We are currently experiencing a well deserved reprieve from the early Winter (never mind Fall) weather which hit us in Alberta late September. September is often our nicest month, so the heavy early snows came as a bit of a rude reminder that Winter is coming. With Winter comes whisky season. I don’t actually believe there is a season for whisky. I am passionate about whisky all year round. But for some, whisky is a seasonal pursuit, and in that case, whisky season is upon us.

We have some exciting new Kensington Wine Market exclusive casks in store. You might have caught the announcement of a new Cadenhead Small Batch single cask in a Malt Messenger Bulletin a few weeks back. Our 3rd exclusive Cadenhead cask, the 11 Year Linkwood 2006 is a light, fruity and malty single malt. I like to refer to it as a sessionable whisky. That provoked some questions on Facebook, what is a sessionable whisky. I borrowed the term from the beer world where it usually applies to a low alcohol hoppy beer that you can drink all night. Full disclosure, the Linkwood is not low alcohol, but I do believe it is a whisky you could enjoy all night!

It often surprises customers to learn that our best selling single malt brand at KWM is Arran. The Arran 14 and 18 year olds are two of the workhorse single malts on our shelf. The whiskies are both excellent quality but also phenomenal value. The brand has built an especially dedicated following in our shop over the last 15 years, in large part because of the amazing casks we’ve bottled of their whisky over the years. They keep offering us excellent options and we have a hard time limiting ourselves to just one cask. We also can’t believe that they keep letting us bottle some of their oldest casks. We are now on to our 13th and 14th single casks from the distillery, having just received the two most recent Arran KWM exclusive casks. They are the two oldest Arrans ever to come to Canada.

As in past years when we’ve bottled more than one Arran cask, we were looking for whiskies that showed very differently. The whiskies were both distilled in 1996, Arran’s first full year of production, and filled into Sherry Hogshead casks. But that is where the similarities end. The  21 Year, Arran 1996 KWM Cask 559, is more lightly sherried. It is honeyed, floral and fruity, classic Arran. It is a beautiful malt and should in its own right be a show stopper. The snag is that the  22 Year, Arran 1996 KWM Cask 56, the more sherried of the two, is spectacular. It is a classic sherry bomb in the vein of 20+ year old Glenfarclas or Macallan. Both whiskies are excellent, but the older and more sherried of the two has the edge. More details and tasting notes below.

There is so much more to get to in this edition of the Malt Messenger, like the Canadian launch of a brand new single malt brand. When Billy Walker sold the BenRiach Distillery Co. to Brown Forman, news that personally devastated me, he was not yet ready to retire. With a new consortium he acquired the GlenAllachie Distillery from Pernod Ricard, along with over 50,000 casks. Over the last year has set about transforming it from a workhorse producing malt for blends, to a standalone single malt distillery. We are thrilled to be following along as Billy works his magic! There are details below on the GlenAllachie 50th Anniversary bottlings. The very limited first ever release of whiskies from the distillery. We also have details on the new GlenAllachie Core Range.

In addition to our new Arran single casks, there is also a new limited edition bottling from Arran, the  Arran Explorers Series Brodick Bay. The whisky is a 20 Year old ex-Bourbon barrels, ex-Sherry Hogsheads and ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts at a strength of 49.8%. Only 60 bottles are coming to KWM, 1/3 of which have sold.

I have been telling anyone who’ll listen over the last year and a bit, that the  Glengoyne 25 Year is my favourite core distillery bottled 25 year old. Big, sherried, bottled at 48% it is excellent value at roughly 1/2 the price of Balvenie 25 and 1/4 the price of the likes of Macallan 25. Well the  Glengoyne 30 Year just hit our shelves, and while at $920 it is not inexpensive, it is a comparatively very well priced distillery bottled 30 year. We haven’t tried it yet, but we are desperate to. If the Glengoyne 21 and 25 are anything to go by things look very promising.

This Malt Messenger is crammed with so much more. There are a bunch of new Gordon MacPhail whiskies, released after the recent revamping of their brand. We have trios of new whiskies from Macallan, A.D. Rattray, anCnoc and Black Mountain (France). There are also new Bourbons, a new release from Two Brewers, and pairs of new whiskies from Highland Park and Wolfburn. There is also the Johnnie Walker White Walker, the first of a number of Game of Thrones collaboration whiskies produced by Diageo and HBO.

I hope you enjoy this massive, jam packed Malt Messenger, Slàinte!

Andrew

In This Edition

1. TWO NEW Arran 1996 KWM Casks
2. NEW KWM Cask: Cadenhead Linkwood 2006
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Release 21
4. Introducing The GlenAllachie 50th Anniversary Casks
5. Introducing The GlenAllachie Distillery Core Rage
6. Introducing The Arran Brodick Bay
7. Introducing The Glengoyne 30 Year
8. New Gordon Macphail Whiskies
9. Two New Wolfburn Single Malts
10. Three New New Macallans
11. Two New Highland Parks
12. Three New A.D.Rattrays
13. Three New anCnocs (Knockdhu Distillery)
14. Introducing: Johnnie Walker White Walker
15. Introducing: Black Mountain Whisky from France

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

TWO NEW Arran 1996 KWM Casks! 

