Friday, April 6, 5 – 7 PM

Scotch Tasting: Benromach

Join us for an evening of traditional Speyside single malt! Founded in 1898, Benromach is the smallest distillery in Speyside – only three distillers passionately handcraft every release.The result is a dram reminiscent of ancient Speyside – beautifully balanced, with a light touch of smoke.

This in-store tasting features new and rare scotches by Benromach distillery, presented by whisky experts.

Click Here to RSVP

Thursday, March 29th 4-6 PM:

Glen Grant 

Join us this week for a tasting of Glen Grant single malt scotch! Established in 1840, the centuries-old Speyside malt remains one of the biggest selling single malts in the world. Guest will be treated to rare favorites and new releases from the centuries old distillery, with whisky experts present for all your scotch questions.

Click Here to RSVP 

Tickets on sale today Monday March 26 at 10:00am

This is your reminder: tickets for Spirit of Toronto 2018 go on sale this morning, Monday March 26, at 10:00am!

These may be purchased as follows:

• In person at Roy Thomson Hall’s box office at 60 Simcoe Street
• By calling Roy Thomson Hall’s box office at (416) 872-4255
• Online through Roy Thomson Hall’s website

Buying tickets online for several people? Please keep reading!

Masterclasses: the more, the merrier?

May we make a suggestion based on feedback from our regular guests?

If this is your first time coming to the show, one masterclass will be plenty, leaving you with ample time to explore the tasting halls, take in some live jazz and see why everyone is queuing for the beef and Yorkshire pudding.

For those determined to attend masterclasses at both 7pm and 8:30pm, please allow enough time to check-in, collect your glass and event programme, leave your jacket at the coat check, and queue for the class itself. But please keep in mind that attending two classes leaves little time to enjoy the event itself!

Buying Multiple Tickets Online

If you are buying multiple tickets and wish to attend different masterclasses than your fellow ticketholders, please note that you will be required to build these different selections as separate packages before proceeding to the checkout to pay for the full order.

Furthermore please note that masterclasses cannot be purchased without including a ticket to Spirit of Toronto as part of your package.

For example…

Buying tickets to the show for yourself and a friend, but planning on attending different masterclasses? Purchase your tickets as follows —

Select the following as Package #1 and and click ‘Continue’:

Sat 5/5/18 6:30PM Spirit of Toronto 2018
Sat 5/5/18 5:30PM Nothern Border Collection 2018
Sat 5/5/18 7:00PM Discovering Dutch Whisky

You will then be prompted for the number of tickets being purchased for Package #1, after which you may either “Go to Cart” to pay for your purchase, or “Build Another Package” to select a different grouping of masterclasses as Package #2:

Sat 5/5/18 6:30PM Spirit of Toronto 2018
Sat 5/5/18 5:00PM No Italy, No Cocktail
Sat 5/5/18 8:30PM Deconstructing Forty Creek

When finished building all your packages you may now select ‘Go to Cart’ to review your order and proceed to the checkout page.

There’s always standby…

Didn’t get the classes you wanted? Not much of a planner? There may still be hope: any empty seats courtesy of no-shows will be assigned to those waiting on standby. Note that this only applies to the classes at 7pm and 8:30pm; please review the FAQ section of our website for more details.

LIST OF RARE & COLLECTABLE WHISKIES RELEASED
FOR THE DISTILLERS’ CHARITY AUCTION ON 10^th APRIL 2018

22^nd March 2018 – The full list of lots for the second Worshipful Company of Distillers’ Charity Auction is now available to view at www.distillers.auction.  It features more than 70 rare and highly collectable whiskies and experiences that will go under the hammer at Mercers’ Hall, in the heart of the City of London, on Tuesday 10^th April.

The evening, hosted by Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers Bryan Burrough, will begin with a reception attended by the Lord Mayor of London, followed by international auctioneer David Elswood of Christie’s conducting the auction.  Tickets to attend (dress code – black tie) are available for £100 at www.distillers.auction. There is also the opportunity on the auction website to register for absentee and telephone bidding.

Estimates for the lots, all of impeccable provenance having been donated directly by the producers or liverymen of the Distillers, range from £250 to £25,000.  They include some of the most sought-after whiskies in the world, one-of-a-kind expressions, special bottlings never released commercially and private invitations to tastings with the makers.

Bidding is expected to be strong for the Whyte & Mackay contribution of a one-off, specially produced bottle of The Dalmore 1976 Highland Single Malt Whisky 41 Years Old, matured in a Graham’s Port Colheita 1963 Pipe, with details and tasting notes on a scroll handwritten by master blender and liveryman Richard Paterson.

