Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 287: Glen Elgin 13 Year Old 2000 Spirit of Scotland

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a summery dram! Glen Elgin can be found – as the name suggest – near the city of Elgin in Speyside. Together with Mannochmore and Glenlossie, it’s an integral part of the blend White Horse. There are hardly any official releases and the core range consists of only the rather boring Glen Elgin 12 Year Old which can be purchased for less than 40 EUR. Mark, however, tries a 13 years old from 2000, selected by Van Wees in Holland, but bottled by Spirit of Scotland. FYI: this is the ‘b-label’ of Gordon & Macphail, although they have released quite a few gems under this label.

https://youtu.be/cM2_zxvQF6c

BENROMACH 15 YEARS OLD CROWNED ‘WHISKY OF THE YEAR 2020’ BY WHISKY EXCHANGE CUSTOMERS IN ANNUAL BLIND TASTING

Speyside distillery Benromach has claimed the top spot in the annual Whisky of the Year blind tasting by specialist spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange, with their 15 year old expression – a lusciously rich Speyside single malt, with a soft smokiness and distinctive golden amber colour thanks to maturation in first-fill former sherry and bourbon casks.

The Whisky of the Year tasting is the only official global blind whisky tasting undertaken by members of the public and, for the first time this year, the six shortlisted whiskies were nominated by global customers of The Whisky Exchange, with more than 1,200 putting forward their favourites. The judging of the most popular six was opened up to the world via the Whisky of the Year blind tasting set and online voting, in addition to a blind-tasting event in London on 18 November. With just over 300 votes cast, it was a tightly-fought battle.

All the shortlisted whiskies are under £65 retail price, bottled at standard strengths, and are all ongoing, commercially available releases. In addition to the winning Benromach 15 Years Old, the final shortlist included:

• Kavalan Classic Single Malt (Runner-up)
• Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask
• Glenallachie 12 Year Old
• Lagavulin 16 Year Old
• Port Askaig 8 Year Old

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach Distillery, said: “Benromach 15 Years Old being named Whisky of the Year is an incredibly proud moment for the whole team at the distillery.

“Like all our whiskies, Benromach 15 Years Old is handcrafted using the finest natural ingredients and is a distinctive Speyside whisky with a subtle smoky character. The longer maturation softens its smokiness to hints of charred smoke while developing the wood imbued character of succulent honey, vanilla and fruit.”

Sukhinder Singh, co-founder and owner of The Whisky Exchange, comments: “The idea behind our Whisky of the Year initiative is making excellent affordable whiskies known to whisky-lovers around the world, and if you don’t know Benromach 15 yet, then you really need to. This is an exceptionally well-balanced and pleasing dram, with something for everyone – peat smoke, rich fruit, chocolate, herbs and spices. Entirely understandable that whisky-lovers from around the world nominated this classic Speyside single malt for the shortlist and a worthy winner of the title.”

Benromach 15 Year Old is available at thewhiskyexchange.com priced £48.95 (on promotion, full price £52.95).

TASTING NOTES

Benromach 15 Years Old is bottled at 43% ABV

• Colour: Golden Amber
• Nose: Beautifully balanced Sherry aromas with vanilla pod, zesty orange and spicy ginger complemented by delicate chamomile and menthol notes. With water it has subtle hints of cocoa, nutmeg and cinnamon giving way to sweet honey notes and hints of bonfire embers.
• Palate: Rich fruit cake with stewed plum, red apple skin and the sharp edge of kiwi fruit. With water it has traces of charred oak complementing sweet tangerine, plum and nectarine completed by a gorgeous touch of milk chocolate
• Finish: Luscious and rich with hints of charred smoke, succulent honey, vanilla and fruit
• Maturation: Matured for 15 years in sherry and bourbon casks 

ABOUT BENROMACH DISTILLERY

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family realised a lifelong dream to own a distillery and purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, the Urquhart family wanted to create a single malt whisky that has a classic Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A five-star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com 

ABOUT THE WHISKY EXCHANGE

Founded in 1999, The Whisky Exchange is the leading global retailer of whiskies and fine spirits, with an award-winning online shop and two stores in Covent Garden and Great Portland. A third store is due to open soon in London Bridge.

As a family company, The Whisky Exchange believes in excellent products at competitive prices and exceptional service. The company’s philosophy is simple – never rest on your laurels. The team, led by founders and brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh and buyer Dawn Davies MW, is constantly trying to find new products with genuine heritage and quality in all drinks categories, while continuing to innovate and ensure its website and shop are the best in the business. Above all, the company is built on its amazing range and its people. It is responsible for the loyal and ever-expanding fan base from around the world.

The Whisky Exchange in numbers: 4,000 whiskies including 3,000 single malt Scotch whiskies; 500 Cognacs and Armagnacs; 500 rums; 450 gins; 200 bourbons; 150 Tequilas; one retailer.

London Shops:

2 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9HH/ Tel: 020 7100 0088

90-92 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7NT/ Tel: 020 7100 9888

Online: thewhiskyexchange.com/ Tel: 020 8838 9388

Whisky of the Year – the winner…

It’s that time again – the announcement of our Whisky of the Year. And the winner is, drum-roll, please…

Benromach 15 Year Old – The Winner

Congratulations to Benromach! We’re big fans of the distillery’s old-fashioned, lightly-smoky style and we’re really pleased that our judges agreed. It’s available from The Whisky Exchange website with a discount to celebrate its win – Benromach 15 Year Old.

Here are my tasting notes:

Nose: Chocolate, caramel and wood smoke lead to a hint of new-trainer-sole rubber and rich maltiness – Shreddies cereal and malt extract. The smokiness winds its way through the gaps, becoming wispy coal smoke trickling out of a stove filled with baking sultana-studded apples.

Palate: Rich, thick and rounded, with sultanas and raisins quickly overwhelmed by spicy peat smoke. The baked apples from the nose are revealed as the smoke blows away, sprinkled with spicy cinnamon and mint leaves. Chocolate-covered liquorice and Hob Nob biscuits appear, along with a touch of charcoal.

Finish: Singed fruit cake and sultana-heavy fruit loaf fade slowly away to leave tingling menthol, leafy mint and cocoa.

Comment: Peatier than expected, but with all smoke wrapped up in fruit and chocolate. Supremely well-balanced, with a long and leafy finish.

The Blind Tasting Pack

This year we changed the way we nominated and judged the whiskies, opening it up to you – the public. We asked you to nominate whiskies on our website for a month, and then took the top three from The Whisky Exchange’s panel and the top three public choices to create a six-whisky short-list. We then made them into blind tasting sets and sent them out around the world. Votes were cast online as well as at our yearly Whisky of the Year blind tasting, and I pulled them all together to choose the winner – Benromach 15 Year Old!

But now the big reveal – what the whiskies in our blind tasting set were:

Whisky A – Kavalan Single Malt (Runner-up)
Whisky B – Glenallachie 12 Year Old
Whisky C – Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask
Whisky D – Benromach 15 Year Old (Winner)
Whisky E – Port Askaig 8 Year Old
Whisky F – Lagavulin 16 Year Old

If you want to try your way through the short-list yourself, we now have non-mystery versions of the set available – Whisky of the Year tasting sets. The voting might be closed, but you can still see if you agree with our judges.

Sixteen sleeps ‘til Christmas! If you’re anything like us, you’ve still got some stockings to fill. Fear not, though – we can hear sleigh bells! Our Whisky Sleigh is back and, as per the annual tradition, is dropping a gift in every order that’s placed today.

That’s right: every order placed between 00:00 and 23:59 GMT on 9 December 2019 will receive a little token of appreciation for shopping with us this Christmas. A single present will be allocated to each order – a little gift of Christmas spirit, from our family to yours.

Gifts include £10 Gift Cards, Perfect Measure Glasses, and Perfect Measure whisky and spirit samples. Plus, six lucky customers will find a bottle of Jim Murray’s World Whisky Of The Year 2020 – 1792 Full Proof bourbon from Barton Distillery.

SHOP NOW

TOKYO — 6 December 2019– At 9am EST Tuesday December 10th, the world’s foremost online retailer of Japanese whisky, dekantā, will release 30 sets of limited edition Single Malt, distilled at the closed Karuizawa distillery in Japan, to online consumers, on a first-come first-serve basis.

Japanese spirits e-commerce site dekantā is offering whisky enthusiasts internationally the opportunity to own some of the world’s rarest whisky, vintage Karuizawa distilled at the turn of the century, just before the distillery closed. Since the Karuizawa distillery ceased production in 2000, demand for the remaining Karuizawa stock has increased dramatically, along with demand for Japanese whisky in general. The limited stock of Karuizawa whisky that remains is usually sold via auction or ballot. dekantā are offering a rare opportunity for consumers to register interest in the product, without the risk that they will be outbid or out of luck.

Each of the bottles in the Karuizawa 1999-2000 ‘Koinobori’ Series (70cl; 60.7% ABV) carries a limited edition design depicting the Koinobori carp, a potent symbol in Japan of good fortune. Traditional Japanese culture associates the Koinobori with the family: The black Koinobori symbolises the father;  the red is a symbol of the mother; and the small Koinobori in violet, blue or green are symbolic of the children. During some of the country’s most prominent festivals, Koinobori will be seen on the outside of houses in Japan, in honour of the family, to bring good fortune, health and strength. There are 30 sets available of each of the three designs.

The Single Malt in these bottles has been crafted from a range of vintage whiskies distilled at Karuizawa distillery throughout the years 1999-2000. Various cask types and maturities were selected with the aim of creating a complex flavour profile representing Karuizawa’s archetypal taste. “The flavour profile on this whisky is one of the most complex found among Karuizawa expressions,” said dekantā Founder and Director Makiyo Masa. “We feel that the beautiful Koinobori design, a potent symbol of family and good fortune here in Japan, is a fitting palace to house the fine whisky within.”