The Two Oldest Arrans Ever to Come to Canada!

We have bottled more single casks with Arran than any other distillery. This is partly, because they have  been a supportive and willing partner. But it is mostly because the samples they keep sending us are excellent. We thought we were getting a pair of 21 year olds, but one of them turned 22 before it was bottled. They are the two oldest Arrans ever to come to Canada!

The casks are (gasp) both excellent. The 21 year old is a classic older Arran, lots of citrus, honey, cream and floral tones. It is a beautiful malt. The 22 year old is stunning, big, sherried and layered, so many layers… Lots of people love big sherried whisky, less appreciate more subtle older drams. I desperately wanted the less sherried one to be the standout, as it was with our 20 year olds. Sadly this was not to be. As good and the 21 year old is, and it is truly excellent – the big sherried 22 year old is phenomenal!

1. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 559 – 55.3% – 21 Year – Sherry Hogshead – Distilled: June 17 1996 – Bottled: April 9 2018 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeyed, fruity and floral; some candied citrus and soft Manuka honey; classic Arran so far; a touch of leather and building crisp decadent spices; faint musty oak, Demerara sugars and vanilla icing. Palate: round, fruity, creamy and warming; the spirit has a wonderful mouthfeel; loads of honey, vanilla and caramel make way for crisp and candied citrus fruits; a touch of musty oak and smooth elegant leather before a touch of tobacco; crisp spices: real ginger, cardamom and hot cinnamon. Finish: long, warm and spicy; still decadent and citrusy with loads of spice and coating creamy vanilla core. Comment: this is an elegant Arran, hitting its stride at 21 years of age; where has the time gone?! – $200
2. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 56 – 51.3% – 22 Year – Sherry Hogshead – Distilled: February 2 1996 – Bottled: April 9 2018 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: molten dark chocolate, new Italian leather shoes, brandy soaked cherries and old Cognac; it reminds me of an Old Fashioned or classic Sazerac cocktail; bags of orange: freshly peeled, candied and dried peels; classic Christmas cake tones and mince meat pie from the oven. Palate: damn…; right off the bat this whisky oozes class and sophistication; this is what an old sherried whisky should be; dark and candied fruits, notes of chocolate, warm maple syrup, Christmas cake, fruity tobacco, refined leather and warming spices; the sherry tones are rich but balanced; lots of fruit, decadent and spice. Finish: long, fruity, sherried and rich; more chocolate, leather, tobacco, Christmas cake, spices, maple syrup and more… all in fine balance. Comment: wow, simply wow; this is a phenomenal single cask; this is a classic but balanced big sherry bomb; my only regret is that we have just a Hogshead here, and not a much larger Butt!” – $200

NEW Cadenhead Linkwood 2006 KWM Cask 

Dangerously Drinkable!

Our first new KWM exclusive cask of 2018 is an 11 Year old Linkwood from an ex-Bourbon Hogshead bottled at a natural cask strength of 58.7%. It takes a lot to get me excited about Linkwood, but this one impressed us all. 288 bottles are available of this dangerously drinkable whisky.

Cadenhead Linkwood 2006 KWM Cask – 58.7% – 11 Year – Ex-Bourbon Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: lemon and pear drops, tapioca and white chocolate Hershey’s Kisses; shortbread dusted in corse sugar with with a touch of lemon; jammy dodgers and other cream filled cookies; freshly baked donuts, chocolate éclairs and tarte tatin. Palate: sweet, honeyed and fruity; oily and toasty; white fruity and glossy citrus tones; lemon cream cookies, jammy dodgers and more sugar dusted shortbread; decadent and doughy, like and old fashioned donut shop: carrot cake with creme cheese icing, custard creme and apple curler donuts, and also more chocolate éclairs; lots of lemon and white fruits, creamsicles and building decadent spices. Finish: long and elegant beyond its years; creamy with doughy tones and lots of honey; soft spices and minty floral tones and bright fruits. Comment: this is a sesionable and dangerously drinkable whisky; tasted blind, you would never know this Whisky is 11 years old or nearly or 60%.” – $110

Cadenhead Small Batch Release 21 

A Dozen New Very Limited Whiskies!

There are some real gems in this release. A bargain priced, sherried, 44 year old blend. A peated old Cooley (Sold Out), Irish single malt whisky and a 1989 Bunnahabhain to name just a few!

