Archive for July, 2017
Springbank 25 Year Old 2014 at The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News
This rare Springbank has been matured for a quarter of a century using a combination of sherry and bourbon casks before being married together in port casks. Limited to just 1,200 bottles. The nose offers smoky notes, salt, peat, and explosive aromas of red fruits! In the mouth, the complexity and depth of this incredible single malt is expressed, particularly with the aging in Port casks: preserved plums, currants and orange jam. This Springbank combines sweetness, richness, and complexity.
Inchmoan 1992 at The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News
Part of the peated Island Collection from Loch Lomond Whiskies. Distilled in 1992 in the distillery’s unique straight neck pot still and collected at a high abv strength. Matured in refill bourbon casks to allow the spicy peat and fruit flavours of the spirit to combine with softer bourbon influences.
The nose has a gentle medicinal quality with peat, toasted oak, vanilla and peppermint. The palate is balanced with the peat and fruit distillery character combining with subtle oak, resulting in pineapple, vanilla and cinnamon. The finish is long and warming with cinnamon and elegant oak aspects.
Ralfy Publishes Ralfy Review #663 – Scotch Whisky News
Ralfy shares a Tempestuous malt-moment with Ralfy Review 663 – Bowmore Tempest 10yo @ 55.6%vol (Edition 3)
On hiatus, but some things need to be said. . . by Davin de Kergommeaux – Canadian Whisky News
Note:
Canadian Whisky News has been on hiatus for some months now. A new edition of my Canadian whisky book is coming this fall and I want to start fresh with a different format. However, the recent federal budget is just screaming for attention so I am posting an open letter to the MPs and Senators who must approve it.
Just because my newsletter has been quiet does not mean I haven’t been busy. So busy, in fact that I have asked my writing partner, Blair Phillips to take over the Canadian editor role at Whisky Magazine. I am still writing regularly for the magazine, but Blair is the point man now for Canada. And he has started off on a high note with a profile of Wayne Gretzky’s wonderful new distillery and whiskies.
And finally, this is Canada’s150th year as a nation – Canada150 and the whisky industry has stepped up with some marvellous new releases. Almost every day in 2017 I am featuring a different Canadian whisky on my Twitter and Instagram feeds. Check them out daily @davindek.
Open letter to legislators regarding automatic alcohol tax increases
Recent reports that Minister Morneau’s 2017 budget has generated significant debate in the Senate are very encouraging, as I strongly oppose the escalator clause in his proposed new approach to taxing beverage alcohol. For a start, tying tax rates to inflation strikes me as wrong-headed given the Minister’s responsibility to manage inflation itself.
I have joined the Cork the Tax movement because I think this new tax approach seriously threatens a very lucrative industry that contributes greatly to Canada’s economy. Although my primary interest is in Canada’s spirits industry (I make my living writing about it), I am heartened to see that for the first time in my recollection, opposition to this tax scheme has brought normally competitive beer, wine and spirits producers, and restaurateurs together in a common cause.
Distilling spirits is still profitable in Canada, but considerably less so than it is in other major producing countries such as the U.S. and Scotland. With multi-national ownerships, it is becoming more and more difficult for industry decision makers to justify investment in Canada when the same dollars invested in distilleries abroad return greater profits.
Now we see a new tax, one that the Minister tells us adds just 7 cents to the price of a bottle of spirits. But this is a misleading number because the provinces tax the federal taxes so Minister Morneau’s 7 cents translate into about 20 cents a bottle in Ottawa, where I live. We know that most spirits buyers are price sensitive. An increase of twenty cents will mean fewer bottles purchased. And this comes as we prepare to legalize marijuana (I don’t smoke, but I don’t disapprove), an alternative recreational lubricant that is very easy to grow at home, thus providing a less expensive and tax-free alternative.
Spirits are already under pressure, and now Minister Morneau proposes to increase the prices every year with no discussion in Parliament. This will reduce revenues in bars and restaurants as people either buy one drink fewer, or reduce the size of their tips. This in turn hurts not just middle class consumers, like me, but also the servers who often are at the bottom end of the pay scales. The alternative is for restaurant and bar owners to absorb the tax in order to keep custom, but this is going to squeeze them in an already tight industry. The restaurant business is already in steep decline in the U.S. and we know that trend will soon arrive here in Canada.
The insidious element of this tax increase though, is the escalating clause. This means that the prices of spirits will go up and up forever. People have short memories and when they see three price increases in a two-year period, they will look elsewhere for their spirits.
