Events

Compass Box “There’s still time to join our virtual event on Sunday” – Scotch Whisky News

LET’S GET TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND

This Sunday, we will be hosting the first event in our new series ‘Adventures in Deliciousness’ as we celebrate the launch of our limited edition Magic Cask. An Evening of Magic, Art & Science is happening on March 21st at 8pm GMT (1pm PDT and 4pm EDT), and we’d love for you to join us.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

We’ll be exploring this marvel of a whisky with a tasting that will take a detailed look at the components that make up its recipe. Plus there’ll be a live Q&A, and an exclusive giveaway with the chance to win one of ten limited edition Magic Cask jigsaw puzzles.

Our founder John Glaser and whiskymaker James Saxon will also be joined by some special guests. Guy Pratt from Stranger & Stranger, who designed the label for this whisky and world-renowned magician Joshua Jay, who has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, will be bringing his own kind of wizardry to entertain us.

WHERE TO BUY

You don’t need to have the whisky to follow along at home but if you would like to stock up before the event, you can buy Magic Cask via our website or from your local specialist spirits retailer. Contact us if you need help finding your nearest stockist.

Click the below banner to sign up and we will send you all the information you need to join on the day.

We hope to see you there!
The Compass Box Team

WORLD’S LARGEST WHISKY FESTIVAL UNVEILS DRAM-PACKED VIRTUAL PROGRAMME – Scotch Whisky News

WORLD’S LARGEST WHISKY FESTIVAL UNVEILS DRAM-PACKED VIRTUAL PROGRAMME

Tickets for what’s set to be one of the world’s biggest online celebrations of whisky are going on sale today (Thursday 18th March) at 10am (GMT). The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival which is enjoyed by whisky novices, budding master blenders and everyone in between is back this April with an extra special online programme of over 60 events using a world-leading, interactive platform.

Now in its 21st year, the festival provides the ultimate opportunity for people around the world to taste and learn about whiskies from the world-famous Speyside region. This year, for the first time, people are invited to take part from the comfort of their own homes. Festival goers will be able to speed network with other whisky lovers, get up close and personal with their favourite brands in the exhibition centre and catch up with friends old and new in the social lounge on the virtual platform.

Whether it’s having exclusive behind the scenes access to distilleries not usually open to the public, taking part in tastings with some of the best known whisky brands in the region, or getting the opportunity to chat all things Scotch with some of the biggest names in the industry, attendees will have plenty of online events to choose from during the four-day virtual festival (29 April – 2 May 2021).

Programme highlights include:

  • Would I Lie to You?: Hosted by Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Prestige, Stephen Rankin, some of the industry’s top names, including Glen Grant’s Dennis Malcolm, Glenfarclas Distillery’s George Grant, Kirsten Grant Meikle of the William Grant family, The Balvenie’s Gemma Paterson and whisky writer Blair Bowman, battle it out to become the best storytellers in Speyside.
  • The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky School: A unique opportunity to meet Master Distiller Allan Winchester, get a whirlwind virtual tour of the distillery and complete The Glenlivet’s Whisky School in just one hour.
  • Benriach’s World of Flavour: For the first time live from Benriach’s brand new visitor centre which is opening soon, join Global Brand Ambassador Stewart Buchanan for a few drams and an engaging conversation, discovering all there is to know about Benriach’s world of flavour across its acclaimed new portfolio.
  • Musical Drams: Ann Miller, the Dram Queen, challenges special guests including world-renowned whisky writers and experts such as Charles MacLean, Dave Broom, Becky Paskin, and festival ambassadors to bring their chosen whisky to life by matching a dram from Speyside to a piece of music with the option to taste along at home.

James Campbell, Chairman at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said: 

“We were determined to capture the spirit of the world’s largest whisky festival and I think we have done just that. With over 60 events in conjunction with distilleries across the Speyside region, there is something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s virtual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

“Although we can’t get together to celebrate in person this April, we’ve come up with as many opportunities as possible for people to get together to celebrate the fine spirits of Speyside using a new interactive online platform. There will be speed networking, an exhibition centre, social lounge and much more as we host the world’s largest online whisky festival.”

More information, including the full programme of events, can be viewed on the Spirit of Speyside website.

Tickets are on sale from 10am (GMT) on 18th March 2021 on the Spirit of Speyside website.

Notes:

About the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

First launched in 1999, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival’s annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink has developed into one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world. The Festival is a mecca for the curious beginner and the whisky connoisseur alike. Over the past 20 years, festival events have taken place throughout Speyside, the biggest whisky producing region in Scotland, located in the Moray area in the North-East of the county between Aberdeen and Inverness. This year is the first year that the festival has adopted an online format.

Over the years, the Festival has developed close links with many Speyside businesses and communities who help to fund the festival. It is a true team effort to deliver an ever-improving range of events and services to make the Festival a truly unforgettable experience.

The company is limited by guarantee, it runs the festival with a voluntary board of directors drawn from key areas of the whisky industry along with other local businesses and tourism organisations.

About the Virtual Festival

This event will be hosted on the Airmeet, an interactive virtual events platform that will bring the festival to life whilst everyone is at home.
The festival will have live events, recorded tours, a social lounge for meeting new friends and whisky lovers, speed networking, an exhibition centre and much more – making it the most interactive virtual whisky festival ever.

