ralfy review 834 – Ledaig 18yo @ 46.3%vol:

 

Malt Messenger No. 112

It has been well over a month since the last full Malt Messenger, and I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by. The Calgary Stampede heralds the start of summer in our fair City, and with it’s cancellation this year it is almost confusing to realize it is already the 15th of the July.

The last month has been a busy one. We dabbled in some online tastings with an Elements of Islay Gift Pack and a couple ranges of 50ml bottled whiskies. We’ve just added another tasting today: Johnnie Walker Whiskies Why Not?!, which will take place on Zoom on August 6th with Evan and I in the pilot seats, more details below.

In-store tastings are still a long ways off, we’re not expecting we’ll be able to accommodate them until at least some time next year. We’ve been looking into the possibility of pouring samples for virtual tastings, but at present we have not found a clear path forward on that. All I can say for now is we’re still working on it.

We have lots of whisky news to share in this edition, starting with our newest exclusive, the Tamdhu 15 Year. Last year we approached Tamdhu about the possibility of bottling a cask, and we were instead offered the Tamdhu 15 Year as an Alberta exclusive whisky for 6 months. A single cask of comparable age would have been close to double the price of the 15, and we were impressed with the bottle we tried so we jumped on the opportunity. The whisky arrived in-store a few weeks ago and I am happy to report that the batch we received is even better and more sherried than the one we originally tried. If you happen to looking for old-school Macallan-like whisky (circa 15-20 years ago), this is your ticket! More details and my tasting note below.

Arran recently updated their packaging, and we felt that with the new livery, it was high time to re-taste and revisit the Arran range. Truth be told I was hoping to put them all into a virtual tasting, but I just couldn’t wait on that becoming a possibility. The 10 and 18 are both back, along with more 21 and Quarter Cask. There is a new release, the Arran Sherry Cask “the Bodega”; which is very well priced for a cask strength sherry cask whisky. My tasting notes and more details below on the five Arran Core Whiskies.

We were given the opportunity to scoop up a case of a 28 year old Bruichladdich 1990 from Signatory that was committed to by another store, but never pulled; love it when that happens… We didn’t hesitate long before taking it, and part of that decision was the pricing on the newly released Signatory 1990 29 Year. The wholesale on the new 29 is the same as our retail on this one… There are no tasting notes, and it isn’t likely we’ll be opening one, but it looks rather sherried… and there are only 6 bottles… actually 3, a few have sold in the time it took to write this newsletter!

There is a new Kavalan arriving soon, and it is a curiosity: the Kavalan Solist Peated Single Malt. Unlike the old Solist Peaty Cask, which was matured in casks which had previously held heavily peated Scotch whisky, the Solist Peated Single Malt was produced from heavily peated barley. Very limited availability, only 12 bottles are coming to KWM sometime in the next week or two.

We have a pair of new Basil Hayden whiskies, 10 Year Bourbon & 10 Year Rye, both of which arrived in-store a couple of weeks back. They are very well priced for age statement American whiskies.

We also brought in another case of the Invergordon 50 Year from Sovereign. Old single grains like this are becoming harder and harder to come by, and pricier too. This one is the same price as when we last had it well over a year ago. Only 6 bottles, one of which has sold since it came in last week. I’m sure that more than a few people turning 50 this year might be looking for something to celebrate with. This ought to do it, and it has received good reviews too!

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 21 landed in-store last Wednesday, and it is yet another fine example of why Yukon Brewing and Distilling is a company to keep your eyes on. This is one of the best releases yet. They are distilling some of the most compelling young whiskies in Canada right now!

While on the subject of Canadian Whisky, Calgary’s Bridgeland Distillery has just release their Taber Corn Berbon. While not legally Bourbon, or Whisk(e)y for that matter, it impressed Evan enough to write up a quick tasting note today!

We have a new offer sheet for Glenfarclas Family Casks. It is the same list of casks as the last go round, but with fewer vintages available. The distillery is not expected to bottle any casks this year, and there is currently nothing available from the 2000s, 1991 or a few other vintages. See below for more details and the link to the PDF with pricing and availability.

Evan’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society Corner features SMWS whiskies from the second half of May, June and July… we have some catching up to do. We’ve had more than a few interesting whiskies come through over the last couple of months, including a now sold out Kavalan.

Speaking of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Andrew & Evan will be live on the @KWMwhisky Instagram Feed tonight at 8PM, Mountain Time, discussing the July SMWS Canada Outturn!

There is also info on the Laphroaig 30 Year Ian Hunter Store Book 1 and the Kilbeggan Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. We’re also continuing the Elixir Distillers Deals on Port Askaig 25 & 28 Years, Elements of Islay Pl6 & Cl12 as well as the SMOS Mortlach 22. You can Save 20-25%, but only until the end of the month, or as long as the stock lasts…

You can also still Save 25% on American Rockies Bourbon, and contribute $5 to the Calgary Food Bank!

Finally, we are about to say farewell to our beloved Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength #2. Technically this should already be sold out, as we only initially ordered 450 bottles. But there was a miscommunication with the bottling hall, and they filled 600… and it’s a good thing too, because it did not disappoint and 575 bottles have now sold in less than 3 months! At the time of writing we have just 25 bottles left of the “Ferg in Front of the Store”… closing the books on Chapter 2 of what my staff call “Andrew’s Ego Collection!” Chapter 3 is about to be bottled!!!

We remain open for business in-store, with restrictions, but, our preference is to continue serving you where possible online or by phone. Please strongly consider taking advantage of our Curb Side Pickup, and Free City-Wide Delivery for Orders over $50 offers. As with everyone else, we’d like things to get back to normal as soon as possible, but until then, please help us do our part to serve you while helping to flatten the curve.

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

Wishing good health and good spirits to you and yours in these strange days.

Slàinte!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition:

1. NEW Tasting: Johnnie Walker Whiskies Why Not!?
2. Introducing: The Tamdhu 15 Year
3. New Arrans Have Arrived
4. Evan’s SMWS Corner June & July
5. The Last Signatory Bruichalddich 1990 Around $500
6. Introducing the Kavalan Solist Peated Single Malt
7. Two Basil Hayden 10 Year Olds
8. The Sovereign Invergordon 50 Year is Back!
9. Introducing: Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 21
10. Introducing: Bridgeland Taber Corn Berbon
11. Glenfarclas Family Casks Offer July 2020
12. Introducing: Laphroaig 30 Year Ian Hunter Story Book 1
13. Introducing: Kilbeggan Single Pot Still
14. Less Than 30 Left: The Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength #2
15. Elixir Distillers Deals Continue!
16. SAVE 25% on American Rockies Bourbon & Feed YYC
17. Free City-Wide Delivery in Calgary Over $50 & Curb Side Pickup

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/

or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1

NEW Virtual Tasting: Johnnie Walker Whiskies Why Not!?

Five Johnnie Walker Blends from Black to Blue…

Unfortunately, as long as Covid-19 continues to be a threat, in-store tastings will remain an impossibility. While we’d love to be able to pour samples and host online versions of the sort of tastings we’re famous for, there isn’t a path to do that at the moment. But, we can do tastings with bottled stock, and we have held three successful tastings with ranges of 30 & 50ml whiskies. So, we have been looking for opportunities, and we’ve come across another!

