Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

The Stampede hangover has descended upon Calgary… though I’m not sure its biting most of us back as much as it has in the past. The post Stampede can be a little depressing, for months the city builds itself up both emotionally and physically for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Time clocks all over town count down in anticipation of the first day. Love it or hate it for 10 days every year the city lives and breathes Stampede. But for another year it’s over, the hangover is setting in and what better way to deal with a hangover than with a little of the “hair of the dog that bit yah”!

There are some excellent new whiskies in store this month: two expressions from Tobermory Distillery (In Alberta for the first time, the only distillery on the Island of Mull; and three expressions from Bunnahabhain, the Gentle Giant of Islay. You may recall the old Bunnahabhain 12Yr which some 8-10 years ago used to be available in the Province. It came in a stout bottle, in a squat tin, with a string handle and a saluting Highland mariner on the label. I used to love this dram in University, mainly because of the price… I dare not say what I used to buy it for, it’s considerably more now. Relatively speaking it’s still good value, and well worth a try. I’ll have more on Bunnahabhain and Tobermory in the next full Malt Messenger. There are very small quantities of all of these whiskies coming, so don’t delay. The new releases to Alberta from Burn Stewart Distillers are as follows:

1.       Tobermory 15Yr – A limited edition bottling matured in Oloroso sherry casks. – $112.59

2.       Ledaig 10Yr – Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market – This heavily peated expression of Tobermory from Mull is new and improved. Already winning a gold medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. – $73.99

3.       Bunnhabhain 12Yr – Nutty and malty with a hint of peat! –  $70.49

4.       Bunnhabhain 18Yr – Sherry, mint and cherries with a hint of cognac. – $110.99

5.       Bunnhabhain 25Yr – Older, more refined and more austere, very limited. – $261.99

These products will all be in store next Wednesday.  Some of them might not even make the floor, as they are in very limited quantities.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

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If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/.. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson