Learning About Whisky from the Best

TORONTO, November 1, 2021 – Whisky is Canada’s most popular spirit; according to Statistics Canada, one of every three bottles of spirits sold in this country is a bottle of whisky.

But it is such a broad category that can be confusing — just in Canadian whisky alone there are roughly 140 different varieties from which to choose. And that says nothing about the American bourbon, Irish whiskey and Scotch (to name but a few whiskies from around the world) rounding out the choices.

To help people navigate through this complex maze, J.P. Wiser’s Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore has launched The Canadian Whisky Master Class, a series of books to shed some light on the rich history of distilling whisky in Canada. The first two volumes in the series — The Keeper of History and Blending 101 — have been released simultaneously and are currently available online at the Shop on the J.P. Wiser’s website.

The Keeper of History

Offering an inside look at the history of the Hiram Walker and Sons distillery in Walkerville, Ont. (today part of Windsor, Ont.), one of Canada’s oldest and largest whisky distilleries, and producer of many of Corby Spirit and Wine’s award-winning whiskies including J.P. Wiser’s and Lot 40. The book charts the lives of early Canadian whisky barons, industry consolidation during the wild Prohibition years and the industrialization and modernization of Canadian whisky post-Prohibition.

Meticulously researched and lushly illustrated, this book highlights Dr. Don’s 25-year contribution to the Canadian whisky industry, including how he has helped reshape early 21^st century whisky production.

Filled with personal insights, Dr. Don also explains the rigid distilling and blending processes to ensure the final products are unique, exceptional and pleasing.

The book also explains – in layman’s terms – how a Master Blender designs new styles of whisky and ensures it maintains its unique characteristics, from batch to batch.

Blending 101

Whisky connoisseurs and amateur enthusiasts are constantly seeking ways to better understand the many differences between Canadian, Scotch, Irish and American whiskies.

J.P. Wiser’s launched “Blend Your Own” whisky classes to help consumers better understand the distinctive characteristics of more than 140 different styles of Canadian whisky. During these sessions, participants also have an opportunity to blend whisky to their tastes. “Blending 101 – The Canadian Whisky Master Class” is a compendium of these sessions.

This book introduces Dr. Don’s innovative Canadian Whisky Flavour wheel, illustrating how grain, fermentation and aging in wood casks contributes to unique whisky flavour profiles. Next, it examines the importance of the distillation process and its impact on whisky. Lastly, it explores various blending methods, which brings everything together to create unique Canadian whiskies.

This tome also charts Canadian whisky-making practices from the mid-1800s through the 21st century, including the evolution of the science and precision required to develop consistent, high-quality Canadian whisky.

The Canadian Whisky Master Class pairs perfectly with J.P. Wiser’s Blend Your Own Whisky kits, a unique idea that gives whisky lovers the chance to play the role of the Master Blender. Each kit includes five 200mL bottles of different whiskies to blend and create their own whisky to enjoy at home, an empty 375mL bottle to fill with your own concoction, a graduated cylinder and pipette and Dr. Don’s Master Blending Guide.

A limited number of the kits are available this holiday season online, at LCBO outlets across Ontario by early November and in BCLS stores in British Columbia by November 13^th.

About Corby Spirit and Wine
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spirits and wines. Corby’s portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser’s®, Lot 40®, and Pike Creek® Canadian whiskies, Lamb’s® rum, Polar Ice® vodka, McGuinness® liqueurs, Ungava® gin, Cabot Trail® maple-based liqueurs and Chic Choc® Spiced rum, and Foreign Affair® wines. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine’s® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob’s Creek®, Wyndham Estate®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, and Kenwood® wines. Corby is a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B.  For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.

About Hiram Walker & Sons Limited
Established nearly 160 years ago, Hiram Walker & Sons Limited’s tradition of blending quality ingredients, processes and highly skilled people continues at the Windsor, Ontario based production facility. Hiram Walker produces brands such as J.P. Wiser’s®, Lot No. 40®, Pike Creek®, Gooderham & Worts® and Royal Reserve® Canadian whiskies, Polar Ice® vodka, Malibu® and Lamb’s® rums, and McGuinness® liqueurs for Canadian distribution by its affiliate, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited. Hiram Walker is a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard S.A., a leading global spirits and wine company with premium international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine’s® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob’s Creek®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo® wines.

A Whiski Christmas

Let’s make this festive season one to remember for all the right reasons! We have two amazing venues for you to choose from for your Christmas celebrations – Whiski Rooms on the Mound or Whiski Bar on the Royal Mile. Fresh, delicious food and amazing ambience are what we guarantee so take a browse of our menus and we will do our utmost to ensure you have a fabulous time.

Whiski Rooms Festive Menu

For glamour on the Mound, call us on 0131-225-7224 to celebrate Christmas with us and browse our menus here. Why not combine it with a fun whisky tasting ?

Browse Whiski Rooms Festive Menu

Whiski Bar Festive Menu

For the traditional Scottish experience, join us on the Royal Mile for the festive season and browse our menus here. Call us on 0131-556-3095 to book. Live music every night.

Browse Whiski Bar’s Festive Menu

Xmas Gift on our webshop

Still looking for the perfect gift? Browse our web shop where we have 100’s of whiskies, Scottish gins, hampers, tasting sets – there is something for everyone. World-wide delivery available.

Check out our online store
Gift Vouchers

We have a range of gift vouchers to choose from, from monetary values and whisky tasting gift vouchers. All vouchers valid at both Whiski venues and our whisky shop so something for everyone

Check out our range of Gift Vouchers

Whiski
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MALT OF THE MOMENT

Malt of the Moment, Malt of the Month, call it what you want, we’ve got an absolute steal of an offer for you to enjoy. We’ve always been big fans of not only the spirit crafted at Benromach but the whole production in general, they produce fantastic whisky. With an RRP of £39.99, we’ve listed a limited stock of Benromach 10 Year Old at this tremendous price.

Slàinte

The multi-award winning 10 year old expression from Benromach distillery, crafted from first fill bourbon and sherry casks. Benromach Distillery is owned by Gordon & MacPhail and since launching this 10 year old whisky it has received many awards, including a gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020.

Things are really heating up here at KWM. The final pieces of the Whisky Calendar are finally in our hands. We expect to have the first Calendars ready for pick-up beginning Monday. Please wait until you are contacted before coming into the store to pick-up.

If your calendar(s) need to be packed for pick-up, it will likely take us a day or two longer to get to them. Again, we will be in touch, when they are ready for pickup.

If you haven’t already reserved your KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar, time and supply are both running out… less than 50 of the 562 Calendars we are producing this year are still available for purchase!

The new whisky releases are coming almost faster than we can keep up. I’ve said it before, and will likely say it again, shipping is pure chaos right now and things are coming in bunches, waves, and torrents.

Before we get to all the glorious new things we have to tell you about, and there are a lot of them, a quick note on a pending perfect storm of busyness heading our way.

In a classic example of Murphy’s Law, we will be building the KWM Whisky Calendars in the week leading up to our annual pre-Christmas Super Sale. That’s right, we have a huge sale coming up November 12-14.

We were delayed completing the Calendars by an error on the palette manifest, which had nothing to do with the whiskies needed for the Calendar… by nearly 2 weeks. This means we will be scrambling to get Calendars for out-of-town customers built and packed as quickly as possible. We expect that will take at least a week.

Please note that over the next 10 days, between the Calendars and the Sale we will be slammed. As with the last couple of sales, we will not be packing anything for pick-up during the sale.

There is going to be a bulge, a surge of requests for packing, and there will be a wait. We only have so much stuff and so many hours in the day. We always try to do better than we quote, but the wait could be 7-10 days. At the best of times, when it is slow, we ask for at least 5 business days’ notice for packing, to make sure we get things done on time. So please be patient!

If you have bottles waiting for pick up and are waiting on a KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar(s) too, I would suggest requesting to have the bottles packed now. We generally don’t pack Calendars and bottles in the same box anyway. If you make a request to pack a Calendar and bottles when you receive notice that the Calendars are ready, please note your packing job will be done after we pack all other pickups of Calendars only. Our goal is to get the Whisky Calendars out in time for advent. All other packing requests will likely have to wait longer.

This is a worst-case scenario, but I like to be upfront about things, in the hope that we can exceed the expectations we set.

This Malt Messenger has taken the better part of a week to pull together. Rather than wax poetic about everything that’s coming, I’ll let you browse it at your own leisure. There is a lot, so take your time and try not to drool on your keyboard!

Everything in this Malt Messenger is available for order or pre-order online and is linked. There may not be descriptions or photos on the website for all new products, but we’re working to get caught up as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are details for you below.

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, comments, or requests (but online ordering works too).

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

IN THIS EDITION – A Lot…

1. Two New Virtual Tastings

2. Surprise… Another Daftmill Release!

3. The Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary is Here!

4. Two New Compass Box Whiskies

5. New & Returned Whiskies From Gordon & MacPhail

6. New Whiskies from Elixir Distillers

7. Port Askaig 45 Year Returns

8. Rosebank “The Roses” 21 Year Fascination Ballot

9. New Whiskies & a Rum from Adelphi

10.                SMWS Recap

11.                Coming Soon: From Bruichladdich

12.                Introducing: Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt New Edition

13.                Introducing: Creag Dhu

14.                Macaloney’s Caledonian Searaidh Braiche

15.                Boutique-y/Drinks by the Dram Gift Packs Arrive Next Week

16.                Upcoming Tastings

17.                Currently On Sale

TWO NEW VIRTUAL TASTINGS

We have two awesome new tastings to tell you about, for Eau Claire Distillery and the Dewar’s brand. The Eau Claire tasting is the launch of their Batch 5 single malt, and will feature a vertical tasting of not only batches 1-5, but also a sample from the KWM cask still maturing at the distillery! The Dewar’s tasting will be highlighted by the superb Double Double range… if you haven’t tried these blends, you simply must!

Eau Claire Vertical Single Malt Tasting

·     Date: Friday, November 19

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $25

·     Pick-Up Date: November 4

Our friends at Eau Claire Distillery have asked us again to help them launch their latest single malt release (Batch 5)! Who are we to say no to such an honour?

Eau Claire’s Caitlin Quinn (Master Distiller) & Marty Gunson (Sales Manager) will be our special guests as we sample:

Eau Claire Single Malts Batch 1 through 5, Rupert’s Whisky, and a very special bonus dram: a sneak preview of a KWM exclusive single cask!

