The Malt Messenger 2017 Christmas Gift Guide

There are just 6 shopping days left until Christmas, and that means it is time for the Malt Messenger Christmas Gift Guide… If you need help finding the perfect whisky for entertaining or as a gift, we’ve got you covered. We have a great selection of gift packs, and tons of miniature whiskies. We have also provided or top 5 suggestions by price. Everything from under $75 to the Sky’s the Limit!

Wherever you are reading this. On behalf of myself, and my wonderful team here at Kensington Wine Market, I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and a Safe & Prosperous New Year!

Sláinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

 

Special Offers

1. Mackinlays The Journey: The Shackleton Whisky Volume 2 – We were offered a special price to clear out the last of the Mackinlays the Journey, and we are passing it on to our customers. The whisky is a replica of that which Sir Ernest Shackleton took with him to Antarctica during his 1907 expedition. It is creamy, fruity and subtly smoky. Of the 168 bottles we bought, fewer than 40 are left at the time of writing! – Was $205 – Now $150, while stocks last!
2. Berry’s 25 Year KWM Single Barrel Blend – Our first exclusive cask of Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled for our 25th Anniversary. Andrew sampled 6 different single casks of 25 year old Blended Scotch Whisky in May of 2016. The whiskies had been blended, put back into barrels to marry, and then forgotten. Andrew selected cask number 46572 to be bottled exclusively for KWM, as a 25th Anniversary bottling. The whisky was acquired by Berry Bros. & Rudd in barrel, and is a mystery. Bottled at 46%. Just 222 bottles. – $200 – SAVE 25% Through Christmas!

Gift Packs

1. Tomatin Gift Pack – 3x50ml – 12, 15 & 18 Years – $29
2. Teeling Gift Pack – 3x50ml – Single Grain, Small Batch & Single Malt – $35
3. Wee Whisky Gift Box Small – 4x50ml + Glass – A secret selection of 4 whiskies and a glencairn glass! – $45
4. Glenmorangie Gift Pack – 4x50ml – Original, Lasanta, Quinta Ruban & Nectar D’Or – $55
5. Kilchoman Twin Gift Pack – 2x200ml – Kilchoman Sanaig & Machir Bay – $75
6. Bruichladdich Wee Laddie Pack – 3x200ml
7. Wee Whisky Gift Box Large – 8x50ml + Glass – A secret selection of 8 whiskies and a glencairn glass! – $90
8. Scotch Malt Whisky Society Membership Kit – Membership to the World’s largest whisky club comes with a notebook, pin, 3x100ml single cask, cask strength, single malt whiskies and so much more. www.smws.ca . – $230

Under $75

1. Dillon’s Rye Whisky – Fantastic price, better packaging, a great product at the price, and a distillery to keep an eye on! – $36
2. New York Distilling Ragtime Rye – A pre-Prohibition style American rye, made with New York grain, and an homage to the era’s whiskey cocktail culture. – $66
3. Deanston 12 Year – This was a hit in the early days of the 2017 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar, and is a bargain for the price. – $70
4. Nikka From the Barrel – Still one of the best value whiskies on the market, a high proof and very complex Japanese blend. – $62
5. Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow – A more sherried and slightly peatier offering than the regular GKS, a bit grittier like Glasgow itself! – $59

Under $100

1. The Ileach Cask Strength – Still one of our best value single malts, this mystery malt (Lagavulin) is both sherried and cask strength. You can’t beat the price. – $80
2. Ardbeg Warehouse Pack – The closest any of us will ever get to owning a warehouse full of whisky. Comes with an Ardbeg 10 Year. – $83
3. Elements of Islay Ci8 – We love the branding of the Elements of Islay whiskies, and the whiskies even more. This is a small batch cask strength Caol Ila, and it is delish! – $87
4. Shelter Point Montfort Lot 141 Single Grain – The closest analogy is probably Irish single pot still whisky, rather than Scottish grain. Regardless this is delicious, and you need one! – $88
5. Wyoming Wild Rose Country Single Barrel Bourbon – Easily my favourite Bourbon in the store, they hit it out of the park with this single barrel. Decadent & spicy, more coming on Wednesday!!! – $92