While trolling the catalogue for Gift Packs and Minis, we came across the Johnnie Walker Discover Gift Pack. It probably won’t come as a surprise that I’m something of a malt snob. Sure I do enjoy a good Blend, I’m a Compass Box Fanboy(man(person)), and the first two Johnnie Walker Ghost & Rare whiskies definitely floated my boat, but its been a while since we’ve given the full Johnnie Walker range a fair shake…

Join Evan and I as well as Breakthru Beverage’s Juan Bolivar for Johnnie Walker Whiskies Why Not!? on Thursday August 6, 8PM. The cost is $47+gst. The kit(s) will be available for delivery or pickup from KWM on Wednesday July 22nd. Delivery in the City of Calgary is $10+gst, but we’ll waive that fee if you spend $50 or more on Wine, Whisky, Beer or Spirits. The range being tasted includes 5x50mls of Johnnie Walker Black Label, Double Black, Gold Label Reserve, 18 Year and Blue Label. A Zoom code will be emailed the day before the tasting.

Register Online or by phone at 403-283-8000! 

Introducing: The Tamdhu 15 Year

Even Better & More Sherried Than We Were Expecting!

We are thrilled to have the privilege of launching the Tamdhu 15 Year in the Alberta market. This sherry bomb of a whisky was matured exclusively in Sherry Seasoned casks, both American and European oak, and has been bottled at 46% after maturing in dunnage warehouses. Exclusive to KWM in Alberta until the end of the year.

Tamdhu 15 Year – 46% – Matured Exclusively in “the Finest Sherry Oak Casks” – My Tasting Note (New for the Shipment which just landed!) “Nose: dark chocolate shavings, fruity tobacco and Christmas cake; sticky toffee pudding in treacle sauce and cream; candied orange peels, medjool dates and soft new leather; cedar shakes and toasted oak. Palate: sweet, fruity and savoury; a bold sherried single malt in the classic Christmas cake sense; maple syrup, fruit compote and more treacle sauce drizzled on sticky toffee pudding; with a side of fresh cream; silky with more dark chocolate, candied nuts and crisp spices; cinnamon, nutmeg and clove on honey baked ham; more candied orange, apricot jam and quince paste; rich, decadent, layered and smooth. Finish: long coating, decadent, fruity and elegant; bold sherry with a smooth edge; dark chocolate, maple syrup, spices and loads of dark fruits: raisins, dates and figs. Comment: a bold, old school sherried single malt; classic Christmas cake, syrupy and decadent with crisp spices, leather, tobacco and dark chocolate.” – $145

New & Returned Arrans Tasted

New Look, Same Great Taste!

Has the rest of the World finally caught on to just how good Arran whiskies are? We hope not, because in a lot of ways they have been our little secret, at least in this part of the World for quite some time now. With the whole new core range out there, it is high time for us to taste the whiskies. For quality control purposes of course. Here’s what we have, with mine own tasting notes:

1. Arran 10 Year – 46% – Bourbon & Sherry – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, creamy and floral with juicy malt and crisp citrus fruits; creamed honey with sweet vanilla and crisp oak spices. Palate: sweet, honeyed and very creamy with more juicy malt and floral vanilla; gentle toasty oak and crisp spices: cinnamon hearts, candied ginger and cardamom; bright citrus fruits, sour melon and dried apricots. Finish: crisp, coating and decadent with long lingering honey, vanilla and spices. Comment: this is a round, fruity, spicy and decadent whisky, and great value at that; I love that it is bottled at 46%, you can really feel it on the palate; a great whisky for someone new to single malts, or as a first … or last… dram of the night!” – $62
2. Arran 18 Year – 46% – ex-Sherry Casks – My Tasting Note:  “Nose: dark chocolate, fruit leather and Eatmore… classic Christmas Cake tones, and loads of dark fruits: raisins, dates and figs; barrel aged maple syrup and fruit compote; soft leather and dry cigar tobacco. Palate: rich, fruity, spicy and very sherried; more barrel aged maple syrup, fruit compote and classic Christmas Cake; crisp spices: nutmeg, clove and fennel; loads of dark fruit too: raisins, grilled dates and fig jam; dark chocolate too and underneath all of that bright citrus tones and melons. Finish: long, rich, coating, spicy and drying; as with the palate soft fruits emerge as the sherry notes are pulled back; layered and elegant. Comment: Arran remains an underrated and underappreciated whisky, and this is another classic example of why that shouldn’t be the case; on the bright side that just leaves more Arran for the rest of us who are in the know!” – $130
3. Arran 21 Year – 46% – ex-Sherry Casks –  My Tasting Note: “Nose: polished leather, dark milk chocolate with ginger chunks, silky caramel and loads of fruit: ripe mangoes, papaya and grilled pineapple; vanilla cream and marzipan; nutty with warm spices. Palate: juicy, rich, decadent and spicy with polished leather and layers of fruit; more silky caramel and crisp decadent spices: ginger, cinnamon and allspice; more tropical fruits: mango, papaya and pineapples; brown sugar, tablet and late nutty tones: hazelnut and walnuts. Finish: soft, coating and spicy with more caramel and tropical fruits; long, warm and coating. Comment: another lovely mature expression of Arran; juicy with layers of tropical fruit, spices, caramel and chocolate; need to try this side by side with the 2018 bottling… but it is very good!” – $195
4. Arran Quarter Cask “The Bothy” – 56.2% – 7 Years  (Not clear!) – First Fill ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft for the ABV, honeyed, malty and fruity; Starburst  fruit candies, juicy orange, marzipan, marcona almonds and Strawberry Twizzlers; firm but balanced toasted oak and chewy malt. Palate: big, honeyed and malty with soft fruits and toasted oak; honey and vanilla with silky oak tannins; more waxy Starburst candies and Strawberry Twizzlers; floral with loads of citrus and pineapple. Finish: silky, coating, warming and medium-long in length; more honey, vanilla, flowers and waxy fruits. Comment: if this is 7 years old, wow… regardless of age this is a very approachable cask strength whisky with lots of character at a very reasonable price!” – $85
5. Arran Sherry Cask “The Bodega” – 55.8% – NAS – Matured in Sherry Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: dark, rich and nutty; dried dark fruits, treacle sauce and juicy tobacco; Christmas cake, Eatmore and Russian caramel; dark chocolate with cayenne pepper and Demerara sugar. Palate: big, rich and sherried; Christmas cake, candied and dried dark fruits with more tobacco; dark chocolate infused with cayenne peppers, leather and more juicy tobacco; thick, oily and spicy moving in to candied fennel, licorice and a touch of clove. Finish: big, rich, long and coating with tingling sugars and spice; the sherry is bold by neither over cooked or over the top; a touch of heat but no rough edges; softer and more delicate fruits emerge with patience… citrus and melons. Comment: this is one of the most heavily sherried Arrans I’ve ever had, and at just over 80 bucks, it is a steal; big, rich, oily and full of those classic sherry notes you remember from the good old days.” – $83

Evan’s SMWS Corner 

No One Puts Evan in the Corner… He Goes Willingly!

It has been a while since my last SMWS Update. Instead of focusing on one outturn, below is a summary of some of bottles available from the past three months (July, June, and May part 2).

Tonight, Wednesday July 15, Evan will be live on the @KWMwhisky Instagram feed along with Andrew, discussing the July 2020 SMWS Canada Outturn. If you miss them the post will be saved to Instagram TV in the @KWMwhisky feed!

You can view each Outturn individually through the blog posts here.