Dewars: Not Your Grandpa’s Blend Anymore

·     Date: Friday, November 19

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $30

·     Pick-Up Date: November 17 (possibly sooner)

In 2019 Dewars released their Double Double range. It is nothing to do with Tims, and it doesn’t involve 2 each of cream and sugar. It is a range of whiskies: 21, 27 and 32 years old, developed by Dewars’ current master blender, Stephanie Macleod. The whiskies are created using a 4 stage aging process for added “smoothness”. Whatever the alchemy, the results are impressive. We will be sampling this trio, along with the new trio of 8 year old Dewars: Caribbean Smooth (rum cask), Portuguese Smooth (port cask) and Illegal Smooth (mezcal cask). To top off this very smooth tasting, we’ll also be sampling the Dewar’s 25 Year, a Duty-Free expression. We have held back stock of the Dewar’s 27 and 32 to give participants in the tasting an opportunity at a bottle!

What we can say for sure, is this is not your Grandpa/Grandma’s Blended Scotch anymore, and even the Zohan would agree this tasting will leave you feeling silky smooth! 7 PM, Tuesday, December 7.

SURPRISE… ANOTHER DAFTMILL RELEASE!

This is a pleasant surprise: another Daftmill release, which we were not expecting. It is also one of the biggest releases of Daftmill we’ve seen, 6000 bottles, filled at 46% after maturing 12 years in First Fill ex-Bourbon barrels. 88.25pts Whisky Base!

Daftmill 2008 Winter Batch Release – 46% – First Fill ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: silky and waxy with almond paste and candied lemon; decadent, Sauternes and Icewine; Manuka honey, lemon meringue, and white chocolate Hershey’s Kisses; aged cheddar and honeycomb; apricot jam and tropical fruits; elegant floral top notes. Palate: soft, floral, and buttery with loads of fruits; still waxy, more aged cheddar and honeycomb; a touch of Sauternes and Icewine, apricot jam, and lemon meringue; salty Marcona almonds, firm toasted oak and gentle wood spice; white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Finish: long, lush, coating, and creamy; cheesy, fruity and decadent with white pepper. Comment: another cracker; cleaner than some of the other releases we’ve seen, without the sherry more of the natural spirit character can shine through; give it time to breathe and it will open like a flower!” – $199.99 – Limit 1 Per Customer

THE GLENFARCLAS 185TH ANNIVERY IS HERE!

To celebrate their 185th Anniversary, the Glenfarclas Distillery has created a special multi-vintage bottling, just as they did for their 175th Anniversary. Only 6000 bottles have been released globally, bottled at 46%. It has an 88.8pt score on Whisky Base! 88pts Whisky Fun

My tasting note is below, but I can sum it up for you… it is elegant, approachable, and it has the maturity of a whisky approaching or in its 20s.

Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary – 46% – Sherry Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: sherried, doughy and buttery with a velvety top note; Christmas cake, blueberry pie (like the old 21…), apple strudel, and Mexican donuts; maple butter, soft dunnage tones, and then tropical fruits. Palate: lush, layered, and balanced; more maple butter, soft leather, Christmas cake, and nutty sherry tones; bright tropical fruits atop a bed of creamy vanilla; still doughy: the blueberry pie is still there though slightly al dente, more MacDonald’s apple pie, and strudel; soft spices and gentle earthy tones. Finish: decadent, fruity, and coating with warm spices; medium in length, but pleasant and layered it leaves the palate salivating for more.Comment: this is dangerously drinkable, quite complex, and rather elegant; mentioning that it is a “multi-vintage” creation doesn’t do this justice because there is a backbone of maturity here; I poured myself an extra measure of this to be sure, but I am, so I’ll add one final compliment… old school… this is an old school Glenfarclas!” – $170

TWO NEW COMPASS BOX WHISKIES

We have a couple of new whiskies to fill you in on from our favourite Blenders of Scotch Whisky, Compass Box.

Orchard House is a new core range Blended Malt, composed primarily of whiskies procured by Compass Box as new make spirit, and matured in the firm’s own casks.

Canvas is a limited edition Blended Malt with a curious twist. 10% of the blend is Tomatin matured in Vino Naranja orange wine casks.

1. Compass Box Orchard House Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – 46% – Producer Description: “What is more universally delicious than ripe fruit? Even the greatest chefs have been known to serve a simple dish of strawberries or a single, perfect peach as a dessert. Orchard House gathers together some of the fruitiest malts Scotland has to offer, including whiskies from the Linkwood and Clynelish distilleries; what’s more, we have sourced many of these whiskies as new spirit and laid them down in our own oak casks. This, our monument to fresh fruitiness in Scotch whisky, has been many years in the making.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Aromas of apple and pear dominate, with hints of pineapple, lemon and lime zest, and Earl Grey tea. Take a sip and note the malty and gingery flavours. These are soon joined by honey, wild strawberries and vanilla shortbread.” – $68

2. Compass Box Canvas Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – 46% – Producer Description: “This is an exceedingly colourful and vibrant Scotch whisky, thanks to a parcel of single malt re-racked into experimental barrels for three years. Seasoned with Vino Naranja (Spanish fortified wine infused with orange peel), these unusual casks bring new shades of deliciousness to Canvas with their chocolatey richness and sticky marmalade fragrance.” – Producer Tasting Note: “The gloriously waxy and citrusy nose is followed by forest honey and vanilla shortbread notes on the palate. Flavours of nutmeg, cardamom and chocolate intertwine in the long-lasting finish.” – $170 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

NEW & RETURNED WHISKIES FROM

GORDON & MACPHAIL

Let’s start with the new whiskies. There is some cool stuff here, including a 25-year-old Distillery Label Linkwood. Most of the whiskies are from G&M’s Connoisseurs Choice range, bottled at cask strength.

There is a pair of Glenburgies, a trio of Caol Ilas (2 of them from 1988), single casks from Ardmore, Mannochmore, Glentauchers and Tomatin. At most, we are getting between 6 and 12 bottles of each, so many of them are limited to 1 per customer.

1. G&M Distillery Label Ardmore 1999 – 43% – 18/19 Year – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Warming spice – cinnamon and clove, complement rich sherried fruit. Sweet toffee apple aromas come to the fore, with a subtle hint of smoke, brown sugar and an undertone of vanilla. Palate: Soft and creamy. Raspberry jam and apple flavours lead to gentle notes of cracked black pepper. An undertone of dried tobacco develops alongside subtle oak with a citrus zest edge. Finish: A light and smooth finish with lingering dried red fruits.” – $175

2. G&M Distillery Label Linkwood 25 Year – 43% – First Fill & Refill Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose Hints of baked apple, stewed raisin, and cinnamon enhance rich Sherry influences. Sweet liquorice aromas develop enhanced by light floral nuances. A polished oak edge remains. Taste: Sweet and spicy; date, prune, and raisin flavours complement warming pepper. Hints of cinnamon and clove add spice. Tangy blackcurrant notes mix with sweet cherry jam and candied citrus fruit. Finish: A nutty edge balances the lingering oak notes.” – $350

3. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Ardmore 1998 – 55.5% – 22 Year – Refill American Oak Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Light citrus and crystalized violet aromas gives way to soft honey. Vanilla develops accompanied by milk chocolate and toasted almonds. Taste: Flavours of grapefruit and Brazil nuts leads to orange peel. A hint of cured meats develops alongside subtle white pepper. Finish: A medium-bodied finish with lingering green apples and spice.” – $255

4. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 2007 – 59.7% – Refill Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: cured meat aromas are balanced by ripe green apples and cocoa powder. Fruitcake notes develop with hazelnuts and autumnal spice. Taste: Stewed fruit and honeycomb give way to rich cinnamon. Cracked black pepper comes to the fore alongside malted biscuit and sweet smoke. Finish: A full finish with dark chocolate, toasted oak and bonfire embers.” – $160

5. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 1988 – 51.4% – 31 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich vanilla aromas with delicate notes of lemon peel lead to baked apple. Taste: Intensely sweet; stewed fruit flavours combine with crackled black pepper and rich encompassing smoke. Finish: A smooth finish with lingering bonfire ash.” – $1475 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

6. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 1988 – 52.7% – 32 Year – Refill American Oak Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet baked apple and rich cured meats give way to an undertone of vanilla. Dried tobacco notes lead to sweet smoke and a hint of ripe pineapple. Taste: Bonfire embers and malted cereal are accompanied by a light menthol edge. Soft mint notes develop alongside dry leather and a hint of cracked black pepper. Finish: Short finish with soft smoke and a hint of liquorice.” $1300 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

7. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glenburgie 1998 – 57% – 22 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Treacle aromas complement toffee apples and rich brown sugar. Raspberry sorbet comes to the fore alongside subtle orange peel. Taste: Soft white pepper flavours lead to smooth cinnamon and baked apples. Candied orange and sweet strawberry licorice gives way to hazelnuts. Finish: A full finish with lingering spice and fruit.” – $275 – 87.93pts Whisky Base

8. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glenburgie 1996 – 55.3% – 24 Year – Refill Bourbon Barrel – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich vanilla and coconut aromas lead to dried pineapple. Notes of milk chocolate develop alongside lemon sherbet and mild cashew nuts. Taste: Black pepper and ripe green apples are balanced by rich honeycomb. Grapefruit zest comes to the fore with subtle undertones of sweet tobacco. Finish: A full finish of lingering spice, citrus and toasted oak.” – $305 – Limit 1 Per Customer! – 88.44pts Whisky Base

9. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Tomatin 1993 – 58.7% – 27 Year – First Fill Sherry Puncheon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Aromas of stewed raisins and ginger give way to rich vanilla fruitcake notes develop with toffee and lemon zest. Taste: Fresh flavours of strawberry and orange marmalade are followed by black pepper. Brazil nuts come to the fore with banana bread and milk chocolate. Finish: A medium-bodied finish with light spice and aniseed.” – $430 – Limit 1 Per Customer! – 90.67pts Whisky Base

And now for those which have returned:

1. G&M Distillery Label Linkwood 15 Year – 43% – First & Refill Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Fruity and fresh, dry Sherry, ripe strawberry, and raspberry aromas highlighted by a light lemon-citrus edge. Tangy orange marmalade develops and combines with warm cinnamon and toffee. Taste: Initially intensely sweet; mellowing with time and the gentle and warming spice flavours of cinnamon and clove. Creamy white chocolate develops and entwines with a juicy tangerine edge. Finish: Medium and rounded with fresh herbal tones and a slightly drying cocoa powder edge.” – $125

2. G&M Distillery Label Mortlach 15 Year – 43% – First & Refill Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Distinctly malty initially with fresh aromas of a woodland hedgerow. Delicate Sherry notes linger and weave with rich indulgent toffee, sweet liquorice, and orange marmalade. Taste:  Reminiscent of a Black Forest cake; the initial sweetness develops into fruity blackcurrant jam, maraschino cherry, and creamy vanilla. Freshly peeled orange notes add a fresh lift. Finish: Well rounded; hints of candied citrus fruits and oak complement the lingering malty edge.” – $125

3. G&M Distillery Label Mortlach 25 Year – 43% First & Refill Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich and full; Sherry and orange marmalade notes combine with stewed dates and prunes. Underlying herbal aromas surface and transform into brown sugar with gentle toffee highlights. Taste: Pronounced Sherry influences join crème brûlée, orange marmalade, sultana, and raisin flavours. Hints of mature oak appear whilst an aniseed edge underscores dark chocolate notes. Finish: Medium with lingering charred oak and cocoa powder.” – $320

NEW WHISKIES FROM ELIXIR DISTILLERS

We have new whiskies from our friends at Elixir Distillers, including bottlings under the Reserve Cask, Single Malts of Scotland, and The Whisky Trail. I’ve tasted a few of them, and surprise, surprise, they are lovely…

Let’s start off with some good value whisky, an 11-year-old Blair Athol, from the Reserve Casks range, Parcel 5.