In February 2018, dekantā’s ballot for a series of Karuizawa whiskies, inspired by cities of Japan, attracted over 3,500 entries for just 150 bottles. “The success of our previous ballots has been indicative of the huge demand and enthusiasm for liquid from the silent Japanese distillery,” said Makiyo Masa. “I’m delighted that, for the first time, we will be offering expressions from Karuizawa for online purchase , rather than a ballot or auction, to give more whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to own one of these stunning bottles.”

Consumers can visit dekanta.com/karuizawa-koinobori/ to reserve a bottle starting on 9am EST on Tuesday 10 December 2019. Bottles will be delivered by the end of April 2020.

Notes to Editors:

dekantā Founder Makiyo Masa and Head of Content Liam Hiller are available for interview.

Please RSVP to arrange,

Miriam Rune: miriam@dekanta.com/ +44 7740 339 628.

dekantā Newsroom: https://dekanta.com/press/

Press library: https://dekanta.com/press-library/

About dekantā

dekantā offers the world’s largest online selection of authentic Japanese spirits and, since the opening of its online store in 2015, has delivered to 127 countries across every continent in the world. A family owned and run business, dekantā’s founders have been selling collectibles since 1985 and specialize in rare, collectible, and new release single malt Japanese whisky. dekantā offers worldwide delivery on an extensive range of Japanese single malt whisky, Japanese grain whisky and Japanese blended whisky, in addition to Scottish whisky released for the Japanese market only. More recently, Japanese wine has been introduced through the dekantā Cellar, and spirits from wider Asia through dekantā Oriental.

About Karuizawa

The Karuizawa Distillery was established in 1955 in the foothills of an active volcano Mount Asama. The location was notable for being the highest distillery in Japan at 850m above sea level. Despite being the smallest whisky producer in Japan, Karuizawa had a global reputation for producing first-class malt whiskies. The distillery imported Golden Promise barley from Scotland and aged the majority of its stock in sherry casks. Karuizawa stopped producing whisky in 2000 and has since been known as a ‘silent’ distillery. As global interest in Japanese whisky has grown in recent years, demand for stock from the closed Karuizawa distillery has increased dramatically, along with the price of the remaining bottles. Bottles of Karuizawa have sold for more than £100,000 and the distillery has just overtaken Macallan to become the highest-ranking distillery in terms of the value of its bottles sold at auction (WhiskyStats.net).

dekanta.com

Follow dekantā on Twitter: @dekantawhisky 

Like dekantā on Facebook: facebook.com/dekantawhisky/

dekantā Press Room: https://dekanta.com/press/

A Collector’s Must-Have and a Legendary Bottler’s Swansong
2005 Laphroaig 13 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($159.99)
“It’s truly a stupendous find and going to be one of those casks that people remember for years to come.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

Chieftan’s has been a cornerstone bottler for our spirits program for many years now, supplying us (and you) with some of the rarest, most incredible single casks we’ve come across. After recently announcing the end of their single malt program, this iconic Scottish brand broke many a whisky fanatic’s heart. But the silver lining in this great disappointment was our opportunity to snap up a number of thrilling single casks from their remaining stock. There were some heavy hitters in the group, but the under-the-radar stunner of the lineup seems to be this utterly captivating 2005 Laphroaig 13 Year Old Cask Strength. Aged in an active sherry butt and bottled at full cask strength, this is classic Laphroaig driven by the intense peat profile that fans of this delightful distillery have come to know and love. The rarity and collectible value of this bottling cannot be overstated—Laphroaig simply does not sell excess production anymore, and when a cask has shown up on the market in the past few years, the pricetag is often absurd. This whisky at this price is a cause for celebration, but it won’t last long at all. These final casks of the Chieftan’s single malt line are disappearing fast, perhaps none more so than the 2005 Laphroaig 13 Year Old Cask Strength. Simply put, it’s a must-have, and no serious whisky collection is complete without it.

2005 Laphroaig 13 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($159.99)

The magical distillery on the south shore of Islay, like all south shore distillers, is quite unlike any other. But Laphroaig has a certain place in the hearts of the hardest core peat lovers. They’re the last distiller down there to malt a portion of their barley on site. Their complex system of tiny stills create the most peculiar and enticing peated spirit in the world. The quality and consistency of their casks is second to none. But over the last decade, what was once a staple in the independent bottling repertoire has completely disappeared. Laphroaig is simply not selling casks any longer. And when we do find casks they’re usually in very inactive hogsheads and declassified to their trade name, “Williamson.” Now that’s not a huge problem because Laphroaig always tastes good, but since bottlers can’t replace even those few casks the prices have gone absolutely bonkers. Signatory recently bottled a sister cask to those we sold here just three years ago for $200, Laphroaig from the Fall of 1997, for $700. And by God those bottles sell. But here we have a beautiful butt for a not completely abhorrent price, and we jumped all over it. Thank the Lord of the Isles that we did, as it’s a complete and utter masterpiece. Some purists eschew the idea of Laphroaig in active sherry, but much of the experience is limited to low proof distillery bottlings and finishes. However, this is truly a stupendous find and is going to be one of those casks that people remember for years to come. Collectors and drinkers alike take note.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019

Every so often time stops, a dizzying array of pieces fall into place, and you’re left with one special moment. Such is drinking this masterpiece. Tragically, Chieftain’s is going away. One of the most storied and high quality bottlers in Scotland has pulled out all of the stops for its swan song. Aged to perfection, this cask toes the line perfectly between every facet of Laphroaig. It’s equally salty, malty, fruity, floral, and smoky in that amazing way that only Laphroaig can be. In addition there is a splendid cigar box spice provided by an amazing barrel of the highest quality and perfectly matched to the whisky. Not overpowering, it is just robust enough to blend seamlessly with everything on offer from the spirit. My best Laphroaig drinking experience was having John Campbell, the distillery manager, walk me through the classic 10 year, a single cask bourbon barrel roughly 14 years old, and the legendary 30 year. The insights those 3 carefully chosen whiskies provided into the soul of Laphroaig is something I will never forget. It set off a personal and more indepth study of the whisky behind the smoke and iodine that the distillery is so famous for. This one cask highlights the traits that make the the malt from this special place so complete and such a rarity in the flavor spectrum without giving up that core profile. Tasting this malt and then going back to Laphraoig 10 will forever unlock for the drinker the often overlooked and underappreciated glory of the classic expression.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2019

Laphroaig is one of those incredible things that is both polarizing and unifying, sometimes between the same people at the same exact time. I personally adore almost everything I taste from this special distillery. Yes there are some underwhelming distillery bottlings that might feel a bit over manipulated, but the whisky is never ever bad. The great heights that can be achieved by Laphroaig are truly unbelievable. And uniquely, some of the very best from this special distillery are not even very old. The very best Laphroaig I’ve ever had the great pleasure of tasting are no more than 10 years old, given they’d have been distilled 40 or 50 years ago, but the fact remains that Laphroaig is often more special in its youth. For years Laphroaig has felt like a bit of a secret that you weren’t sure you wanted to share with everyone you know. Particularly that was true of the special single casks that we’d come across in warehouses and whisky shops throughout Scotland. But in the current climate, where the distillery itself has no need or use for trading or brokering excess production, what was once a special secret to find and share is now an endangered species completely. So when we get offered casks like this we expect them to be unfathomably expensive. But even if this were twice the price I’d still have bought it. This is that perfectly idiosyncratic Laphroaig, apt to have you disagreeing with yourself. Deep wafting peat, a mix of bitter herbs, salty ocean trawler, candied apricots and diesel engine. Old leather furniture, Seville oranges, not quite tropical, but not so severe as it might be. On the palate a building sweetness envelopes the powerful smoke as it wafts toward the olfactory system. Dark chocolate, salted plums, menthol and magic. A total dream and a secret that deserves to be kept.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019

Laphroaig very infrequently releases anything new, let alone a single cask of something new. Fans of the classic Laphroaig style will not be disappointed here, but will also be pleased to find new tastes and expressions. Rich texture and creamy peat notes get a kick from a slight jalapeno pepper spice in the back. This extremely limited and special release could retail for much higher given its scarcity. Lucky for us it doesn’t.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 18, 2019

Since barrels of single malt age differently and produce a range of flavors it is always a treat to taste something and see the variation on a theme from the regular releases. This tasty barrel is very interesting and fantastic. The nose has a burst of smoke that is almost pretty (a word not usually associated with Laphroaig) with toasty undertones. In the mouth it is classic Laphroaig with smoke, iodine, salt and malt. With water it opens up and becomes softer. There is a long finish with an interesting touch of spice. This single barrel is unique and interesting.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2019

If my family drank, this is a bottle I’d take with me to our holiday dinners. This bottle screams autumn with notes of ume plum, burnt caramel, oak spice, and cinnamon graham crackers on the nose. The palate is fatty, savory, and sweet and I can imagine it going perfectly with turkey and stuffing. It’s warm and inviting. I just want to cuddle up with it next to a fire and look longingly at the glass.

Tastings continue with Indian Whiskies, Award-Winning Local Distilleries, and special Holiday Scotch Pairings 

Wednesday, December 11th 5-7PM:

 American Whiskey: Westward 

Thursday, December 12th 5-7PM:

Indian Whiskey: Paul John 

Friday, December 13th:

Double Tasting Day!

