WhiskyIntelligence.com » Blog Archive » Kensington Wine Market Malt Messenger No. 151 by Andrew Ferguson – New Tastings, New Whiskies, & a Save the Date! – Whisky News - whisky industry press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes, bottlings and comments.

Kensington Wine Market Malt Messenger No. 151 by Andrew Ferguson – New Tastings, New Whiskies, & a Save the Date! – Whisky News

May 3rd, 2023

If you’ve been browsing our website the last few days, you might have noticed that we’ve opened some more tastings for registration. We are in the process of rolling out our June tastings, which include the Spring Single Malt Festival, which is back for the first time in 4 years. This may come as a relief to those of you who missed out on getting tickets to our sold out 31st Birthday Whisky Festival coming up in a couple of weeks.

We have a great mix of in-person and virtual events planned over the next couple of months. We are welcoming a number of special guest hosts including Bob Baxter of Two Brewers, Angus MacRaild of Decadent Drinks (Whisky Sponge), Richard Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail, and John Campbell of Lochlea. And then there is Ardbeg Day.

We have just opened up registration for the Ardbeg Day Master Classes at KWM, and also have info on the main Ardbeg Day event in Calgary. Space is limited, and this is Ardbeg we are talking about, so tickets won’t last long.

There are loads of new whiskies to fill you in on in this edition too… We have a trio of new exclusive Waterford Whiskies, including the first two peated releases to come to Canada, as well as the Heritage Hunter 1.1. The story on this last one is worth digging into!

We also have new whiskies from Cooper’s Choice, Douglas Laing, and Two Brewers. You’ll note there are also some “not so new whiskies” from Douglas & Hunter Laing. These are new to us, but have been gathering dust in the Connect warehouse in St. Albert for up to a decade…

In the returned column, we have the Benromach 21 Year, which continues to provide excellent value. I am long overdue to write up a tasting note on it…

As with our Glenfarclas 1992, we are now offering samples of our new Gordon & MacPhail Balblair 1997 and Glen Scotia 2000 casks for sale. Details on these KWM “dramples” can be found below.

Finally, are you in the market for a Bowmore 1969 50-Year from the Vault Collection? If so there is a bottle available, but we’ll only be bringing it in, in the event of a purchase… the retail price is $50k!

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Online ordering and in-store purchasing are always our preferences, but you can email your requests too… but they won’t be dealt with as quickly as the web orders!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition

1. SAVE THE DATE – 31st Annual Birthday Sale!

2. New Waterford Whiskies

3. New Whiskies from Coopers Choice

4. New Whiskies from Douglas Laing

5. Not So New Whiskies from Douglas & Hunter Laing

6. New Whiskies from Two Brewers

7. Benromach 21 Year is Back!

8. Available By Request: The Bowmore 1969 50 Year Vaults Collection

9. KWM Cask Samples aka Dramples

10. More Tasting Notes on Recent Arrivals

11. New Tastings – In Case You Missed Them

12.Other Upcoming Tastings

SAVE THE DATE – 31st Annual Birthday Sale!

Before reading any further, please note none of the whiskies mentioned in today’s newsletter will be on sale next weekend… that would be poor form on our part!

Kensington Wine Market is turning 31 years old on May 15, so you know what that means… it is time for our annual Birthday Sale. almost everything in-store will be on sale, Friday May 12, through Monday May 15.

A sale email will be sent out at the start of the sale, highlighting the best deals.

So save the date… and get ready to save!

New Waterford Whiskies

Three curious new Waterford releases have arrived in Alberta, quantities are limited, and they are exclusive to Kensington Wine Market. Superficially, the two peated single malts, look to be the most interesting. They are the first peated expressions of Waterford single malt to find their way to Canada.

But the Heritage Hunter has an incredible story, and may be the most interesting Waterford release yet. They have worked to revive an almost extinct barley varietal, named after its creator Dr. Herbert Hunter. The strain was prized for its flavour but fell out of favour with those looking for larger yields. Working with only an initial 50-gram bag, sourced from the seed bank of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, they multiplied the seed stock through repeated planting. After many generations, they had enough to plant a crop.

Details on the whiskies are below, I will try to get my own tasting notes out over the next week or so!

