Friday, December 17th, 3-6PM:

Australian Whiskey: Starward

Starward whiskey brings together Australian malted barley and Australian red wine barrels to create a distinctly Australian spirit. Housed in a large industrial space in Melbourne, this urban distillery is as bold and unconventional as the spirit it produces and the city it calls home. Starward’s distinctive whiskies are exclusively matured in Australian wine barrels in the variable Melbourne climate – which experiences “four seasons in one day” – to create a dynamic form of elemental maturation..

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

A Night on Earth in Scotland:

The Macallan Estate unveils an extraordinary festive experience

The Macallan Estate has unveiled a unique festive experience inspired by, and carefully curated to honour, its latest whisky expression, A Night on Earth in Scotland.

For one night only, on Friday 10 December, guests are invited to journey to The Macallan Estate after hours for an intimate evening of fine dining and an extraordinary whisky tasting.

Decorated for the festive season, including a magnificent Christmas tree stretching towards the distillery’s iconic roof, A Night on Earth, The Macallan Estate Experience provides a unique opportunity to experience The Macallan in all its seasonal splendour. With limited spaces available, it is a highly exclusive and intimate experience.

On arrival at The Macallan Estate, guests will be welcomed with an exclusive cocktail to be enjoyed in front of The Macallan Whisky Wall – a showcase of some of the brand’s most iconic single malts.

This warm welcome is followed by a bespoke seven-course tasting menu of the finest seasonal produce designed by Head Chef, Pawel Sowa, with a tasteful selection of wines and whiskies carefully selected by The Macallan Estate sommelier to complement the evening meal.

After dinner, guests will retreat to The Macallan Bar, home to the world’s largest selection of Macallan whiskies available to sample. The Macallan Bar overlooks Easter Elchies House – the spiritual home of The Macallan which has appeared on every bottle of The Macallan for almost 200 years.

Here, a tutored tasting of The Macallan’s latest expression, A Night on Earth in Scotland, which reveals the story of Scotland’s world-famous Hogmanay festivities and captures the universal joy of celebrating the change of year, will be enjoyed.

Stuart Cassells, General Manager at The Macallan Estate, said:

“Christmas is a special time of year where we can gather with family and friends, reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the future with optimism and anticipation.

“We can’t wait to welcome guests to The Macallan Estate for a truly special festive experience. A Night on Earth, The Macallan Estate Experience is an opportunity to celebrate with friends and family here at The Macallan, savouring the true meaning of Christmas – quality time, spent together.”

The first in a new limited edition gifting series, A Night on Earth in Scotland is a collaboration with acclaimed Japanese-French illustrator Erica Dorn, whose artwork has featured in films by leading director, Wes Anderson.

Presented as part of innovative multi-layered packaging that provides an exceptional unboxing experience, Erica Dorn’s playful abstract illustrations are inspired by the historic fire rituals dominant in New Year celebrations around the world.

They also reveal some distinctive Hogmanay customs, including the tradition of first footing: when it is good luck for a dark-haired visitor to be the first person to enter your home after midnight, bearing symbolic gifts – whisky coal and shortbread – that aim to bring comfort and happiness in the year ahead.

With a soft, velvety mouthfeel, it excellently showcases The Macallan’s commitment to craftsmanship and uncompromised excellence.

Tickets for A Night on Earth, The Macallan Estate Experience are available to book now, priced at £350 per person. Please note that the experience is limited to a maximum of five guests per booking, and that this experience is only suitable for guests aged 18 and over.

For further details, and to book, please visit: https://www.themacallan.com/en/the-macallan-estate-festive-experience

For further information, visit www.themacallan.com

About The Macallan 

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

Saturday, December 11th, 10AM-4PM:

Sherried Whiskies with Sam Filmus

Master of all things Scotch and guiding light of JVS Imports, our friend Sam Filmus returns to The Whisky Shop with a selection of world-class single malt! Sam Filmus’ previous tastings have included some of the rarest and oldest drams ever tasted at The Whisky Shop, and this time, we have a full pourlist of sherry-casked expressions to taste.

Whether you’re looking for a unique new scotch experience or simply thirsty for a taste of whisky, this tasting is sure to delight and surprise

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

Double celebration as Glen Scotia named as Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year 

For a second time this year, Campbeltown-based Glen Scotia has been recognised for its whisky-making abilities after scooping yet another prestigious award.

The distiller has been named the Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards, an accolade it receives just seven months after being crowned as the ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) for its Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old expression.

The SFWSC received over 3,800 entries from around the world across 31 separate categories, with Glen Scotia 25 Year Old being awarded the overall winner of the competition, which makes Glen Scotia 25 Year Old The Best Whisky in The World in 2021.

It is the first time that one distillery has won both awards in the same year, demonstrating the increasing stature and visibility of the Campbeltown whisky producer.

