BOOK YOUR VISIT TO THE HOME OF THE MACALLAN

We’re excited to open the doors to our new Distillery and Visitor Experience and are pleased to now offer online booking for select tours from 4th June 2018.

Join one of our friendly and knowledgeable guides to learn about the foundation stones that underpin the character of The Macallan and how we create our rich spirit; from the strong sense of place at the heart of the estate to our long experience of distilling and maturing single malt whisky.

BOOK NOW

Bookings can be made up to 6 weeks in advance.
For further information about tours and booking please see the Distillery Tour Terms and Conditions and FAQs.

Friday, June 15th, 5-7 PM

SIA Scotch

Two Scotches in one day! Stick around after our Glen Grant tasting to sample SIA blended scotch whiskey. Ever since it’s uniquely crowd-funded release, SIA’s reputation as a a smooth, distinctive scotch whisky has garnered praise from whisky newcomers and connoisseurs alike.  

Click Here to RSVP

Early Bird Tickets for Austin, Houston and Dallas end June 30
Early Bird Tickets for Atlanta end July 31st

Austin (#WOWAUS) happens Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Vault Space.
Early Bird Tickets are available here.

Dallas (#WOWDAL) happens Friday, September 21, 2018 at Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field. Early Bird Tickets are available here.

Houston (#WOWHOU) happens Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Silver Street Studio.
Early Bird Tickets are available here.

Atlanta (#WOWATL) happens Friday, November 2, 2018 at The Intercontinental Buckhead.
Early Bird tickets are available here.

Lets talk about it! Be sure to use the hashtags
when talking about the all the WOW shows on social media!

Saturday, June 9th, 2:30 – 5:30PM 

Bourbon Tasting: 

Wright & Brown and Wyoming 

A treat for American whiskey lovers, this tasting features whiskies made in the Big Basin of Wyoming as well as our own Bay Area! Expand your whiskey knowledge with a  variety of bourbons, whiskey, and rye from Wright and Brown and Wyoming distilleries, presented by our in-store whisky experts.

Click Here to RSVP

Mark the date for 2019!

A big thank you goes out to all the staff, exhibitors and guests who made this year’s Spirit of Toronto a night to remember!

This year’s show boasted our biggest selection yet of whisky and premium spirits alongside the Taste of Italy and the Canadian launch of the incredible Double Dutch mixers, as well as sneak previews of a number of upcoming releases.

Once again masterclasses were fully subscribed and we extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our esteemed presenters who shared their samples and knowledge with our guests. This year’s line-up featured an embarassment of riches and variety that spanned the worlds of absinthe, r(h)um, Italian spirits and liqueurs, as well as Dutch, Canadian, Scotch and Irish whiskies!

But a picture is worth a thousand words so please check out our photo gallery to relive the good times for yourself:

Spirit of Toronto 2018 Photo Gallery

We look forward to welcoming you back in 2019 on Saturday May the Fourth for Canada’s premiere tasting event – Spirit of Toronto turns fifteen next year so rest assured that plans are already in the works for our big birthday bash!

Until then have a great summer!

Johanna Ngoh
Executive Producer
www.spiritoftoronto.ca

Festival Week

Can’t make it across to Islay or Campbeltown for the Festivals this year? Join in the adventure wherever you are with whiskies from the distilleries.

Shop – Islay Whiskies
Shop – Campbeltown Whiskies

Malt Messenger Bulletin

Tastings, Tastings, Tastings & Deals!

Our 26th Birthday Sale was a big hit with some amazing bargains. But if you thought all the deals were behind us, you were mistaken. Many of our suppliers seem to be cleaning house this month, and we are passing the savings on. We have a selection of 14 whiskies listed below on which you can save between $5 and $65 a bottle. Some of these deals will be available for just a few days, others for a week or two. Here are a couple of examples from what you will find below, $65 off Balblair 1983, $15 off of Lagavulin 8 Year 200^th Anniversary, $21 off of Royal Lochnagar 12 Year and $14 off of Glengoyne 18 Year. Act fast, quantities are limited and the clock is ticking!

Lots of cool tastings to tell you about, starting with this coming month’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society Outturn on Thursday and Friday. We always get cool whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, but even so this coming release stands out. We have two SMWS whiskies bottled for Feis Isle, the Islay Festival, and another for the Spirit of Speyside Festival. We also have an SMWS Canada first, a whisky from a distillery we have never previously seen in Canada in 6 1/2 years… You have to be a Member to buy SMWS bottles, but anyone can come to the tastings. Might be it convinces you to join!

