Stable Growth for the Global Whisky Market

The global whisky market to reach 104.63 billion USD by 2025, according to a recent research report by Williams & Marshall Strategy.

In 2015, the global whisky market was equal to 68.27 billion USD, calculated  in retail prices. By 2025, the market is forecast to reach 104.63 billion USD. Thus, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.96% per year for the period 2020-2025. That is a decrease, compared to the annual growth rate of 4.83%, registered for 2015-2019.

The average consumption per capita reached 14.60 USD in retail prices in 2015. For the next five years, it grew at a CAGR of 4.18%. By 2025, the per capita consumption is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 2.98%.

Among the leading trends in the whisky category is premiumization, and the growing popularity of whisky among consumers. As a result, the whisky industry is growing in a stable manner, resilient to negative conditions.

Although price remains the key purchase criterion, the global whiskey market has witnessed a very strong shift to premiumization. That is thanks to consumers’ immense openness to innovation and the increasing popularity of mixology. The desire for interesting premium products and drinks of a niche variety explains the rising trend among wealthier consumers. Premiumization can also be linked with the fact that consumers aim to cut down on their alcohol intake. Therefore, they can afford to purchase spirits of higher quality.

There has been a robust consolidation on the whiskey market during the last few years, which was partially driven by the large number of new brands emerging on the market. Companies like Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, Diageo, and Pernod Ricard have been actively involved in most of the acquisition deals in the last few years. Thus, diversifying their portfolios’ with new specialty brands.

Just some of the examples include the acquisition of bourbon manufacturers Smooth Ambler and Rabbit Hole Whiskey by Pernod Ricard in 2017 and 2019. Also, the purchase of a minority stake in Westward Whiskey by Diageo through Distill Ventures in 2018, and Bacardi’s investment in The Teeling Whiskey Company in 2017.

The report includes information on the following companies:

Accolade Wines;

Alko;

Allagash Brewing Company;

Allied Blenders & Distillers;

Arkell’s Brewery;

Anchor Brewing Company;

Asahi Breweries;

Bass Brewery;

Bacardi Ltd;

Beam Suntory;

Brown Forman;

Diageo;

Angus Dundee Distillers Plc.;

Pernod Ricard;

Constellation Brands, Inc.

The market research report is prepared using Williams and Marshall Strategy’s methodology. It includes a blend of qualitative and quantitative data and insights from market experts, gathered by semi-structured interviews.

For more Information Contact: info@wm-strategy.com

Introducing The Macallan Red Collection

A collection of remarkably rare single malt Scotch whiskies inspired by the colour red and its deep and long-standing significance for The Macallan.

The red thread begins with Alexander Reid, the farmer and teacher who founded The Macallan in 1824. His surname means ‘the red one’ in Scots and was originally associated with red hair.

In 1903, owner Roderick Kemp launched The Macallan Choice Old range. It was reportedly shipped in cases labelled with distinctive red print to distinguish it from The Macallan’s existing whiskies, which featured black labelling.

Almost eight decades later, Allan Shiach, chairman of The Macallan at that time, tied a red ribbon around The Macallan’s then oldest vintages, dated 1938, 1940 and 1950.

Inspired by these characters, and honouring the mastery and provenance of generations of pioneers, this new collection includes ongoing aged expressions of 40, 50 and 60 Years Old, as well as three high aged guest releases of 71, 74 and 78 Years Old single malt whiskies. The 74 and 78 Years Old are two of the oldest releases of The Macallan to date.​

Discover The Red Collection ›

Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky

A marriage of carefully selected & blended sherry casks. Our latest rich & fruity expression is a must-have for any discerning whisky drinker and makes for a beautiful gift.

We begin making this release as we do with all of our single malt whiskies – by using 100% locally grown barley from the Cotswolds which is traditionally floor-malted by hand at Warminster, Britain’s oldest working maltings. It is then mashed and fermented for over 90 hours before being distilled twice in our bespoke copper pot stills, during which we only take the purest ‘heart’ cut, resulting in a smooth and fantastically fruity new make spirit which is ready to be casked.

Each yearly batch of our Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky is unique, drawn from our finest American and Spanish oak hogsheads & butts, some of which have been seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry and others with sweet Pedro Ximenez. All have been sherry-aged through their full maturation for a deeper and more flavourful whisky.

Non-chill filtered. Natural colouring.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Brown sugar and cherry pie with a touch of roasted coffee beans.

Palate: Viscous and rich. Full of dark stone fruits and a hint of roasted almonds.

Finish: Peppery oak spice accompanied by notes of dried fruits.

Available exclusively online and in-store.

Please note: all international orders will be dispatched separately and could take up to 3 weeks to be delivered.

BUY NOW

While there’s still some uncertainty over what government restrictions we might face over the coming months, one thing is sure – our monthly Virtual Tastings are back from November, and they’re bigger and better than ever.

As we head towards the festive season, we invite you to come and ‘coorie in’ with us online and share the exceptional drams from the November edition of our Discovery Pack. We’ll be hosting online tasting sessions with our ambassadors in the UK and throughout the EU from 13-19 November, so simply grab your pack, choose your virtual event and join us online to enjoy these drams along with the rest of your whisky family.

ORDER YOUR PACK

SEE EVENTS CALENDAR

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

Malt Messenger Bulletin

The First Releases from Waterford Distillery Are Here!