2-4PM:

Balvenie Tasting with Custom Coaster Stamping

 5-7PM:

Sonoma Co Distilling 

Saturday, December 14th, 1-5PM: 

 Scotch Tasting: 

Glendronach & Cheese Pairings

It’s a gift from us to you – the December Outturn is here, and it’s jam-packed with festive ideas. With five carefully crafted Christmas parcels and over 25 individual single casks on offer, there’s plenty of choice to ensure your December is filled with flavour from start to finish.

READ OUTTURN

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

Hopefully this email will act as a salve and soothe those of you nursing your Black Friday injuries… It has been over a month since the last full Malt Messenger, and consequently it has some serious length and depth to it. There are so many cool new whiskies and interesting returns to address herein, that I had to leave out some whiskies from the likes of Macallan, and the new Canadian Club 42 Year, because I just need to hit send …. Some of you may already be aware of many of these whiskies herein, especially if you follow us on social media. But even there, as November heated up and things got busier, there was less and less time to post. Lets not even talk about December… what with just 20 shopping days until Christmas and all!

November has ended with a bang here at the shop. We had a great Whisky Advent Launch event last Friday, to celebrate the project’s completion, and the month of whiskies ahead. Our KWM 2019 Whisky Advent Calendar™ sold out at the beginning of the week, so we’ve decided to bring in a few of the competition’s Scotch Whisky Advent Calendars™. This is their 5th Edition from 2018. They were on sale, nearly $100 off the original wholesale, so we have passed on the savings. We only have 4 Scotch Whisky Advent Calendars™ left for sale.

The MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2020 is but 6 weeks away. We are excited to be offering 4 VIP Master Classes and 6 other Master Classes during the event. One hot tip, the Compass Box VIP Master Classes is not to be missed and already half sold! Phil Keene will be pouring the Compass Box Myths & Legends in his. This could be the only time the Myths & Legends are ever poured together in a tasting. Very, very few bottles are coming to Canada.

Before we get to piles and piles of new whisky to tell you about, we have a handful of Scotch Malt Whisky Society Outturn tastings this week, with room for registration. These are our last KWM tastings in 2019. Details on the SMWS December Outturn Tastings can be found below, as can Evan’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society Corner, highlighting some recent arrivals.

On to the main event, whisky. First up, the Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength, “Ferg in the Spey”, has finally arrived. The whisky, which is the first in what we are calling “The Scotch Guy’s Ego Collection” (this might be a joke… time will tell), has surpassed our expectations. Unlike our single casks, when we get an exclusive Glenfarclas Cask Strength bottling, we don’t get to sample it, we have to trust that it is going to be good. Well, they are 3 for 3 thus far… More than half of the 360 bottles have sold in just 10 days!

We have one screaming deal to tell you about. Tomatin dropped the price of their Tomatin 25 Year 350ml, and accordingly we have passed on the savings. The price has dropped from $200+gst to just $140+gst. A savings of $60! This in a curious whisky, as it is legacy stock from 5-6 years ago of an otherwise sold out and discontinued whisky.

The That Boutique-y Gin Co. Gin Advent Calendars arrived on the weekend. Just in time for Advent. We had another delivery today… better late than never! We also received the Drinks by the Dram 12 Whiskies of Christmas and Whisky Regions of Scotland sets.

There are a ton of new independent bottlings from Signatory Vintage, Adelphi Selection, WM Cadenhead, A.D. Rattray and Secret Spirits. From Signatory we have some very cool whiskies ranging from good value to very collectible, old and rare. The highlights there are the 30th Anniversary bottlings and a superb 1997 Glentauchers. I have my own tasting notes for many of the Signatory whiskies, as well as some of the other new Independent bottlings below. On the Cadenhead side of things we have new Whiskies!

We have a couple more new Kilchomans since my last email, including the 2010 Vintage, a 9 year old which we were not expecting until 2020. Christmas came early… There is also a third Kilchoman single cask available in Alberta right now, two of which are exclusive to KWM. The Kilchoman 2012 SinDicate Cask, was bottled for a local whisky club, and we agreed to take the balance of the bottles there members could not. Curt, one of our whisky staff here at the shop, and President of the SinDicate, has written up a tasting note.

I also have whisky news to share from Glenmorangie, anCnoc, Eau Claire, Shelter Point, Balvenie and Michter’s too. We’ve also received top ups of some in demand whiskies from the likes of Ardbeg and Glengoyne. Many of these are very limited.

From Kavalan we just received the Chapter Series, Chapter 1: Virgin Oak cask. The oldest Kavalan ever bottled at just over 13 years. Only 77 bottles, exclusively for Canada. We have also just received two new limited edition blended malts from Douglas Laing, Rock Island 10 & 21 Year.

Lots to digest in this 105th Malt Messenger. Please let me know if you have any comments, questions or requests. As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale will be taken as correct.

Slàinte!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition:

1. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society December Outturn Tastings
2. Our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength, aka “Ferg in the Spey”, is here!
3. Great Deal: Tomatin 25 Year 350ml $60 Price Drop
4. The Gin Advent & 12 Whiskies of Christmas Are Finally Here!
5. New Signatory Whiskies & a Few Returns
6. New Whiskies From Adelphi
7. New AD Rattray Whiskies
8. Two New Kilchomans (Including Another Cask)
9. Introducing: The Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991
10. Introducing: anCnoc 125th Anniversary Releases
11. Introducing: Eau Claire Single Malt Batch 003
12. Introducing: Shelter Point Smoke Point
13. Introducing: Balvenie Stories 26 Year – A Day of Dark Barley
14. New Secret Spirits Single Cask Single Malts
15. New Limited Michter’s Whiskies
16. Just Arrived: The Oldest Kavalan Yet Bottled
17. Just Arrived: New Rock Island Limited Editions
18. New Cadenhead Whiskies
19. New Cadenhead Rums
20. Ardbeg Drum & Drum Committee are Back
21. Glengoyne 30 is Back
22. MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2020
23. Evan’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society Corner

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 

Our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask 

“Ferg on the Spey” Has Landed

It is more than a couple of months late, and there was more than a little confusion surrounding when exactly it was going to arrive, but we are thrilled to announce that our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength bottling of “Ferg in the Spey”, is actually here. We decided on a 21 year as a follow up to our hugely successful Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask, which sold out very quickly earlier in the year. As much as we would love to bottle a single cask of Glenfarclas, the cost would be at least 3 times that of a cask strength offering such as this. We are suckers for good value, and we know you are too…

This exciting new whisky has a bit of a story, if you’ll indulge me. When we did the label for our first Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength, it became apparent to me that we could have some fun with the label. We didn’t have time for anything bespoke with the 15 year, but after the Glenfarclas label below was brought to my attention I was inspired. In short, a gentleman was visiting Glenfarclas, and somehow ended up driving his Ford rental car in to the Spey. I am not entirely sure how or where that is possible, but he had a special label commissioned to commemorate the incident. They had to say Ferd, and not Ford, out of precaution for avoiding litigation (we do not have access to this 12 Year, it was bottled several years ago).

Which brings us to our Kensington Wine Market exclusive Glenfarclas label. I like to strike a balance between relaxed and professional when I’m touring around Scotland visiting distilleries. I usually wear a dress shirt and shorts, often with flip flops. A man likes to be comfortable. A couple of year back during Feis Isle, I decided to make an impromptu visit to Bowmore, while everyone else was elsewhere on the island. It was my first in a few years. As I entered the door, I was greeted: “Hello Mr. Ferguson. Welcome back to Bowmore!” I was completely taken aback, how did the woman know my name? So I asked and she answered: “Oh, you’re the nice gentleman from Canada who’s always walking around in shorts and a dress shirt.” Seems I have a recognizable image… So, knowing that we could be a little more creative with our second cask strength bottling of Glenfarclas, I decided to have a little fun with the label, inspired by the “Ferd in the Spey”, I’d like to introduce you to “Ferg in the Spey”!

Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength Ferg in the Spey – 53.5% – Matured in Sherry & Traditional Casks – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: round, rich and fruity; very nutty: beer nuts, maple coated walnuts and marcona almonds; soft leather, brandy infused chocolate and white fruit cake; loads of fruit: candied and citric; creamy, warm pie crust from the oven; perhaps some tart lemon meringue. Palate: big, rich and very fruity with building earthy spices; loads of caramel, candied orange, orange peel and other candied fruits; still creamy with more buttery pie crust and tart fruit cake; the spices slowly build: fresh sliced ginger, as well as cardamom and cinnamon sticks; moves towards fennel and anise; very nutty too, loads of candied nuts and more oily marcona almonds. Finish: long, drying, spicy and elegant; fading candied fruits and nuts with more buttery pie crust and soft leather. Comment: another cracking cask strength Glenfarclas at an awesome price point; we can’t take any credit for the selection of this whisky; once again we put our faith in George and his team at Glenfarclas, and once again they have delivered; just in time for Christmas this bottle is oozing candied fruits, nuts and spices… how festive!” – $180+GST

Great Deal: Tomatin 25 Year 350ml! 

This Lovely Old Single Malt Was $200, Now $140 – SAVE $60!

Matured in Amerian oak cask this limited release 25 year old whisky was bottled at 43%. This is legacy stock, and sold out internationally. I don’t know how a surplus stock of half bottles ended up in Alberta, but this is a lovely malt at a phenomenol price. You don’t often see old or rare whiskies at this price!