We know that bootlegging is already a problem in Canada and we know that rising prices are a barrier to legal sales. Let’s not inadvertently create a new prohibition mentality, because illegal sources and distribution networks are already in place.
The last time beverage alcohol excise duties were indexed (1981 through 1986), 11 distilleries closed across Canada and the industry shifted its focus away from international markets. This in turn led to a global decline with Canadian whisky sales falling from second place to fourth. Despite promising recent gains, we are still now in recovery mode.
The Minister minimizes the impact of this new tax rate to 7 cents per bottle, but the immediate effects are at least three times that in Ontario and the long-term effects could well be a decline in legal spirits sales and revenues, including taxes. I greatly appreciate your role as Senators and Members of Parliament in making sure Canadians are taxed fairly and that each change in tax rate is subject to debate. That the Minister believes he must increase spirits taxes is one matter, but each time he does so, you should have an opportunity to vote on it. Canadians deserve no less.
Blair Phillips: Canada’s voice at Whisky Magazine
Something had to give. Five years ago, writing about Canadian whisky could be a lonely job. However, the past year or two have seen so much interest that I just could not keep up. A few years ago, shortly after I took on the Contributing Editor role at Whisky Magazine, Blair Phillips and I began working as writing partners on the magazine. He’d interviewed me for a web-based piece he was writing for Zane Lamprey’s Drinking Made Easy, the U.S. television show. Sometime just after Christmas Blair agreed to take over the Canadian Contributing Editor position, and wow, what a kick-off. His first assignment? the new Wayne Gretzky distillery near Niagara-on-the-Lake. We toured the distillery together, and spent the better part of an afternoon in the maturation warehouses sampling works in progress and experimental spirits. Then Blair was off to write. Check out his story in the upcoming issue 144 of Whisky Magazine.

As I said, I am still active with the magazine and a number of others too, so please, p.r. people, let’s stay in touch. At the same time, you may want to add Blair to your list of key spirits writers. He’s based in Toronto and is looking for story ideas.
Canadian Whisky Second Edition:
The New Portable Expert
So much has changed in the world of Canadian Whisky that the time has come to update my book. Many thanks to Appetite by Random House for supporting a new edition. Here is how they describe it:
This fully updated and revised edition of the award-winning Canadian Whisky invites you on a journey across Canada and back through time to discover the story of this unique spirit.
Independent whisky expert Davin de Kergommeaux weaves a compelling narrative, beginning with the substance of Canadian whisky – grains, water, and wood – and details the process of how it’s made and how to taste it. He traces the fascinating history of the country’s major distilleries and key visionaries, and introduces the present-day players, big and small, who are shaping the industry through both tradition and innovation.
Newly designed, and now including a map of Canada’s whisky distilleries, over 100 up-to-date tasting notes, and a handy tasting checklist, Canadian Whisky reflects the latest research on flavour development and the science of taste. At once authoritative and captivating, this is a must-have resource for beginners, enthusiasts, and aficionados alike.
The new edition will be in stores on October 3 and is available now for pre-order on Amazon. I would be grateful for opportunities to meet whisky fans and sign books for clubs, shows and community events across the fall and winter.
Malt Messenger No. 74 – Canada 150 Sale, New Whiskies & Tastings – Whisky News
I hope this email finds you well, and that you and yours have a very Happy Canada Day weekend. We have been celebrating our great Nation’s 150th Birthday with Canadian tastings all week: Beer was on Tuesday, Whisky was last night and Wine is this evening. We are also marking the occasion with a sale on all things Canadian all weekend long. The sale is in-store and online and the details are below. I hope you’ll raise a glass to our Nation’s birth with one of our native spirits!
We have two new exclusive bottlings of whisky in the shop, a very cool Blended Scotch Whisky and a new Bourbon. The Blend is a very special whisky collaboration between ourselves and Compass Box. The Compass Box Kensington Wine Market 25th Anniversary Blend is a stunning whisky, bottled at a very low cask strength of 45%, owing to the inclusion of some very old grains. It was a hit at the launch tastings we held for it with John Glaser two weeks back. We also have our first ever exclusive Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel Bourbon. The barrel is currently sitting on the shop floor while we decide what to do with it. Beer? Whisky? The world is our oyster…
Some other exciting new whiskies have just landed including the Bruichladdich Black Art 5.1, which is in my humble opinion the best yet. We have received both 200ml and 700ml bottles. KWM has the Calgary exclusive on the Ledaig 19 Year Marsala Finish, which has been a big hit with the staff and customers. Only 30 bottles are coming to Alberta, 24 of them to KWM. We were also offered 4/10 bottles of the Dewar’s 30 Year Ne Plus Ultra, a whisky normally only available at Duty Free (for about $175 more…).