For further information please visit:

Website:  www.spiritofspeyside.com 
Facebook: WhiskyFestival
Instagram: spirit_speyside
Twitter:  spirit_speyside

Macallan Editions Virtual Tasting Sets at The Whisky Exchange – Scotch Whisky News

AVAILABLE NOW
Tasting on 31 March 2021

The Macallan has been making great whisky for nearly 200 years and the distillery’s limited Edition series emphasises their commitment to – and borderline obsession with – exploring and pushing the boundaries of their craft.

Join The Macallan brand ambassador David Sinclair and The Whisky Exchange ambassador Billy Abbott for an exclusive virtual tasting of releases 1-6 in The Macallan Edition series. They’ll be taking a deep dive into the driving ideas and principles behind these great whiskies as well as, of course, how they taste.

The tasting will take place on 31 March 2021 at 19:00 BST, on Zoom, and invites to join the Zoom call will be issued to all Macallan Editions Virtual Tasting Set purchasers in advance of the event. The tasting will also be livestreamed on Facebook for free, should you wish to watch along without a tasting pack, and will remain available to watch on Facebook once the event has finished.

BUY NOW

Compass Box “Join our virtual table for a magical get-together” – Scotch Whisky News

AN EVENING OF MAGIC, ART & SCIENCE

We want to take you on an adventure. At Compass Box, we’ve got a healthy obsession with seeking out new flavours, experiences and most importantly, people to share it all with. That’s why we’re inviting you to An Evening of Magic, Art & Science to mark the launch of our new limited edition Magic Cask. We’ll be unravelling a few mysteries and even creating one or two right before your very eyes. It’s all happening on Sunday, March 21st at 8pm (GMT). Sign up here to be a part of it.

Our founder John Glaser and whiskymaker James Saxon will also be joined by Guy Pratt from Stranger & Stranger, who designed the label for Magic Cask, and world-renowned magician Joshua Jay, who has appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden, will be bringing his own kind of wizardry to entertain us.

YOU’RE SUCH AN IMPORTNAT PART

This is an event where everyone can get involved, and for us, the Q&A segment is always fascinating. We invite you to ask us anything about whisky! We will share all of the questions along with our answers following the event.

As an extra treat, we’ll also be gifting ten beautiful Magic Cask limited edition jigsaw puzzles to a lucky few. So, to be in with a chance of owning one, just tune in on the day. The winners will be randomly selected from all the participants after the event

JOIN US FOR A DRINK?

You don’t need to have the whisky at home to enjoy the event, but if you want to sip along with us, you can buy Magic Cask via our website or reach out to your local specialist spirits retailer for availability. Get in touch with us at hello@compassboxwhisky.com if you have any queries about stockists in your area. It’s set to be a great event so spread the word and invite your friends to register.

We hope to see you there!
The Compass Box Team

P.S. Don’t forget that Daylight Saving Time begins in the US on March 14th so please check the start time of the event (8pm GMT) in your local area.

Kensington Wine Market Malt Messenger No. 119 by Andrew Ferguson – Irish Whiskey News

Malt Messenger No. 119

IRISH TAKEOVER EDITION

I have some exciting news, our second shipment of Waterford Whisky has arrived. Waterford Distillery has very quickly made a name for itself since releasing its first whiskies last Spring. Some of us had them on our radar well before that, in part because the visionary behind the distillery is Mark Reynier of Bruichladdich fame.

I love what they’ve done with the distillery and their whiskies, and I’m really excited to share this new batch with you. There are four new whiskies, two Organic “Gaia” Cuvee Single Malts, and two Single Farm Origin Single Malts. We held back a few bottles each of the first two Single Farm releases, meaning we have a range of six Waterford Whiskies for a tasting… Details on the whiskies and the tasting can be found below!

The arrival of the Waterford whiskies is serendipitous, given that St. Patrick’s Day is this week. We are marking Ireland’s Day with an Irish whiskey tasting on Tuesday (sold out), and an Irish Whiskey Sale. You can save 10% on all in-stock Irish whiskey (excluding the new Waterfords), now through Sunday, March 21, in-store and online. There is also a selection of 10 Irish whiskies which are 15-35% off, while stocks last!

Before we get to the meat of this Malt Messenger, Evan has sat in front of the typewriter and banged out a few words on Irish Whiskey, as he sees it. Much more besides in this Irish Takeover Edition of the Malt Messenger.

As always, please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

If you are able to, please order online. Most days I receive more emails than I am able to reply to in a timely fashion.

In the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In this Edition

1. New Waterford Virtual Whisky Tasting

2. Other Up-Coming Virtual Whisky Tastings

3. A Few Words on Irish Whiskey

4. Waterford Whisky – Round II

5. Irish Whisk(e)y Sale

6. In Case You Missed Them: Our 3 Latest KWM Exclusive Casks

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

NEW WATERFORD WHISKY

VIRTUAL TASTING

Photo courtesy of the upstanding gents behind @frombarreltobottle

What’s All the Fuss About Waterford Whisky?!

·     Date: Apri 16, 2021

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $45.00

·     Pick-Up Date: March 22

Mark Reynier’s Waterford Distillery has been making waves in the Whisk(e)y world over the last year. The Irish distillery’s first whisky releases have received acclaim from critics and members of the trade. Waterford’s focus is on the barley, paying very close attention to what they call Teireoir. But that is just a part of their recipe for the quality of their young whiskies. Long fermentation times, yeast selection, very precise distillation and rigorous cask selection all play an important role. We’ll sample our way through the first 6 Waterford Whiskies to come to Canada, as well as a surprise 7th whisky. The tasting will consist of 7 15ml samples. A zoom code will be emailed a day before the tasting.

