Canadian Whisky News Relaunch

Canadian Whisky News, a staple source of information about Canada’s vibrant and quickly evolving whisky scene is back. The free newsletter covers Canadian whisky “from soup to nuts,” with honest, thoughtful and sometimes controversial news and opinions. Refreshingly independent, it remains free of brand hype. It’s author and publisher, Davin de Kergommeaux has been writing about whisky for more than a quarter of a century and recently became only the second Canadian ever inducted into the Whisky Hall of Fame.

Canadian Whisky News supports de Kergommeaux’s expanded and much revised third edition of his seminal book Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert. Loaded with newly uncovered history, all-new tasting notes and key Canadian whisky people & events, the hardcover book was published in full colour on March 12 and is available in bookstores and from most online booksellers, globally. https://canadianwhisky.org/book

Subscribe to Canadian Whisky News https://canadianwhisky.org/newsletter . It’s free. The first issue, available now, solves a long-standing Canadian whisky mystery, debates when “finishing” whisky turns into mixology, provides tasting notes for the latest peated single malt from Wild Life Distillery, and more.

OFFER OF THE WEEK GLENMORANGIE

This week only we’re offering £20 off the herbaceous 2022-release from Glenmorangie, A Tale of A Forest. This is Glenmorangie’s first whisky crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals including juniper berries, heather blossom and a small amount of peat.

Master distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden used this ancient method to evoke flavours of the forest before maturing it in bourbon casks. The result is an earthy and aromatic whisky with notes of eucalyptus, bitter orange, pine and a whisper of smoke. This vibrant single malt is available for just £56.50 until Sunday 21 April or while stocks last.

 SHOP NOW 

The second release of our island whisky is now on sale direct from the distillery and specialist spirits retailers across the world. While Batch 10 is sold out in our online store you can find bottles of No. 9, 10, 11, and 12 available from other retailers and also at our distillery shop here in Tarbert.

This week we’re sharing the story behind the beautiful bottle of HE 00011 24, also known as Batch No.11 of The Hearach single malt. We have a limited number of bottles of this particular batch left in our online store if you’d like to get hold of one of your own to enjoy, share, or gift to a good friend.

Captured in stunning glass wrapped with organic lines and curves, every bottle is presented in a specially designed bespoke box which unfolds to reveal a myriad of hidden details.

Batch No.11 is priced at £65.00 and UK orders placed with us online will be delivered to your door free of charge in around 3 working days.

Read on to learn more about this special part of our second release!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

Every batch of The Hearach single malt we release comes with accompanying tasting notes from a local person. The tasting notes for Batch 11 were created by Lauren MacSween who lives in our home village of Tarbert. A talented artist in her spare time, Lauren is our lead creative and the driving force behind much of our distillery’s graphic and design work.

Be sure to check out her artwork as ‘The Herring Girl’ on Etsy…

Lauren sat down with us to enjoy a dram and we had a good chat about the flavours and aromas she found in her glass…

“There’s toffee and caramel notes on the nose, like ‘Werther’s Original’ sweets. It also smells fresh and green to me. There’s a slight smokiness, reminding me of the trees behind my Granny’s old house which fell in an island storm, and we used the logs for firewood. When I sip it, there’s a nice pepperiness and kick of spice, and more green apple freshness. The smoke comes back if you leave it a while and the flavours are always changing. It’s subtle and light, but there’s a lot going on in the glass”

We’d love to know what you find in your glass next time you pour a good measure of our island spirit, so drop us a line to share your stories!

Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada April 2024 Outturn

THE VIDEO

Join Adam as he once again introduces us to another epic set of SMWS releases at The Strath. Check out the SMWS page on The Strath’s webstore, where you can buy bottles and tickets to upcoming events – http://strathliquor.com/smws

Fettercairn Reveals Refreshed Domestic And Travel Retail Ranges 

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Fettercairn, has launched refreshed ranges in both their domestic and global travel retail markets as they look to continue their ongoing momentum.

Marking the start of their bicentennial year, Fettercairn will now offer a refreshed domestic range and exclusive global travel retail range, which each comprise of three whiskies that showcase Fettercairn’s unique tropical house style at different maturations.