Glen Scotia hails from Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region. Once known as the

“Victorian Whisky Capital of the World,” in its heyday, the small coastal town was home to over 30 distilleries. Today, Glen Scotia is one of just three surviving distilleries but through a programme of continued investment and local effort, Glen Scotia is growing its presence in the UK and international markets, allowing the potential of Campbeltown to once again be realised.

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller and distillery manager at Glen Scotia, said: “For a long time Campbeltown was the forgotten whisky region, however, in recent years there has been a real resurgence in interest in the type of whisky we produce here.

“From the Victorian era until the present day, whisky has always been at the heart of this community. The techniques and craftsmanship that make our whisky so unique have been passed through generations, and I am thankful that we have managed to revive the whisky-making heritage of Campbeltown long after many of its distilleries fell away.

“Our distillery is small, but this allows us to focus on quality, and it is so humbling to once again be recognised for our craft.

“To win Best Whisky in the World for our Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old and to now achieve the status of Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year is beyond anything we imagined 2021 would bring. It has been a good year for Campbeltown whisky but we’re not stopping here. We are witnessing the town’s renaissance and it is truly wonderful.”

For more information, please visit www.glenscotia.com

About Glen Scotia:

• Independent distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832.
• Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.
• Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch whisky was named ‘Best In Class’ and ‘Best In Show’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021, with Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old collecting a Double Gold Medal, Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old a Gold Medal and Glen Scotia ‘Harbour Single Malt’ a Silver Medal.
• Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old was awarded a Gold at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021
• Glen Scotia Double Cask was awarded a Silver at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021 and Gold Medal at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2019.
• Glen Scotia 18 Year Old won Best Campbeltown Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2018.
• Images and interviews with key staff from Glen Scotia are available upon request.
• glenscotia.com
• Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts
• Instagram: @glenscotiamalts
• Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

Winners Announced in 3rd Annual
Scottish Whisky Awards

The winners in the national awards programme for Scotch whisky have been announced following a St Andrews day dinner and celebration held in Glasgow last night.

The 3rd annual Scottish Whisky Awards revealed the winners from its comprehensive competition that included the blind tasting of 200 Scotch whiskies and the assessment of 58 distilleries and whisky producers.

The ultimate award of the night, Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Bruce Stephenson Insurance Brokers, was presented to Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown.  Part of the Loch Lomond Group, the distillery won praise for its commitment to the community, excellent product development and high-quality standards achieved in a challenging year.  They also collected a Gold Medal and a Silver Medal in two taste categories…

Read More

View Winners

Thomas S. Moore Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Named Gold Medalist at 2021 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition

 1792 Distillery Products Claim 10 Total Medals

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Nov 4, 2021) The 2021 installment of the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) recognized 10 whiskeys produced at Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Its Thomas S. Moore Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon earned a Gold medal in addition to the six Silver medals and three Bronze medals earned by other Barton 1792 brands. The complete list of Barton 1792 brands recognized this year are as follows:

Gold medals went to

• Thomas S. Moore Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Silver medals went to

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1792 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1792 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Thomas S. Moore Chardonnay Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Early Times Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Bronze medals went to

• 1792 Aged 12 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Early Times Kentucky Whiskey

The NYWSC is committed to three principles: legacy, integrity and experience. Predicated on these principles, the spirits are judged by the industry’s most trusted authorities. Results from the 2021 NYWSC can be viewed at https://www.nywscomp.com/results.

For more information on the award-winning portfolio of brands produced at 1792 Distillery, visit https://www.1792distillery.com.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year for 2020.  To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com

John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Receives Double Gold Medal, Named Best of Class Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years

 The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition Judges Award Medals to Seven Brands Produced at A. Smith Bowman Distillery 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (Nov. 10, 2021) The 2021 installment of the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) recognized seven spirits in the diverse portfolio of brands crafted at the Virginia-based A. Smith Bowman Distillery. In addition to Double Gold medal winner John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon being named Best of Class, the Distillery also claimed three Silver and three Bronze medals. The complete list of A. Smith Bowman brands honored this year are as follows:

Double Gold medals went to

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Best of Class: Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years

Silver medals went to

• Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bronze medals went to

• Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The NYWSC is committed to three principles: legacy, integrity and experience. Predicated on these principles, the spirits are judged by the industry’s most trusted authorities. Results from the 2021 NYWSC can be viewed at https://www.nywscomp.com/results.

For more information about A. Smith Bowman brands, visit https://asmithbowman.com/spirits.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a double gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

We are three days into Whisky Advent, and the first Whisky Calendar Recap tasting is coming up on Sunday night… My colleague Evan and I will be hosting 5 Day Whisky Calendar Recap Tastings on December 5, 10, 15, 20, and 29!

There is no requirement to take part in the tastings, but they are a lot of fun and were without question the highlight of the Whisky Advent experience for Evan and I last year.