1. Cadenhead Creations 1973 Blend: Light, Fruity, Sherry – 43.4% – 44 Year – Single Hogshead – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Fudge, macadamia nuts, prunes, soft wood spices. Palate: Fresh whipped cream. Dark cherries, Rye like spice. Finish: Short crust pastry.  A nice interplay between the sherry and vanilla notes.” – $422
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Bunnahabhain 1989 – 43.8% – 28 Year – 2 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Pineapple, papaya, mango. Really fruity. Palate: grapefruit, Lime cordial with a feint hint of flint. Finish: Macademia nuts, banana bread.  Lightly smoked wood chips in the background.” – $344
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Cooley Peated 1992 – 52.3% – 26 Year – Bourbon Barrel – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Initial smoke followed by bruised fruits, popping candy, fresh mint and kiwi. Palate: Kiwi continues, green grapes, black olives. Finish: Feint mustard seed notes, subtle earthiness. Classic Peaty Cooley.” – $320 – Only 6 bottles! – SOLD OUT!
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenrothes 1996 – 50.9% – 21 Year – 3 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rosemary, lemongrass, fennel. Palate: Creamy yogurt, water chestnuts, honey and walnuts. Finish: Applewood smoked cheese on oatcakes, celery sticks, dried apple sticks.” – $199
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Spey 2001 – 54% – 16 Year – 3 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Juicy green apples, freshly cut grass, slight hint of cayenne pepper in the background. Palate: Grapefruit, coconut, marzipan. Finish: Butter popcorn, sweet chilli sauce, stewed apples.” – $133
6. Cadenhead Small Batch Glentauchers 1990 – 54.4% – 27 Year – Bourbon Barrel – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Peaches, watermelon, creamy, lychee. Palate: Cotton candy, unground black pepper, cloves. Finish: Orange pith, fruit slice cake, peach skin.” – $335 – Only 6 bottles! – 90pts Angus @WhiskyFun.org SOLD OUT
7. Cadenhead Small Batch Knockdhu 2006 – 54.7% – 11 Year – 3 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Tea leaves, raspberry ice cream and slight flint notes. Palate: Peppery watercress, dried earthiness, biscotti. Finish: Cardamom seeds, peach stones. Very moreish.” – $114
8. Cadenhead Small Batch Macduff 2006 – 46% – 11 Year – Hogshead – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Buttery, cereals, gammon steak. Palate: Peardrops, bruschetta, green apple peel. Finish: Feint lemon and lime zest. Freshly made pancakes.” – $110 – Only 6 Bottles!
9. Cadenhead Small Batch Linkwood 1995 – 48.8% – 22 Year – 2 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Floral, pine needles, walnuts, vanilla pods. Palate: Dried bananas, barley water, freshly cut grass. Finish: Dark fruits come through, bramble jelly and blackcurrants.” – $216
10. Cadenhead Small Batch North British 1985 – 55.2% – 32 Year – Sherry Butt – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Oily. Green olives, cheesecake base. Chewy. Palate: More subtle than the nose suggests, ground cinnamon. Finish: Dried spices, soft chewy toffee.” – $268 – 92pts ScotchWhisky.com
11. Cadenhead Small Batch Ord 2006 – 46% – 11 Year – 2 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Orange bitters, marchino cherries. Palate: Chocolate orange cake, buttered toast, cinnamon stick. Finish: Zesty finish with Orange blossom and menthol sweets.” – $97
12. Cadenhead Small Batch Tomatin 2008 – 54.4% – 10 Year – 2 Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Caramelised sugar, salted caramel. Palate: White chocolate, homemade ice cream. Finish: gooseberries, Moscatel grapes, mild chilli powder.” – $115
13. Cadenhead Small Batch Tomintoul 2006 – 60.7% – 11 Year – 3 Bourbon Barrels – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Peppermint creams, creamy toffee, tiramisu. Palate: Hard boiled toffee sweets, star anise. Finish: Gingerbread, wood shavings, cinnamon buns.” – $116

Introducing: The GlenAllachie 50th Anniversary Releases 

The First Ever Bottlings of the Next It Whisky

Kensington Wine Market was honoured to host the first tastings for The GlenAllachie in Canada with Alasadair Stevenson a couple of weeks back. We are also thrilled to mark another first: The first release of distillery-bottled single casks of GlenAllachie. These whiskies were actually released before the GlenAllachie Core Range, but were not initially going to be sold to Canada. It took a lot of begging and pleading to secure some for our market. Six individual casks were bottled, and KWM is getting just 4-8 bottles of each. Suffice to say they are limited to 1 each per person, on a first come first serve basis. All are 500mls. I have had a chance to sample 3 of the six thus far, and they are excellent.

Distillery Notes on the 50th Anniversary Bottlings: ‘Our Master Distiller, Billy Walker, who last year led our purchase of The GlenAllachie Distillery near Aberlour in Speyside, is releasing a special bottling of limited edition whiskies as his first product launch from the site after examining casks of world-class Scotch in its warehouses. Having sampled an extensive selection of the distillery’s 40,000 casks, Mr Walker has identified six casks that have been bottled to mark the 50th anniversary of the distillery’s maiden production run on February 17th 1968.

