Kensington Wine Market’s E-Whisky Newsletter

It is hard to believe the Labour Day Long Weekend is already upon us. That final taste of summer is always bitter-sweet, especially in Southern Alberta, where the weather rarely cooperates with the calendar. Whether it will or not this year, remains to be seen…

The end of summer and transition into fall isn’t all doom and gloom, far from it. For one, it is peak whisky season, with boatloads of new arrivals hitting the shelves ahead of the Christmas Season. Our tasting schedule also ramps up at this time, as we endeavour to sample as many of the new arrivals as we can. Then there is Whisky Advent… which kicks off during the last few weeks of fall. And circling back to the weather, the Labour Day weekend aside, September can be one of the nicest months, at least in Calgary!

So don’t let yourself feel too badly about summer winding down, it will be back, and there is lots to look forward to this fall. This Malt Messenger Bulletin is partly about that, a little teaser of things you can expect to see and hear about in the weeks and months ahead. New casks, new tastings, and a whole new KWM Whisky Calendar.

This Malt Messenger Bulletin also includes some new Bourbons (I haven’t even tweaked Evan’s formatting this time); a little write-up on the Glen Mhor Distillery which started as a tasting note; a little more light on a 23-year-old Springbank that may have slipped past your notice; some tasting notes I’ve cobbled together over the last couple of weeks; and our upcoming tastings. We added space to both the Benromach and GlenAllachie tastings which had both sold out.

Finally, there is a ballot, of 9 whiskies from Springbank and Kilkerran Distilleries. There is not a lot to be had, only 2-6 bottles of each, so please set your expectations accordingly. The ballot is open to all customers in our Point of Sale System, who have made a purchase of at least $0.01 in the last 6 months.

One last thing, please note I am currently out of town on vacation, returning after Labour Day. While you can reply to this email, which will go to our general store email account, please do not forward any requests to my personal email account, as I will not be reading them or forwarding them to the store. Online ordering and in-store purchasing are always our preferences, but you can also reply to this email.

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

Enjoy the last long weekend of summer!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition

1. Fall Teaser

2. Glen Mhor Featurette

3. A Little More Love for the Boutique-y Springbank 23 Year Batch 28

4. Evan’s Bourbon Corner

5. More of My Tasting Notes

6. Springbank Ballot

7. Upcoming Tastings

Glen Mhor Featurette

There was a time when I had the time to indulge in and write about the history of the whisky industry. Well I had a little bit of time on my hands this week… and what started as a tasting note turned into something more!

Glen Mhor is one of three distilleries that used to operate in Inverness, the largest city in, and capital of the Scottish Highlands: Glen Albyn, Glen Mhor (pronounced Glen VHAR), and Millburn. Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor closed their doors and were demolished in 1983, while Millburn survived a little longer, closing in 1985.

Glen Mhor was built by John Birnie and Charles Mackinlay, a pair of Blenders from Letih in 1892, at the beginning of the second major boom in Scotch whisky distilling. It was built next to, and would always be closely associated with the neighbouring Glen Albyn Distillery which opened earlier in 1846. John Birnie had previously been a shareholder in Glen Albyn but had left a few years earlier after a dispute over shares.

Prior to the agricultural revolution, Inverness was the most significant producer of malted barley in Scotland. Both distilleries were built on the site of a long-closed maltings, on land that bordered both the Caledonian Canal and Highland Railway. In 1906 Mackinlay & Co. became the principal owner of Glen Mhor, and in 1920 it absorbed Glen Albyn.

Glen Mhor remained water-powered until 1950, and was surely one of the final distilleries in Scotland to be hooked up to the electrical network. In 1954 it was the first distillery in Scotland to open a state-of-the-art Saladin Box maltings. Glen Albyn also installed a Saladin Box Maltings later that year. Both distilleries were sold to DCL, a precursor to Diageo in 1972. DCL closed both Saladin Box Maltings in 1980, and shuttered and demolished the distilleries in 1983 after the 1970s whisky boom turned to bust. They were both small, and surplus to the firms future production needs.

Glen Mhor was one of only a handful of Scotch whiskies to be bottled by the distillery as a single malt, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This was before Glenfiddich supposedly set the trend in motion in the 1960s, and also ignores all the work that Gordon & MacPhail and others did as independent bottlers.

Glen Mhor Distillery also has a curious connection to history. Fifteen years ago a case of Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt was found buried under the floorboards of a hut from Ernest Shackleton’s 1907 Antarctic Expedition. 25 cases of the whisky accompanied the explorers bottled at the curious strength of 47.3%… strong enough so as not to freeze!

In the 20 years I’ve been at Kensington Wine Market, we’ve only had five or six bottlings of Glen Mhor come through the shop. Lacking the romantic, or stylistic appeal of the likes of Brora, Port Ellen, or even Rosebank, most of the whisky was used up in blends long before there was an interest in it.

