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The Dalmore launches 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select Single Malt

The latest addition to The Dalmore Principal Collection 

The Dalmore is proud to present The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select Single Malt, the latest addition to The Dalmore’s Principal Collection and an elegant evolution of the distillery’s legendary house style.

The new offering from the Highland Single Malt maker celebrates the inextricable affinity between The Dalmore and sherry. It is an exquisite union of the finest oak, and a unique blend of rare and aged sherry, born from an enduring passion to create exceptional single malts that honour the sanctity of the cask.

To realise his vision, Master Distiller Richard Paterson selected three cask partners from Andalucia. Tevasa, Vasyma, Paez. Together they curated the perfect oak casks and created a bespoke sherry blend to season these casks in order to realise the exact flavour profile desired by Paterson.

This single malt begins its life in American white oak ex-bourbon casks where it spends ten years maturing; meanwhile our European and American Oak oaks are selected precisely for their active, extractive qualities, and crafted into casks. A bespoke sherry blend of aged oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry is crafted by our coopers, and further customised for each maker ahead of seasoning and filling the casks for a full finish of up to three years. The result is an assemblage of sherry cask finishes, each gifting layers of sherry and oak influence for a sweet fruit and decadent spice drinking experience.

This elegant single malt balances nutty flavours of crushed almonds, dark chocolate and a dusting of cinnamon with a sweet Pedro Ximénez influence and hints of sweet mangoes, panna cotta and lemon sponge cake. The aroma is enticing and fragrant of caramelised orange, ginger and sultanas, laced with honey.

It is the exceptional maturation process for this bottling that ensures that this whisky embodies the essence of Dalmore’s house style, while exemplifying the influence of sherry for a more complex, elegant and refined drinking experience.

Richard Paterson said: ‘The 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select is elegance personified and an excellent addition to our Principal Collection. Its full finish in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks reveals a more floral, light and refined side to The Dalmore. It is a truly decadent whisky which celebrates the deep-rooted alliances with our cooperage partners to source the most exquisite casks and truly showcase the depth of The Dalmore’s character.’

Paterson, who has been the creative force behind the brand for over fifty years, joined in 1970. He has developed a fearsome reputation for the curation of exquisite casks, sourcing exceptional casks from the world’s finest bodegas and wineries to craft unique and unforgettable expressions.

The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select is now available to purchase at The Whisky Shop in the UK at an RRP of £69. The expression is also available across major Asian markets including Taiwan and China and will be made available in the US from 2021.

For more information, please visit www.thedalmore.com.

Tasting Notes

The Aroma: Caramelised orange, ginger and sultanas, laced with honey

On the Palate: Dark chocolate and crushed almonds with a dusting of cinnamon

Finishing Notes: Sweet mangos, panna cotta and lemon sponge cake

Whisky details: Initial maturation in American white oak ex-bourbon casks and finished in American & European casks from 3 different Andalucian cooperages (Tevasa, Vasyma, Paez), each of which previously held a unique blend of aged oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry.

ABV: 70cl, 43%

About The Dalmore

For 180 years The Dalmore has been a masterpiece in the making. A Single Malt Whisky like no other, overseen by an unbroken chain of visionary whisky makers whose entrepreneurial spirit and restless pursuit of the perfect whisky endures today. Current Master Distiller, Mr. Richard Paterson, celebrates his sixth decade at The Dalmore in 2020. Richard Paterson continues to hand-select rare casks from the world’s finest bodega and wineries in which to mature the carefully composed sprit. This commitment is at the heart of our exceptional whiskies.

When asked what the greatest Dalmore he has ever made is; our Master Distiller, Richard Paterson responded: “We haven’t made it yet”

The Dalmore Single Malt Whisky is available worldwide in the finest outlets, from Harrods, London, Galleries La Fayette of Paris, Beverly Wilshire of Los Angeles, and Shangri-La, Shanghai. For those that enjoy fine travel, The Dalmore is now available at 40,000 feet with Emirates First Class, and onboard Queen Mary II of Cunard.

Worldwide demand for The Dalmore by consumers and collectors alike has continued to grow. The Dalmore is now the fastest growing single malt whisky worldwide and a Top Three Whisky Investment.*

(*Citation 1: IWSR 2011-17, Cohort: 20 single malts CAGR 11-17 26% or % change 11-17 304%. Citation 2: Rare Whisky 101: The 2016 Collectors and Investors Single Enjoy responsibly, Malt Scotch Review)

Virtual Tasting Week Announcements 

We are delighted to provide you all with further details about our upcoming Virtual Tasting Week.

Between Monday 26th – Friday 30th October 2020, there will be a tasting each night featuring Hazelburn, Kilkerran, Longrow, Cadenhead’s or Springbank whisky that will be presented by members of our sales teams and broadcast via Facebook and YouTube.

There will be tasting packs to accompany each event and there will also be a special bottle released alongside each tasting. That means there will be an opportunity to purchase 5 exclusive, limited bottles to celebrate our Virtual Tasting Week.