Reserve Cask Blair Athol 11 Year – 48% – 2009 – 5 ex-Bourbon Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: malty, buttery and floral; milk chocolate, Marcona almond, oatcakes, and shortbread; Wine Gums, citrus fruits and melons; white chocolate, decadent spices, and pralines. Palate: thick, toasty and decadent with firm oaky spices; more white chocolate, almonds, oak cakes, and shortbread; floral and slightly waxy with more citrus fruits and Wine Gums. Finish: floral, toasty, and decadent; coating and creamy with more spices. Comment: big Bourbon tones, with a rye-like spiciness; this is great value, warm, creamy, floral, and toasty; it may not be cask strength, but at 48% it drinks well!” – $100We have three new releases from the Single Malts of Scotland arriving this week. Unfortunately, we don’t have tasting notes for them just yet, but we have bottle shots and Whisky Base scores… also I’ve tasted the Clynelish!

1. SMOS Caol Ila 13 Year Cask 320254 – 55.6% – 2007 – Hogshead – $140 – 88.25pts Whisky Base

2. SMOS Clynelish 10 Year Cask 800206 – 60.3% – 2010 – Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: Honey Nut Cheerios and beeswax; fresh latex paint and a touch of window putty; malt, moulding clay and white fruits: apple and pear. Palate: soft, floral and waxy with lovely honey tones and fresh fruit; traces of latex paint, moulding clay, and juicy malt; Jujubes and Wine Gums moving into candy apple and pear drops; lush, coating and creamy. Finish: long, warming, bright and fruity; still honeyed, waxy, and malty. Comment: ticking all the boxes, this is everything you want a 10 year old Clynelish to be; and the strength, 60.3%… forget about it… this is crushable!” – $130 – 88pts Whisky Base – Limit 1 Per Customer!

3. SMOS Ledaig 16 Year Cask 82 – 54.4% – 2005 – Barrel – $230 – 90pts Whisky Base – Limit 1 Per Customer!

We also have some exclusive new whiskies from the Whisky Trail line!

We are also waiting for tasting notes for these, so in the interim, we have photos and cask details. And I’ve managed to write a tasting note on the Linkwood.

1. Whisky Trail Glenburgie 21 Year Cask 751398 – 56.7% – 1998 – Hogshead – $240 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

2. Whisky Trail Girvan 30 Year Cask 167852 – 56.1% – 1989 – Hogshead – $230

3. Whisky Trail Linkwood 10 Year Cask 312699 – 55.5% – 2010 – Hogshead – My Tasting Note: “Nose: Jujubes, coffee grounds, and toasted oak; treacle, Turtles, and decadent spices; candied orange, melon liqueur, and marzipan. Palate: big, rich, and sherried; leather, chocolate Turtles, treacle, and Christmas cake; a touch nutty, more Jujubes, dried fruits, and candied orange. Finish: medium in length, warming and spicy with fading toasted oak, decadent spices, and soft fruits; late floral tones. Comment: young and a touchy spirit-y, but balanced with soft sherry tones and lots of fruits; on the finish, you can find just a trace of the thick pillowy floral tones you sometimes see in young Longmorn.” – $110

PORT ASKAIG 45 YEAR RETURNS

This ancient Islay single malt is exclusive to KWM. Bottled from a marriage of 5 sherry butts and bottled at a precariously low cask strength of 40.8%. Believed to be Bunnahabhain, the whisky scored 90pts from Whisky Fun in 2014, but in 2019 he upped his score to 91pts, which I still feel is low. This is old-school tropical whisky!

Producer Description: “Matured in five sherry butts, this expression was distilled in 1968 and bottled at a cask strength of 40.8%. Port Askaig 45 Year Old is an old Islay style that is almost completely lost today. Fruit-driven, with next to no smoke and with an abundance of tropical fruits such as mangoes and papayas, this is a very rare whisky and one to be savoured.

Port Askaig 45 Year (cough Bunnahabhain) – 40.8% – Sherry Butts – My Tasting Note: “Nose: old school antique-y sherry notes, barrel-aged maple syrup, treacle sauce and bags of tropical fruits; waxy with over-ripe bananas, mangoes and papaya and agave nectar; candy apple with soft old leather and tobacco; assorted Jelly Bellies and Starburst fruit candies. Palate: still old-school; very rich, sherried and fruity but balanced and elegant; more maple syrup, cola cubes and treacle sauce; the Starburst fruit candies and assorted Jelly Bellies are still there as are the waxy over-ripe tropical fruits: mango and papaya, grilled pineapple, and flambeed banana; dark milk chocolate, delicate spices and light roast coffee beans; cold tea dregs with Demerara sugars it becomes increasingly spicy, but still balanced. Finish: long and fruity, the whisky stays decadent and gently spiced as it slowly fades; coating with more cold tea dregs; a touch of minty mojitos too. Comment: this is a beautiful old malt, very much in the antique-y style; old school and very fruity sherry without suffering any of the ravages of time; is there a faint trace of smoke, I’d need an even more generous serving to be sure!” – $3400

ROSEBANK 21 YEAR FASCINATION

We might just hold one of these back for a future tasting…

From the Producer: “The fifth release in Elixir Distillers’ Rosebank Roses series, Fascination is a 21-year-old single malt which, like the others in the collection, has been released to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This single malt is a combination of spirit distilled in both 1990 and 1991, matured in ex-Madeira casks and American oak barrels for 21 years. Citrussy aromas of candied citrus peel and fresh lemon are joined by rye bread, white chocolate, sherbet pips and mint on the nose, complemented by notes of green apple, sugared almonds, custard and vanilla cream throughout the palate.”

Rosebank 21 Year Fascination – 49.5% – Tasting Note by Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange: “Nose: Candied citrus peel, zingy fresh lemon, yeasty rye bread and crunchy barley sugar. Sweet-shop notes of white chocolate mice, sherbet pips and mint fondant develop, along with a background of vanilla cream, toffee and butter icing. Palate: The sweet icing notes lead, with white chocolate, crispy sugared almonds and lemon cream following. Gentle oak spice notes develop with a touch of anise and sour apple skin. The sweetness builds again, with mint fondant and barley sugar joined by light, creamy, custard notes. Finish: Oak spice, cooling mint and sweet cream. Aniseed heat builds before dying back to reveal polished oak.” – $1800 – 90.27pts Whisky Base – Limit 1 Per Customer!

NEW WHISKIES FROM ADELPHI

The latest selection of Adelphi releases is, as always, limited. Single casks spread over the globe don’t tend to cover a lot of ground, but we are happy to get what we do!

1. Adelphi Private Reserve Cask Strength Peated – 57.6% – Sherry & Bourbon Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Straw in colour and showing a medium bead. “The nose opens with grassiness, Rose’s lime cordial, glacier mints, dill, Gimlet cocktail, kiwi fruit and minerality. Drams in the herb garden! On the palate, we have a little funk, hessian sacks, horse stables, cheese rind and fresh leather. A cooling mouthfeel, with a lengthy, maritime finish. Seriously good.” – $68 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

2. Adelphi Blair Athol 2008 – 56.5% – 12 Year – First Fill PX Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Matured exclusively in a first fill PX Sherry Butt, chestnut in colour and showing very good beading. On the nose we first discover licorice, cola cubes, Madeira, and red laces. This opens into over-ripe fruit, sandalwood and cloves. “e palate is brimming with engine oil, Lea and Perrins, mint Matchmakers, chocolate brownies and the slightest hint of rubber. A #ne dram indeed with a lengthy #nish.” – $190 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

3. Adelphi Breath of the Isles 2007 – 58.3% – 14 Year – Refill Oloroso Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “A vatting of re#ll Oloroso Hogsheads, this is copper-gold in colour and displays a moderate bead. A bright, alluring nose redolent of apple pie, fresh ginger, heather honey and beach debris. “e well-balanced palate is chock full of crunchy nut corn$akes, pumpernickel bread, salted popcorn, mocha and a tangle of seaweed. A long, beautifully harmonious #nish completes this dram in style. Wonderful stuff!” – $192 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

4. Adelphi Caol Ila 2013 – 58.4% – 8 Year – Refill Bourbon Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “The product of a single refill Bourbon Hogshead, with the colour of barley water and a moderate bead. This is a clean, citrus-forward Caol Ila. “The nose is laden with lemon peel, swimming pool aromas, hospital wards and enticing cigar smoke. A hint of smoked cheese perhaps. “e palate displays great clarity with minerality, oyster shells, salinity, creosote, chimney soot and bonfire embers combining very effectively. A medium, satisfying finish.” – $192 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

5. Adelphi Dalmore 2007 – 54% – 14 Year – Refill Oloroso Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Matured exclusively in a refill Oloroso Hogshead, this is copper gold and has a very good bead. On the nose we have earthy miso paste, savoury meatiness, beef jerky, sticky ribs and a whiff of machine oil. The palate is extremely well-textured. There is rounded creaminess in the form of sweet meringue, backed up by herbaceous longevity. Touching all points on the tasting compass, this is a dram to savour.” – $232 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

6. Adelphi Glen Garioch 2011 – 58.5% – 9 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Fully matured in a refill sherry butt, Vin Jaune in colour and showing a medium bead. An inviting nose kicks o! with coconut cream, bounty bar and stem ginger before opening into white pepper, nougat and tobacco tin. The palate is a cracking all-rounder with Irn-Bru bars, gorse slower, medicine cabinet, tangerine and pink peppercorns. A dry, spicy finish compliments this whisky perfectly.” – $182 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

7. Adelphi Teaninich 2010 – 58.8% – 11 Year – First Fill Oloroso Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Fully matured in a first-fill Oloroso butt, this is mahogany in colour and has a medium bead. On the nose, we discover Dr. Pepper, Indonesian cubeb, mushrooms, honey roast parsnips, rowan jelly and oregano. “e palate continues the tanginess with cola bottles, waxy old books, cumin and cured meats. The rich finish herbaceous and lengthy.” – $186 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

SMWS RECAP – AUGUST – OCTOBER

August

41.136 – VARNISHED CRUMPETS

Lovers of coconut and polished oak should pay attention to this Dailuane. It delivers a waxy, viscous palate with plenty of floral and fruity notes to go along with the sweet and spicy oak.

