Ralfy savours the single cask event with Ralfy Review 667 – Edradour Single Cask 15yo @ 54.7%vol (No 1406)

The DVC Exclusive The Ritz London, Photo Credit David Parry

2017 DISTILLERY EXCLUSIVE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE DALMORE

Luxury single malt whisky maker The Dalmore has released its limited edition distillery bottling for 2017.

Available exclusively from the renowned The Dalmore Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, The Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 combines the depth and complexity of The Dalmore’s unique new make spirit with sweetness gifted from the soft character of Californian Merlot.

Released during Master Distiller Richard Paterson’s 50^th year in the whisky industry, the Distillery Exclusive is a showcase of Richard’s craftsmanship and, in particular, his pioneering approach to the art of maturation and cask finishing.

Having matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels, The Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 has been finished in hand selected Californian Merlot Barriques for five years before bottling.

The Dalmore distillery was founded in 1839 and, through its unbroken chain of exceptional whisky creators, has defined the luxury single malt whisky category ever since. Since taking the reins as Master Distiller nearly 50 years ago, Richard Paterson has been the pioneering force behind The Dalmore, responsible for creating some of the world’s most coveted and iconic whiskies. Richard has achieved a number of world firsts, including the six-cask matured The Dalmore King Alexander III and releasing the first ever five red wine finished whisky, The Dalmore Quintessence.

Richard Paterson, Master Distiller commented: “The Dalmore Distillery, located on the picturesque shore of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, is my go-to place for inspiration and reflection. It is here that I first considered how best to combine one of my favourite red wines with the distillery’s deep and complex new make spirit.

“The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 is the result of these efforts, offering a harmonious balance between the sweet notes of the Californian Merlot and the signature flavours of our own Dalmore house style. Bottled at natural strength and with notes of chocolate truffle, coffee and black toffee, this year’s exclusive distillery release is a treat worth snapping up for any visitors to our distillery.”

Up to 270 bottles will be available to purchase, priced at £200. The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 (52% ABV) is available from The Dalmore Distillery at Alness, Ross-shire, Scotland, IV17 0UT.     

The DVC Exclusive The Ritz London, Photo Credit David Parry

Notes:

Tasting Notes:

Colour:                 Deep mahogany gold shimmering with ruby highlights

Aroma:                 Succulent Black Forest fruits, fleshy Victoria plum and sweet apricots

Palate:                  Morello cherries, blueberry pie, cinnamon and soft chewy liquorice

Finish:                  Chocolate truffles, coffee and black toffee

ABV:                      52% 

The Dalmore

The Dalmore is the definitive luxury malt, since 1839.

Founded by Sir Alexander Matheson, a restless entrepreneur and international businessman, The Dalmore was born with a different purpose, to go above and beyond to create luxurious single malt whisky unlike any other.

An unbroken chain of exceptional whisky makers have been fulfilling Sir Alexander’s vision ever since, pioneering multi cask maturation over 100 years before this was commonly adopted by others in the industry.

Richard Paterson has been Master Distiller at The Dalmore for nearly 50 years.  The whiskies he has created during his tenure have help Richard to achieve global celebrity status.  He is the man who, with The Dalmore, created the category of super luxury single malt, a category he continues to define to this very day.

About The Dalmore Distillery & Visitor Centre Located on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Highlands of Scotland, the Dalmore distillery is home to some of the oldest whisky stocks in the world. Those that visit receive a rare insight into the skill, expertise and craft required to produce The Dalmore.

Distillery tours are available year round by booking only which ensures that the team are able to cater to the needs of each group. Enquiries should be made by visiting www.thedalmore.com or calling 01349 882 362.

New Scotch Whiskey from North Star Spirits Ltd

North Start Spirits are one of the newcomers on the indy whisky scene. Based in Glasgow and overseen by Iain Croucher, there is plenty of experience having been part of the long established A.D. Rattray group. Now he is going it alone with his own Independent bottling company North Star Spirits Ltd. Having set up in 2016, the first batch of releases has already been and gone to much praise and a ‘take a second look’ at this kind of vibe from many scotch enthusiasts.