Above Print Produced for Gordon & MacPhail’s The Recollection Series

I’ve had the chance to try all of the Glen Mhors that came through KWM, and a few others besides. The 40 year old Private Collection bottling from Gordon & MacPhail’s “The Recollection”

G&M Private Collection Glen Mhor 1982 – 50.8% – 40 Year – Refill Sherry Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, fruity, and decadent; soft Aussie licorice, candied nuts, Vahronna dark chocolate, Werther’s Originals, and espresso beans; smoked maple syrup, honey garlic chicken wings, and teriyaki beef jerky; soft leather, cigar tobacco, and old churches: polished oak, old leather kneeling pads, and dusty old hymn books. Palate: layered, meaty, and fruity, with loads of fruit and decadent sugars; Fruit Source bars, lightly salted caramel, and soft licorice, and treacle; still old-school or old-church to be precise: polished oak, soft old leather kneeling cushions, and more dusty old hymn books; Christmas cake, crisp spices, and more Vahronna dark chocolate; more teriyaki beef jerky, and honey garlic chicken wings; more cigar tobacco too. Finish: long, elegant, meaty, and still old-churchy… chocolate, caramel sauce, Christmas Cake, and very tropical. Comment: the nose was great, the palate and finish even better; this is a gorgeous old malt, from a distillery we almost never see bottled anymore… a shame to be sure… but would it be as special if not? it has been almost a decade since I’ve tried a new Glen Mhor bottling, and I’ve only tried a dozen or so… this is probably the best!” – $4200 – 93pts Whisky Fun

A Bit More Love for

the Boutique-y Springbank 23 Year Batch 28

I thought this whisky needed a little more attention… and might have gone unnoticed in the last Malt Messenger, so I figured I’d give it a bit more attention. I even took a bottle of this 23 year old Springbank with me on vacation, so I could properly taste it. It was created from a parcel Springbank matured in Sherry & Madeira, and then finished in Fresh Bourbon for release as a part of That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s USA Series. In short, it is excellent, but I will let me tasting note speak to that.

Boutique-y Springbank 23 Year Batch 28 – 48.9% – Matured in Sherry & Madeira / Finished in ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: the nose is classic mature Springbank, oily, funky, and fruity with a touch of smoke and salt; lightly salted caramel, subtle peat smoke, a touch of latex, and clean engine oil; loads of dried dark fruits and decadent spices, underneath a blanket of soft creamy vanilla. Palate: silky delivery of fruit, funk, spices, and tamed buttery old peat; round, creamy, and savoury with building clean smoke; still funky, with a touch of latex, and figs in honey; flourless dark chocolate cake with pink peppercorns; the leather and tobacco firm up with oak spices; faint tropical tones struggle out from under the weight of Bourbon, Sherry, and Madeira… Finish: ashy, and leathery, with more buttery peat, salted caramel, dark fruits, and firm spices. Comment: ‘finishing’ has become almost a dirty word with some Anoraks; but this is a fine example of taming what might otherwise have become an over-the-top malt if left to mature longer in fresh Sherry & Madeira; in all a very unique, but still excellent Springbank, with many of the hallmarks which make it so sought after; it will take you half a bottle to get to really know it, and by then you’ll wish you had another in reserve!” – $715

Evan’s Bourbon Corner

Here are a few new bottles that are on – or will be hitting – our shelves. Many of the bottles we feature here are limited, with KWM only seeing one or two 6 packs and that is it!

The Prideful Goat Cask Strength Rye and Cask Strength Bourbon

Let’s be upfront: Prideful Goat is a non-distiller producer releasing whiskey they have sourced from MGP Distillery in Indiana. The good news is that we have tasted samples of the Bourbon and Rye. Both are fantastic. They are not crazy old, but they aren’t young whiskies either. The fact that these are kept at a high-proof and at a reasonable price makes them very much worth checking out.

Prideful Goat 6-Year-Old Cask Strength Rye – 56.8%

From The Producer

“This 6-Year 95% Rye from an all too familiar Indiana distillery is not new to the market. It is however another line in the sand as far as pricing is concerned. While whiskey used to be a lot more expensive, we are dedicated to doing everything possible to keep costs low and trying to maintain the most reasonable pricing in current and future releases on the market. The Prideful Goat Straight Rye Whiskey is a fantastic, reasonably priced straight rye whiskey that is meant to be shared amongst friends.

$123

Prideful Goat 6-Year-Old Cask Strength Bourbon – 58.3%

“The 6-Year Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an unfiltered cask-strength whiskey blended in small 30-40 barrel batches. It is 75% Corn, 21% Rye, and 4% Malted Barley. The mash bill is distilled and aged for a full 6 years in new American Oak. This is an unusually dark and robust bourbon with notes of Tobacco, Honey, and Heavily Charred Oak. It’s then bottled at full natural strength, directly from the cask so you can enjoy it at its full, unadulterated potential.”

$123

Doc Swinson’s Pineau Charentes Bourbon – 55.4%

The team at Doc Swinson’s has a seemingly never-ending fascination with different wine and spirit casks and how they impart different nuances to American Whiskey. Harmony and I had a chance to taste this from a cask before it was bottled at Doc Swinson’s super-secret headquarters located at 5235 Industrial Pl, Ferndale, Washington and we fell in love with the big, sweet peach and apricot notes it showed.