OTHER UP-COMING

VIRTUAL WHISKY TASTINGS

Independents Day: The Whisky Agency

·     Date: March 26, 2021

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $55.00

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

·     15 Spots Left!

The Whisky Agency has earned a cult following at KWM over the last few years for one simple reason: they source and bottle some exceptional single casks. From humble beginnings in the early 2000s sourcing casks for the Limburg Whisky Fair (one of the best Whisky Festivals in the World) it is now a respected international player. We’ll sample 6 Whisky Agency whiskies from: Glen Elgin, Ledaig and a number of “Secret Distilleries!” Many of these whiskies are only available in Canada… We’ll also sample one very old Cognac from 1973. Included seven 15ml samples. A zoom code will be emailed a day or two before the tasting. 8 PM Friday, March 26.

Independents Day: Hunter Laing Whisky

·     Date: April 8, 2021

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $40.00

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Friday, March 12

·     Only 4 Spots Left!

Join us for an exploration of the Hunter Laing whisky portfolio, guided by Andrew Laing. We will sample whiskies from Caol Ila, Tullibardine, Glendullan, Macduff and Tormore from the Hepburn’s Choice, First Editions and Old Malt Cask ranges. We will also be sampling a pair from the Old & Rare range, a sherried Tomatin 25 Year and a special release of “Heritage” Tamdhu 30 Year. The tasting will consist of seven 15ml samples as well as a 50ml mini bottle of Scarabus Islay Single Malt. 8 PM Thursday, April 8. A zoom code will be emailed a few days before the event.

*SAMPLES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON MARCH 12.*

Rare & Old: Things Andrew Wants to Taste Pt.1

·     Date: April 22, 2021

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $150.00

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Monday, March 22

Demand for this tasting was so high we’ve doubled the number of spots for it. Only 19 left!

The Covid-19 pandemic hit just days before we were supposed to host our first-ever Rare & Old Whisky Festival. We were gutted to have to pull the plug, but it was the right decision. It may still be a year or more before we can put on a festival-style tasting in-store, but we can still have some fun. There are more than a few old and rare whiskies we want to taste, and we know we are not alone in this. So we are putting on a new virtual tasting series, “Rare & Old: Things Andrew Wants to Try!” As the name implies it is built around a range of old and rare whiskies Andrew wants to sample. The first session will include: Auchentoshan 1988 PX, Bladnoch 25 Year, Blackadder Raw Cask Glen Scotia 1991, Glengoyne 30 Year, Pittyvaich 29 Year and Port Askaig 45 Year; a range of whiskies which would set you back about $6000+gst. Andrew’s sampled the Port Askaig 45 Year on numerous occasions… but he loves it and wants to taste it any chance he gets! 8 PM Thursday, April 22. Includes 7x15ml samples. A zoom code will be emailed a few days before the tasting.

A FEW WORDS ON IRISH WHISKEY

by Evan Eckersley

Irish Whiskey is in the middle of a boom the likes of which it has not seen in more than a century. For part of the 20th Century, there were only two distilleries in all of Ireland making whiskey, which was far from its peak.

In the 1800s, Ireland was the largest producer of whiskey in the world. What doomed the industry was a combination of taxes, wars, technology and Prohibition. Scotch Whisky eventually became more popular due to Scotland’s adoption of the Continuous still – specifically the Coffey Still which was created by Irishman Aeneas Coffey. Coffey’s invention allowed for less expensive and more efficient alcohol production and was embraced and purchased by many distilleries in Scotland and the world over, but it was virtually shunned in Ireland. In Scotland, the whisky from these stills was used primarily in blended Scotch Whisky which gained popularity in the UK, Europe and South America, and also in the United States after prohibition ended in December of 1933.

Nearly 30 Irish Whiskey distilleries operated and existed in the early 1900s, but their numbers slowly dwindled through the first half of that century. By 1966, through a combination of closures and consolidation, there were only two remaining: Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland and Old Midleton Distillery in the south, In 1987 a new player entered the game – Cooley Distillery – which brought that number to three. Over the next thirty years, Irish Whiskey has consistently been the fastest-growing spirit segment in the world, which has led to a modern revival of whiskey production in the country. There are currently more than thirty distilleries once again operating in Ireland, including the highly touted Waterford Distillery which we will be receiving new bottles from next week!

Much of what many of us believe to be factual about Irish Whiskey is actually a combination of marketing and myth.

·     Irish Whiskey is smoother than Scotch Whisky because it is triple distilled.

There are Irish Whiskies that are triple distilled (such as the Dingle Single Malt Irish Whiskey), but not all of them are. Plus, there are triple distilled Scotch Whiskies available as well.

·     Irish Whiskey is not as rough as Scotch Whisky because it is not peated.

While most Irish Whiskey is indeed unpeated, there are peated Irish Whiskies in the market. Connemara, from Cooley Distillery, is a stellar example of this. Hinch Peated Irish Whiskey is also worth checking out (and it likely comes from the same distillery…) Plus, there is more unpeated Scotch Whisky produced than actual peated Scotch Whisky, even in this era of smoky renaissance that Scotch Whisky finds itself in.