Tomatin 25 Year 350ml – 43% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Light and fresh. Citrus fruits, vanilla, fruit cake. Oak prominent throughout. Palate: Good balance. Smooth, medium body, delicate honey and mild orange. Finish: Quite long; lingers on the palate.” – $140

 

The 12 Whiskies of Christmas & Whisky Regions Gift Packs 

Also now in stock are the 2019 Boutique-y Whisky Co. 12 Whiskies of Christmas and Whisky Regions of Scotland Gift Packs. We have the product list for all three on our website, but if you’d rather be surprised, maybe avoid the spoilers… Three great gift ideas, just in time for the month of giving!

1. Drinks by the Dram 12 Whiskies of Christmas – 12x30ml – Back for 2019, at a reduced price, the Drinks by the Dram 12 Whiskies of Christmas. 12 30ml wax sealed whiskies in a box with playful graphics! The whisky list is below, but if you want it to be a surprise, don’t peek! – $110
2. Drinks by the Dram Whisky Regions of Scotland Gift Set – 5x30ml – If you believe in Whisky Regions, which are a little like believing in Unicorns and fairies, then this is the gift set for you! Dropped in price by $13 this year… woo hoo! – $55

New Signatory Whiskies 

And More Than a Few Curious Returns

Signatory is one of our favourite independent bottlers. They seem to be one of just a handful of independent bottlers that still have a great depth of casks. I’ve been through their warehouses many times and can vouch for this. They also aren’t operating hand to mouth. They buy casks and only bottle them when they feel they are showing well. Their prices have been slowly going up in recent years, albeit more slowly than others, and the quality of their whiskies is still very high. Highlights below, the Glentauchers 1997, and the Signatory 30th Anniversary bottlings. We have seven new whiskies to tell you about:

1. Signatory Clynelish 1995 – 57.7% – 23 Year – Matured in a Refill Sherry Butt – $350 – Only 7 bottles left.
2. Signatory Edradour 10 Year Heavily Sherried – 46% – Sherry Butt – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: beef bouillon cubes, teriyaki beef  jerky and dark bakers chocolate; walnut liqueur, loose leaf tobacco and old saddle leather; Russian coffee dregs, Dutch licorice and Tootsie Rolls. Palate: a mouthful of loose leaf tobacco, rough old leather, beef bouillon and dark bakers chocolate; loaded with dark sugars; brown, demerara and cane; more Dutch licorice, Russian coffee dregs and salted caramel; dried dark fruits: cooked raisins, grilled dates and figs; very nutty, sherried, round, rough and earthy. Finish: long, coating and rich; more dark sugars, fruits, leather, tobacco and chocolate. Comment: this is almost over the top; no sulphur but this is close to being overcooked; looking for an almost over the top sherried drams that is not flawed… this is it!” – $110 – SOLD OUT!
3. Signatory Glen Elgin 1995 – 50.9% – 23 Year – Hogshead – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: classic Glen Elgin, soft, floral and elegant; delicate vanilla, dried apricots, midori melon, orange piths and pickle juice; doughy and flaky; Mille Feuille (Napoleon Pastry); powdered sugar and whipped cream on Belgian waffles.  Palate: creamy and very honeyed with bags and bags of fruit; vanilla bean, more whipped cream and powdered sugar; loads of flaky and doughy pastry; more melons: midori, cantaloupe and honeydew; dried apricots, baked Granny Smith apples and poached pears; a touch tart, more pickle brine? perfumed and waxy. Finish: medium long in length, still soft, floral and fruity; elegant and beautiful. Comment: this is a lovely single cask of Glen Elgin; it is easy to see why this is one of John Glaser’s muses; this is an elegant and complex single malt; trop fruits would have pushed this in to brilliant territory, still it is lovely!” – $250
4. Signatory Glen Grant 1995 – 48.9% – 23 Year – Two Bourbon Barrels – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: buttered toast with creamed honey, waxy parchment paper, caramelized carrots and grilled turnips; toasted oak, spring flowers and orange rinds; as it opens up it begins to mellow with softer fruits. Palate: creamy, toasty and spicy; more creamed honey on buttered bread; a touch earthy and musty; the caramelized and grilled root veg are fading but stiller there; melons, wine gums and citrus Jujubes; Demerara sugars, more Spring flowers and decadent spices; crisp citrus peels and red shoelaces. Finish: coating, creamy and floral; more honey, vanilla and soft fruits: melons, oranges and dried apricots; toasty with spices. Comment: needs time to open up, but once it does this is a lovely, soft and layered single malt.” – $230
5. Signatory Glentauchers 1997 – 47.8% – 21 Year – Two Bourbon Barrels – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: creme brule, vanilla icing and toasted marshmallows; decadent sugars and dulce de leche; citrus Jujubes and Jelly Bellies; juicy and floral: cold tea dregs with Demerara sugar and cool mint. Palate: very decadent, round, creamy and fruity; bags of honey, vanilla icing sugar, creme brule and more toasted marshmallows; melons, apricots and more decadent citrus notes; Jelly Bellies, Jujubes and Starbursts; silky, floral and toasty with coating waxy notes; York Peppermint Patties. Finish: long, cooling and minty; still creamy, waxing and coating with bags of fruit, marshmallow, vanilla and honey. Comment: do you have a sweet tooth? big on juicy fruit? York Peppermint Patties? you’ll find a lot to love here; this is a superb, lush single malt; a real cracker!” – $225 – Only 11 bottles left
6. Signatory 30th Anniversary Blair Athol 1988 – 47.8% – 30 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – 91pts Whisky Fun: “This one came out in December last year. Signatory have bottled quite a few stunners in their 30th Anniversary series, some completely crazy if you ask me. Let’s check this little Blair Athol (isn’t Blair Athol Edradour/Signatory’s nearest neighbour?) Colour: deep gold. Nose: of course. Mangos, honeysuckle, lime blossom, Timut pepper, pink pineapples, lightly smoked tea, whiffs of natural rubber, some umami, one small cigar and we’re done. Forgot to mention rose petals and perhaps a wee glass of Fleurie. A dazzling nose. With water: exceptionally full of the most precious tobaccos. There. Mouth (neat): superb. Quite bizarrely, it would make you think of old Bushmills at some point (those mangos that we already found on the nose), then of fresh Sauternes, with some lush apricot jam, maracuja, liquorice, dried apricots, tangerines… What a whirlwind! I’d even dare mention sémillon, but you would say I’m pushing the envelope, and perhaps you would be right. Perhaps the most extravagant Blair Athol I could try. With water: rosehip tea, Corsican citron, pink pepper, grapefruit, passion fruits… Finish: long, fresh, floral and fruity. Very solid structure. Comments: well, in fact, this one reminds me of some of those wonderful old official ‘black labels’. They share the same DNA. Just totally impeccable. SGP:651 – 91 points.” – $780+gst – Only 2 bottles.
7. Signatory 30th Anniversary Craigduff 1973 – 45.4% – 45 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – 91pts Whisky Fun: “What a coup once again! Colour: full gold. Nose: nada peat, niente, nichts, rien, nothing. On the contrary, we’re facing an exceptional fruity combination, shock full of mango jam, banana compote, overripe apples of all kinds, and various honeys. Then custard and maple syrup, Jaffa cakes (very obvious, and growing), Danish pastries, and a wee glass of Yquem 1988 (pushing things a bit, I must confess). Sultanas in homemade vanilla custard. Very lovely nose, very elegant. And I’m afraid it reminds me a bit of some old Strathisla, which does not mean anything at this point. No smoke. Mouth: I could convince myself that I’m finding a little peat, although that would be a ‘transmuted’ smokiness, rather towards herbal teas than the usual passion fruits. Notes of Turkish delights, light chutneys, mirabelles, then really a lot of acacia honey. What’s really amazing is how fresh it remained, after forty-five years in wood.  Never listen to those false noses who claim that malt always goes into a decline after 30 (or 35, or 40, or 45) years in wood! There’s also a touch of camphor, or eucalyptus pastilles, which may well come from the wood. From the peat? Doubt it. Finish: medium, and rather superb, very honeyed again, with notes of lime-blossom tea. Indeed, Yquem 1988 (cut that, please). Comments: and yet another 30th anniversary bottling by SigV that’s nothing short of impressive. Could we now have a 31st Anniversary series? SGP:651 – 91 points.” – $2750+gst – Only 2 bottles!

We also managed to get a few more cases each of the following, which were the highlights of the Signatory 30th Anniversary Tasting in the fall. Most of the stock was pre-sold, but we have 1-4 bottles of each of the whiskies below still available for order:

