Malt Messenger Bulletin – Scotch Malt Whisky Society Spring Cleaning Sale

Greetings from Frankfurt, where I am off to the Limburg Whisky Fair this afternoon. I am in the midst of a two week European wine and whisky tour, but have taken a break to highlight a special sale this weekend.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is having our biggest ever sale this coming weekend. Through Sunday a selection of 49 Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies are on sale, with discounts ranging between 10 and 25%. If you are in the Calgary area you can pop in to the store to sample some old favourites. Out of town customers are encouraged to browse online.

This is the biggest ever sale we have had in the 6 years the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has been in Canada. You do have to be a member to take advantage of it, but joining in the Society is easy, and comes with so many rewards. For more info on joining the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, click here!

Society Members got first notice of the deals, and a number of whiskies have already sold out. We started with 55 bargains, but 48 more remain!

There are lots of great up-coming Kensington Wine Market tastings. The full Spring Tasting Schedule is attached below.

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin. Stay tuned for the next full Malt Messenger this coming week!

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

!!!Scotch Malt Whisky Society Spring Cleaning Sale!!!

A couple of notes, as I am travelling, you are best off contacting the store directly or in person to make a purchase. Further, even if the whisky is listed as out of stock on our website, there is a good chance it might still be available. We will try to update the website and remove sold out whiskies as the sale progresses. Whiskies indicated as pre-order, may still be available.

You need to be a member to buy SMWS whiskies, but if you are not a member, could there possibly be a better time to join? There are 49 single cask, cask strength, Scotch whiskies on sale for between 10 and 25% off. If you need more information about joining the Scotch MaltWhisky Society, please click here!

Here are the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Spring Cleaning Sale Deals. You can click on the links to view the products on our website as well as their tasting notes:

25% OFF:

Cask No. 36.97 GINGER PASSIONFRUIT TRIFLE

18 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

25% off of $184.99

Cask No. 36.101 DANGEROUSLY QUAFFABLE

18 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

25% off of $188.99

Cask No. 36.102 AFTER THE RAIN

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

25% off of $145.99

Cask No. 44.71 INVIGORATING AND INSPIRING

11 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

25% off of $143.99

Cask No. 55.28 DAINTY, MEASURED AND DELICATE

14 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Light & delicate

25% off of $157.99

Cask No. 55.38 FLAMING RED WINE PUNCH

15 years old; 2nd fill Sauternes hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

25% off of $168.99

Cask No. 71.41 CURIOUS AND INTRIGUING

17 years old; refill sherry gorda; flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

25% off of $194.99

Cask No. 73.71 A SCENE FROM MADEIRA

14 years old; refill sherry butt; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

25% off of $167.99

15% OFF:

Cask No. 5.53 EXOTIC FRUITS AND EASTERN SPICE

16 years old; 2nd fill Sauternes hogshead; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

15% off of $173.99

Cask No. 7.157 CLEOPATRA MEETS ROBIN HOOD

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $145.99

Cask No. 7.165 DANCE OF THE BUMBLEBEE

13 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

15% off of $142.99

Cask No. 9.118 EXPANSIVE AND VOLUMINOUS

19 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $196.99

Cask No. 9.124 MADEIRA MARKET COFFEE BREAK

12 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $131.99

Cask No. 28.32 SOLAR ECLIPSE

8 years old; 1st fill Oloroso butt; flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

15% off of $119.99

Cask No. 30.93 TONKA BEAN CREME BRULEE

19 years old; refill sherry gorda; flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

15% off of $203.99

Cask No. 35.172 ALPACA FLEECE

20 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Light & delicate

15% off of $175.99

Cask No. 36.113 SAWMILL IN A SUMMER MEADOW

13 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $148.99

 Cask No. 36.118 CAVORTING IN FLOWER MEADOWS

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

15% off of $138.99

Cask No. 37.83 AN ODYSSEY OF FLAVOUR

12 years old; virgin oak hogshead; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

15% off of $139.99

Cask No. 37.85 EASTERN PROMISE

14 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $149.99

Cask No. 37.87 PUFF PASTRY PLUM TARTS

13 years old; 1st fill charred ex-red wine hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $144.99

