The Hearach “The First Release” Isle of Harris Single Malt Whisky

(750ml)
$99.99 View

The exceptional distillery on the far flung Isle of Harris has finally released their single malt. The Hearach is the first, historic single malt whisky from the Isle of Harris, since the tradition was lost during the Pabbay clearances of the 1840s. Created the old slow way with little automation and always the human touch. Every drop was distilled, married, matured and bottled in th elemental place known as Harris. The water is sourced from Abhainn Cnoc a’ Charrain, believed to be the softest of any Scottish distillery. Only very low sodium and chlorine minerals are measured, likely derived from the sea spray that blows over the village isthmus.The rivers and streams of north Harris flow over Lewisian gneiss, some of the oldest rocks on earth, dated to between 2.4-2.6 billion years old. The hard rock ensures extremely low minerality of the source water. Lightly peated Concerto malt is Long fermented nd slow distilled in custom copper pot stills to create a rich complex spirit, which is filled into ex-Kentucky bourbon and Spanish oak casks and aged outside the west-coast village of Ardhasaig. Despite the northerly latitude, the island benefits from the Gulf Stream weather pattern, creating seasonal temperatures that remain remarkably stable. This unique climate adds to the character favorably. Each batch is bottled without chillfiltration or coloring of any kind at a distinctive 92 proof.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

W.B. Saffell Limited Edition Batch #1 107 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (375ml) $49.99 View

W.B. Saffell is the newest in the Whiskey Barons’ lineup from Campari. It pays tribute to William Butler Saffell, who began distilling as a teenager and built his first distillery in 1889. This bourbon is inspired by the delicate spirit he produced at the time and is the first in the collection to have legendary Master Distiller Eddie Russell working on the spirit. A blend of Kentucky straight bourbons ranging from six to twelve years old, it’s non-chill filtered and bottled at 107 proof. The distillate is all made at Wild Turkey in Lawrenceberg, Kentucky with their 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley mashbill.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

ralfy review 1009 Extras – My controversial Whisky for 2024

Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Welcomes Heaven’s Door Distillery
as Newest Craft Member

Bourbon Distillery From Bob Dylan Sure To Be A Hit

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Heaven’s Door Distillery in Henry County as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Heaven’s Door is a collection of handcrafted Bourbon and American whiskeys co-created in 2018 with the legendary Bob Dylan, one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever. The picturesque distillery, located in Pleasureville, plans to open to the public in Spring of 2024.

The unique bespoke iron gates showcased on bottles of Heaven’s Door were created by Dylan at his metalworking shop, Black Buffalo Ironworks. The fascinating gates are made of found objects collected from farms and scrap yards across America.

“Heaven’s Door is proud to join the KDA and collaborate among the best distillers in the world,” said Emily McGee, the distillery’s Director of Business Development. “We look forward to gaining the knowledge, exposure and experience that the KDA offers its members.”

KDA President Eric Gregory said Heaven’s Door will be an immediate tourism draw thanks to its association with Dylan and its remarkable natural beauty over 160 acres of rolling hills.

“It has been exciting to watch this project quietly unfold over the last few years,” Gregory said. “Pairing Bob Dylan’s artistic genius with Kentucky’s iconic spirit makes for a can’t miss experience that will bring tourists and fans from across the world to the birthplace of Bourbon.”

Gregory also thanked Henry County officials for welcoming and working with the distillery, which will create more than 50 jobs, source grains from local farms, and help drive economic growth and other tourism opportunities.

Led by noted Master Distiller Ken Pierce, the distillery will features two separate stillhouses, each in its own towering western horse barn, a visitor’s center with tasting rooms and lounges overlooking Six Mile Creek, an 18th-century grist mill, two 18th-century cabins and a Moravian barn, all of which have been painstakingly restored.

Heaven’s Door is dedicated to sustainable practices, utilizing an underground aquifer to access Kentucky’s pure limestone water for its distilling and geothermal heating and cooling of its buildings. It also supplies protein-rich stillage as feed for cattle on surrounding farms.

Additionally, Heaven’s Door was just recognized as one of only five distilleries in Kentucky to be the first to earn an EPA ENERGY STAR RATING. This means they use less energy and contribute to less greenhouse emissions than traditional distilleries.