This very small batch of 5-year-old Bourbon sourced from the MGP distillery of Indiana was finished in Pineau Des Charentes casks before bottling at a cask strength of 55.4%.

From The Producer

“Pineau des Charentes is a truly unique French aperitif, produced from a blend of fresh grape juice and young cognac, which is then aged in French oak barrels for several years. We let Doc Swinson’s blend of two five-year bourbon whiskeys rest in these barrels bringing hints of apricot, sultanas, and wildflower honey to the already delicious caramel and stone fruit notes of the bourbon.”

$135

Doc Swinson’s La Mente Bourbon Oloroso Cask Finish – 56.9%

We’ve carried nearly a dozen different Doc Swinson’s releases because they are fantastic at finishing Bourbon (and Rye, Rum, and…more?) in different casks. Surprisingly, this is the first time we have gotten some of their MGP-sourced Bourbon finished solely in ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts! The just under 6-year-old Bourbon spent more than 1.5 years in these sherry casks before bottling at 56.9%.

From The Producer

“Bright and citrusy, this 5-year bourbon is finished in a selection of Oloroso Sherry Butts, delivering complexity and brightness. Doc’s Blender hand-selected the whiskeys from each sherry butt and skillfully blended them for this limited release and aptly named it LA MENTE, Spanish for “the mind.” LA MENTE is one of three limited bourbons that complete the Mind, Body, and Spirit line, named for their contributions to the Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Triple Cask Bourbon.

This limited single finish expression allows you the chance to experience one of the individual pieces of the whole, all outstanding on their own at cask strength.”

$135

ALSO RETURNING TO SHELVES SOON:

Doc Swinson’s Blenders Cut Bourbon – 57.5%

$84

Now, one final teaser in regards to Doc Swinson’s, which will hopefully be here in a month or two:

A Few More Tasting Notes

Lots of cool things here, from a super old-school and old, Glenburgie, to a pair of very different 28 year old grains. There is also Mr. Peat, which continues to blow me away with how good it is for the price.

The list kicks off with a pair of First Editions bottlings, which were the bells of the ball at our recent Hunter Laing virtual tasting Old First Malt Edition Casks. We bought the last remaining bottles of both, because they are excellent… especially the Cragganmore.

1. First Edition Cragganmore 1995 – 54.7% – 26 Year – Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, nutty, and sherried; fruit compote, mixed berries in syrup, and dried dark fruits galore: cooked raisins, grilled figs, and stewed prunes; musty old oak in a dunnage warehouse and firm spices: anise, fennel, and clove; soft leather and tobacco to round things out. Palate: still rich, nutty, and spicy with layers of fruit and other decadent things; classic old sherry cask notes: Christmas cake, leather, tobacco, chocolate and dark fruits; the chocolate has a spicy edge with a bit of cayenne heat; cinnamon hearts, maple syrup, treacle sauce, fig jam, and grape-y sherry tones; there is a creamy base layer, and a touch of tropical fruit poking its head out. Finish: rich, fruity, and decadent with fading dried fruits, chocolate, and more hot spice; late tropical notes peek out from below the sherry. Comment: I love it, it was my favourite whisky in the recent Hunter Laing tasting we did; reminds me of twenty-something GlenDronachs from a decade ago; gorgeous!” – $575 – 88.25pts Whiskybase

2. First Edition Tamdhu 2007 – 60.6% – 15 Year – Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, earthy, and meaty with nutty sherry tones; chocolate dipped strawberries, homemade date squares, and mixed berry jams; supple leather, firm oak spices, and marzipan; softer fruits emerge with patience: apricot, honeydew melon, and candy apple. Palate: rich, fruity, and on the sweet side of things; cheap Halloween chocolates, Strawberry Twizzlers, Junior Mints, and Turkish Delight; very grape-y, Hubba Bubba, Welsh’s Grape Juice, and Glosset Raisins; more berry fruits, but also Aussie licorice, and Highland Tablet; baking spices, leather, and tobacco. Finish: long, rich, and spicy; still very grape-y with chocolate, leather and more Hubba Bubba. Comment: is Tamdhu the new Macallan? on one level I hope not… the last thing we need is another beloved malt sacrificed at the altar of luxury commerce; but on the other, it does have a profile rather like that other storied old distillery; we were a bit taken aback with the price at first, but the liquid is more than a match for it!” – $215 – 88.27pts Whiskybase

3. G&M Archive Release Glenburgie 1967 – 48.8% – 53 Year – Refill Sherry Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: old-school, sherried, and sooh fruity; Eatmore, Caramilk, & Snickers candy bars, and Tootsie Rolls; Minute Maid tropical fruit punch, mango, papaya, and pineapple; soft leather, fruity shisha tobacco, and polished oak. Palate: rich, spicy, and nutty with more tropical tones: more Minute Maid tropical fruit punch, pan-seared peaches, and grilled pineapple; still very old-school, burnt sugars, dried and candied fruits; slightly burnt sticky toffee pudding, floating in vanilla ice cream, and drizzled with treacle sauce; charred oak, clove, fennel, and allspice. Finish: rich, fruity, spicy, and nutty with toasted oak; fading chocolate, leather, tobacco, and tropical fruits. Comment: an elegant, rich, and old-school whisky; layered, complex, and far from over the hill.” – $4750

