for your gas tank if you’re looking for proof as a sign of quality), we want some flavour to come through in the spirit itself. The flavour of our shine has influences from both the corn and the sugar, so it’s really in it’s own league when compared to an all-grain recipe. Furthermore, we only use white, food-grade corn.

Can you tell me about the equipment?

A; We opened 5 years ago with a 100 gallon pot still. That tiny still worked night/day until February of 2014. We now have a 600 gallon stripping still & a 300 gallon finishing still. The original 100 gallon still is now a water fountain gracing the front lawn of the gift shop. We also use a basic boiler system and have a 600 gallon mash tun. We double distil our product, stripping the whiskey on the 600 gallon still using a unique method for our secondary distillation, incorporating previous batch low wines to attain a lower proof finished spirit for a very full flavour.

Technical time; where did you get the stills from and the other equipment?

A; The stills & mash tun came from Trident Stills.

What made you select them?

A; We’ve known Jesse, the owner & maker for a number of years and knew he would make a product that would be reliable and that he would stand behind.

What will be the annual total litres distilled?

A; We currently distil approximately 40,000 litres per year, but we have the capacity to grow into 80,000 litres annually.

Where do you source your casks?

A; Kelvin Cooperage

Can you try and explain the state laws on alcohol? A; I’d certainly try, but those laws depend on what type of alcohol you’re selling and in what capacity. Beer, wine or spirits, liquor store, restaurant, distillery, brewery, winery or distributor. So you can see, that’s a long conversation needed over a nice pour…or two.

You offer tours I believe?

A; Certainly! We are open 10 AM – 6 PM Monday through Saturday Central Time and give tours on the hour.

Have you any favourite Scottish whisky? Or any whisky from around the world?

A; My husband and I enjoy quite a few Scotch whiskies, most notably Laphroaig.

How many different whiskies do you think you have tasted during your life?

A; That’s a tough one. I developed a palate for whiskies late in the game, so I can’t say I’ve tasted hundreds like many I know. But I’ve tasted enough to know good whiskies. I think that’s probably the best answer.

What Kentucky whiskey/bourbon would you recommend to someone who is a novice?

A; As a member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, I can (and will) recommend many quality bourbons from various producers. However, I think Makers Mark is a good entry level Kentucky Bourbon.

What’s your most memorable experience in the industry?

A; Having our bourbon become so popular that it sells out within 30 minutes of release at the gift shop. While we are infinitesimal in the whiskey world, our bourbon has garnered an ardent local following. It is so exciting and personally satisfying to know that you’ve helped to create a spirit and demand for that spirit keeps growing. We’re making certain to grow as well.

Is there a best mixer for your drinks?

A;  Personally, I love Ginger Ale for our non-bourbon spirits! But if it’s bourbon, give it to me neat; meaning straight with no ice or water, just pour it in a glass and put it in front of me. At room temperature, please.

Merry Beth, many thanks for the time today, as mentioned previously, we are aiming to arrange a Kentucky/Tennessee whiskey tour in the future, would you be open to one of our tours dropping by? A; We would be honoured to have you at MB Roland Distillery.

Paul, I’ve answered all the questions to the best of my ability. Hopefully you will be able to come by the distillery one day soon! While I would love to send some of our Kentucky Bourbon all the way to Scotland, Kentucky doesn’t allow us to ship out of state! (see above) Regretfully, it is going to have to wait until you are able to make that trip in person, or Kentucky changes its law to let us ship our spirits (which I certainly hope happens!).

In the meantime, I hope we keep you entertained via Facebook. We also are on Twitter & Instagram if you care to follow us (@mbrdistillery).

Take care & cheers!

Merry Beth Tomaszewski

Co-Founder/VP

MB Roland Distillery

Paul McLean; http://www.mcleanscotland.com/  & http://www.angelswhiskyclub.com/

Paul was chatting to Kevan Fraser, General Manager (at Eden brewery & distillery, near St Andrews).

Q; What started you along this whisky road when you have a successful beer operation? A; It seemed the next logical step for us to progress in to distilling. Looking back at the history of our site it was a brewery and before that a distillery owned by the Haig family between 1810 – 1882 so its nice to be restoring the site back to its original use.

Q; talking of the beer, how is this going? A; The beers are going down well we are in the process of increasing capacity to keep up with demands with lots of interest in the export market.

Q; sorry, back to the whisky – Paul Mc’s note; wasnee my fault, he kept giving me beers as we chatted! – who has been involved during the whisky start up process? A; We have been consulting with David and Tony from Strathearn who are great

Q; where did the stills and equipment come from and why? A; From Hoga in Portugal to make the great 1000L Stills and do this in the small time frame we were looking for.