·     All Irish Whiskey contains unmalted barley.

There are indeed Irish Distilleries (like the Shed Distillery – creators of Drumshanbo Irish Whiskey) that use this distilling method that emerged in the late 18th century as a creative form of tax evasion, but not all do. While the origins of this style are Irish, not all Irish Whiskey is Single Pot Still and there are other whiskies from around the world that utilize some unmalted barley in distillation as well, including Vancouver Island’s Shelter Point Distillery with their Montfort 141 Single Grain Whisky.

·     Irish Whiskey is better/worse/different than Scotch Whisky.

At least the ‘different’ part is true – geographically. Irish Whiskey has to be made in Ireland just like Scotch Whisky has to be made in Scotland. Beyond that, you could make the same style of whisky in both countries if you wanted, or in many other parts of the world. That would not make it better or worse. It would just make it different.

WATERFORD WHISKIES ROUND II

Waterford Arcadian Series Organic Gaia 1.1 – 50% –  Matured in a mix of 35% First Fill ex-Bourbon, 29% Virgin American Oak, 17% ex-Wine French Oak and 19% Vin Doux Naturel Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: orange zest, malty figs, seaweed, hay in the field after light rain, salted caramel, peppermint, rosewater, freshly turned soil. Taste: heat and zesty pepper on the tongue, cloves, figs, oiliness that dries in the mouth, cherries, butterscotch, pears, malty, layers of spice. Finish: long and zesty oiliness that dries, but leaves you chewing; a sweetness that comes right at the end.” – $110+gst – Strictly limited to 1 per person! – 90pts Serge @ Whisky Fun!

Waterford Single Farm Ballymorgan 1.2 – 50% – Matured in a mix of 34% First Fill ex-Bourbon, 20% Virgin American Oak, 23% ex-Wine French Oak and 23% Vin Doux Naturel Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Dried herbs, malt, red apple, plums, milk chocolate, vanilla, fennel seeds and custard. Taste: Apple crumble with toffee, milk chocolate, slight fudge, cloves, a green apple collated in caramel, with pepper heat and aniseed. Finish: Lingering spice heat with a mouth-watering oiliness that turns mouth puckering.” – $102+gst – Limit 2 Per Customer – 87pts Whisky Fun

The following Waterford whiskies have arrived at KWM! We are limiting them to a maximum of 2 bottles each per customer, and 1 per customer of the Organic Gaia 1.1.

Waterford Single Farm Sheestown 1.2 – 50% – Matured in a mix of 33% ex-Bourbon, 19% Virgin American Oak, 25% ex-French Wine & 23% Vin Doux Naturel Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Malty, honey, fruit cake, pears, sherry trifle, cookie dough, a summer hay note, orange peel and an earthy note. Taste: Spices and clove that gently warms then dries; blood oranges, honeycomb, barley sugar and ginger. Finish: Long with a gentle spice and citrus that tingles.” – $102+gst – Limit 2 Per Customer – 87pts Whisky Fun

Waterford Arcadian Series Organic Gaia 1.2 – 50% – Matured in a mix of 35% First Fill ex-Bourbon, 29% Virgin American Oak, 17% ex-French Wine & 19% Vin Doux Naturel Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: a rose bed after a summer shower, white pepper, rhubarb tart, salted caramel, popcorn, fudge, marshmallows, cherries, vine tomatoes. Taste: white pepper, orange zest, almond, dates, lemon sherbet, liquorice, gentle maltiness and warm chocolate brownie. Finish: warm spices that gently goes to leave a cherry biscuit note.” – $110+gst – Limit 2 Per Customer

SAVE UP TO 35%

ON A LOAD OF IRISH WHISKIES

We’ve got some great deals on Irish Whiskey right now. All in-stock Irish Whiskey is at least 10% off (excepting the new Waterford Whiskies above), now through March 22nd. There are also some even better deals, with savings of up to 35%, which we’ve listed below.

Jack Ryan 12 Year Single Malt (the original) – 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: very tropical, bright sugars, wine gums and Jelly Bellies; juicy malt, layers of fruits and minty mojitos. Palate: big juicy malt, soft toasted oak and subtle spices with more sugars; still tropical, loads of fruit, Jelly Bellies, wine gums; some late licorice and leather with more mint. Finish: long, rich and very layered, loads of fruit, full of character. Comment: another stunning single malt from the Cooley distillery, excellent value! – Was $122.99 – Save 30% – Now $86.09

Jack Ryan 10 Year Toomevara Single Malt – 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon/Finished in Château du Breuil Calvados Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Three shades of apple. Dry and yeasty stewed apple warmth, sour green apple gummies, and the leafier tang of green apples themselves. Beneath that, sap, cut grass, and orange cream soda which, after a little honey cuts the grasses with the creams, turns to actual orange peel. Leafier with water. Palate: Apple pie in a glass. Soft cinnamon, rich applesauce, a light zesty tang as if those apples were unripe, a slight trace of citrus peel and enough mouth-watering juice to bind the sauces to the fruits. Finish: Sandalwood edges round the lingering sauce. Dusty, dry, and even a little yeasty although the sweet green apple tang from the nose still sidles past the finish. One for the grey days.” – Was $150 – Save 30% – Now $104.99