As we have previously referenced, ticket holders for the sadly cancelled 2020 Campbeltown Malts Festival will be given first access to tasting packs and bottles. Following this, Springbank Society and Cadenhead’s Club members will be next to be invited to purchase the Virtual Tasting Week products. After this, and subject to availability, we hope to give the wider public the chance to join in the celebrations of our Virtual Tasting Week. Please see a summary of these dates below:

Monday 5th October – Access for 2020 Campbeltown Malts Festival Ticket Holders

Wednesday 7th October – Access for Springbank Society & Cadenhead’s Club Members

Friday 9th October – Access for the general public (subject to availability)

Virtual Tasting & Pack Information 

Please note, each Tasting Pack will consist of six, 2cl samples.

Monday 26th October – Hazelburn Virtual Tasting

The first tasting of the week combines Hazelburn and history as David Allen hosts Prof Alan Wolstenholme to discuss Japanese Whisky pioneer Masataka Taketsuru’s life in Scotland and Hazelburn Distillery, 100 years on from his time in Campbeltown. The tasting will start at 7:30pm (GMT) and can be viewed on Facebook @officialspringbankwhisky and on Youtube @ J & A Mitchell. 

The whiskies included in the Hazelburn Virtual Tasting Pack are:

Hazelburn 12yo – 49.2%

Hazelburn 18yo Open Day – 47.4%

Hazelburn 22yo Warehouse Cask – 54.0%

Hazelburn 14yo Refill Marsala – 59.2%

Hazelburn 13yo Sherry Wood – 50.0%

Hazelburn 15yo Oloroso – 53.4%

Price of Hazelburn Pack – £35.00

Tuesday 27th October – Kilkerran Virtual Tasting

A detailed and entertaining tasting awaits as Grant, Nicole and Cara lead you through six varied Kilkerran drams and discuss the journey Glengyle Distillery has been on since its re-establishment in 2004. The tasting will start at 7:30pm (GMT) and can be viewed on Facebook @KilkerranSingleMalt and on Youtube @ J & A Mitchell. 

The whiskies included in the Kilkerran Virtual Tasting Pack are:

Kilkerran 2010 Refill Rum – 60.8%

Kilkerran 14yo Triple Distilled Open Day – 57.8%

Kilkerran 16yo – 49.2%

Kilkerran 2010 Recharred Sherry – 54.5%

Kilkerran 8yo Cask Strength – 59.8%

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 3 – 59.7%

Price of Kilkerran Pack – £35.00

Wednesday 28th October – Longrow Virtual Tasting

Variety is the spice of life and that’s exactly what we are going for with our Longrow tasting. David, Grant and Cara are determined to show the range that our Longrow expression offers as they talk in depth about all 6 drams. The tasting will start at 7:30pm (GMT) and can be viewed on Facebook @officialspringbankwhisky and on Youtube @ J & A Mitchell. 

The whiskies included in the Longrow Virtual Tasting Pack are:

Longrow 18yo – 46.0%

Longrow 21yo – 48.2%

Longrow 10yo Open Day – 53.7%

Longrow Red 2021 Release – 56.7%

Longrow 17yo Sherry Cask – 50.6%

Longrow 13yo Sauternes – 55.8%

Price of Longrow Pack – £35.00

Thursday 29th October – Cadenhead’s Virtual Tasting

Our entire Cadenhead Sales Team show off a wide range of whisky from Wm Cadenhead’s as Cameron, Jenna and Mitch spend an hour in your company enjoying some delightful drams. The tasting will start at 7:30pm (GMT) and can be viewed on Facebook @WmCadenheadLtd and on Youtube @ J & A Mitchell. 

The whiskies included in the Cadenhead’s Virtual Tasting Pack are:

Glenrothes-Glenlivet 23yo – 46.0%

Unnamed Speyside 18yo Open Day – 52.3%

Littlemill 29yo – 48.1%

Glendronach 30yo – 47.2%

Paul John 6yo – 54.1%

Caol Ila 29yo – 48.9%

Price of Cadenhead’s Pack – £40.00

Friday 30th October – Springbank Virtual Tasting

For the final tasting of the week, Nicole hosts a discussion between our Director of Sales and Marketing, Ranald Watson, and our Director of Production, Findlay Ross, as they join the audience for 6 Springbank drams and share a level of knowledge and insight that only they can provide. The tasting will start at 7:30pm (GMT) and can be viewed on Facebook @officialspringbankwhisky and on Youtube @ J & A Mitchell. 

The whiskies included in the Springbank Virtual Tasting Pack are:

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength – 56.1%

Springbank 26yo Open Day – 51.1%

Springbank 17yo Madeira – 48.5%

Springbank 21yo – 46.0%

Springbank 10yo Local Barley – 57.2%

Springbank 8yo PX – 56.8%

Price of Springbank Pack – £40.00

Please note that there will be a limit of 2 of each pack, per person.  

Virtual Tasting Bottle Information 

As well as the tasting packs which will be on offer for each tasting, we will also be releasing a special ‘Open Day’ bottle for each brand to celebrate our week of virtual tastings. Below are the details of each release:

Our Hazelburn Virtual Open Day Bottle is an 18yo from Fresh Bourbon Barrels. This has been bottled at 47.4% and will retail at £100.00.