9.201 – MAJOR SWEETIE Truth be told I am not the world’s biggest Glen Grant fan. I find many indie bottlings from the distillery tend to get too dunnage heavy for my liking, especially those in the mid 20s age-wise. Major Sweetie ticked all the right boxes for me with wonderful fruit notes and a touch of musty, dusty and waxy notes without going over the top.

September

35.293 – LATE NIGHT PANTRY RAID

Remember that bottle I mentioned that was titled and tasting noted by some crazy Canucks? Late night pantry raid is that bottle! Kelly and Rob were kind enough to send us advance samples of this whisky, asking the whisky staff at a few SWMS partner stores to write up their own name and tasting notes for it.

In September I was over the moon to find out my suggested bottle name and most of my tasting notes were used for this bottling! It is truly a bucket list item for me that I never thought I would check off, but here we are. I also managed to sneak a bit of Canadiana in there with a reference to Hawkins Cheezies!

Full note below:

SMWS Canada’s retail ambassadors tasting note: “Bleary-eyed and peckish you stare into the depths of the pantry in search of a midnight snack. Pushing past aromas of chamomile tea bags, Galliano liqueur and half-used packets of Ichiban soup flavouring, you pull out a box of Bran Flakes, dried raspberries and honey. Before closing the door, you taste a few random items to verify their freshness: Jelly Bellies, salted liquorice, dried apricots, a milk chocolate bar, golden raisins, candied ginger and yogurt-covered pretzels, sugar-coated fennel seeds and a half-finished bag of Hawkins Cheezies.

Sated and ready to go back to bed, you open the fridge in search of filtered water. Behind sliced shallots and almond slivers, you notice the forgotten pan of raisin walnut butter tart squares. You should have looked in the fridge first. After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead this was transferred to a 1st fill Sauternes barrique.”

7.248 – SOLERA SYRUP

I am honestly surprised we still have bottles of this Longmorn left to sell. Anything that is out in a sherry cask is difficult to hold onto these days, and this mix of Distillery juice and spice plus the red fruit and wines notes works very well.

28.57 – SCRAMBLED HEATHER

Tullibardine seems to be hitting its stride both in its official bottlings like the 15 year and some of The Murray series of batch strength releases as well as indie bottlings like this. SCRAMBLED HEATHER takes the distilleries malt-forward style and adds a lot of complexity in a tightly wrapped package.

52.40 – SEASIDE CEVICHE

We have seen a very small amount of SMWS Old Pulteney of the past 5 years, and bottles like this show how much of a travesty that is. Salty, savoury and sweet all at once from one of the few distilleries that pulls that off without peat on a regular basis.

October

39.207 – BACK SEAT BREWER

This is the ONLY one of the 7 bottles from October to still be available and it is no slouch. Young Linkwood can be very expressive, full of floral, fruit and fresh ginger (and even lemongrass!) notes. This bottle delivers that and more!

November

The November Outturn just dropped this AM. It was sampled Wednesday night by the KWM team, along with special guests Rob & Kelly. There is stock left of most of the whiskies, with the exception at the time of writing of the Glen Scotia. You can view the November Outturn here! The KWM November SMWS Tasting can be watched here!

COMING SOON FROM BRUICHLADDICH

First up a trio of Octomores:

1. Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1 – 59.9% – 5 Year – First Fill American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Opens on zesty citrus freshness and earthy peat smoke. Vanilla sponge cake and barley sugars with rich malt sweetness. Coconut and chocolate, vanilla and caramel follow, and as the aromas open further cinder toffee and layers of Peat smoke and honey come to the fore. Taste: Peppery and sweet on the palate, with a texture of warm golden syrup. Honey and peat smoke then fired oak chips and peaty apricot jam open. Anther sip brings malted barley sugars and straw, heather flower, and a nutty nougat sweetness. A mineral sandy note sits on the palate and brings through a dry phenolic earthy smoke and hints of orange zest and pear drops. Finish: The finish brings salted caramel with floral and herbal notes. Honeysuckle, primrose and then gentle peat smoke, as ever, the note that drifts on the longest.” – $275

2. Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 – 57.3% – 5 Year – American Oak Finished in Sauternes Casks – 129.7ppm – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Beautiful notes of melon, honey and smoked almonds initially. Toasted oak and earthy smoke are held back by layers of fruit and honey. There is orange peel, peaches, ripe sweet melon, a lemon and honey combination all wrapped in a malted grain sweetness. Dried apple and pear drops come next with a wave of peat smoke and toasted oak, releasing earthy and pine resin notes. Taste: Lusciously soft and sweet as the fruit sweeps across the palate, lemon zest and vanilla pods come to the fore with melon and orange blossom. Another sip highlights the structure the French oak brings with caramel, baking spices and a touch of dryness carrying the smoke and the malt sweetness. Always the presence of ripe fruit drizzled in syrup speaks of the influence of the Sauternes casks. Finish: On the finish, a salty lemon tang arrives as the fruit and oak fade a little. That lovely earthy peat smoke moves in to dominate the finish and stamp the Octomore DNA all over this dram.” – $240

3. Bruichladdich Octomore 12.3 Islay Barley – 62.1% – 5 Year 75% ex-Bourbon & 25% First Fill PX Sherry – 118.1ppm – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: OAroma: Light sherry notes of fig, raisin and dates with charcoal, boot polish smoky notes set the tone for this dram. Light, fresh citrus honey notes from the spirit, intense floral notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom burst from the glass and then dark toffee, milk chocolate and vanilla from the oak add depth to the aromas. Smoked grain, seaweed, linseed oil and tobacco come as the whisky continues to open. Taste: Peppery nasturtium flowers, dark chocolate, earthy peat smoke and those sherry fruits rush across the palate at first. The Peat smoke and the dried fruit dominate and then comes the barley sugar and charred oak, releasing those rich toffee and tobacco notes. Sweet pastry and toasted grain then more sooty earthy peat smoke. Finish: Charcoal, soot and dried figs. Salted lemons and bitter chocolate.” – $315

Finalists Announced in 3rd Annual Scottish Whisky Awards

The finalists in the national celebration of Scotch whisky have been announced in the celebrated awards programme for the whisky business in Scotland.

The Scottish Whisky Awards has revealed that 53 companies and 167 Scotch whisky products have progressed to the finals.  42 judges have completed their assessments of over 200 Scotch whisky products and written assessments from over 30 companies involved in the production of Scotch.

Over 200 people are expected to join to celebrate the winners on St Andrews Day at a black-tie awards dinner which will also be broadcast live to ticket holders anywhere in the world.

Chair of the Judging Panel, Professor Alan Wolstenholme, commented;

““It’s becoming ever clearer now as we progress towards the end of this year, that the achievements of the Scotch whisky industry during the past year must not go un-noticed or unrewarded.

“We have had the privilege of reviewing the work that Scotch whisky businesses undertook throughout the pandemic.  Their innovation, their resilience, and their support for their communities.

“Our Scottish Whisky Awards dinner is an opportunity for Scotch whisky businesses to come together and recognise their many achievements as they advance the cause of Scotland’s most important global product.”

The event will also announce the first ever recipient of the Professor Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky.  The award was created in 2019 with the support of the Swan family and seeks to highlight an individual in the industry who shares the much-admired character of the late Jim Swan as an independent, inclusive collaborator.  A tribute to Jim Swan can be watched here.

Read More

Book Tickets

Tables at the Scottish Whisky Awards St Andrews Day Dinner can be purchased here.  Tables of ten cost £1550.00 + VAT and include entertainment, a three-course gourmet meal, paired with Scotch whisky and including wine. Tickets to watch the digital broadcast from anywhere in the world can also be purchased and include a place in a digital awards room enabled by video calls, group messages and live chat functions.   The event will be hosted once again by comedian and broadcaster, Des Clarke.

The awards, created by the PR and Events company KDMedia, are also a fundraising vehicle for The BEN, the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland.

FINAL TICKETS RELEASED FOR SPEYSIDE’S LIMITED EDITION WHISKY FESTIVAL

With just one week to go, the last remaining tickets for this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Limited Edition have been released in what will be a jam packed programme of events celebrating the world-famous Speyside region.

Taking place outside of the usual spring schedule on 3rd to 8th November 2021, in a Limited Edition format to showcase Speyside at its best, this award-winning whisky festival has something for everyone. Whether you are new to whisky or a budding master blender there are plenty of drams to taste and savour. For the food enthusiast there are whisky themed afternoon teas, gourmet dinners and food pairings. In addition, for gin and cocktails lovers there are a selection of tempting events.

Dinner at the Malt Barn in Glenfiddich is one of the recent additions. Join Mark Thomson, Glenfiddich Ambassador to Scotland for an evening of fine whisky, exquisite dining and engaging conversation at The Glenfiddich Distillery Malt Barn. The evening will include five courses with whiskies specially selected by Mark to be enjoyed throughout the evening. This intimate gathering has always been a favourite amongst visitors to the Spirit of Speyside festival so early booking is recommended.

Other highlights include:

• The Revelations Tour, The Ballindalloch Distillery – In the company of Distillery Manager Colin Poppy, you will see why The Ballindalloch Distillery has been awarded the Icons of Whisky Craft Producer of the Year three times. Sample various liquids including some from the private casks of the Macpherson-Grant family.
• Enjoy a Dram on the Train, Dufftown Station – Sip a dram as you journey through the beautiful Moray countryside.
• Solera Deconstructed Tour, Glenfiddich Distillery – Tour Glenfiddich and walk around Warehouse 8, home of the unique Solera process, before a tasting session in the Blending Room. Try cask strength samples of 15 year old Glenfiddich and create your own blend.
• Afternoon tea, Gordon Castle – Enjoy a classic, premium or ultra afternoon tea experience at Gordon Castle Walled Garden and Cafe
• Whisky & Chocolate, The Boat Country Inn – A guided evening of Speyside Whisky and Scottish handmade chocolate.
• Whisky & Scottish Cheese Tasting, The Boat Country Inn – Join a whisky and cheese tasting, where you will be guided through four different expressions of whisky.
• Ann Miller Traces Speyside’s Railways – Join Ann Miller, the Dram Queen, to discover more about these themes during tutored tastings bringing each to life with a selection of drams to illustrate the fascinating heritage of whiskies from Speyside.
• Waterford Whisky Takeover at Glenrinnes Distillery – Hosted by Ian O’Brien and Co-host Meeghan Murdoch, the tasting will showcase four of Waterford Distillery’s delicious whiskies.
• Six of Billy Walker’s Best, Fiddichside Inn – Join Steve Oliver and Ali Hunter for a tribute to Billy Walker on Speyside. Sample six different drams from the four distilleries owned by Billy Walker over the past 20 years.

George McNeil, chairman designate at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said:

“Earlier this year we brought the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival online with guests from 15 countries around the world logging in but nothing beats being together to celebrate the world’s largest malt whisky producing region in this later than normal limited edition festival. With 97 events already sold out, tickets are flying out of the door.