‘Mr Walker, who sold BenRiach Distillery Company to American producer Brown-Forman in 2016, said: “Even though GlenAllachie is one of the younger distilleries in Scotland, we are very fortunate in that we have casks of whisky stretching back to the early 1970s, in the first years after the site opened. The past few months since we bought the distillery and its stock have been so exciting for the whole team.  I’ve been able to try samples from some really remarkable casks of Scotch and to study how the spirit has evolved over time. I’ve been involved in distilling whiskies for much of my forty-year career in the industry, but I’ve seldom come across such a high-quality collection of casks.”

‘”What’s particularly exciting about these special-edition single cask bottles is that we’ll be able to demonstrate the really high quality of GlenAllachie as a standalone whisky. GlenAllachie produces a much more muscular spirit than many of the other distilleries on Speyside and so it works well with lots of different casks, whether they’re American oak barrels and hogsheads or European sherry butts. Discovering these hidden gems in the warehouses has given us a great opportunity, not only to give whisky connoisseurs a taste of what’s to come later this year when we launch the full GlenAllachie range, but also to celebrate the half century since this very special distillery first fired up its stills.”‘

The GlenAllachie 50th Anniversary Single Casks:

1. GlenAllachie 1991 Cask 100285 – 55% – 26 Year – Hogshead – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Wonderful notes of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch and hazelnuts as the lead players with hints of dark chocolate, mocha and spices.” – $410 – Only 4 bottles coming to KWM(Canada)!
2. GlenAllachie 1990 Cask 2517 – 54.6% – 27 Year – Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “The amazing flavour rainbow of raisins, bananas, sweet cloves and pineapples extends to orange peel and dark chocolate.” – $450 – Only 8 bottles coming to KWM(Canada)!
3. GlenAllachie 1990 Cask 2515 – 44.9% – 27 Year –  Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Rich sherry and raisin presence, with a supporting cast of dark chocolate, grapefruit and spices.” – $450 – Only 8 bottles coming to KWM(Canada)!
4. GlenAllachie 1989 Cask 2587 – 45.4% – 28 Year – Hogshead – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “The melange of dark cherries, bananas and orange peel develops into dark chocolate and rich spices.” – $480 – Only 4 bottles coming to KWM(Canada)!
5. GlenAllachie 1989 Cask 986 – 57.7% – 28 Year – Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “A galaxy of sultanas, pineapple and plum pudding, with hints of spices and orange peel.” – $480 – Only 8 bottles coming to KWM(Canada)!
6. GlenAllachie 1978 Cask 10296 – 55.9% – 39 Year – Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “A rush of raisins, dark chocolate and spices, followed by hints of orange peel and liquorice.” – $1450 – Only 8 bottles coming to KWM(Canada)!

Introducing: TheGlenAllachie Core Range 

The First Four Whisky in Distillery’s New Core Range

I paid my first visit to the GlenAllachie Distillery in May this year. Billy Walker and a small consortium had just purchased it from Pernod Ricard a few months earlier, and were in the process of getting a core whisky range out on the market. This was the first time I had ever actually met Billy, even though I had been working with his previous brands for over a decade. He was much more warm and humble than I had expected, a true gentleman. I asked him why he had sold the BenRiach Distillery Co., which owned the Glendronach and Glenglassaugh distilleries as well as the namesake BenRiach. It turns out he hadn’t wanted too, but his partners needed out, and the Brown Forman offer was too good to turn down. But he wasn’t done, he had another card to play. He approached Pernod Ricard with a proposal to relaunch Scapa Distillery in the Orkneys, they politely turned him down, but offered him the opportunity to purchase GlenAllachie. Billy jumped at the opportunity to acquire this almost unknown Speyside distillery, and purchased it with partners Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson.

Construction to build GlenAllachie started in 1967, with the distillery opened for business in 1968. It was the 4th distillery designed by renowned Scottish architect William-Delme Evans. It was built for MacKinley McPherson, distilling arm of Scottish and Newcastle, and the producers of the orginal Shackleton Whisky. The distillery was designed to be almost completely gravity fed, requiring less energy. The distillery began producing in February of 1968, at the start of a major boom in whisky production. Within 6 months production was expanded from one pair of stills to two.

In 1985 MacKinley McPherson became part of Invergordon Distillers, and in the midst of the second worst bust in history of the industry, GlenAllachie was closed. Campbell Distillers, who would in time become part of Pernod Ricard, purchased the distillery in 1989, and production resumed that April. The distillery has been in production ever since. Only a handful of distillery bottlings were ever released until now. This summer the new owners of The GlenAllachie released a core range of four whiskies, the first regularly available whiskies in the distillery’s history. They are set to arrive in Alberta shortly, but they may not last long, as quantities are very small on the first order.