• 6.32 – The first time we have seen Macduff in the SMWS green livery released in Canada. Macduff does have official bottlings, but for those it is called The Deveron, or Glen Deveron in Duty free shops. Let’s give Knickerbockers at a wedding a go and see what gives. I find green apples, nectarines, honey, and a dash of salt on the nose along with soft vanilla and oak. There is also something cooling in there, like eucalyptus or menthol. The palate is oily and tangy with a pleasant saltiness again. Butterscotch, apricots, candied ginger, plus cookies and cream ice cream come through nicely as well. This is a very tangy and tasty start to the lineup. $142
• 59.58 – Teaninich has become a distillery I watch for when it comes to indie bottlings. It tends to have a fun combination of gassiness, minerality and juiciness – at least from those that I have tasted recently. How will  This ain’t no pussycat fare? Let’s see. The SMWS tasting notes mention waxiness right off the hop, I and get that. Not sure if it is from the power of suggestion or not at this point, but regardless there it is. There is a grassy note in there as well – possibly because I am looking for it. I also get fresh mint sprigs like you are muddling with lime wedges to make a mojito, chamomile tea, and honeydew melon on the nose. The palate shows coconut, pear juice, mint again, shortbread, lemon zest, and a slight waxiness and dryness on the finish. There is a fair bit going on in the glass on this one – I don’t think my notes really do it justice. I really like how this one is put together. $124
• The Beachcomber – This seven-year-old is all ozone and coastal notes along with Beachwood and citrus with a touch of wax on the nose. It doesn’t come off as just youthful the way you would expect with a seven-year age statement. The palate is downright delicious, with salty notes colliding with ripe peaches and pears, a touch of ash, lemonade, pickled ginger with just a touch of wasabi on a California roll (no soy sauce though). Even the finish reminds me a bit of sushi. Maybe I am just hungry, but at any rate, this is a stellar blend. I enjoyed Old Fashioned, but I believe this now takes the top spot in SMWS Blended Malts that I have tasted so far. The nose is a bit soft, but the palate is fantastic. $115
• 66.159 – This is bizarre – here we have an Ardmore that is not donning a light or dark green cap colour-wise. The SMWS characterizes this is sweet, fruity, and mellow. Could it be an entirely unpeated 66? Is that even done? Let’s see! On the nose, it is earthy and honeyed with roasted peanuts, Cracker Jack popcorn, plus peaches and cream. The palate gives an oily texture along with a salty and spicy tingle. More of that Cracker Jack note something through along with honey, graham crackers and baked apple crumble. It is a touch drying on the finish like peanut skins and Golden Grahams cereal without milk. The salty, spicy and sweet notes keep your mouth watering. I do not detect any peat, and I am shocked by that. This veers into Old Pulteney territory style-wise for me, though a bit richer on the palate. Very surprising for an Ardmore! $148
• G7.16 – Being an unabashed Bourbon lover, I saw that this Single Grain Scotch Whisky was finished in virgin oak and I was intrigued. The nose gives curious notes of rooibos tea, sesame oil, a touch of balsamic vinegar, polished wood, toffee and milk chocolate (think Caramilk bar). The palate is buttered toast, pralines, maple syrup, Amaretto, and cinnamon scones along with juicy apples, pears and peaches all together in a cobbler. Near the end it goes a dash tannic and bitter, but I don’t care. For me, this is love at first taste. (ONLY 4 BOTTLES REMAINING) $299
• 93.102 – Allow me to make a bold statement: Glen Scotia is easily one of the top three Campbeltown distilleries around today – don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. The SMWS bottles we have gotten from this distillery recently have all been treats. This is younger than the past few, so let’s see how it holds up. In the glass, it noses as sooty, dirty and coastal upfront, but some nice fruit and malt notes are hiding in there as well. I get dried mango and coconut strips. Woah. The fruit comes out much more on the palate, which is salty and oily with a touch of yellow Listerine mouthwash, but also yellow kiwis, freshly cut mangoes, and ham and pineapple pizza. The sale and fruit and a dash of coastal peat stick around for the finish. Delicious stuff. $172
• 68.29 – This guy is fairly clean on the nose with some vanilla and baked pastries along with floral notes. The palate gives a spicy tingle but is also very juicy and mouthwatering before drying out a touch on the finish. A bit of herbs and saltiness in there accent the juicy notes of pears, plums, and those tapioca balls used in bubble tea. Maybe a touch subtle on the nose at the start, but I really enjoy the taste of this one. $135
• 13.65 – Lots of wood and tea notes up front for me on this one. I get spearmint, chamomile, granola and elderflower on the nose along with a dash of ripe citrus. There is a bit of musty dunnage and minerality in there too. The palate is juicy and fruity with some spice and then a nuttiness on the finish. Juicy as in Juicy Fruit Gum flavour-wise, along with sweet potato, candied carrots, pomelo and apricots. Adam Bradshaw from the Victoria SMWS shop mentioned that he enjoyed this one, and I can see why. Once again, it is lovely to see a naked Dalmore from the SMWS. The distillery makes good whisky when it isn’t Pattersoned to oblivion! $164

Those are just are some of the bottles from the past three Outturns.

All of this information, plus the information on previous releases that are still available can be found on our website here.

If you fell in love with a past release and can’t get it anymore, please email me and I will see if I can recommend something similar.

Perhaps for the next Malt Messenger I will do a Covid so far SMWS bottle update.

Cheers,

Evan

evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com

Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool

Instagram: one part of @kwmwhisky

The Last Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 Around $500…

The Next One Will Be $700+!

There is not a lot to say about this, other than that it is a very sherried looking Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 cask. We’ve been bringing in sister casks of this whisky over the years, starting in the low 20’s. The price has nearly doubled in the last 5-6 years, which isn’t so bad when you consider that we just saw another offer on the 29 Year Signatory Bruichladdich 1990, and the wholesale price is the same as the retail on this one… While some of the previous bottlings were better than others, all were good, and the sherry was never flawed.

Only 6 bottles are coming, there is no tasting note, and it has a good Whisky Base Score: 87.22. But as we can’t speak for the whisky, we’ll let the photo do the talking:

Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 – 52.1% – Refill Sherry Butt Cask No. 169 – Distilled: 26/09/1990 – Bottled: 08/02/2019 – $520 – Only 3 Left!

Introducing: The Kavalan Solist Peated Single Malt

The First Kavalan Made from Peated Malt!

The first Kavalan to be produced from peated malt is coming soon, in the next week or two! Produced from malted barley, peated in Scotland, this single malt would come across a moderately peated by Scottish standards at around 12-15ppm. The whisky was matured in an ex-Bourbon cask for 5 years, 1 month and 27 days, before bottling at 55.6%.

 Kavalan Solist Peated Single Malt –  55.6% – ex-Bourbon Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: A very unique Kavalan single malt nose with the signature tropical fruits, vanilla and honey but then comes the beautiful sweet smoky sea air with stewed apples, bananas, pineapples and thick raspberry jam. This nose needs to be slowly romanced and enjoyed before diving into the taste. Palate: A true cask strength single malt. With that raspberry jam and vanilla from the nose shining through along with coconut and dark fruits. The smoke and vanilla that coat your palate along with the tropical fruit reminds you that this is unlike any other Kavalan single malt whisky. Finish: A very smooth medium to long finish that leaves a ton of smoky spices and fruity flavours that coat your mouth and palate. Seems to be endless notes that can be picked up after each sip. It is very well balanced and easy to drink yet complex and full of flavour.” – $320

Two Basil Hayden 10 Year Olds

One Bourbon, One Rye and One… !

Not one, but two 10 year old whiskies from Basil Hayden, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and a Kentucky Straight Rye!

1. Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Bourbon – 40% – Producer Description: “Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Old Bourbon features the same high-rye bourbon recipe that Basil Hayden’s fans know and love, but the whiskey is aged in barrels longer to create another layer of complexity and deeper flavor. The result of the extra aging is a distinct whiskey with big oak aromas along with hints of char and vanilla. Basil Hayden’s trademark spice shines through as the perfect complement to the caramel sweetness and wood flavors, making the whiskey a memorable one for fans and newcomers alike.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Big oak, hints of char, vanilla and rye. Taste: Oak balanced by caramel sweetness and rye spice. Finish: Lightly smoky with a subtle hint of char.” – $91
2. Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Rye – 40% – Producer Description: “Our newest addition to the family is making a name for itself by becoming our first rye whiskey with this distinguished of an age statement. The mashbill features a slightly spicy, yet approachable, rye resulting in an elegantly complex taste profile and a golden honey hue. This light, yet full-flavored, rye is sure to please any palate.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet vanilla and oak with a touch of light fruit. Taste: Approachable spice and oak notes with hints of caramel. Finish: Faint tobacco and warm cinnamon heat.” – $88

The Sovereign Invergordon 50 Year is Back! 

Looking for a Delicious 50 Year Old Whisky? 

This 50 year old Invergordon Single Grain Scotch Whisky was put into cask in March of 1966 and bottled at 50% after maturing in a Refill Hogshead cask in April of 2016. Only 12 bottles have ever come to Alberta. The first 6 pack was sold by KWM a little over a year ago, now we’ve managed to get 6 more. The perfect gift for anyone turning 50… and the best priced 50 year old whisky around right now! Scored a very respectable 89.8pts from Whisky Base!

Sovereign Invergordon 50 Year – 50% – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose is sweet and mellow with notes of vanilla, sherbet and butter shortbread. The palate is fruity and effervescent with aspects of dark chocolate and vanilla. The finish is long and dry with sweet fruits and a hint of oak.” – $1100

Introducing: Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 21

One of the Best Yet IMHO!

Some people will tell you it is the wood that makes great whisky, others the barley, the stills or their talented craftsmen. Few talk about the fermentation, and that is unfortunate, because I am increasingly of the position, that fermentation might be the most crucial step… And what would a pair of brewers know about that!

Two Brewers Release 21 is a return to the “Classic” profile. Described as a “sturdy dram braced with the fresh oak of new barrel aging brings a complex series of sensations.” Produced from predominantly standard mashes (85%) and a few specialty malt mashes. A majority of the whisky was matured in “new wood”, and after blending the whisky was married in older casks for 6 months.

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 21 – 46% – American Oak – My Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, honeyed and very fruity: Jujubes and Wine Gums; freshly lacquered wood paneling; sour melon and bitter orange; paraffin wax and white chocolate. Palate: round, rich and malty with loads of malt and barley tones; the juicy fruits are still there, more Jujubes and Wine Gums, bitter orange and sour melon; maybe even a tad tropical; crisp oak and more lacquered wood paneling; thick with sweet honey and a touch of perfume; peanut butter and honey sandwiches?! Finish: thick, coating and malty with soft honey; medium long with loads of fruits and toasted oak. Comment: this whisky is almost too busy, voluptuously fruity, but it is young, and left longer, perhaps in refill barrels there is the DNA here for something great; very complex and packed with flavours it is also very approachable and elegant with shades of maturity… so much promise here, I hope they are laying down stock to be bottled at greater ages!” – $103

Introducing: Bridgeland Taber Corn Berbon

Not Legally Whisk(e)y, but This Calgary Distillery Nailed Their Berbon…

Made in the heart of Calgary, just a 5 minute drive down Memorial Drive from KWM, “Berbon” is made primarily with the famous corn harvested near Taber, Alberta. The other grains are Wheat from and Barley from the area around Penhold, Alberta. The spirit was aged 200 Litre Virgin American Oak Barrels that received a #4 char. After one year in cask, Batch #1 of their Berbon was cut down to 48% before bottling in 500ml bottles.

Bridgeland Taber Corn Berbon – 48% – 1 Year Virgin American Oak – Evan’s Tasting Note – Nose: Mellow butterscotch, buttered toast, plums, baked apples, cherries, banana chips, brown sugar and cinnamon. Palate: Oily and rich with sweet corn, banana split (with the cherries on top), buttery cinnamon toast, peach crumble, anise, cloves, and a light touch of maple syrup. Finish: There is a touch of cloves and spice that linger, but the pleasantly rich fruit and buttery notes do as well. It has an impressive balance considering its youth. Comment: Bridgeland Distillery has put together a very approachable bottling with this Taber Corn Berbon!” – $51/500ml

Glenfarclas Family Casks Available for Pre-Order

Vintages 1999-1955 Currently Available!

The distillery hasn’t bottled anything new  this year, but we are consolidating request for an order expected to arrive in the Fall. Nothing is currently available from the 2000s, and some of the other vintages between 1955 and 1999 are also unavailable. No payment or deposit required now, though we be billing the bottles in full 3-5 days before they arrive in-store.

Prices haven’t changed from the distillery, but the exchange rate fluctuations will affect pricing from one release to the next.

The Glenfarclas 1955 to the right can be yours for just one easy payment of $14,422.00+gst!

Follow this link to browse the current Glenfarclas Family Cask Availability and Pricing!

Introducing: Laphroaig 30 Year Ian Hunter Story: Book 1

Need Another Book For The Shelf You’ll Never Read? This One At Least Comes Will A Bottle You Can Drink!

We received a single bottle of this in January, but it was spoken for immediately. I wasn’t sure we would see any others, so I never bothered to set it up or do any digging on it. The first in a new series, the whisky was matured in First Fill American White Oak Bourbon Barrels, and has been bottled at 46.7%. It is priced on the high side, but has a very good Whisky Base Score: 91.91. Too rich for your blood? You can still purchase the original Laphroaig 30 Year from a few years back for $1450.

Producer Description: “Book One: Unique Character reflects Ian Hunter’s formidable character and represents everything that is traditional about Laphroaig today. Aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, this non-chill filtered whisky is beautifully rounded with a combination of sweet, zesty and medicinal notes. This is where Ian Hunter’s influence is most obvious, as it was his decision to introduce American white oak barrels into the maturation process of Laphroaig. Over time, the original smokiness of this 30-year-old whisky has become less of an assault on the senses. Beautifully married with the sweet vanilla notes enhanced with ageing, the whisky develops into a more mature, well-rounded dram. This is a liquid worth savouring – and a Laphroaig worthy of Ian Hunter himself.”

Laphroaig 30 Year Ian Hunter Story Book 1 – 46.7% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet and medicinal with manuka honey, light peat smoke, cooked apple and rosemary vanilla. Orgeat syrup and a hint of lemon peel complete the aroma. Body: Full bodied. Palate: Peaty and peppery with notes of herbs, cedar, kumquat zest and gorse flower. A sweetness of custard cream and vanilla pods. Finish: Coastal with subtle iodine, sea salt and seaweed notes. A touch of coffee and oaky character.” – $2300

Introducing: Kilbeggan Single Pot

A Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Not From Midleton Distillery!