New Laddies Arriving Soon – Black Art 8.1 & Octomores 11.1 & 11.3

Huge Deals on Tomatin Single Malts – SAVE 25-40%

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I hope you had a restful weekend and more than your fill of turkey!

We have some very exciting “New Whisky News”, but before we get to that, a wee KWM Whisky Calendar update. We started taking pre-orders for the SOLD OUT KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar, almost exactly one month ago. In addition to a sharp new look, this year’s edition includes 25 never before featured whiskies. As always there is a KWW Whisky Calendar logo glass and a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Demand this year has been brisk, which might have something to do with our most generous Early Bird Offer ever. At the time of writing there are only about 20 of the 384 Calendars left for Pre-Order. The Early-Bird Pre-Pay price of $335+gst ends tonight Thursday October 15. Thereafter, if we have any left, they will be $385+gst. More details below on what we like to call 25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky!

We also have a couple of new virtual tasting coming: the SMWS Virtual Tasting on Thursday October 22nd, 7PM. For the Society tasting, Evan and I will be tasting through a trio of Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies from the discontinued membership kit. The 100ml bottles are more than enough for 2-4 people to share. You don’t need to be a member to take part in the SMWS tasting, but there is a way for you to become one. More details on the SMWS and Rum tastings below.

Now to the big news…

Almost a year after we first started talking with them, the first whiskies from Ireland’s Waterford Distillery have arrived at KWM. You may not have previously heard of Waterford, but it is making waves and turning heads in the whisk(e)y world, and this is a distillery to keep your eye on.

Waterford Distillery was opened in 2015 by Mark Reynier, who was the driving force behind the revival of the Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay. In 2014 he purchased the decommissioned but recently modernized Waterford Brewery from Diageo, and began the work of turning it in to a whisky distillery.

The distillery uses only Irish barley, distilled from single farms, selected for their unique growing conditions. Mark Reynier believes that barley and terroir are the two most significant factors in the creation of flavour in whisky. You may not entirely agree with him on this, I personally lean more on fermentation, but what can’t be denied is the quality of the spirit Waterford it producing.

I had the good fortune to make a pilgrimage to Waterford in early March, right before the world turned upside down. I met with Mark, and discussed his vision and passion. I also spent time with the larger than life distillery manager Ned Gahan, and their charming agronomist Grace O’Reilly, both of whom I hope will we’ll see on our side of the pond someday soon.

Kensington Wine Market is humbled and honoured to have the privilege of introducing Waterford Whisky to the Canadian market. Having visited the distillery and seen its potential, I am especially excited to share these whiskies with you. The first two Waterford Whiskies are available for purchase now, in-store and online. The are limited, and we are expecting a lot of demand, so we are capping purchases at 1/each per customer for the first two weeks. More details on the Waterford Whiskies can be found below.

We will also be holding a Waterford Launch Tasting with Mark Reynier on Zoom, Sunday October 25th at 4PM (Alberta). Details below.

In the “coming soon” department, we are expecting some new releases from Bruichladdich in the weeks ahead, including the Octomore 11.1, 11.3 and Black Arts 8.1. There is also the Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011, which somehow snuck in to the market when we weren’t paying attention.

Finally, we also have some amazing deals to share with you on four (technically 5) different single malts from Tomatin. There should have been a yet another, but let’s just say someone forgot to allocate us something… You have the opportunity to save 25% up to 40% on a four different releases from Tomatin!

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin. As always, please let me know if you have any comments, questions or requests. In the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

IF YOU WANT TO ORDER A KWM 2020 WHISKY CALENDAR SOLD OUT PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ORDER ONLINE!

Slàinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition:

1. The KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar is Nearly Pre-Sold Out!
2. Our Next Virtual Whisky Tasting – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society with Andrew & Evan
3. Waterford Whisky Is Here!
4. New Laddies Arriving Soon – Bruichladdich Black Art 8.1 & Octomore 11.1 & 11.3
5. Huge Deals on Tomatin Single Malts
6. New Virtual Rum Tasting

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

 

ONLY 18 KWM WHISKY CALENDARS LEFT FOR SOLD OUT PRE-ORDER!

Early Bird Pricing Ends Thursday October 15… Sooner If We Sell Out First!

The KWM Whisky Calendar, now in its 7th year, has a striking new look and includes 25 never before featured whiskies. Once again we have curated a selection of 24 50ml whiskies, mainly single malt Scotch whiskies. There is also a KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar logo Glencairn glass which you will discover along with your Day 1 whisky. On top of the box as always we have a special treat for Christmas Day, a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky.

We anticipate we will have the Calendars ready for pickup in the first week or two of November. We are expecting some delays due to the Montreal Port Strike and Covid-19.

We are not taking deposits for the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar this year, instead we have two options for ordering including our most generous early bird offer ever:

1.  Early Bird Pre-Pay Pricing – $335+gst – SAVE $50 until midnight October 15 by pre-paying in full for the KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar – No further discounts or promotions, but the early bird price in previous years used to only be a $35 savings!
2.  Pre-Order & Pay Later;- $385+gst – Secure a calendar(s) and you won’t be charged anything until 1 week before it is ready for pickup.