Saturday is Ardbeg Day, and it looks like the weather will finally turn in its favour. Ardbegians from Calgary and Southern Alberta will be gathering at Provision in Central Memorial Park for a Festival of Peat and Love. The Festivities kick off with an Ardbeg Master Class at 11:30, $20, and carry on with the main event running from 1:00 until 3:30. Further details available below and by following this link.

A couple of in demand Japanese whiskies are back in stock, but not for long. Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt, Nikka Coffey Malt and The Nikka 12 Year are all too popular for supply to keep up with demand, and they are now tightly allocated. We have a little stock of these three tasty whiskies, but not for long!

Finally, George Grant is coming to town, and there is a Glenfarclas tasting with him on Tuesday night. The cost is $75 for a range of 7 whiskies including Glenfarclas 17 Year, 21 Year, 25 Year, 25 Year KWM Cask Strength, 30 Year and a 1987 Family Cask. Send me an email if you would like more details.

In This Edition

1. The Don’t Miss/Epic Scotch Malt Whisky Society June Outturn
2. Ardbeg Day 2018 – The Sun Will Be Out for “Peat & Love”
3. June Whisky Deals
4. Three Nikka Whiskies Back in Stock!
5. Georgefarclas is Coming to Town

Slainte!

Sincerely

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/

or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1

The Don’t Miss/Epic Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada June 2018 Outturn 

7 More Reasons to Check Out the Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Whether you are already a member or not, you might want to consider registering for the June Scotch Malt Whisky Society Outturn tastings, which are open to both members and the general public. The tastings for the June Outturn take place tomorrow and Friday at KWM, with seatings both nights at 6 and 8 PM.. The cost is $40 for Members and $50 for the general public and guests. Every month we launch 7 new whiskies for our members, always single cask and cask strength. This month’s whiskies are especially notable as among them are two Feis Isle (Islay Festival) bottlings, as well as another from the Spirit of Speyside. One of this month’s whiskies is also a first for the Canadian branch… in the past 6 1/2 years we have never before had a whisky from the Speyside distillery in question! There is still room in 3 of the 4 Outturn Tastings, Members $40/Non-Members $50:

• Thursday May 31 6PM
• Thursday May 31 8PM
• Friday June 1 6PM

Call 403-283-8000 to register or register online!

Ardbeg Day 2018 – This Saturday 

The Sun is Set to Shine on the Festival of Peat & Love

The Ardbeg Day theme this year is

“Peat & Love”, marking the release of Ardbeg Grooves. There will be a Master Class hosted by yours truly, followed by a 60s themed party including a live band. More details on the event can be found here!

Register for the Ardbeg Day Master Class – Saturday June 2 – 11:30-12:30 – $20

“An Ardbeg Master Class hosted by Andrew Ferguson of Kensington Wine Market, featuring this year’s Ardbeg Limited Release, the Ardbeg Grooves, along with select Ardbeg expressions.”

Register for the Ardbeg Day Main Event – Saturday June 2 – 13:00-15:30 – $20

“Come and be transported back to the 60’s era, expressed in a uniquely Ardbeggian way…with Peat and Love!! Tickets include one Ardbeg cocktail, a sampling of this year’s Limited Release, the Ardbeg Grooves and 60’s themed snacks provided by Provision at Central Memorial Park.”

We are also taking pre-oders for the Ardbeg Day 2018 bottling, Ardbeg Grooves – $145.

June Whisky Deals 

Save $5 – $65 a Bottle on 14 Whiskies

Who doesn’t love a good deal? As much as possible, when one of our suppliers offers us a good deal, we try to pass it on! We have some phenomenol savings available on 13 single malts and a beloved Canadian Rye. Some of the deals will only last a week, others a little longer, but not much… two products are limited by quantity. Please note if pricing on our website does not reflect the sale prices now it will shortly. Don’t doddle, act fast:

The Deals

1. Balblair 1983 – Was $440 – Now $375 – Save $65
2. Bowmore 15 Year Darkest – Was $95 – Now $90 – Save $5
3. Glengoyne 18 Year – Was $130 – Now $116 – Save $14 – Only 6 bottles!
4. Glenfarclas 12 Year – Was $70 – Now $65 – Save $5
5. Glenfarclas 15 Year – Was $97 – Now $90 – Save $7
6. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength – Was $89 – Now $84 – Save $5
7. Lagavulin 8 Year – Was $105 – Now $90 – Save $15
8. Lot 40 – Was $49 – Now $36 – Save $13
9. Macallan Rare Cask – Was $413 – Now $385 – Save $28 – Only 5 bottles! 
10. Mortlach Rare Old – Was $105 – Now $82 – Save $23
11. Port Askaig 100 Proof – Was $87 – Now $65 – Save $22
12. Port Askaig 8 Year – Was $70 – Now $60 – Save $10
13. Royal Lochnagar 12 Year – Was $97 – Now $76 – Save $21
14. Tamdhu Batch Strength – Was $105 – Now $95 – Save $10

Conditions

1. These deals are on a first come first serve basis and subject to availability!
2. These deals will not be applied retroactively or carried forward.
3. We reserve the right to refuse service.

Three Nikkas Back In-Stock 

One Each of Single Grain, Blend and Blended Malt

The glory days of Japanese whisky were about 8 years ago when KWM was swimming in Japanese single malts, belnds and blended malts. No one knew how good we had it… Japanese whisky now, if even available, is on extremely tight allocations. We have just received some Coffey Malt, Taketsuru Pure Malt and The Nikka 12 Year. They won’t last long:

1. Nikka Coffey Malt – 45% – The originality of this 100% malt expression  lies in its unique distillation method. Malted barley is distilled in a “Coffey still”, a traditional continuous still which is normally used to produce grain whisky. Discover this whisky’s extraordinary texture, which Nikka has specially developed for whisky aficionados. – $98
2. Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt – 43% – This is a blended malt named in honor of Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky. He is the first Japanese who mastered whisky-making in Scotland and produced the genuine whisky in Japan. Masataka learned that the natural resources surrounding a distillery were essential for quality whisky. Based on his thought, he selected two places, Yoichi and Miyagikyo, and built two distilleries there. Its gentle malt flavor, fruitiness and extremely well-balanced taste make it a perfect entry point into the world of Nikka. – $96
3. The Nikka 12 Year – 43% – There is nothing more suitable than a blended whisky to represent Nikka’s way of whisky making. The asymmetry design of the bottle is inspired by the neck of a “Kimono”, just as if the layers visualize all the passion and craftsmanship devoted in the history of Nikka. The honorable golden emblem engraved was designed by Masataka Taketsuru for his very first Nikka whisky bottle. Malty, soft and well-balanced, this expression portrays our gratitude to the heritage and our will to advance our tradition.- $166 (Just 6 Bottles) 

Georgefarclas is Coming 

Glenfarclas Aged 15 to 30 Years with George Grant – June 5

We are putting on a private event with George Grant on Tuesday June 5, 6:30PM. The cost is $75 for George, Charcuterie and 7 whiskies 15-30 years of age (including a 1987 Family Cask. An evening with Mr. Grant is worth $75 all on its own… with or without whisky. Email me for more details!

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger! 

Contact & Disclaimers 

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

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change and don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in-store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson ~ Owner & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market ~ 403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Kensington Wine Market

Saturday, June 2, 2:30 – 5:30PM 

Bourbon Tasting: Balcones 

From humble beginnings an old welding shop under a bridge in Waco, Texas, Balcones distillery is now recognized worldwide for their bold and intense flavors. From blue corn grown in New Mexico to the first Texas-grown malted barley, they’ve taken pains to create a truly Texas spirit – which is then distilled in magnificent copper pot whisky stills designed by Forsyths of Scotland. The result is a decadent and densely flavorful whiskey.

Their Texas Single Malt was crowned “Best American Single Malt” at the 2016 whisky awards, plus numerous gold medals from Whiskies of the World and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

We’ll be pouring a variety of favorites and new releases, presented by distillery representatives and our own in-store whiskey experts.

Click Here for More Details and RSVP

Friday, June 8th, 5-7 PM

SIA Scotch

Two Scotches in one day! Stick around after our Glen Grant tasting to sample SIA blended scotch whiskey. Ever since it’s uniquely crowd-funded release, SIA’s reputation as a a smooth, distinctive scotch whisky has garnered praise from whisky newcomers and connoisseurs alike.  

Click Here to RSVP