We’ve got a pair of limited availability Japanese whiskies back in stock: The Nikka 12 Year and The Super Nikka. Both have become tightly allocated owing to the shortage of Japanese whisky. They won’t last long. And last but not least there is the new to Alberta Glen Garioch 1995 Vintage. We are looking to crack a bottle soon, so there will shortly be some KWM tasting notes on this one. I hope you enjoy this full edition of the Malt Messenger. Keep your eyes open for the Summer Tasting Schedule which should be out next week. And from me and everyone at KWM I would like to again wish you and yours a very Happy Canada Day weekend.
Slàinte!
In This Edition
- Canada 150 Sale
- The First Two New Summer Tastings
- NEW Compass Box Kensington Wine Market 25th Anniversary Exclusive Blend
- NEW Wyoming Whiskey KWM Single Barrel Bourbon
- Introducing Bruichladdich Black Art 5.1
- Introducing Ledaig 19 Year Marsala
- Introducing Dewar’s 30 Year Ne Plus Ultra Blend
- Limited Japanese Whiskies Back in Stock
- Introducing Glen Garioch 1995
Andrew FergusonKensington Wine Market
PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1
NEW Compass Box KWM 25th Anniversary Blend
This is one of our most exciting exclusive whiskies ever… It is a Compass Box Blend that we’ve created in collaboration with John Glaser of Compass Box. The whisky was inspired by some of John’s greatest hits, and it is stunning.
$160
Canada 150 SALE!
Today through Monday in-store and online!
We are marking Canada’s 150th Birthday with a sale on all Canadian wine, whisky, beer and gin. Save 15-25% on all in-stock Canadian wine, 10-25% on all in-stock Canadian whisky and 10% on all Canadian beer and gin. Pop into the shop or checkout the website to browse the deals!
We have one feature whisky special. Save 25% on the Canadian Rockies 21 Year while supplies last! Regular $68, this weekend it is $51…
This Canadian whisky, sourced from an Alberta distillery, was originally only for export to Taiwan. But demand was such that the producer was good enough to make some available in Alberta. The whisky was selected and blended with the consultation of Davin de Kergommeaux, the foremost authority on Canadian whisky.
Producer Tasting Note by Davin de Kergommeaux
: “Nose: A complex synthesis of red cedar, sweet plums, white pepper, and lilacs rides a surging wave of butterscotch. Rich and full yet oh so elegant and clean with wafting vanilla and whiffs of sweet baking spices. A teasing citrus zestiness tickles the nose. The full bouquet takes time to develop and patience is rewarded. Palate: Sweet and sour kumquats, lots of spicy heat, and subtle hints of cedar move quickly to the foreground, only to be replaced by creamy caramel on the second sip. Hot chili peppers and sweet baking spices bathe in the richness of buttery corn. The whisky breathes lilacs, mint, vanilla, and hot black pepper with tinges of anise, all the while maintaining its elegance and subtlety. Then earthy tones and new-cut wood lead it in another direction. As the peppery temperature rises, a soothing creamy cushion mellows it. Slightly pulling tannins turn to quintessential cleansing Canadian grapefruit pith as the flavours move towards their finish. Multi-layered, very subtle, complex, and ever-changing. Finish: Medium-long to long. A refreshing citrus pith that moves freely through oak, toffee, fresh flowers, cedar, and hot spices as it slowly fades. Spicy, creamy and so soft. Empty Glass: Butterscotch, sweet kumquats, suggestions of oak, cloves, and lilacs.”
Call 403-283-8000 to register, or register online!
Introducing Dewar’s 30 Year Ne Plus Ultra
The Oldest Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky
We were offered two 2packs of this 30 year old Blended Scotch Whisky. I didn’t know much about it, but some research online shows it is a Duty Free release, and that it runs up to $500… It is the oldest blend in the Dewar’s range. The label is a revival of one used by the brand in the 1800s, reserved for its most special bottlings. The whisky’s name is Latin for “The Ultimate”.
From the Producer: “Finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a sweet and incredibly smooth finish.”
Dewar’s 30 Year Ne Plus Ultra Blended Scotch – 40% – PX Sherry Finish – Producer Tasting Note: “Perfect balance of soft fruits and rich spices with creamy notes of vanilla, plump vine fruits and citrus. The smooth finish lingers with a hint of cocoa and coffee.” $325
The First of Two New Summer Tastings
There are more to come!