1. Waterford Heritage Hunter 1.1 – 50% – Produced from Hunter barley grown at the Dunoughmore and Rathdowney farms in 2018, the malt was fermented for 169 hours with Mauri yeast. The whisky was matured primarily in first fill ex-Bourbon, but also Virgin American, ex-French Wine, and Vin Doux Naturelle casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Earthy, dry soil, lemon sherbet, red apple skin, dry bark, barnyard, petrichor, rolled barley, baked salt, chalk. Taste: Orange cake, dry savoury spice, cloves, porridge with prunes, wood char, citrus oils. Finish: Dry greenness with a gentle spice.” – $130+gst

2. Waterford Peated Ballybannon 1.1 – 50% – Produced from Laureat barley grown at Ballybannon Farm in 2017, the malt was peated to 47ppm, and was fermented for an astonishing 167 hours with Mauri yeast. The whisky was matured in first fill ex-Bourbon, Virgin American, ex-French Wine, and Vin Doux Naturelle casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Soft peat, almonds, crisp, lavender honey, reminds me of a seaside escape, driftwood fire smoke, green apples, padrón peppers, salt crust, a morning walk on a fresh day. Taste: Peat kick, very chewable, BBQ fish by the sea, buttery, warm apple and almond tart with honeycomb ice cream, wool, frangipane, samphire. Finish: What finish?!” – $115+gst

3. Waterford Peated Fenniscourt 1.1 – 50% – Produced from Laureat barley grown at Fenniscourt Farm in 2017, the malt was peated to 38ppm, and was fermented for an astonishing 187 hours with Mauri yeast. The whisky was matured in first fill ex-Bourbon, Virgin American, ex-French Wine, and Vin Doux Naturelle casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Turf (peat), saltiness, pear skin, woodland moss, hay, lemon skin, dried thyme, malted biscuits, marzipan, cooked banana, sweet floralness, wattle and daub, golden syrup. Taste: Farm tastes, dry rub that you would use on a barbecue, bog myrtle, clove sweets, leather, maraschino cherry, barley husks, gooseberry jam. Finish: Soft, earthy warmth, dry, finish in gentle waves.” – $115+gst

New Whiskies from Coopers Choice

We have six new offerings from our friends at Cooper’s Choice, just 12-18 bottles of each available!

1. Cooper’s Choice Ardmore 2008 – 51.5% – 14 Year – Bourbon Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Dry peat smoke and coal dust with green apples. Palate: Gentle smoked honey with vanilla and lemon notes. Sweet peated malt. Final: Delightful late dry smoke with a citrus edge.” – $140+gst

2. Coopers Choice Bunnahabhain Peat & Fruit – 53% – ex-Bourbon / Beaumes de Venise Finish – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich peat smoke, grape skins and old leather. Palate: Soot and tar. Bacon and black fruit with delicious liquid smoke. Juicy sweet malt. Mouth coating. Finish: Fantastic length. Peat ash and fruit.” – $120+gst

3. Coopers Choice Caol Ila Creosote & Candied Fruit – 54.5% – ex-Bourbon / Madeira Finish – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Oily creosote and tar with bonfire embers. Palate: Sweet peat with smoky bacon, ash and boiled sweets. Oily smoke with a coastal salty edge. Finish: Delightfully long and lingering with more late sweet smoke.” – $125+gst

4. Coopers Choice Dalmunach Winter Fruits – 56.5% – Port Wood Finish – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Mouthwatering aroma of redcurrants, sweet malt and blackberries. Palate: Brown sugar with delicious port wine notes. Big spices amongst all the fruit. Finish: Good length. More sweetness and red fruits.” – $110+gst

5. Coopers Choice Skara Brae Secret Orkney 2007 – 54.5% – 15 Year – Bourbon Cask Matured – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Light heathery smoke with yellow apples and sea spray. Palate: Spices and citrus notes. Rich and malty with light peppery spices and honeyed notes. Finish: Medium length with a coastal salinity.” – $152+gst

6. Coopers Choice Strathclyde 1993 Single Grain – 28 Year – 49.5% – ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet vanilla and butter popcorn. Bounty bars. Palate: Delicious sweet bourbon notes with almond milk. Delightful coconut burst with creamy vanilla, toasted marshmallows and pencil shavings. Finish: A fabulous old grain. Mouthcoating late barley syrup.” – $225+gst

New Whiskies from Douglas Laing

An Islay heavy mix of independent bottlings from the Douglas Laings… Only 3-6 bottles of each are available. Two of the whiskies are part of the Cheers to Better Days range: “In celebration of a brighter future ahead, this limited series is bursting with vibrant character! The striking orange label signifies joy, warmth, health and success.” Most of these are arriving on Wednesday next week… a couple are already in-store!