Cask No. 41.78 POKER NIGHT WHISKY

11 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Young & spritely

15% off of $129.99

Cask No. 41.85 ADD A LITTLE SPICE

11 years old; virgin oak hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $122.99

Cask No. 44.78 PEEK-A-BOO

14 years old; virgin oak hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $154.99

Cask No. 46.42 YUMMY SCRUMMY

13 years old; refill sherry butt; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $155.99

Cask No. 46.47 MEXICAN BREAKFAST

14 years old; 1st fill PX butt; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $151.99

Cask No. 48.82 VIVACIOUS, ZESTY AND PENETRATING

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

15% off of $131.99

Cask No. 48.83 AND THE LIVING’S EASY

13 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Light & delicate

15% off of $149.99

Cask No. 48.84 SEIZE THE MOMENT

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

15% off of $119.99

Cask No. 48.87 FRISKY WHISKY

11 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

15% off of $123.99

Cask No. 64.81 FLAMBE CREPE SUZETTE

13 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $139.99

Cask No. 64.84 SPRUCED-UP FRUIT SALAD

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

15% off of $132.99

Cask No. 64.91 PORRIDGE OATS ON A TROPICAL BEACH

10 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

15% off of $122.99

Cask No. 66.95 SWEET REEK

11 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Peated

15% off of $121.99

Cask No. 85.42 PUT YOUR FEET UP

16 years old; refill sherry butt; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $169.99

Cask No. 121.81 INTENSE, LIVELY AND DELICIOUS

15 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

15% off of $165.99

Cask No. 121.94 DRIED CHERRY LATTICE PIE

16 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & dry

15% off of $141.99

Cask No. G6.5 CHOCOLATE COVERED JALAPENOS

35 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

15% off of $249.99

10% OFF:

Cask No. 7.167 CHOCOLATE PRALINES IN AN OAK BOX

26 years old; 1st fill American oak PX hogshead; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

10% off of $239.99

Cask No. 7.176 SILKY SMOOTH SENSATION

23 years old; refill hogshead; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

10% off of $214.99

Cask No. 9.119 TASTY AND REWARDING

24 years old; 1st fill charred ex-red wine hogshead; flavour profile:  Light & delicate

10% off of $236.99

Cask No. 10.117 SMOKY, SALTY, SWEET PORRIDGE (100ML SIZE)

9 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Peated

10% off of $32.99 – 100ml size bottle

Cask No. 35.157 REWARD FOR A BRASS BAND

14 years old; 1st fill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

10% off of $154.99

Cask No. 37.89 A COZY SLIPPER SIPPER

17 years old; 1st fill French oak hogshead; flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

10% off of $181.99

Cask No. 41.95 JOUSTING WITH FLOWERS

11 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

10% off of $139.99

Cask No. 55.46 COMPLEX LAYERS OF FRUIT AND WOOD

16 years old; 1st fill French oak hogshead; flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

10% off of $169.99

Cask No. 70.20 SPICED SAINT TROPEZ TART

10 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

10% off of $129.99 

Cask No. 73.84 TUG OF WAR IN A MEADOW

15 years old; refill sherry butt; flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

10% off of $146.99

Cask No. G9.3 FRUIT, SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE

16 years old; refill barrel; flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

10% off of $141.99

www.smws.ca

KWM’s Spring 2018 Tasting Schedule 

One of our most exciting schedules ever

There is a lot to be excited about in our Spring Tasting Schedule. Spaces are limited, so if there is something you are interested in, don’t wait too long to register… As always you can register in-store, by phone at 403-283-8000 or online: kensingtonwinemarket.com