Until recently, all single pot Irish whiskey was coming from just one distillery, the New Midleton Distillery. Green Spot, Redbreast and all others hailed from this one distillery. Kilbeggan, the World’s oldest whisk(e)y distillery c1757 (don’t believe the Bushmills propaganda), is now the 4th Irish Distillery to release a Single Pot Still Whiskey. The Single Pot Still Whisky style, originally called Pure Pot Still, for a time was the typical style of Irish Whiskey and was born from necessity. Like many whisky innovations, this Irish creation was produced out of a desire to avoid paying taxes to the British Government.

In 1785 the British treasury past the Malt Tax, which taxed the intake of malted barley into distilleries. The Irish, ingenious and frugal as they are, started using a mix of both malted and unmalted barley to reduce their tax obligations by up to 90%… In doing so they created a completely unique new whisky style, distinct from single malt whisk(e)y.

I made a quick visit to Kilbeggan in March, on my way back to Dublin after visiting the soon-to-launch Waterford Distillery (more on that soon). The Kilbeggan distillery is a fascinating place, with much of its ancient equipment and buildings still preserved. The distillery, as with many in Ireland, feel victim to their loss of access to the British Empire. It did reopen when American prohibition ended, but was finally killed off in 1953 by an increase in excise tax. The distillery, its buildings and equipment may have been lost if not for two independent events. Firstly, the townspeople who took it upon themselves in 1982 to preserve the site. And Secondly, John Teeling, who bought the distillery in 2007, resuming small scale production. The distillery is now owned by Beam Suntory. I tried a few whiskies while at the distillery, and  the Single Pot Still was without question the most interesting.

Producer Description: “Kilbeggan Single Pot Still is a glorious tribute to the town and those who kept its whiskey alive, proudly wearing the colour of County Westmeath on its label. It is the second limited release whiskey to be 100% distilled and matured at Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery, and the oldest expression to be released since distillation resumed at Kilbeggan in 2010. It is a unique mash of malted barley, raw barley, and 2.5% oats that was inspired by historical recipes from the distillery’s heyday in the late-1800s.”

Kilbeggan Single Pot Irish Whiskey – 43% – 8 Year – Matured in ex-Bourbon Barrels – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Initial fresh crisp aroma followed by apple, pear and melon. Jasmine and hazelnut notes combine with an almost honeycomb sweetness. Taste: Spice becomes apparent but not overbearing with summer fruits and citrus. Warming mid palate with a fresh mint leaf flavour leading on to a rich creamy mouthfeel. Finish: Initially soft, mellow and smooth with a creamy finish. Lingering spice and a dryness as the oat influence becomes evident.” – $62

Update: Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength #2  

Less Than 30 Bottles Left of the “Ferg in Front of the Store”!

As of now, we have less than 30 bottles left of the Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength #2 “Ferg in Front of the Store!”  Our 4th KWM exclusive Glenfarclas Cask Strength bottling, not a single cask, but rather a batch of their 15 Year, bottled for KWM at Cask Strength. We don’t get to pick or approve the bottling, we just have to trust them that it will be good. So far they have a perfect batting average, 4 for 4! The whisky features a sketch of yours truly, the “Scotch Guy”, standing in front of the iconic entrance to our shop, hence “Ferg in Front of the Store”… it is the second release in what we are calling “Andrew’s Ego Collection”… The 3rd release, due this fall or next year, and it is a 25 Year!

Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength #2 – 56.6% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, rich and spicy; chocolate covered espresso beans; licorice Fisherman’s Friends, cinnamon sticks, candied ginger and firm new leather; candied nuts, mincemeat and earthy Oloroso sherry; dark chocolate with a touch of chili oil. Palate: big, round, rich and spicy; loads of soft, coating toasty oak; more candied nuts and loads of spices: cinnamon sticks, candied ginger, candied fennel seeds and salty licorice chews; orange peel and mincemeat, moving in the direction of Christmas cake; underneath the weight of the drying, spicy sherry more exotic fruits linger; melons, mango, papaya and grilled pineappe; more chocolate covered espresso beans, dark chocolate with chili oil and Cuban cigar tobacco. Finish: long, drying, coating and rich; this is full throttle sherry from start to finish; warming but balanced, elegant and dangerously drinkable. Comment: unlike our single casks, we don’t have the opportunity to pre-screen our Glenfarclas Cask Strength bottlings; but they are now 4 for 4, and have yet to disappoint; they keep offering us generous layups just begging to be slam dunked!” – $110

Elixir Distillers Deals Continue!

We Got a Deal, So We Are Passing It On – But Not For Long!

We’ve been working semi-exclusively with most of the whiskies below, with some going to a few other retailers, mainly in Edmonton or BC. While we’ve worked through our allocations, there was a little stock left over, so the importers offered us a deal to clear it out… These prices will last only as long as the inventory holds out, or until the end of the month, whatever comes first… Prices like this won’t come again:

1. Elements of Islay Cl12 – 57.5% – Refill Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Classically maritime. Slate tiles, saltwater, warm tarmac on a sunny day. Sour apple sweets, Pouilly-Fumé wine, aguardiente, rhubarb and custard. Palate: Astringent smoke with salt and liquorice. More orchard fruits, alongside green grass and citrus zest. Lots of cigarette notes, cold smoked meats, chervil and tarragon. Finish: Peaty finish with cloudy lemonade, coal dust, fresh herbs and grapefruit peel.” – Was $88 – SAVE 20% – Now $70.40 – 86pts Whisky Fun / Whisky Base 86.58
2. Elements of Islay Pl6 – 55.3% – 7 Year – ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Farmyards, burnt grass, camphor, young Jamaican rum and petrol. Underneath the more powerful notes, there’s sweet potato pie, malt loaf and just a hint of peaches. Palate: Oily and briny. Smoked ham, barley husks, Manzanilla sherry, almond oil, green olives. There’s a warmth of Christmas spice towards the end: clove and cinnamon. Finish: Oak chips, sweet white wine, pancetta, rye bread and hot ashes.” – Was $185 – SAVE 25% – Now $138.75 – Whisky Base 87.25
3.  Port Askaig 25 Year– 45.8% – Presumed to be Caol Ila – 90pts Serge @WhiskyFun: “It’s not exactly this label, which used to mention ‘Port Askaig Harbour’, the new one for America rather has ‘Port Askaig Islay’. Let’s try the latter… Colour: white wine. Nose: it’s not huge, and rather on charcoal and graphite, with some delicate coastal notes, beach herbs, wool, old jacket, sea breeze, a nice wee oyster, and whiffs of freshly shredded celeriac and cabbage. Delicate, elegant, subtle, it’s like looking in a mirror (a little tired, S.?) Mouth (neat): naturally. Sauvignon, lemon juice, charcoal ash, oysters, tincture of iodine, then more shredded celeriac as well as a little angelica, and perhaps one drop of yellow chartreuse (per glass). Finish: medium, with this trademark feeling of peated lemons, green apples, then tobacco ashes. Comments: just extremely good, with this faint lightness that’s so engaging in this famous – and supposedly lighter – make. SGP:456 – 90 points.” – Was $375 – SAVE 25% – Now $281 – Only 12 left at this price!
4. Port Askaig 28 Year – 45.8% – Presumed to be Laphroaig – Refill American Oak Hogsheads – My Tasting Note is on the KWM Website – 90pts Serge @WhiskyFun: “Will this one be softer? What’s 3 years anyway? Colour: white wine. Nose: well, it is a little more camphory and mentholy, so probably a little more tertiary, with some pine nuts, greengages, these notes of smoked salmon and other fatter fish, smoked hake, touches of pickled onions and capers perhaps, then a fruitier side with pink grapefruits, then whiffs of rainwater… Mouth: ah yes, transmuting peat, with already more tropical fruits (mangos, maracujas) while the rawer, straighter smokiness is still there. Other than that, it’s all wonderful, perfectly balanced, with touches of caraway and star anise leading to a rising gingerbready feeling. This one’s really very interesting, it’s not a 25 anymore, while it’s not a 30 yet. In short, somewhere in between, and that is pretty lovely. Finish: medium, rather soft, with a saltier, brinier ending. Oyster juice! Comments: the 25 and the 28 are actually very different, but please don’t ask me to choose. SGP:555 – 90 points.” – Was $440 – SAVE 25% – Now $330 – Only 12 left at this price!
5. SMOS Mortlach 22 Year – 54.2% – 3x ex- Bourbon Hogsheads & 1x ex-Sherry Butt – Tasting Notes by Billy Abbot (The Whisky Exchange): “Nose: Brown sugar, cherries and new leather. Candied lemon and orange segments follow, with a little bit of minty freshness. Dark fruitcake and bittersweet dark chocolate peek in around the edges. Lighter notes float on top: rose petals and freshly cut stems, with a touch of candy necklace sweetness. Palate: Lots of dried fruit and grown-up, not-to-sweet fruitcake to start. Sticky raisins and malt loaf add more weight and sweetness. Spiced, stewed apples with anise, cinnamon and nutmeg develop, with buttered spiced bread, black liquorice and treacle toffee. Finish: The treacle toffee fades to leave freshly-cut apples dusted with cinnamon. Comment: A big and sherried Mortlach with balanced fresh fruit and herbal notes that stops it becoming overpowering. Excellent cask selection.” – Was $270 – SAVE 20% – Now $202.49 – Whisky Base 88.99 – Only 2 left at this price!