4. Mr. Peat Islay Single Malt – 46% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: medicinal, citric, and smoky; antiseptic hand soap, crisp green grass, motor oil, and mezcal; lemon, lime, and green apple; sea salt. Palate: more mezcal tones, sea salt, antiseptic, and clean smoke; freshly mowed green grass, 2 stroke engine exhaust and a touch of motor oil (dirty); the lemon and lime are still there with more green apple and a faint hint of both honey and vanilla; a fresh coating body. Finish: still fresh, citric, smoky and mezcal-like. Comment: so Mezcal-like, I really ought to try this in a mezcal-rita… this whisky is everything it promises to be, and more; great value!” – $60

5. Whisky Trail Haiku Invergordon 28 Year – 50.3% – 1993 – Haiku: “Elegant aging / simplicity in / spirit / the dram / enabled.” – My Tasting Note: “Nose: dry, floral, nutty and toasted; bread n butter pudding, creme caramel, and marzipan; white chocolate macadamia nut cookies; dusty grain, corn syrup, and citrus candies. Palate: sweet, fruity, and coating, with warming spices; candied citrus fruits and pineapple; cantaloupe, mango, and papaya dusted in black pepper; still toasty and floral with vanilla extract; simple syrup, agave nectar, and Jujubes; a touch medicinal. Finish: medium, drying, floral, and toasty; fading fruits, sugars, and toasted oak. Comment: even at 28 years of age, this is a more spirit-driven grain whisky than we are used to seeing; sweet and spicy, with lovely citric distillate notes.” – $225 – 88pts Whiskybase

6. Whisky Trail Haiku Strathclyde 28 Year – 55.1% – 1993 – Haiku: “The / definition / of poise it rises and falls.” – My Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet, funky, and fruity; tapioca, French toast with corn syrup, and buttery French crepes dusted in powdered sugar; double caramel popcorn, wine gums, and bright citric Jelly Bellies. Palate: sweet, really sweet, citric, and floral; lemon and lime spiced tortilla chips, grapefruit pith, and sour kids; soft toasted oak, decadent spices, and browned butter; more French toast, crepes dusted in brown sugar, and double caramel corn. Finish: lush, fruity, and decadent with more buttery breakfast treats; medium, light, and fresh. Comment: quite a contrast with the Invergordon from this series; sweeter, fruitier, softer, and more buttery… if I had to pick a favourite, it would be this one!”- $225 – 88.5pts Whiskybase

7. Whisky Trail Haiku Teaninich 14 Year – 56.6% – 2007 – Haiku: “Through / modern /mashing / comes complexity / unbound / in stills purity.” – $132 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: grassy, fruity, and fresh; sooh much lemon: lemon squares, lemon meringue pie, and Limoncello; floral, with loads of banana too, banana split, and banana’s foster; juicy with chewy malt and a flinty minerality. Palate: soft, citric, malty, and so, so, floral; the malt is chewy, flinty, and crisp; more Limoncello, lemon squares, and lemon meringue with whipped cream; flambeed banana and bananas foster; it is starting to go tropical: mango, papaya, and guava; building crisp spices; vanilla and marzipan to round things out. Finish: long, floral, and still very fruity; tropical fruits, floral vanilla, and spices. Comment: crisp, floral, and spicy; fading vanilla and tropical fruits; beautiful stuff… Elixir has bottled a number of good Teaninich casks from this parcel.” – 86pts Whiskybase

Springbank Ballot

The hype for a lot of whiskies has died down a little over the last year, but not so for Springbank it seems. This is not surprising given the distillery’s production.

We have just 2-6 bottles of each of the following Springbank and Kilkerran whiskies, so kindly set your expectations accordingly. Don’t ask me for your favourites, or to enter you in the ballot, you can do that yourself…

The deadline to enter the ballot is 8AM MT, Monday, September 4. In order to enter the ballot, you must be in our POS at KWM, and have made at least one purchase of $0.01 or more since March 1 of 2023.

Please enter yourself in the ballot.

Please do not email me asking to enter you in the ballot. I am on vacation, and you will miss being included.

Please do not call or email to ask if your name has been selected, we will try contact those not selected to purchase a bottle by September 11, if not sooner.

Please do not enter into the ballot for any bottles you do not intend to purchase.

And we kindly ask that you not be a dick by entering the ballot for any bottles you have already managed to acquire elsewhere. Please give someone else an opportunity to buy it!

In the interest of time, I haven’t filled out details for any info for the whiskies below, but I suspect if you actually love Springbank, you’ll already know what you want… and all the details can be found at www.springbank.scot/ and www.kilkerran.scot/!