1. NAS Whisky Wars – Wednesday April 25 – Nothing in recent years has stirred up as much controversy in the world of whisky as the re-emergence of NAS (no age statement) Whisky… but is it all bad? We’ll present the facts, and you’ll have to take a side! – $40
2. Going with the Grain: Very Old Edition – Tuesday May 8 – When they are good, they can be stunning. Scotch Whisky’s least understood and appreciated incarnation is also one of its best value propositions. Especially when it comes to very old ones! – $75
3. Compass Box Muse Launch – Monday May 14 – Andrew and Compass Box’s Canadian Brand Ambassador James Bornn will mark the launch of “Compass Box Hedonism The Muse” with a special Master Class highlighting Compass Box blended grains! – $30
4. KWM’s 26th Birthday Mini-Whisky Festival – Thursday May 17 – Consider this the “Sneak a Peek” for the whisky deals during our birthday sale weekend. Includes a Glencairn glass and the opportunity to sample from a range of more than 80 different whiskies! – $50
5. Two Brewers Single Malt Release Vertical with Bob Baxter – Thursday May 24 – We will sample our way through the Two Brewers Releases 04-09, and another treat, with co-founder/owner Bob Baxter. He’ll highlight the broad range of single malt whisky styles coming from this award winning Yukon distillery! – $25
6. Ardbeg 1815 Grand Tasting with Brendan McCarron – Tuesday June 29 – Special guest Brendan McCarron, head of maturing whisky stocks at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg will take you on a very special tasting including the extremely rare 200th Anniversary bottling, Ardbeg 1815 ($8000.00). You’ll also indulge in dinner and a range of other Ardbeg whiskies. – $200
7. !!!!SAVE THE DATE!!! Ardbeg Day – Saturday June 2 – Ardbeg Day 2018 will be a celebration of Peat & Love all over the world. More details to follow. So SAVE THE DATE for a Groovy Day of fun, whisky and flower power! – Location & $TBA
8. Spring Single Malt Festival – Thursday June 14 – Our annual spring festival of all things malt whisky will feature at least 100 single malts from Scotland and around the world. It sells out quickly, so don’t hesitate. 25th Anniversary tasting glass included. – $65
9. Ancient Malts – !!!Choice of Two Nights!!!: Friday June 15 or Thursday June 21 – It’s been over a year since we’ve put on an Ancient Malts tasting, and frankly, we’re overdue! We have some very special bottles selected for this one, including a pair of Broras, two 1968 vintage single malts and three other treats. Includes a special cut crystal Glencairn glass! – $250
10. The Spirit of Canada – Wednesday June 27 – Canadian whisky has caught the world’s attention in the last few years, just as a surge of craft Canadian whiskies are about to hit the market. We’ll feature some of the best new releases! – $35

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

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

Taiwanese Treasures  with Kavalan master blender Ian Chang

Love is in the air with speed dating at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Heritage, travel, education, music, food and drink, socialising – whatever interests you might list on a dating site, you’ll find an event to match during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, including speed dating.

It might not be about romance, but if you adore whisky, a one-to-one with some of Speyside’s most highly esteemed whisky experts could be just the ticket.

Speed Dating: Whisky Blethers is billed as the chance to spend an evening with key industry players and ask them all about the craft that they love and cherish. This is a chance to get up close and personal with the coppersmiths, coopers, stillmen, mashmen, warehousemen and managers that have created the whiskies of Rothes, in a festival first taking place at the distillery town’s Seafield Arms Hotel.

Whisky lovers will have the chance to spend up to 15 minutes with each expert, including Dennis Malcolm, master distiller at Glen Grant and a past winner of the Spirit of Speyside Award winner recognising 50 years’  service to the industry; Alasdair Anderson, current manager at Glenrothes Distillery in Rothes; Alexander Tweedie, who retired as technical support manager for Edrington but still hosts VIP tours at Glenrothes; Allan McDonald, now retired stillman and mashman at Glenrothes and Glen Grant; and Brian Webster, head cooper and Edrington’s Glenrothes cooperage.

While engaged in chat with the experts, a modern Rothes whisky flight featuring a dram of Glenrothes, Glen Grant, Speyburn and Glen Spey, will be served along with a buffet. What’s not to love?

Music and blindfolds will be among the tools used to take festival goers on a journey back in time to discover Speyside’s Lost Whisky Legends. The voyage will uncover the incredible story of the lost distilleries, like Speyside’s Towiemore which was built in 1897 in the parish of Botriphnie, just six miles from Dufftown.