William Grant & Sons has provided exceptional whiskies with wonderful stories. Glenfiddich 50 Years Old, vintage distillery bottling from 1991, is number 440 of a limited edition of 500 bottles. This whisky was made from a batch of nine casks laid down in the 1930s, one for each of William Grant’s nine children who had helped to build Glenfiddich Distillery in the 1880s.  Its bottle of The Balvenie 50 Year Old Cask 191 (bottle number 14 of 83), distilled in 1952 and bottled is 2002, is one of the oldest Balvenies ever released and the label reads: “The last cask of The Balvenie Single Malt Whisky from the nineteen fifties is unique and unrepeatable.”

Gordon & MacPhail has gathered six of its historic bottlings of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, one distilled in each decade from the 1930s to 1980s, to create The Archive Collection exclusively for The Distillers’ Charity Auction: Strathisla 1937, Linkwood 1946, Talisker 1955, Glen Grant 1965 (never released for sale), Ardbeg 1974 and St. Magdalene 1982. This is accompanied by an invitation to the home of this family-owned company.

Compass Box Whisky has also delved into its archive to compile The Hedonism Collection, from the original in 2000 (the world’s first Blended Grain Scotch Whisky) to the latest expression released this year: Hedonism (First Edition), Hedonism Maximus, Hedonism 10^th Anniversary, Hedonism Quindecimus and Hedonism The Muse. Founder John Glaser will host a special dinner in the Compass Box Blending Room for the winning bidder and five guests.

The Kirin Brewery Company Fuji-Gotemba Distillery has brought together a set of three 21 Year Old bottlings, never before sold together (two no longer available commercially and a Single Malt that has never been released for sale), from its historical whisky library stocks: Evermore 2001 Blended Whisky, Evermore 2002 Blended Whisky and Fuji-Gotemba Single Malt Whisky distilled in 1981.

Chivas Bros has created The Royal Salute Highland Fling, a two-day trip to Speyside hosted by Peter Prentice, Keepers of the Quaich chairman and global VIP relations director for Chivas Bros. Staying at Linn House, six guests will visit Aberlour, The Glenlivet and Strathisla Distilleries with tastings in the Royal Salute Vault and Chivas Regal Cellar. The trip culminates in a Royal Salute Scottish Dinner and tasting of extraordinary whiskies.

Other highlights include: a magnum of Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Whisky Aged 50 Years specially selected for The Worshipful Company of Distillers by John L S Grant and George S Grant and donated by Glenfarclas Distillery; Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1964 Fino Cask 46 Years Old (one of 72 bottles) given by Beam Suntory UK; a unique bottle of Littlemill The Worshipful Company of Distillers 2018 Edition 40 Years Old selected by master blender Michael Henry; The Macallan Sherry Oak 40 Years Old rare single malt matured in three handpicked Oloroso sherry seasoned casks from Jerez; and number 232 of 500 crystal decanters of cask strength The North British Single Grain Scotch Whisky 50 Years Old given to employees, former employees and friends of The North British Distillery Company Limited to celebrate its 125th Anniversary in 2010.

Alongside these legendary names are new distilleries already making their mark. Liverymen Daniel Szor, founder and CEO of The Cotswolds Distillery, is offering a day of whisky making and a hand-drawn cask strength bottle of Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky, and Stephen A Gould, proprietor and distiller at the Golden Moon Distillery, has donated a bottle from the first cask of its initial release of Colorado Single Malt Whiskey.

Bryan Burrough, Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, said: “As a Livery Company, charity is at the heart of what we do, and as Distillers we are proud to be leading our fundraising with the Distillers’ Charity Auction. An incredible collection of whiskies has been donated, which we are sure will generate a great deal of interest and excitement from collectors around the world.”

In the spirit of the event, the first two Worshipful Company of Distillers single cask bottlings of The Master’s Cask, signed by the Master of their year of bottling (an unpeated Caol Ila 18 Years Old for Douglas Morton in 2016 and Knockando 18 Years Old for Richard Watling in 2017), are presented for auction in a specially commissioned cabinet.

All proceeds will be donated to the Distillers’ Charity, which supports industry training and education, the Alcohol Education Trust dedicated to improving alcohol education for young people in Scotland, and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal towards the OnSide Youth Zones initiative creating opportunities for young people in London to thrive.   More information on these charities can be found at www.distilers.auction.

Follow The Distillers’ Charity Auction on Instagram and Facebook @distillersauction. 

The Worshipful Company of Distillers & The Distillers’ Auction 

The Worshipful Company of Distillers, founded in 1638, is a Livery Company of the City of London.