Recently the second batch of releases, a variety if single casks malts and grains along with single cask bourbon and special blended malt release hit the market and was snapped up quickly. Here at The Whisky Barrel we have managed to get our hands on some of this highly anticipated scotch whiskey, all bottled in May 2017. So let’s see what’s in store…

Let’s See the Scotch

Usually we love to accompany new whiskies like this with a wee tasting as well to get an idea for ourselves what’s happening in the bottle. Alas, this batch of new whiskies have been so popular we missed the boat on samples. However, as you’ll see from the distilleries, ages and vintages of these bottles, they are not to be sniffed at. The labels are quite eye catching too. Crisp, modern and ‘on trend’ with the expanding younger demographic of scotch drinkers. The name and design evokes the obvious connotations of star gazing. The notion of sitting round a fire, chatting, looking up at the stars, scotch in hand. Isn’t that just what whisky should be about?

Please click HERE to read the remainder of the article.

The holiday season is well and truly upon us which means we can look forward to lots of attention from the visitors to our distillery.   If you’re coming to the distillery this summer don’t forget to look out for us and feel free to come and say hello (we love a tummy scratch!) and you can pick up a bottle of The Towser Cask Bottle Your Own from the Famous Shop or in our UK and Global online shop. Read the full story here…

OUR SHOP

A visit to the Distillery would not be complete without a browse through our Famous Shop.  From special offers to the latest Bottle Your Own you’ll be spoiled for choice and in whisky heaven. You can also buy online here

TAKE A TOUR

Tasting Experience Discover how The Glenturret Highland Single Malt is produced and learn the art of blending at the spiritual home of The Famous Grouse. Available daily and can be booked on the day for your convenience. Find out more here Open 7 days a week, 10am until 6pm.

Just Whisky Auctions are proud to bring you our July 2017 auction. With 1,500 Lots to bid on, including new releases from Arran, Bruichladdich, Highland Park and Karuizawa it’s got our heads in a fizz! With such a selection why don’t we go with a couple of highlights below ….

Don’t forget to set an alarm for the auction end – from 8pm on Sunday 23rd.

KARUIZAWA 31 YEARS OLD – GOLDEN GEISHA SHERRY CASK NO.3667

Lot ID: 441490

A Limited Edition, aged 31 years in a sherry cask (No.3667) before being bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. The Golden Geisha 31-year-old is one of two bottlings originally available by ballot, the other being is a superb 33-year-old with equally impressive credentials.

SAMPLE THE UPCOMING TEELING REVIVAL
AT OUR NEXT WHISKY EXCHANGE MASTERCLASS

WEDNESDAY 19 JULY
7.30PM-9PM

Tickets on sale now!

BOOK »

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 whiskey 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 an exclusive preview sampling of the fourth release in the Revival Series, a 15-year-old single malt finished in Muscat casks. The whiskey will be released later this year.

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.

Teeling Small Batch Whiskey

Teeling Single Grain Whiskey

Teeling Single Malt Whiskey

Teeling Revival 14 Year Old Volume III

Teeling Single Grain Whiskey

Teeling 15 Year Old Revival Series Volume IV

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.

WEDNESDAY 19 JULY
7.30pm-9pm
£40 per ticket
Please arrive at the venue from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start

VENUE

BROWNS COVENT GARDEN
THE JUDGE’S COURT
82-84 ST MARTIN’S LANE
LONDON WC2N 4AG

A short tour that included a few drams … many drams actually.

A whisky blog by Paul McLean for Whisky Intelligence.

We had four lovely guests on tour with us, having just ended an exhausting golf tour, they were in the mood for something different. From St Andrews we drove through wonderful countryside to Fort William – en route we stopped by Glencoe, dondering into the wilds and the Clachaig pub, a place deep in the heart of Paul (McLean), the sign on the entrance, nae hawkers or Campbells!!! A good start, do not start me on the Maclean – Campbell fued. Lunch taken here in a great beer/whisky bar. Back to Glencoe and a stop for the story, and a dram, of course! Edradour Tuscan wine finish – excellent, 61% and very moreish. Staying in Fort William overnight.