Next Virtual Tasting – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society with Evan & Andrew

You Don’t Have to be a Member to Take Part… But We Have A Crazy Offer if You Do Want to Join… 

Evan and I are going virtual with a Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tasting on Thursday October 22nd. The tasting was originally limited to members of the Society, the World’s larges whisky club, but we’ve just opened it to the general public. The tasting is built around the old SMWS Membership packs which contain 3 different 100ml SMWS whiskies, more than enough for 2-4 people to share. . Please note that this price does not include a year’s membership, but we have an even sweeter option for that below… see the next tasting for which there are only 4 available!

You have two options for taking part in the tasting:

1. SMWS Virtual Tasting (Just the Whiskies) – Included in the cost of the tasting are 3 different 100ml SMWS whiskies, more than enough for 2-4 people to share. Note we are using the old Membership Kits ($230 retail) to put on the tasting, which has a few goodies inside it. But it does not include Membership (We have a crazy option for that below). – $135
2. SMWS Virtual Tasting with Membership & Bottle! – By purchasing this tasting option, you get a the old kit with the three 100ml SMWS bottles, a 750ml bottle of SMWS 58.29: SOUL O’ PLAYS AND PRANKS (Retail $142) and your first year’s Membership ($120 Value) in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the World’s largest whisky club. – ONLY 3 AVAILABLE! – $250

Register online, or by phone: 403-283-8000.

Introducing: Waterford Whisky

Single Farm Origin Irish Single Malt Whisky 

If the name Mark Reynier rings a bell, its almost certainly because of his connection to the Bruichladdich Distillery. Mr. Reynier has been in the drinks business for more than 40 years, starting out as a wine merchant in London. He was always obsessed with soil, terroir and regions. His career took a 180 in 2000 when he spearheaded the purchase of the then closed Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay.

The revival of Bruichladdich was an opportunity to do something different. The distillery has taken great pains to use only Scottish barley for their whiskies. Mark Reynier took his fascination on terroir and over time applied it to whisky making. It even lead to the revival of barley farming on Islay. The distillery has been working with the farmers to find the right strains of barley for the island’s less than ideal growing conditions. Then there are the thousands of protected barnacled geese, who use the island as a wintering ground, and can strip a field of its crop in mere hours.

Mark’s interest in barley always ran counter to what the Scotch whisky industry looks for. Where they select strains and sources for yield, maximizing the amount of spirit produced from a ton of barley, Bruichladdich and Mr. Reynier were all about flavour. Selecting the best strains and sources to product the best tasting whisky.

The Legacy of Mr. Reynier’s focus on terroir can be seen today in many of the distillery’s whiskies, some of which were exclusively distilled at single farms or even single fields on Islay. What they call the whisky’s “micro provenance”. In 2012 Remy Cointreau offered the owners of Bruichladdich more money than they could reasonably turn down to purchase the distillery. The only person not thrilled with the arrangement was Mark Reynier.

Mark took his profits from the sale of Bruichladdich and his terroir driven vision of whisky and set off looking for the best place in the world to make single malt whisky. He believes that to be the “sunny south-eastern coast” of Ireland, where they grow “the very best barley in the world.”

In 2014 Mark purchased a decommissioned brewery in the town of Waterford along the River Suir. The distillery draws its water from ancient wells and has sourced barley from 86 different Irish farms, and grown in 19 unique soil types. Waterford even has its own agronomist. Each farm and crop is harvested, stored, malted and distilled separately, allowing the distillery to trace each whisky from field to barrel using block chain technology.

 

 

Brewing has been taking place on the Waterford site since the 1790s. In 2004 Diageo spent a not insignificant sum building a state of the art brewery beside the old one. Only a decade later to shut down both the new and the old. Mark Reynier bought the now closed brewery for a fraction of that price, converting it to a whisky distillery in just 16 months. The first spirit trickled off the stills in January of 2016.

Waterford is not your typical malt whisky distillery, with two components not seen in almost anywhere else: a hydromill and a mashfilter. Rather than crushing dry malt in a traditional malt mill, the hydromill processes the wet malt under water through a perforated rotating disc. The technique produces a paste rather than the traditional dry mix of husk, flour and grist. Doing the process underwater has the advantage of avoiding oxidation and ensures the starches are saturated with water to start the process which converts them to sugar. Waterford is believed to be the only distillery with a hydromill.

Most distilleries use a mashtun to extract the sugars from the milled malt. At Waterford they use a mashfilter, a piece of kit common in modern breweries, but only known to be in only two other distilleries, Teaninich and Inchdairnie in Scotland. The liquified paste from the hydromill, is fed in to the mashfilter where it is exposed to water in three stages at increasing temperatures which vary depending on the barley to optimise the conversion of its starches in to sugar. The wort is collected by pressing the mash between a series of cloth plates. The Whisky Exchange’s Billy Abbot sums the process up best in his write up of the distillery: “the idea is simple: fill your mash into a series of tea bags, and then squeeze them to extract the liquid. It’s a much more efficient process that pulls out more liquid (and thus dissolved compounds) than you’ll get from a mash tun.”

Fermentation and distillation at Waterford is rather typical of the industry as a whole. The distillery uses a standard distilling strain of yeast, but does go for long fermentations to ensure the wash goes in to lactic fermentation. This creates subtle and complex fruity notes. The distillation is also slow, with the cut points of the heart, or middle cut, varying from batch to batch. As always, to highlight the character of the barley. Whatever the reason, Waterford’s spirit is definitely dialed in!