1. Signatory 30th Anniversary Bunnahabhain 1978 – 47.8 – 40 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, sherried and nutty; classic sherry cask; Christmas cake, leather, tobacco and chocolate; candied orange, before mango, papaya and other more delicate tropical fruits emerge; waxy and antique-y with cedar shavings; maple syrup and sweet licorice. Palate: big, rich and sherried; nutty, leathery and earthy with loads of tobacco; on the palate classic Christmas cake, dark chocolate and dried dark fruits: figs, dates and prunes; clove, fennel and anise; a touch of orange and more tropical fruits beneath; still waxy and antique-y. Finish: long, nutty, drying and sherried; leather, tobacco, dark chocolate and spices continue long in to the finish; the fruits mature later as the sherry notes tone down. Comment: this is a classic old sherry bomb, and a balanced one at that; layered complex and elegant without even a trace of the dreaded “S” word.” – $1850+gst – SOLD OUT – We have inquired about getting more! – 90pts Angus @WhiskyFun
2. Signatory 30th Anniversary Cragganmore 1985 – 53.4% – 33 Year – Hogshead – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, waxy, honeyed and floral with clotted cream and a basket of mixed orchard fruits; bursting with vanilla, beeswax and dewy summer gardens; sage and lavender; apples, peaches and melons; soft, decadent toasted oak; trending toward tropical fruits. Palate: still waxy, bursting with honey, vanilla and settling in to toasted oak and clotted cream; bursting with sweet caramel and more orchard fruits: candy apple, peaches n cream, midori melon and even brighter tropical fruits: kiwis and pineapple; decadent spices start to build along with savoury floral tones. Finish: long, coating, warming, decadent and elegant; layers of cream, oak, fruit and spices; starts to show its age at the end, but still within balance. Comment: this malt showed well during both nights of our Signatory 30th Anniversary Tasting, and it doesn’t disappoint here; remarkable how rich, fruity and decadent it is after 33 year with just the faintest trace of bitter oak on the finish; surprising for a presumably fresh, ex-Bourbon Hogshead of this age; possibly the best Cragganmore I’ve ever had.” – $1159.99 – Only 2 Bottles – 88pts Serge @WhiskyFun
3. Signatory 30th Anniversary Port Ellen 1982 – 55.1% – 35 Year – Refill Sherry Butt –  Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: savoury with a fine balance of elegant smoke, juicy fruits and salty maritime tones; Alaskan King Crabs and Nova Scotia Lobster dipped in butter; soft oily peat, dried kelp and ripe fruits: honey dew melon, lemon, pineapple and candy apple; salted caramel and white chocolate. Palate: creamy, fruity and savoury with more clean elegant smoke; the seafoody-maritime notes continue with scallops poached in butter with a balsamic reduction; more lobster and crab; the soft fruits are still there, as is the vanilla and salted caramel; still oily and tarry with a touch of Dutch licorice; the tropical fruits pop up again, ripe, expressive and a touch waxy; more bright lemon; silky and seductive. Finish: big, coating and very elegant; tarry oils, clean smoke, savoury seafood, salted caramel and long lingering lemon and tropical fruits cloaked in waxy vanilla. Comment: this is one of the oldest Port Ellens I have ever tasted, and it does not disappoint; there is an almost perfect balance between the oak and original spirit character; time has imbued tropical fruits and silky-waxy character; superb!” – $3000+gst – 93pts Serge @WhiskyFun

New Whiskies from Adelphi 

Including Some Sherry Bombs

Adelphi is another of our favourites. The focus at Adelphi is on building the Ardnamurchan brand ahead of their impending single malt launch, but they still have some great offerings on the independent bottling side. There are some seriously sherried offerings this time around, one of which is already sold out and a few others which are close. Details and tasting notes b below:

1. Adelphi Glenrothes 1980 – 40.2% – 38 Year – Refill Sherry Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “This 38-year-old single malt was made in 1980 at Glenrothes distillery and matured in a single cask until being bottled by indie bottler Adelphi. Drawn from a ref-ex Sherry hogshead, this is 24 carat gold in color with bright copper lights and no beading due to its natural low strength. Apple crumble, slightly burnt on top, shortbread, unripe bananas and red apple skins with pineapple chunks and tropical fruit salad in the development. Both incredibly delicate and complex to taste with flamed orange peel over toffee apples and a soft, persistent tangy aftertaste. Old school distillate taken to full maturation.” – $750 – Only 3 bottles left!
2. Adelphi Blair Athol 1997 – 57.2% – 21 Year – Sherry Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “”An intense colour of polished mahogany with a good bead. The nose brings big aromas of Sticky medjool date pudding with toffee sauce, hazelnuts and eucalyptus oil. There is also a savoury note – lamb tagine in a riad. How Baazar. The palate is mouth-coating with cold brew coffee, beef jerky, figs and Turkish Delight. The finish borders on Borders dark chocolate ginger biscuits.” – $380 – Only 3 bottles left!
3. Adelphi Distilled in Dufftown 1999 – 58% – 20 Year – Sherry Hogshead – Blended Malt – Producer Tasting Note: “Drawn from a refill American oak ex-PX hogshead, this has the colour of Autumn gold with amber lights, and a good bead. Initially on the nose, Mackie’s vanilla ice cream and Fox’s Glacier Mints, moving to cake mix (especially sultanas), fig rolls, Cadbury’s Cherry Ripe chocolate bars and Bircher muesli with apricots. The palate brings juicy mandarins, coconut flakes and Gjetost (Norwegian goat’s cheese) finishing with notes of dulce de leche. A very rare whisky especially in single cask at this age.” – $315
4. Adelphi Bunnahabhain 2009 – 59.3% – 10 Year – 1st Fill Sherry Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “The colour is old oak and has a moderate bead. On the nose we found Bovril and Scotch pie. There is also chocolate eclairs, tiramisu and oiled deckchairs. The palate brings peanut brittle, molasses, Salmiakki (Swedish Liquorice), camp coffee and dark fruits. The finish is sweet and salty. A big Bunna! Character and Style of Bunnahabhain: Malt, leather, dried fruit.” – $183
5. Adelphi Miltonduff 2007 – 61.2% – 11 Year – Producer Tasting Note: “A lovely colour of copper gold with a reasonably short bead. On the nose there is fresh orchard fruit with coconut and milk chocolate biscuits. Opening up with crumble and raspberry ripple ice cream. The palate is initially sweet with summer cooked fruits ‘drying to red currants. Spices appear with the addition of a little water: star anise and Cardamom. A well-balanced dram with Oloroso sherry notes on the finish.” – $140
6. Adelphi Caol Ila 2010 – 55.4% – 9 Year – Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: ” Drawn from a 1st-fill ex-Bourbon hogshead, this has the colour of lemon gold, with a very good bead. The nose brings lemon curd, sweet crème anglaise, and lemon meringue pie with bon bons dipped in sherbet; then burnt ironing board, swimming pools, smoked Arran cheese and lemongrass. The palate is full of bonfire smoke, driftwood, salty rock pools and oysters with fresh lemon to finish. Character and Style of Caol Ila: Brine, Oil, Lemon and Smoke.” – $130
7. Adelphi Linkwood 1993 – 48.4% – 25 Year – ex-Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Red Mackintosh apples, clementine zest, marzipan and coconut biscuits. Delicate mouthfeel with angelica root, coconut flakes and dusty chocolate powder. Lingering finish with memories of old school beauty parlours and a kick of aniseed.” – $380 – Only 4 bottles!

New A.D. Rattray Whiskies 

Newly Arrived Oldies!

These are the first of many more whiskies to come, as A.D. Rattray and their new agent work their way back in to the market. The Blair Athol is one of the highest alcohol 21 year olds we’ve seen in some time, and yet it is far from sharp or rough. The Miltonduff is the oldest bottle we’ve seen from that distillery in sometime, and it is far from over the hill.

1. A.D. Rattray Blair Athol 21 Year – 63.0% – Distilled 1997 – Bourbon Hogshead – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: warm, but not sharp… 63%; butter cream icing, almond paste and buttery French croissants; maple fudge, Scottish tablet and shortbread; spiced apple cider and dried citrus peels; Palate: big, rich, spicy and warm; again there is a little heat, but the whisky is far from sharp; dark sugars make way for decadent spices: candied fennel, star anise, cinnamon and cardamom; more white and citrus fruits; boozy whipped cream and Russian caramel. Finish: light, fresh, fruity and creamy; surprisingly light for the strength and warmth of the spirit; very pleasant. Comment: you’d think this one would do well with water; it was okay, brought the oak forward; as high as the ABV is, and it is high, I think this one shows better without!” – $275
2.  A.D. Miltonduff 34 Year – 47.3% – 1983 – Matured in a Bourbon Cask – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: plum brandy, linseed oil and potpourri; Swiss peach eau de vie, new fabric and French soap; cashews, caramel corn and polished oak. Palate: round, coating and fruity; very floral and nutty; more caramel corn, with salted peanuts and cashews; very floral, more perfume and potpourri; polished oak with white and stone fruits; peach eau de vie is still there; creamy, fruity and oaky. Finish: drying, toasty, nutty and coating; still floral, peachy and perfumed. Comment: this is the oldest Miltonduff we’ve seen in some time, and it is a fine, mature cask; on the dry/floral side of things, still well on the right side of being too oaked.” – $700

Two New Kilchomans 

Including Another Cask Exclusively Available from KWM

We weren’t expecting the Kilchoman 2010 vintage until next year, but it arrived unexpectedly.The other whisky is a Kilchoman bottled for a local whisky club.We agreed to take the balance of bottles above those the club was interested in.

1. Kilchoman 2010 Vintage– 48% – Matured in Bourbon & Sherry –Producer Description: “We’ve been launching single vintage releases for a number of years, they are some of my favourite Kilchoman expressions, mostly because they’re classic Kilchoman but also because each marks the development in the age profile of our maturing casks. The 2010 Vintage is a vatting of 45 casks, all filled in 2010. It consists of 42 fresh bourbon barrels and 3 oloroso sherry butts, bottled at 48% abv with no chill filtration or colouring (as with all Kilchoman bottlings). A total of 15,000 bottles will be available worldwide from October 16th. Until the previous vintage release, 2009 Vintage, the range had been matured exclusively in bourbon barrels however this year’s edition, as with the 2009 Vintage, is a vatting of both bourbon and sherry casks, this time roughly 85/15 bourbon/sherry casks. The balance of bourbon and sherry maturation is a tried and tested combination for us, it allows for both the vanilla and citrus flavours from the bourbon barrels and the rich, spicy influence of the oloroso sherry casks to balance and complement one another.” – $130
2. Kilchoman 2012 SindiCate Cask– 56.7% – 6 Year – ex-Bourbon Barrel – Curt’s
   Tasting Note: “Nose: Some of the cleanest peat notes I’ve found in a malt this young. Surprisingly creamy and a wee bit reminiscent of our past KWM 10 year olds. Strong citrus notes (lemon and tightly wound key lime). Grilled pineapple. Orange and tangerine. A bit of kiwi and under ripe pear. Crushed ginger. Lemon furniture polish. Clotted cream and some sort of dessert flambe. A faint note of pool water. Palate: Great delivery. Vibrant fruit notes in lockstep with threads of clean smoke. An earthy undertone. More tangy pineapple. Almost candied. Salt licorice. Quick-steeped Lapsang Souchong tea. Vanilla cream. Finish: Salt licorice notes linger. Granny Smith apple and pear skins. Aloe. Cask char.” – $165

Introducing: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 

The Latest Bond House No.1 Release

This 26 or possibly 27 year old single malt is the 4th release in the Glenmorangie Bond House Collection. We have been receiving this in dribs and drabs over the last few months, but not enough to write about it. Long story short, we have a few loose bottles now… I wrote it up at the launch lunch a little over a month ago.