1. Hazelburn 10 Year – $100

2. Hazelburn 21 Year – $510

3. Kilkerran 12 Year – $100

4. Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 8 – $88

5. Longrow NV – $97

6. Springbank 10 Year – $100

7. Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength – $130

8. Springbank 15 Year – $140

9. Springbank 30 Year – $2000

Enter the Springbank Ballot Here

New & Upcoming Tastings

Rather than list the new ones first, all of our tastings are listed in chronological order. I know no one wants to face the fact that summer is half over, but maybe it will be some consolation that we have some really cool events planned this fall… The first half of our fall tasting schedule is now online!

SMWS September 2023 Virtual Outturn

·     Date: Wednesday, September 6

·     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 September 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 SMWS bottlings. Wednesday, September 6 @ 7 PM

SMWS September 2023 In-Person Outturn 8 PM Seatings

·     Date: Thursday, September 7

·     Time: 6 PM & 8 PM

·     Cost: $60

·     IN PERSON

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada’s September 2023 Outturn tasting will feature 7 new 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 18 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, September 7th @ 6 PM & 8 PM.

GlenAllachie with Andrew Mustard

·     Date: Saturday, September 9

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $45

·     IN PERSON

Andrew Mustard, Brand Ambassador for The GlenAllachie, is swinging into town for our first in-store GlenAllachie tasting in years, so we’ve cobbled together an impressive range, including two different bottlings of the GlenAllachie 10-Year Cask Strength, the 2012 Vintage Cuvee, and the very limited 18 and 21-year-olds. Participants in this tasting, and the virtual tasting a couple of weeks later, will also have the opportunity to enter an exclusive ballot to purchase the 18 and 21-year-olds! Saturday, September 9 @ 6 PM

New Whisky Trail Whiskies and a Few Bangers

·     Date: Tuesday, September 12

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $120

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

We’ll provide the bangers, but you’re on the hook for your own mash. If you’re not ‘UK-culinarily-informed’ enough to grab that reference, please excuse the bad dad joke. Nothing to see here. A few new arrivals from the Whisky Trail Silhouette range – Ben Nevis, Caol Ila, Croftengea (peated Loch Lomond), and a 1973 Carsebridge – will be complemented by a teenage Mannochmore from SMOS, a 21-year-old Rosebank(!) and a 44-year-old Bunnahabhain. Yes… 44. This line-up is crazy, and unquestionably one of the most interesting tastings we’ve pulled together in quite some time. Did we mention Rosebank? Tuesday, September 12th @ 7 PM

Kilchoman with Catherine MacMillan

·     Date: Friday, September 15

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $30

·     IN-PERSON

We are thrilled to welcome Catherine MacMillan, Kilchoman Brand Manager, for our first in-person Kilchoman Distillery vertical tasting in years. Our lineup hasn’t been finalized, but it is expected to include some past and future KWM Kilchoman exclusive casks, as well as a handful of other limited edition releases. Friday, September 15 @ 7 PM

GlenAllachie Virtual Tasting

·     Date: Tuesday, September 19

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

Knowing not everyone is able to come down to the shop for an in-person GlenAllachie tasting, we have also decided to offer a virtual tasting with the same lineup. Andrew Mustard won’t be joining us this time, but KWM’s Andrew Ferguson will be hosting with James Bornn, GlenAllachie’s agent extraordinaire. Participants will sample 7 whiskies, including two different bottlings of the GlenAllachie 10-Year Cask Strength, the 2012 Vintage Cuvee, and the very limited 18- and 21-year-olds. Participants in this tasting and the earlier in-person one will also have the opportunity to enter an exclusive ballot to purchase the 18 and 21-year-olds! Tuesday, September 19 @ 7 PM

Sherry & Sherry Casks – Wine & Whisky

·     Date: Thursday, September 21

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $50

·     IN-PERSON

Harmony and Geoff will be taking you down the rabbit hole with this forever-in-the-planning-stage tasting. We’ve wanted to do this one for a long time, and it seems the stars have finally aligned. This is a tasting that will suit both wine wankers and whisky weirdos (we like to think we’re both!), and should leave your head full of nifty little details guaranteed to make you both well-versed and the life of any party (caution, may not do the latter). Learn about the intricacies of Sherry and parlay that into a greater understanding of how Sherry casks impact Scotch Whisky. Thursday, September 21 @ 7 PM

Adelphi & Ardnamurchan with Carl Crafts

·     Date: Friday, September 29th

·     Time: 6 PM

·     Cost: $45

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

Carl Crafts, Brand Ambassador for Adelphi and Ardnamurchan, will be our special guest as we dig into a range of both independent and distillery bottlings. On the Adelphi side of things, we have selected whiskies from Benrinnes, Caol Ila, the “Highlands”, and Chichibu (yes, you are reading that right!) to sample. We will add to this a selection of whiskies from Ardnamurchan, which is one of the most exciting of the dozens of new distilleries in Scotland. We only received two bottles of the Chichibu, one of which we are opening. The other bottle will be made available for sale by ballot, exclusively to participants in the tasting! Friday, September 29th @ 7 PM