We’ve been Cadenhead’s exclusive retailer in Canada for the last 3 years and over that time we’ve seen an incredible range of whiskies. Perhaps it is the firms plucky independent spirit, or the extravagant buying of casks by its owner Hedley Wright in the 60′-00’s, but of the more than 100 different Cadenhead Small Batch releases we’ve brought into the store in over 3 years, not more than 1 or 2 have disappointed! In fact, Cadenhead is in our opinion, one of the most consistently good independent bottlers, with very competitive prices. As part of Kensington Wine Market’s 25th Anniversary celebrations, we have purchased an exclusive single cask of Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Moray 1992, bottled at 25 years of age. Cameron will be here to lauch said cask and lead our guests through a range of interesting, rare and very tasty Cadenhead Small Batch bottlings.
The name Samaroli may not be familiar to many of you, but the firm is one of the world’s most respected independent bottlers. Our own Evan Eckersley and Jonathan Bray of Secret Spirits will be your guide for a range of 4-5 Samarolis and two other interesting and aged single malts from Jonathan’s portfolio.
- Rare Old Cadenhead Malts with Cameron McGeachy – Friday July 14, 7PM – Join us for a range of 8 Cadenhead Small Batch bottlings, including a new 25 year old 1992 exclusive single cask bottled for KWM’s 25th Anniversary. The range with highlight the incredible depth and variety of casks which Cadenhead bottles from and the exceptional quality of their whiskies. – $50
- Samaroli Single Malt Whisky & Friends – Thursday July 27, 7PM – 7 whiskies will be sampled in this tag team tasting of malt whiskies up to 26 years of age… Evan and Jonathan will be your spirit guides on this quest! – $40
Call 403-283-8000 to register, or register online!
New Compass Box Kensington Wine Market 25th Anniversary Blend
One of our most exciting exclusive whiskies ever!
This whisky is a project who’s origins stretch back nearly a decade. At the time Compass Box was making its name as the most innovative blender of Scotch whisky. I was impressed by their unique offerings like Spice Tree, Hedonsim Maximus, Double Single and the Peat Monster. Kensington Wine Market had been bottling single casks of whiskies for a couple of years, and it was around this time that for the first time I had the idea of creating my own custom blend for KWM. About five years later I broached the idea with John Glaser, the founder and visionary behind Compass Box. He was interested but not in a position to act on it.
While on a trip to London in March of 2016, with Kensington Wine Market’s 25th Anniversary looming, I broached the subject again with John and the Compass Box team. Could we collaborate to produce a bespoke blend to mark KWM’s 25th Anniversary. Well the answer was clearly yes… over the space of about a year we tinkered with the blend until both John and I were happy with it. The final product has greatly exceeded my expectations.
The whisky is bottled at a cask strength of 45%. The reason the strength was so low is that it contained a large proportion of old grain whiskies whose strength had diminished greatly. The body consists of leftover heavily peated malt from a batch of Flaming Heart left to mature in cask and some old sherried malt. Components of the whisky have been matured in American Oak, Ex-European Oak Sherry and French oak giving it a rich and complex palate.
Compass Box Kensington Wine Market 25th Anniversary Blend – 45% – My Tasting Note
“Nose: silky and sultry, soft vanilla and Earl Grey tea creme brule; savoury hints of pork belly, mouth watering gentle peat and salted caramel; clean tendrils of Manuka honey a touch of beeswax. Palate: rich, fruity and smoky with building spice, rich dried fruits and dark chocolate; lots of layers, the decadent spices being the most dominant, followed by dried fruits: ranging from apricots and pineapple to raisins and figs; there is a touch of cocoa powder, bees wax and more indulgent Earl Grey infused creme brule; the grain adds a silky backbone that contrasts nicely with the touch of pork belly and soft ashy peat. Finish: coating, creamy and decadent; the palate stays warm in the lingering light of fading spices, genteel ashy smoke and soft fruits. Comment: we were hoping for a whisky that combined the firm peat of Flaming Heart, the rich spices of Spice Tree and the elegance of Compass Box’s legendary older expressions; we got all that and more!” – $160
John Glaser’s Tasting Note: “Rich and complex, with the soft cushion of decadent aged grain whisky providing an indulgent taste on top of which the bold, spicy and dark fruit notes are able to shine.”