Q; where will the casks come from? And what size? A; We get casks from all over our PX and Sherry casks from Toneleria J.L. Rodriguez as a sherry finish will be our standard finish. But we will source casks from all over too try new and exciting finishes too.

Q; will you have the opportunity to “finish” differently? A; Yes we will and as we are all small batch gives us great flexible to experiment and try new things.

Q; who is the master distiller? (whisky) A; Scott Ferguson is the head of our distilling.

Q; will you be selling casks from day one? A; We are selling casks but only a limited number each year.

Q; I think also you mentioned new make sales, can you expand on this? A; We are looking at perhaps releasing a small amount of new make spirit to show people the progression of the spirit with the smaller octaves that mature at a faster rate than the larger counter parts.

Q; what will be the annual volume of whisky? A; 80,000L

Q; your plans are small but quality distilling? A; Yes Our aim is to create the best small-batch whisky in the world, alongside our award-winning craft beer and gin from a single, small site.

Q; so when do you expect the first dram to be ready? A; We expect our first dram to be ready in May 2018 Q; have you completed the label design and bottle shape? A; We are almost there but we have plenty time to fine tune the design.

Q; What whiskies have you been involved with over the years that you would consider extra special? In fact what is your background? A; I have always had a love for whisky , Beer and gin. But I built up my knowledge of whisky while managing the Dunvegan in St Andrews which had a great selection of malt whisky to offer all the golfers after the round on the Old Course

Q; Relaxing at home what whisky would you pour yourself? Same for a beer? A; At the moment I have been enjoying Edradour – Ruby Port cask matured 10yo, Beer of the moment just now is Siren Brewery – Soundwave IPA

Q; what is your least favourite part of the job ? A; Paper work not the best part but is essential

Q; what is your favourite part of the job? A; tours showing people round our small set up and sharing our passion and vision for what we are doing is what I enjoy most I am a people person and love meeting new people every day.

FINALLY … Q; what are the future plans at Eden for both beer and whisky? (you mentioned a gin and a whisky room, more warehousing etc etc) – A; The plans are really exciting looking to try new things and really push the boundaries in beer whisky and gin! We have also created whisky & gin experiences where people can come down and see what we are doing here at Eden. Mill and be a part of it.

http://www.mcleanscotland.com/ http://www.angelswhiskyclub.com/

“FROM DREAM TO DRAM” KINGSBARNS DISTILLERY OFFICIALLY OPEN 

The Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre officially opened its doors to the public on Monday 1 December. The first visitor was the aptly named Mr. New, who lives locally and has watched the build with interest over the past year and a half.

Located in The East Neuk of Fife, Scotland and overlooking the world-renowned Kingsbarns Championship Golf Course, the arrival of this single malt distillery to the area officially marries together two of Scotland’s finest exports, golf and whisky and is the newest Lowland whisky distillery in the St Andrews area.

Director William Wemyss and Distillery Founder Douglas Clement marked the opening of the Distillery on St Andrews Day (Sunday 30 November) with an official plaque unveiling at a private event attended by industry leaders, close friends and family.

Internationally acclaimed musician James Yorkston who is from the area celebrated the occasion by performing an intimate set including a song penned specially for the occasion.

Speaking on behalf of the Wemyss family, Director William Wemyss commented:

“Since we bought the Kingsbarns project in 2013, it has been a very exciting year for us.  Building a whisky distillery is a once in a generation opportunity and we are looking forward to playing our part in bringing a reinvigoration to the Kingdom of Fife.”

The Scottish Government also supported the development with a European Food Processing and Marketing grant. Food Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“I’d like to congratulate the Wemyss family and their investors for creating and opening The Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre here in Fife. This will provide a fantastic added tourist attraction for the many thousands of golf lovers who flock to the ‘Home of Golf’ at St Andrews each year.

“The Scottish Government, which provided support for this project through the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation Grant Scheme, welcomes this new distillery to the family of Scottish Craft Distilleries. As well as creating jobs, it will also further enhance the area in terms of tourism activity, bringing Whisky aficionados and golfers to this part of Fife.

“2015 is the Year of Food and Drink in Scotland: a time for us to celebrate our rich natural larder and incredible offering of some of the finest luxury products in the world. Our whisky is second to none and I have every confidence that The Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre will enrich our reputation for exceptional whisky offerings even further. I wish the Wemyss family the very best of luck in their endeavor.”

The new Kingsbarns Single Malt Scotch whisky will be classified in the Lowlands region and available after a minimum of three years maturation in oak casks.  Fife grown malted barley has been secured to make the spirit and it will be matured predominantly in ex-Bourbon casks.  The visitor centre offers a unique opportunity for guests to watch the process first-hand and be part of the history of the Kingsbarns Single Scotch Malt Whisky in the making.