1. Old Particular North British 2003 – 48.4% – 18 Year – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Dark toffee gives way to baking spice, chewed leather and ripe, autumn fruits. Palate: Cocoa and mocha alongside a creamy cereal style with juicy plums and grape juice. Finish: Spiced, damp oak lingers on with a dark chocolate and Sherry sweetness.” – $195+gst

2. Old Particular Benrinnes 12 Year Cheers To Better Days – 48.4% – 2009 – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Deliciously sweet with undertones of oak and orange rind. Palate: Opens with milk chocolate cookie, developing to juicy barley and milky cereal. Finish: Creamy sweet finish, still the barley but now with vanilla.” – $140+gst

3. Old Particular Caol Ila 10 Year – 48.4% – 2011 – Refill Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Uncork the bottle and catch its beachy, oceanic and peated, gristy qualities. Palate: Oily, phenolic, lightly salted, distinctly spiced with summer tar, Malt and iodine. Finish: Shows dry spices ahead of coal dust and soot, plus drift of wood fire smoke.” – $135+gst

4. Old Particular Caol Ila 10 Year Cheers To Better Days – 48.4% – 2011 – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Fresh, salty oceanic air, seaweed and puffs of sweet peat smoke. Palate: Gently charred oak and BBQ meat with kiln dried barley showing. Finish: Long, with the smoke now lingering on.” – $145+gst

5. XOP Bowmore 25 Year – 52.7% – 1996 – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose brings a big hit of earthy smokiness alongside charred wood and damp soil. The palate is incredibly oily and mouth-coating and exactly what you want from a Bowmore – beautifully balanced with peated barley and a fruity sweetness. The finish lingers long with puffs of peat smoke, a gentle minty / herbal quality and delicious honeycomb.” – $925+gst

Not So New Whiskies – But New To Us –

From Douglas & Hunter Laing

About 7-8 years ago, new importers took over both Douglas Laing and Hunter Laing, from a firm which had been representing both for a dozen years or so. The old importer has continued to occasionally dribble out some stock over the years, and these 5 curiously popped up a few weeks ago. These are malts and grains which have been in the province for 7-10 years, gathering dust in the warehouse in St. Albert. They were a tad overpriced in their day, but after 10 years of whiskyflation, they are now reasonably well priced… only 6-12 bottles of each available.

1. Clan Denny Girvan 20 Year – 56.7% – Refill Barrel – 1993 – Producer Tasting Note: “Opens sweetly on the nose, superbly vanilla’d, carrying a creamy custard character with toffee. Still sweet on the palate, now with spicy honey & butterscotch, running to more vanilla. The finish is very more’ish replicating the nose & palate, now with candied orange.” – $190+gst

2. Clan Denny Invergordon 26 Year – 50.6% – 1988 – American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “Opens sweetly on the nose carrying an attractively honey’d & vanilla’d character develops to a fragrant hairdresser’s style. The palate is clean and remains sweet – candy style – before running to vanilla and soft spices. The finish is short but still sweetly toffee vanilla’d and evolves to an interesting orange pith style.” – $200+gst

3. Old Paticular North British 21 Year – 50.9% – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Perfumed – subtly sweet – with honey, vanilla & crunched sugars. Palate: Corn oil to the fore – then spices, vanilla ice cream & late marzipan. Finish: Oily, warmingly spiced – still sugared and lightly butterscotched.” – $195+gst

4. Provenance Auchroisk 10 Year – 46% – 2002 – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Opens fresh and sweet on the nose carrying a floral style plus vanilla fudge and a malty quality. The palate opens with a sweet vanilla aspect and rush to spiced caramelized peaches. The finish is long and spicy and carries a soft chewed leather quality plus late honey.” – $75+gst

5. Provenance Fettercairn 12 Year – 46% – 2000 – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Clean, herbal and arresting on the nose initially before it warms to a barley gristiness and mixed spice. Palatewise – expect a grassy sub plot to tongue tingling gingery and lightly peppered spices – running to a sweeter finish of caramel, more spices and a sprinkling of cocoa dust.” – $81+gst

New Whiskies from Two Brewers

What is especially cool about these releases of Two Brewers is their age, one is 10 years old, and another 9, but most of the liquid in that one is older than 10 years of age too… Two Brewers has come of Age!

Release 37 came in a month or so ago, but I don’t think we ever highlighted it. It is an 8 year old at Cask Strength, and only a couple of dozen bottles found their way to Alberta.