“In true Spirit of Speyside style, we have a first-class range of events lined up. From behind the scenes tours of some of the world’s most iconic distilleries to intimate tastings, pairings and talks with some of the top innovators in the industry. We’re looking forward to welcoming people back to Speyside to join us for a dram and help us celebrate the very best of our iconic whisky making region.”

To view the full programme of events and to purchase tickets, visit the Spirit of Speyside website.

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.

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.

For further information please visit:

Website:  www.spiritofspeyside.com

Facebook: WhiskyFestival

Instagram: spirit_speyside

Twitter:  spirit_speyside

Royal Canadian Small Batch Named Best in Class, Gold Medalist at 2021 Whiskies of the World Awards  

Four Canadian Whiskies Receive Recognition 

Montreal (Oct. 12, 2021) Royal Canadian Small Batch Whisky was awarded a Gold medal and named Best in Class at the 2021 Whiskies of the World Competition (WoW). High River Canadian Whisky also claimed a Silver Outstanding medal, meaning the judges panel unanimously agreed to extra recognition for the high-performing whisky.  This year’s judges, consisting of brand ambassadors, whisky retailers, mixologists, and others, awarded four total medals to Canadian whiskies in the Sazerac portfolio of brands, listed below:

Sazerac Canadian Whiskies Receiving Gold Medals

An excellent product that is among the best, remarkable.

• Royal Canadian Small Batch Whisky – Best in Class

Sazerac Canadian Whiskies Receiving Silver Outstanding Medals

            A very good product with complexity that is better than most.

• High River Canadian Whisky

Sazerac Canadian Whiskies Receiving Silver Medals

A very good and recommended product that shows complexity.

• Caribou Crossing Canadian Whisky
• Canadian Mist Canadian Whisky

WoW is produced in conjunction with the long-running International Wine & Spirits Competition. For a full list of results, visit https://whiskiesoftheworld.com/2021-award-winners/.

For more information on these brands and others produced by Sazerac, visit https://www.sazerac.com/our-brands/sazerac-brands.html.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/

Winners announced as the World’s Favourite Whisky Glass sponsors Scottish International Crime Writing Awards for the second year

Raymond Davidson, CEO and Founder of Glencairn Crystal, presents Craig Russell, winner of The McIlvanney Prize, with a Glencairn Glass trophy

Scottish family business Glencairn Crystal has sponsored this year’s 2021 McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year, with its famous Glencairn Glass for the second year.

The winners were announced at the opening of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival on Friday evening (17th September) in Stirling. This year’s winner of The McIlvanney Prize is Craig Russell with Hyde. He is the first author to win the prize twice. The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize went to Robbie Morrison with Edge of the Grave.

The winners were presented with a trophy by Raymond Davidson – CEO and Founder of Glencairn Crystal – who said:

‘We’d like to raise a toast to Robbie Morrison and Craig Russell and congratulate them on their success in winning the prizes. It is an honour to support the world of Scottish crime fiction with The Glencairn Glass and we wish all the participants well in the future.’

Both of the prestigious literary prizes are awarded as part of the annual Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival which takes place every September. Based in Stirling, Bloody Scotland has brought hundreds of crime writers – new and established –  to the stage along with enthusiastic festival attendees since 2012, with exciting events covering a range of criminal subjects from fictional forensics and psychological thrillers to tartan noir and cosy crime.

For further information visit:

www.bloodyscotland.com and www.glencairn.co.uk

Notes:

The Glencairn Glass, created in 2000, is the world’s favourite whisky glass.  Glencairn Crystal now make over 3.5 million Glencairn Glasses per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 140 countries worldwide.

The Glencairn Glass launches its first ever crime short story competition with the theme:

“A Crystal Clear Crime”

For the past two years, the world’s favourite whisky glass – The Glencairn Glass – has featured as headline sponsor of the prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes, celebrating the finest in Scottish crime writing talent. This week The Glencairn Glass is building on this creative collaboration by launching its very own crime short story competition, in partnership with Scottish Field Magazine.

The Glencairn Glass is looking to celebrate up-and-coming literary talent through this exclusive competition from October to December .

The competition opens for entries on 20^th October and runs until 31^st December, inviting all budding crime writers to build their stories around the theme: ‘A Crystal-Clear Crime’ in no more than 2000 words.

The judging panel for the inaugural competition will comprise Deborah Masson, 2020 winner of the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year with her book ‘Hold Your Tongue’, Peter Ranscombe, Scottish Field’s drinks columnist and author of the historical thriller ‘Hare’, as well as Glencairn’s marketing director Gordon Brown, who has written eight crime novels with his latest, ‘Thirty-One Bones’, written under the pseudonym Morgan Cry.  Gordon is also one of the founding directors of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival.

Gordon Brown commented: “We’re very excited to be launching the Glencairn Glass crime short story competition, supported by the team at the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival along with the Culture and Business Fund Scotland, working with Scottish Field. We are delighted to invite both experienced and novice authors, alike, to take a stab at entering (excuse the pun!) and wish all entrants the best of luck.”

Three prizes will be available for the winning trio of authors: the first prize winner will receive £1000, whilst the two runners up will each receive £250. All three winners will also receive a set of six bespoke engraved Glencairn Glasses to enjoy their favourite dram with. The overall winning entry will be published by Scottish Field in spring 2022 as well as on The Glencairn Glass website.

All short story entries must be uploaded at www.whiskyglass.com/crime-short-story-competition with the competition closing at midnight on the Friday 31st December 2021. Details can also be found at www.scottishfield.co.uk. The winners will be announced in March 2022.

Notes

For further details about competition rules and regulations please visit: www.whiskyglass.com/crime-short-story-competition 

About Glencairn Crystal:

The Glencairn Glass, created in 2000 is the world’s favourite whisky glass.  Glencairn Crystal now make over 4 million Glencairn Glasses per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 140 countries worldwide.

Glencairn Crystal’s clients include leading drinks companies such as Brown-Forman, Diageo and Pernod Ricard as well as sporting organisations including the world famous premier clubs; Liverpool, Celtic and Rangers. Also organisations including Muller, Cunard, Facebook and Google, plus corporate clients including the Houses of Parliament and Scottish Parliament.

Things are really heating up here at KWM, so the Malt Messengers are coming fast and furious. Expect to see another in the next 10 days or so… albeit with the caveat of actually finding time to do it!

I’ve been working on this newsletter for well over a week and, just when I thought I was done, something else arrived. Other items I expected to announce in this newsletter have been delayed, and so I’ve held them back until the next newsletter. In any case, there is an avalanche of cool new stuff to fill you in on.

Before we get to the heart of the matter – the aforementioned avalanche of new whiskies – a quick update on our KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar, which is now well over 80% pre-sold, with 6 weeks left until Advent. The last pieces are finally arriving, and we expect we’ll be able to meet our goal of having the Calendars ready for pick-up in early November!

We’ve also added a new tasting with our friend Ashok Chokalingham, Distillery Manager for Amrut, in Bangalore India. We haven’t seen Ashok in these parts for a couple of years, so we are very excited to have him join us for a tasting, even if only through the magic of the Interweb!

The first few new whiskies to fill you in on won’t appeal to everyone’s budget. There are few in this world who can afford such luxuries, but in an industry where there is an ever-increasing emphasis put on artificial rarity, and over-the-top expensive packaging, the two items I am writing about today are nonetheless intriguing.

Both whiskies are from Gordon & MacPhail, the undisputed champions of old and rare whisky. Gordon & MacPhail recently raised the bar yet again for the title World’s Oldest Whisky, with the launch of the Generations Glenlivet 80 Year. Distilled in 1940, in the early years of WWII, this whisky was matured in a parcel of G&M’s own casks, that included the Generations Glenlivet 70 Year (which KWM had the pleasure of launching in Canada in 2013, see photo above). Only 4 decanters of the Generations 80 Year are available to the Canadian market, in Alberta, they are exclusively available from KWM. Much more info can be found below.

The second old and rare curiosity is the G&M Glen Grant 1953 Mr. George Legacy First Edition. Filled into a first fill Sherry Butt in 1953, the whisky has been bottled at an impressive 67 years of age. It is bottled as a tribute to the late George Urquhart, 2nd generation of his family to own Gordon & Macphail, and under whose direction the cask was filled. While the age may not seem impressive when following in the wake of an 80-year-old, considering what some distilleries charge for their 50, 40, and even 30-year-olds these days, it is an eminently well-priced old whisky. More details can be found below.

In addition to the 67 and 80-year-olds, there are nearly a dozen other Gordon & MacPhail releases expected in the weeks ahead at KWM, primarily Connoisseurs Choice bottlings of Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Glenburgie, Glentauchers, Highland Park, and more. I’ll have more info on those in the next PCU. Besides, there is more than enough in the lines which follow to put a good size dent in your bank account if you aren’t careful!

So what do we have? We have new whiskies from Edradour, Signatory, Cadenhead (7 Stars Blend), Kavalan (Solist Sherry Canada Cask), La Maison du Whisky (Artist Collective), Glen Grant & Amrut. We have also taken on a new exclusive mystery Islay single malt: Smokehead High Voltage. They can’t disclose this, but we are all but certain it’s Ardbeg! There are also returning whiskies from Glenfarclas and Angel’s Envy, while supplies last.

One last-minute addition to this ever-expanding email is the Glasgow Distillery’s core range, which just arrived, and for some reason is already on sale. Details below!

Our fall gifting selection from Atom Brands is also soon to arrive including Gift Packs and Calendars from both Drinks by the Dram and That Boutique-y Whisky Company!

Now on to the controversial stuff… We are getting some GlenDronach 15 Year* but note the “*”, because we are only getting a small amount, and we are asking anyone interested to purchase another whisky from either BenRiach, GlenDronach or Glenglassaugh. Details can be found below.

We are also receiving a tiny amount of 3 Springbank/Kilkerran releases. When I say tiny, I mean it is 1/5th of what we used to get, and we’re expecting demand to be 8-10x supply on them. We are drawing ballots for a chance to purchase. Please follow the instruction on how to enter below!

Everything in this Malt Messenger is available for order or pre-order online and is linked (with the exception of the GlenDronach and Springbanks). If there are no descriptions or photos on the website, we’ll get caught up soon.

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, comments, or requests (but online ordering works too).