Key members of the team include Peter Holroyd as Distillery Manager and the Distillery Founder Douglas Clement as Visitor Centre Manager.

Tours can be arranged by contacting: +44(0)1333 451300.

http://www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com/

@KingsbarnsDist

Notes to Editors:

• The Wemyss family is from Scotland and their historic family seat is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.
• The family already own Wemyss Malts which is an independent bottler with a whisky range including the blended malt whisky range comprising: The Spice King, The Peat Chimney and The Hive; single malt single cask bottlings and the blended Scotch named Lord Elcho after one of the Wemyss family’s ancestors all of which will be avilable for tasting at The Kingsbarns Distillery.
• The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include boutique gin Darnley’s View together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.
• The Wemyss family has a historical link with the site of the new Kingsbarns Distillery as the 7^th Earl of Wemyss actually owned part of the Cambo Estate between 1759 and 1783.
• The Wemyss family was supported in this exciting new development with a European Food Processing and Marketing grant via the Scottish Government for £670K through the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme for the Renovation and conversion of an existing building into a distillery, together with the purchase and installation of a 1.5 tonne mash turnkey whisky distillation system.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery Releases Limited Edition Vanilla Bean Infused Whiskey     

Release is Extremely Limited, Mostly Only in Virginia

Fredericksburg, VA. (Dec. 3, 2014) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery announces the last release in its Abraham Bowman line for 2014, the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Vanilla Bean Infused Whiskey. This new whiskey was aged a total of seven years and six months in the barrel.

Barrels of A. Smith Bowman bourbon were infused with chopped up Madagascar vanilla beans in October of 2012. Beans were added at various levels and tasted every ten weeks to observe how their flavor interacted with the bourbon as it aged. After a little over two years, all of the barrels were married together for bottling.

“This marriage was a bit challenging to get it to come out just right,” said Brian Prewitt, master distiller.  “While the Abraham releases are experimental, we always want to make sure they exceed our expectations and those of our fans’. With some careful marrying of the various barrels in this experiment, we were able to make the flavor, mouth feel, and color exactly in line with what we were hoping for in this release.”

The whiskey has been described as, “Beautiful copper color. Sweet vanilla, candied nuts, toffee, hints of maple, and dried fruit in the aroma. Sweet oak, vanilla, and dark spice in the flavor with a long, lingering finish.”About A. Smith BowmanAs a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com .

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Vanilla Bean Infused Whiskey is part of a series of limited edition whiskies, named after Abraham Bowman, the commander of the 8^th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. Each edition of the Abraham line is a different expression and a new release is offered a few times a year.  The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Vanilla Bean Infused Whiskey went on sale at the end of November. However, quantity is very limited and it will mostly be available only in Virginia.  It is 90 proof. Suggested retail pricing is $69.99.

About A. Smith Bowman

Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com

The Whisky Exchange Golden Ticket giveaway – it could be you!

Kat modelling the soon-to-be-sought-after TWE Golden Ticket

‘I think,’ he said quietly, ‘I think … I’ll have just one more of those chocolate bars. The same kind as before, please.’

‘Why not?’ the fat shopkeeper said, reaching behind him again and taking another Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight from the shelf. He laid it on the counter.

Charlie picked it up and tore off the wrapper … and suddenly … from underneath the wrapper … there came a brilliant flash of gold.

Charlie’s heart stood still.

‘It’s a Golden Ticket!’ screamed the shopkeeper, leaping about a foot in the air.

If, like me, you enjoyed Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in your youth, then you’ll remember the magical feeling Charlie felt when he found Willy Wonka’s fifth and final Golden Ticket. Well, we’d like to recreate that feeling for five of our customers, so we’ve designed our very own Golden Ticket – and we’ll be popping them into five random parcels throughout December.

If you find one, then congratulations – you’ve just won a bottle of The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 – the hard-to-find Japanese whisky that’s on everyone’s lips after being named World Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible 2015.

We have had a staggering level of interest in the whisky since Jim’s award – 10,000 customers have asked to be notified if we get hold of more stock. So, in an attempt to be as fair as possible, we have decided to give away all six bottles of the Sherry Cask 2013 we have recently acquired, rather than sell them.

The sixth bottle will be raffled at our London Bridge shop at Vinopolis, and what’s more, 10 runners-up will also win a bottle of the highly rated Yamazaki 12 Year Old (we’ll pick 10 email addresses at random). All you have to do is place an online order with us by 31 December, open your TWE parcel carefully…and if you see a flash of gold, you will have even more reason to celebrate this Christmas. Find out more here, and good luck!