Under $150

1. Blanton’s Gold Bourbon – Is Blanton’s the next Pappy? Allocations are getting tighter and tighter, but we’ve secured enough to get us through the Holidays. This is one of the finest whiskies made by Buffalo Trace! – $102
2. Dailuaine 2004 KWM Cask – Our final single cask of 2017 is our first from the Dailuaine Distillery. Very floral with loads of white fruits, vanilla and floral tones. – $120
3. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 964 – One of two 20 year old Sherry Hogshead matured Arrans we bottled this fall. This is the less sherried of the two, and somewhat counterintuitively it is also my favourite. – $150
4. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 1649 – This is the more sherried of the two casks, and the one that looks likely to sell out first. Only 40 bottles left. – $150
5. Tomatin 1996 KWM Cask – Our first ever single cask from Tomatin is flying off the shelves. Finished for 5 years in a PX Sherry Puncheon it is so jammy you’ll want to spread it on toast! – $150

Under $200

1. Compass Box Kensington Wine Market 25th Anniversary Blend – There is no other whisky in the store I am more proud of than our Compass Box blend. Getting to work with John Glaser on it was the experience of a lifetime. It is beautiful whisky, and has sold for over 3 times our retail price at auction in the UK! – $160
2. Craigellachie 17 Year – Like the rest of the distillery range this is a phenomenol whisky. If you haven’t tried it, you must! – $173
3. Elements of Islay Oc4 – This whisky has one of my sommeliers spinning around in circles saying things like: tight, insane and sicko… these are all compliments. – $190
4. Old Malt Cask Bowmore 21 Year KWM Cask – This is the Bowmore you are looking for, and it only took us 10 years of searching to find it. Sadly there are just a little over 60 bottles left! – $200
5. Kilchoman 2007 KWM Cask 10 Year – Our first ever 10 year old Kilchoman single cask, is the oldest Kilchoman ever to be sold in Canada. It does not disappoint. – $200

Under $250

1. Cadenhead Glen Moray 1992 KWM 25th Anniversary – If you are in search of a light, complex and satisfying malt, you would be hard pressed to do better than this. It is also superb value for a 25 year old! – $205
2. anCnoc 24 Year – Another excellent value old single malt, the anCnoc 24 Year is bottled at 46% after maturing in sherry and bourbon casks. – $210
3. Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask – Matured in casks which had previously matured a peated Islay single malt, the Kavalan Solist Peaty is a cask strength, single cask whisky, and my favourite recent release from the distillery. – $215
4. Redbreast 21 Year – Hands down my favourite Irish whiskey. This single pot still Irish whiskey is very well priced for its age, there is a severe shortage of older whiskies. – $220
5. Compass Box The Double Single 2017 – Those who say simplicity is the ultimate sophistication would find comfort in this elegant Compass Box Blend. One single malt and one grain, doesn’t get any simpler than that! – $250

Under $300

1. Adelphi Bowmore 1997 – A big sherried Bowmore, single cask and cask strength. Only 18 bottles came in to the shop! – $280
2. Glenfarclas 25 Year KWM Cask Strength – At just $20 more than the regular Glenfarclas 25 Year, this is phenomenal value. Rich, layered and elegant. – $285
3. Kavalan Solist Vinho Celebrating Canada Cask – A more delicate and nuanced twist on the Vinho that was named World Whisky of the Year. We think it is even better, and it is exclusive to Canada! – $285
4. Ledaig 19 Year Marsala Finish – Only 24 bottles of this whisky found their way exclusively to KWM. Ashy, fruity and honeyed with earthy spices. – $285
5. Amrut Greedy Angels 8 Year – This heavenly malt is one of the oldest Amruts ever bottled. It is sublime. – $300

Under $500

1. Archives Bladnoch 1990 – The label, from the “Fishes of Samoa” line is unique, and the whisky more so. Light, tropical and smooth. – $340
2. Cadenhead Creations 1980 Rich Fruity Sherry – Don’t think Blended Scotch has anything to offer to single malt aficionados? This creative blend will set you straight. – $350
3. Springbank 21 Year 2015 – The best 21 year old we’ve seen from Springbank in years, getting close to as good as the legendary 21 year olds releases in the early 2000s. – $385
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Mortlach 1987 – Just over 1/3 the price of the distillery bottled 25 year old, but cask strength, 30 years old, and a much better whisky! – $425 – Only 2 left! 
5. Berry’s 40 Year KWM 25th Anniversary Blend – Quite simply put this a bargain for a 40 year old whisky that tastes like the middle aged love child of Macallan & Highland Park that it is. Malt heavy, we’re not sure if there is any grain in this at all – $430