Jack Ryan 12 Year Finisher’s Single Malt – 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon / Finished in Madeira Casks from Justino’s of Santa Cruz – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Clean orange sweets not cut by grass- lifted by it – and plenty of quirky wood sugars injected into citrus. An ode to orange in notes of bark. Orange honey, subtle saps, Old-fashioned hotel candy coexists with actual blood orange as well as marmalade, tannin, and a waxier leafiness drying back to citrus leaves. Flirts after water, between honeydew and honeysuckle with a glance back to citrus leaves. Palate: On to the cousins. Clean clementine, clean tangerine, a little dark blood orange, that leaf and tanning counter-note now seamlessly engrained into the subtleties of the orange. With water, a pithier drop with more tanginess than sweetness and more crackle than wax. Finish: The pendulum finally swings from the oranges to their trees and leaves. Not zesty or even spry so much as leafy and pale, but with a mouth-drying taste that makes the surviving sweet citrus linger long after the sip. Water adds a lingering tang at the price of those leaves.” – Was $170 – Save 30% – Now $118.99

Jack Ryan 11 Year Haddington Single Malt – 46% – Matured in ex-Bourbon / Finished in Rum Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Cinnamon, ginger and a light pinch of nutmeg over a bowl of brown sugar. The sweet rum plays tag, with a spryer more resinous streak from the distillate and a slight dusty dryness from the oak. A sweet nose, but more bakery than sweet shop sweetness and with just enough spry grass interrupting the rum to keep the whole game interesting. With water, the ginger starts to fuse with the oak into something between cinnamon pastry and freshly peeled bark. Palate: Golden brown, texture like sun… Demerara sugar, warm maple syrup, and old-fashioned rum. Leads after water into honeycomb, nutmeg and thickly honeyed graham cracker glory with a few prickly resisns from the nose’s mown grass keeping all that spiced. Finish: Old dusty floorboards, gingersnap biscuits, and some actual ginger keeping our brown sugar spry.” – Was $154.99 – Save 30% – Now $108.49

Blackwater Retronaut 17 Year Single Malt – 46% – ex-Bourbon Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: dusty, floral and decadent; spring flowers, French vanilla and bright citrus; glazed donuts and pastries dusted in powdered sugar; banana chips and kiwi fruit. Palate: soft, waxy and very toasty; toasted coconut, marcona almonds and more French vanilla; building peppery spices, along with ginger, cinnamon and Demerara sugars; still floral with more citrus, banana and pastries dusted in powdered sugar. Finish: long, drying and spicy with traces of decadent oak and fading citrus fruits. Comment: decadent, silky and spicy, it is almost tropical, but the oak and floral notes take center stage.” – Was $220 – Save 35% – Now $142.99

Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey – 40% – Producer Description: “Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey is a small batch blend of malt and grain whiskies sourced from some of Ireland’s finest distilleries. After blending, we rest the whiskey in a selection of bourbon, port and stouted rye casks to let the flavours marry.” Producer Tasting Note: “On the nose expect candied banana, honey, dark stonefruit & almond leading way to a luscious mouthfeel with flavours of vanilla, plum, and agave.” – Was $74.99 – Save 25% – Now $56.24

*Not all bottles come with tubes!

J.J. Corry The Gael Irish Whiskey – 46% – Irish Blended Whiskey composed of 40% 7 Year Single Grain, as well as malts 11 Years (27.5%), 15 Years (27.5%) and 26 Years (5%) old. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, floral and toasty with some juicy citrus and apricot notes; vanilla wafers and white chocolate Hershey’s kisses; green apples on sharp cheddar and window putty. Palate: soft, silky honeyed and fruity; bright citrus, vibrant floral notes and crisp spices meet silky toasted oak tones; nutty with peppery spices, white chocolate and soft fruits: green apples, apricots and pears; more sharp cheddar. Finish: fresh, toasty and fruity with firm spices, honey and vanilla; long, drying and fresh. Comment: curious stuff, it has some weight for an Irish Blend… must be the high malt content; the young grains give a bit of warmth, while the single malts (probably Cooley) add some nice fruits.” – Was $110 – Save 20% – Now $87.99

Bushmills 10 Year – 40% – Producer Description: “Bushmills 10 year old single malt whiskey is triple distilled from 100% malted barley and matured for at least 10 years in sherry and bourbon seasoned barrels, which give it a honey, vanilla and milk chocolate flavours. ” – Producer Tasting Note: “Bushmills 10 year old single malt is a very elegant style of Irish whiskey that leaves you with an exceptionally smooth finish. Triple distilled from 100% malted barley, it has the distinctive Bushmills’ light fruity aroma that travels over the lip of your tumbler to deliver 10 years of maturation mostly in bourbon seasoned barrels.” – Was $50.99 – Save 20% – Now $40.79

Teeling Single Malt Whiskey – 46% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: clotted cream of fresh baked scones and vanilla icing sugars; white fruits and citrus, toasty and honeyed with almonds. Palate: creamy and very honeyed, more clotted cream on scones and vanilla icing on white cupcakes; still toasty, a touch of white pepper, more citrus and white fruits with some honeydew melon; soft and malty with a hint of licorice and dark fruits. Finish: long, malty citric and sweet. Comment: a very pleasant malt, youthful but complex and eminently drinkable.” – Was $92 – Save 20% – Now $73.59