In these light-hearted virtual tastings, we will talk about the producers, taste the products, answer participant questions, and knowing Evan and I, more than likely wander down some loosely related tangential garden paths and rabbit holes…

The virtual tastings will be held on Zoom and also broadcast on Facebook Live. If you want to take part in the Zoom tastings you will need to sign up (if you haven’t already) by clicking the link below.

Follow this link to register for the Zoom Tasting Registration!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

CURB SIDE PICKUP

Physical distancing is made easy with curb side pickup. Order online or by phone, wait for confirmation your order is ready then call us when you are out front.

FREE DELIVERY

We are proud to offer Free City Wide Delivery on all orders over $100 Monday-Friday! Orders under $100 are subject to a flat rate $10 delivery fee. We are expecting high demand for delivery after the sale so please be patient!

The Kensington Wine Market | 1257 Kensington Road NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 3P8 Canada

Three American Oak
Single Cask Whiskies

When we began crafting whisky nearly three decades ago, we made choices that shaped our philosophy at Sullivans Cove. The most significant of these was the decision to release our whisky as single casks. It defined our role as distillers – to create the conditions where each cask can develop to its peak and express its uniqueness.

These three American oak whiskies are a prime example of this philosophy, each needing significantly different amounts of maturation to reach that magical point where spirit and cask come together magnificently.

20 yo American Oak Old & Rare HH0031

Distilled in 1999, HH0031 is our oldest single cask whisky released to date, having spent over 20 years maturing in an American oak ex-Bourbon cask. This extended maturation has crafted a beautifully complex and well integrated whisky and is an incredible example of what time, patience and skill can achieve. HH0031 was matured for a total of 20 years and 8 months, resulting in a mere 118 bottles.

American Oak Second Fill TD0081

TD0081 was identified as a stunning single cask whisky in early 2020 and was sampled by our tasting panel a total of 17 times; in order to identify the moment when it reached the perfect balance between spirit and oak. TD0081 matured for 15 years 4 months and yielded 416 bottles.

American Oak ex-Bourbon TD0330

Our American oak ex-Bourbon expression is Australia’s most awarded whisky. Known for their mouthwatering banana, malt and vanilla flavours; TD0330 is a classic example of this style. Matured for 12 years and 8 months, TD0330 yielded just 256 bottles.

FULL CASK DETAILS AND TASTING NOTES

These whiskies will be released via ballot. The ballots will open for 24 hours from 10am Hobart time on the 6th of December 2021. Further details will be sent prior to the ballots opening.

A note on our ballot system 

Our policy is one entry per person, per household, per ballot. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter each ballot once only. We appreciate your continued support and understand the disappointment in missing out on our incredibly limited whisky releases. We want you to know that if you miss out on a release, the chance of your success in a future ballot will continue to increase until you secure a bottle. While we can never guarantee success in specific ballots, we do everything we can to ensure our whiskies make their way into the hands of our loyal supporters. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballots close.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY INVITES EVERYONE TO

COME SEE THE LIGHTS

Annual Drive-through Light Display to Safely Feature Santa on Select Nights

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Nov. 30, 2021) – Buffalo Trace is inviting everyone to come see the Distillery lighted with thousands of holiday lights from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 2 though Jan. 1 from the safety of their cars on its drive-through lights route.

In an effort to provide a safe experience, the Distillery’s annual in-person events including the Lighting of the Trace and Santa Nights will not be taking place this year. However, the complimentary drive-through light display will continue with thousands of colorful lights, including some new directional light displays to increase safety along the route. The Distillery will kick-off its drive-through lights tradition with a virtual Lighting of the Trace via Facebook Live at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 on the Buffalo Trace Distillery Facebook Page. This is the 23rd year Buffalo Trace has lighted the Distillery for the public to view.

Santa will make special socially distanced appearances Dec. 9 through Dec. 12.  From 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., he will be stationed along the light route and will be following COVID-19 precautions and standing at a safe distance.

While not able to personally hear individual wishes, children and families can see Santa on the driving route from the comfort of their car. Also on the nights that Santa is on the route, children may hand their letters to one of Santa’s elves who will place them in a special North Pole mailbox for Santa to read later. Individually pre-wrapped treats will also be handed out by Santa’s elves. This will be in lieu of the traditionally held in-person Santa Nights.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is located at 113 Great Buffalo Trace, in Frankfort, Ky. Visitors should enter at the main Distillery entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their cars throughout the light route. There is no charge to drive through the lights at Buffalo Trace. Distillery helpers will be following all health and safety guidelines. Drive-through guests are not required to wear masks inside their cars. The Distillery’s Visitor Center and Gift Shop will not be open during the drive-through hours, but online shopping is available at https://buffalotracegiftshop.com/.

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Doss at 502-783-5617 or edoss@buffalotrace.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2018 and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world for 2020.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.