For the 3rd year in a row, Kensington Wine Market is producing its own Whisky Advent Calendar. 2014 and 2015’s editions were a huge hit, and sold out well before the start of Advent. This year’s edition is expected to start trickling in store over the next two weeks.
We are really excited about our 2016 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. For the third straight year we have designed and built our own exclusive Whisky Advent Calendar, featuring a custom logo Glencairn glass, 24 50ml whiskies and a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (The Society). The Society is the world’s largest whisky club, and bottles whiskies exclusively for its members. This year’s Calendar has a single cask from the Society that has been selected and bottled exclusively for the Calendar and Canadian Society members (750ml bottles will be made available to Society members in January!). In collaboration with the Society’s Canadian branch, we were even given the opportunity to name the whisky… Since Society whiskies are exclusively available to Society members, this is an opportunity for non-members to get their hands on a Society whisky. Recipients of the KWM Whisky Advent Calendar will be the first people to sample this exciting new whisky!
The Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is more than just a product for us, it is a way for us to share and connect with other whisky lovers in Calgary, Alberta and across Canada. Details on the whiskies released and their distillery will be posted on the KWM Blog each day. Recipients of the Calendar are encouraged to share their thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The KWM Whisky Advent Calendar also comes with a 10% discount card, good for any of the whiskies in the Calendar (excepting the Society whisky), subject to availability.
Whisky Week Tastings at Kensington Wine Market
October 30 – November 5
We have some really exciting distillery focused Master Class tastings coming up this fall. We added a second seating for the Bruichladdich tasting with Lynn McEwan on Sunday October 30. And there are going to be some amazing whiskies at the other tastings… you won’t want to miss out on them!
- Bruichladdich Progressive Hebridean Distillers – Sunday October 30 – 2 Sessions: 2-4PM (NEW 15 spots left) & 5-7PM (SOLD OUT) – Brand Ambassador Lynn McEwan (Jim’s daughter) will walk us through a range of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore, including a trio of new 10 year olds! – $25
- Spooky Springbank – Monday October 31 – 7PM – Ok, so there is nothing spooky about Springbank, but I can’t think of a more fitting distillery to mark All Hallow’s Eve than Springbank. Brand Ambassador Melanie Stranger will take us through a range of whiskies from Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, including the new Kilkerran 12 Year from their sister distillery Glengyle! We will also sample a bottle of the SOLD OUT Springbank 16 Year Local Barley, and 3 different Springbank Society bottlings! – $35
- Glorious Gordon & MacPhail – Tuesday November 1 – 7PM – We’ll sample our two new Kensington Wine Market Caol Ila single casks along with some other G&M and Benromach expressions with Brand Ambassador Richard Urquhart. – $50
- anCnoc, Balblair, Old Pulteney & Speyburn – Thursday November 3 – 7PM – We’ll sample selected whiskies from these 4 Highland & Speyside distilleries, with Brand Ambassador Lukasz Dynowiak. Expect more than a few gems, we’re pulling out the stops! – $40
- Kilchoman 100% Islay – Friday November 4 – 7PM – Distillery founder Anthony Wills will be on hand for a Kilchoman Master Class featuring a new KWM exclusive cask, the new Sanaig release, two future releases and a range of other very peaty malts! – $30
- Glencadam & Tomintoul Distilleries – Saturday November 5 – 1PM – Iain Fortheath of Angus Dundee Distillers will be presenting whiskies from the Glencadam and Tomintoul Distilleries. Iain is self-described: “Raconteur, International man of mystery, World Cheese Eating Champion.” – $20
View our full KWM Fall Tasting Schedule and Register Online, or call 403-283-8000.
New Exclusive Kilchoman 2011 KWM PX Finish Cask #466
Another big Kilchoman, bottled 3 days shy of 5 years of age!
New for the fall of 2011, a PX Finished single cask of cask strength peated single malt Scotch whisky bottled exclusively for KWM. Distilled on the 28th of July 2011 the cask was bottled July 25th 2016, just a few days shy of 5 years of age. Our 5th exclusive Kilchoman single cask, 444/2011, has been bottled at 57.5%, just 222 bottles left. We were blown away when we selected this cask, now that it is here it is tasting even better!
Kilchoman 2011 KWM PX Cask 446 – 57.5% – PX Sherry Finish – 222 Bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, scallops in burnt butter with lagostines and a glass of off sweet dark sherry; very briny, oily peat and juicy sweet malt; brush smoke, dried dark fruits in maple syrup. Palate: round, honeyed and very fruity with loads of malt and building oily peat and firm smoke; doughy, a base of vanilla, more scallops cooked in butter, lagostines and smoked mussels; big chewy peated malt, lovely peat oils and dark spices: licorice and clove; big though the whisky is there is no hiding the fruits ranging from light and soft to dark and dried. Finish: medium-long, big but balanced; loads of malt, smoke, maritime notes, peat smoke and spices; maple syrup and dried dark fruits. Comment: we love Kilchoman, I don’t know what more to say, other than this is another lovely expression and we know you will love it!” – $160
New Berry’s Own Exclusive Whiskies at KWM
5 Single Malts and an Award Winning Blended Malt !
Berry Brother’s is one of the world’s oldest wine merchants, and also one of the finest whisky shops in the world. They own the rights to the Glenrothes brand and also bottle their own blends and single malts under the Berry’s Own Selection. I selected these bottlings to come to Canada just a marathon tasting session with Berry’s Master of Whisky Doug McIvor. It has taken 6 months but I am thrilled to have these whiskies here. They are available nowhere else in Canada! Just 12-72 bottles of each have come into the market!
