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

WhistlePig with

Master DistillerDave Pickerell

Monday 18 June
7.30pm-9pm Tickets on sale now! 

BOOK NOW  

Welcome WhistlePig Master Distiller Dave Pickerell as he makes his way to the UK for the first time to unveil his tasty rye whiskeys, including previews of three that haven’t been released yet! WhistlePig started by sourcing incredible rye whiskeys, but the team have since been distilling on the eponymous farm and their farm to bottle whiskey is almost ready. Dave will not only be showing off his great cask picks, but also Farmstock – a blend including whiskey made from field to finish on WhistlePig Farm – and two upcoming single casks picked by and exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange!

WhistlePig FarmStock

Crop 001  WhistlePig FarmStock
Crop 002

(launching in summer)  WhistlePig 10 Year Old  WhistlePig 12 Year Old

Old World Cask Finish  WhistlePig 10 Year Old

TWE Single Barrel #4177 Cask Strength

(launching later this year)  WhistlePig 10 Year Old

TWE Single Barrel #4176 Cask Strength
(launching later this year)

Dave Pickerell is a luminary in the world of whiskey. For more than two decades Dave has held the title of Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark in Kentucky and now WhistlePig. His current objective: to create the finest rye whiskey.

MONDAY 18 JUNE 2018 

7.30-9pm     £55   

Please arrive at the venue from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start

BOOK NOW 

VENUE BROWN’S COVENT GARDEN
82-84 ST. MARTINS LANE
COVENT GARDEN
WC2N 4AG LONDON

MEETING CHARLIE

Whisky legend Charlie MacLean has teamed up with the SMWS in our 35th anniversary year to make a special selection of bottlings for July Outturn. Charlie will present a preview tasting at Edinburgh’s Dominion cinema before a screening of The Angels’ Share. Charlie will also host events with his selected drams at our Members’ Rooms across the UK, and share some pearls of whisky wisdom. Secure your tickets for these one-of-a-kind tastings before they’re gone.

VIEW EVENTS

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

Scotch Whisky Auctions Feis Ile 2018 Tasting

As the Feis Ile is fast approaching we wanted to let you all know about our plans this year. We’ll be hosting our tasting at the Ballygrant Inn on Monday 28th May.

We’ll be pouring 7 phenomenal whiskies for you to enjoy over the evening with a 3 course meal from David and the team at the Ballygrant Inn.

Just to whet your appetite with a sneak preview of the drams – we’ll be pouring the legendary Rare Malts Brora 1977 24 year old and GlenDronach’s beautifully sherried distillery exclusive 24 year old. We’ll have a couple of golden oldies from
Islay and our Glenfiddich charity bottling.

The tickets are available here to buy in advance of the event. Speaking of which, you’ll want to be arriving at the Ballygrant Inn at 7pm for a 7:30pm start.

All the money is going to charity, so you can enjoy yourself in the knowledge that you’re supporting a good cause too.

So to summarise: 7 drams, 3 delicious courses, 7:30pm start on Monday 28th May all for £100 a ticket. We don’t need to tell you that this is an event not to be missed, you already knew that.

Failing that, the lure of a certain cheesecake should seal the deal……!

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Tam or Jess and we’ll be happy to help.

We’re looking forward to a great night!

FORTY CREEK RECRUITS FANS TO SELECT 2018 LIMITED RELEASE IN HISTORIC VOTE 

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO SOCIAL INITIATIVE LEADS TO CANADIAN WHISKY BRAND SELECTING FIVE WINNERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

TORONTO – Five lucky Canadians are on their way to Forty Creek’s award-winning distillery to help Master Blender, Bill Ashburn, select the 2018 limited edition release. This marks the first time that fans are invited to be part of the brand’s whisky making process.

Forty Creek recently hosted an online search where whisky fans across Canada were asked why Forty Creek was their whisky of choice. Due to the overwhelming response from fans, the award-winning brand decided to expand the VIP tasting experience at Forty Creek’s Grimsby, Ontario distillery to include five winners of the first-ever social initiative. Winners   were selected from over a thousand entries.