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 – 43% Matured in Oloroso Sherry & Burgundy Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: plum pudding, figs in honey, and Fruit & Nut chocolate bars; chocolate covered strawberries; creme caramel and maple syrup; earthy with gentle leather and loose leaf tobacco; dried apricots and a touch of more tropical fruits. Palate: big, rich, nutty and very fruity; more plum pudding, figs in honey and loads of jammy fruits: quince paste and mixed berry jam; more Fruit & Nut chocolate with raw new leather, and more tobacco leaf; very complex with lots of layers; more chocolate covered strawberries, candied ginger and decadent spices; soft, earthy and musty dunnage warehouse notes; almost too many layer; underneath tropical fruits struggling to get out. Finish: long rich and very chocolate-y; elegant and pleasing; fading fruits struggle with leather and gentle spices. Comment: this is a big, elegant and complex single malt which far surpassed my expectations; I’m always leery of wine casks, but they were employed deftly here; a brilliant whisky with lovely tropical fruits beneath the many other layers!” – $930

Producer Description: “Marrying two profoundly different wood-finished whiskies, Glenmorangie Vintage Malt 1991 is the fourth limited-edition release in our celebrated Bond House No.1 collection, created to showcase some of the distillery’s most scarce vintages. The collection was named after the largest of Glenmorangie’s 19th-century bonded warehouses which was home to our casks of maturing spirit until it was transformed into our towering still house in 1990. While revisiting some of 1991’s rare parcels of wood-finished whisky many years later, Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, was inspired to defy convention and bring together two contrasting whisky styles. While both had been long-aged in ex-bourbon casks, one of the parcels he selected had been finished in Oloroso sherry butts for sweetness and spice; the other in Burgundy barrels for earthy, truffle notes. He then expertly softened them with a hint of whisky that had aged in new toasted oak. Married together after 26 years’ maturation, they form an expression of exceptional intensity.”

Introducing: anCnoc 125th Anniversary Releases 

Cask Strength Versions of anCnoc 16 Year & Peat

Our friends at anCnoc are celebrating their 125th Anniversary with a pair of really cool releases.

1. anCnoc 16 Year 125th Anniversary – 56.3% – Matured in ex-Bourbon – Producer Description: “Released for the first time at cask strength with sweet vanilla notes, delicate spice and a hint of coconut and butterscotch toffee, the 16 Years Old is a unique taste of our history in a light, modern and elegant expression.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet vanilla, notes of coconut & butterscotch toffee. Taste: Citrus, faintly spice, vanilla & green apple fruitiness.” – $150
2. anCnoc Peat 125th Anniversary – 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon & Finished in European Oak – Producer Description: “Peat is an intriguing, mellow journey from the heart of Knockdhu’s rich peatlands. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak then further matured in Spanish oak casks, the sunset gold whisky is filled with notes of almonds and dried fruit. A stunning smoky, sweet dram.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Wood smoke, with almonds and dried fruit. Taste: Smoky with a hint of burnt toffee.” – $125+gst

Introducing: Eau Claire Single Malt Batch 003 

Another Step in the Right Direction!

The third release of Eau Claire Single Malt is out… Matured in a mix of new European oak and ex-Bourbon barrels. 43%. Hoping to get my own tasting note out on this shortly. The early buzz from my staff is that this is the best batch of Eau Claire single malt yet!

Eau Claire Single Malt Batch 003 – 43% – Matured in ex-Bourbon & Virgin American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “On the nose, batch 003 is fresh like a green apple, with the sweetness of cream soda and vanilla, characteristic of the ex-bourbon casks, layered with orange peel and a slightly grassy note to round out the pleasant and enticing aroma. The taste builds from a mellow start, with a gentle nuttiness enhanced by a full and silky mouthfeel and tends towards a rich, Christmas spice, warming finish.” – $100

Introducing: Shelter Point Smoke Point 

Vancouver Island Single Malt, Finished in ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks

Exclusive to KWM in Alberta, the Shelter Point Smoke Point is the distillery’s first ever peated expression. The whisky was matured 5 years in ex-Bourbon before finishing for 9 months in ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks. 1044 bottles were produced with just 36 coming to Alberta. I really need to get a tasting note out.

Shelter Point Smoke Point – 55% – Matured in ex-Bourbon – Finished 9 Months in ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks – Producer Description: “Introducing Shelter Point’s first ever peat influenced whisky. This single grain smoky delight has been aged in American oak ex-bourbon casks for 5 years and finished in casks previously used by a famous Islay distillery for 8 months. This special bottling consists of only 1044 hand numbered bottles. The whisky is made from malted and unmalted barley and picks up influences of bourbon from the American oak cask and peated whisky from the ex-Islay casks. Sweet, smoky and complex, this whisky is perfect for a dram by the fire.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Smoke Point whisky is sweet, medicinal and smoky on the nose with barley sugars, iodine and campfire. The palate is sweet caramel, vanilla and sea salt, with peated warmth comforting the soul. The satisfying finish is a delicious combination of creamy pudding and a brand new first aid kit.” – $94

Introducing: Balvenie Stories 26 Year 

A Day of Dark Barley

Only 3 bottles are coming to KWM. Balvenie’s answer to Glenmorangie Signet was supposedly born of an accidental delivery of heavily roasted, dark barley, at the distillery more than a quarter of a century ago. Bottled at 47.8%, this is a part of the Balvenie Stories range.

Balvenie 26 Year A Day of Dark Barley – 47.8% – Producer Description: “The arrival at the distillery of a batch of dark roasted malted barley, more commonly used in the production of stout, marked the beginning of a 26-year long experiment. The result was a pleasing depth – smokiness and oakiness as well as the classic honey, vanilla and citrus flavours.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Big malty notes, soft brown sugar, vanilla toffee, blossom honey and a mild oaky spiciness. Taste: Syrupy with a toffee sweetness, some citrusy notes of tangy orange peel, followed by oak vanilla and a touch of cinnamon and ginger spices at the end. Finish: Enduring gentle waves of vanilla and oak spices.” – $1300 – Only 2 left!

About the Balvenie Stories Range

The Balvenie Stories range is a collection of single malt whiskies representing tales of character, endeavour and craft. Each whisky produced by The Balvenie tells a human story, evolving with the protagonists and developing unexpected twists through years of maturation.

Each whisky is accompanied by an audiobook which brings to life the story behind each expression, through a series of conversations between The Balvenie’s craftsmen and The Balvenie Global Ambassador Gemma Paterson. These conversations were recorded at locations significant to the narrative of each tale, including at The Balvenie Distillery and as far afield as Kelvin Cooperage, Kentucky. Each audiobook concludes with David Stewart and Kelsey McKechnie sharing a dram of some of the very first bottles of The Balvenie Stories with the craftsmen who created the whiskies you’re about to enjoy.

New Secret Spirits Single Cask Single Malts 

New To Our Wall – A Group of Very Well Selected Single Casks From a Local Company

These whiskies were featured in the Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Edition in 2018, by owner Secret Spirits. The packaging on these new whiskies is dynamite. We were really impressed with the range.

1. Secret Spirits Auchinderom Peated 2011 – 58.3% – Peated Glenglassaugh – Sauterne Cask – Though it doesn’t say on the label – Auchinderom is peated malt distilled at the Highland Distillery called Glenglassaugh, in this case from 2011. This single cask was selected and bottled by Secret Spirits after being finished in a Sauterne Cask. Bottled at 8 years old at 58.3% ABV. – $140
2. Secret Spirits Craigellachie 2006 12 Year – 62.6% – Hogshead – $110
3. Secret Spirits Glenallachie 2009 9 Year – 66.2% – Bourbon Barrel – $110
4. Secret Spirits Glen Moray 2008 10 Year – 58.4% – Bourbon Barrel – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: quince paste, sour cherries, bright honey and soft, creamy floral tones; soft juicy malt emerges with Strawberry Twizzlers and white chocolate Hershey’s Kisses. Palate: round, malty and spicy; loads of toasted oak, honey and vanilla extract; juicy, chewy barley, bright orange peel and freshly squeezed lemon; more waxy Strawberry Twizzlers and building crisp oak spices. Finish: long, warming and spicy; fading malt, toasted oak, citrus notes and spices. Comment: a lovely young Glen Moray with more maturity than you might expect; warm but not rough!” – $118
5. Secret Spirits Glentauchers 2008 11 Year – 63.5% – Bourbon Hogshead –  Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: thick, nutty and chewy; warm, but not sharp, you can tell this is thick; nutty with clotted cream, dried apricots and green grasses; chunky barley and dried orange peel. Palate: big, round and very fruity; waxy with coating vanillans, honey and oils; how is this not rough or aggressive; very fruity, more apricots, bright citrus, melons and tart green apple; soft, floral and warming. Finish: long, drying and coating; toasty oak, vanilla extract and crisp, bright fruits. Comment: the whisky has a little bit of bite, but it is very well balanced for an 11 year old at 63.5%; bright fruits, soft toasted oak and elegant floral tones; a lovely young cask at a very fair price.” – $110
6. Secret Spirits Royal Brackla 2006 12 Year – 57.5% – Bourbon Barrel – $105
7. Secret Spirits Smouldering Secrets 2011 – 59.5% – Refill Bourbon Barrel – This mystery Islay malt was distilled at Caol Ila Distillery in 2011. Selected and bottled by Secret Spirits at 8 years old and a cask strength of 59.5% ABV. – $125

New Michter’s Limited Editions 

Of Sour Mash and Rye

Some curious new whiskies from one of our favourite Bourbon Distilleries. Both extremely limited.