1. The GlenAllachie 10 Year Cask Strength Batch 1 – 57.1% – American, PX, Oloros and Virgin Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Big notes of heather honey and toffee, with rose hip and spices tip-toeing in. Palate: Honey, vanilla, toffee with a layer of rose hip, marmalade and Caribbean spices.” – $105
2. The GlenAllachie 12 Year – 46% – PX, Oloroso and Virgin Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Butterscotch and honey playing the lead, with raisins and mocha in the background. Palate: Honey, marzipan and bananas, with lashings of butterscotch, raisins and a delicate hint of mocha.” – $85
3.  The GlenAllachie 18 Year – 46% – PX, Oloroso and American Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Fresh vanilla, toffee, butterscotch and spices. Palate: Raisins, marzipan, heather and honey, with rich notes of dark cherries, spices and subtle hints of dark chocolate.” – $185
4. The GlenAllachie 25 Year – 48% – Bourbon, Oloroso and PX Casks – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet spices, marmalade and sultanas balanced in total harmony. Palate: Lashings of sultanas, pineapples and dark chocolate, followed by layers of Christmas cake, marmalade and sweet spices.” – $475

Introducing: The Arran Explorers Series Brodick Bay 

The First Whisky in This New Series is a Tempting Looking 20 Year

The Brodick Bay is the first in the Isle of Arran distillery’s new Explorers Series Collection. Each edition will highlight a different view from the Isle of Arran itself. Only 9000 bottles of this Limited Edition were made. The Brodick Bay was bottled at 20 years old from a combination of ex-Bourbon barrels, ex-Sherry Hogsheads and ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts at a strength of 49.8% ABV. Only 60 bottles are coming to KWM, 1/3 of which are already sold!

 Arran Explorer Series Brodick Bay 20 Year – 49.8% – Ex-Bourbon Barrels & Ex-Sherry Hogsheads and Butts – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Immediate notes of creamy toffee emerge, with the fresh fruity citrus notes of Arran also very evident. Palate: Starts with an intense sweetness which coats the tongue as the creamy toffee develops into a treacle laced fudge. Dark chocolate raisins and honey give this dram delicious depth which stays long on the palate. Finish: A real gourmet dram with retains the sweetness of the delicate Arran character with layers of rich intense fruit.” – $215

Introducing: Glengoyne 30 Year 

If the 21 and 25 Are Anything To Go By… 

We love the 25 year and can’t wait to try the new 30 year old. Only 13 hand selected sherry casks will be married a year for bottling as 30 year.

Distiller’s Description: “Our finest sherry casks are left almost entirely to their own devices for 30 years. Almost, but not quite. Twice, perhaps three times in three decades, our malt master will taste this ongoing alchemy of cask and spirit. His aim: to hand-select only the best sherry oak casks. Has each decade added deep colour, intense flavour and limitless complexity to the precious contents? A small wooden bung is all that stands in our malt master’s way; in the cool of the warehouse, he eases it from the cask. He holds a dram to the light, swirls it beneath his nose, takes a sip – then records his judgement. Only the very best can become Glengoyne 30 Year Old – typically just 13 casks a year will bear the name.”

Glengoyne 30 Year – 46.8% – Matured in Sherry Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Black Cherry, Sherry Trifle, Marmalade, Tea Rose, Rum & Raisin Chocolate. Taste: Burst of sweetness changing quickly to Plum compote, Cinnamon, Cloves and Tangy Marmalade. Finish: Soft Oak dryness and Cinnamon.” – $920

NEW Gordon Macphail Whiskies 

Whiskies from Scotland’s Most Respected Independent Bottler 

Gordon MacPhail is in the midst of the midst of rebranding. Here are some of the latest G&M whiskies under the revamped Connoisseur’s Choice and the new Discovery lines, to land in Alberta.