SAVE 25% on American Rockies & Feed YYC! 

$5 from Each Bottle to go to the Calgary Food Bank!

Looking for your next Bourbon, for sipping neat, on the rocks or for an Old Fashioned?

American Rockies Bourbon has been discontinued by the producer,  and they  are blowing it out. As always, we are passing the Savings on. Not only is this Bourbon 25% off, but we will also donate $5 from every bottled sold to the Calgary Food Bank!

From the people who brought you Canadian Rockies, American Rockies is a Small Batch Bourbon bottled at 44%. We believe the Bourbon is sourced from a Wyoming Whiskey distillery that we happen to be quite fond of.

 American Rockies – 44% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: dough, dill-y and woody; smells like a High School woodshop; shelled peanuts, butter tarts and aromatic bitters; peppery with some doughy oatmeal-raisin notes. Palate: sweet, fruity and spicy, with loads of wood-shop tones; fresh, fruity and toasty; more oatmeal-raisin cookie dough, peppery spices and oaky tannins; Demerara sugar and aromatic bitters before warm butter tarts. Finish: fresh, doughy, fruity, sweet and spicy; can’t get over the oatmeal-raisin cookie dough and Demerara mixed with bitters combo… Comment:  very fresh for an American whiskey, lots of layers, with the oak restrained nicely.” – Was $70 – SAVE 25% – Now: $52.49 & we’ll donate $5 of that to the Calgary Food Bank!

Free City-Wide Delivery in Calgary & Other Deals! 

Free Delivery in Calgary for Orders Over $50, and Loads of Deals To Be Had!

As with many other small and independent businesses in the city, we are getting creative to continue serving our customers and keeping the business going. We have taken precautions in-store to ensure the health and safety of both our staff and customers. Details on that below! We are also offering options to continue serving those of you in quarantine or who are taking extra precautions with regards to social isolation.

FREE DELIVERY

– We are offering free delivery for orders over $50 placed online or over the phone, and will do our best to deliver within 72 hours.

CURBSIDE PICKUP

– Place an order, we’ll let you know when it is ready. Call us when you are out front or parked in the back lot and we’ll bring it out. Simple as that!

GIFTING

– Want to send someone a care package? All gifting options are still available. Quarantined parents and closed schools qualify as a “wine emergency”. Gift cards are also available and can be used over the phone.

If you are able, please submit your order online. We will answer any questions you might have before finalizing and processing your order. You are not automatically billed when you submit your order.

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

We will do our best to answer and process as many phone orders as we can. Call us at 403-283-8000. We are offering some great deals too. More on that below, see the bottom of the Malt Messenger!

Customers are still welcome to come in to the store to pick up orders as well as browse and purchase in-store. We are routinely disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and have hand sanitation stations around the store.

Let us know how we can continue to help and serve you in these challenging times!

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

The Kensington Wine Market, 1257 Kensington Road NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 3P8 Canada

INDEPENDENT ORGANIC WHISKY DISTILLERY LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION CASKS FOR 2020

Scotland’s leading 100% organic whisky distillery Nc’nean launches 60 limited edition casks to the public – an exciting opportunity to own one of the premium, personalised barrels, filled with spirit distilled in the year of the distillery’s first ever release.

To celebrate the defining year for Nc’nean and to acknowledge the historic importance of 2020, the distillery will stencil each cask with ‘Hope lies in dreams’.

“An acknowledgment of the global changes, challenges and hope that 2020 has come to represent to many” says Annabel Thomas, founder of Nc’nean.

Nc’nean is a young, independent, organic whisky distillery with a strong sustainable ethos and innovative approach to spirit making.

Made by nature, not by rules.
£3,000 – £4,600
www.ncnean.com/pages/buy-a-cask 

Pioneering sustainable production, Nc’nean is excited to launch 60 limited edition casks to the public, with the latest addition of specially selected seasoned sherry casks as well as the previously available ex-Bourbon or STR ex-wine barrels. Each specially chosen to offer a distinct taste derived from active properties in the wood after five to ten years of maturation. The sherry barrel will develop sweet notes of
dried fruit and toasted nuts, the perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

2020 marks a year of new and exciting developments as well as a year of challenge and change at the distillery, and to celebrate such a defining year, Nc’nean will hand paint ‘Hope lies in dreams’ on each of the limited edition casks.

Annabel Thomas speaks on the limited edition cask release, “2020 has been the most anticipated year for us here at Nc’nean, our whisky release has been in planning and prep for seven years. Like the rest of the world we’ve had to adapt, re-think and do things differently, something we’re well versed in.

A quote which has stuck with me throughout these challenging times is “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality” by influential physician and medical researcher Jonas Salk; so we will be stencilling ‘Hope lies in dreams’ onto the end of each 2020 cask.

We aim to put sustainability at the forefront of all we do here at Nc’nean, and in some ways 2020 feels like the perfect backdrop to driving change in our industry and the world’s approach to nature.

With our maiden whisky release just months away, we are releasing our next 60 casks as part of our private cask programme and wanted to make them even more special, acknowledging the global shift we’ve seen during 2020.

Nc’nean is a company which lives by the values of sustainability and diversity in a traditional industry, we hope 2020 and our approach will inspire others to take on the change our society and planet so badly need.”

Protectors of nature, Nc’nean leads the way within the whisky industry, promoting environmental change in the world of spirits, and challenging the ingrained stereotypes of whisky distilling, bringing diversity and inclusion to the whisky industry.

Nc’nean only uses renewable sources for its energy, is certified organic by the Biodynamic Association and is a proud zero waste distillery. Leftover barley feeds cows on the farm and waste pot ale from distilling is spread on local farmland as fertiliser. Nothing is wasted.

The casks are filled with Nc’nean’s 63% ABV new-make spirit which has been distilled in the year of the distillery’s first release, a remarkable moment in the distillery’s journey so far.