Day two saw us depart for Glenfinnan and the ferry to Skye. Our guests continued with the Edradour, arriving in Portree mid afternoon, ate at the Isles pub, then took off to visit the Old Man of Storr. With dark clouds coming our way, we retreated back to the bridge, stopped by Eilean Donan castle and headed back towards FT Willy another route. On this stretch of the tour we stopped for a Mortlach – a Gordon & MacPhail exclusive we had been saving, 27 yo and dark as those clouds following us, a superb dram. One past guests the Di Marco’s fae New York will vouch for. This was a tour stopper, so good, so good and being the driver, not so good. Back at FT Willy they enjoyed great food and a restful evening.

Day three started very sunny, we drove west to Oban for the Mull ferry. Calling in at the Craignure Inn for lunch and drinkies, followed by a wee drive to my castle, Duart. I introduced my guests to the Chief of Clan Maclean, enjoyed the castle, the pipe band and dancers, a good day so far. We had ran oot of time to visit Tobermory, no matter, at the ferry for Lochaline, we had a half hour wait, so out came a Balvenie, double cask 12yo. Three different drams, each with their own nose/taste, all enjoyed. Grand drams with grand scenery, a final night in William.

Day four and an early start driving via Glen Roy Glen Spean etc to dalwhinnie, aye we stopped here, no for a tour but for drams and chocolates. As photos show, we had approx. 15 different drams spread out amongst our guests, did they enjoy these? Possibly, it was hard to get answers through the big grins, I reckon they all went doon well. Just under an hour and we pulled into Andrew’s place, Edradour. A tour here with a few drams, I chatted to Andrew almost an hour before we saw our guests again. While talking, we came across a Mortlach 25 yo, I wanted one, Andrew is holding git for me. I do like the Mortlach. Lunch and shopping followed, I called into Robertsons whisky store for a chat with Ewan, so should you by the way. The day/tour ended at the hotel near Edinburgh airport.

Not supposed to be a whisky tour, this ended up that way! My fault perhaps, but we did see lots of fantastic Scottish countryside, met locals, clan chief, pipers and enjoyed the company throughout.

www.robertsonsofpitlochry.co.uk
McLeanScotland; www.whiskytours.scot
Edradour; www.edradour.com
Dalwhinnie; www.discovering-distilleries.com/dalwhinnie/
Balvenie; www.thebalvenie.com
G&M; www.gordonandmacphail.com

Final chapter in the Smugglers’ story

Isle of Arran Distillers release ultimate bottling in history-inspired trilogy 

The award-winning Isle of Arran Distillery will release the final edition in its highly celebrated Smugglers’ Series on the 12^th July.

This bottling marks the conclusion of the much-lauded trilogy which honours the exuberant character of those striving to outwit the Government’s representatives in the pursuit of the production of the famed ‘Arran Waters’.

Like proceeding volumes, ‘The Illicit Stills’ and ‘The High Seas’, Smugglers’ Series vol.3: ‘The Exciseman’ is presented in packaging that mimics a beautiful hardbound book, complete with a cut-out compartment that conceals the bottle.

The Madeira casks used in this final volume, are similar to the ones utilised by Arran’s illicit distillers, who often stored and transported locally produced whisky in old Madeira casks brought over from the continent by their smuggling counterparts. The use of Quarter Casks is a nod to the type of small vessels which would have been the easiest to transport.

The resulting liquid is complex, full of character and a wonderful way to end a series which has so perfectly paid tribute to the independent characters of Arran over the centuries.

James MacTaggart, master distiller of the Isle of Arran Distillery said: “Smugglers’ vol.1 and vol.2 were tremendously popular, selling out within days.

“There is a real desire for whisky with a story, something the Smugglers’ Series has in abundance.

“As the first legal distillery on the island in over 160 years we draw a great deal of inspiration from Arrans whisky-making heritage and are delighted to be able to share it through this, the final bottling of the Smugglers’ Series.”