Old Pulteney Distillery Vertical

·     Date: Tuesday, October 3rd

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $80

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

The staff here at KWM have a soft spot for the savoury whiskies from the Pulteney Distillery on Scotland’s North Sea coast. With the return of the Old Pulteney 25 Year, and a 1982 vintage Gordon & MacPhail bottling kicking around, there was no better time to pull together an epic vertical of whiskies from the Pulteney Distillery. Participants will sample through 7 Pulteney whiskies, with a collective age of about 130 years… Andrew might even dig up some of his photos from the distillery! Tuesday, October 3rd @ 7 PM

Benromach 2002 KWM Cask Launch

·     Date: Tuesday, October 10th

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

To celebrate the launch of our 5th KWM exclusive cask of Benromach, we are putting on a vertical tasting of 8 Benromach whiskies, half of which are single casks. The lineup includes the Benromach Core Range bottlings of 10, 15, and 21-year-olds, as well as the Benromach Contrasts Triple Distilled. For the single casks, we have the new Benromach Polish Oak, a 2007 cask bottled for Calgary’s SinDicate whisky club, and two different KWM casks: our sold-out 2003, and the new 2002. Tuesday, October 10 @ 7 PM

Wolfburn 10 Years in the Making with Mark Westmorland

·     Date: Thursday, October 12th

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $25

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

Wolfburn is the first of the dozens of Scottish distilleries which opened in the 2010s to bottle a 10-year-old whisky. To mark the occasion we’re doing a Wolfburn vertical tasting with Brand Ambassador Mark Westmorland. We’ll sample through 7 different expressions of Wolfburn, including the soon-to-be-released Wolfburn 10 Year old! Thursday, October 12th @ 7 PM

Tantalizing Twenty-Five-Year-Olds

·     Date: Tuesday, October 17th

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $110

·     VIRTUAL TASTING

Twenty-five-year-old whisky has become ever more expensive and scarce in recent years. Macallan 25 Year Sherry Oak will now set you back more than $5K, Dalmore 25 Year is not far behind, and even Glenrothes 25 Year is nearly $1700. We could debate whether those whiskies are worth the price, but what we can say for sure is that there is still good value to be had… We’ve put together a range of 8 excellent 25-year-old single-malt Scotch whiskies, all of which are under $800 a bottle. In fact, you could buy the full set of 8 whiskies, for a thousand dollars less than a single bottle of Mac 25… Our range consists of whiskies from Balblair, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Glenfarclas, Glengoyne, Linkwood, Mortlach, and Speyside Distilleries. 200 years’ worth of quarter-century-old malts! Tuesday, October 17th @ 7 PM

403-283-8000

888-283-9004

Regular Store Hours

Mon-Wed 10 AM – 8 PM

Thurs & Fri 10 AM – 9 PM

Sat 10 AM – 8 PM

Sun 11 AM to 6 PM

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces 2023 Parker’s Heritage Collection® Limited Edition Bottling

17^th edition of the annual ultra-premium release is a 10-year-old Cask Strength Rye Whiskey

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (August 23, 2023) – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the 17^th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection®, featuring a 10-Year-Old Cask Strength Rye Whiskey. The 17^th Edition is an allocated product and will be available nationally and internationally in limited quantities at the suggested retail price of $185.00. Like the previous 10 editions a portion of the proceeds will continue to support ALS research and patient care in honor of Parker Beam, Master Distiller Emeritus.

The 17^th edition is comprised of 10-year-old Rye Whiskey that was barreled in August, October, or December of 2012. The barrels were aged on the first floors of Rickhouses H1 and H2, the fifth floor of Rickhouse FF, the third and seventh floors of Rickhouse BB, and the second floor of Rickhouse DD. At bottling, the liquid was non-chill filtered to preserve the natural flavors of the aging process. The mashbill for this edition is comprised of Heaven Hill Distillery’s traditional Rye Whiskey Mashbill 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley and bottled at cask strength, 128.8 proof.

“Keeping Parker’s legacy alive through this ultra-premium offering is something we’re very dedicated to at Heaven Hill Distillery,” said Susan Wahl, Vice President of American Whiskey at Heaven Hill. “Parker laid the groundwork for this series, and we believe this Cask Strength Rye release is one that would make him proud.”

The late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2010. Since 2013, proceeds from sales of the Parker’s Heritage Collection have raised more than $1.2 million dollars toward ALS research and patient care through contributions made by Heaven Hill for each bottle purchased. With this edition, Heaven Hill will again contribute a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold to the ALS Association.

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous sixteen editions, but with an emerald-colored label, the newest Parker’s Heritage Collection is available in a three-bottle case and will arrive at retail locations starting in mid to late September. With previous releases having won multiple awards from Whisky Advocate, Whisky Magazine, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the series stands as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Past bottlings have won awards ranging from “Best Special Barrel Finished Bourbon” and “Best North American Whiskey” to “American Whiskey of the Year” and “Best of Show, Brown Spirits.”