The tasting notes for our Hazelburn Virtual Open Day Bottle are:

Nose:  Lots of tropical fruit, vanilla, creme brulee, hints of mint and freshly cut grass.

Palate:  Malty and sweet, with cereal and a touch of mint. 

Finish:  Sugar snap peas, green apples and humbugs.

 

Our Kilkerran Virtual Open Day Bottle is a 14yo Triple Distilled whisky from Refill Bourbon casks. This has been bottled at 57.8% and will retail at £75.00.

The tasting notes for our Kilkerran Virtual Open Day Bottle are:

Nose:  Honeycomb, rosewater, oak, toffee and beeswax.

Palate:  Creamy, white chocolate, orange zest and barley water.

Finish:  Lots of maritime notes alongside cereal and peat smoke.

 

Our Longrow Virtual Open Day Bottle is a 10yo whisky, matured in 2 x Fresh Pinot Noir and 2 x Refill Malbec casks. This has been bottled at 53.7% and will retail at £60.00.

The tasting notes for our Longrow Virtual Open Day Bottle are:

Nose:  Raspberry ripple ice cream, red currants, plum, barley sugar and toasted oats.

Palate:  Rhubarb crumble, red liquorice, pecan pie, stewed red fruits, cranberries and cured meats.

Finish:  Smoked cheese, smoked mussels, breakfast tea and burnt embers.

Our Cadenhead’s Virtual Open Day Bottle is an Unnamed Speyside 18yo which has been matured in 1 x Bourbon and 1 x Sherry cask. This has been bottled at 52.3% and will retail at £90.00.

The tasting notes for our Cadenhead’s Virtual Open Day Bottle are:

Nose:  Sandalwood, honeydew melon, citrus, sultana and vanilla.

Palate:  Raisins, plum, tangerine, hazelnut, fudge, chocolate, nutmeg, lemon and pumpkin.

Finish:  Dried fruits, cinnamon, chestnut and black cherries.

Our Springbank Virtual Open Day Bottle is a 26yo which is a vatting of 2 x 1993 Refill Bourbon Hogsheads. This has been bottled at 51.1% and will retail at £425.00.

The tasting notes for our Springbank Virtual Open Day Bottle are:

Nose:  Vibrant and fruity with notes of gooseberry and kiwi fruit alongside peat, salt and bung cloth from warehouse 3. 

Palate:  Rich with notes of crystallised ginger, pear drops, honey and fennel.

Finish:  Oily with clove, nutmeg and dry peat smoke. 

Please note that there will be a limit of 2 of each bottle, per person. 

Due to the majority of our staff currently working from home, there will be no-one in the office to receive telephone enquiries. Please send any queries you may have to festival@springbank.scot and we will aim to get back to you as soon as possible. 

To join the Society contact them at Springbank Society society@springbank.scot

Just landed: Dalmore 12 Year Old

Sherry Cask Select

Introducing Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select – a brand new addition to the Highland distillery’s Principal Collection and only available in the UK at The Whisky Shop. This expression begins its journey in American white oak ex-bourbon casks where it spends ten years maturing, laying down the foundations of the distillery’s house style: chocolate, orange and spice. The liquid is then finished in an assemblage of hand-curated sherry barrels from Andalusia in Spain, making this 12-year-old a delicious and decadent drinking experience, full of sweet fruits and autumnal spice. Add this epic sherry bomb to your collection and receive a free Dalmore Cross pen – while stocks last!

Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select
£69.00

Infrequent Flyers Batch 4

Glenrothes 11 Year Old

2009 vintage. Finished in a PX sherry butt and…the colour! 59.1% full of cherries, toffee, cocoa and spice! Glenrothes 11 Year Old 2009 Speyisde single malt Scotch whisky. Single PX sherry butt #6343 bottled 2020 by The Alistair Walker Whisky Co. for the Infrequent Flyers series. 611 bottles. MAXIMUM 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER.

Nose: Brown sugar, coconut and Morello cherries. Heavily stewed raisins and sultanas. Treacle toffee.

Taste: Super sweet, rich and velvety. Really big raisin and sultana notes, reminiscent of clootie dumplings. Mocha and cocoa. Just a hint of cinnamon.

Finish: Long and syrupy. Deceptively smooth – no indication that this sits at a chunky 59.1% vol.

Shop – Glenrothes 11 Year Old 2009

GLENROTHES SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Glenrothes Distillery was established in the narrow valley of the Rothes Burn on the west side of Rothes in the Speyside whisky region by James Stuart & Co. in 1878. This is a large malt whisky distillery owned by Berry Bros & Rudd of London, with eighteen washbacks, ten copper stills singing in their own mighty cathedral and has retained its traditional pagoda roof. Popular distillery releases include Glenrothes 1995, 1998 and Glenrothes Peated.