The domestic range will enjoy Fettercairn 12 Year Old, 16 Year Old and 24 Year Old and global travel retail will exclusively offer Fettercairn 14 Year Old, 17 Year Old and 25 Year Old.

These updated offerings will provide consumers with new age statements to try and easy to understand ranges at different maturations, price points and purchase points, aligning to both the target drinker and shopper.

Each of these whiskies have only been finished in American White Oak ex-bourbon, perfectly showcasing Fettercairn’s unique tropical house style and how it intricately changes with time, over the varying maturation periods.

The domestic range will continue to open with Fettercairn 12 Year Old, a 40% ABV which captures the very essence of the Highland distillery and offers the perfect introduction to the flavours of Fettercairn.

With tasting notes of sweet and fruity nectarine and tropical fruit, followed by subtle roasted coffee, clove and ginger, Fettercairn 12 Year Old leaves a memorable finish of sultanas and black toffee. A versatile whisky, Fettercairn 12 Year Old also makes for a great cocktail base, particularly for refreshing highballs or fruity sours.

Fettercairn 16 Year Old has previously been a limited, annually released expression with a variety of different finishes. From 2024, Fettercairn 16 Year Old will shine confidently on its own, enjoying a finish in ex-bourbon casks and will be non chill-filtered, with natural colour at 46.4% ABV.

Bottling at 16 Years Old and moving to an ex-bourbon finish only, has been a deliberate and purposeful decision by Whisky Maker Gregg Glass and Distillery Manager Stewart Walker. Fettercairn 16 Year Old offers curious whisky lovers natural progression from the 12 Year Old and the opportunity to experience a deeper tropical house style. Grilled pineapple and vanilla notes give way to passion fruit, rich honey and Turkish Delight in this expression, with a finish of mandarin, cacao and moist ginger cake.

Completing the core domestic range is a completely new expression, Fettercairn 24 Year Old. Natural colour and non-chill filtered, Fettercairn 24 Year Old is 46.5% ABV and the pinnacle of the core range, ideal for those looking for the richest flavours, coupled with higher age statement. Fully exploring the depth of Fettercairn’s house style, this expression captures sweet and cooked tropical fruits, Madagascan vanilla and red liquorice, with a sweet, spiced finish.

The innovative Fettercairn 18 Year Old will continue to be available annually in select domestic markets, on a strictly limited release. Finished in 100% Scottish Oak, Fettercairn 18 Year Old is the first release from the award-winning Scottish Oak Programme, led by Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass. Fettercairn’s Scottish Oak programme was created to ultimately create a circular economy for the whisky industry as a whole, where local and sustainably sourced Scottish oak, can be used in whisky making.

For global travel retail, Fettercairn will now offer an exclusive range featuring a 14 Year Old, 17 Year Old and 25 Year Old, all of which are non-chill filtered, natural colour and available in 70cl format. 

Fettercairn 14 Year Old showcases the ripe and fresh side of the tropical house style with orchard fruit flavours intertwined with delicate sweet spice for a truly special drinking experience.

Second in the range, Fettercairn 17 Year Old shows the house style at a transformative stage, with deeper, richer notes combined with honey, crème brûlée and coconut.

Fettercairn 25 Year Old completes the range and offers a glimpse into Fettercairn’s rare and aged treasures. This whisky offers the depth of sweet and cooked tropical fruit, with notes of passion fruit, warm vanilla and fresh baked bread, with a sweetly spiced finish.

The refreshed ranges will be available from April and mark the beginning of celebrations for Fettercairn, who will celebrate their 200^th anniversary throughout 2024 from specialist and luxury retailers

Domestic Range:

Fettercairn 12 Year Old.40% ABV.  RSP $66 / £52

Fettercairn 16 Year Old.46.4% ABV. RSP $110 / £87

Fettercairn 24 Year Old.  46.5% ABV. RSP$635 / £500 

Exclusive Global Travel Retail Range:

Fettercairn 14 Year Old. 46% ABV. RSP $89 / £70

Fettercairn 17 Year Old. 47% ABV. RSP $153 / £120

Fettercairn 25 Year Old. 46.3% ABV. RSP $667 / £525

OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER – April 2024

John Lamond is now on board with MCLEAN WHISKY TOURS, a great addition to the team. John can host whisky tastings, be your driver guide on tours, teach you all about whisky!