Mark Reynier and the team are filling the whiskies in to a mix of First-Fill ex-Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, French Oak and Vin Doux Naturels casks (VDN). The focus is on fresh wood, to impart character quickly to the spirit. The only surprising thing to me is that they aren’t filling re-fill casks for longer term maturation. In any case they are filling a similar ratio of casks for each farm and harvest to ensure they can highlight the differences between the terroirs, or as the distillery puts it Teireoir… Eire, is the name for the island of Ireland.

The distillery has plans to bottle both Single Farm Origin single malts, as well as Cuvees. The latter is a word we’ve seen used by Bruichladdich. In the longer term, Waterford will be marrying different single farm origin whiskies to create bottlings which highlight the character of a single vintage, or an ongoing flavour profile. What most distilleries call their core range. For Waterford this will be the Cuvees.

 

Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to have received the first two Single Farm Origin Waterford Irish Single Malt Whiskies. For the next two weeks the whiskies are exclusive to KWM. After that limited quantities will be available from other select retailers. Here are the first two releases:

• Waterford Single Farm Ballykilcavan 1.1 – 50% – 3 Year – Vintage: 2016 – Bottled: 2020 – Matured in First Fill ex-Bourbon, French oak & Vin Doux Naturel Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: caramelized and nutty with juicy malt; tall green grasses after the rain, tart citrus and then French vanilla; earthy and subtly musty with sour cherries and glazed root vegetables. Palate: sweet, malty and toasty with a late surge of bright fruits; more grasses, glazed root veg, sour cherries and tart citrus: Wine Gums; oily with velvety French vanilla and Billy Bee Honey; building spices, chocolate coated espresso beans and dare I say a gravelly minerality. Finish: long, coating and oily with a drying spicy kick; more Wine Gums and root veg. Comment: I think what I’m most impressed about regarding Waterford is the quality of their spirit; warm but not hot, they have their distillate finely dialed in!” – $102 – Limit 1 Per Customer – 88pts Whisky Fun

• Waterford Single Farm Bannow Island 1.1 – 50% – 3 Year – Vintage: 2016 – Bottled: 2020 – Matured in First Fill ex-Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, French Oak & Vin Doux Naturel Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: freshly harvested hay bales, damp rundle rock, vanilla bean and tarte tatin with Chantilly cream; tallow wax candles, peppery spices and new sofa leather. Palate: a surge of sweet chewy malt is met with firm toasted oak, juicy fruits and spices; more vanilla bean and tarte tatin with Chantilly cream; in addition to the baked apples there are cherries, plums and dried cranberries; very gristy with a firm minerality (more damp rundle rock); still waxy (oily) with subtle floral notes and not so subtle spices: hot ginger, cinnamon and even a touch a cayenne; salted caramel ice-cream at the end. Finish: oily, coating and dry with lingering hot spices and a flinty minerality; the thick juicy malt and sweet toasted oak notes dominate the long finish. Comment: if Waterford’s aim is to highlight the barley and terroir, then mission accomplished; I may be consciously looking for it, but I don’t have to look too hard; as an added bonus, its lovely… for a three year old it is superb; Waterford is a distillery to keep a close eye on!” – $102 – Limit 1 Per Customer – 88pts Whisky Fun

Waterford Whisky Virtual Launch Tasting with Mark Reynier – Sunday October 25

We will be holding a free virtual launch party/tasting for Waterford Whisky with founder Mark Reynier over Zoom on Sunday October 25 at 4PM. Anyone who buys a bottle of either of the above whiskies will be sent an email invite to join the tasting on Zoom. We will also be live streaming the tasting on to Facebook as both an overflow, but also for those who just want to learn more about the distillery and its whisky. Mark and I will not only be tasting the Bannow Island 1.1 and Ballykilcavan 1.1 bottlings, but also the next three releases due late this year or early next. Two more Single Farm Origin bottlings, as we as the Waterford Organic: Gaia 1.1!

New Laddies’ Arriving Soon: Black Art 8.1 & Octomore 11s

A Parcel of Islay Barley, Whisky Sorcery and Surging Peat

The pricing on these has gone up, and it is not just a local phenomenon. The prices for both the Octomore 11s and the Black Art 8.1 have increased considerably since the last release. ETA is 1-2 weeks… Even though my tasting notes are longish, they have nothing on Bruichladdichs, whom I’m referenced here. Kitchen sink tasting notes:

1.  Bruichladdich Black Art 8.1 – 45.1% – 26 Year – Cask Types Are A Closely Guarded Secret – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: A complex aroma puzzle, the parts of which one likes to put together with a lot of calm and enjoyment. It starts with citrus notes, lime peel and fresh oranges, combined with sweet caramel, dried apricots, pipe tobacco and maple syrup. A little later, the Black Art 08.1 smells much more complex – of roasted hazelnuts, vanilla syrup and animal leather. This is followed by pears cooked in honey, apricot jam and a wonderful floral undertone of noble roses and geraniums. At the end of the day you get a sense of the scent of wild thyme and you can be sure, even before the first sip, that this Black Art will forever burn into your memory of tastes. Taste: The citrus and lime aromas harmonize wonderfully with the woody sweetness of the whisky. The flowing texture is reminiscent of warm honey and goes perfectly with the taste nuances that are reminiscent of maple syrup, walnuts, toasted oak and woody spices. This tangy sweetness is underlined by vanilla, dried apricots, caramel and an opulent aroma reminiscent of Millionaire’s shortbread. The light and creamy texture is a nice contrast to the aromatic depth of this Black Art, which like all Bruichladdich whiskies has the typical DNA of soft stone fruit. Character: The 08.1 edition really stands out from the series of its predecessors! Here the whisky is in the foreground and the casks were used exclusively to refine the character. The new Black Art tells its very own, unique story of pleasure in its complexity, which is played around with ease. Finish: The finish is velvety soft and pleasantly sweet with notes of dried fruits, lemon cake, hazelnuts and creamy milk chocolate.” – $460
2. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011 – 50% – 6 Year – Unpeated Islay Barley – Matured in 75% ex-Bourbon & 25% European Oak ex-Wine Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Character: A sweet spot in the maturation of an incredible whisky. A chance to see the elements at work as the young spirit showing green fruits, apple, pear and gooseberry transitions to peach, apricot and mango with the influence of time. The careful selection of casks holds this moment perfectly in balance as their contribution to the ageing of the spirit brings oak depth, vanilla and coconut sweetness and lemon/grapefruit zest without overpowering the sweetness of the malt or the profound cereal notes that come from the Islay grown barley. The structure is firm, the texture luxurious, carrying the DNA of this island. Nose: From the outset this is overtly floral and fruity. Slow distillation yet again brings out the best from the Islay grown Barley, the abundance of soft fruit notes and delicate floral style of this dram is shared with our past Islay grown releases. Typical Bruichladdich style fruit notes of crisp apple and ripe pear along with peach and dried apricot are further enhanced with lemon drops, grapefruit and orange zest. There is a vast array of flavour rising from this whisky as it opens further. The oak and cereal components come through after the fruit, pipe tobacco and vanilla notes mingle with barley sugar and caramel wafers, as ever a distinct marine tang hangs in the air. Finish: The finish is about the fruit, dried apricot from the oak and lemon, kiwi and caramel wafer. A warm sand, marine note lingers as the Islay maturation tells its part of the story. As this whisky lingers on the palate it puts you in mind of the construction and structure to its form. Each element, distillation, time, cask and barley have a clear influence yet not one dominates another as this whisky reaches a crossroads in its development. This vintage is at the perfect stage to appreciate all that it is as it lays bare its DNA, its philosophy and its quality.” – $82+gst – 87pts Whisky Fun
3. Bruichladdich Octomore 11.1 – 59.4% – 5 Year – Scottish Barley Peated to 139.6ppm – First Fill ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Character: Lithe, sleek with intense earthy peat notes, balanced by the presence malt sugar, vanilla and oak. The scents of Islay in a glass – the ozone fragrance of the sea, bog myrtle from the moss and peat smoke in the cold night air and at the heart of it all a warmth that brings harmony to the whole. Aroma: Initial notes of Lemon, wet peat, pencil shavings, and a salty minerality. Peach yoghurt, cinder toffee, rubbery smokey almost antiseptic notes come from the peat smoke, well balanced with the green fruit and malty notes coming through the spirit. Honey, malt sugar, dried grass, come through with time with a little hint of ginger and wood spice. Taste: Brown sugar sweetness hits the palate initially. The chilli heat of high strength carries the Octomore DNA across the palate, it is clean, supple in texture and has a complex combination of flavours rushing for attention. Another taste and stone fruit, apricot, that peach yoghurt come to the fore and then the cask influence appears with sweet vanilla, toasted oak, brown sugar and soft toffee. The maritime notes, the minerality and citrus all weave the Bruichladdich DNA through the flavour profile bonding the sense of place and identity in this dram. Finish: Malt, huge Peat notes, earthy and oily, tar and bonfires. Vanilla honey, ginger spice and syrupy sweetness.” – $240+gst
4.  Bruichladdich Octomore 11.3 – 61.7% – 5 Year – Peated to 139.6ppm – First Fill ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Character: Such a distinct expression of Octomore, so much of the flavour comes from the malted barley and the distillation. The distillation techniques allow us to slowly coax the flavours from the grain influenced so much by the location it is grown and truly express a unique flavour based on these fundamentals. Aroma: Eight floral character on the nose, Summery and bright. The peat smoke is slow to rise initially but comes through with a light touch, clean and dry and very much in the background. Lovely light floral notes and sweet citrus, with honey and vanilla really holding everything together. Taste: Texturally this dram has a fantastic presence on the palate, holding the high strength perfectly. A gentle sweetness, honey and fruit syrup arrive, orange blossom, apricot jam and again the floral bouquet all gentle soft notes are holding off the phenols, a testament to the distillation techniques to allow the character of our spirit to come through with being dominated by the high level of phenols. Finish: Naturally the phenolic presence comes through on the finish, the floral notes fade and the dry smoke, earthy with dry grass come through. Burnt heather, toffee and malt sugar all play a part in a complex long finish.” – $295+gst

 

Huge Deals on Tomatin

SAVE 25-40%

This might help offset the price increases on some of the Bruichladdichs… We are able to offer savings of 25-40% available on four different Tomatins… The first two are arriving on Wednesday, and the other two a little later. The Tomatin Contrasts are very interesting, single malts married from the following vintages: 1973, 1977, 1988, 1991, 2002 & 2006 which were then further matured and bottle separately from Bourbon & Sherry. You get one 375ml bottle of each.

The first two–Tomatin 12 Year French Oak and Tomating 1995 Oloroso–arrive tomorrow. The Tomatin Contrast will arrive on October 28 and the Tomatin 1988 on November 11. Let me know what is of interest so I can reserve it for you!