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

IN THIS EDITION – A Lot…

1. Introducing: The G&M Generations Glenlivet 80 Year

2. Introducing: G&M Glen Grant 1953 Mr. George Legacy 1st Edition

3. New Whiskies from Signatory

4. Coming Soon: New Whiskies from La Maison Du Whisky

5. Introducing: Smokehead High Voltage

6. New & Returning Whiskies from Amrut

7. NEW TASTING: Amrut Distillery with Ashok Chokalingham

8. Glen Grant 18 Year – They Finally Let Us Have Some…

9. Introducing: The Glasgow Distillery Range

10.  Coming Soon: Atom Brands Calendars & Gift Packs

11. MS Society Savour

12. GlenDronach 15 Year Revival Available*

13.Springbank Whiskies Available by Ballot

14.My Tasting Notes On Some New Stuff

15.Up-Coming Tastings

16. Currently On Sale

INTRODUCING: THE G&M GLENLIVET 80 YEAR

THE WORLD’S OLDEST WHISKY

Some of you might be able to cast your minds all the way back to remember…As if they needed yet more proof of being one of the world’s most forward-looking whisky firms, Gordon & Macphail has gone and done it again, launching once again, the world’s oldest whisky… the Gordon Macphail Generations Glenlivet 80 Year is coming to Canada, exclusively in Alberta to KWM. 250 decanters have been released globally with just 4 of them slated to come to Canada.

Producer Description: “On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner in the north of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask to be enjoyed by future generations.

“On 5th February 2020, leaning on the unique skill and experience acquired by over more than 125 years, the decision was taken to finally bottle the cask’s precious out-turn of 250 decanters.”

The Generations Glenlivet 80 Year is bottled in a decanter and packaging, designed by internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye OBE. “When collaborating, I am looking for like-minded partners in terms of their craft, beliefs and traditions. I loved Gordon & MacPhail’s rigour and obsession with their products and their craft – a romantic commitment that enables one to do exceptional things. Our partnership felt so organic.”

– SIR DAVID ADJAYE, OBE

G&M Generations Glenlivet 80 Year – 44.9% – First fill Sherry Butt Cask #380 – Distilled: 3 February 1940 – Bottled: 5 February 2020 – Tasting Note by Charlie MacLean MBE: “Appearance: Deep umber with magenta lights; old polished rosewood. Aroma: A complex, mellow nose-feel, still vivacious after all these years. Top notes of almond oil, scented hand-soap, backed by sandalwood and gorse flowers on a warm day. A whiff of peat-smoke in the empty glass. Palate: An oily texture, and lightly sweet to start (dates, salted plums, figs), drying elegantly (traces of dry Oloroso Sherry), towards a lengthy menthol finish. Drop of water increases spiciness. Summary: Vibrant and wholly satisfying. One of the finest malts I have ever encountered (and he’s had a few…).” – $140,000.00 – 93pts Angus @WhiskyFun.org

INTRODUCING: G&M GLEN GRANT 1953

MR. GEORGE LEGACY 1ST EDITION

So this may be a bit confusing, but even though there was a prior release of Mr. George by Gordon & MacPhail, that one, a 62 year, was the Centenary Edition. This one, a 67-year-old, is the first in a new series. Only 15 bottles are coming to Canada. We’re getting a decent number of those, but most of them are spoken for!

G&M Glen Grant 1953 Mr. George Legacy 1st Edition – 59.4% – 67 Year – First-Fill Sherry Butt Cask #4209 – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Soft aromas of beeswax polish give way to stewed fruit and toasted hazelnuts. Subtle orange peel complements rich ginger notes. Taste: Autumnal spice and ripe plum flavours combine with light blackcurrant undertones. Treacle comes to the fore alongside a light touch of fresh mint. Finish: A full-bodied and long finish with lingering fruit, spice, and a delicate hint of bonfire embers.” – $9,249.99 – 94pts from both Angus & Serge @WhiskyFun.org

NEW WHISKIES FROM SIGNATORY & EDRADOUR

This is technically the rest of our order which arrived this summer but wasn’t ready to ship with the rest. The bulk is from Signatory’s Unchillfiltered Collection, bottled at 46%. The Signatory Edradour, which is heavily sherried, is a perennial favourite here at KWM, and this bottling doesn’t disappoint.

1. Edradour 2009 Natural Cask Strength – 54.9% – 12 Year – Sherry Butt #68 – $220 – 89.55pts Whisky Base. – Limit 1 Per Customer

2. Signatory Ardmore 2009 – 46% – 11 Year – Casks: “Bourbon Barrel after Islay” – $108

3. Signatory Ben Nevis 2013 – 46% – 7 Year – 2 Hogsheads #s 432 & 434 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: Jujubes, gristy malt, and toasted oak; Boursin and a bit of chevre; nutty, lemongrass, and herbs. Palate: still malty and grassy with soft toasted oak and cracked walnuts; chevre with lemon slices; white pepper, melons, and herbal tea. Finish: medium long, warming and fresh; more herbal notes, malt, white pepper, and subtle fruits. Comment: this is a rather naked, malty Ben Nevis, brimming with some of the cheesy-fruity spirit character the distillery is famous for.” – $115

4. Signatory Bunnahabhain Staoisha 2013 – 46% – 7 Year – Dechar/Rechar Hogsheads #s 900168 + 900169 – $105

5. Signatory Caol Ila 2011 – 46% – 10 Year – 2 Bourbon Barrels #310870 + 310875 – $115

6. Signatory Edradour 46% Heavily Sherried – 46% – Oloroso Sherry Butt #187 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: nutty, chocolatey and earthy; stewed fruits, teriyaki beef jerky, and grilled figs stuffed with blue cheese; candied nuts, demerara sugar, and bacon dipped in chocolate; Arnold Palmers and sugary Russian coffee dregs. Palate: big, rich and nutty; this is a dry-oloroso malt with notes of nocino and chinotto; rough old leather, tobacco, and a minty freshness; more beef jerky, grilled figs with blue cheese, and chocolate-dipped in bacon; Russian coffee, Dutch licorice, chocolate-coated gummy bears, and milk duds. Finish: medium long and rich; big earthy sherry tones, spices, and dark bakers chocolate. Comment: this is one of the darkest (flavourwise), earthy and chocolaty of these Edradours we’ve ever seen; I’m glad I revisited my initial tasting note the next day because a little O2 in the bottle did it some wonders; I happily polish a bottle of this in a night with some friends!” – $115 Limit 2 Per Customer

7. Signatory Knockandoo 2007 – 46% – 13 Year – Hogsheads #304100 + 304104 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeyed, with melons, dried apricots, and cranberries; malty, heather honey, and Starburst fruit candies. Palate: big, lush, and warming; I wasn’t expecting it to be so big…; lush and floral with sweet vanilla, heather honey, and fig jam; marmalade and starburst fruit candies; gentle toasted oak, almonds, and chewy barley. Finish: medium in length, soft, and warming with bright fruits and toasted oak. Comment: this was a pleasant surprise, we haven’t seen much from this distillery in years; I had no idea what to expect; this bottling is fresh, fruity, and ticking all the boxes for me; not insanely complex, but all around a very drinkable malt!” – $105

8. Signatory Mortlach 2009 – 46% – 11 Year – Hogsheads – 317285 + 817286- $120

INTRODUCING: SMOKEHEAD HIGH VOLTAGE

We were lukewarm about taking this on as a KWM exclusive, we have a lot of exclusive undisclosed Islay Single Malts: Finlaggan Cask Strength, Ileach Cask Strength and the Peat’s Beast PX. But that was before we tried it… once we did, we knew we had to have it!

In the Producer’s words: “It Smokehead is an assault on your senses, then High Voltage is an all-out attack. Its breathtaking intensity is a red light for the faint of heart. And a thumbs-up for those who don’t just enjoy the vigorous thump of the bass drum in their chest at a gig but savour the ringing in their ears afterwards.”

This is a fine bit of marketing, but bold as this whisky is, it has a softer side–as most Ardbeg does!

Smokehead High Voltage – 58% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: salted caramel, juicy malt and earthy peat; lemon and lime spiced tortilla chips with salsa and a bit of guac; tarry and leathery with dried fruits and spices; melons and apricots beneath. Palate: a surge of peat, salted caramel and juicy malt; still tarry with loads of citrus, leather, dried fruits and spices; as the palate adjusts to the frontal assault some softer fruits emerge with heather honey and firm woody spices. Finish: long, drying and smoky with fading peat, spices and malt. Comment: this is a bold but characterful malt that is sure to please the peat heads, and especially fans of the most easter distillery on Islay’s southern coast!” – $90

NEW WHISKIES FROM LA MAISON DU WHISKY

The Artist Collective 4.0 series bottlings feature artwork entered into a competition by art students from all over France in 2020. This series theme is “trompe l’oeil” a representation intended to give the illusion of reality.

“When it comes to whisky, many things can be surprising: its colour, its nose, its finish… Behind the expectations and received ideas sometimes is hidden an original and unexpected reality.”

1. Artist Collective 4.1 Bunnahabhain 5 Year – 61.2% – Staoisha – 3 Refill Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, concentrated. Animal (farmyard, smoked meat), mineral (hail, diesel), oily (olive), peaty – of course, earthy and rooty (ginseng), the first nose is also traversed by plumes of smoke from a powerful Havana cigar. Allowed to breathe, it becomes medicinal (mustard poultice, tiger balm), iodine (tincture) and heady (violet, hyacinth). Gradually, candied lemon, juicy pear and even roasted pineapple bring lots of freshness and light to an aromatic palette indisputably centred on the colour yellow. Palate: dense, full. First, a fruity peat (William’s pear) creates a perfect link between the nose and palate. The particularly phenolic mid-palate is also medicinal (mustard) and spicy (clove, juniper). Then, irreversibly, liquorice stick coats the taste buds as aromatic plants (verbena, sorrel) help refresh the air.” – More on our Website! – $166

2. Artist Collective 4.4 Ledaig 13 Year 2007 – 48% – 2 Refill Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: taut, concentrated. The herbaceous (white mint, straw) and smoky (ash, soot) first nose is also marked by notes of lemon zest, camphor, root ginger, and hydrocarbon (diesel, polish). Allowed to breathe, it moves into a more sweet pastry tone, whilst remaining tangy (lime tart). Note that the aromatic palette gradually gains in floral (lily, iris), infused (green tea), fruity (Mirabelle plum) and velvety (artichoke heart) elegance. Palate: lively, stately. The very mineral (chalk, slate) attack is also very juicy (pear) and honeyed (acacia). Very quickly, however, tiger balm and mentholated flavours guide the tasting to an extremely medicinal and vegetal (aniseed ball, liquorice) register. Saturated with intense smoke, the end of the palate is empyreumatic (tar, Papier d’Arménie).” – More on our Website! – $230 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

3. Artist Collective 4.6 Linkwood 13 Year 2006 – 58.1% – 2 Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: refined, smooth. The floral (lavender, violet) and mineral (zan liquorice sweets, basalt) first nose is incredibly complex. A very beautiful fruity rancio (candied orange, mango, apricot) brings lots of smoothness and depth to an aromatic palette also marked by notes of salted butter caramel and toffee. Allowed to breathe, it becomes increasingly heady, until rose poivrée even rises to the surface of the glass. Palate: full-bodied, rich. More powerful than the nose would have you believe, the attack is captivating. Remarkably vegetal and malty, with impressive length. Evoking harvest time (straw, lucerne), the mid-palate reveals a stunning exoticism (guava, mango) and heady character (purple lilac, freesia). Rose petals are then placed delicately on the palate, accentuating the oriental character of the flavour palette.” – More on our Website! – $240 – 88pts Whisky Base