He was accredited with the Best Spirits Course 2017: The Scotch Whisky Trail Certificate Course, International Whisky Educator of the Year 2021. He is adaptable, confident public speaker and extensive experience of the drinks and hospitality industries for over 40 years.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS.; Drinks Writer to “Whisky Magazine”, “Fine Expressions”, “The Herald”, “Scottish Life”, “New Yorker”, in-flight magazines of British Airways, Swissair, Sabena, Air France. Master of Malt title. President, Institute of Wines & Spirits (Scotland). Judge – Malt Whisky Bar of the Year, Scottish Licensed Trade Awards. “Most Discerning Whisky Connoisseur 2017” in the Lux Wine & Spirits Awards. Whisky Educator of the Year 2018 in the Lux Global Excellence Awards. Best Scotch Whisky Connoisseur – UK in the Lux Life Food & Drink Awards 2020, and Keeper of the Quaich – in grand company! Charles Maclean; was elected a Keeper of the Quaich in 1992, for ‘his services to Scotch over ten years’, and elevated to Master of The Quaich, the industry’s highest accolade, in 2009. Also a good friend Ingvar Ronde.

John will be our new driver and whisky host from April 2024, welcome to the family John! With friends and contacts all over the whisky industry, you cannot find better than MCLEAN WHISKY TOURS

www.whiskytours.scot

Enjoy another sensory journey with our April Outturn as we explore bold and balanced flavours. And be sure to download the pdf of this month’s Outturn from our website to read the latest instalment of our yearlong look at whisky and sherry, as well the background to Cask No. 53.456 chosen by Canadian member Mathieu Dureau.

LEMON AND LIME SHORTBREAD

CASK NO. 35.348

REGION:  Speyside

CASK TYPE:  2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  10 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Green apples and mango coconut smoothies were followed by vanilla malted milkshakes. Reduction added papayas as well as lemon and lime shortbread.”

PUSH PINEAPPLE, SHAKE       A BEE

CASK NO. 39.284

REGION:  Speyside

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  11 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

BOTTLE NOTE:  “The busy bees collect pineapples, guavas and apples to make marmalades and chutneys, while others create crème brûlée and coconut sponge.”

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

CASK NO. 46.140

REGION:  Speyside

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Spicy & sweet

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Presented with flowers and coconut and almond white chocolate truffles before we enjoyed malted milk biscuits, and a lemon, lime and chilli sorbet.”

GARBANZO’S CAJUN TRAIN RIDE*

CASK NO. 78.65

REGION:  Highland

CASK TYPE:  2nd fill oloroso butt

AGE:  9 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Our journey began in a sooty, treacly old train carriage with worn leather seats and corduroy curtains. In the buffet car, we snacked on Cajun-seasoned French fries, turmeric-roasted garbanzo beans, dried mango and black cherry.” *Giving Spirit bottle – sales profits will go to charity; read more here

BRAMBLE RAMBLE

CASK NO. 68.106

REGION:  Highland

INITIAL CASK:  Ex-bourbon hogshead

FINAL CASK:  1st fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead

AGE:  14 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Crème brûlée, chocolate fudge sundae and peaches in syrup confronted tannic oak, burnt heather, aniseed balls, PX, espresso and charcuterie.”

‘POUDING CHÔMEUR’ AT  THE SHACK*

CASK NO. 53.456

REGION:  Islay

INITIAL CASK:  Ex-bourbon hogshead

FINAL CASK:  1st fill American oak hogshead

AGE:  9 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “An escapade to a sugar shack in a room smelling of burning firewood with lots of maple syrup.” *Cask chosen and name/tasting note by Canadian member Mathieu Dureau

A FLASHING BLADE

CASK NO. 144.4

REGION:  Sweden

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  7 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Heavily peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “A swooshing Swedish blade of raw peaty energy! Medicines, minerals, peat ashes, brine and suggestions of bonfires, cured fish and raw iodine.”

BROWSE APRIL OUTTURN HEREThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB  T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Oak is vital for the Scotch whisky industry. It’s the only wood that we are legally allowed to mature our new make spirit in to make whisky. There are different types of oak, mainly American oak and European oak. And oak is what actually gives the whisky its colour and gives it a lot of its flavour.”

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