1. Michter’s Toast Barrel Sour Mash – 43% – Matured in “Fire-charred, new American white oak barrels” and finished in “Toasted barrel made from 18-month air-dried wood.” – Producer Tasting Note: “”Toffee and buttery vanilla notes up front with fragrant honey, milk chocolate, and a hint of orange peel. Mid-palate the toasty campfire notes appear and intensify the cherry and spice notes in this elegant whiskey.” – $105 – Limit 1 Per Customer
2. Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye – 57% – Producer Tasting Note: “”Butterscotch and cinnamon with a hint of cherries on the nose; warming, rich, toasty vanilla and caramel up front with a dry oaky spice on the finish.” – $103 – Limit 1 Per Customer

Coming Soon: The Oldest Kavalan Ever Bottled! 

Truth Malters Chapter 1 – 13 Years in Virgin Oak

The 3rd release in the Truth Malters Chapters Series is Chapter 1, a 13 year (and 1 week) old Virgin Oak matured single cask, bottled at 59.4%. The importer claims this is the oldest Kavalan ever bottled. Chapter 1 has been released on the heels of Chapters 2 & 3, on account of the importer feeling it needed just a little more time. Only 77 bottles.

Kavalan Virgin Oak Cask Chapter 1 – 59.4% – 13 Year (+1 week) – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Right out of the bottle you are hit with a Honeycomb, Beeswax Sweetness followed by Vanilla, Apricot, hints of floral, Dark Red Fruit, Raisins, Raspberries, Plums, all as if they were covered with honey on toast. Palate: Think Fruits covered in sweet thick honey or syrup, slight notes of chestnuts and cinnamon jump out and then are quickly swallowed up with peach and more fruits.   Honey, chestnut, peach skin, dark sweet spice, cinnamon. Finish: A complete full flavored complex yet sweet Virgin Oak bomb.  Tons of exotic fruits, guava, with a dark sweet warm spicy finish, that covers your mouth with a honey cocoa and then out of the blue came raspberries which I didn’t catch on the nose at all but were there at the finish. The finish is long and something to be savored – an amazing all around drink. Summary: All I can say is that from the start with the color through the nose, palate and finally the finish I did not believe it was a Virgin Oak.  It absorbed and interacted with the wood grabbing all colors and tastes and mixed perfectly together with Kavalan’s New Make.  I suggest sipping on this one slowly letting it really sit in your mouth, and warm up for a moment at the front of your mouth before swallowing.  The extra heat really smoothens it out and brings out a ton of sweet flavors. It is easy to feel the texture change and feel all the complexity it has to offer.  At 59.4% it is as sweet and smooth as they will come, and for being just over 13 years old – the oldest Kavalan to date, I had a fear of it having a sulphur taste or too woody but that was not the case at all, it could not have been aged better.” – $300 – Only 12 bottles coming to KWM!

Coming Soon: Rock Island Limited Editions 

10 & 21 Year Island Blended Malts

A couple of new limited edition Blended Malts from Douglas Laing’s Rock Island label, which creates whiskies from island malts, specifically Islay, Orkney, Arran and Jura. Both will be in-store next week and are limited in quantity.

1. Rock Island 10 Year – 46% – Producer Description: “Rock Island 10 Years Old is a beautifully aged, Island “Vatted” Malt, that is proudly offered without colouring or chill-filtration. Bottled at 46% alcohol strength, Rock Island 10 Years Old marries together Single Malts from Islay, Arran, Orkney & Jura, resulting in a Whisky entailing wave after wave of sea salt, wood embers, gentle smoke and orange peel.” – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose is initially barley-rich and buttery, developing to wave-soaked rocks with gentle peat smoke and citrus fruits. The palate bursts with a beachy quality – sea spray, black pepper and damp ash. The finish goes on and on, with wave after wave of wood embers, orange peel and gentle spice.” – $98+gst – Only 12 Bottles
2.  Rock Island 21 Year – 46% – Producer Description: “Rock Island 10 Years Old is a beautifully aged, Island “Vatted” Malt, that is proudly offered without colouring or chill-filtration. Bottled at 46% alcohol strength, Rock Island 10 Years Old marries together Single Malts from Islay, Arran, Orkney & Jura, resulting in a Whisky entailing wave after wave of sea salt, wood embers, gentle smoke and orange peel.” – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose bursts with peat smoke and rock pools before developing to a honeycomb sweetness. The palate delivers Malted barley, cured meats, bonfires and charred oak. The finish is long with ash, salted caramel and subtle spice.” – $175+gst – Only 6 Bottles

New Cadenhead Whiskies 

From Small Batch 24

The 24th International Release of Small Batch whiskies from Cadenhead is a good looking one, including an old (and sadly already sold out) Bruichladdich, a pair of old grains, a peated English whisky and massive young Glenrothes at 65+%, and a peated Bunnahabhain.

1. Cameronbridge 1984 – 52.8% – 34 Year – Barrel – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Caramel waffles, flaked almonds, white chocolate cheesecake. Satsumas, dried banana chips and coconut milk. Palate: Caramel tuiles, faint golden rum notes, muscavado sugar, milk chocolate, soft spice and rye notes. Finish: Gingerbread, golden syrup, dry vermouth and almost a little hoppy.” – $315 – Only 6 bottles!
2. Bruichladdich 1988 – 48.9% – 30 Year – Hogshead –  Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: very creamy, mandarins, peach yogurt, apricots, pineapple and strawberry milkshake. Palate: Syrupy fruits, with a soft salty back ground. Peaches, cardamom pods, sweet and sour notes, limoncello with toffee sauce. Finish: Thick and chewy, soft coastal notes give way to bags of fruit and golden syrup.” – $480 – SOLD OUT!
3. Port Dundas 1988 –  51.3% – 30 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Thick, rich and oily. Rapeseed oil, grapes, avocados and hints of pork scratchings and gingerbeer. Palate: Golden syrup, melted butter on wholemeal toast. Rye bread, sweetcorn and apple sauce. Finish: Brandy snaps, poppy seeds, watermelon and grated ginger.” – $285
4. Tullibardine 1993 – 43.2% -25 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Lychee, spearmint and eucalyptus. orange blossom water, peach skins and candied ginger. Palate: Traditional cloudy lemonade, banana loaf, orange sherbet and coffee beans. Finish: Very juicy, with creme brulee, blanched almonds, green apple skins and pears in syrup.” – $265 – Only 3 Left!
5. Loch Lomond 1996 (Inchmurrin) – 51.5% – 21 Year – Two Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Caramel, oak aged chardonnay, butter icing and agave syrup. Palate: lemon curd, vanilla custard, lime marmalade and then mint, fennel and hints of basil. Very refreshing. Finish: Lemon meringue pie, cashew nuts and clotted cream.” – $200
6. The English Distillery 2010 – 64.6% – 8 Year – Two Hogsheads –  Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Medicinal and phenolic with balanced sweetness. Vanilla, barbeque sauce, olive brine, gooseberries and quite meaty. Palate: Initially ashy before giving way to vanilla custard, burnt oranges, cinnamon sticks and then more coal dust. Finish: Drying ashiness, more tart gooseberries and banana milkshake and sour cherries.” – $135 – 85pts Whisky Fun
7. Benrinnes 2000 – 57.5% – 18 Year – Four ex-Bourbon Barrels – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich and fruity, figs, white chocolate, raspberries, mango and a touch of pineapple cake. Palate: Old School fruitiness, tropical fruits with a slight earth edge. Peaches, passion fruit, lychee and apricots with creamy yoghurt and vanilla custard. Finish: Long, slightly drying and then growing syrupy fruity notes.” – $172
8. BenRiach-Glenlivet 2008 – 57.6% – 10 Year – Two Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Aniseed, dried apricots, whole olives, rosemary and touches of linseed oil. Palate: Burnt sugar, quite earthy with an almost phenolic note. Very oily with praline, granite, salted butter and peanut butter. Finish: Long and drying, earthy and flinty before orange and lime notes build. – $123
9. Ord 2008 – 57.7% – 10 Year – Two Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Almost medicinal, creamy, with a slight flinty note, raw honeycomb, goats cheese and banana peel. Palate: Lime, pickles, geraniums, edible flowers with pistachio nuts and praline. Finish: Light and floral before finishing with hints of rock salt, mezcal and lemongrass. – $123
10. Tomatin 2008 – 55.5% – 10 Year – Three Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: malty, barley lofts and icing sugar. Pear skins, almond milk and honey. Palate: More honey, with lemongrass, elderflower and caramel shortbread. Grape skins, olive oil and green bananas with touches of coconut and all spice. Finish: Initial spice then growing floral notes along with marshmallows and salted popcorn. – $120
11.  Bunnahabhain 2009 – 58.9% – 9 Year – Two Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Soft and oily to start with distant peat. Olive oil, pecan pie and faint antiseptic cream. Palate: Nutty and creamy with lemon, peach syrup and raspberry coulis, hints of engine oil, beeswax and chives. Finish: Long and oily, a distant harbour with diesel and green bananas.” – $130
12.  Craigellachie-Glenlivet 2009 – 55.1% – 9 Year – Two Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Juicy fruits, pineapple sweets, mangoes and butterscotch. Sticky toffee pudding and vanilla ice cream. Palate: Soft ashy notes, quite earthy with vanilla, whipped cream and maple syrup. Finish: Dry spices, cinnamon, cassia bark mixed in with lemon icing and coconut flakes.” – $120
13. Glenrothes-Glenlivet 2009 – 65.3% – 9 Year – Three Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Vanilla, golden syrup and hints of nougat and chocolate sprinkles. Faint green tea notes with butterscotch. Palate: Lemon drizzle cake, touches of white pepper, freshly mown grass, autumnal forests with blackberries and raisin butter. Finish: Tingling spices give way to warm toffee sauce and cranberries.” – $125

We have also pre-maturely launched the Cadenhead Creations 27 Year from Batch 25:

• Cadenhead Creations 1991 Fruity, Honey, Toffee – 43.6% – 27 Year – Blended Malt – 1 Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Very sweet! golden syrup, dried cranberries, honey. Palate: Mangos, pomegranate, papaya. Finish: Hints of wood smoke, pineapples, peaches.”- $215 – Only 12 bottles/ Half Sold!