Redbreast 12 Year Single Pot Still – 40% – Matured in ex-Bourbon & Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: Nose: A complex spicy and fruity aroma with toasted wood notes evident. Taste: Full flavoured and complex; silky smooth with a harmonious balance of spicy, fruity, sherry and toasted notes. Finish: Satisfyingly long, the complex flavours linger on the palate.” – Was $100 – Save 15% – Now $84.99

IN CASE YOU MISSED THEM:

OUR 3 LATEST KWM EXCLUSIVE CASKS

Late last month 3 new KWM exclusive single casks hit our shelves, a Dutch Rye from Millstone, as well as single malts from Benromach & Old Pulteney. All three have been a hit, but the Benromach and Old Pulteney especially are going fast… The Benromach, our 3rd, is moderately peated, very creamy and fruity. The Old Pulteney, our 2nd from the distillery, is decadent and fruity with a savoury coastal flourish. The Millstone 100 Rye is our 2nd cask of Rye from the distillery. It is very complex and spicy.

Benromach 2007 KWM Cask 134 – 57.7% – 13 Year – First Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, fruity and decadent; vanilla icing sugar, creamed honey and agave nectar; Jujubes, Five Alive and bright candied orange; cantaloupe and apricots; hints of chocolate, gentle spices and clotted cream. Palate: a surge of chewy malt, gentle earthy peat, fruits and toasted oak; more creamed honey and agave nectar with corn syrup; candied orange and crisp lime with more Jujubes and Five Alive; dark milk chocolate and lightly salted caramel. Finish: silky, warming and coating; the fruits, spices and chocolate linger long into an elegant finale that finishes with a flourish of clean earthy peat. Comment: a young malt with a maturity well beyond its years; the citrus fruits, chocolate and subtle smoke are in almost perfect balance.” – $145+gst

Old Pulteney 2004 KWM Cask 236 – 55% – 16 Year – ex-Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: thick and honeyed with coconut cream icing, salted caramel and firm oak spices; lime zest, candied orange peel and grassy malt; Jolly Ranchers and tarte tattin. Palate: still thick, oily, creamy and coating; more coconut cream icing sugar on vanilla cupcakes; crème brulee and dulce de leche to go with the salted caramel; candy apple and candied orange with lemon and lime zest; warming spicy oak blankets the palate in a comforting way. Finish: warm, spicy and coating it lingers long with toasted oak, honey, coconut and salted caramel. Comment: this must be a first-fill ex-Bourbon Barrel; the oak presence is lush, but far from overdone; this isn’t as subtle as our last cask of Old Pulteney, but it is a banger none the less.” – $170+gst

Millstone 100 Rye KWM Cask #2 – 54.7% – New American Oak – My Tasting Note: “Nose: spicy, oily and jammy right off the bat; German pumpernickel rye style bread and fresh dill; moist jujubes, treacle sauce and barrel-aged maple syrup; Dutch licorice, Goodies and candied fennel seeds; herbaceous, a touch of Fernet Branca and vanilla extract; ginger & molasses cookies. Palate: thick, sweet. syrupy and layered with decadent spices; still dill-y, more German pumpernickel-rye bread and ginger & molasses cookies; floral and herbaceous; loads of licorice: more goodies, Dutch licorice and candied fennel; more Jujubes, raspberry jam and orange-infused chocolate; more maple syrup and treacle sauce; floral French vanilla. Finish: fresh, fruity, floral and layered; more licorice, syrup and chocolate; dill, rye bread and Fernet Branca. Comment: this is a little less decadent from our first KWM Cask of Millstone Rye, but it might just be even more complex; this is proper rye whisky, insanely complex and a delight to nose and drink; sadly just over 100 bottles available; not sure I’ve ever put Fernet in a tasting note before!” – $105

ANDREW’S PERSONAL IRISH WHISKEY PICK

After being in the business of selling and tasting whisky for nearly two decades, there is not much that could shake our beloved leader Andrew Ferguson to the core – but this release from MMA ‘icon’ Conor McGregor has certainly done just that. Not only has it revived his faith in humanity, but it has also left his palate yearning for more celebrity-shilled bottles!

To celebrate Andrew’s fine taste and renewed lease on life, the KWM whiskey staff are proud to offer this splendid bottle with a bespoke brown paper bag signed by the one and only Andrew Ferguson himself at no extra charge!

Secure yours now, as these bags are limited to 40 only to ensure both collectability and resellability. Order soon or be stuck paying secondary market prices later!

Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey – 40 bucks well spent plus GST.

STAY HOME… WE’LL DELIVER!

We Are Offering Some Great Deals

&

Free City-Wide Delivery for Orders Over $100

FREE DELIVERY – We are offering free delivery for orders over $100 placed online or over the phone, and will do our best to deliver within 72 hours.

CURBSIDE PICKUP – Place an order, we’ll let you know when it is ready. Call us when you are out front or parked in the back lot and we’ll bring it out. Simple as that!

GIFTING – Want to send someone a care package? All gifting options are still available. Quarantined parents and closed schools qualify as a “wine emergency”. Gift cards are also available and can be used over the phone.

If you are able, please submit your order online. We will answer any questions you might have before finalizing and processing your order. You are not automatically billed when you submit your order.

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

We will do our best to answer and process as many phone orders as we can. Call us at 403-283-8000.

COVID-19 Precautions at KWM

To protect our staff and customers we have implemented some policies!

Please do not enter the store if:

·     You have returned from Outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks, or you live with someone who has!

·     You are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected to have contracted COVID-19.

