Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

It has finally come to this, after some relentless pressure, I am now on Twitter. You can follow my posts at: http://twitter.com/scotch_guy. Twitter will allow me to quickly inform you when new products come in, rather than trying to rush out a full Malt Messenger. These short posts are called “tweets” which may mean that I, as the person posting them, am a “twit”; I’m not entirely sure… Twitter won’t replace the Malt Messenger, far from it, it will merely augment it for those of you who can’t wait to be told the latest Port Ellen is in store, or that I have that new Ardbeg you’ve been pining about… you know who you are! I’ve also set up a profile on Facebook to add my voice to the growing whisky community there. If you’re on Facebook keep an eye out for “Scotch Guy”!

I also thought I’d provide you all some more information on the distillery tours I have planned for this fall. My first tour will begin on Orkney Island and will wind its way down through the Northern Highlands visiting such iconic distilleries as Highland Park, Old Pulteney, Glenmorangie, Dalmore and Clynelish/Brora. The second will focus on Islay with other stops on Scotland’s West Coast and will include Arran, Springbank, Jura, Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Ardbeg and many other distilleries. I have provided some detailed information on these tours below. If you would like even more info on the fall tours, I have a Power Point File which I can e-mail you on request. The file includes a presentation of photos, maps and the itineraries.

I hope you enjoy this little Malt Messenger Bulletin.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

Distilleries Tour – Orkney Islands and the Northern Highlands – September 27th – October 3rd

The Orkneys are one of the most beautiful places in the world, let alone Scotland. They are an archipelago of islands off the northern tip of mainland Scotland. There are some 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The main island, or “Mainland” to the locals, is the sixth largest island in Scotland and boasts a large town—Kirkwall—complete with Cathedral. The Orkneys are rich in history, in fact it is nearly impossible to turn over a stone without uncovering something. The “Mainland” is home to the finest chambered tombs (Maes Howe) in Scotland, and has a curious stone age settlement older than the pyramids (Skara Brae). The Mainland of the Orkneys is also home to two distilleries, Highland Park and Scapa. This tour will begin in the Orkneys(you have the option to fly in, or drive up with me), where we will spend two days, after which we will then wind our way down through the Northern Highlands with stops at some historic sites and of course tours of some of Scotland’s finest distilleries, including: Highland Park, Old Pulteney, Clynelish/Brora, Dalmore, Balblair, Glenmorangie and Dalwhinnie. There will also be the opportunity for a round or two of golf. More details and a proposed itinerary below.

Daily Itinerary:                 

1.       Sunday September 27th – Glasgow to Kirkwall

·         Drive From Glasgow to Kirkwall on Orkney Island

·         Optional: Fly To Kirkwall at Own Expense

2.       Monday September 28th – Orkney Islands

·         VIP Tour Highland Park Distillery

·         Tour Sights on Western Mainland (Skara Brae, Maes Howe, Standing Stones of Stennes)

3.       Tuesday September 29th – Orkney Islands

·         Tour Scapa Distillery

·         Tour St. Magnus Cathedral, Earl’s Palace, Italian Chapel, Tomb of the Eagles

4.        Wednesday September 30th – Orkney to Brora

·         Tour Old Pulteney Distillery

·         Tour Brora/Clynelish Distilleries

5.       Thursday October 1st – Brora to Tain

·          Optional 18 Holes Golf

·         VIP Tour Glenmorangie

6.       Friday October 2nd – Tain Area

·         Tour Balblair Distillery

·         Tour Dalmore Distillery

7.       Saturday October 3rd – Tain to Edinburgh

·         Tour Dalwhinnie Distillery

·         Dinner Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Start Date:                          Sunday September 27th 2009

Starting Point:                   Glasgow

End Date:                            October 3rd 2009                              

Final Destination:            Edinburgh

Estimated Cost:                                $2500-3000

Cost Includes:   Guide, accommodation (4th-9th), ground and ferry transport, gasoline, all distillery and visitor center costs, most breakfasts, SMWS Dinner/Tasting.

Cost Does Not Include: Most lunches/dinners, airfare, first and last nights accommodation, travel and medical insurance.

Distilleries Tour – Islay and the West Coast

If the Speyside is the heart of Scotland’s whisky industry, then Islay is its soul. This small island of only 239 sq/mi is home to just 3,400 people, but has 9 distilleries, 10 if you count that on nearby Jura as well. The whiskies from Islay are the most varied and distinct in Scotland. Islay is renowned for being home to Scotland’s most heavily peated and smoky whiskies, but if fact the island actually boasts a range of whisky styles from sweet and grassy to medicinal and peaty with shades of everything in between. The island was also once home to the Lords of the Isles who ruled the islands of Western Scotland and Northern Ireland, independent of England, Scotland and Denmark during the late Middle Ages. On this tour we will spend nearly four full days on Islay, but will also make stops on the Isle of Arran and Campbeltown at the end of the Kintyre Peninsula. In addition to visiting some of Islay’s iconic distilleries we will also spend time at Springbank, Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, and the most traditional, hands on distillery in all of Scotland. There is time and opportunity too for up to 2 rounds of golf, at Machrihanish near Campbeltown, and at Machrie on Islay! More details and a proposed itinerary below.

Daily Itinerary:                

1.       Sunday October 4th – Glasgow to Arran

·         Drive to Arran

·         Tour Isle of Arran Distillery

2.       Monday October 5th – Arran to Campbeltown

·         VIP Tour Springbank/Glengyle Distilleries

·         Optional Tour Glengyle

·         Optional Golf Game Machrihanish

3.       Tuesday October 6hth – Campbeltown to Islay

·         Tour Ardbeg/Lagavulin/Laphroaig Distilleries

4.       Wednesday October 7thth – Islay

·         Tour Bowmore/Bunnahabhain/ Caol Ila Distilleries

·         Tour Finlaggan

5.       Thursday October 8th – Islay

·          Optional 18 Holes Golf

·         Optional Island Tour

6.       Friday October 9th – Islay

·         Tour Bruichladdich Distillery

·         Tour Jura Distillery

7.       Saturday October 10th – Islay to Edinburgh

·         Dinner Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Start Date:                          Sunday October 4th 2009

Starting Point:                   Glasgow

End Date:                            October 10th 2009                            

Final Destination:            Edinburgh

Estimated Cost:                                $2500 – $3000

Cost Includes:   Guide, accommodation (4th-9th), ground and ferry transport, gasoline, all distillery and visitor center costs, most breakfasts, SMWS Dinner/Tasting.

Cost Does Not Include: Most lunches/dinners, airfare, first and last nights accommodation, travel and medical insurance.

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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 www.kensingtonwinemarket.com.. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2N 3P8
scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com