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Kensington Wine Market Malt Messenger Bulletin by Andrew Ferguson – May the 4th Be With You Edition! – Whisky News

May 4th, 2022

It has been a busy week since you last heard from us. We launched the Gordon & MacPhail Glenlivet 80 Year last week, the world’s first 80-year-old whisky. One of the two bottles we were privileged to receive has firmly sold, and sharks are circling the second… it won’t last long, as it is the last of its kind available for sale anywhere in the world!

We have some new whiskies and new tastings to fill you in on, but before we get to that, we have an important “Save the Date” for you. I’ve been alluding to our imminent milestone birthday for the better part of a month now, and as you’re probably aware by now, we are turning 30 years old. And when we have a birthday, we have a sale. Our Annual Birthday Sale is running in-store and online, Friday May 13 through Sunday May 15.

On the note of the sale, nothing in today’s Malt Messenger will be discounted during next week’s sale, so don’t wait for a better price, it isn’t coming!

As to what’s new, how about a new Daftmill? And not only that, but a single cask, bottled exclusively for your plucky friends here at Kensington Wine Market!

We also have a trio of sexy new Kavalan Solists, including the latest annual installment of the Zodiac Series, a Vinho cask bottled for the Year of the Tiger. There are also the first two releases from Truth Malters new Inscription Series, a Solist Bourbon and Solist Port.

The Two Brewers chaps also have a new release, #32.

We also have some new tastings, both in-person, and virtual, but note, none are both!

Lastly the Gordon & MacPhail & Benromach whiskies I told you about in Malt Messenger No. 136 have finally arrived, after an unusually long customers hold… one of the items, the Caol Ila 2007 is still on hold Of the rest, a few are sold out, but there is still stock of some other cool releases!

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, comments, or requests (but online ordering works too, in fact, it might be faster…).

Wishing you all a Happy Easter & Passover from your friends at Kensington Wine Market.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition

1. Introducing: The Daftmill KWM Cask

2. Three Sexy New Kavalans

3. Two Brewers Release 32

4. New Tastings

5. Other Upcoming Tastings

Introducing: The Daftmill 2008 KWM Cask

When the first release of Daftmill hit our shores we were excited, not least because it was exclusive to KWM in Canada. But the distillery’s story, and the quality of the whisky also caught people’s imagination. It was a privilege to introduce the whisky to the Canadian market.

That first release, and the three which followed, are all small batch bottlings. The fourth, which arrived in-store this morning is a single cask, bottled exclusively for Kensington Wine Market. Despite the price, we are expecting demand to be high, not least because I’ve been deflecting requests for the bottle from people all over the world for the better part of six months. We want this whisky to reach as many people as possible, so we are limiting sales to 1 per customer for the first month. There are just 216 bottles, I cracked one to write a tasting note this morning, and I’m setting two aside for a future tasting with Daftmill founder and owner Francis Cuthbert.

Daftmill 2008 KWM Cask #20 – 56.8% – 13 Year – First Ex-Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: juicy malt, granola and soft fruits butt up against firm toasted oak; let it breathe and the nose blooms with floral and fruity tones; rose petals and spring flowers covered in dew; honeydew and canteloupe melons, dried apricot and bitter orange; waxy; earthy dunnage notes and porcini mushrooms; Cherry Nibs and cherry cola round things out. Palate: once again the malt, oak and fruits are at the fore; more granola, malted barley and sweet toasted oak, and a faint touch of lovely funk; on the decadent side of things: honeycomb, almond paste and vanilla bean; the mouthfeel is viscous, spicy, and coating, verging on waxy; more melons, apricot, and citrus fruits: fresh squeeze lemon and lime zest; the cherry tones are still there, more Certs than cola, though the Nibs are still there; cinnamon hearts and candied ginger. Finish: fresh, fruity and toasty, the finish is long, fresh, and coating; decadent spices at the very end. Comment: it is an honour and a privilege to have been offered an exclusive cask of Daftmill; that the whisky happens to be lovely, which is not a surprise, is icing on the cake; this is as naked an expression of Daftmill as we’ve seen yet, bursting with soft, malty, and fruity flavour!” – $260 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

Three Sexy New Kavalans

The annual Lunar Zodiac bottling is here, a Vinho (STR) cask to mark the Year of the Tiger. We also have the first two releases from the Inscription Series, of laser etched bottles! All are limited to 1 per customer for the time being.

1. Kavalan Solist Ex-B TM Inscription 01 – 56.3% – ex-Bourbon Barrel – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Clean & fresh tropical fruitiness with pleasant vanilla, coconut and spices. Palate: Well-balanced natural sweetness, vanilla and oak spices, round and complex with silky smoothness.” – $228 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

2. Kavalan Solist Port TM Inscription 02 – 57.1% – ex-Port Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: The rich fruity and nutty flavours combined and enhanced by orange and citrus notes that can be enjoyed together with gentle and elegant wood spices of our American oakiness. Palate: Satisfying fruitiness blended with quality chocolate aromas that melt delicately on your palate. A wonderful and long-lasting aftertaste.” – $262 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

3. Kavalan Solist Vinho Year of The Tiger – 57.1% – STR Cask – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: A rich fusion of vanilla and caramelized sugars with dark chocolate on top. Ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate burst of citrus fruits. Pepper is also present in the background waiting to be noticed. This bouquet is simply a sensational feast to your olfactory organ. Palate: The taste ends with clean and complex flavours embodying all that is best in the finest malt whiskies and enjoying a long aftertaste.” – $335 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

TWO BREWERS YUKON SINGLE MALT RELEASE 32

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 32 is from their Innovative line, composed of whiskies 7, 9 and 10 years of age, some of them made from roasted malt. There was also some finishing in ex-peated whisky casks! More details on our website!

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 32 Producer – 43% – Producer Tasting Note: “The bronzed liquid impresses in the glass; currants, tobacco and peanut brittle, notes of earthy clay. The cream bodied dram enters lively and bright, citrus fruit with dates and vanilla. Nutty burnt sugars and drying carbon enfold through the finish, refined in the linger.” – $108

NEW TASTINGS

Please note some of these are in person, and some are virtual. If the tasting is noted as “In Person”, we cannot offer samples!

Of particular note, Ardbeg Day 2022, which consists of two identical Ardbeg Master Classes at KWM followed by a free event at the Palamino later in the day. Master Class participants will have an opportunity to enter a draw for a chance to purchase a bottle of Ardcore. We will do an additional ballot for Ardcore around this time as well, details to be announced in a future Malt Messenger. In the interim, we are not taking requests.

Ardbeg Day 2022 Master Class 1 – 10AM

· Date: Saturday June 4

· Time: 10 AM

· Cost: $30

· In Person Tasting!

· Location: KWM

After a two year hiatus, Ardbeg Day is returning to Kensington Wine Market, and as in past years, we’ll be kicking off celebrations with a pair of Master Classes. Participants will sample 6 Ardbegs, including the new release Ardcore, and have a chance to enter a ballot for the opportunity to purchase a bottle. 10 AM, Saturday, June 4.

Ardbeg Day 2022 Master Class 2 – 12PM

· Date: Saturday June 4

· Time: 12 PM

· Cost: $30

· In Person Tasting!

· Location: KWM

Ardbeg Day 2022 – Ardcore Main Event @ The Palamino*

*Note the link takes you to a eventbite page. This is not a KWM organized event… but we’ll be there!

· Date: Saturday June 4

· Time: 2 PM

· Cost: FREE

· In Person Tasting!

· Location: The Palamino

“ARDBEG GEARS UP FOR A CELEBRATION LAUNCHING ITS LATEST PUNK ROCK LIMITED EDITION : ARDCORE Held annually on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle), Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of all things Ardbeg. This year, join us to celebrate the launch of our latest palate “punk-turing” Limited Edition, Ardcore. Calling all rabble-rousing mass of fans to rock up for the loudest event in the whisky calendar.”

Diving Into Bourbon

· Date: Thursday June 16

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $40

· In Person Tasting!

· Location: KWM

Bourbon is the hottest whiskey around, and summer is the perfect time to drink it! Join Harmony and Evan in a tasting featuring some of the big players in the Bourbon Market. Who knows – maybe they will throw a lesser-known gem or two into the mix as well! 7 PM, Thursday, June 16.

Oddballs: A+ Malts From the B Team Virtual Tasting

· Date: Tuesday May 20

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $75

· Pick-Up Date: ETA May 17!

· Virtual Tasting!

Overlooked, underappreciated, and in some cases, flat out unknown distilleries will be the focus of this tasting featuring some of the most neglected distilleries in the Scotch Whisky world. We had to drag some of these poor unloved drams out from the orphanages, the cupboards under the stairs, and other assorted nooks and crannies, in order to bring you a line-up that is bound to appeal to the most discerning of whisky geeks. 7PM, Tuesday, June 20

To Peat or Not to Peat

· Date: Thursday, June 23

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $60

· Virtual Tasting!

The days of a distillery making only one style of whisky seem to be going the way of the Dodo. With the fight for our dollars, many distilleries in Scotland (and elsewhere) have decided to diversify. Making only unpeated or only peated whisky is so last century – why not make both? In this tasting, we will explore four different distilleries that do just that. If our math is correct, that should mean that we will be tasting eight different whiskies! 7 PM, Thursday, June 23

Other Up Coming Tastings

We launched our first in-person events for more than 2 years a couple of weeks back, Whisky Festivals to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. We are working on our lineups for these tastings, but as a teaser, I can tell you there will be bottles open for tasting and purchase at both events, which will not otherwise be available for sale… in case you needed another reason to join us!

30TH ANNIVERSARY WHISKY FESTIVAL NIGHT 1

· Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $80

· Pick-Up Date: No pickups… it is in person!

Our Fall and Spring Single Malt Festivals pre-Covid were, to say the least, a hot ticket. Often they would sell out so quickly that we felt compelled to offer a second night. And given that Covid isn’t completely behind us yet, it doesn’t feel right cramming 100 of our whisky friends into the shop just yet. Accordingly, we are offering two more or less identical 30th Anniversary Whisky Festivals, one week apart, for a smaller crowd than usual, to give as many of our whisky friends as possible a chance to attend. As always, our neighbour Peasant Cheese will be lining your stomachs with delicious cheese, charcuterie, sausage rolls, and other treats! Both Festivals are limited to 70 participants and we are asking people to only register for one date or the other, and not both, out of respect for other customers. Thursday, May 19, 7 PM – 9 PM.

ARCHIVES WHISKIES WITH THE WHISKYBASE GUYS

· Date: Friday May 20

· Time: 5 PM

· Cost: $75

· Pick-Up Date: Ready now!

· Only 13 spots left!

We recently received a very cool range of whiskies from our friends at Whiskybase, who are best known for their “Fishes of Samoa” series of Archives bottlings. We’ll be joined in the tasting by CJ and Abby of the Whiskybase team, as well as their Canadian importer Igor Kossov. Our range will include: Balcones 2017, Benrinnes 1997, Burnside 1996, Glentauchers 1989, Glentauchers 1996, Irish 1990 and Secret Speyside 1998. Note: the photo was taken before we tweaked the range to add the Irish single malt. This is a truly awesome range you don’t want to miss! Friday, May 20, 5 PM. *Please Note the 5 PM start time!*

The 30 for 30 on 30 – 30th Anniversary Whisky Tasting!

· Date: Monday, May 30, 2022

· Time: 7 PM

· Cost: $215

· Pick-Up Date: Ready now!

· Only 4 spots left!

We wanted to do an epic range of 30-year-old whiskies and whiskies from 1992, the year we opened to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. We also liked the idea of hosting the tasting on the 30th… just for effect. Our range includes a few bottles we held back just for a special tasting. Our full range is: Archives Secret Speyside 1990, Bowmore 30 Year, GlenAllachie 30 Year, Glenfarclas 30 Year, Peat’s Beast 30 Year, Signatory Jura 1992, Whisky Fassle Aberlour 1990 30 Year, and Whisky Fassle Glen Keith 1992. The tasting also includes a special KWM 30th Anniversary Logo glass… provided they arrive in time! Monday, May 30, 7 PM