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 2 million barrels aging in more than 70 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, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named 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, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Our August/September 2023 Auction is LIVE!

Only 8.5% buyer’s commission.

Auction ends Sunday September 10th from 2000 GMT.

 www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Click here to register as a user.

Customer Notice: Due to upcoming changes & web development there will be no storage option for this auction & next auction will be in November. We will keep you all up-to date in due course. Stay tuned.

www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

We couldn’t be more excited…the Gathering officially starts on Friday, 1 September with a PACKED calendar of tastings and events at our venues, partner bars, Members’ Rooms and more throughout the month. It’s a great time to get involved and make the most of your membership.

The Gathering is our annual celebration of everything that makes the Society unique. The festival is for all members, no matter where you are in the world. It’s the time of year you’ll hear our rallying cry ALL TOGETHER NOW!

NEW OUTTURN

GATHERING EVENTS

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: BIGGEST ONLINE TASTING

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations this year, we’re attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the largest online whisky tasting. This will be a 45-minute, three-dram tasting on Saturday, 30 September 2023 at 2pm BST. For those of you who can’t join us at an in-person event, we invite you to join us in sharing these drams online at our virtual tasting.

We have virtual tasting packs available on the website NOW, so make sure you are part of this MAVERICK moment! BUY your tasting packs and be sure to read the instructions on how to make sure your tasting on the day counts.

MAVERICK MOMENTS

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

Arran Private Cask 2009 13 Year Old #481

Bottled The Whisky Shop, this very special Private Cask expression is limited to just 506 bottles. Aged for 13 years in a single sherry cask, the whisky explodes with dark sherry flavour. at a cask strength of 55.1% abv.

£150.00
SHOP NOW ❯

Arran Private Cask 2009 13 Year Old #481 Description

OUR TOP 10
HIGHBALL WHISKIES

The weather is finally warming up here in the UK which calls for tall, ice-filled refreshing drinks. The classic whisky highball – simply whisky, soda water, ice and a citrus twist – perfectly pairs with delicate styles of whisky such as Japanese whiskies, blended whiskies or light and fruit-forward single malts.

Here are our favourite whiskies for serving this popular drink, including a soft and flavourful blend from Compass Box, light and honeyed Deanston single malt and the go-to for serving a highball in bars across Japan – Hibiki Harmony – made up of Japanese malt and grain whiskies from Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries.

TOP 10 WHISKIES

MORE TOP PICKS

Free Glassware with Jack Daniel’s!

Buy either of the Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond 100 Proof bottles and receive free branded glassware as your gift with purchase! Then you’re all set to tuck into a tasty Tennessee dram. Shop the rest of our whiskys from across the pond too – we have them aplenty!

SHOP AMERICAN WHISKEY

The Good Dram Show – Episode 523 ‘Springbank’

Welcome to the annual Springbank episode of the show. This week I’ll be taking a look at a number of Independent bottlings aged 21 years plus! The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 523 – Simply…..The Annual Springbank Episode!

Featuring Lockett Brothers Reserve Springbank 1993 (21 year old) 49.4%

Lombard Jewels of Scotland Springbank 1991 (21 year old) 49.7%

Whisky Sponge Springbank 1995 (26 year old) ‘Edition 60A’ 51.1%

Whisky Sponge Springbank 1994 (27 year old) ‘Edition 60B’ 47%

SCOMA Springbank 1991 (27 year old) 50.6%

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Springbank Batch 5 25 year old 53.3% 

Stills blazing after all these years

Whiskey production now under way in Belfast for the first time since prohibition in 1930s

FOR the first time in almost 90 years, the production of whiskey is under way again in Belfast, on the site of the historic Thompson Dock and Pumphouse, the birthplace of the Titanic.

Drinks company Titanic Distillers has invested almost £8 million to convert the Pumphouse, a listed building in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, into the city’s first working whiskey distillery since the days of prohibition in the 1930s.

Having been granted its Distillers License to produce spirits last week, the shiny new copper stills are now up and pouring at the distillery, under the watchful eye of Head Distiller Damien Rafferty.

“We opened our doors to tourists in April this year to allow visitors to explore the distillery and the site where Titanic last rested on dry ground,” said Damien, “but to finally begin production on site is an incredible feeling and a huge milestone, not just for us but for the city of Belfast.

“A lot of time, hard work and investment has gone into this amazing project to date, but this week marks the culmination of all that – with the distillery and visitor attraction now both fully operational.

“In many ways though, the job is only beginning as we start producing a whiskey that the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland can be proud of, and one that will represent us well all over the world ,” he added.

The new distillery will produce single malt premium whiskey made from ingredients that have been carefully selected to produce the best possible flavour.

A unique house blend of malted barley and yeast is used to produce the ‘wash’ which is then distilled in the three Forsyth’s stills, situated on a mezzanine floor overlooking the Pumphouse’s original Gwynne pumping engines which are deep in the building’s pump-well.