4. Artist Collective 4.5 Royal Brackla 13 Year – 48% – 2 Refill Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: deep, distinguished. A complex combination of dried apricot, beeswax, blood orange, precious wood, toasted walnut and dark chocolate, the first nose never stops developing. Right at this moment, noble spices (clove, cardamom, black pepper, ginger) and a very exotic rancio (lychee, mango, guava) appear alongside heady florals (carnation, peony, lavender). Allowed to breathe, notes of tobacco, leather, cocoa bean and rum baba highlight the very mature character of the aromatic palette. Palate : svelte, lively. The very slender attack reveals malted barley in all its splendour. Very rich, it brings to mind a delicious candied fruit cake. On the mid-palate, quince jelly and apricot and mango coulis very delicately envelope the taste buds. Indisputably ethereal, the flavour palette becomes increasingly powdery (cocoa), mentholated and honeyed (lime blossom, heather).” – More on our Website! – $170

NEW & RETURNING WHISKIES FROM AMRUT

We are expecting shortly the best lineup of Amruts we’ve been offered in years. Some of these, like the Intermediate Sherry, weren’t available to us for quite some time, as they were relegated to Duty-Free Shopping. Don’t be surprised if you see an Amrut tasting in the not too distant future…

1. Amrut Intermediate Sherry – 46% – Matured in Bourbon & Virgin Oak, before finishing firstly in ex-Sherry casks before a secondary finish back in Bourbon casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Instead of the usual biscuit aroma, we now get moist cake. And my word: is it fruity and spicy!! Love the freshly waxed oak floor, too. Brain-explodingly complex and multi-layered with one of the most intriguing sherry-style-bourbon-style marriages on the market. Taste: Cracking delivery and entirely unique in form. The structure is decidedly oak-based, but acts as no more than a skeleton from which the juicy sultana and spices drape. Salivating, too, as the barley kicks in powerfully. But the liquorice-orangey-honeycomb bourbon theme quietly shapes the flavour profile; the spices pulse and glow. Finish: Quite a chunk of natural caramel quietens the more exuberant characteristics; long and elegant. – $106 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

2. Amrut Kadambam – 50% – Matured in Sherry, then finished firstly in Brandy and then Rum Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Brings cherry and dark Christmas pudding combined with spices and fresh fruit. There are hints of oak in the background. After the addition of water, the oak comes through more strongly, together with barley and cereals There are faint hints of honey sweetness mixed with faint chocolate and vanilla notes. Palate: Oak and spices with hints of dried fruits and plums. Amrut Kahambam has an oily mouthfeel and is smooth and rich. There are bits of spice, fruits and more dark chocolate in the background. Subtle oak with a light dusting of peat. Finish: The best part of this great Indian whisky. It goes on and on and ends in notes of oak and spice. Warming and complex with a dry finish.” – $140

3. Amrut Peated Cask Strength – 61.9% – 23ppm – Oak Casks (probably ex-Bourbon) – Producer Tasting Note: Nose: Gristy smoked barley, kippers with a salted butter, peppered bite. Taste: The delivery is youthful and barely reaching puberty then suddenly an intensely malty ascendancy followed by a healthy dose of drier oaks. Finish: A sublime finale for its sheer delicacy and elegance; the peat no more than oozes, there are cups galaore of sugarless medium roast Mysore and finally, as a bourbony trail is discovered, soft liquorice and molassed sugar – easily the highlight of the experience: one of the best finishes of the year.” – $140

4. Amrut Portonova – 46% – Initially matured in ex-Bourbon & Virgin Oak, the whisky is then finished first in Port Pipes, and again in ex-Bourbon Casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: A Thick pudding of a nose; fruit and caramel have merged into one slightly over-oaked soup; burnt apple pie. Taste: This is essentially a port pipe sandwich…. and it shows. The spicy, jammy fruit is interwoven through any amount of caramel while the oaky saltiness gets the taste buds both salivating and puckering until you run dry. Finish: Long, massive oak with quite evident traces of the virgin barrels now detectable. And more of a cocoa hue as it progresses. At last some muscovado sugars arrive to supplant the berry fruits.” – $110

The Amrut Greedy Angels range is made up of some of the distillery’s oldest whiskies. The Indian climate isn’t ideally suited for long-term maturation, especially when you take into account an angel’s share of 10-15% per annum…

Amrut Greedy Angels Chairman’s Reserve ex-Bourbon Finished 10 Year – 55% – Producer Description: “The 10 years old ex-bourbon Amrut Greedy Angels is created using 100% unpeated 6-row Indian Barley and matured in bourbon casks. It’s among the oldest Indian whiskies ever released, and was bottled in memory of Amrut’s chairman, Neel R. Jagdale, who passed away in 2019. A limited-edition of only 900 bottles worldwide.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Aromas of marzipan, toffee, coconut shavings, vanilla pods, and golden syrup fill the nose. Taste: The palate offers notes of almond cake, sweet orange, toffee, and velvety dried fruits. Finish: Mouthwatering at first and then drying, layers of spice, woody notes, chocolate covered roasted almonds, lingering.” – $875 – Limit 1Per Customer!

About Chairman’s Reserve Peated Rum Finished 10 Year – 57.1% – Producer Description: “This stylish single malt is the work of Amrut over in India, having been aged for a decade. The smoky 10 Year Old Greedy Angels expression was finished in a rum cask before bottling at 57.1% ABV, with an outturn of just 450 bottles. Each decanter comes complete with a decadent presentation box as well as a rather weighty glass stopper.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Woody aromas mingle with smoky peat, sweet spice and marmalade on the nose, developing into sour cherry, cocoa and sweet vanilla. Taste: The palate offers notes of butterscotch, candied citrus fruit and tropical fruits, followed by camphor, soft smoke and rum-soaked raisins.” – $1080 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

NEW TASTING: AMRUT DISTILLERY

WITH ASHOK CHOKALINGHAM

Amrut Distillery with Ashok Chokalingham

·     Date: Tuesday, November 23

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $65

·     Pick-Up Date: Target October 25

We are thrilled that our friend Ashok, Amrut Distillery Manager, has agreed to join us for a virtual Amrut tasting. We haven’t seen Ashok in at least a couple of years, but it just so happens, that Bangalore India is 12.5 hours ahead of Alberta. Why does that matter? Because 8 PM in Calgary is 8:30 AM the next day in Bangalore, making it easy for us to coordinate a tasting… Ashok will lead us through a range of 7 Amrut whiskies including Bagheera, Fusion, Intermediate Sherry, Kadambam, Peated Cask Strength, and two different releases of Greedy Angels 10 Year. 8 PM, Tuesday, November 23. Samples will be available November 25.

GLEN GRANT 18 YEAR

THEY FINALLY LET US HAVE SOME!

Ok, so that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the only other time we were offered some Glen Grant 18 Year, we would have had to purchase 10:1 Glen Grant 10 for 18. Might have had something to do with the fellow in the Panama hat saying some nice words about it…but we don’t like playing those games, so we passed.

It seems we are now welcome to play, and also that our patience might be rewarded, as the price has come down too!

Glen Grant 18 Year – 43% – Oak Barrels – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Rich and floral, with oaky overtones and hints of spice. Taste: Malty caramel, dried raisins, and vanilla. Finish: Long, sweet with nuts and spice.” – $198

INTRODUCING: THE GLASGOW DISTILLERY

The flood of new Scottish distilleries hitting the market continues. The Glasgow Distillery is named for Scotland’s “first licensed distillery”, which is a point some other firms might contest. Regardless, I don’t have time to dig into that now, so I’ll let the firm speak for itself!

“In 1770, The Glasgow Distillery Company was founded at Dundashill and remained active until consequent closure at the beginning of the 20th Century.”

“In 2014 The Glasgow Distillery Company re-opened becoming the first Single Malt Whisky Distillery in Glasgow for over 100 years. The Glasgow Distillery Company is re-establishing the metropolitan Scotch Malt Whisky tradition alongside the great whisky regions and bringing Glasgow Malt Whisky back to life!”

The following Glasgow Distillery releases have arrived and are on sale. We’re passing those on, so they are effectively about $8 less expensive than they might otherwise be. The bottles are all 500mls:

1. Glasow Distillery 1770 The Original – 46% – ex-Bourbon Finished in Virgin Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Dried dark fruits with tropical undertones on the nose, followed by hints of biscuit, oak and freshly cut grass.Palate: Sweet butterscotch with a crème brulee char on the pallet. Hints of freshly sliced pear, dried figs, dates and raisin with sweet almond, honey and creamy shortbread notes. Finish: A long finish of thickly spread orange marmalade, nutmeg notes underpinned by complex woodiness and a slight spice.” – $75 – Introductory Price!

2. Glasow Distillery 1770 Peated – 46% – Matured in Virgin Oak & Finished in PX Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet smoke and rich toffee with notes of vibrant vanilla, dried dark fruits and cracked black peppercorn spice with subtle hints of flamed orange. Palate: Tobacco leaf, rich dark toffee and cacao nibs on a background of sweet soft peat and gentle earthy undertones with subtle herbaceous notes of sage. Finish: Long and smooth with notes of salted caramel, liquorice, and lingering spice.” – $75 – Introductory Price!

3. Glasow Distillery 1770 Triple Distilled – 46% – Ex-Bourbon & Virgin Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: The nose opens up to sweet vanilla and white chocolate leading to fresh summer fruits of aromatic apple, pear and peaches. Palate: The palate is well balanced and smooth with vibrant vanilla, soft caramel and double cream opening up to succulent orchard fruits and berries followed by delicate floral notes alongside a sweet almond nuttiness. Finish: The finish is long and lingering with notes of rich honey, anise and black pepper and hints of warming woody spice.” – $75 – Introductory Price!

COMING SOON: ATOM BRANDS

WHISKY CALENDARS & GIFT PACKS

ETA LATE OCTOBER!

There is a treasure trove of goodies coming from our friends at Atom Brands this year, from Drinks by the Dram, That Boutique-y Whisky Co. & That Boutique-y Gin Co. The ETA for everything is late October!