The iconic citrus notes of the Arran Malt are at the fore of ‘The Exciseman’, mingling with scents evocative of the outdoors and a hint of coastal character.

Notes of apple and vanilla coat the tongue without a hint of dryness. The addition of water opens up the complexity beautifully and reveals a lighter sweetness of candied lemon.

A long, luxurious and yet delightfully fresh finish give a lightness of character whilst the body remains solidly complex and robust.

Non Chill Filtered and with no artificial colouring, Smugglers’ Series Vol.3 ‘The Exciseman’ is bottled at Natural Cask Strength 56.8% abv.

A limited edition release of 8,700 bottles worldwide, will be available online from 11am on the 12^th July at arranwhisky.com and at specialist whisky retailers – but is expected to go fast.

UK RSP £89.99

Notes to editors: For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/ * Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007)

Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015

Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

Exclusive Malts has some great news to share with you:

Jonny McCormick of Whisky Advocate Give High Ratings to Exclusive Malts

Whisky Advocate thinks so highly of this blend, that they’ve included it in their 2017 Summer Buying Guide.

Malt Messenger Bulletin 2 New KWM Casks

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

I’m writing you from Beautiful British Columbia where I have just finished a two day whirlwind whisky trip. Two days, three tastings, 28 whiskies, three flights and a lot of great people. I am writing you as I return home to Calgary for another amazing tasting in store tonight. Some whisky news just can’t wait for the next full Malt Messenger, so I found the time to bang out a quick Bulletin.

Our Summer 2017 tasting schedule is out, and open for registration, in store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online. Details on all of the whisky and spirits tastings are below.

The KWM exclusive Cadenhead cask ~ we are launching the Cadenhead Glen Moray 1992 25 Year KWM Cask tonight. The bottle will be available in store next week for $200, which is very reasonable for a 25 year old cask strength whisky.  It is our latest 25th Anniversary bottling to hit the shop. The gents at Cadenhead bottled it just a couple of days after it hit 25 years of age.

We have another new KWM exclusive cask too… The Kensington Wine Market Glenrothes 1997 Cask. Bottled from an Oloroso Sherry Butt, only 84 bottles have come to Canada, the rest bottled for a shop in Taiwan. More than half of the bottles have sold in just 10 days, we expect it to be sold out before the end of the summer if not sooner. Pop into the shop this weekend if you would like to have a taste!

Finally we have some new and very intriguing Cadenhead Small Batch bottlings in store. Some of them have already arrived with th balance expected to trickle in over the next few weeks. The 10 highlighted below are old and rare, and very limited. They won’t last long.

I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well!

Slàinte!

In This Edition

1. New Summer Tasting ScheduleNew Cadenhead Glen Moray 1992 KWM Cask 25 Year
2. New Kensington Wine Market Glenrothes 1997 19 Year
3. 9 Exciting New Cadenhead Small Batch Whiskies

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington 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

More Information

NEW Wyoming Whiskey KWM Single Barrel Bourbon

Our first ever single barrel Bourbon from the Wyoming Whiskey distillery. Bottled at a barrel strength of 56.36%. Only 192 bottles, they won’t last long!.

$100

More Information

Only 30 Bottles Left! 

Glenfarclas 25 Year KWM Cask Strength

The first of our 25th Anniversary whiskies is a stunner and we can’t keep it in stock! Soft sherry influences and silky smooth at 52%!

 $285

More Information

New Summer Tasting Schedule 

Starting tonight with a very special tasting of old and rare Cadenhead whiskies!

Our summer tasting schedule is online and open for registration. Call 403-283-8000 to register, or do so online!