1. Tomatin 12 Year French Oak – 46% – Matured 9 Years in Bourbon / Finished 3 Years In French Oak – Producer Description: “The casks were specially sourced from various European cooperages, including Lafite, Vicard and Seguin Moreau, and originally contained red wine from the Bacalhoa winery which was formerly owned by Rothschild.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Malty biscuits, vanilla, coconut. Red fruits, white peach and cashew nuts with fresh rocket. Candy sweets, toffee and butterscotch come through as it warms. Palate: Delicious sweetness, candy and marzipan, cheesecake base peppered with cloves. Finish: Light and creamy.” – Was $82 – Save 25% – Now $61.50+gst
2. Tomatin 1995 Oloroso Sherry – 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon / Finished 3 Years in Oloroso Sherry – Producer Description: “This limited edition was matured in traditional Scotch Whisky oak casks for just under 18 years before being transferred to Oloroso Sherry hogsheads. With flavours of heavy dried fruits, rich sherry, honeyed oak spice and dark chocolate with an almost waxy mouthfeel.” – 85pts Whisky Fun: “This baby was transferred to sherry-treated hogsheads in 2013, so it’s been a rather long finishing. No flash aromatisation here. Colour: deep gold. Nose: success! When you get shoe polish and walnut cakes, plus many herbal teas and tobaccos, that’s always good news. I think Tomatin makes for a perfect base for careful and smart proper finishings. In other words, no fights and no dissonances to be experienced here. Lovely lovely nose. Mouth: love this. Tobacco, walnut cake, bitter oranges, Werther’s Originals, bergamots, and dry raisins. Perfect strength, perfect balance. Finish: medium, and very cake-y. Café latte. Nice sappy/leafy touch in the aftertaste. Comments: this one reminds me of one of Glenmorangie’s earlier finishings, I just can’t remember which one. Perhaps was it the Sherry Wood, after all… SGP:551 – 85 points” – Was $280 – Save 30% – Now $196+gst Only 4 Left!
3. Tomatin Contrast Set 2x375ml Four Decade Whiskies – 46% – 2x375ml Set – “This limited release presents a unique opportunity to directly compare the effect of Bourbon and Sherry casks on whisky distilled in specific years at Tomatin Distillery; 1973, 1977, 1988, 1991, 2002 & 2006. Having selected and vatted casks from the same six years in both types of casks, our Distillery Manager, Graham Eunson, has created two incredible whiskies and an exceptional tasting experience. – Fully matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Golden syrup and honey. Lemon & lime. Almond and macadamia nuts, vanilla and custard. Palate: Sweet vanilla custard and lemon sponge. Pineapple chunks, raspberries and icing sugar. Finish: Sweet, fresh and mellow.” – Fully matured in Ex-Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Toffee-apple crumble, Christmas pudding, raisins and treacle. Palate: Cinnamon and cloves, peppercorns. Thick cut marmalade. Finish: Oily, spicy and chewy.” – Was $210+gst – Save 35% – Now $136.50+gst (arriving Oct 28)
4. Tomatin 1988 Batch 1 – 46% – 25 Year – Bourbon Casks & Port Pipes – Producer Description: “We are delighted to announce the addition of a 1988 Vintage expression to our core range. This expression will be released in batches. The contents have been vatted from a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Port casks.” – Producer Tasting Note: Nose: Strawberry jam, honey glazed ham, Cantaloupe melon, freshly squeezed orange juice. Palate: Sweet with buttery notes; candy floss, Victoria sponge. Red fruits, eucalyptus, mint, coconut. Fading smoke. Finish: Fresh with lots of depth.” – Was $450 – Save 40% – Now $295 – 87.77pts Whisky Base – Arriving Nov 11

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

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

 

CHRIS FLETCHER TAKING THE REINS AS JACK DANIEL’S MASTER DISTILLER

Seasoned Whiskey Maker Will Oversee Quality of Iconic Tennessee Whiskey From “Grain to Glass” 

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (October 7, 2020) — The Jack Daniel Distillery announced today that seasoned whiskey maker Chris Fletcher will take over the reins as Master Distiller of the iconic Tennessee Whiskey brand.

Fletcher, 39, had previously served for six years as Assistant Master Distiller, and will be responsible for the overall quality of Jack Daniel’s from grain to glass, innovation and serve as a global ambassador.  In addition, he will oversee the distillery’s new “Distillers in Training” program which aims to recruit, teach, and mentor the next generation of whiskey makers.  

Born and raised in Lynchburg, and now carrying on a family tradition, Fletcher is the grandson of former Master Distiller Frank Bobo, who served in the role from 1966 until his retirement in 1989.

“For the past six years, Chris has been right there and involved in every major distillery innovation, product and enhanced production process while ensuring our Tennessee Whiskey is of the highest character and quality,” said Larry Combs, Jack Daniel Distillery SVP and General Manager.  “Chris has whiskey making in his blood, but he also has this incredible and unique combination of knowledge, expertise and creativity that will position us well into the future.  Folks like Chris don’t come along every day, and backed by our tremendous senior leadership team, I have no doubt that he will flourish in this new role.”

 “It’s an honor to be named Master Distiller here at Jack Daniel’s and join a line of folks who’ve made the best whiskey in the world,” said Chris Fletcher.  “Over the last 17 years, I’ve been able to learn and work alongside so many talented whiskey makers, and I am very grateful for the mentors I’ve had, including Jeff Arnett who taught me so much.  Our distillery and team here in Lynchburg are the best in the business, and I cannot wait to continue to work with them crafting the world’s favorite Tennessee Whiskey.” 