Under $800

1. Glendronach Batch 15 1990 – You could have 3 of these for the price of a Macallan 25 Year, and this is bottled at cask strength. Only a handful left. – $590 – Only 1 left! 
2. Laphroaig 25 Year 2016 – The best of the vintage 25 year old we’ve seen from the distillery in 3 or 4 years. Update packaging too. – $670
3. G&M Rare Old Littlemill 1991 – Are Littlemill bottlings the next Brora or Port Ellen? If so this is the best priced Littlemill there is. – $700 – Only 2 left! 
4. Kavalan Solist Moscatel – Part of Kavalans premium lineup, this single cask, cask strength Taiwanese whisky was matured in Ex-Moscatel sherry casks. – $580
5. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 – The replacement for the Quarter Century is still 25 years old, but will now be sourced from a single vintage. The first is 1990 and it is lovely. Very fruity, layered, elegant and smooth. – $785

Under $1200

1. Ardbeg Twentysomething 23 Year – The oldest Ardbeg to come to Canada since the legendary Ardbeg Double Barrel. This whisky is exclusively available to Ardbeg Committee members! – $875
2. Highland Park 30 Year – One of my favourite whiskies for over a decade now, we haven’t seen this in a long time. – $960
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Convalmore 1977 40 Year – Releases as a part of Cadenhead’s 175^th Anniversary Small Batch release. Only 18 bottles have come to Canada. – $1000 – Just 1 left!
4. BenRiach Batch 13 1977 Cask 3111 – Bottled at an extremely low cask strength of 43.1% after finishing in a Tawny Port Hogshead. – $1050
5. Glenfarclas 1981 Family Collection – The oldest ever Port Matured Glenfarclas was bottled in honour of the late George S Grant. – $1100 – Only 1 left! 

Sky’s The Limit

1. Laphroaig 27 Year – At least partly matured in Quarter casks, this 27 year old Laphroaig has an extremely low cask strength due to the barrel mix. – $1430
2. Laphroaig 30 Year – This is a stunning malt bottled last year, a step up on the 32 year old released the year before. – $1450
3. Macllan 25 Year – We only see these a few times a year! – $1600
4. G&M Rare Old Port Ellen 1980 – This is the best priced Port Ellen we have seen in year, and it is excellent. – $1900 – Only 1 left! 
5. Ardbeg 1815– Less than a handful of bottles of one of the rarest Ardbegs ever bottled are coming to Canada. Bottled to celebrate Ardbeg’s 200^th Anniversary. – $8000

 

2018 MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update 

Tickets more than half sold out!

Calgary’s biggest and best whisky festival is just a little over 5 weeks away, and we have an exciting lineup this year. The event will take place again at Arts Commons, in the Foyer of the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Thursday February 18 2017. We are expecting a sell out crowd of 550 participants, with a range of 250+ whiskies for sampling. There are also Master Classes and a VIP Hour available for a little extra. Last year’s event was a massive success, raising over $50,000.00 for the MS Society.

There are three classes of tickets available.

1. VIP Early Entry – Includes the VIP Hour and Cut Crystal Glencairn Tasting Glass – $175 – Only 51 Left
2. VIP Early Entry with VIP Master Class – Includes the VIP Hour, Cut Crystal Glencairn Tasting Glass & a VIP Master Old Pulteney Master Class (5:00) Including the 35 Year and soon to be Launched 25 Year & 1983 Vintage – $200 – Only 17 Left
3. General Admission – 6:30 Includes a standard Glencarin Tasting Glass – $125

There are also two Master Classes:

Tickets are available exclusively through the MS Society www.calgarywhiskyfestival.ca for more information or click here if you would like to jump straight to purchasing tickets!

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger! 

Contact & Disclaimers 

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

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 and don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

Owner & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000