All three of these whiskies, and 4 others, will be sampled with Two Brewers Co-Founder Bob Baxter, on June 10th at KWM. Details in the new tastings listed below!

1. Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 37 – 58% – 8 Year – Classic Single Cask – Refill Virgin Oak – Producer Description: “A single cask of complex character, singing at once of tropical waves and rich oaken forests. A harmonious dichotomy like the Two Brewers themselves.” – Producer Tasting Note: “A timid aroma teases the tropics, mango and papaya, coconut and ginger. The golden concoction awakens across the palate, rich molasses and confectioner’s sugar, kissed by fresh oak and allspice. A welcome commotion, expertly weighted and worthy of a revisit.” – $195+gst – Only 24 bottles came to Alberta, half of them to KWM!

2. Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 38 – 43% – 10 Year – Peated – A mix of Virgin, first fill ex-Bourbon, and second fill ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Peat smoke wafts from the glass in abundance but never excess, fading into shadows of rich leather and fresh green tobacco. Light and sweet, crescendoing to a crash of candied ginger and over-ripe banana, ensconced perpetually in wispy, raspy smoke.” – $108+gst

3. Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 39 – 46% – 9 Year (58% 10 Year) – Classic – ex-Bourbon & Custom Oak Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “An intricate aroma of rich toasted oak highlighted by edges of juicy cantaloupe melons and luxurious bonbons. The dram skims sweetly across the tongue, elegant malt shrouds then boldly builds into syrupy fruit salad with anise edges, irresistibly entangled.” – $108+gst

Benromach 21 Year Is Back!

There are a lot of things to love about the Benromach Distillery and this 21 year old expression. Firstly, Benromach and its parent company Gordon & MacPhail take an old-school, very traditional approach to whisky making. Long fermentations, slow distillation, and unlike most Speyside producers, they use a prominent amount of peat. Then there is the oak, I’ve said it before and I will say it until the cows come home, no one has a better oak policy than G&M and Benromach. This 21 year old was matured in First Fill, top quality, ex-Bourbon, and sherry seasoned casks. Finally, the price… it is excellent for a 21 year old in this day and age. Benromach is a small distillery, they don’t have a lot of 21 year, which is why we seldom see it in stock. They could crank the price up, but they haven’t, because they are playing the long game. Across the range, Benromach offers excellent quality at a very fair price, and the 21 year is no exception to that!

I really need to get a tasting note written up for this one…

Benromach 21 Year – 43% – First Fill ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Aromas: Sweet sherry aromas with underlying citrus, ginger and oak notes, accompanied by a touch of smoke. Palate: Sweet, initially with cracked black pepper, Seville orange and raspberry flavours lead to baked apple and subtle spice. Finish: Charred oak and soft smoke.” – $235+gst

Available By Request:

The Bowmore 1969 50 Year

The latest release in the 50 year old Vaults range from Bowmore, is a 1969 vintage, bottled at 46.9%, after maturing in ex-Bourbon Barrels and Hogsheads.

Producer Description

“Distilled in 1969, this extremely rare single malt has been meticulously nurtured by our craftsmen for over five decades. During this lengthy union between spirit and oak, a defining character emerged, becoming increasingly richer as its fruit and smoke flavours remained constant. The taste almost undefinable; an enigma of flavours which have shaped Bowmore’s legacy, defining the most definitive of decades. This exceptional limited edition, combining the finest American oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, unlocks a zenith of aromas. Perfectly unifying fragrant and floral notes contrasting with citrus and sweetness to bring rich warmth to this Bowmore single malt whisky.”

Bowmore 1969 50 Year Vauts Edition – 46.9% – American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “To the eye a burished chestnut colour. On the nose, notes of Freesia, dried geranium and lilies merge with the aromas of citrus fruits, followed by the sweeter notes of acacia honey, apple pie, vanilla pods and cream. The complex palate iniatially starts dry with floral notes, like carnations then developing into sweeter notes of lemon merigue, grilled almonds and light crème caramel fudge with a hint of pepper, nutmeg, oak and light coconut. The finish is long with subtle floral notes and malty flavours.” – $50,000+gst

KWM Cask Samples aka Dramples

When we got our Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask in, we knew there would be a lot of people who wanted to try it, and with the price of the bottle, we couldn’t go pouring samples willy nilly… besides, there would also be people for who popping in to the shiop was not an option. So we have been selling 15 ml samples of the Glenfarclas 1992 for a few months now, and they have been very popular. So we decided to do the same with our new KWM exclusive casks from Gordon & MacPhail.