This heritage session will lift the lid on the founder, a forgotten Speyside whisky baron called Peter Dawson, exploring his distilling roots, in a multi-sensory tasting experience with music, blindfolds and tastes from a hand-picked ‘chocolate box’ of Scotch to rediscover the pioneering 19th century era of whisky. Lost Whisky Legends Reborn is being hosted at The Drouthy Cobbler in Elgin on May 6.

In a centuries-old industry, it’s rare to get the chance to meet a distillery founder – but festival goers can do just that at Ballindalloch this year.

Share a drink with members of the Macpherson-Grant family and learn about their venture into traditional whisky making. In 2012, the family began the process of converting an old farm steading on their Estate into a distillery. Spirit ran for the first time in September 2014 and they will share their story during the Founders’ Tour on May 3 at Speyside’s newest distillery.

With distillery host Brian Robinson, guests will see what it means to make whisky without the use of automation in a detailed but relaxed look into the distillery, learning about its whisky making process and finding out why it was awarded Icons of Whisky Craft Producer of the Year 2016 and 2018.

What does a whisky tasting in Dufftown have in common with Star Wars? Think Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and whether an apprentice can surpass the teacher. In this this case, The Whisky Shop Dufftown’s ‘Lady of Drams’ Vicky Keough takes on shop owner Mike Lord, newly appointed Keeper of the Quaich, in a head-to-head whisky tasting. This will be done in front of an audience at St James’ Hall in Dufftown, who are sure to pick up a few good tips and pointers about the drams they will be sampling, before they decide which one is master or mistress of whisky tasting.

There’s nothing unusual about ceilidhs taking place during the festival weekend but the venue for one – on board a train – is a little out of the ordinary. Speyside has its own whisky line, on which a heritage railway links Dufftown and Keith, and the operators are planning a hooley when passengers will enjoy the sounds of lively local ceilidh band Footerin Aboot, along with a dram and shortbread or whisky cake while passing by some great Speyside scenery. The first Ceilidh On A Train return trip departing from Dufftown has completely sold out but there are still some tickets for the final journey on the afternoon of Saturday, May 5.

James Campbell, chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, says: “This really is the year to make a date with our festival as we’ve got so many unique events in our programme. Hats off to the whisky lovers who came up with a novel take on speed dating, the chance to meet whisky experts and discuss a shared love, over a dram or two of course.

“While some events have already sold out, there is still time to get tickets for others, and the variety and the character of the offering is as diverse as the many different whiskies that are produced in the region’s 50 plus distilleries.”

Tickets are still available for events in this year’s festival, which runs from May 3 to 7. There’s everything from behind-the-scenes tours at internationally renowned distilleries not usually open to the public, whisky tasting masterclasses, whisky and food pairings complemented by outdoor activities and heritage events, meaning the festival offers something for die-hard whisky fans to those who have never tried it before.

For further information and tickets visit www.spiritofspeyside.com. The Festival is also active on social media: facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #dram18

Photographs: Love whisky? Don’t leave it too late – get your skates on and head for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

On the grounds of Parkmore Distillery, the Murray McDavid Team will be hosting an evening of drams and music, a meal of quality local food and a range of great drink behind the bar. Throughout the evening, there will be a whisky quiz with many prizes to be won, followed by a lively Ceilidh band which will of course mean lots of dancing.

Guests will arrive at Parkmore where they will be greeted by a Murray McDavid cocktail, specially designed in honour of the Spirit of Speyside Festival. Throughout dinner, the Murray McDavid Team will rotate the tables, introducing four of their favourite drams. For those listening carefully, a whisky themed pop quiz will run through the evening with many whisky prizes to be won! Following the evening meal, there will be a lively blend of traditional and modern music which is sure to get the crowds up on their feet.

The Murray McDavid bar will have a range of locally produced drinks available at the bar, including their Aficionado collection.

Festival Bottling: The Murray McDavid special festival release, a single cask bottling, will be available to purchase at this event.