What John Glaser had to say about the whisky:
“We have been fortunate to work with Andrew Ferguson of Kensington Wine Market for many years, bringing our Compass Box whiskies to the Scotch enthusiasts of Canada.
“For years we’ve been talking with Andrew about creating a bespoke whisky for him. We originally wanted to name it “Fort Whoop-Up”, after the notorious 19th century Alberta trading post, allegedly a centre for whisky smuggling and all sorts of illegal activities, near what is now Lethbridge.
“But with the 25th anniversary of Kensington Wine Market upon us, we’ve decided to name it in honour of the anniversary, so Andrew can showcase the whisky throughout his year of celebrations.
“Developed from an original brief by Andrew, this blend is a showpiece for the deep complexity that well-aged malt and grain whiskies from exceptional oak casks can deliver. It is composed of one-third decadent old grain whiskies aged in American oak; and spicy, smoky malt whiskies aged in both American oak and sherry casks. The combination is rich and complex, with the soft cushion of the old grain whisky providing an indulgent base on top of which the bold, smoky and dark fruit notes of the malt whiskies are placed.
“We believe this whisky is a fitting tribute to Kensington Wine Market and also to Alberta’s long history of enjoying, exploring and indeed smuggling fine whisky! But with partners as committed and knowledgeable as Kensington Wine Market in place there will be no need to smuggle this bottle into the province – and for that we are all grateful!
“However you source this whisky, wherever you drink it, whoever you share it with, above all, please share and enjoy.
John Glaser Founder & Whiskymaker”
New Wyoming Whiskey KWM Single Barrel Bourbon
Our first exclusive Bourbon from Wyoming!
Wyoming Whiskey has only been on the scene in Alberta for a little over a year now, but we’ve been fans since the beginning… Our first exclusive cask of Bourbon from Wyoming Whiskey, in Kirby Wyoming is bottled a 112.72 Proof, or 56.36%. This barrel proof Bourbon can be found nowhere in the world but Kensington Wine Market! Only 192 bottles were produced, and it won’t last long!
Wyoming Whiskey KWM Single Barrel Bourbon – 56.36% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: puff wheat squares, Aunt Jemima’s Butter Flavoured Syrup on buckwheat pancakes soaked in butter with a side of pork sausage; a hint of pecan pie and juicy raisin. Palate: thick, spicy and round; very fruity: caramelize bananas, more raisins and pecan pie; still very syrupy, more Aunt Jemima on buckwheat pancakes with some greasy pork sausage; fennel and anise with Demerara sugars and woodspice; late lime with honeydew melon. Finish: fresh, clean, decadent and fruity; more pecan pie, syrup, flapjacks and melon. Comment: although there is a spicy backbone, the sweet creamy tones, syrup and fruits make this a very approachable Bourbon; I expect it will be a crowd pleaser, and it won’t last long!” – $100
From the Producer: “This Private Stock Single Barrel of Bourbon was chosen for you because its unique character left an impression on all who have sampled it. Ancient limestone water, high-prairie grains, and five years in the best charred American oak, made this Bourbon what it is. It is 192 bottles that can’t be found anywhere else. And this bottle is yours.”
Introducing Bruichladdich Black Art 5.1
Available in 700ml and 200ml formats…
The 5th release of Bruichladdich’s Black Art, 5.1, is a bit of a departure from the first four, it is the first produced by Adam Hannet, but I think it is also the best. A 1992 vintage, we believe bottled at 25 years of age and 48.4%, it is available in both 200ml and 700ml bottles. The 200ml comes without tube, but is none the less very cool. The 700ml is very well priced in Canada, the same whisky is selling for £275.00 in the UK… same with the 200ml, £95 for the 200ml which is selling for $85.
I hope to have my own tasting note out soon!