Titanic Distillers Director Peter Lavery reflected on what he claims is ‘a momentous occasion’.

““It’s been quite a journey over the past five years but we are thrilled to get our license and to start producing our own spirits on site,” said Peter.

”Whiskey has played an important part in the history of our city but there hasn’t been a working distillery here since the 1930s, so, as a Belfast boy, it really means a lot to me to revive this great distilling tradition – and help bring Belfast back to the forefront of Irish Whiskey production.

“Once, we led the way globally – not just in shipbuilding but across many areas of industry, manufacturing and innovation,” he continued. “With our Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey, now produced on this most historic of sites, we hope to do so again.”

The Thompson Dry Dock first opened in 1911 to service and accommodate the massive White Star transatlantic liners Olympic and Titanic.

All of the original pump equipment and associated internal historic features in the adjacent Pumphouse have been retained and are available to view as part of the associated visitor tours, while the exterior includes a new food and beverage area.

Stephen Symington, Director of Titanic Distillers, added: “This has been a real labour of love for all concerned over a period of more than five years – from the initial seeds, through the planning process and then the loving restoration of one of our city’s most historic and iconic buildings.

“Our ambition, from the outset, has always been to embrace the history of our distillery’s location to create a unique product and visitor experience, immersed in the spirit of Belfast’s industrial and maritime past and inspired by the people who worked in Belfast’s shipyard more than a century ago.

“However, outside of the site’s massive tourism appeal and historic significance, it is important to recognise that, from this moment forward, we are now a working distillery in which we will be producing our own products to build on our success to date and make the most of the growing global demand for Irish Whiskey.”

Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock is within walking distance of Titanic Belfast, the world’s biggest Titanic exhibition centre and Northern Ireland’s number one tourist attraction, clocking up more than 800,000 visitors per annum in the days before Covid-19.

Also resident in the Titanic Quarter is the SS Nomadic tender ship which ferried passengers to the great liner, and HMS Caroline, a decommissioned C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy that saw combat service in the First World War and served as an administrative centre in the Second World War.

For more information, visit www.titanicdistillers.com.

 

There are just under four weeks to go until we share The Hearach single malt with the world. It will be a historic moment for our island distillery and the culmination of years of hard work and effort. So, we’d love for you to help us spread the good word about our forthcoming whisky if you can.

In recent weeks we’ve be answering your most frequently asked questions so if you missed any missives or want to know more then simply click HERE, HERE , and HERE to get all caught up. This week, we invite you to meet some of the men and women behind The Hearach itself, each drawn from our local community and working towards the launch weekend with great pride. Read on to learn more, and if you still have something to ask then drop me a line and I’ll try to answer your query.

Slàinte mhor, and as ever here’s to The Hearach!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

Be Here With Us In Harris – 22.09.23 and 23.09.23

Our whisky is being made by a young team of local distillers as we continue to develop the next generation of islanders in the art and science of spirit-making. At 21 years old, Rebecca Morrison from the village of Bowglass is the youngest member of the team. She is joined by 25-year old Thomas Macrae and Donald Macleod, alongside 28-year old Paddy Sinclair. They in turn are led by our head distiller Norman Ian Mackay from Luskentyre who is charged with mentoring them on their lifelong distilling journey. We’re proud to watch them create our whisky with skill and pride, and we look forward to them exploring their craft with us over the coming years.

 

The Hearach single malt whisky is made to a carefully chosen recipe of spirits drawn from a variety of oak casks. The exact ratios and choice of casks are decided by Shona Macleod from the village of Carragreich and Harry Wood from Drinishader. Together, they nose and sample all our whisky to ensure the highest quality and consistency as we marry and bottle each batch we release. As with all our team, they are home-grown talent who have been trained and mentored in their respective roles and have risen to the occasion every time. It’s been a pleasure to watch their confidence grow as they continue to learn more about the wonderful world of whisky flavours.

We think our maturation site in the coastal village of Ardhasaig are one of the finest places to work in all of Harris. Earlier this year we built two new warehouses to bring our total to three at this special location just yards from the sea on our island’s west coast. Here Billy, Domhnall, and Scott look after the hundreds of casks, butts, and barrels which are stacked high or dunnage-racked, with more added to their collection every week. There are casks filled with our spirit from Kentucky, Spain, Pennsylvania, Bordeaux, and more, each transforming our whisky in their new Harris home. Working closely with our Tarbert team, the views from their desks and warehouse doors alone make their job one of the most envied at our distillery.

Back in 2015 we started life with a small, team of just ten men and women. Today, thanks to your support and enthusiasm for our work, we have over 50 full-time employees. From distilling to bottling, guest tours to storytelling, everything we do happens here in Harris helping us to create sustainable jobs and allow people to plan for the future. The next few weeks will be particularly busy for us, but we know the team will give their all as we head towards the launch weekend. We look forward to raising a glass of The Hearach with you in shared celebration very soon.

Got More Questions? Click To Learn More!

Our mailing address is:

Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd is registered in Scotland.
Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DJ