+44 (0) 1452 762 024     events@murray-mcdavid.com    www.murray-mcdavid.com

Are you a fan of ‘peaty’ whisky? 

Do you crave for those smoky, intense flavours no other whisky can provide?

Or do you have someone in your life that answers to this description?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then you are in exactly the right place!

The Islay Festival of Whisky and Music (Fèis Ìle) takes place during the last week of May every year. It is a 10 day long celebration of all things Islay, with each distillery having a special day in which to shine and welcome thousands of visitors. The distilleries also launch a special festival bottling (or two) during this time, many of which are only available to people who make the pilgrimage.

Happily (or not), you do not have to travel all that way in order to taste these awesome whiskies. For this hotly anticiapted series, we bring a selection of these bottlings to you!

In summary, this tasting is a one-off chance to try some incredible drams that you possibly will not get to try again, and certainly not six of them under one roof!

June 22nd

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting Blackfriars, Newcastle https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-newcastle-june-2018/

June 22nd

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting Brigantes, York https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-york-june-2018/

June 23rd

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting Malborough Arms, London https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-london-june-2018/

June 25th

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting The Sheffield Tap, Sheffield https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-sheffield-june-2018/

June 26th

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting Northern Monk Brew Co, Leeds https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-leeds-june-2018/

June 27th

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting Fly In The Loaf, Liverpool https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-liverpool-june-2018/

June 28th

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting The Edgbaston, Birmingham https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-birmingham-june-2018/

June 29th

The Whisky Lounge – Feis Ile 2018 Tasting The Britons Protection, Manchester https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/feis-ile-manchester-june-2018/

What’s more fun than having a night out with your friends (or perhaps friends you haven’t met yet) and coming together as a team to conqueur other, like-minded people in a good old-fashioned quiz?

Well, the only improvement we could see possible is the addition of some fine drams to taste while you’re doing it!

So that’s what we have done, to turn up the fun!

In what we will hope will become a regular fixture, we have put together a whisky quiz par excellence that will challenge and delight, with a few TWL prizes thrown in for the winning teams. Do not worry if you don’t have a team yet – anybody coming along on their own will either be placed in a team, or can compete as an individual…

Whisky-wise, we will be gathering whiskies from some of the best-known bottlers, along with one or two you may not have come across before.

For those new to the term ‘Independent Bottler’, the term simply describes a company that buys casks of whisky from distillers – already mature or not – and bottles it under their own label. This means that the bottler is in charge of when it is bottled, and invariably leads to some very interesting results. It also means that the batches are generally a lot smaller, and in some cases will only be a single cask, which makes them all the more intriguing!

What you can be sure of is that there will be something for everyone as the bottlings we are choosing are rich and varied!

So, come along and give it a try. We think you’ll have a cracking evening!

 As always, these tasting events start around 7pm and finish around 9pm. They may be slightly shorter, or they may go on a little longer. We finish when you are ready to finish and we are very relaxed about that. However, if you need to get away sooner as you have a train to catch or similar, please let the host know so that they can make sure you sample all the whiskies in time!

April 20th

The Whisky Lounge Quiz Night featuring Independant Bottlers Blackfriars, Newcastle https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/quiz-night-newcastle-april-2018/

April 20th

The Whisky Lounge Quiz Night featuring Independant Bottlers The Britons Protection, Manchester https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/quiz-night-manchester-april-2018/

April 20th

The Whisky Lounge Quiz Night featuring Independant Bottlers Brigantes, York https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/quiz-night-york-april-2018/

April 24th

The Whisky Lounge Quiz Night featuring Independant Bottlers The Sheffield Tap, Sheffield https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/quiz-night-sheffield-april-2018/

April 25th

The Whisky Lounge Quiz Night featuring Independant Bottlers Fly In The Loaf, Liverpool https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/quiz-night-liverpool-april-2018/

LONDON CALLING: MAY WHISKY WEEKENDER

SMWS members can enjoy a two for one ticket offer at the London Whisky Weekender festival on Friday 11 – Sunday 13 May. Simply visit The Whisky Lounge website, enter promo code (Join the SMWS to take advantage of such offers! ~ WI) top right and apply, then select your tickets. Sample over 100 different whiskies over the weekend and be sure to visit us at the Society stand. Please be sure to enter the promo code before buying tickets

 MORE

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

Kneads must – whisky and donuts make for a sweet sensation at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Whisky aficionados who descend on one of the world’s leading whisky festivals have many hobbies and interests – and one will be sharing his love of donuts and drams at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2018.