True, if you come down to the shop, you can ask for a wee taste of our Balblair 1997 and Glen Scotia 2000 casks, at no charge. But it is only that a wee taste. For those who really want to give it a proper go, we have filled 25ml samples of these new casks, and as with the Glenfarclas, we have created a tasting video on YouTube linked by a QR code.

Current Dramples on Offer By KWM

1. G&M CC Balblair 1997 KWM 25ml Sample – $13.99

2. G&M CC Glen Scotia 2000 KWM 25ml Sample – $11.99

3. Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30 Annv 15ml Sample – $13.99

More Tasting Notes on Some Recent Arrivals

Eight more tasting notes, one of which sold out in the time it has taken to pull this newsletter together, but I included it anyway. A little bird told me there is a slight chance we may see a few more bottles of it in the fall!

I honestly can’t believe we still have the Cadenhead “A Highland” 37 Year still in-stock. It is a lovely 37-year-old single malt, priced at under $1K, and it is reputed to be from Glenmorangie… Imagine what a 37 year old Glenmorangie bottled by the distillery would sell for…

The G&Ms are all excellent, especially the Miltonduff. I have long had a fondness for Miltonduff, especially 20-30 something refill cask matured bottlings. This one lives up to that expectation.

The Millstone 25 Year is a lovely old-school sherry bomb, priced at a point few comparable Scotch whiskies come close to these days. And the Edradour Equilibrium from Whisky Sponge, which is a fusion of peated and unpeated malt, is an ashy sherried treat!

1. Cadenhead Original A Highland 37 Year – 46% – 1985 – ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: candied cherries, orange peel, polished leather, cognac, and cigar tobacco; Jujubes and Jelly Bellys; dried apricots, and peaches n cream; white chocolate and marshmallows. Palate: nutty, toasty, and very fruity; you can tell this has age, there is an overall antique-y feel, but there is no baggage from it…; more orange, candied cherry, and peaches n cream; milk chocolate smores, more Jujubes and Jelly Bellies; late spices, leather, and tobacco. Finish: juicy, toasty, and increasingly spice with a touch more earthy tobacco; drying and nutty at the very end. Comment: how do we still have this? the speculation is this is Glenmorangie, and based on the profile I can see that; in any case this is a lovely old malt, with a very fruity-antique-y profile… and it would be 5x the price or more if the distillery had bottles this for themselves!” – $930+gst

2. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Highland Park 1995 – 57% – 27 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: this takes me back… old school sherried HP… we don’t see this often anymore; dark honey from an old-fashioned honeypot; medium-dark goat’s milk chocolate, worn old leather armchairs, and sticky toffee pudding; a faint hint of peat, Dutch licorice, and dark fruits: figs, dates, and prunes. Palate: the sherry and peat waft in together with more medium-dark chocolate and Dutch licorice; this is a big, rich, sherried Orcadian malt, but with a deft touch; time has mellowed HP’s famous soft peat, and only subtle maritime traces can be found; the sherry is rich, nutty, and spicy but balanced; more sticky toffee pudding, Christmas cake, and even a touch of Mom’s mincemeat; more dark honey too. Finish: warming, spicy, and sherried with subtle peat smoke, honey, and dark fruits. Comment: this is how I will always remember the classic sherried old school Highland Park 25 of yesteryear… before it lost its way… anyone else remember the mid-late 2000s bottlings in the stubby round bottles that came in a black wooden box with a brass buckle for a latch… those were the days… this whisky will get you close, at a much better price than you’ll get from the distillery!” – $435+gst – SOLD OUT!

3. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Miltonduff 1989 – 52.9% – 31 Year – Refill Sherry Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: waxy, tropical, and decadent… ooh this is right up my alley…; macadamias, toasted walnuts and Marcona almonds; honeycomb, homemade candles, window putty, and freshly plastered drywall; then the fruits, grilled pineapple, ripe papaya, and melons galore. Palate: bright, fruity, and decadent, with a waxy coating body; honeycomb and baklava; toasted oak, crisp spices, and loads of nutty tones: more almonds, macadamias, and walnuts, with some honey roasted peanuts too; those tropical fruits are still there: melons, papaya, pineapple, along with oranges and candy apple. Finish: long, toasty, and increasingly spicy, with a lingering waxy body; but mostly it’s the fruits you notice. Comment: this is an elegant old malt, with a profile more reminiscent of Refill ex-Bourbon than Refill Sherry, but perhaps it is was an American oak Refill Sherry Seasoned Hogshead… or maybe not… but really, who cares? this is quite simply beautiful!” – $1200 – 90.5pts Whiskybase

4. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Tomatin 2003 – 58.4% – 17 Year – First Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: doughy, floral, and toasty, with nutty tones; almond paste-filled croissants, Stollen bread, and French crepes with powdered sugar and lemon juice. Palate: sweet, nutty, and toasty, with delicate floral tones; warm butter croissants, and more almond paste; creamed honey and clotted cream; heavy on the citrus fruits with late warming spices. Finish: light, fresh, and floral with toasted oak, honey, citrus, and spices. Comment: you couldn’t ask for much more from a 17 year old ex-Bourbon Tomatin; nice cask.” – $185+gst

5. G&M Private Collection Pulteney 1982 – 57.1% – 38 Year – Refill American Oak Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: Manuka honey, baklava, and agave nectar; melons, citrus, and stone fruits; Strawberry Twizzlers, white chocolate Hershey’s Kisses, Scottish tablet, and Dutch Baby pancakes right from the oven. Palate: warm, doughy, and fruity with a thick, coating, waxy body; more Manuka honey, baklava, agave nectar, and lightly salted caramel; white orchard fruits, melons, citrus, and stone fruits; brioche French toast and more Dutch Baby pancakes; increasingly warm, spicy, and toasty; a touch of espresso bean and clove. Finish: long, waxy, and coating with a spearmint freshness; more light fruits, honey, salted caramel, and spices. Comment: it’s not every day that you get a chance to taste a 38 year old whisky from the Pulteney Distillery; this one is showing its age, but in the best possible way, with an old-school waxy body; beauty.” – $1840+gst –

6. Millstone 25 Year – 44.9% – 1996 – Oloroso Sherry Cask – My Tasting Note: “Nose: life is like a box of chocolates… it calls to mind a high-end department store where Italian leather shoes and the finest handmade chocolates are sold side by side; very nutty, Armagnac, and stewed fruits to boot; earthy with fruity tobacco, and oloroso sherry. Palate: rich, nutty, and fruity with loads of chocolate; treacle, maple syrup, and more oloroso sherry; rich spices: cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and clove; fruity tobacco, candied nuts, and smooth new leather; dried dark fruits and Jujubes. Finish: long, warming, and sherried; with more dark fruits, chocolate, leather, and tobacco. Comment: that this is another fine old bottling of sherried Millstone shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the know; Partrick Van Zuidam’s whiskies really do deserve more demand and attention than they get, and this is a fine example of why that should be the case; old school sherry, the kind we rarely see anymore… though I have to say I think I slightly prefer the Boutique-y 10th Birthday 25 year old to this one… we’ll need to put them head to head at some point to be sure though!” – $535

7. Tomintoul 25 Year – 43% – ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet, fruity, and toasty to start; thick and decadent with creamed honey, marzipan, and vanilla custard; toasted scones with clotted cream, marmalade and apricot jam; honeydew melon and cooked banana. Palate: soft, sweet, and toasty, with a firm backbone of spice; shortbread and a slight dry scone with clotted cream; firm toasted oak and baking spices; more marmalade, apricot, melon, and cooked banana; the creamed honey and marzipan show up later. Finish: fresh, toasty, and decadent, with traces of fruit, spice, and oak; late clove and espresso. Comment: this is a fine bottling, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for a bit more; don’t get me wrong, I’d happily drink a dram offered to me, but the price is a bit steep for the liquid in question; I would expect an ex-Bourbon matured whisky of this age to be going a bit more tropical.” – $585

8. Whisky Sponge Edradour 2005 Equilibrium2 – 55% – 16 Year – 2nd Fill Sherry Hogsheads (1 each of Edradour and Ballechin) – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, sherried, and spicy, with a savoury, meaty backbone; hickory smoked BBQ brisket, charcoal briquette ash, and burnt BBQ sauce; leather, tobacco, chocolate, and Montreal steak spices. Palate: savoury, meaty, sherried, and subtly peated; baby back ribs, smothered in BBQ sauce… a touch burnt on the under side; more hickory smoke, charcoal briquette ash, and smouldering oak smoke; more dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco, and the Montreal steak spice too. Finish: gets darker on its way to the finale, with more leather, dark chocolates, tobacco, and in the spice department cloves, and cardamom; espresso bean too. Comment: this is a fine fusion of ash, BBQ, sherry, and much more besides; bold, rich, and layered, but balanced!” – $365+gst

NEW TASTINGS

Scotch Malt Whisky Society June Virtual Outturn

· Date: Wednesday, May 31

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $55

· VIRTUAL TASTING

Log in, pour your drams and join us from home, the cottage, another country, or work… for the June 2023 Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada Virtual Outturn Tasting. The KWM team will be your guide as you sample through an exciting range of 7 new, never-before-sampled SMWS bottlings.