Doc Swinson’s 15 Year Old “Rare Release Batch #7” K&L Exclusive Exploratory Cask Series

Nonchillfiltered Small Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Pre-Arrival)

$149.99

The return of the wonderful and mysterious Doc Swinson’s 15 Year is upon us. This newest batch is from the same unnamed source and continues to represent some of the best value available for old cask strength bourbon anywhere in the world. The Doc Swinson’s brand was started by a small (and very lucky) bottler in Washington state who’d made a name for themselves finishing Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee Whiskies in various wine casks. When they had an opportunity to secure some high quality mature Kentucky Straight Bourbon, they jumped at the chance and so did we. The source of this excellent bourbon is so concerned about its identity being revealed that the barrels are dumped in Kentucky before being transported to the bottler in anonymous totes. Usually we insist on having some idea of where the products we sell are produced, but one taste of this stuff and those standards get thrown out the window, it’s just too good to care to argue with. We will likely never know exactly where it was made, but as long as it keeps tasting this good, we won’t complain. The most special bourbons from Doc are under their “Rare Release” line. This is the 7th batch of this truly small batch line, but only the second batch of the unbelievably popular 15 year. This batch contains just 27 barrels and only 100 cases will be available in California exclusively at K&L. Bottled at a cask strength of 109.8 proof, it has all the complexity and depth you’d expect from a great old Kentucky Bourbon.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 342: Port Ellen 40 Year Old 1979 – 9 Rogue Casks

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, tries his most expensive whisky ever! In May last year, Mark tasted his best – but unfortunately also most expensive – Port Ellen ever. It was the 39 years old The Spirit Safe, bottled in 2018. This second edition in the Untold Stories – 9 Rogue Casks – is even more limited. There are only 1380 bottles in the world. It was presented during the (virtual) Feis Ile 2020 and is a vatting of 9 casks which were found to ‘hold unusual flavour characteristics that stood out from the typical Port Ellen distillery character’ and was deemed unsuitable for the needs of the blenders at the time. But what an elegant lady. A veritable diva.

https://youtu.be/d90KtMHm9wQ

Malt Messenger Bulletin

Details on the MS Society Savour Festival Promotion

An Update on the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar!

And More!

If you are plugged into the Whiskyverse, especially on Social Media, you’ll probably have seen reference to the #murraygate story over the last 2 weeks. It snowballed after Becky Paskin a UK-based whisky writer and journalist called out whisky companies for referencing Jim Murray and his Whisky Bible while ignoring his use of sexist language.

Kensington Wine Market stopped selling and referencing the Whisky Bible about six years ago. The language in his book didn’t sit well with me, but the final straw was a tasting I attended hosted by Jim Murray. He singled out a young woman, asked her to stand and told everyone to imagine her naked. I’ll spare the rest of the details, except to stay I was shocked and walked out. That type of language and behaviour does not align with my values either personally or as a business.

I’ve put my neck out there a few times over the last couple of weeks, nervously, in support of Becky’s call for a more inclusive whisky industry, and an end to the tolerance of sexism and misogyny. If you haven’t been following the debate, Evan wrote a great post on our blog, complete with loads of links explaining the story and also our position as a business. It includes an audio clip from an interview I gave on CBC Radio’s Calgary Eyeopener last week. A reference from that interview was included in a New York Times article by Clay Risen published yesterday.

Mr. Murray is entitled to his opinions and has the right to free speech. But it is time for businesses (producers, importers and retailers) to ask themselves whether they want to align their brands with someone who un-apologetically objectifies women.

We’ve stated it several times over the course over the last few weeks, but I’ll say it again: there is no place for sexism in whisky!

We applaud the courage of Becky Paskin and the other women who are pushing for change. We also hope the debate will highlight and lift the voices of women in the industry, giving them the respect they are due.

I sincerely hope we aren’t having the same conversation about sexism in whisky again a year from now!

All the above said, we did love the first batch of Alberta Premium Cask Strength here at KWM, and we know we weren’t alone. Hopefully, Alberta Distillers will work the same magic and release a second batch of the same quality soon…  

Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to participate in the MS Society’s “Savour: A Culinary Festival” this weekend. We will donate 10% from the sale of both our Weekend Feature Siegel Wines (which are 15% off) as well as any of our KWM Exclusive Cask whiskies sold October 2n (today) through October 4th (Sunday), in-store and online.

As with many other charitable organizations, the MS Society is struggling with its fundraising efforts this year. We have proudly supported the MS Society over the last decade through the MS Calgary Whisky Festival and other events. More details on our Savour Festival promotion can be found below.

We started taking pre-orders for the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar, two weeks ago. In that time we have pre-sold more than half of the 384 Calendars we will be producing this year. It probably doesn’t hurt that we are offering our most generous Early-Bird offer ever; which ends on October 15. In addition to a sharp new look, this year’s edition includes 25 never before featured whiskies. More details below.

Our next virtual whisky tasting is coming up in just over a week. Julie Hamilton, Brand Ambassador will be our special guest for an Elements of Islay Tasting over Zoom on Saturday, October 10 at 5PM Mountain TIme. The tasting will consist of five whiskies from the Elements of Islay portfolio, including Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Octomore. In addition to the 5 Elements expressions, there is also a surprise sixth Islay single malt included in the tasting!

In new whisky news, we are expecting the Arran Explorer’s Series Volume 3: Kildonan & Pladda on Wednesday. Most of our allocation is already spoken for, and we don’t expect this 21 year old Arran to last long. We also have a new Bourbon to tell you about, Old Tub Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It is a Bottled in Bond Bourbon I’ve only previously seen at the distillery in Kentucky.