Each holding 195 – 220 litres, yielding over 300 bottles at 46% ABV after 5 years. The barrels are priced between £3,000 – £4,600, depending on the selected cask type and initial maturation period.

SEASONED SHERRY CASK £4,100

An exciting new edition this year, seasoned sherry casks are carefully selected to ensure a unique and complex taste once matured. Popular with lovers of fruit forward single malts, each barrel is expected to hold about 360 bottles at 46% ABV after five years.

EX – BOURBON CASK £3,000

Ex-Bourbon casks are filled with Nc’nean’s new-make spirit at 63% abv and will hold approximately 195 litres. After the “angel’s share” (natural evaporation), the barrel is expected to hold about 320 bottles at 46% ABV after five years.

STR EX – WINE CASK £3,900

Larger than ex-bourbon casks, specially selected ex-wine casks are sourced frompremium wineries in the US and Europe and specially treated in Spain or Portugal to improve their characteristics for whisky maturation. All ex-wine casks are STR treated, with the barrel expected to hold about 360 bottles at 46% ABV after five years.

CHOOSE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT RECIPE FOR A LONGER MATURATION +£500

Normally, Nc’nean uses a specific mashing approach, a fruity yeast combination and high cut points to create a whisky that will be perfect for drinking in about five years. Unique to Nc’nean, the distillery also offers a second style of spirit (adjusted mashing, yeast recipes and cut points) to create a whisky that will be perfect in ten years, but will not be ready in five years. This offer includes an additional five years of storage and insurance in the warehouses.

Samples will be taken each year to monitor the maturation and buyers will have the opportunity to extend the period after initial maturation should they wish.

Nc’nean is curious and creative in it’s approach to whisky making. The distillery practices longer mashing times and slower fermentation, and experimenting with yeasts not commonly used in distilling to create a striking spirit like no other. The high, narrow cut on the still helps to produce a purer spirit; the unusual lamp-glass-shaped stills encourage a gentle distillation and significant amounts of reflux, creating a lighter spirit that retains its fruity notes.

Notes

About Nc’nean

Nc’nean is an award winning* independent, organic whisky distillery on the west coast of Scotland. Nc’nean began distilling in March 2017 and from inception has strived to do things differently. In pursuit of new flavours in Scotch Nc’nean uses longer mashing times, slower fermentation and experiments with unusual yeasts not commonly used within whisky distilling. Nc’nean matures its whisky on site in ex-bourbon, sherry and STR casks.

The Nc’nean ethos of sustainable production is embedded in everything it does. It is Scotland’s leading organic whisky distillery and uses only renewable sources for its energy. The leftover grain feeds the cows on the farm and the waste products are spread on the fields as fertiliser. Nothing is wasted.

Its first single malt whisky will be released in late summer 2020.

*International Spirits Challenge 2019 – Silver medal; Wizards of whisky 2020 – Gold Medal

About Annabel Thomas

Annabel grew up in Essex and she spent her childhood summers making the 12 hour journey to family holidays on the west coast of Scotland, north of the Nc’nean whisky distillery. It was through these magical journeys of expectation and experiences of the mountains, the views and the sea, that Annabel fell in love with Scotland.The inspiration for the distillery came from a combination of two things. It began with a trip to Islay where Annabel witnessed first hand that many Scotch distilleries do things in a very similar way and often the way things had always been done, and she left wondering whether there was scope to do things differently. The second was the location itself – Annabel’s parents bought the land that the distillery is on more than 10 years ago – an area of Scotland that is wild, beautiful and in many ways perfect for a whisky distillery. From these beginnings Annabel started to develop the idea to create a distillery that practices another
of her great passions – sustainability.

The Nc’nean whisky distillery was born: a distillery made by nature, not by rules.

A Single Malt Exclusive from the Hidden Gem of the Highlands
2006 Balblair 13 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask No. 76 Spanish Oak Oloroso Seasoned Butt Cask Strength Single Cask Highland Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($109.99)
“…few sherried malts will offer so much and cost so little.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

When it comes to Highland distilleries, Balblair remains under-the-radar for many collectors. This is a shame, as the malts coming from here are among the most artfully crafted in the region. Our spirits team visited Balblair in the town of Edderton last year and tasted through an array of casks—the most compelling of which was this 13-year rendition. Aged in oloroso-seasoned Spanish oak, it is every bit the powerhouse you’d expect it to be. As our SoCal spirits buyer, David Othernin-Girard describes it, this cask-strength stunner offers flavors of “graham crackers, Christmas cake, sandalwood, coffee caramel candy, burnt Seville orange peel and English breakfast tea.” Calling this dram complex would be a huge understatement. We’d rank it among the finest sherry-influenced casks we’ve seen this year and is a bottling no single malt enthusiast will want to miss. Because of Balblair’s relative anonymity, its whiskies don’t command the premium some of its more illustrious neighbors do. This makes it a real boon for collectors, as Balblair offers some of the best values to be found in the world of single malt Scotch. If you love a sherry “bomb” as much as we do, then you will be well served by adding this masterwork to your collection. You’ll need to hurry though, as supplies are limited.

2006 Balblair 13 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask No. 76 Spanish Oak Oloroso Seasoned Butt Cask Strength Single Cask Highland Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (ships as 1.5L) ($109.99)

The wonderful Balblair Distillery has long been under the radar. In the little town on Edderton on the northern coast of Scotland at the southern edge of the Dornoch firth, this great distillery has never garnered the fanfare of its prominent neighbor just a few miles down the road in Tain. The distillery was originally founded in 1790 and then rebuilt in 1895, but closed during World War I. It wasn’t until 1949 that Hiram Walker fired the old plant up again. Many buildings from the 1870s still stand on the site, but the excellent malt has remained more less unknown to modern drinkers. It was not until Inver House Distillers took control of the distillery in 1996 that we began to see the malt available internationally, and a large investment by Thai Beverage in 2001 set a course for a new chapter in the excellent distillery’s history. Over the last two decades the distillery has become famous for its vintage bottlings and odd squat bottles. Our buyers, Andrew and David, visited the distillery in spring of 2019 to select a cask and meet distillery manager John MacDonald. This barrel is Spanish oak, unlike the vast majority of oloroso butts we see. In addition, it held for many years oloroso wine vinified outside of the sherry triangle, about 140 miles northeast in the region of Montilla-Moriles. The combo of Spanish oak and old Montilla is a rare and welcome surprise. The resulting malt is a big, dark oloroso bomb with powerful spice and unctuous texture.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 09, 2020

The wonderful Balblair Distillery remains more or less unsung except for a few lucky drinkers who go out of their way to find releases from this special distillery. Gordon & Macphail has also bottled a number of extremely high quality casks, as well as including the line in its wonderful “Distillery Label” series. Our first cask of Balblair came last year with the opening up from most of the Inver House Distilleries to this new wave of OB single cask bottlings we’re currently seeing. So we thought it appropriate to see the distillery and traveled to the very north of Scotland to meet distillery manager John MacDonald. He’s good fun and a wealth of knowledge, but the real star of the day was this awesome cask from 2006. There were some older whiskies on offer that day, but this bad boy checked all the boxes and amazingly the distillery honored the pre-tariff pricing that was agreed upon when we ordered back in spring of 2019. Let’s see how it tastes. Color: Auburn. Nose: It starts a bit subtle, which is a surprise considering the color. With some air we start to take off! Graham crackers, Christmas cake, sandalwood, coffee caramel candy, burnt Seville orange peel and English breakfast tea. Palate: Full bodied. Weighty, round, oily. Up front dried golden raisins, roasted almonds, building clove and touches of pepper. Long, lingering, warming spice builds on the finish. A tiny drop of water opens the nose, but retains the a similar profile. Adding red fruits, cherries and currents, on the palate we’ve totally opened up. The spice is turned down a bit with the caramel and dark cherry coming through up front. As it travels tons of sweet orchard fruits—apricots, plums and poached pears—come through. Extremely open and drinkable after a drop of water, but never dropping the bold complexity and unbelievable texture. This is probably a sleeper considering how few people understand the potential of this great distillery, but few sherried malts will offer so much and cost so little this year. If the Glendronach 11 year wasn’t bold enough for you, then this gorgeous cask will probably suit you perfectly.