Its brands include Ascension Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Revelation Double Barrel Whiskey, Refuge Straight Rye Whiskey, Revival Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Decade Series Limited Release Whiskey and Bootleg Series Limited Release Whiskey.

Learn more at https://www.heavensdoor.com.

Heaven’s Door Distillery joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 10,000 barrels per year. The KDA now has more than 60 member distilleries, the most since the glorious Repeal of Prohibition. Heaven’s Door is a collection of handcrafted Bourbon and American whiskeys co-created in 2018 with the legendary Bob Dylan, one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever. The picturesque distillery, located in Pleasureville, plans to open to the public in Spring of 2024.

Learn more at www.kybourbon.com.

Gregory said, “As a longtime fan of Bob Dylan’s songs, poetry and art – and now his whiskey – I am excited and honored to welcome Heaven’s Door to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distillers.”

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is the worldwide voice of Bourbon

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

Benromach 2013, Cask #255 Tyndrum Whisky Exclusive

PRESENTING OUR BRAND NEW SINGLE CASK TYNDRUM EXCLUSIVE

A 1st Fill Sherry Cask from Benromach, hot on the heels of the very well received UK exclusive cask #253, we have a beauty in cask #255. Dare we say it; but if you’re missing that certain campbeltown distillery, this is most definitely for you! One of only 313 bottles A single cask exclusive, matured in a 1st fill sherry hogshead. One of only 313 bottles produced. This is a delightful dram!

Distilled 20th May 2013
Bottled 17th August 2023
Cask no: 255
Cask: 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

£85.00

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

BRUICHLADDICH DISTILLERY

(Lochindaal) 12 Year Old 2009 The Single Cask (2021)

Cask #76

£224.40

Lochindaal 12 Year Old 2009 vintage Islay peated single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Bruichladdich. Single first fill bourbon barrel #76 bottled September 2021 by The Single Cask. 229 numbered bottles. Lochindaal is a peated (50ppm) style distilled at Bruichladdich distillery between 2007 and 2009. It is believed that only 250 casks were produced.

Nose: Ash, dairy, camphor, bacon and sea salt and on second nosing, honey, malt, a trip to the farm and smoked fish.

Palate: Lemons, burning drift wood, sweet peat, dry felled wood, meat followed by green notes of fresh cut grass, jalapeno, walnuts. Salted caramel, dark chocolate, barbecue meat, cinnamon and white pepper.

Finish: Lasting honey, peat, warm ash and menthol.

Bruichladdich Distillery was established in 1881 by the Harvey family of distillers based in Glasgow. Situated on the Rhinns peninsular on the island of Islay close and close to the sandy bays of Loch Indaal. Re-opened in 2001 with much of the original Victorian equipment restored to working order. The first release of Bruichladdich’s new whisky was the highly acclaimed PC5, the first release in the limited Port Charlotte range. Also producing very highly peated Octamore, Organic using Islay grown barley, and triple and quadruple distilled single malt and single cask releases. Bruichladdich distillery participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Whisky Festival.

GLENLOCHY

43 YEAR OLD

1979 | 70cl | 53.6% ABV

A product of the late-Victorian Whisky Boom, Glenlochy experienced a series of closures and reopenings before closing for good in 1983. A smooth and creamy Whisky with exotic fruit flavours followed by chocolate and lime.

£3,499.95

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Colour: golden.

Nose: rich vanilla aromas lead to ripe red apple, hint of waxy lemon zest and sweet malted biscuit.

Taste: smooth and creamy with exotic fruit flavours giving way to chocolate and lime. Ginger spice and dried apricot are tempered by mature oak.

Finish: a smooth finish with lingering aniseed, leaving a menthol edge.

Booker’s “Storyteller Batch” #2023-04 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $99.99 View

The Storyteller batch is made up of barrels from four production dates aged in different warehouses. The 2023 is the fourth release of Storyteller and an homage to 6th generation Booker’s distiller Noe Booker. According to currrent distiller (and 7th generation Booker) Fred Noe, “The color of “Storyteller Batch” is a rich amber with a golden shine. Sitting in your glass, the scent of a great bourbon fills the room and invites you to further explore the brown sugar aroma. The taste is delightful and well-balanced, with notes of vanilla and wood. I tasted this batch on a drizzly September day. There was a slight chill in the air and it reminded me that fall is just around the corner, and this bourbon has the perfect warm finish for the days to come. A little bit of water further opened the tasting experience for me, but you can enjoy it any way you please. Storyteller Batch is just the way Dad would have wanted it when he created this brand over thirty years ago – I can almost hear him telling one of his great stories while he sips a glass of his own. I hope you enjoy this batch as much as I do!”