The event ‘Here’s Johnny’ is more The Simpsons than The Shining, given donuts are Homer Simpson’s favourite food, and comes all the way from the USA, courtesy of Californian, Johnny Baldaray. He’s commissioned a specialist donut maker in Edinburgh to create some delicious delicacies to sample alongside half a dozen whiskies.

Visiting Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival three years ago, Johnny and his wife Erica developed a love for Speyside single malts, and with a number of whisky and food pairings in the programme, Johnny thought he’d have a go himself, matching the amber nectar to his favourite sweet treat. Back home in America he launched @whiskyanddonuts on social media and now has over 10,000 followers.

It may seem like an unlikely combination, and Johnny admits the concept came about almost by accident.

Johnny explains: “Shortly after our first trip to Scotland in 2015, we invited close friends over for dinner which included tastings of all the whiskies we brought back.  It just so happened that we had picked up a box of donuts from our favourite shop earlier that day, and as the whisky was poured, the donut box made its way to the table.

“Later that night we all shared new year’s resolutions, and mine was to create an Instagram account called @whiskyanddonuts and as they say, the rest is history.”

A return visit to Speyside in 2016 saw Johnny launch a dark chocolate donut at Tomintoul Distillery, with Old Ballantruan, the distiller’s peated range, arousing the curiosity of whisky fans – but he’s the first to admit that not everyone approves.

Johnny says: “Those in attendance during the Tomintoul tour did not hesitate in reaching for a few bites of the donuts.  Some enjoyed the combos more than others, but overall, it shook things up during the tasting in a fun way!

“We have experienced a small share of resistance within our Whisky and Donuts journey, social media allows people to feel invincible with their judgements, and frankly, we get a kick out of that!

“Even more interesting than the disapprovals, are the comments that say we paired the wrong donut!  Personally, I love and embrace the purists in whisky culture, I am far from an expert on the subject and often find inspiration from those who are so devoted to tradition and regiment.”

There are no hard and fast rules for tastings with Johnny who keeps an open book about the type of donuts and whiskies that can be paired as it is purely experimental – and always fun.

However, there are certain flavour combinations that clearly work, with bourbons/bourbon-based brands great with sweet chocolate, port/fruity whiskies tend to match fruit or jelly topped, while smoky/peaty drams work with nuts or custard.

With that said there is no real combination guide as everyone’s palate is different and the whole point is to be willing to mix things up.

Johnny adds: “I think it is too early in our process to say that there are guidelines.  All whiskies work. And more importantly, there is a donut out there for any whisky or the other way around! It may be biased to say that Speyside whiskies work very well, as we obviously hold the region closer to our heart than others but there are so many delicious little characteristics here, that the pairing process is that much more enjoyable.

 “We are especially excited to be teaming up with Deadly Donuts from Edinburgh. The pairing will include six whiskies with a small exclusively made donut to match.  We are in the final stages of the flavour line up, and can’t wait to share this one of a kind session to spark the conversations, laughter and fun.”

Due to interest back home, Johnny has already hosted various pairing sessions with donut shops in the USA and adds: “Craft donut shops are all over the States and many of them are creating amazing and wild pastries that are not only super delicious, but fun to photograph.

“The UK donut scene is not far behind, as we plan to visit a few shops before our arrival in Speyside.”

James Campbell, chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, says: “Our festival is full of surprises and every year we’re amazed by the innovative additions to the programme which takes in everything from traditional tours and tastings to curious events like pairing whisky and donuts. It goes to show the diversity of our offering, and we really do have something to appeal to all tastes.”