Bruichladdich Black Art 5.1 – 48.4% – 1992 – 25 Year – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: It takes time to decipher the full array of sensory magic on offer. As the warmth of your hand heats the glass you will tease the threads apart to find lavish fruit notes of cherry, mango, apricot, damson and a warming orange citrus all swathed in an oak blanket of soft brown sugar, vanilla and figs dipped in syrup. Each time you go back to the glass there will be different notes coming to the fore as the constant evolution of flavour hints at the depth and secret complexity of this dram. Palate: There is a grace with which the whisky gently settles on your palate; a black velvet quality that comes from the age of the spirit, with the pedigree of casks coming together to give you a mouthfeel that is unlike anything else. The influence of great wood is decadently expressed through the never-ending release of fruit. On the nose, you find damson, mango, pineapple, melon strawberry, plum and apricot. One after the other they weave in and out of focus on your palate while the structure of the oak gives honey, tobacco, vanilla and hints of spicy cinnamon. as elegant and refined a dram as you will find. Finish: The true DNA of Bruichladdich spirit shines through on the finish. Light stone fruits and a cream texture are a delight with a perfect balance of oak, malt and fruit. As the flavours begin to fade a gentle floral mellowness settles to leave a lasting impression. Mood: while walking in the dark warehouses drawing inspiration for my first edition of Black Art, I would recall the lessons learned at the hands of the legendary distiller. Finally arriving at this moment has been a spiritual journey in every sense for me.” – $300 (700ml) / $85 (200ml)
Introducing Ledaig 19 Year Marsala
Only 30 Bottles are Coming to Alberta, 24 to KWM!
Ledaig, the name given to peated whisky from the Tobermory distillery, has been increasingly in vogue as of late. We’ve seen some very interesting independent bottlings as of late, and then this unusual bottling dropped in our laps… Only 30 bottles of the Ledaig 19 Year Marsala Finish are coming to Alberta, 24 of them to Calgary, exclusively to KWM. Bottled at 51% it recently scored 89pts from Whisky Advocate!
Distiller’s Tasting Note: Beautiful rich single malt with a mouth-filling sweetness of berries and dark chocolate with a full peat explosion of black pepper and bonfire smoke.
89pts Whisky Advocate: “Some of the first peated spirit produced in the late 1990s at Tobermory Distillery has gone into this bottling, which has been finished in Marsala wine casks. The nose yields earthy malt, new leather, printer’s ink, and a final fragrant note. Big, bright flavours of orchard fruits and sweet peat on the palate, plus black pepper and dessert wine. Ashy peat, burnt oak, and lingering pepperiness in the finish.”
Ledaig 19 Year Marsala Finish – 51% – Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Pungent, earthy peat. Ashy smoke and oak, grass fire, salt and pepper seasoning, strawberry quince jam, oranges, cloves, roasted sweet potatoes, dark chocolate drizzled on crispy bacon. Palate: Ash and spice right up front lead into strawberries, green apples, orange marmalade, chocolate chips, bacon bits, lemons roasted on the barbeque, rooibos tea, root beer and candied ginger. Finish: Lingering earthy smoke and chocolate. Comment: An ashy, smoke driven older Ledaig with finesse. The Marsala cask finish has added nuance to the often carbon-heavy delivery of heavily peated Tobermory.” – $285
Limited Japanese Whiskies Back in Stock
The Nikka 12 Year & The Super Nikka
Japanese whisky is becoming as rare as Hen’s Teeth. These two just re-emerged, they won’t last long. Just 12 and 24 bottles respectively…
The Nikka 12 Year – 40% – Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Grain, custard, hints of earthy peat, white chocolate fudge, peeled apples and pears, dried mango and dried pinapple slices. Palate: Citrus, honeydew melon, tart green apples, pineapple, black pepper, light smokey peat, new leather, grain cereals, oily and creamy with a hint of spice. Finish: whispy peat smoke stays with you along with black pepper and light honeydew melon notes. Comment: The elegance that you expect from Japanese Whisky as a whole with the light, ethereal peat that seems to be Nikka’s signature. Lovely stuff.” – $166
The Super Nikka – 40% – Producer Description: “One of Nikka’s classic brands, the Super Nikka was introduced to the market in 1962. Its luxuriant aroma, gentle hints of peat and scent of vanilla and chocolate are all in harmony, and its flavor is smooth, rounded and well-balanced.” – $73
Introducing Glen Garioch 1995
Only 30 bottles coming to KWM!
Just 120 bottles of this vintage Glen Garioch has landed in Alberta. We’ve taken 30 of them. Great value for a cask strength whisky from this vintage.