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 517: Nc’nean Quiet Rebels ‘Gordon’

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries the new Nc’nean. This is the third release in Nc’nean’s Quiet Rebels series, all of which were created by a distillery employee. It started with the Annabel, named after founder Annabel Thomas, followed by the Lorna, named after the master distiller Lorna Davidson and now it’s time for the Gordon, named after Distillery Manager Gordon Wood. Gordon chose a malt that was made with STR red wine casks, ex-sherry casks and ex-Rivesaltes casks. Rivesales is a French fortified dessert wine from the Longuedoc-Rousillon, a so-called vin doux naturel.

https://youtu.be/fimopkdY0sc

The 2024 MS Calgary Whisky Festival is just 4 days away… and we have 350+ reasons for you to attend.

The pour list for the event is 330 products deep, and add to that we have 9 Master Classes each featuring 5-6 products. We have attached the pour list for the event to this newsletter, it is our biggest ever!

Kensington Wine Market will be there with about a dozen of our exclusive bottlings and for the first time ever a pop-up shop. We won’t be selling bottles for takeaway, that was going to present too many additional complications, but rather we will be offering some great deals for delivery or pick-up in-store. One night only.

A quick word on the Master Classes, there are still a few spots left for most of them, and a few of them have upped their lineups, so we have updated our photos and descriptions for them.

So if you haven’t already purchased a ticket for the event, I hope you’ll reconsider and come check out Calgary’s biggest whisky festival, and support a great cause!

That’s all for this Malt Messenger Bulletin, we’ll have another email out on Monday with some exciting new releases!

As always, in the event of a price discrepancy, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Online ordering and in-store purchasing are always our preferences. You can email your requests in, but they may not be dealt with as quickly as the web orders… especially if I am busy!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

2024 MS Calgary Whisky Festival

Thursday, January 18, 2024

The MS Calgary Whisky Festival is just 1 week away, and tickets for the event are more than 3/4 sold out.

General Admission (7 PM) Ticket – $125 (includes a Glencairn glass)

For more information and to buy tickets click here! You will be redirected to the MS Society’s event page.

Master Class tickets are now on sale too, with 9 of them running during the show. Please note, you need to have a General Admission or VIP ticket to attend a Master Class…

All Master Classes are $40 with 100% of the proceeds going to the MS Society. All Master Classes are limited to 20 participants.

The schedule of Master Classes can be found below:

Master Classes

5:30 PM VIP Master Classes

VIP MC1 – Rare & Old Douglas Laing Whiskies with Dougal Barr: Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co. marked its 75^th Anniversary this year. Dougal Barr, Global Brand Ambassador for Douglas Laing, will guide participants through a range of older whiskies including the XOP Bunnahabhain 35 Year, Big Peat Mizunara Cask, and the King of Scots 50 Year Blended Scotch Whisky. SOLD OUT!

VIPMC2 – Ardbeg Limited Editions with Bry Simpson: Ardbeg Canada Brand Ambassador Bry Simpson will guide participants through a range of six Ardbegs, mostly limited edition expressions and all of them heavily peated. Highlights will include the Ardbegs Anamorphic, Anthology, BizarreBQ, and the Traigh Bhan 19 Year Batch 5.VIP MC3 – Tomintoul Distillery with Cody Reynolds: Angus Dundee Distillers Brand Ambassador Cody Reynolds will take participants on a tasting tour of Tomintoul Distilleries. Five expressions will be sampled including Tomintoul 10, 14, 16, 21, and 25 Year Olds.

Purchase Master Class Tickets

7:00 PM Master Classes

MC4 – Benromach Curiosities with Richard Urquhart: Richard Urquhart is part of the 4^th generation of his family to work for Gordon & MacPhail, the independent bottler behind Benromach Distillery. Richard will guide participants through a range of 5 single malts, none of which will be available for tasting on the festival floor, including a 2002 Kensington Wine Market single cask and two pairs of Benromach Contrasts expressions.