Fletcher’s work at Jack Daniel’s stretches back to 2001 when he worked as a part-time tour guide while attending college.  He graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Tennessee Technological University in 2003 and began work as a chemist with Brown-Forman in Research & Development for eight years.  Following several years working in the bourbon industry, Fletcher came back home to the Jack Daniel Distillery and was named Assistant Master Distiller.

Chris, his wife, Ashley, and three-month old son, Payne Thomas, live in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand. 

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

JACK DANIEL’S and OLD NO. 7 are registered trademarks. ©2020 Jack Daniel’s. Tennessee Whiskey 40% Alcohol by Volume (80 Proof). Distilled & Bottled by Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JackDaniels.com

Lost Lantern Whiskey Introduces First Single Cask Collection

Four Single Casks from New Mexico, Iowa, New York, and Texas Join the Initial Lineup 

October 14, 2020—Lost Lantern, a new independent bottler of American whiskey, is excited to announce the addition of four hand-selected single casks to their initial release lineup.

These highly limited, one-of-a-kind single casks consist of unique and deeply expressive whiskies produced by some of the finest distilleries in the United States. “We wanted our first round of single casks to encourage whiskey lovers to discover distilleries that they might not necessarily have access to otherwise,” explained Adam Polonski, co-founder of Lost Lantern. “All of these distilleries are rising stars in the American whiskey scene and have built impressive fanbases, but they aren’t always easy to find.” Each is bottled at cask strength and is non-chill-filtered and natural color.

The following single casks—along with American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1, announced earlier this month—will be available for sale on October 15^th at LostLanternWhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com shortly thereafter:

• Cask #1, Santa Fe Spirits New Mexico Single Malt (211 btls): SRP, $100
• Cask #2, Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Bourbon Whiskey (213 btls): SRP, $87
• Cask #3, New York Distilling Co. Straight Rye Finished in an Apple Brandy Cask (202 btls): SRP, $70
• Cask #4, Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Corn Whiskey (111 btls): SRP, $108

Single casks are an essential piece of the Lost Lantern model, inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland. “Many superb distilleries are making delicious whiskies that reflect the unique environment where they’re made. Our curated lineup shines a light on whiskies that people might not find on their own, helping whiskey lovers explore the growing landscape of American whiskey and giving deserving distilleries additional attention in the process,” said Nora Ganley-Roper, co-founder of Lost Lantern.

Each quarter, Lost Lantern plans to debut a new collection of single casks, and may announce one-off limited releases from time-to-time.

The first collection of Lost Lantern single casks was chosen specifically to accompany American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 (SRP $120), created in collaboration with some of the biggest names in American single malt: Balcones (TX), Copperworks (WA), Santa Fe Spirits (NM), Triple Eight (MA), Westward (OR), and Virginia Distillery Co (VA). American Vatted Malt is a demonstration of how whiskies from across the country can come together in a new way. The single casks show how whiskey can reflect where it’s made, how it’s made, and who made it, and demonstrate that compelling whiskey comes from all across the United States.

Single Cask #1: Santa Fe Spirits New Mexico Single Malt

(211 bottles | 120.5 Proof): SRP, $100

Mesquite-smoked single malt whiskey is an emerging regional style from the Southwest, and founders Nora and Adam believe it will someday become an American analogue to peated Islay scotch. Santa Fe Spirits, located at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, is one of the pioneers of this style.  Its unique high-altitude maturation environment (7,000 feet above sea level) sees large seasonal swings in temperatures and produces truly special whiskies. This single cask balances a delicate, elegant structure with bold flavors of barbecue, smoke, and citrus.

Single Cask #2: Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(213 bottles | 120.5 Proof): SRP, $87

Lost Lantern’s first bourbon cask comes from the family-owned Cedar Ridge distillery in Swisher, Iowa. Iowa is the heart of the corn belt. So it’s only natural that the state now makes great whiskey that’s quite distinct from Kentucky bourbon—softer, creamier, but still fruity and spicy. Cask-strength Cedar Ridge rarely makes it outside of Iowa, so this selection, which is reminiscent of freshly baked apple pie, should be a rare treat for bourbon lovers.

Single Cask #3: New York Distilling Co. Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in an Apple Brandy Cask

(202 bottles | 119.2 Proof): SRP, $70

Although most rye whiskey now comes from Kentucky, initially it was typically more common in cooler climates. New York Distilling Co., based in the heart of Brooklyn, is reviving this tradition in an urban environment. The apple brandy finish gives this cask an extra New York twist, resulting in a whiskey that tastes like a Viennese apple strudel, loaded with baking spice and harvest fruit flavors.

Single Cask #4: Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Corn Whiskey

(111 bottles | 129.2 Proof): SRP, $108

Made from 100% Texas corn and aged in a 53-gallon European oak ex-Bourbon cask for four years and two months in the Texas heat, this cask will change some minds on what corn whiskey can be. It is spicy and dense like a bourbon, but with a unique floral quality that shines because of the used cooperage. At the same time, it has the big, rich, round mouthfeel of the best Texas whiskey.

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is a new independent bottler of American whiskey. Inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland, the company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the country and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. Currently, the Lost Lantern portfolio consists of American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1, a blend of American single malt whiskey made in collaboration with six distilleries from across the U.S.—and four single cask whiskies.  Lost Lantern Whiskey is available for purchase at LostLanternWhiskey.com and at Seelbachs.com.