This year’s Master, Bryan Burrough, has spent his working life in the City of London. He joined the livery in 1988 and, with his family history steeped in the gin industry, has acted as Chancellor (Finance Director) and Chair of the Charity Committee. He is proud that 80 per cent of liverymen are involved with the drinks trade, and as one of the other 20 per cent, aims to continue to cement the Company’s relationship with the City of London.

The Distillers’ Charity provides support and funds to City of London and industry charities through scholarships at Heriot-Watt International Centre for Brewing & Distilling, the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), The Benevolent, Alcohol Education Trust and Action on Addiction.

The first Distillers’ Charity Auction in 2013 raised over £250,000 for charitable causes from the sale of 53 lots of old, rare and unique bottles and collections of Scotch Whiskies.  A generous legacy grant was made by the Diageo Foundation to provide funding to help to make the Distillers’ Charity Auction a sustainable, long-term fundraising programme.  Further donations towards supporting the Auction have also been received from The Morrison Foundation and the William Grant Foundation.

www.distillers.org.uk

Malt Messenger Bulletin – 4 Great Deals & Tonight’s Speyside Festival

It has been a busy couple of the weeks since the last Malt Messenger. I won’t have time to put together the next full Malt Messenger until after Easter, but in the meantime I have some timely news to share, so I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well!

Firstly, there will be another Malt Messenger Bulletin on Monday March 26th, Announcing our Spring Tasting Schedule. There is a lot to look forward to in the Spring Tasting Schedule, including a pair of whisky festivals and a special Ardbeg 1815 tasting with Brendan McCarron, head of maturing whisky stocks at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. We will also have a pair of Ancient Malts tastings where we will be cracking some 1968s and a pair of Broras, and there is more… stay tuned!

Secondly, and more pressingly, we have a few available tickets left for tonight’s The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival at KWM. The cost is $50, includes a glass, and the opportunity to sample up to 80 different whiskies! Register online or call 403-283-8000 to register. (WHOA! WI did not receive this int time to publish on the day of the event but keep your eye out for their next festival – they are well worth the visit! ~ WI)

Finally, the main purpose of today’s email, is to promote a couple of time sensitive deals we have. We were offered a price break on the anCnoc 2000 and anCnoc 22 Year to clear out the stock of these two great whiskies. It seems the importer brought in too much, and both products have been discontinued, so they are eager to get rid of them. The anCnoc has dropped in price by $10, from $100+gst to $90+gst. The anCnoc 22 Year has dropped nearly $40, from $192+gst to $155+gst. They are both amazing deals, especially the 22! More details and tasting notes below.

We are also passing on savings on the Auchentoshan 18 Year and Laphroaig Lore. Beam Suntory has put both on sale, and we are passing the savings on, but there is a catch. We can only honour the sale price for bottles of the Auchentoshan 18 (was $118+gst now $108+gst) and Laphroaig Lore (was $190+gst now $175+gst) ordered between today and next Wednesday, March 28… more details below.

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin. If you have any comments, questions or requests don’t hesitate to send me an email.

Slàinte!

Andrew

In This Edition

1. Spirit of Speyside Festival Tomorrow
2. Save on the anCnoc 2000 and anCnoc 22 Year
3. Save $10 on Auchentoshan 18 Year (Until March 28)
4. Save $15 on Laphroaig Lore (Until March 28)

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

KWM’s 2nd The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 

$50 for 80+ Speyside Whiskies & a Glass – TONIGHT!

We featured Islay and Islayternative malts last month, this time around it is the Speyside’s turn in our 2nd Annual The Spirit of Speyside Festival. Only the whiskies of distilleries in the Speyside region will be featured in this festival style tasting. Think you know the Speyside? With over 80 whiskies to choose from we’ll guarantee you something new!

Tonight… Thursday March 22, 7PM, just $50, including a glass!

Register in-store, by phone at 403-283-8000 or online: kensingtonwinemarket.com

SAVE on anCnoc 2000 & 22 Year 

Blow out specials on two fine Highland Single Malts!