MC5 – Adelphi & Ardnamurchan with Connal Mackenzie & Carl Crafts: Adelphi is a well-respected independent bottler which celebrated its 30^th Anniversary in 2023. In 2014 they opened the Ardnamurchan Distillery, on the remote peninsula it is named for. The distillery has been turning a lot of heads and is currently putting out some of the best young Single Malt Scotch available. Connal & Carl will guide you through a range of limited-edition bottlings from both Adelphi and Ardnamurchan.

MC6 – Westland Whiskey with Tyler Pederson – Westland Distillery is one of the pioneers of American single malt whiskey. Tyler Pederson, Westland’s Master Distiller, will guide you through a range of 5 Westland Single Malts, primarily from their Outpost Range, including two different releases of their famous Westland Garryana.

Purchase Master Class Tickets

8:30 PM Master Classes

MC7 – GlenAllachie & Co. with Andrew Mustard – There is more to Billy Walker’s GlenAllachie Distillery than their eponymous and well-regarded single malt. They also bottle MacNair’s Blended Malts, the White Heather Blends, and they are about to release something new and smoky. Participants in this tasting with Brand Ambassador Andrew Mustard will be the first in Canada to sample the new heavily peated GlenAllachie, Meikle Toir, as well as 4 other whiskies exclusive to this master class.

MC8 – Tomatin Distillery with Scott Fraser – Tomatin Regional Sales Manager Scott Fraser is no stranger to Calgary, or the MS Whisky Festival. For his Master Class, Scott will be highlighting the new Tomatin Portuguese Collection, a trio of 2006 vintage 15-year-old whiskies finished for 7 years in Port, Madeira, and Moscatel casks, as well as a trio of Cu Bocan (peated Tomatin) expressions.

MC9 – Diageo 2023 Limites Editions with Dante Raphael Conception Jr & Arend Lucardie – Participants will sample 5 of the Diageo 2023 Special release bottlings including Lagavulin 12 Year, Oban 11 Year, Roseisle 12 Year, Singleton 14 Year, and Taslisker Natural Cask Strength!

Purchase Master Class Tickets

Pour List Sneak Peak For the Calgary MS Whisky Festival!

Last, but not least: we have had quite a few people asking to view the pour list for the Calgary MS Whisky Festival. So by popular demand, we have added a link to it below! Those of you that would like to pre-plan the drams you are looking to taste can view or download the PDF file. If you prefer no spoilers, feel free to ignore it.