Don’t miss these incredible whisky deals!

We’re taking up to 43% some of the biggest brands in whisky (Hakushu, Highland Park, Talisker, anyone?).

These deals are around for a limited time only (and while stocks last) – head over to our whisky sale to take a look for yourself.

Shop the Sale ›

Nestled in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills, is The GlenDronach, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, creating the finest richly sherried single malts for nearly 200 years.

BROWSE OUR FULL THE GLENDRONACH RANGE HERE

Saturday August 1st, 5:30PM:  The Macallan

Established in Speyside in 1824, Macallan has produced some of the most highly-sought after whiskies in the world. Discover scotch history, behind-the-scenes distillery knowledge, and learn about new and rare releases at this virtual tasting, with distillery representatives and whisky experts present for all your whisky questions.

Tasting Pourlist:

Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask

Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask

Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask

Click Here to RSVP

10% Off all Macallan with coupon code ‘VIRTUAL‘ at checkout

Barclays backs Glasgow Distillery’s global growth plans

The Glasgow Distillery Company has secured a £5.5m asset based lending facility from Barclays to support its international growth plans. In addition, Barclays has assumed full day to day banking for the distillery which re-opened in 2014 becoming the first independent single malt whisky distillery in Glasgow for over 100 years.

The funding will provide working capital to invest in increasing whisky stocks and continuing The Glasgow Distillery Company’s international expansion. While Europe is currently its biggest export market, the company has seen strong growth in Asia this year. New retail contracts have been secured in Russia with distribution deals currently being developed in Belgium and Luxembourg.

New product development is core to the distillery’s growth plans and in the last two months it has successfully launched two new products, further expanding its award winning range.

The Glasgow Distillery Company has remained operational throughout the current pandemic and pivoted its business to add hand sanitiser to production schedules and maximise e-commerce opportunities, growing online direct-to-consumer sales by 500%. The team has also created a virtual tasting experience, investing in a fully equipped tasting room which will be used to take the distillery tour to international buyers, tackling the challenge of travel restrictions.

Ian McDougall, Finance Director and Co-founder of the Glasgow Distillery Company said “We’re delighted Barclays has chosen to back the next stage of our growth plans, especially in such difficult economic circumstances. This investment will help finance our strategy to respond to increasing worldwide demand for our products. We have ambitious plans and, with the support of Barclays, our customers, suppliers and employees we are confident of our future success.”

The Barclays team was led by Stuart McAleese, Relationship Director, and Mike Kempton-Smith, Asset Based Lending.

Stuart McAleese, Relationship Director at Barclays Corporate Banking said: “The Glasgow Distillery Company is a great example of an organisation with a solid forward-thinking business plan that’s clearly focussed on continued and strategic growth. We worked closely with the founders, applying our industry expertise and understanding of the whisky sector to tailor a bespoke asset based lending funding package that will support further expansion of their award winning product range and international market reach.”

Founders Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian McDougall revived The Glasgow Distillery Company which originally opened in 1770 before closing in the early 20^th century. The business now employs 24 staff and produces The Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Signature range and Malt Riot Blended Malt as well as Makar Gin, Banditti Club Spiced Rum and G52 Botanical Vodka.

Notes

About Barclays 

Barclays is a British universal bank.  We are diversified by business, by different types of customers and clients, and by geography.  Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.

Glenfarclas Distillery and BI Wine and Spirits team up to bring the Spirit of Speyside to all

Though the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival, set to take place in late April, had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, the family owned Glenfarclas distillery and London based merchant BI Wine and Spirits have teamed up to release the 2020 distillery exclusive. BI will be donating 10% of sales of this unique whisky to the Moray Food Plus foodbank. The foodbank was selected in recognition of the amazing work that they do to help tackle the difficulties of food insecurity in the local Speyside community.

‘The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and has affected all in some form or another, so teaming up with BI to ensure the 2020 release was made available to those unable to make it up to the distillery was an easy decision to make’, says George Grant, Glenfarclas Sales Director and 6^th Generation family member.

Each year, different members from the Glenfarclas distillery team choose a whisky to be sold as the limited release at the festival. The honour of choosing the 2020 exclusive went to the team at the very heart of the whisky making process – the still men. John, Jimmy and Graham enjoyed a break from their day job and were delighted by the opportunity to sample some of the great casks resting at the distillery. Rumour has it, the chosen cask was the first that they sampled – but ever the professionals they are, they tried many more, just to be sure.

The so-called ‘Stillmen’s Dram’ is a single cask bottling of 2009 liquid. Aged for 10 years in First-Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt #1446, this release was bottled at a cask of 60.1% resulting in a limited run of 658 bottles. Offering a complex balance of rich candied fruit and sherry oak spice, this dram is a must have for any lover of Glenfarclas.

The bottles will be made available for purchase from the 18^th July 2020 through BI Wine and Spirits’ online platform with an RSP of £100.

Gary Boom, BI’s Managing Director, said:

“BI has always been proud to work with the Glenfarclas distillery. It is a rare family owned business that has retained its integrity throughout the years. That integrity shines through with this bottling and the decision to donate 10% of profits to the Moray Food Plus was an easy decision to make. I am delighted that BI is able to team up with Glenfarclas to bring the release to collectors and drinkers who were perhaps unable to make it up to the distillery due to the global pandemic. I am thrilled the Spirit of Speyside lives on.’

George Grant, Glenfarclas Sales Director and Sixth Generation Family Member, said:

“The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and has affected all in some form or another, so teaming up with BI to ensure the 2020 release was made available to those unable to make it up to the distillery in late April was an easy decision to make. The Moray Food Plus was an obvious charity to pick as the work that they do across the Speyside community is nothing short of outstanding.”

Available at www.BIwine.com 

About BI: 

Established in 1997, BI (www.biwine.com) has grown to become a leading global fine wine merchant. Founded by South African-born Gary Boom, BI’s aim is to make the world of fine wine accessible to a broader audience. The Company has offices in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Los Angeles, as well as a rapidly growing international customer base.

In July 2018 BI was named ‘Bordeaux Specialist of the Year’ at both the International Wine Challenge Merchant Awards, having previous won this award in 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2008. In addition in 2016 and 2015 BI was named ‘Fine Wine Retailer of the Year’ by the industry’s leading publication, The Drinks Business, and was awarded ‘Bordeaux Specialist Retailer’ at the 2015 and 2014 Decanter Retailer of the Year awards.

Innovation has always been at the heart of the business.  In 2009 BI launched LiveTrade, the world’s first online wine trading platform; as the only provider of live bid and offer prices for top Bordeaux and other regions, LiveTrade guarantees liquidity to the fine wine market.