1. G&M Discovery Caol Ila 13 Year – 43% – Ex-Bourbon – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Sweet and savoury: dry-cured meats glazed with luscious apricot jam combines with rich vanilla notes. Flashes of softly swirling peat smoke complement the delicious sweetness. Taste Bursting with juicy tropical fruit – pineapple, kiwi, and banana – brushed softly with icing sugar. Light touches of malt and vibrant lemon peel balance the sweetness. Finish Long and luxurious with hints of sweet marshmallow toasting over gently smouldering bonfire embers.” – $100
2. G&M Discovery Miltonduff 10 Year – 43% – Ex-Sherry – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Chocolate and sticky orange marmalade transforms into juicy plump stewed raisins and sweet baked apple, freshly cut grass notes delicately balance the rich sherry influences. Taste Sweet and spicy: comforting butter candies weave with roasted hazelnut followed closely by orange zest, cinnamon, and mouth-warming pepper maturing into plum and fig jam. Finish Long with highlights of chocolate and stewed fruit finishing with lingering winter spices.” – $100
3. G&M Discovery Tormore 10 Year – 43% – Ex- Bourbon – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Fruity and lively: abundant tropical fruit notes of pineapple, grapefruit, coconut, and freshly squeezed lime weave with hints of freshly cut grass and toasted malt. Taste Creamy, the sweetness of the vanilla, velvety milk chocolate, and baked apple are perfectly balanced by zesty citrus peel. Undertones of plump apricot and juicy mango develop. Finish Delightfully delicate with gentle lingering herbal tones finish with nuances of charred oak.” – $100
4. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Aberfeldy 1993 – 58.7% – First Fill Sherry Puncheon – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Bold yet subtle: Sherry and sweet vanilla combine with dark chocolate. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves develop and open into subtle and delicate floral notes. Taste Full-bodied and creamy with hints of freshly cracked black pepper. Dark chocolate, and walnut notes are balanced by sweet brown sugar and juicy fruit undertones. Finish Sweet, long, and lingering with candied cherry and charred oak highlights.” – $350
5. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 2004 Wood Finish – 45% – First Fill Ex-Bourbon and Refill American Oak – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Complex and fruity: light peat smoke and dry cured meats mix with vanilla pod revealing cranberries, redcurrants and delicate orange blossom. A dried apricot and plum edge develops. Taste Creamy, hints of liquorice and warming pepper transform into spicy oak notes. Chocolate, ripe raspberry, and blackcurrant transform with gentle beeswax undertones. Finish Long, forest fruits mature into lingering peat smoke infused with charred oak and bonfire embers.” – $150
6. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glen Spey 1995 -46% – Refill American Oak Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Layered and graceful: ripe banana, pear, and pineapple infused with vanilla and topped by a crème brûlée, jasmine emerges, highlighted by silky chocolate. Taste Mouth-warming chilli followed by mature oak, summer strawberries and raspberries glazed with white chocolate and balanced by a subtle herbal edge. Finish Gentle and soft, pear and ripe banana develop into oak.” – $245
7. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Old Pulteney 1998  – 46% – First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Intricate and balanced: honey-smoked cured meats with a light salty brine edge transforms into a fresh fruit salad of crisp green apple, juicy peach, nectarine, and cantaloupe. Taste Smooth and creamy, sticky apricot jam infused with vanilla pod opens into a refreshing citrus zest. Freshly-picked green apple develops a subtle walnut edge. Finish Delicate with lingering oak, underlying grapefruit, sea salt, and lemon zest remain.” – $240
8. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Speyburn 1989 – 46% – Refill American Oak Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Fresh and delicate: vanilla weaves into mango, kiwi, and pear, delightful elderflower. Zesty lemon transforms into green moss, and garden herbs. Taste Mouth-warming chilli followed by mature oak opens into plump, mature strawberries and raspberries coated with white chocolate. A subtle herbal undertone adds depth. Finish Gentle and soft, pronounced pear and ripe banana fade into oak.” – $425
9. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Strathmill 2004 – 46% – Refill Bourbon Barrel – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Aroma Fresh and vibrant: banana, pineapple, coconut, pear, and green apple combine and transform into delicate floral layers. With time, a creamy butterscotch undertone develops. Taste A gentle mouth-warming pepper heat gently succumbs to deliciously juicy tropical fruits: watermelon, pineapple, and banana with highlights of lively orange zest twists. Finish Drying cocoa powder and lingering toasted oak balance the fruity sweetness.” – $150

Two New Wolfburn Single Malts! 

The Northernmost Drams of Mainland Scotchland!

KWM is excited to be exclusively launching a couple of new Wolfburn single malt expressions in Calgary. These are the first new additions to the Wolfburn range to come to Canada since the first release trickled in a couple of years ago. The Langskip takes its name from the Norse word for longship – the Viking raiding ships that once dominated the Caithness coastline. It is bottled at 58%. The other new release, Morvern, is a lightly peated Wolfburn. The whisky is named after the highest peak in Caithness, a mountain surrounded by open moors and wetlands, from where peat has been harvested for hundreds of years. Only 24-30 bottles are initially expected.

1. Wolfburn Langskip – 58% – First Fill ex-Bourbon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Aromas of fruit blossom meld with dried apples and light oak. In the background you’ll find traces of raisins and dates mixed with rich fruit cake. Palate: Flavours burst onto the palate, rich and sweet, including maple syrup, dark chocolate, almonds and raisins. The finish lingers nicely – hints of vanilla gently fade away with a warming trace of caramel at the end.”  – $105
2. Wolfburn Morvern – 46% – American Oak – Lightly Peated – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Initially smoky with hints of fruit and fresh sea air, accompanied by vanilla and oak woodshavings. Palate: Floral notes abound, followed by raisins and light spices. Malty flavours open up on the palate, with soft honey sweetness at the finish.” – $89    

Three New Macallans! 

The 2018 Classic Cut & Two More Triple Cask Matured Whiskies

The retreat from the 1824 line, (Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby) continues with the release of the Macallan Triple Cask range and Macallan Classic Cut. The Triple Cask whiskies are analogous to the old Fine Oak range, while the Classic Cut harkens back to the old Macallan Cask Strength.