Tickets are still available for a number of the 500 plus events that make up this year’s programme across Speyside including the Here’s Johnny donut and whisky pairing at the Commercial Hotel, Dufftown, on Sunday, May 6. Lots of food-themed events feature in the 2018 programme, including individual quests to find the best whiskies to match bacon rolls, haggis and chocolate, whisky dinners with each course paired with a dram, the chance to sample whisky-flavoured ice cream or dine on steak topped with a malt whisky sauce.

The Festival runs from May 3 to 7 and features behind-the-scenes tours at internationally renowned distilleries not usually open to the public, whisky tasting masterclasses, whisky and food pairings. It has music, outdoors activities and heritage events, meaning the festival offers something for die-hard whisky fans to those who have never tried it before.

For further information and tickets visit www.spiritofspeyside.com. The Festival is also active on social media: facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #dram18

Photographs: Johnny Baldaray brings a new flavour to Spirit of Speyside Whisky festival with his Whisky and Donuts pairing.

Meet the Master Distiller

Harlen Wheatley of Buffalo Trace is visting Park Ave.

Mark. Your. Calendar.

Calling all Buffalo Trace lovers!

 On Wednesday, April 25th ~ Buffalo Trace Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatley will be here at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop to sample customers on his Eagle Rare 10 year old Bourbon, Sazerac straight Rye, Wheatley Vodka and of course – Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

Mr. Wheatley will sign bottles purchased during the tasting (while supplies last) and chat about but not necessarily limited to…the whiskey world.

He will be here from 3:30pm~6:00pm. Due to expected demand/attendance, we cannot guarantee there will still be available samples or bottles to sign through the entire duration of his visit.

Tell your friends ~ but maybe just your good friends.

Supplies are limited.

Cheers!
Jonathan, Marlon & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212-685-2442
jonathan@parkaveliquor.com

whiskyconn@gmail.com
eric@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor.com

 

Once again samples and bottles to sign are while supplies last or the end of the event. We are not responsible for any typographical errors or the unsteady hope the 7-1 New York Mets have given us in this early baseball season. Please contact the store with any questions.

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop | 212-685-2442 | 212-689-6247 |  parkaveliquor.com

The Chefs of Maltstock

Maltstock veterans have known this for a long time, probably our most important working-guests are Wullie (from Scottish restaurant the Hielander in Alkmaar) and his crew serving you the best full Scottish breakfast in the world. The best way to start a relaxed Maltstock day! Would you rather have a sandwich? No problem! We’ll provide for that as well! http://www.schotsrestauranthielander.nl

We all love our Friday night Pizza. So this year our Pizza man will be present on our 10th Anniversary! http://www.ecopizza.nl

The midnight snack will be present as well! on both Friday and Saturday no one has to go to bed hungry! Bitterballen galore! (or kroketten if Peter MacKay finally decides to join!)

Sweets and treats from our Chef Without Restaurant: We don’t want to have to do without them. Inge Lanckacker will be present at Maltstock again this years well. http://www.chefzonderrestaurant.be

And on Saturday we’ll BBQ the day with our prize winning butcher: Keurslager Dekkers http://www.dekkers.keurslager.nl/

On Saturday, to accompany you to your Masterclass or at the sharing tables in the square, we’ll provide ample ‘belegde broodjes’ as lunch, late breakfast or early re-dinner for you.

And last but not least: Our fruit corner will be available too this year. Grab an apple, bunker a banana, or orate on an orange. Or, if anything else fails, use the fruit as evidence that Maltstock is a very healthy and relaxed event, which we are of course!

We are very happy to announce the second appearance of Single Cask Nation at Maltstock. Last year Joshua Hatton had so much fun, that he asked us if he could do this again. We all loved his first appearance and now we look very much forward to his second one. If you failed to visit his first masterclass or if you loved it very much: You will get a relaxed second chance to see him at Maltsock 2018. https://singlecasknation.com

Tickets are available

Tickets for Maltstock 2018 are available in our new webshop. We now offer different payment options. Unfortunately the Cabins are sold out but all other options are still available.

Click here to go to our webshop