We still have a few bottles available of both the GlenDronach 2009 10 Year bottled for Canada and Millstone 1996 Virgin Oak, which we put on sale a few weeks ago.

I’ve also got an update on our recent Single Malts of Scotland casks. The Single Malts of Scotland Imperial 29 Year KWM Cask is long gone… having sold out in six days. The Single Malts of Scotland Clynelish 24 Year which was limited to 2 bottles per customer, is not far behind; only a little over a dozen bottles are left. Stock of the Single Malts of Scotland Glenburgie 21 Year and Caol Ila 8 Year a fair bit healthier, but are still depleting quickly! More details below.

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.

Slàinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition:

1. The MS Society Savour Festival – KWM Promotion
2. The KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar is More Than 50% Pre-Sold!
3. Next Virtual Whisky Tasting – Elements of Islay with Julie Hamilton
4. Introducing: Arran Explorer’s Vol 3: Kildonan & Pladda
5. Introducing: Old Tub Bourbon
6. SAVE 25% on GlenDronach 2009
7. SAVE on Millstone 1998
8. Update: The Single Malts Of Scotland KWM Casks
9. Compass Box 20th Anniversary Virtual 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

The MS Society Savour Festival – KWM Promotion

Buy Great Whisky & Wine This Weekend and Support a Worthy Cause!

The MS Society’s “Savour: A Culinary Festival” runs this weekend, Friday, October 2nd through Sunday October 4th, 2020. Kensington Wine Market has been a proud supporter of the MS Society for more than a decade. Were it not for Covid-19, this January we would be hosting the 10th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival. It is possible we might be able to put on some sort of virtual whisky festival, but more on that at a later date.

As with many other charitable organizations, the MS Society’s fundraising is off substantially this year due to Covid-19. They had to cancel most of their events, and the coming year will continue to present challenges. We are participating in this weekend’s Savour Festival to help the organization raise funds for research and to aid those living with multiple sclerosis.

This weekend only, Friday, October 2nd through Sunday October 4th, we will donate 10% off the sales from both our Weekend Wine Feature, as well any KWM Exclusive Cask whiskies sold, to the MS Society.

Save 15% on our semi-exclusive Siegel Wines from Chile, now through Sunday October 4th, 2020, and we will donate 10% of the sale price to the MS Society. 

Browse Our Selection of Siegel Wines

Purchase any of our KWM Exclusive Single Casks now through Sunday October 4, and we will donate 10% of the sale price to the MS Society, including (but not limited to):

1. Berry’s Orkney Islands 1998 21 Year KWM 1998
2. Compass Box GKS Glasgow KWM Cask
3. Kilchoman 2011 KWM Cask 770 2011
4. Jefferson’s Ocean KWM Single Barrel
5. Shelter Point Single Malt KWM Cask
6. SMOS Caol Ila 8 Year KWM Cask
7. SMOS Clynelish 24 Year KWM Cask 10204
8. SMOS Glenburgie 21 Year KWM Cask 900890
9. Teeling 16 Year KWM Single Cask
10. Whisky Agency Secret Speyside 1995 KWM 1995
11. & More

Browse all KWM Exclusive Whisky Casks

The KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar is More Than 50% Pre-Sold

25 Day of Dram FIne Whisky is Back Baby… And It Is Going Fast!

We started taking orders for the  KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar just 2 weeks ago, and in that time more than half of them have pre-sold… We are only producing 384 Calendars this year, and at the time of writing a little over 200 are already spoken for.

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 – Elements of Islay with Julie Hamilton

Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Octomore & More!

Julie Hamilton, Elements of Islay Brand Ambassador will join us live from the UK on Saturday October 10, 2020, at 5PM Mountain Time for an Elements of Islay tasting. We will be sampling 5 whiskies from the Elements range, including the Elements of Islay: Peat, Peat Full Proof, Ar11 (Ardbeg), Lg10 (Lagavulin), Oc6 (Octomore) and one other surprise dram (a 50ml single cask, cask strength Islay single malt whisky). As she is 7 hours ahead of us, we are starting the tasting at 5PM. Tasting samples will be made available for pickup starting Friday, September 18. A zoom code for the tasting will be emailed out 24 hours before the tasting. This event is limited to 35 participants, only 12 spots left!

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

Introducing: The Arran Explorer’s Series Vol.3 – Kil

A Mouthfull on This One… And They Don’t Event Tell You How it Tastes… 😉

Volume 3 of Arran’s “Explorers Series” is the ‘Kildonan & Pladda Island’, and it is arriving in-store on Wednesday. This is a 21 Year single malt, was matured in a mix of Sherry Butts, Puncheons and Ruby Port Pipes. 9000 bottles were released globally, with just a tiny fraction of that coming to Canada. KWM is expecting just under 60 bottles, most of which are already spoken for. Bottled at 50.4%. 89.21pts Whisky Base.