Glen Garioch 1995 – 55.3% – First Fill Ex-Bourbon – 87pts Whisky Advocate: “One of two new Glen Garioch vintages to be produced under the auspices of Morrison Bowmore Distillers’ master blender Rachel Barrie, this 1995 offering is limited Globally to 6,000 bottles and maturation has taken place in first-fill bourbon casks. Spice, vanilla, pears, honey, and very discreet smoke on the nose. Hazelnuts, baked bananas, apple strudel, and lots of spice on the sweet creamy palate, backed up by a gentle note of lingering char.” – $120
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 and 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
Owner & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
403-283-8000
Jim Beam and Mila Kunis Kick Off Historic Chicago Cubs Partnership with Limited Edition Jim Beam® “Game 7 Batch” – American Whiskey News
Jim Beam and Mila Kunis Kick Off Historic Chicago Cubs Partnership with Limited Edition Jim Beam® “Game 7 Batch”
CHICAGO, – Kicking off their first season as Official Bourbon of the Chicago Cubs, Jim Beam® Bourbon is releasing Jim Beam® “Game 7 Batch,” a limited-edition expression and commemorative label featuring bourbon that completed its 4 years of barrel maturation the history-making date of the Cubs’ Game 7 World Championship game last fall and set aside for release in the 2017 season.
To celebrate this first-ever release of a unique batch of Jim Beam’s 4-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, global partner Mila Kunis visited Wrigley Field on Saturday, April 15, to throw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch before surprising bar goers with a preview of the product, which will be available in limited quantities at select Chicagoland retailers starting in June 2017.
Jim Beam® Bourbon brought Mila Kunis to The Cubby Bear and other iconic Wrigleyville bars on Saturday April 15, 2017 to surprise fans with a toast to the season and a preview of the new limited edition Jim Beam® “Game 7 Batch,” a hand selected batch of bourbon that completed its 4 years of barrel maturation the history making date of the Cubs’ Game 7 World Championship game last fall.
With appearances at three of the neighborhood’s most iconic Wrigleyville bars, Kunis gave unsuspecting Cubs fans a sneak peek at the limited edition Jim Beam® “Game 7 Batch” bottle and toasted the crowd to another historic season.
“We’re proud to call the Chicago Cubs part of our growing family, so in celebration of the Cubs’ history-making victory, we wanted to release a history-making bourbon for the occasion,” said Jim Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe. “This exclusive Jim Beam® ‘Game 7 Batch’ is our gift to the fans in Chicago from our home in Kentucky.”
“We love to see passion between our team and our Legacy Partners, and Jim Beam’s ‘Game 7 Batch’ is a perfect example of two historic brands coming together in the spirit of celebration,” said Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Crane Kenney.
Jim Beam “Game 7 Batch,” created with a hint of victory, is aged 4 years; however, this hand-selected batch features liquid that was completed its barrel maturation on the exact day the Cubs won the World Championship, delivering an oak vanilla aroma and a sweet finish that mirrors the ending of last year’s historic season. The product, packaged with a commemorative blue cap, batch sticker and specialty label to celebrate Cubs heritage, has a suggested retail price of $17.99 for 750mL and will be available for purchase in the Chicagoland area this June.
To learn more about Jim Beam’s “Game 7 Batch,” visit www.jimbeam.com and keep up with Jim Beam news throughout the year on Twitter @JimBeam, Instagram @jimbeamofficial and Facebook at http://www.beamsuntory.com/news/press-releases/www.Facebook.com/JimBeam.
About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
Jim Beam® Original Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society “July Outturn Previews” – Scotch Whisky News
We’re giving members a taste of things to come by releasing five preview bottlings from July Outturn. Each of these preview releases is from a different flavour profile, celebrating the diversity of flavour that the single cask brings. A great opportunity to buy before next month’s First Friday. Be quick to order, only a limited number of bottles are available ahead of the full Outturn release on Friday, 7th July at 9am.
Preview samples from the entire new Outturn are available at our Members’ Rooms in Edinburgh, Leith, London & our new London Devonshire Square venue.
PEATED
Tasting Notes
Returning back to dry land after a windswept day out at sea, the aromas of briny air, tarry ropes and wooden fish boxes starting to become a distant memory as we entered a cottage. The roaring peat fire and the scent of making cinder toffee and roasting chestnuts made us all feel very relaxed. We then ate hot smoked salmon, grilled sardines and Arbroath Smokies. After a drop of water we went back outside and enjoyed a beach barbeque of slightly burned lemon and herb sausages. After seven years in an ex-bourbon barrel, finished in a custom made virgin oak barrel.
CASK No. 66.104
Home sweet home
8 Years
£46.50
LIGHTLY PEATED
Tasting Notes
The nose delivered a mellifluous flood of honeycomb, toffee and golden syrup sweetness; then deeper notes of charred wood, glazed ribs on a barbeque and salty ship’s timbers. The palate was rich, deep and pretty big – warming and mouth-coating with treacle toffee, tarry ropes, smoky bacon crisps, bonfire embers and liquorice paper roll-ups. The reduced nose had charred heather stems (moor-burn by the sea), burnt toffee, and well-fired white bread crusts, salted caramel and balsamic oysters. With water (and it takes plenty), the palate found the peat smoke, charred staves and cigar ash elbowing the butterscotch sweetness slightly into the background.