If the above applies to you, please order online or by phone and we can deliver!

Precautions we are taking in-store:

·     All of our staff are wearing masks, and we’d appreciate if you would do so too!

·     We are only allowing 6 customers in the store at any given time.

·     We have hand sanitizer throughout the store for the use of customers and staff.

·     We kindly ask that you do not to pick up products unless you intend to purchase them.

·     We are frequently disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and high contact areas within the store.

·     We are also not accepting cash payment at this time.

·     Staff are frequently washing and disinfecting their hands.

·     We have cancelled all in-store tastings.

·     We are monitoring our staff for symptoms.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all try to navigate this challenging time!

403-283-8000

888-283-9004

Store Hours

Sunday: 11am – 6pm

Mon – Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thu – Fri: 10am – 9pm

Sat: 10am – 8pm

*All Prices Quoted here are subject to change and do not include GST. In the case of pricing discrepancies, the price at our point of sale will be taken as correct.*

THE KILBEGGAN MARCH: Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey extends St. Patrick’s Day ALL MONTH LONG! – Irish Whiskey News

WELCOME TO THE KILBEGGAN MARCH

This month-long, multi-pronged, multi-experience activation brings Kilbeggan, Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery, into people’s homes and lives – from Cocktails-To-Go to DIY Irish Coffee Kits to a Virtual St. Paddy’s Day Toast.  There will be local activations taking place in cities including Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland and Rochester, as well as national activities such as a Live Virtual Toast on St. Paddy’s Day.

At the heart of Kilbeggan Distilling Co.’s Irish Whiskeys is a tightknit Irish community, one that rallies together in the face of adversity and carries a strong sense of spirit and compassion for one another. As you may know, it was the townspeople of Kilbeggan that worked together to save the Distillery when Prohibition threatened to close its doors. This St. Patrick’s Day marks almost one year since our world went completely sideways, and after the year we’ve all endured, only one day of celebrating just won’t do. So, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey is encouraging people to let the happiness of St. Patrick’s Day last for the entire month of March.

KILBEGGAN MARCH COCKTAIL-TO-GO KITS AT SELECT BARS & RESTAURANTS

Exclusive KILBEGGAN MARCH COCKTAIL TO-GO KITS will be available for takeout and delivery purchase (where available) all month long in Chicago, Denver, Portland and Philadelphia (and more cities as we bring them on). The full list of participating bars and restaurants can be found here. These Kilbeggan March Cocktail Cocktail To-Go Kits will include Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey cocktails packaged in a Kilbeggan Tote with a Kilbeggan March Tasting Map (info about Kilbeggan and a map of all the participating bars and restaurants) and exclusive branded swag. On the Kilbeggan March website, people can watch cocktail tutorial videos to learn how to make their cocktail from beloved local bartenders.

KILBEGGAN MARCH DIY IRISH COFFEE KITS AT SELECT LIQUOR STORES

People who visit select local liquor stores in Upstate NY, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver and Portland are able to purchase the KILBEGGAN MARCH DIY IRISH COFFEE TO-GO KIT. This Kit contains the tools needed to make the perfect Irish Coffee. With the purchase of any bottle of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, consumers will receive a Kilbeggan Tote containing Kilbeggan Irish Coffee glasses, a bag of fresh ground coffee, an Irish Whiskey spoon and a simple but incredibly effective plastic squeeze bottle to make the cream to top the coffee (this squeeze bottle is our secret weapon to perfect Irish coffees!).

THE KILBEGGAN ST. PATRICK’S DAY VIRTUAL TOAST – March 17

Join Kilbeggan’s Brand Ambassador, Michael Egan on Wed, March 17 for a special live St. Patrick’s Day toast! All are welcome! Follow @KilbegganWhiskey on Instagram for details.

ABOUT KILBEGGAN IRISH WHISKEY — www.kilbegganwhiskey.com

At the heart of Kilbeggan Distilling Co.’s Irish Whiskeys is a tightknit Irish community, one that rallies together in the face of adversity and carries a strong sense of spirit and compassion for one another. In fact, it was the townspeople of Kilbeggan that worked together to save the Distillery when Prohibition threatened to close its doors. Since 1757, Kilbeggan® Distilling Company has crafted beloved Irish whiskeys unlike any other. As the oldest continuously licensed distillery in Ireland, Kilbeggan continues to push Irish whiskey conventions while remaining true to classic distilling traditions, keeping the spirit of Irish whiskey alive.  Built on the idea that “if it’s to be, it’s up to we,” every bottle of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey is crafted with the true spirit of the community that runs through our stills and into our award-winning portfolio.

Virginia Distillery ‘American Whiskey Magazine Interview’ – American Whisky News

American Whiskey Magazine: What’s In A Name?

There was no stopping their vision and the launch of the brand’s new American single malt whisky, Courage & Conviction.

Our team recently sat down with American Whiskey Magazine to discuss what it’s been like to release a brand new American Single Malt whisky during a global pandemic.

READ MORE

Virginia Distillery Virtual Tasting March 18th – American Whisky News

Join Us For a Virtual Tasting on Facebook Live

On March 18th at 7pm ET, join us for a Facebook Live virtual tasting as we discuss the trio of newly announced American Single Malt expressions in the Courage & Conviction family. We’ll discuss tasting notes, the differences between each expression, and open up to a Q&A session with our team.

