Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

I thought I was done with the Malt Messenger until the New Year, but with only a week to go until Christmas some long awaited whiskies have finally turned up, and some exciting new rums have also arrived. I couldn’t possibly wait until the middle of January to let you know about these new products. Our Jack Daniel’s cask will be in today and our Springbank cask will be in on Monday! There are other things too, like the Amrut Fusion, two other bottlings of Duthies and some exceptional new rums.

All of these new products are available for tasting, and you can drop in at any time ove the hollidays for a free sample. We will also have Andy Dunn of Gold Medal Marketing in the Kensington Wine Market Wednesday and Thursday of next week from 1-4 PM to sample single malts from his portfolio (Springbank, Duthies, Benromach and more…)

I hope you enjoy this hastily assembled Malt Messenger Bulletin. And once again I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

New Whiskies

1.       Jack Daniel’s KWM Single Barrel – For the third year in a row we have bottled our own cask of American whiskey. The last two years we bottled Bourbons, Buffalo Trace and Evan Williams respectively. This year we decided to do something a little different, selecting instead a cask of Tennessee Whiskey. What’s the difference you ask? Tennessee Whiskey is filtered through a vat of sugar maple charcoal to mellow the spirit before being aged in oak casks. Our cask of Jack Daniel’s was selected with the help of the customers of the Kensington Wine Market this past summer. You’ll have to wait until January for a formal tasting note, but you can drop by the store to sample it. The Jack Daniel’s cask will be in store later today, Friday December 18th. – $49.99

2.       Springbank 1996 KWM Oloroso Cask – This is our second cask from the Springbank distillery, matured in an Oloroso sherry butt. What’s so interesting about this whisky is that it was filled the very same day in 1996 as our previous Manzanilla sherry cask. If you liked our last bottling of Springbank you will love this one too! It isn’t quite as rich as the first one, it is softer and smoother but it is every bit as complex. Springbank is Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, and also the country’s most traditional, most hands-on distiller. Springbank bottles on site with its own water supply and is the only distillery in Scotland to malt 100% of its own barley on site in traditional floor maltings. Our cask was bottled at a cask strength of 55.8% and there are 642 bottles available. As with the Jack Daniel’s you will have to wait until January for a formal tasting note, but if you would like to try it for yourself drop by the store on Tuesday. Our Springbank cask is expected to arrive Monday December 21st. – $109.99

3.       Amrut Fusion – This Indian whisky was recently named the “Third Best Whisky in the World” in Jim Murray’s 2010 Whisky Bible.  Jim Murray scored the whisky at 97pts. The Amrut Fusion is made with a mix of Idian and peated Scottish barley, hence the name. It has been bottled at a strength of 50%. John Hansel of Malt Advocate Magazine called it the best Indian whisky he has ever tasted and scored it at 89pts (which is a good score from John). I have quoted his review courtesy of www.maltadvocate.com.. “Balance, complexity and surprising maturity for its age—these are the defining characteristics for what is the best Indian whisky I have ever tasted. Amrut is doing some great things, and this whisky just elevated them to a new level. Combining Indian malt and peated Scottish malt, this whisky shows a sweet side, but is never cloying, with  rich caramel, vanilla custard, fruit cocktail in light syrup, balanced by vibrant—almost floral—dried peat smoke, delicate white pepper and a hint of tropical fruit (toasted coconut, pineapple). Soothing, lingering smoke finish.  I look forward to more great whiskies from Amrut.” – This is due in Friday December 18th. – $75.99

4.       Duthies Laphroaig 11yr – Exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market – Classic big medicinal Laphroaig, bottled at 46% without colouring or chillfiltering. Nose: Peat, smoke, iodine. Oily and warming. Palate: Oily rich, peat smoke, dry burning embers. A lingering dry smokey finish. – $98.99

5.       Duthies Clynelish 14Yr – Exclusive to Kensington Wine Market – This one really blew me away when I first tasted it, it is easily my favourite in the Duthies range. This whisky has been bottled at 46% without colouring or chilfilering. Nose: Heathered sweetness; fruit syrup and some vanilla notes with a hint of sweet oakiness. Palate: Buttery pepperiness with a slight hint of peat. A buttercup meadow on a summer’s day. – $91.99

6.       English Whisky Company Chapter 3 – This may be the third release from St. Georges distillery in Norfolk County England, but it is the first available in Canada. It is an unpeated single malt not yet whisky! – $61.49

7.       English Whisky Company Chapter 4 – This is a lightly peated English single malt not yet whisky from the aforementioned new distillery. Like the above it was bottled at 18 months.  – $61.49

8.       Springbank 2001 Small Casks – A new vintage bottling from Springbank of single malts matured in small casks which matured the spirit more quickly. Official Tasting Notes: Nose: Malty, summer fruits. Hints of citrus; lemon meringue pie. Buttery toffee, confectionery and just a hint of spice. Palate: Wow! What an excellent burst of flavour. Rich and creamy. Honey, vanilla, butterscotch sauce and tropical fruits. Finish: Smooth with slight hints of smoke and salt. Is this whisky really only eight years old? The small cask maturation has given the whisky a maturity and wisdom well beyond its years. – $85.99

Returned Whiskies

Springbank 11Yr Madeira Wood – A small quantity of this has retruned into stock. It is an exceptional sweet and spicy limited edition bottling of Springbank that was matured in Madeira casks. The whisky won a gold medal from Whisky Magazine earlier in the year. – $91.49

Macallan 30Yr Fine Oak – Those who like it, like it a lot, this 30 year old Macallan was matured in both American and European oak. – $853.99

Glenmorangie Signet – Only 3 bottles left and then this chocolaty gem is gone! – $199.49

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