Arran Explorer’s Series Volume 3: Kildonan & Pladda Island – 50.4% – 21 Year – Sherry Butts, Puncheons and Ruby Port Pipes – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich and fruity; The “Arran” style remains at the heart of this whisky, with candied orange peel, nectarine and parma violets. Stewed summer fruits with a drizzle of vanilla custard. Palate: Sweet and tangy with a burst of strawberry liquorice, fresh raspberries and ginger. Cask influence adds another layer to the sweet fruit character, with flakes of hazelnut in the development. Finish: A truly multi-layered dram with a long lasting finish of red fruit, oak and a hint of tobacco.” – $220

Introducing: Old Tub Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Pre-Prohibition Style Bottled in Bond Bourbon

Old Tub is a Bonded Bourbon made by Jim Beam Distillery of Clermont, Kentucky. The name Old Tub actually comes from the pre-prohibition name of Jim Beam Distillery itself. No mention is made as to which mash bill is used for this, but given the history of the name it is likely the regular Jim Beam Bourbon mash bill. What sets it apart is the 50% ABV and that it is said to be Unfiltered, “for more robust flavor”. This is apparently a limited release from Jim Beam – but maybe they have enough stock to change their mind on that? Only time will tell…

The term “Bonded” or “Bottled in Bond” means that this whiskey had to adhere to the following standards as originally written into law by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897:

1. All whiskey in the bottle must be produced by one distillery and by one distiller over the course of one distillation season.
2. The whiskey must be at least four years old.
3. It must be bottled at 100 proof / 50% ABV
4. The whiskey must be aged in bonded warehouses under United States federal supervision.
5. The label on the bottle has to state which distillery it comes from and also where it was bottled.

 Old Tub Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 50% – Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Peanut shells – no surprise there given that seems to be part of Jim Beam Distillery’s DNA for me. Beyond that, plenty of sweet corn notes, cinnamon hearts, Double Bubble bubblegum straight out of the wrapper, along with light cherry, banana, peaches and toasted oak. Palate: Oily and viscous on the toungue with notes of Big Red chewing gum, Double Bubble again, fuzzy peach candies, and bananas with melted milk chocolate. Finish: A touch dry with big oak notes and cinnamon spices, but the oiliness of this Bourbon keeps much of that in check. Comment: While I am not the world’s biggest Jim Beam fan, I do tend to like their Bourbon when it is bottled at 50% or more. I would say this has more in common with Knob Creek than the Jim Beam White Label, and that is a good thing. It represents solid value for a fun Bourbon.” – $46

SAVE 25% on the GlenDronach 2009 10 Year For Canada!

But Only While They Last!

The story on this bottling is that GlenDronach

is unable to sell some of their core skus in Alberta on account of a dispute between the old importer and the new one. The GlenDronach 12 Year and 18 Year are tied up in a disagreement over compensation, and until that is resolved, you won’t see them in the market. This product was created to bridge the gap, as a substitute for the 12 year, bottled for Canada!

We thought it decent at the original price $96, and it is a steal at $72…

GlenDronach 2009 10 Year for Canada – 43% – Matured at least partly in Sherry Casks… – My Tasting Note: “Nose: nutty with soft leather, raisins, chocolate and syrup; doughy with baking spices, vanilla icing and dry grasses. Palate: rich and nutty its starts slow but builds in to decadent spices, syrup and cooked raisins; sweet and dumpy with black licorice and dark chocolate; candied orange and chewy malt; late vanilla, dunnage warehouses and minty-floral-tones. Finish: medium in length with leather, spices and candied fruit. Comment: released to replace the 12 Year, at least in Alberta; this is quintessentially GlenDronach and a lovely dram; I think it would have been improved at 46%, but I digress; the nose is good and the palate is better; very quaffable stuff!” – Regular $96 – SAVE 25% – SALE $72+gst

SAVE 20% on the Millstone 1996 Virgin Oak Cask 1376

Elegant Single Malt from the Netherlands!

We got a deal, so we are passing on the savings. This Millstone Single cask is an Alberta exclusive bottled by Greg and Jarka Winters of Craftwork Sprits. The whisky is from a single Virgin American oak cask filled in 1996, matured 20 years and bottled at 51.45%. The Dutch are very precise. I was worried that 20 years in a Virgin Oak cask would have left too heavy an oak imprint on the whisky, but far from it, it was a deft touch!

Millstone 1996 Virgin Oak Cask 1376– 51.45% – 20 Year – Virgin American Oak – My Tasting Note: “Nose: bread and butter pudding with canned whip cream; dried apricots and peaches n cream; strawberry puff candies an cooked marshmallow; French bakery notes: fruit flan, croissants and other baked goods. Palate: waxy, tropical and creamy; toasty, oily and coating; more dried apricot, peaches and whip cream from a can; floral and spicy with toasted coconut, marmalade and some orange rind; this is sweet, fruity and waxy, a beautiful malt. Finish: warming, toasty and peppery; the fruits are all on the front end, but traces linger with a waxy oily grip. Comment: this is a lovely, layered and fruity malt; 20 years in virgin oak, has surprisingly not overwhelmed the spirit, but it has had a deft touch; a wonderful concentration of flavours!” – $285 – Save 20% – While Stocks Last – Now $239.49+gst

UPDATE on the KWM Exclusive Single Malts of Scotland Casks 

Caol Ila, Clynelish, Glenburgie & Imperial!

Though these four malts only just arrived at KWM, demand has been brisk. The Imperial would have sold out on the first day had we not restricted sales to one per customer. The Clynelish too would be gone had we let people fill their boots. But it is limited to 2 per customer until October 7th, if it lasts that long. Barely more than a quarter are left. The Caol Ila and Glenburgie have been selling briskly too. Both are excellent quality and value, especially the Glenburgie. But both whisky had bigger outturns, and don’t have quite the FOMO appeal of 29 Year Imperial and 24 Year Clynelish!

1. SMOS Caol Ila 8 Year KWM Cask – 61.2% – 2011 – Sherry Butt (Presumably Refill) – My Tasting Note: “Nose: smoked haddock chowder, rustic bread and farmhouse butter; I’m in the Old Kiln (I know, I know, this isn’t Ardbeg but never the less I’m transported); coal dust, chewy malt; crisp smoke, firm leather and a dash of lemon and lime. Palate: here we go, warm, earthy and smoky with a base of honey, vanilla and crisp spices: more lemon and lime; the sherry elements grow in prominence over time adding Demerara, some dark fruits and loads of spice: clove, fennel seed and Dutch licorice; more smoked haddock and chewy malt (my hearty bread), dark earthy peat and sea weed; thick, oily and warm but without a sharp or rough edge. Finish: long, thick and coating, the soft peaty oils and spices cling to your palate while crisp smoke, smoked haddock and chewy malt slowly fade away. Comment:  big and bold but balanced for a young malt tipping the scales at well over 60%; lots of layers given its youth, the sherry notes build over time balancing the brash young peat and smoke; the nose transported me to Islay, to one of my favourite places to sit, dine and dram, the Old Kiln Cafe; the palate is layered and satisfying, but also leaves me wanting more; more whisky adventures, more smoked haddock chowder, and a return to my spiritual home!” – $85
2. SMOS Clynelish 24 Year KWM Cask 10204 – 52.2% – 1995 – Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: oozing with dripping candle wax and honey; then bright tropical fruits: grilled pineapple, mango dusted in pepper and plantains; very floral, like walking in to a botanical garden on a hot day; then some nutty tones: cashews and macadamia nuts, the latter with white chocolate. Palate: rich, honeyed, waxy and oozing with fruit; quite decadent, creamed and heather honey; the body is thick, creamy and waxy, you could almost spread it with a knife; bags of fruit, starting on the citrus side with Wine Gums and Starburst candies; with each sip the fruits become more exotic, dried apricot, baked apple and poached pears; with patience the tropical fruits emerge: mango, papaya and pineapple. Finish: staying thick and waxy the finish is long, decadent and fruity; loads of honey and bags of fruit ending in toasted oak and spices. Comment: when we first sampled this whisky we were absolutely stunned, and desperate to bottle it; I’ll admit, it came in a little higher priced than we had hoped, but that was wishful thinking; mature Clynelish is becoming increasingly dear, and this bottling is spectacular; it would still be a must have at twice the price!” – $350 – Only 18 bottles left! 
3. SMOS Glenburgie 21 Year KWM Cask – 49.9% – 1999 – First Fill ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: decadent, honeyed and floral; big citrus tones, mango and cantaloupe; nutty, almond paste filled croissants and polished oak; vanilla extract and rose hips. Palate: soft, creamy and coating with a burst of bright fruits and floral tones; waxy with more polished oak; still nutty, it is thick with lush creamy vanilla, honey, marzipan and warm almond paste filled croissants; juicy orange, ripe mango and cantaloupe; even a bit of Crema di Melone. Finish: very long, thick, waxy and coating; it stays fruity, floral and toasty right to the end. Comment: it’s been almost a year since we selected this cask, and while my memory of its selection is hazy, sampling the finished product is proof positive that we have something very special here; at 21 years of age this malt is lush, floral and very fruity; it is a banger at $175, and very more-ish!- $175
4. SMOS Imperial 29 Year KWM Cask 4561 – 45.2% – 1990 – ex-Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: heavenly… I want to crawl in to the glass; old leather sofas and polished mahogany book shelves filled with dusty old books; this is antique-y, this is tropical, this is right in my wheelhouse; did I mention I want to crawl in to the glass? candy-apple, kiwis and canned pineapple; vanilla bean, Manuka honey and soft floral tones. Palate: yes… yes, yes, yes… this is what we’ve been waiting for since November!!! soft, silky, floral and full of bright, juicy tropical fruits; vanilla bean, Manuka honey and silky toasted oak; quince paste, candied apple and loads of other fruits: kiwi, pineapple, spiced baked apple and persimmons(first ever usage in one of my tasting notes, had to look up the spelling); waxy with soft leather and more polished wood; divine. Finish: delicate, but long, and fruity it clings to the palate with lush velvety oils; the mouth waters while it awaits more, more, more… never enough! Comment: sinful, decadent, sublime, and dangerously drinkable; easily the best Imperial I’ve ever had, and one of the best casks we’ve ever had the good fortune to attach our name to (nearly 100); we’ve been telling people for months that this whisky blows our last cask of Imperial out of the water, and it does that and then some… they also bottled it on my birthday in January, so belated happy birthday to me!” – $400 – SOLD OUT!