Engage with Lost Lantern Whiskey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lostlanternwhiskey and Twitter at https://twitter.com/LostLanternDram.

Whisky Hammer auctions oldest whisky ever bottled by The Macallan in a world first

Scottish auction site offers rare bottle of 78 year old Macallan from the newly launched “Red Collection”

A rare bottle of the world’s oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan – also believed to be the oldest whisky ever launched by a distillery – from the distillery’s “Red Collection”, is being auctioned by online whisky auction platform, Whisky Hammer. Whisky Hammer is the first dedicated online auction house in the world to offer a bottle of the 78-year old whisky, giving its members the unique opportunity to bid on this super rare single malt Scotch whisky.

Whisky Hammer, a family-owned business in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has launched the online auction (https://www.whiskyhammer.com/auction/current) that will run until 7pm (BST) on Sunday 25 October with a starting price of £10,000 for The Macallan 78-year old. The auction features over 3,000 lots, from everyday drams to investment-grade iconic bottles, and represents Whisky Hammer’s largest online auction to-date.  New members can join to participate in the auction by following Whisky Hammer’s quick and straightforward registration process at whiskyhammer.com.

Given its age, exclusivity and the level of global demand for The Macallan, the new release is expected to prove popular with whisky lovers and investors around the world.

The Macallan Red Collection launched this week comprises 40, 50, 60, 71, 74 and 78-year olds. The producer describes the new collection as “an exquisite range of distinguished and rare single malt Scotch whiskies, shaped by the actions of our founder Alexander Reid and key characters in our history, who have laid the foundations for our single malt today”. It adds: “This collection celebrates the rich range of reds present naturally in every step of our process”.

The 78-year old is described as reflecting “deep respect for time, tradition and craftsmanship”. It is being presented by The Macallan lead whisky maker Sarah Burgess and was laid down decades ago in The Macallan’s “hand-picked oak casks”. Tasting notes describe its colour as “Sunset on the Spey”.

Its oak presentation box is crafted by hand in the UK, using the same sustainable European oak used to make The Macallan casks. The box is upholstered with sustainably sourced, soft Scottish leather from Bridge of Weir Leather.

Whisky Hammer hosts auctions once a month, dedicated to whisky and other fine spirits, allowing buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe to participate at www.whiskyhammer.com. It has auctioned several rare and collectible whiskies – both bottles and casks – since its launch in 2016.  The business has recently re-located to a new, purpose built, facility in Aberdeenshire which is also home to a sister business, Still Spirit – a whisky shop and exquisite tasting room.

Daniel Milne, Managing Director of Whisky Hammer, said: “We’re really excited to be able to offer something as rare as this 78 year old expression from The Macallan Red Collection for auction and we expect a very high level of interest in this lot. The Macallan is one of the most well-known and loved Scotch whisky brands and is regarded globally as the epitome of quality and taste – add to this the thrill of the oldest single malt ever released by Macallan, the end result is a true icon in whisky history.

“As a Scottish family-run business we have seen rapid growth since our inaugural auction in 2016 – today we are one of the largest online dedicated whisky auction platforms globally.  We’re delighted to have been able to host such an exclusive whisky which builds on our growing reputation as a place for whisky lovers and investors to buy and sell these iconic whiskies.”

Notes

The Macallan Red Collection 78-year old auction https://www.whiskyhammer.com/auction/current

Tasting notes for The Macallan 78-year old 

Colour: Sunset on the Spey

Nose: A fresh fruit medley of apple, peach and grape moving into fresh lime and verbena. Antique oak and soft leather move quickly into a luxurious dark chocolate and dried fruit sensation. The dried fruits are a balance of dates and raisins. Finally, a rich inviting vanilla cake.

Palate: Warming oak spice of nutmeg and ginger open into the rich dried fruits of raisin, prune, date and a hint of almond nuttiness. The oak rich whisky is warming yet dry with powerful treacle toffee and a baked apple sweetness.

Finish: A long thought provoking finish, all of the flavours from the nose and the taste make an appearance in this finish….Remarkable.

ABV: 42.2 per cent

Whisky Maker: Sarah Burgess

Our October Auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from Friday 16^th October until Sunday 25^th October.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

 

Macallan – 78 Year Old (The Red Collection)

 

Diageo Casks of Distinction – Clynelish 30, Port Ellen 40, Lagavulin 28

 

Bowmore – Black Bowmore 1964

 

Ardbeg – 21 & 24 Sestante imports

Selling whisky?

Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.co.uk.

Exclusive Apollo 7

‘We Have Lift-Off’ Ledaig 11 Year Old 2009

October 11th 1968, Apollo 7 became the first three-manned astronaut mission from the Apollo program to orbit the Earth and return home after eleven days in space.

Just ten minutes and twenty-seven seconds after lift-off an elliptical orbit was achieved.

To mark this occasion, TheWhiskyBarrel.com has bottled a single first fill Oloroso hogshead of heavily peated Ledaig whisky distilled at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.

There have been a few too many space Angels around this cask! Just 102 numbered bottles at natural cask strength.

In the interest of fairness ‘We Have Lift-Off’ Ledaig 11 Year Old is strictly limited to 1 bottle per customer. 

Shop – Ledaig We Have Lift-Off – £150 / $159* / €162*