1. Macallan Classic Cut 2018– 51.2% – Matured in Sherry Seasoned Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Memorable aromas of creamy vanilla custard, sweet ginger and fresh sweet oak. Palate: The palate complements the aromas with suggestions of caramel, hints of orange zest and a warming nutmeg spice. Finish: The finish is satisfyingly long, with a warming oak and a sweet mouth coating.” – $145 -Limit 2 per customer!
2. Macallan Triple Cask 15 Year – 43% – Matured in European and American Ex-Sherry Oak as well as Ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sublime and full, with delicate hints of rose and cinnamon. Palate: Intensely rich chocolate with high notes of orange and raisin. Finish: Lingering oranges and dried fruit.” – $175
3. Macallan Triple Cask 18 Year – 43% – Matured in European and American Ex-Sherry Oak as well as Ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Exotic dried petals with coconut and vanilla orange citrus. Palate: Soft and velvety with orange citrus, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Finish: Lingering with chocolate orange and a hint of wood smoke.” – $335 

Two New Highland Parks 

The Light 17 Year & Valknut

The yin to the yang of the Highland Park The Dark 17 Year, The Light has been bottled at 52.6% after maturing in Refill American oak. The whisky is “inspired by summer in the Orkneys”. Valknut is the second release in Highland Park’s Viking Legend series. Produced from a higher proportion of spirit peated with Orkney malt and predominantly matured in Sherry seasoned casks, Valknut is said to be a sweeter and smokier take on Highland Park.

1. Highland Park 17 Year The Light – 52.6% – Refill American Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Caramelised pear | Nutmeg | Vanilla | Peat | Cedar wood | Oak | Light smoke” – $450
2. Highland Park Valknut – 46.8% – American & European Oak Ex-Sherry – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “”Toasted vanilla pods | Cracked black pepper | Oak shavings | Cloves | Aniseed | Aromatic peat smoke” – $105

Distiller’s Description of Highland Park The Light 17 Year: “Light and dark are concepts that exist in opposition, yet together create a perfect balance. One cannot exist without the other; as one appears, the other disappears; together they create something greater than themselves – in nature, a perfect, continuous cycle. In THE LIGHT- a special release of only 28,000 bottles – we celebrate spring and summer in Orkney; a time to emerge from our winter’s hibernation, renewed and refreshed with a spring in our step, ready to embrace the warm bright days of summer. Presented in a beautifully embossed green glass bottle, the serpent dragon design takes its inspiration from the great Norse sagas and embraces both the high sun of the summer solstice and the low sun of the winter solstice – the polar opposites of our island seasons – while the runic writing reflects the ancient carvings of our Viking ancestors which can still be seen today, here in Orkney.”

Distiller’s Description Highland Park Valknut:  “Created using a higher proportion of our local peated malt and predominantly matured in sherry seasoned oak casks to give this whisky its smoky, sweet flavour, “VALKNUT is the second in our Viking Legend series, celebrating our rich Nordic ancestry here on Orkney. Valknut means ‘knot of those slain in battle’ and its symbol of three interlinked triangles appears on numerous artefacts from the Viking Age. The symbol is closely associated with the Norse god, Odin, who guided the spirits of the dead to the underworld and back to the world of the living, and is believed to represent the transition from life to death or the connection between earthly life and heavenly life.”

Three New A.D. Rattrays Whiskies 

Glenrothes, “Cask Orkney” and an old Grain

We have a trio of new whiskies from A.D. Rattray from Ayrshire, Scotland. Like everyone at the moment, they have an 18 year old “Orkney” cough: “Highland Park!”…

1. A.D. Rattray Cask Orkney 18 Year – 46% – Ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Subtle and soft, with green apple and nutmeg, wood spice, sea salt and a hazy smoke. Palate: Toffee, peach and apricot, with a rich velvety texture, sweet background smoke and a dry nutty finish. Finish: A fine spirit, complex and balanced.” – $142
2. A.D. Rattray Glenrothes 1996 – 51.9% – 21 Year – Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Elderflower, light vanilla and lemon. Palate: White peach, apricot and Golden Delicious. Finish: Subtle yet lasting stone fruits.” – $200
3. A.D. Rattray North British 1991 – 58.5% – Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Similar aromas you’d find in an old fashioned sweet shop – bon-bons, red liquorice and chocolate fudge. Palate: Strong coffee, raspberries and a touch of hot cinnamon. Finish: Honey, nutmeg and a lingering sweetness of fresh strawberries.” – $190

Three New anCnocs 

A Pair of Vintages and the 35 Year 2nd Edition!

We have two new limited vintages of anCnoc whisky, as well as a discontinued older age statement expression. We are getting just 18 bottles each of the 2 vintages, and just 3 bottles of the age statement anCnoc. The 2001 vintage is already discontinued. The 2002 is more recent. It is a safe bet both vintage whiskies are roughly 14-15 years of age.