You gotta love it when people bring the deals

to you… Just before Christmas it was the Mackinlay’s Shackleton(only 10 left), and now it is a pair of anCnocs, from the Knockdhu Distillery. We were given a $10 break on the anCnoc 2000 and close to $40 on the anCnoc 22 Year to help clear out the Alberta inventory. Both are great whiskies, but discontinued, and it seems the importer, under previous ownership, bought too much. The whiskies are both lovely.  My tasting notes are below. Both are bottled at 46%, and matured in a mix of Ex-Sherry and Ex-Bourbon. Here are the details:

anCnoc 2000 – 46% – Matured in a mix of Oloroso Sherry & Ex-Bourbon – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet and fruity with a mix of strawberry and black licorice Twizzlers; the whisky is delicate and floral, there are jujubes, some chewy malt and citrus notes. Palate: creamy with licorice, soft leather, spices and earthy notes; some honey with nutty sherried tones and more strawberry and black licorice Twizzlers; a touch of malt, candied citrus, more jujubes and dark spices: fennel, clove and anise. Finish: long, coating, leathery and spicy with more licorice and candied fruits. Comments: excellent value middle aged vintage whisky.” – Regular $100 – SAVE $10 – Special Price $90+gst

• Producer Description: “anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither chill-filtered nor coloured.  As a result this dram may develop a light haze with the addition of water or if kept at a cold temperature. This haze is a natural characteristic of whisky that is non-chill filtered.”

anCnoc 22 Year – 46% – Matured Ex-Bourbon & Ex-Sherry – Andrew’s Tasting Notes: “Nose: soft damp tobacco in an old leather patch, chocolate shavings on a piping cappuccino; some candied fruits, lemon drops and wine gums; some delicate malty-floral top notes emerge with some soft toasty oak. Palate: rich, fruity and very soft, wow this is really something; lots of chocolate with more soft leather and tobacco; more candied fruit and wine gums with some emerging mango, papaya and honey dew melon. Finish: an absolutely beautiful balance of both sherry and bourbon notes, the finish is long rich and spicy; finishes fruity and floral. Comment: I’m really caught off guard by this, wow it’s good!” – Regular $192 – SAVE $37 – Special Price $155+gst

• Producer Description: “Matured predominantly in American oak, ex-bourbon casks as well as Spanish oak, ex-sherry butts, anCnoc 22 Years Old displays complexity and a wealth of character but its long lasting rich, smoky finish sets this dram apart from the younger offerings.”
• Silver Medal Whisky Magazine – 87 Martin Nouet & 86 Rob Allanson

SAVE $10 on Auchentoshan 18 Year

Regularly $118, Available for $108 through March 28!

Fresh and clean with lots of citrus notes, the Auchentoshan 18 Year is one of the best priced distillery bottled 18 year olds on the market. The importer has put it on sale, so we are passing on the savings through Wednesday March 28. Save $10 on the already low price!

Auchentoshan 18 Year – 43% – Producer Description: “Triple distilled and matured in American bourbon oak for over eighteen years. The result: a refreshing Lowland single malt whisky with the added infusion of ripe citrus and green tea, the warmth of toasted almonds and the signature smooth, delicate, Auchentoshan taste.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Aroma: Fresh tobacco leaf – then sweet with a hint of caramelized sugars, green tea and toasted almonds. Taste: A floral freshness with sweet barley sugar at first – this gently ebbs to reveal a tangerine zestiness. The palate is left alive and refreshed. Finish: A long, lingering and well-balanced dram that invigorates the mouth.” – Regular $118+gst – SAVE $10, $108+gst Until March 28!

SAVE $15 on Laphroaig Lore 

Regularly $190, Available for $175 Through March 28!

Laphroaig Lore was created by Distillery Manager John Campbell as a testament to 200 years of whisky making at the Islay Distillery. The whisky is composed of components 7 to 27 years of age from a wide variety of cask types including: virgin oak, Ex-Bourbon, 2nd fill Oloroso hogsheads, and refill ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks.

From the Distillery: “‘Lore’ is a complex marriage of both classical Lahroaig styles and many ages of Laphroaig. The marriage draws from the peaty power of Laphroaig in the same vein as Quarter Cask but with the smoothness of double matured stock finished in European oak hogsheads. To add even further depth and complexity we used our mosy heavily peated whisky matured in ex-Laphroaig barrels along with some fully sherry matured casks. To ensure none of this amazing flavour was lost we bottled Lore at a full 48% ABV and simply barrier filled before bottling. The result is stunningly complex.”

Laphroaig Lore – 48% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich and smoky with seaside minerals with a hint of ash and bitter chocolate drops. Vanilla follows with oily unroasted chestnuts and a hint of fudge with a malty sweetness. A drop of water adds a creamy clotted cream note with fruit appearing in the form of unripe citrus in a flan glaze. Palate: Richly peaty with a spicy chilli bite. Finish: Short dry finish and a long sweet aftertaste. – Regular $190+gst – SAVE $15 – $175+gst Until March 28

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
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

Spring has officially sprung here in Leith, bringing a promise of fresh breezes and lighter nights – great weather for drinking whisky. In celebration of the season, we’re having a Spring Cask Sale as we clear our cupboards to make room for new bottlings.