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

Evan Williams Unveils New Packaging for the Bourbon Franchise

First introduced in the 1950’s, Evan Williams Bourbon quickly became one of the nation’s leading Bourbons and Heaven Hill Distillery’s flagship brand. Today, the brand continues to break milestones at a historic pace, with the Evan Williams family of brands surpassing the three million case mark on an annual basis. To further bolster this growth, the evolution of the Evan Williams franchise packaging will feature key enhancements and a consistent look on the shelf.BARDSTOWN, Ky. – The Evan Williams Bourbon family, the second-largest selling Bourbon in the world, will soon grace retail shelves and on-premise establishments with a striking new look. Evan Williams Black, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond and Evan Williams Flavors will receive a new signature bottle with updated label designs.

The following designs will soon mark Heaven Hill Distillery’s continued investment in Evan Williams Bourbon:

• Evan Williams Black: Evan Williams Black carries the lineup featuring the new, signature glass defined by a curved bulb neck with new premium capsule closure decorated with the Evan Williams’ signature. The face label utilizes the iconic black and gold colors consumers have grown to love, but with a richer and vibrant gold ink throughout the label, finished by a new curve at the top to accentuate the new bottle. The label continues to feature the story of Evan Williams himself.
• Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond: Featuring the most dramatic evolutionary change, the new design clearly emphasizes the 100 proof, bottled under government supervision and single distilling season. Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond carries over the green and white label colors, reflecting a vintage flare showcasing the rich history behind Bottled-In-Bond products and their importance to the Whiskey category. A new premium capsule closure with the iconic tax strip seals the bottle and harkens to historic bottled-in-bond packaging requirements.
• Evan Williams Flavors: Evan Williams Flavors will receive a streamlined approach consistent with the franchise with label design enhancements featuring a centered logo. The flavors will also be bottled in the new glass with the premium capsule closure.

“Evan Williams Bourbon is a testament to sustained success across the ebbs and flows of the American Whiskey category,” said Julie Cole, Evan Williams Senior Brand Manager. “We’re excited to rejuvenate the Evan Williams family packaging to both enhance the consumer experience and modernize the label design. Evan Williams was an entrepreneurial leader in the Bourbon movement, and we continue to honor his success through the award-winning Evan Williams Bourbon franchise.”

The changes to the glass, label and capsule will be reflected in the 750ml, 1L and 1.75L sizes, while label changes will be reflected in the smaller sizes. The new packaging will be available nationwide, launching now and throughout 2020. New bottles will be featured throughout future marketing programs and on evanwilliams.com.

ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS: The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Bourbon. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series, first forming a partnership with the national pastime in 2016. As an American-made and American-owned brand, Evan Williams has recognized true American heroes through their exceptional stories of honor and bravery on special edition American-Made Hero labels for the past five years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.8 million barrels aging in 60 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

SUPERB COLLECTION OF THE MACALLAN LEADS BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

Link to catalogue: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26047/

Part I of a superb collection of The Macallan – to be sold over two sales between now and Christmas – leads Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 7 October. It will be held at Bonhams Edinburgh saleroom at 22 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1JX.

The pinnacle of the collection is the extremely rare, highly sought-after Macallan-50 year old in a crystal decanter made by the renowned French glassmaker Lalique. The first release of the famous Lalique Six Pillars Collection, it is estimated at £60,000-80,000.

Not far behind in scarcity, are The Macallan-1951 (£15,000-20,000) and The Macallan-1961 (£14,000 – 16,000), both single cask expressions released by The Macallan in 2000, just before the launch of the Fine & Rare Collection. They sold out within hours of their release and are now almost impossible to acquire.

Other bottles from the collection offered in this sale include:

·         The Macallan Fine & Rare-35 year old-1966 (£20,000-30,000) and

·         The Macallan Select Reserve-52 year old-1946 (£10,000-14,000).

Bonhams Whisky specialist in Edinburgh Martin Green said: “This is one of the most interesting and wide ranging collections of The Macallan to come to auction for some  years; to own just one of these bottles would be a dream come true for most whisky collectors. The owner also enjoyed drinking The Macallan, so there are many younger bottles, at more modest estimates, which filled up his well-stocked bar and cellar. We are selling the bulk of the 70 strong collection on October 7^th, with the remainder offered in our sale on December 9^th”

The sale also offers rare bottles from other collectors including:

·         The Macallan Lalique-57 year old.  Numbered 305 or 400 from the Third of The Lalique Six Pillars Collection it is estimated at: £30,000-45,000.

·         A complete set of Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1952-1994 offered in a number of discreet lots ranging from Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1952-1959 estimated at £34,000-39,000 to Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1990-1994 estimated at £4,000-4,750.

·         Bowmore Dynasty-31 year old in an Atlantis crystal decanter. Number 124 of 500, it has a sterling silver casing with gilt mounted medallions of the monarchs of The Royal House of Stewart.  Estimated at £4,500-5,000.

Sale: WhiskyLocation: 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JXDate: Wednesday 7 October at 11 am

Link to catalogue: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26047/

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. bonhams.com