“We received entries from all over Canada. It was truly touching to not only see how far reaching Forty Creek is, but how ingrained the brand is in our fans’ lives and the role our whisky played in their most memorable moments,” says John Andersen, Senior Brand Manager, North American Whiskies. “We are thrilled to be welcoming fans representing different communities to our distillery for what will be a historic vote for Forty Creek.” 

The winning blend will be announced and available for reservation prior to Forty Creek’s annual Whisky Weekend in September. Whisky Weekend is Forty Creek’s annual celebration of all things Canadian and Forty Creek, with tours, tastings, seminars, and the official launch of the annual limited edition release. 

The winners hail from across the country. The five winners bringing their unique perspectives to the whisky making process and representing their communities are:

Mike Currah, Ontario

Forty Creek is always top shelf for Mike Currah. Mike was first introduced to Forty Creek in his early 20s – first the Barrel Select, then the Double Barrel Reserve – from the people he was living with in his home province of Ontario. As the brand grew, expanding to offer limited edition releases, so did Mike’s appreciation for and collection of Forty Creek whisky. To date, Mike has all but one of the limited edition releases. Learning from his previous mistake, he now makes sure to buy two bottles of each limited edition release – one to drink and one to save.

Sarah Phelps, Ontario

Sarah Phelps is a fan of whisky, specifically Forty Creek. Her love of the brand has brought her to the distillery so she could witness the process first hand. Her time spent at the distillery led to some surprising discoveries and inventive ways for Sarah to enjoy Forty Creek. Currently, some of her favourites include adding Forty Creek Cream to her coffee, hot chocolate, and ice cream.

 Mark Allanson, Alberta

For Mark Allanson, Forty Creek is the absolute best whisky. Having started off enjoying Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve, Mark has gone on to add Forty Creek Barrel Select, Cream, and Spike Honey Spiced to his cabinet. Always looking to expand his collection, Mark keeps a lookout for blends that are a rare find to bring back home to Alberta.

Steven Schmutz, British Columbia

The simple switch from drinking whisky mixed with coke to drinking it straight helped Steven Schmutz discover the different flavours that can be present in whisky. While out shopping, Steven’s eye was drawn to a bottle of Forty Creek Barrel Select that had a special tag highlighting the blend’s recent showing in a whisky competition. With Forty Creek having beat out several brands that Steven had in his cabinet, he decided to give it a try. Since then, Forty Creek Barrel Select has become Steven’s go-to whisky.

Ryan Belmore, New Brunswick

Ryan Belmore was first introduced to Forty Creek 15 years ago. Looking for something to enjoy during a night out with friends in New Brunswick, he opted to give a bottle of Forty Creek a shot. That night, Ryan went from predominantly being a rum drinker to a Forty Creek fan. Ryan prides himself on introducing Forty Creek to his friends and credits himself for dozens of them making the switch from other Canadian whisky brands. He has never had someone try Forty Creek whisky and not make the switch. 

About Campari Group:

Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., together with its affiliates (‘Campari Group’), is a major player in the global beverage sector, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. The Group’s portfolio includes over 50 premium and super premium brands. Internationally-renowned brands include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, Cinzano, Grand Marnier, SKYY Vodka and Wild Turkey. In 2014, The Group acquired Forty Creek Distillery Ltd., a Canadian spirits company with a portfolio of brands including whisky, vodka, brandy, rum and liqueurs. Internationally-recognized for its superior taste and quality, the multi-award winning Forty Creek Whisky serves as both the fastest growing brand in its category across North America and Canada’s first successfully launched whisky brand in over 70 years. Headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, Campari owns 18 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 20 countries. The Group employs around 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com. Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

Friday, June 15, 2:30 – 5:30 PM

Single Malt Tasting:

 Glen Grant with Robin Coupar 

Join us for a tasting of Glen Grant single malt scotch, presented by global brand ambassador and whisky expert Robin Coupar! Established in 1840, this centuries-old Speyside malt remains one of the biggest selling single malts in the world. Whisky ambassador Robin Coupar will present a guided tasting of Glen Grant’s new and rare releases, providing insider knowledge of what goes into making these incredible drams and the stories behind them.

Pourlist to be revealed as event approaches- RSVP to keep up-to-date.

Click Here to RSVP

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