 

Ardbeg Drum & Drum Committee 

Are Back in Limited Quantities…

The Ardbeg Day releases always generate a lot of buzz and excitement, and increasingly, the demand seems to exceed the supply. We did not get enough stock of either the Drum or the Drum Committee to give everyone who wanted one a bottle. Thankfully we have been given a top up of both. The Committee Edition is exclusively available to Ardbeg Committee Members, but if you are not already one, you can quickly and easily remedy that for free on the Ardbeg Website!

1. Ardbeg Drum– 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon and Finished in Rum casks – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Smoked apple and pineapple, ripe banana, fragrant pine resin and subtle woodsmoke. Dry coco powder, cinnamon and ginger spiced dates and ‘floating’ lavender notes. Palate: Peppery texture, huge smoky palate, oil, tar, creosote, rich dark chocolate. A treasure of spices – clove, liquorice and ginger mingles with smoked vanilla. Finish: Intense smoke on the finish, more spice with a sweet coffee liqueur finish.” – $146 – Limit 1 Per Customer (You can have a second if you’ve already got one!)
2. Ardbeg Drum Committee Edition – 52% – Matured in ex-Bourbon and Finished in Rum casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: mezcal with sea salt and fresh squeezed lime juice; the undersized of a lawn mower after it chokes on thick wet grass; doughy, malty and fruity with medicinal peat. Palate: still with the thick, wet, freshly mowed grass on the underside of a gas powered lawnmower with a touch of clean engine oil; mezcal, sea salt, lime juice, juicy barley and medicinal maritime peat. Finish: the finish is good with a bit more of the fruity doughy tones than the palate; still mecal-y with fresh cut green grass and sea sale. Comment: I kept hearing that the standard release this time around was better than the Committee Edition; I call BS; I like this a lot better than the standard release!” – $195 – Limit 1  (You can have a second if you’ve already got one!) 

Glengoyne 30 Year is Back! 

And it is Still the Superb 2018 Bottling…

We love the 25 year and the 30 year doesn’t disappoint either. Only 13 hand selected sherry casks will be married a year for bottling as 30 year. 46.8%. This is still the superb 2018 edition, which I really need to write up a tasting note for! What I can tell you, is that we feel Glengoyne is the new King of the Old School Sherried Style, supplanting Macallan. It is worth noting, that Glengoyne, and its sister distillery Tamdhu, were both owned by the same company as Macallan until recently, and they shared their supply of casks. While Macallan has been slowly migrating away from its historic style, Glengoyne and Tamdhu are taking its place!

Glengoyne 30 Year 2018 – 46.8% – 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.” – 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.” – $980+gst

MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2020 Tickets Now on Sale! 

Calgary Best Whisky Festival Just Got Bigger… and Better!

The 9th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival, Thursday January 16, 2020, will be here before you know it, and the tickets are going fast. The event is already more than 1/2 sold, and the VIA ticket packages are more than 70% sold.

We are excited to be moving to a new venue this year, one block west of the old one on Stephen Avenue. Moving to the Glenbow Museum not only affords us more space for exhibitors, while retaining the “cool venue” aesthetic of the Jack Singer, but it also gives us loads more space for Master Classes.

As part of the event we will have 4 different VIP Master Classes: Bunnahabhain with Mike Brisebois, Compass Box with Phil Keene, The Dalmore with Louis-Jérôme Doise and The Glenrothes with Jeff Meyers. There will also be six other Master Classes running during the show, which we will be announcing in the next few weeks.

Roam the room while sampling from over 300 whiskies from more than 40 different vendors! There are nibbles to snack on and a diverse silent auction to peruse between vendor booths and the spectacular exhibits at the museum. As part of our ‘Master Class Series’, ticket holders can also take advantage of these classes to learn more about whisky from those who make it. The classes are designed to dive further into the whisky making process, from mashing to fermentation to distilling and of course drinking. Stay tuned for this year’s classes. You won’t want to miss out on these experiences!

There are two types of ticket, General Admission and VIP, both of which include a Glencairn Glass. VIP ticket holders will receive a special cut crystal glass. General Admission is from 7-10PM. VIP ticket holders get to take advantage of the VIP hour, from 6-7PM, which will have a few special bottlings, and the opportunity to have more one on one interaction with the presenters and brand ambassadors. VIP ticket holders can also take part in, for an additional fee, one of the 4 VIP Master Classes mentioned above, all of which will feature special bottles.

Ticket packages:

1. General Admission – $120
2. VIP Early Entry Admission – $175
3. Early Bird- VIP with Master Class – $200
   1. Bunnahabhain – SOLD OUT
   2. Compass Box – 18 Tickets Remaining
   3. Dalmore – 16 Tickets Remaining
   4. Glenrothes – 18 Tickets Remaining

You can purchase tickets now by following the links at www.calgarywhiskyfestival.ca !

Evan’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society Corner 

A Few of My Favourites From The Two Most Recent Outturns Can Be Found Below 

It has been a busy few past months when it comes to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada, what with the sold out Outturn tastings of October and November, the SMWS bottles on sale, and the SMWS bottles poured at our whisky festival. For those of you that couldn’t make it to the past to tastings, or want a recap of a few faves, here are some to take a look at:

• 63.53 – NUTTY PROFESSORS DRAM is a wonderfully big and rich Glentauchers that does not show much in the way of rough edges, especially considering its age and ABV%. Take a look at the price too – this is a steal for $132 + GST
• G3.9 – MELLOW AND ALLURING is a Single Grain, and an old Single Grain at that – it is even wearing an old-school SMWS label. From Caledonian – which was once the largest distillery in Scotland – closed for good in 1988  and was eventually demolished.  may be fairly straightforward in style, but I loved the small nuances it did show, with some lemon tea and cherry notes mingling with its grain forward style. To me it comes off as a hybrid of a Canadian Whisky and a Bourbon. $279 + GST might sound pricy, but for a 36 year old Scotch that is pretty darn reasonable.
• 4.251 – ARMCHAIR DANCING DRAM is the softest and most elegant SMWS Highland Park bottling that I have tasted in the past few years. RANT WARNING: The slew of official distillery releases we have seen in that time have been underwhelming to say the least, and the 12 year and 18 year are not what they used to be. I feel like the Highland Park brand has diluted itself and is only a shadow of what it once was, with far too much focus on NAS BS with a Viking and Dragon motif attached. The company behind Highland Park seems to put more effort was put into packaging and marketing than towards the actual whisky itself. Good thing we can still find indie bottlings of HP as good as this! $180 + GST
• 46.62 – A BRIDE IN A WAXED JACKET  is a wonderful 25 year old Glenlossie, which to me comes across as a remarkable mashup of Glen Grant and Clynelish in style. It is a complex combination of wax, fruit, musty dunnage, and more. I guess I haven’t tasted enough from distillery 46 to really peg its style down, but this one is excellent no matter what it tastes like. $294 + GST
• 5.66 – TOFFEE AND TURF is a 15 year old single malt from Lowlands distillery Auchentoshan. It is a fun dram, exhibiting candied red fruit notes (Twizzlers and Nibs!) before moving through big spice and then earthy notes on the palate. The nose is great, and the transitions it goes through on the tongue are a lot of fun to experience. Auchentoshan is not a distillery that comes I get excited about often, but this is my favourite SMWS bottling from distillery 5 that I can recall tasting.
• Last but not least, if you are a peat head you should check out 66.131 – FULL STEAM AHEAD! The peat on this Ardmore is soft and very well balanced by the big, sweet malty notes throughout. This is a gorgeous bottling from the Highland distillery that specializes in peated single malt, which is typically used on blends such as Teachers. $173 + GST
• Oh and also for you peatheads –  we only have 5 bottles left of 29.261 – AN EVIL DUTCH DENTIST’S DRAM. Yes, it is expensive. But where else can you find SingleCask, Cask Strength, Sherry Cask Finished, 21 Year Old Laphroaig bottled for the Islay Whisky Festival? $535 + GST

I could go on from there, but it is probably best to save some content for future Malt Messengers. If you enjoy my skewed ideas and delirious ramblings, you can check out my monthly Outturn Reviews on the Kensington Wine Market Web Page.

You can also check out our entire stock of available Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlers here.

Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool

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

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com