Other Upcoming Tastings & Festivals

Holyrood – The Start of the Journey with Rob Carpenter & Calum Rae·     Date: Wednesday, January 24·     Time: 6 PM·     Cost: $25·     In-Store Tasting Holyrood Distillery, which opened in 2019, is the first single malt distillery to operate in central Edinburgh in a century. Join Calum Rae, Distillery Manager, and Rob Carpenter, co-founder as they explain their unique approach to Scotch whisky, consider and question some received wisdom about how Scotch is made and, most importantly, share some drams in Holyrood Distillery’s first launch in the Canadian market. Wednesday, January 24th @ 6 PMThe Macbeth Collection – Act I with Celine Tetu·     Date: Thursday, January 25·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $100·     In-Store Tasting Our friend Lily (aka Celine Tetu) is in town on January 25th, and with a new range of whiskies from Elixir Distillers to sample, The Macbeth Collection – Act I, we jumped at the opportunity to put on a tasting. The Macbeth Collection is a series of character-led whiskies, selected in partnership with Dave Broom, which will be released in 3 Acts. The labels for the bottlings were created by celebrated cartoonist Sir Quentin Blake. For the tasting, we will be sampling, Ardbeg 19 Year, Ardmore 12 Year, BenRiach 31 Year, Blair Athol 10 Year, Cambus 31 Year, Glen Garioch 31 Year, Ledaig 18 Year, and Linkwood 31 Year. In all a combined 183 years of whisky in one act! Thursday, January 25th, 2024 @ 7 PMThe Burns Bash Whisky Festival·     Date: TFriday, January 26·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $50·     Festival The Burns Bash is back… though this year we’re marking “the Bard’s” birth, a day after his actual birthday! This whisky festival will feature a mix of the latest and greatest new arrivals at KWM and some very good deals. We’ve cut out the poetry, bagpipes and haggis, but you’ll get to sample some great malts while enjoying food from our neighbour Peasant, and catching up with friends new and old. We think that Rabbie would approve of that! Friday, January 26th from 7 PM to 9 PMDoc Swinson’s Bourbon KWM Cask Launch·     Date: Tuesday, February 6·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $40·     Virtual Tasting The Bourbon Cask that Harmony and Evan selected back in June of 2023 is arriving soon, which means it is time to do a Doc Swinson’s Virtual Tasting! Join us to explore a goodly amount of different cask-finished Bourbon (and maybe a Rye or two) from Doc’s portfolio, plus the new 6-and-a-half-year-old KMW Cask Bourbon! If the stars align, we may just get a virtual tour of the distillery at the same time! Tuesday, February 6th @ 7 PMLost in Translation 100 Years of Japanese Whisky·     Date: Thursday, February 8·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $60·     Virtual Tasting No, we won’t be sampling 100 years worth of Japanese whisky, but we will be sampling a range of whiskies including a few limited editions, all while telling the story of the first 100 years of Japanese whisky. Our range includes the Hibiki Harmony 100th Anniversary, which we will contrast with the regular Hibiki Harmony, as well as two limited-release Nikkas, the new Yoichi 10 Year, and the Nikka The Grain Discovery Edition 2023, a 21 year old Blend, and more! Thursday, February 8th @ 7 PMWaterford Whisky with Someone from Waterford…·     Date: Friday, February 9·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $25·     In-Store Tasting We’re not 100% sure who’s coming, but we’ve got a Waterford tasting scheduled for Friday, February 9, at KWM. Whoever ends up gracing our store, we can be sure they’ll have no shortage of interesting whiskies to share with us, including the Waterford Heritage Hunter, and the distillery’s first-ever peated single malts! Friday, February 9th @ 7 PMBruichladdich 2023 Limited Editions·     Date: Tuesday, February 13·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $40·     Virtual Tasting We did an in-person version of this tasting in November, and we were always planning to take it onto Zoom for those of you who couldn’t make it down to the store. We’ll start with the Laddie Classic to give us a baseline, before working our way through Black Arts 11.1, Port Charlotte 10 Year, Port Charlotte PMC:01, and a trio of Octomores: 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3. Tuesday, February 13th @ 7 PMThe Macbeth Collection – Act I Virtual Tasting·     Date: Tuesday, February 20·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $95·     Virtual Tasting This is a virtual version of the tasting we are doing in-store on January 25, featuring a new range of whiskies from Elixir Distillers, The Macbeth Collection – Act I. The Macbeth Collection is a series of character-led whiskies, selected in partnership with Dave Broom, which will be released in 3 Acts. The labels for the bottlings were created by celebrated cartoonist Sir Quentin Blake. For the tasting, we will be sampling Ardbeg 19 Year, Ardmore 12 Year, BenRiach 31 Year, Blair Athol 10 Year, Cambus 31 Year, Glen Garioch 31 Year, Ledaig 18 Year, and Linkwood 31 Year. In all, a combined 183 years of whisky in one act! Tuesday, February 20th @ 7 PMNew Kids on the Block – Scotland 2.0·     Date: Tuesday, February 27·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $35·     Virtual Tasting The Scotch Whisky industry has gone through something of a baby boom over the last decade. Step by Step, the whiskies from these new kids on the block are coming of age. Though young, the whiskies from these small independents are Hangin’ Tough in a market dominated by big multinationals. For this range we will feature whiskies from Holyrood, Isle of Harris, Nc’Nean, Ryelaw (Inchdarnie), Torabhaig, and a pair of single casks from Raasay! Tuesday, February 27th @ 7 PMRare & Old Whiskies Andrew Wants to Try·     Date: Tuesday, March 5·     Time: 7 PM·     Cost: $225·     Virtual Tasting The concept here is pretty simple, even if the price tag appears eye-watering… there are a lot of rare and old things Andrew wants to try, and if he’s interested in them, there’s a good chance you might be interested too! For this round, our selection includes: the G&M Private Collection Glenburgie 1983, King of Scots 50 Year Blended Scotch Whisky, Mythical Beasts Bruichladdich 30 Year, Mythical Beasts Glenrothes 34 Year, Tamnavulin 1979, XOP Bunnahabhain 1988 35 Year (Year of the Dragon), and Whisky Sponge Mosstowie 1979. A respectable 268 years of whisky in 7 drams! Tuesday, March 5th @ 7 PM

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