REGISTER HERE

Jameson Irish Whiskey invites the world to ‘join in’ with its month long St Patrick’s Day celebration – Irish Whiskey News

Jameson Irish Whiskey invites the world to ‘join in’ with its month long St Patrick’s Day celebration

Jameson Irish Whiskey is extending a global invite to join in this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, with a series of curated events, special edition party-at-home kits, and competitions that will run throughout March 2021.

The showcase of events will include a series of live streams, including performances from Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez alongside Dublin rappers Denise Chalia and Kojaque, R&B artist Savannah-Re, and Canadian rapper Junia-T on St Patrick’s Day (17th March).

Fans will also be invited to tune into a weekly live stream, from the beginning of March, via Boiler Room, and to join the Jameson team through the brand’s collaboration with Brooklyn-based internet football club, Nowhere FC.

Highlighting emerging talent and creatives from across the world, Jameson hopes to connect fans with communities by sharing unique experiences only accessible through its online partners, or via its Jameson Connects platform.

To kick off the global celebration Jameson will be bringing back its partnership with online music broadcasting platform Boiler Room, streaming sets every Wednesday in the run up to St Patrick’s Day, kicking off on 3rdMarch. The two performances are focused on connecting Jameson consumers with local talent, bringing the best of Dublin Rap and Indie to screens across the globe, allowing music fans to join in the celebration wherever they are. Customers can stream the gigs live via the Jameson Connects platform

The highlight of the month will fall on St Patrick’s Day, as Jameson streams into homes across the globe with a series of immersive performances. Celebrating hometowns and communities, fans will be brought to the streets of Toronto, Canada – home to Grammy nominated, Juno Award winning artist Jessie Reyez, the headline act of the main event Jameson Connects Jessie and Friends. Reyez, a long-time fan of Jameson, will be performing some of her critically acclaimed tracks including Coffin, Shutter Island and Figures. The global livestream will be available across four time zones on the 17th of March 2021, via the Jameson Connects platform. The performance is set to feature, Dublin based rappers Denise Chalia and Kojaque, alongside two Canadian artists Savannah-Re and Junia-T. Sign up for free tickets and check performance times on the Jameson Connects website.

In addition to the performance series, Jameson as also collaborated with Nowhere FC, the borderless internet football club based in Brooklyn, to create a collection of three limited edition football shirts, and accessories. The collection blends the aesthetics and histories of both partners, through the colours, style and motifs present on each design, symbolising the coming together of the Jameson and Nowhere FC communities as they join in with the St Patrick’s Day celebration. Fans can join the team, when the collection launches on on 10th March via Jameson.com and NwFC’s website.

Finally, Jameson will be launching a competition to offer one fan the ultimate opportunity to join in with its global celebration, by giving away a once in a lifetime St Patrick’s Day experience for 2022. All fans have to do is let the team at Jameson know – via the brand’s social channels and Jameson Connects platform – where they would like to spend St Patrick’s Day next year and why. , with one lucky winner being given the opportunity to live out their ultimate celebration in 2022.

Brendan Buckley, International Marketing Director at Irish Distillers, explains: ““St Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate all that Ireland represents – culture, music and togetherness. Jameson is ensuring that this year is no different as the whiskey brings its proud Irish spirit to life through a series of global virtual events and collaborations that encourage everyone to adapt an Irish state of mind and join in to safely celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2021.”

For more information on Jameson’s St Patrick’s Day Celebrations head to the Jameson Connects platform that will house all of the activity mentioned above or follow via social media @jamesonwhiskey.

Notes

Key links for the Jameson’s SPDS ’21 celebration:

About Jameson

Jameson Irish Whiskey was established in 1780 by John Jameson, founder of the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street in Dublin. Over the past 200 years, Jameson has won fans in more than 130 countries for its signature smooth taste profile, the result of triple distillation, its Irish character and authenticity. Today, the Jameson family consists of Jameson Irish Whiskey, Jameson Caskmates Series, Jameson Black Barrel, Jameson Triple Triple, Jameson Crested, Jameson 18 Year Old and Jameson Cold Brew. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey through 30 years of consecutive growth and selling a record 8m cases in 2019.

www.jamesonwhiskey.com

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines, and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth up to 2019 and hitting sales of 7.6m cases in 2020. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €400 million to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.It employs over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.

WIN: a bottle of Redbreast 21 Year Old 🍀 at The Whisky Shop! – Irish Whiskey News

Golden Dram Competition:
WIN a bottle of Redbreast 21 Year Old!

The next edition of our Golden Dram competition is here already! And this one’s a cracker, with a bottle of Redbreast 21 Year Old up for grabs.

We’ve hidden a bottle of Redbreast 21 Year Old in one of our Redbreast 70cl boxes. To enter, simply buy any 70cl bottle from the Redbreast range online before midnight on Wednesday 17th March.

The oldest and richest expression of the Redbreast family, Redbreast 21 Year Old has spent over two decades in bourbon barrels and first-fill oloroso casks, introducing new levels of depth and flavour to its sherry character. Tropical fruits lead on the nose, followed by vanilla and cinnamon on the palate, before a lingering oak spice in the finish. Incredible!

Win or lose, you’ll be gaining a brand new bottle of delicious whiskey! So, what are you waiting for? Enter now while stocks last and you might just be the lucky one to find the golden dram in your order…

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Redbreast Range ›


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