Wednesday, May 31 @ 7 PM

*Active SMWS Members will Save $10 on the tasting. For the $10 discount, individual SMWS members must register independently. The price will not show online when you submit it but will be adjusted when we review and process the order.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society June In-Person Outturn 6 PM -or- 8 PM

· Date: Thursday, June 1

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $60

· IN-STORE TASTING

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada’s June 2023 Outturn tasting will feature new, never before featured bottlings. The range will be the same as the virtual tasting the night before but will also include nibbles from our friends at Peasant Cheese, and the comradery that can only come from 20 SMWS Members in our tasting room. Please note we will not be holding back stock of the Outturn bottles specifically to purchase for this in-person tasting, though there will likely be bottles of most whiskies still available.

Thursday, June 1, @ 6 & 8 PM.

Ardbeg Day Master Classes at KWM

· Date: Saturday, June 3

· Time: 11 AM -or- 1 PM

· Cost: $35

· IN-STORE TASTING

As we do every year, we are celebrating Ardbeg Day with a couple of Ardbeg Day Master Classes, in the lead-up to the main Ardbeg Day Celebration, see below! Participants will sample a range of 6 Ardbegs including 10 Year, Wee Beastie, Corryvreckan, Uigeadail, Traigh Bahn 19 Year Batch 4, and the 2023 Ardbeg Day release Heavy Vapours. Master Class participants will also get a chance to buy a bottle of Heavy Vapours before sales open to all other Ardbeg Committee Members. But only if you come to the actual tasting!

Saturday, June 3, 11 AM or 1 PM

Ardbeg Day at Hayden Block

Registration is through a Third Party Site

· Date: Saturday, June 3

· Time: 2 PM

· Cost: $15

· HAYDEN BLOCK

For the first time ever at Ardbeg its whisky has been distilled without a purifier – the apparatus on the still responsible for maintaining Ardbeg’s unrivalled balance between extreme peat and floral fruitiness.

Following the distillery’s Planet Ardbeg comic launch last year, a dramatic new storyline in the series will be revealed alongside the new expression that’s inspired by its unusual creation. And so this year, whisky lovers are invited to celebrate the theme of ‘Planet’ Ardbeg Day – where they can expect to be transported into Ardbeg’s mythical, graphic novel universe.

· Location: Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey

· Time: 2-5PM

· Ticket: $15 includes two drink tickets and food.

· & giveaways and games

Saturday, June 3, 2-5 PM

Rest & Bruichladdich

· Date: Tuesday, June 6

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $55

· VIRTUAL TASTING

We recently received a quintet of curious new whiskies from the Rest & Be Thankful Co. Four are from Bruichladdich Distillery, 2 each of Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich. The provenance of these Bruichladdich casks is curious, as they are believed to be from Mark Reynier’s personal stash… The 5th whisky is a bottling of Finglassie, only the second time we have had a bottling from the new Inchdarnie Distillery. Those 5 malts make for the start of a tempting lineup, so we’ve added a couple of other Laddies to the range to round things out. Join us for a Rest & Bruichladdich kinda evening!

Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 7 PM

Spongeworthy Whiskies Round 2 with Angus MacRaild

· Date: Thursday, June 8

· Time: 5 PM

· Cost: $120

· VIRTUAL TASTING

Angus MacRaild, aka The Whisky Sponge, is joining us for another round of Spongeworthy whiskies. We have selected 7 malts from a recent Decadent Drinks delivery, from the Whisky Sponge, Equinox & Solstice, and NAS (Notable Age Statement) ranges. Angus will guide us through whiskies from Ardmore, Ben Nevis, Glen Grant, Ledaig, Old Rhosdhu, and Springbank, as well as a very unusual 30 year old Blended Malt with a crazy back story.

Thursday, June 8, 5PM * Note the early start time… Angus is in the UK, and has a wee girl!