The Not Quite Calendars

Rather than take up a lot of space here, the details and photos for these are on our website. Click the product name to view them:

1. Drinks by the Dram Regions of Scotland Set – 5x30ml Wax Dipped Single Malts, 1 each from Scotland’s 5 Whisky Regions – $50

2. Drinks by the Dram Japanese Whisky Set – 5x30ml Wax Dipped Japanese Whiskies from Nikka, Yoichi, Miyagikyo & Mars (unless the whiskies have changed in the interim) – $65

3. Boutique-y Whisky Scotch Tasting Set – 4x50ml Boutique-y Whiskies in the 10-12 Year Range. – $52

5. Boutique-y Whisky Premium Scotch Set – 4x50ml Boutique-y 1–27 year old Whiskies from Ledaig, Inchmurrin, Cameronbridge & Burnside – $86

7. Drinks by the Dram Irish Whiskey Collection – 12x30ml Irish whiskies bottled with hand-dipped wax seals. – $83

8. That Boutique-y Whisky 12 Dram Set – 12x30ml -. Award-winning expressions and rare drams await you during the holidays or all year round with the removable sleeve. – $120

If the details for any of the above on the website don’t match perfectly, please be patient, we are doing our best to clean that up.

The Whisky Calendar

The Original Whisk(e)y Calendar, boxed without the “A” word in Canada, much as our own KWM Whisky Calendar so as not to have to deal with an unsavoury individual who shall not be named…

That Boutique-y Whisky Holiday Calendar 2021 – 24x30ml (720ml) – Back for another year, the Holiday Whisky Calendar is a collaboration between That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Drinks by the dram. It features 24 whiskies, 30mls each, from 6 countries. The whisky list can be found on our website, in the tasting note, but we always think it’s best to be surprised… there are too few surprises left in this crazy world! – $185+gst

MS SOCIETY SAVOUR

We’ve been proud supporters of the MS Society of Canada for more than a decade. It’s been nearly two years since the last MS Calgary Whisky Festival, and it will likely be another before the event returns… and I think we all know why!

But our support for the organization continues. For the second year in a row, we are proud to participate in the “MS Society’s Savour Festival”. We have curated a selection of wines and whiskies, which we have put on sale, through October 24. But more importantly, we will donate 10% of the sales from these products between October 18 and 24 to the MS Society.

BROWSE THE MS SAVOUR FESTIVAL RANGE

GLENDRONACH 15 YEAR REVIVAL AVAILABLE*

It’s been a year since we last had some of this, and the price has gone up a wee bit. It is available*, but not the “*”.

The amount of whiskies like this we receive is directly tied to the amount of other BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh skus we sell. So if you want a GlenDronach 15 Year Revival, we are asking you to purchase 1 other bottle of BenRiach, GlenDronach, or Glenglassaugh. Doesn’t matter which. It could be the new BenRiach The Smoky Twelve, or the GlenDronach 2009 Vintage (which is on SALE), or anything from Glenglassaugh!

The reality is that in order to get whiskies like this in the future, we need to sell the rest of the brand’s portfolio. So we are asking for your assistance with this.

GlenDronach 15 Year Revival – 46% – Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: An intoxicating burst of maraschino cherry, ripe bramble and dark chocolate mint with hints of orange bitters and walnut liqueur. Palate: Honey-glazed apricot and ripe fig with a crescendo of black cherry, angelica and muscovado. Long and enveloping finish with dark manuka honey, herbal bitters and dark chocolate.” – $150*

*Please email me if you would like to buy a bottle of the GlenDronach 15 Year and indicate which other bottled from BenRiach, GlenDronach, or Glenglassaugh you would like to pair it with. If you ask to be exempted I am liable to ignore your request with extreme prejudice… 😉

SPRINGBANK DRAWS

TAKE A DEEP BREATH & HOLD BACK THE FOMO

We are getting some Springbank releases in the next few weeks, but it is the smallest allocation we’ve ever before received. We know demand is sure to be high, so rather than inundate my email inbox or the website, I am asking you to register for the draw online.

Moving forward, and due to the increasing scarcity of Springbank whiskies, and the increasingly rabid demand for what must rightly be acknowledged as almost always excellent whisky, we are no longer taking any advanced requests for any limited edition Springbank whiskies. We will only be offering them via draws online when they come in. Springbank requests generate too much paperwork, and consume so much time replying to emails, that we need to calm the FOMO down.

We will draw names for the opportunity to purchase the following whiskies:

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 4 – 58.6% – 80% ex-Bourbon & 20% ex-Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: A strong maritime influence evokes harbourside memories of sea salt being carried on the wind. Sweet peat smoke is intense and welcoming as it fills the glass, like smouldering blackened marshmallows on the campfire. A floral earthiness reminiscent of our native wild blooming heather. Palate: It is a complex whisky and tastes beyond its years. Peat smoke dominates with malty undertones of crushed digestive biscuits. A familiar liquorice note develops and there is a hint of sticky honey glazing sweetness. Finish: The finish is long with strong peat influence remaining alongside malty, cereal characteristics. A slight oakiness is detectable and coastal maritime flavours endure.” – $85*Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength – 55.4% – 50% ex-Bourbon & 50% ex-Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Incorporating signature Springbank characteristics from the outset; earthy and maritime aromas. Hints of cracked black pepper and a tropical fruity fragrance develops over time, reminiscent of dried pineapple. Palate: Oily and creamy. Sweet flavours are balanced by the salty elements; vanilla, fudge and caramel with a sprinkling of finely crushed sea salt. There are notes of milk chocolate and sweet honeycomb. Finish: Gentle peat smoke endures alongside the distinct maritime influence. Freshly baked salted pretzels, warm vanilla custard and a tang of orange zest.” – $120*

Springbank Hazelburn 13 Year – 48.6% – 75% ex-Bourbon & 25% ex-Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Deliciously smooth and creamy like lemon cheesecake with notes of vanilla, citrus and crushed digestive biscuits. Palate: Fruity; ripe peach and crisp, juicy red apples. The bourbon influence promotes notes of vanilla whilst there are hints of honey and orange rind with a developing undertone of liquorice. Finish: Delicate, grassy freshness with subtle hints of honey and glazed dates.” – $126*

*The draw will be held on or before October 26. Please refrain from emailing me to ask if your name was drawn, or to indicate your preferences among the releases. I will contact you whether your name is drawn or not. The whiskies are non-discountable, but note we have not inflated the price of these whiskies according to their rarity or anticipated demand.

Enter the Springbank Ballots Here!

One final note, if you think I’m being melodramatic here, we are expecting 8-10x the demand for the above bottles, as there are actual bottles. So adjust your expectations accordingly!

UPCOMING KWM VIRTUAL WHISKY TASTINGS

We have a pretty packed tasting schedule over the next two months, and we are now starting to roll out some November events. This is just the first 5 (technically 2 are in October…), and don’t be surprised if we slip in a few more!

Wine vs Whisky with Abi & Evan

·     Date: Friday, October 22

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $55

·     Pick-Up Date: Day of the tasting! Friday, October 22

·     Only 5 spots left!

Abi knows Wine.

Evan knows Whisky.

What would happen if they switched roles?

For this tasting, Evan will select and talk about samples of wine while Abi will take charge on the whisky side, choosing three samples as well. Worlds will collide on this wine and whisky tasting. Which choices will come on top?

Included in the tasting kit:

– 3x 1.7 oz / 50 ml samples of wine

– 3x 0.5 oz / 15 ml samples of whisky

– A few small Halloween-themed snacks for pairing.

This offers enough of a sample size for all the singles out there. Those of you making a date night out of it might want to purchase two kits.

*Because the wine is a bit more perishable than the whisky, we will not be pouring it into sample bottles until the day of the tasting. Samples will not be ready for pickup until the day of the tasting*

Rare Malts: Single Casks & Small Batch Bottlings

·     Date: Tuesday, November 2

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $60

·     Pick-Up Date: September 15

·     Only 2 Spots Left!

The allure of this tasting should be almost self-explanatory… It is a range of Rare and Limited Edition malts that we are dying to share with you. We will be sampling the Daftmill 2009, Ardnamurchan Paul Lanois, Compass Box Menagerie, and Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak, as well as three brand-spanking-new KWM exclusive casks from Berry Bros. & Rudd: Orkney 2003 (Highland Park), Blended Malt 1999 (who knows what this is… and who cares? it’s awesome!), and Tormore 1995. None of the whiskies in this range have ever appeared in a prior KWM tasting, save perhaps the Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak, and I’d wager it’s been at least 10-12 years since we’ve cracked a bottle of that! 8PM Tuesday, November 2.

Evan Even More Blinded By Bourbon

·     Date: Tuesday, November 9

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $45

·     Pick-Up Date: October 22

Evan loves his Bourbon, and everybody enjoys blind tastings, so we are pairing the two ideas up once more. This time around we will be including 8 different samples of American Bourbon and Rye to taste through and talk about. Evan won’t say exactly what is in the lineup, but there are at least 3 limited releases that never even hit our store shelves in the mix this time around, a new bottling of an old favourite, and more. Grab your tickets while you can because these Bourbon tastings tend to sell out quickly!

The Ultimate Bunnahabhain Tasting 271 Years

·     Date: Thursday, November 25

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $300

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

A few of our team here, independently noted that we have a lot of old Bunnahabhains right now, and I mean a lot. There are the 43 and 44-year-old Director’s Special bottlings, 40 and 42-year-old Signatory Vintage bottlings and the Port Askaig 45 Year (also a Bunna) is returning this Fall. Add to that a Boutique-y Bunnahabhain 27 Year and a Bunnahabhain 30 Year OB I tucked away for a tasting, because there wasn’t enough to sell, and we had 271 years of Bunnahabhain just begging to be tasted… we couldn’t let this opportunity slip by without having an Ultimate Bunnahabhain Tasting! 8 PM, Thursday, November 25.

The Kinship Collection 2020 – 178 Years

·     Date: Tuesday, November 30

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $200

·     Pick-Up Date: Available NOW

·     Only 11 spots left!

It is likely someone will eventually purchase a full set of the Kinship Collection 2020 from us… but we won’t be selling two! That’s because one of those sets is going to get cracked for a tasting. How can it not?! The set is comprised of a 28-year-old Ardbeg and 30-year-old whiskies from Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Highland Park and Laphroaig. In all, it is 178 years of Islay malts & Highland Park. Reviews of the range are not so shabby either, averaging 90+pts on Whisky Base.

CURRENTLY ON SALE

Here are some of the most highlights for our ever-evolving list of deals:

1. Glencadam 15 Year – $117.99 – SAVE 20%

2. Glenrothes 12 Year – $72 – SAVE 25%

3. Glenrothes Whisky Makers Cut – $95 – SAVE 20%

4. Macallan Double Cask 12 Year – $98 – SAVE 20%

5. Mackinlay’s Shackleton – $69 – SAVE 40%

But there is much more than that on sale, at present nearly 40 whiskies!

Browse all the deals here!

CURBSIDE PICKUP

Physical distancing is made easy with curbside 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 deliver fee. We are expecting high demand for delivery after the sale so please be patient!

403-283-8000

Store Hours

Mon – Wed 10AM – 8PM

Thurs & Fri 10AM – 9PM

Sat 10AM – 8 PM

Sun 11PM to 6PM

*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.*