1. Hot Weather, Hotter Bourbon – Thursday, July 20th – Baby it’s hot outside, so let’s cool things off with some of the hottest new Bourbons! – $30
2. Samaroli Malt Whisky & Friends – On Thursday, July 27th we will pour 7 whiskies to sample in this tag team tasting of malt whisky up to 26 years of age… Evan and Jonathan will be your spirit guides on this quest! – $40
3. Independents’ Day – Tuesday, August 8 – With the prices of older Distillery-bottled single malts skyrocketing, some of the best value is coming from Independent Bottlers! – $50
4. Garden Party Cocktails – Tuesday, August 15 – Looking for some refreshing summer cocktails for your garden party? Look no further! – $20
5. Whiskies of Summer Festival – Thursday, August 17 – We have a boat-load of new whiskies landing this summer, so we’re putting on a Festival to crack some open! Includes a complimentary Glencairn glass! Proceeds from the event will go to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank. – $50
6. All About Arran: Cask(s!) Launch Mini Festival – We have TWO new Arran casks coming, and on Thursday, August 24th we are throwing our doors open to introduce them to Calgary. This mini-fest is “All About Arran!” – $25
7. Whiskies of the World Unite – Scotland look out, the distilleries of the World are starting to make World Class Whisky… On Tuesday, August 29th we will showcase a wide range of whiskies from around the Globe. – $35

Call 403-283-8000 to register, or register online!

New Cadenhead Glen Moray 1992 KWM 25 Year 

Our first and only 25 year old anniversary bottling, distilled in 1992 the year KWM was founded!  

More details to come, only time to hammer out a quick tasting note!

Cadenhead Glen Moray 1992 KWM 25 Year – 55.1% – American Oak – Approx 220 Bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: doughy, decadent and floral; clotted cream, crystallized honey and creme brule; very delicate and tropical: melon, mango and juicy orange; a silky creamy base. Palate: soft, silky, floral, elegant and still very delicate; thin tendrils of honey, clotted cream and vanilla lead into the soft subtle tropical fruits and orange; both cantaloupe and honeydew melons, firm but balanced toasted oak and Demerara sugars; light but coating with lots of layers. Finish: long and very delicate it is both drying and coating with more soft oak tones, tropical fruits and decadent vanilla-cream. Comment: we patiently waited for this whisky to reach 25 years of age, and we’ve glad we did; it is a fine summer whisky, great value for a 25 year old single cask, and it won’t disappoint! – $205

New Kensington Wine Market Glenrothes 1997 Cask 

The labels aren’t pretty, but the whisky is awesome, and will be sold out in weeks! 

As many people know, I have not always been a fan of Glenrothes. While I have had good botltlings of the malt, most have been unimpressive, and I generally find it uninspiring! Sherry cask matured Glenrothes is especially dicey, but this Sherry Butt (7153) matured cask, bottled for KWM is an exception. It is insanely fruity, massively tropical, layered and complex. Only 84 bottles have been filled for KWM at 58%… and they won’t last! The label isn’t amazing, but who cares, the whisky is fantastic. Without bluster or exageration I can say that it will be sold out in no time flat. Of the 84 bottles that arrived last Wednesday, more than half have already sold.

 Kensington Wine Market Glenrothes 1997 – 58% – Sherry Butt 7153 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: decadent, fruity and very sherried; like PX matured Glendronach… loads of dark fruits; maple syrup, a hint of smoked bacon and dark chocolate; big spices, leather and tobacco. Palate: round, fruity, decadent and rich; the syrupy Maple syrup notes hit first, then the big dark fruits, chocolate and nutty tones; mid palate it settles down into notes of cedar, fatty smoked bacon and spices, before the big leather, tobacco and spice notes set it; lots of layers here, the sample blew us away, but the bottled version is even better. Finish: long and still decadent, fruity syrupy sherry tones and more leather, tobacco, chocolate and spices; this is no shrinking violet! Comment: the is a sherry bomb, the closest thing we have seen PX Glendronach in the skin of a Glenrothes ever… lots of layers and complexity!” – $200

10 New Cadenhead Small Batch Whiskies 

Old, Rare and available in very small quantities…

We have some limited and I suspect very sought after Cadenheads Small Batch Bottlings coming soon to KWM. All are limited, and if the past three years of Cadenhead Small Batch bottlings are any measure, these won’t disappoint. The whiskies are either single casks or extremely Small Batch, just 2-3 casks! A few of them are limited to 1 per customer. The Bunnahabhain got a good review from Serge, 89pts. The rest have not yet been reviewed. They are without doubt the best value older single malt whiskies (and one grain) that we can put our hands on:

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Blair Athol 1988 – 53.6% – 28 Year – 2 Bourbon Barrels – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Floral, with cut grass, dried apricots and sweet toffee. Palate: Chocolate eclairs, soft all spice, more toffee and whipped cream. Finish: Blueberries, hints of menthol with cherry cake and dark chocolate.” – $340
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Bunnahabhain 1976 – 49.4% – 39 Year – 3 Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Spiritous, rich and polished wood. Coffee liqueurs with cream, apples and rich cooked fruit. Palate: Initially ginger and cinnamon spiciness which then smooths out to boiled sweets and pecan pie with rich wood undertones. Finish: Slightly drying but very warm and spicy. Distillery Fact: The second smallest whisky producer on Islay with 2.7million sites of pure alcohol coming off its stills every year, Bunnahabhain  distillery actually closed between 1982 and 1984.” – $630 89pts Serge
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Caol Ila 1983 – 50.2% – 33 Year – Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Acrylic paint, very oily with bags of citrus and coastal grasses. Palate: leg of lamb with rosemary, lots of mineral notes with hints of rabbit and crispy sage. Finish: The harbour, soft distant smoke, dry ash, hints of seaweed and white wine vinegar.” – $515 – SOLD OUT!
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Fettercairn 1988 – 55.4% – 28 Year – 3 Bourbon Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Autumnal forests, banana loaf, and soft ashy notes. Palate: Marzipan, icing sugar, crystallised oranges and soft oakiness. Finish: Red fruits, melted tablet, dunnage warehouses with a salty edge.” – $340
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Keith 1973 – 43.2% – 43 Year – Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Peaches, Red Grapes, limes, syrupy with clotted cream. Palate: Hazelnuts with tropical fruits and hints of oakiness and faint flinty notes. Finish: Chocolate covered hazelnuts with lingering fruit cocktail.” – $759.99
6. Cadenhead Small Batch Glentauchers 1990 – 52.6% – 26 Year  – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Grapefruit and lime, syrupy notes with vanilla and coconut. Palate: Blackcurrants, cherries, brown sugar, green apple skins and very chewy. Finish: Chocolate milkshake, cocoa butter and dry spice.” – $325
7. Cadenhead Small Batch Highland Park 1996 – 50.6% – 20 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: New leather, touch of sea salt, with a little vanilla and cooked apple. Palate: Little lemon, citrus note, vanilla, loads of cream, apples crumble, sugar icing and an pear tart. Finish: Oily with citrus notes, milky, salt reemerges, very coastal finish.” – $230 – 1 Per Customer
8. Cadenhead Invergordon 1972 – 48.3% – 43 Year – 2 Bourbon Barrels – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Vanilla, caramel custard, milk butter and marzipan. Palate: Cream, butter, salted popcorn and oatcakes. Finish: Cheesecake, lemon zest, oranges and pears with milk bottle chews. Distillery Fact: The distillery started operations in 1961, four years later Ben Wyvis single malt distillery started up, closing in 1977. The stills from Ben Wyvis are now at Glenglye Distillery in Campbeltown, itself set up by Frank McHardy who started his career at Invergordon.” – $385
9. Cadenhead Small Batch Mortlach 1987 – 48.2% – 30 Year – Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Creamy, minty, fruit coulis, hints of praline and toffee sauce. Palate: Leather, straw, maple syrup and condensed milk. Finish: Sweet, crispy cakes, syrup, vanilla and raspberries and white chocolate.” – $425
10. Cadenhead Small Batch Tomatin 1976 – 43.8% – 39 Year – Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: light a very delicate with honey and lightly salted butter. Palate: slight citrus and zestiness, pink grapefruit. Finish: more citrus flavours, a refreshing fruit punch finish. Distillery Fact: Tomatin Distillery used to own and run an eel farm on a commercial basis until 1984, this also allowed them to make use of the waste hot water. – $630

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

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000