CASK No. 4.230
Sweet and salty, smoke and ash
12 Years
£66.90
SPICY & DRY
Tasting Notes
“Shimmering Sahara sunset” someone described the colour as they poured it into the glass and the complex aroma which greeted us was rich but at the same time soft and gentle. Lemon butter biscuits, toasted coconut marshmallows, a well-used leather tobacco pouch, red cedar oil and dried apricot and pineapple jam. The taste neat had plenty of wood spice and bitterness like a dark chocolate ganache with red tea, rooibos blended with cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, star anise, cloves and black pepper. Water added roasted hazelnut brownies, orange marmalade cookies and on the palate, spicy, tangy and sticky like Moroccan lamb and kumquat tagine.
CASK No. 35.187
Gentle confidence
9 Years
£49.40
SPICY & SWEET
Tasting Notes
As soon as the bottle was opened it was like springtime had entered the room. Birds began singing and the air filled with the fragrance of rose gardens, fruit blossom and freshly cut grass. The smell of peaches and lychees combined with the aromas of fresh herbs and the revitalising tang of menthol and camphor. A spicy element was present like fruit chutney, hot cross buns and cigar tobacco. A sprinkling of water unveiled new pastures of coconut, chocolate and nutmeg. The palate assumed a fizzy and lively demeanour with the fruity sweetness of apricots, poached pears and yellow plums. The finish however was rich in oak timber and the pleasant presence of wood spice.
CASK No. 2.99
Joyful rambling
10 Years
£59.40
DEEP, RICH & DRIED FRUITS
Tasting Notes
A floral fragrance of blooming daffodils and hyacinths greeted the Panel at first before deeper and darker aromas took centre stage. Sultanas, currants, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper – like a black bun, a fruit cake wrapped in pastry, as well as figs marinated in PX Sherry. The taste neat was a chewy, slightly burnt Christmas pudding and cherries soaked in sweet red wine syrup. With a drop of water toffee apples, dark chocolate covered Brazil nuts and orange blossom flavoured candles on the nose were followed by liquorice sweetness and caramelised honey crème brulee. At thirteen years old, we transferred this whisky from an ex-Oloroso butt to a virgin oak hogshead with a heavy toast and a medium char.
CASK No. 44.82
A sweet and special character
13 Years
£56.10
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
The Whisky Exchange “An evening with Teeling Whisky” Wednesday July 19th, 2017 – Scotch Whisky News
PIONEERS OF THE IRISH
WHISKEY RENAISSANCE
MASTERCLASS WITH TEELING
WEDNESDAY 19 JULY
7.30PM-9PM
Tickets on sale now
Teeling are award-winning distillers and builders of the first new distillery in Dublin for more than 125 years. With a family distilling history stretching back more than 200 years and a current generation that helped revive the Irish whisky industry in the 1990s, the Teelings are true pioneers of Irish whiskey.
Join us for an evening of exploration, tasting the Teeling range, including some of the latest new releases. The tasting will culminate in a surprise expression to be announced closer to the date.
Our host for the evening is Teeling master distiller and blender Alex Chasko. He will take us on a journey through the Teeling portfolio, highlighting the importance of craft and innovation in its production.
Alex Chasko is the master distiller and blender behind all of Teeling’s whiskeys. He was the first employee of the company and has been involved in the development from day one. Previously he was the Innovations Manager at Cooley distillery and revived distilling at the historic Kilbeggan distillery in Westmeath.
VENUE
BROWNS COVENT GARDEN
THE JUDGE’S COURT
82-84 ST MARTIN’S LANE
LONDON WC2N 4AG
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 at The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990
The first release in Glenmorangie’s Bond House No.1 Collection, distilled in 1990, the spirit defied a problematic barley harvest and proved sublime. The next quarter of a century saw the spirit mature in ex-bourbon casks with a small parcel in ex-sherry casks. Presented in a stunning coffret, the nose offers heady floral and fruity notes. Silky in the mouth, sweet notes of orange, honeycomb and vanilla run under gooseberry and menthol. The finish brings more fruitiness with brown sugar, malty biscuit and a hint of cloves.
















