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt with Bob Baxter

· Date: Saturday, June 10

· Time: 5 PM

· Cost: $25

· IN-STORE TASTING

Bob Baxter, one of the founders of Yukon Brewing & Distilling, will be joining us for a Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt vertical tasting. While the brewing started in 1997, Bob and his partner Alan started laying down casks of whisky in 2009. Some of their stocks are now more than 10 years old which is really exciting. We’ve been fans of Two Brewers for years, and truly believe they are making some of the best whisky in Canada. We’ll sample 7 releases of Two Brewers whisky, including the latest batches: 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39!

Saturday, June 10, 5PM

Spring Single Malt Festival Spectacular

· Date: Thursday, June 15

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $75

· FESTIVAL

It is hard to believe, but the last Spring Single Malt Festival was way back in June of 2019… So this is our 9th annual (ish) spring festival of all things malt whisky, though it would have been the 12th, if… you know… so we’ve added the word Spectacular for no specific reason because… why not! It will feature at least 100 single malts from Scotland & around the world, and as always it includes a KWM logo tasting glass. This event sells out quickly, so don’t hesitate… when it is sold out, it is sold out!

Thursday, June 15, 7 PM

Other Up-Coming Tastings

Flagships v. Distillers Editions Head to Head Virtual Tasting

· Date: Tuesday, May 16

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $45

· VIRTUAL TASTING

Curious how the new Diageo NAS Distillers Editions stack up to their Flagship OBs? So are we! So we are pitting pairs of whisky from 4 iconic distilleries in a head to head tasting. Cragganmore 12 Year v. Craggamore Distillers Edition, Lagavulin 16 Year v. Lagavuling Distillers Edition, Oban 14 v. Oban Distillers Edition, and Talisker 10 Year v. Talisker Distillers Edition.

Tuesday, May 16, 7 PM

Blinded by Bourbon

· Date: Tuesday, May 23

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $40

· VIRTUAL TASTING

Evan and Harmony are thirsty for good Bourbon and American Whiskey, so it is time for another virtual tasting. Tune out Evan if you must, but sign up for this selection of mostly Bourbon – and perhaps a Rye or Single Malt as well!

Tuesday, May 23rd, 7 PM

Lochlea Vertical Tasting with John Campbell

· Date: Saturday, May 27

· Time: 5PM

· Cost: $30

· IN-STORE TASTING

If the name John Campbell is familiar to you, that would be because he spent nearly three decades at Laphroaig Distillery on Islay, more than half of that as manager. Lochlea Distillery was operating for nearly 3 years when it existence finally became known in 2021… and they already had spirit old enough to be called whisky! It was founded in 2018, on a 17th Century farm on which Robert Burns lived and worked during his formative years. The distillery produces whisky from its own malt, with plans for both peated and unpeated releases. John Campbell will be your guide as you sample your way through a half dozen Lochlea bottlings!

Saturday, May 27, 5 PM

Gordon & MacPhail KWM Casks Launch with Richard Urquhart

· Date: Friday, June 9

· Time: 5 PM

· Cost: $40

· VIRTUAL TASTING

We have a pair of gorgeous KWM-exclusive single casks on the way and they are expected any day now… So we have asked our friend Richard Urquhart, part of the 4th generation of Urquharts at Gordon & MacPhail, to host a virtual launch tasting for us. In addition to our sherried Balblair 1997 and tropical Glen Scotia 2000 KWM Casks, we will also be pouring whiskies from Dailuaine, Glen Elgin, Highland Park, Macallan, and Tomatin.

Friday, June 9, 5PM

Taming the Beast – 190ish* Years of Rare & Old Laphroaig

· Date: Tuesday, June 13

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $250

· VIRTUAL TASTING

· Only 14 spots left!

Some things really do get better with age… In its youth, Laphroaig is often considered the burliest, most medicinal, and most challenging Islay Single Malt to appreciate. Less-than-flattering tasting notes like old band-aids, seaweed, and dirty socks are often cited and even embraced in the distillery’s own marketing. Like many Islay Single Malts though, the rough edges of its smoky youth tend to soften with age. Older Laphroaig lets go of the brash peat allowing more delicate notes of flowers, tropical fruit, and sweet vanilla to come to the fore. Join us for a selection of older Laphroaig bottles that would’ve made Bessie Williamson proud, including: three different Laphroaig 25 Year Olds, a trio of Laphroaig Ian Hunter Story releases (30, 33, and 34 year olds), and the Laphroaig Lore, which is somewhere between 13 and 19 years of age. All in all, over $10K of whisky, 190ish years of Laphroaig!

Tuesday, June 13, 7PM