1. anCnoc 2001 – 46% – Distiller’s Description: “anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result this dram may develop a light haze with the addition of water or if kept at a cold temperature. This haze is a natural characteristic of whisky that is non chill-filtered.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Brimming with freshly squeezed lemons and ripe blood oranges. Creamy vanilla, ground spices and a touch of new leather follow. Taste: A hint of set lime honey, vanilla and a distinct chocolate presence. The finish drifts off slowly with a zesty freshness.” – $110
2.  anCnoc 2002 – 46% – Distiller’s Description: “anCnoc Vintage 2002 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result this dram may develop a light haze with the addition of water or if kept at a cold temperature. This haze is a natural characteristic of whisky that is non chill-filtered.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Packed with notes of spicy Christmas cake, liquorice and toffee. Creamy vanilla and ground spices then follow, all wrapped up in the classic honey and citrus flavours so typical of anCnoc. Taste: Chocolate adds another level of sweetness contrasted by orange zest and a hint of leather. The finish is long and warming with a spicy kick.” – $120
3. anCnoc 35 Year – 41% – Distiller’s Description: “Filled with our charismatic spirit back when flared jeans were all the rage, hand-picked American oak casks aged quietly in our warehouses to eventually bring us a whisky like no other. Rich and opulent but with exactly the vibrancy and balance you’d expect from anCnoc, the single malt of Modern Tradition. The family resemblance to our younger expressions is intact, distillery character shining brighter than ever.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Top notes of lemon curd, green apples and cut flowers are followed by a heavier honey sweetness, creamy toffee, leather, spices and a pleasant touch of warming wood smoke, making for a fragrant and rich nose. Taste: Oily and full-bodied. Honey and fresh vanilla sit firmly on the palate, with spiciness and, once again, slight smokiness woven in. The finish is long and rewarding, with hints of ground spices and caramel sweetness.” – $1100

Introductory: Johnnie Walker White Walker 

HBO Game of Thrones Collaboration

We are expecting a handful of cases of the new Johnnie Walker White Walker blend, bottled in collaboration with HBO’s Game of Thrones. The White Walker packaging supposedly reveals a hidden message when frozen. The whisky has been blended to be served chilled. Here are the details:

Johnnie Walker White Walker – 41.7% – Producer Description: “Created by whisky specialist George Harper, alongside the small team of expert blenders at Johnnie Walker, this innovative whisky is best served directly from the freezer, echoing the chilling presence of the White Walkers. The Scotch has notes of caramelised sugar and vanilla, fresh red berries with a touch of orchard fruit and features Single Malts from Cardhu and Clynelish – one of Scotland’s most Northern distilleries. Blender George Harper used the Frozen North as his starting point for creating White Walker by Johnnie Walker. He said: “Whiskies from Clynelish have endured long, Scottish Winters, not dissimilar to the long periods endured by the Night’s Watch who have ventured north of the wall – so it was the perfect place to start when creating this unique whisky.” – $55

Introducing: Black Mountain 

Blended Whisky from France

“Black Mountain Compagnie is the project of four friends from Toulouse, who are all passionate entrepreneurs. Their different experiences, characterising each of their careers, complement one another and contribute to the success of the project, based on the daring ambition to produce the finest French whiskies in the south west of the country. How could it be? By building a distillery, nestled against the foothills of the Montagne Noire and located on a 3,000 feet high plateau. A place where people say that a wild animal, half-wolf, half-boar, is roaming around…”

1.  Black Mountain No. 1 – 42% – Created from Blended Scotch whiskies matured in France with a high proportion of single malt. – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose is intense and complex with floral, honey, vanilla oak and grain notes as well as slightly spicy fragrances. On the palate, it is harmony caressing the tongue with flavours of citrus fruit and then grain; there is a rich bouquet of aromas spiced with hints of pepper and nutmeg. The finish is refined and long lasting, with a gentle smoky note.It is to be tasted neat, like the finest spirits.” – $89 World Whisky Awards Best European Blend
2. Black Mountian No. 2 – 40% – Blended Scotch Whisky finished in France. – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose offers an amazing intensity with floral fragrances, hints of oak and vanilla. On the palate, floral aromas are developed into fruity notes and a hint of honey, as well as spicy flavours of cinnamon and gingerbread. The finish is long lasting, delicately smoky, with a touch of liquorice. It is enjoyed neat and becomes even more remarkable on the rocks.” – $69
3. Black Mountain Fume – 45% – Blended Scotch Whisky further matured in France, and then blended with 20% peated malt whisky. – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose is mineral with initial hints of herbs, barley and smoky aromas. Then come floral fragrances and notes of dried fruit and oak. The palate is first floral and fruity with smoky flavours developing into aromas of toast and malt. Then notes of vanilla, citrus fruit, leather and subtle touches of herbs can be tasted. The finish is rich, savoury, with a hint of mocha cake.” – $89

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