We’ve hand-picked a selection of casks that zing with flavour and are offering bottles at a special price. Stock up on your favourite whiskies and save up to 20 per cent. Bottles are limited in availability and the offer ends at midnight on Tuesday 27 March – order now online to avoid disappointment.

PLEASE NOTE: We expect high volumes of sale orders, as our thirsty members snap up their favourite bottlings. Deliveries may take up to 14 days, sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause – for more details, please read our terms and conditions online.

SPRING SALE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Saturday, April 7, 2:30 – 5:30 PM

Local Bourbon: Wright and Brown

Anyone curious about craft Bourbon is sure to enjoy this tasting!

Distilled in American-made copper whisky stills, each Wright and Brown release is truly handcrafted. First, the distillers seek out the most flavorful non-GMO grains, working with local organic farms to get the best ingredients. Every step of the whisky process is then done in-house, from milling the grain to mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging, and finally bottling. The result is a decadently flavorful small-batch whiskey, made right here in the Bay Area.

Click Here to RSVP

Friday, April 6, 5 – 7 PM

Scotch Tasting: Benromach

Join us for an evening of traditional Speyside single malt! Founded in 1898, Benromach is the smallest distillery in Speyside – only three distillers passionately handcraft every release.The result is a dram reminiscent of ancient Speyside – beautifully balanced, with a light touch of smoke.

This in-store tasting features new and rare scotches by Benromach distillery, presented by whisky experts.

Click Here to RSVP

POPULAR FIFE WHISKY FESTIVAL TO RETURN NEXT YEAR

Fife Whisky Festival is set to become an annual fixture following the success of the inaugural event.

Organisers Justine Hazlehurst and Karen Somerville announced the move after the festival – opened by Scottish cycling legend Mark Beaumont – was praised for boosting the local economy.

More than 500 whisky-lovers from across Scotland, and as far afield as Argentina and Germany, attended tasting sessions held at the Corn Exchange in Cupar at the weekend.

They enjoyed drams from a wide range of distilleries and independent bottlers, music from Fife-based duo The Coaltown Daisies and the chance to chat with guest of honour Mr Beaumont.

Mrs Somerville said: “It was a brilliant day and given all the positive feedback we’ve decided to make it an annual event.

“We had visitors from Argentina, France and Germany who were in Scotland on holiday and made the trip to Fife specially to visit the Festival.

“And it was great to have Mark there – he really enjoyed the festival and ended up meeting some of his old school friends.

“We’re delighted with how the day went and looking forward to doing it all again next year.”

Cupar councillor Karen Marjoram praised the event for boosting the local economy.

She said: “I very much enjoyed the day – it was such a friendly event with people who’d never met before chatting away to each other and it certainly put Cupar on the map.

“It was a real boost to the economy and wonderful to see the town so busy with the shops and restaurants full of people who stayed to see more of Cupar after their whisky session.

“I met people who had travelled a long way to come to Cupar and bringing the tourist pound to Fife in this way was a great bonus.

“With all the new distilleries in Fife, having the festival helps put the region on the whisky map so I’m pleased it’s becoming an annual event.”

Endurance cyclist Mr Beaumont also welcomed the news.

He said: “This is a fantastic event for Fife and having partly grown up in the Kingdom I am proud of all it has to offer.

“This festival and events like it are so important in putting Fife firms on the map for travel and business.”

The inaugural festival was launched by businesswomen Justine Hazlehurst, founder of Kask Whisky, and Karen Somerville, managing director of Angels’ Share Glass.

They joined forces to organise the festival in a bid to bring whisky back to the Kingdom of Fife.

Ms Hazlehurst said: “After years of attending whisky festivals around the world, we wanted the chance to bring an exciting new event to Scotland and are over the moon with how it went.

“People loved it and were asking when the next one will be held so we are pleased to announce it will be an annual event.”

The Festival, sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, showcased the renaissance of whisky-making in Fife with exhibitors including the Kingdom’s well-known Kingsbarns Distillery, Creative Whisky Company, Glen Moray and Isle of Arran Distillers.

Nearly 300 whisky-lovers attended the first session with 250 at the second taster while drinks specialists Luvians, who have bottleshops in Cupar and St Andrews, were on hand as on-site retailer.

Graeme Dempster, from Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, said: “We were delighted to support the inaugural Fife Whisky Festival and having our Corporate Ambassador Mark Beaumont there to open the event was particularly special.

“As well as great entertainment, it was a chance for us to meet our existing Distillery clients and talk to owners of private whisky collections who were there to support this exciting new event.”

Plans for the second Fife Whisky Festival will get underway later this month with dates for the next event announced soon.

For more details about the Festival visit www.fifewhiskyfestival.com