- Berry’s Blue Hanger 11th Edition – 45.6% – Blended Malt – 92pts Whisky Advocate -My Tasting Note: “Nose: honey and marzipan mingle with clean smoke and chocolate salted caramel tarts; crisp lemon and orange with loads of creamy vanilla and dried fruits: raisins and apricots. Palate: round and immediately smoky, earthy and chocolaty all laid over a base of silky vanilla and decadent honey; firm spices develop including bright ginger, black licorice and candied fennel; there are dried fruits hinting at a sherry influence balanced out by muddier tones of sweet peaty malt. Finish: big, bold and malty with lovely vanillans, leather, dried fruits and spices; delicate clean salty smoke and gentle earthy peat underneath! Comment: lots going on here though it is not as peaty as some past releases, very layered and complex; a gateway whisky to more heavily peated malts? – $165
- Berry’s Own Caol Ila 1997 – 40% – 18 Year – My Tasting Note: “Nose: leathery with dark fruits, chocolate, sweet tobacco and gentle earthy peat; some maritime notes, bright orange, dried apricots, cranberries and macerated raisins; subtle maritime smoky tones, seafood medley and pancetta. Palate: meaty, thick and chewy, round and fruity, with juicy malt and building clean elegant smoke; staying round the whisky becomes earthy with salty maritime notes of scallops and lagostines in butter, but also bacon and pancetta; salted caramel, it is still orangey with apricots, raisins, dates and figs. Finish: long, thick and coating; round-salty-smoky-malt, cooked pancetta and dried fruits linger long on the palate. Comment: this is a lovely malt, but I can only dream how much more magnificent it would have been at 46% or cask strength… still, this is a superb 18 year old Caol Ila.” – $190
- Berry’s Own Glengoyne 2000 – 46% – 13 Year – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big chocolate, rich dark fruits and treacle sauce; soft leather, snuffed wax candles and a freshly opened bag of assorted jujubes. Palate: big, rich, nutty and creamy with loads of spices, dark fruits and treacle; the waxy tones and jujubes are still there coming in the wake of the darker sherry notes; very, musty and a trace of struck matches, Dutch licorice with brandy filled dark chocolates. Finish: long, rich, spicy and fruity with leather, treacle, dark fruits and spices hanging on tightly. Comment: more robust than your typical distillery bottled Glengoyne, big sherry notes more reminiscent of the 25, though not quite as elegant… but how can you fault it for that, it is half the age?!”- $150
- Berry’s Own Deanston 1997 – 54.1% – 16 Year – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeyed, malty and floral, butterscotch, vanilla pods and dried apricots; toasted almond slices and soft citrus: lemon and lime. Palate: big, round and chewy, loads of honey, vanilla and cream; decadent, French Vanilla and Butterscotch ice creams; more dried apricots, baked apple pie with cinnamon and building oak spices; the citrus tones are still there adding a bit of zest; the malt is there too, but somewhat more restrained. Finish: long, coating, and creamy the oak and spices make for a lively tingly finish and the vanilla and fruits slowly fade. Comment: this is decadent, but balanced, far from over the top sweet; lots of nice layers!” – $170
- Berry’s Own Glen Grant 1995 – 46% – 19 Year – My Tasting Note: “Nose: delicate, zesty and creamy, it is very floral, fruity and aromatic; doughy with fruit flan and tropical fruit punch; butterscotch and almond past. Palate: light, fruity and very creamy with building buttery-doughy notes of baked goods, delicate sugars and zesty citrus tones; also apple, pear and tropical fruit punch; the floral tones are still there with more almond paste and butterscotch ice cream. Finish: lush, fruity, elegant and very smooth the layers of fruit, sugars and baked goods keep coming. Comment: this is a beautiful delicate malt with loads of character; a perfect patio malt, or paired with more delicate dishes.” – $150
- Berry’s Own Strathmill 1991 – 46% – 24 Year – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, creamed honey, lemon drops and pear eau de vie; peaches and cream with lovely soft floral flourishes; barley sugars and dulce leche. Palate: loads of caramel, malt and honey; the dulce leche is there with toffee chews and Old English Butterscotch ice cream; honeydew and cantaloupe dominate the fruit with some unripened mango and green banana; silky white chocolate with hints of candied raspberry and strawberry. Finish: long, silky and elegant; the white chocolate and soft fruits linger long with delicate spices. Comment: I haven’t had many good Strathmills, but this one is a cracker… shame only 12 bottles are coming to Canada!” – $185
COMING SOON: Gordon & Macphail Imperial 1996
A Superb new Distillery Label Bottling from the Closed Distillery!
This exciting KWM exclusive is the nest closest thing to an official bottling from the closed distillery. Bottled under Gordon & Maphail’s Distillery Label range the whisk was matured in 1st Fill and Refill Ex-Sherry casks. We’d prefer to see it bottled at 46%, but Gordon & MacPhail only lightly chill-filter their malts, and it is excellent!
Gordon & Macphail Imperial 1996 – 43% – 1st Fill & Refill Sherry – My Tasting Note Nose: fruit bomb, soft, delicate and layered; dried apricots, peach cobbler, stewed apples and poached pear; soft leather, building spices, creamed honey and building tropical notes. Palate: very soft, smooth and silky; loads of creamed honey, vanilla and layers upon layers of fruit; more poached pear, stewed apples, mangos, papaya and melon; the spices building with some dried dark fruits: raisins and dates: with firm new leather; cardamom and ginger spices with some white pepper. Finish: medium-long, drying and smooth; still very fruity and spicy, slowly fading out. Comment: I sampled this 7 months ago in the UK and knew it was a winner… it is even better than I remember. – $200
About Gordon & MacPhail’s Distillery Label Range: “In partnership with each respective distillery, all whiskies in our Distillery Labels range are uniquely labeled. In years gone by many of these unique designs were used ‘officially’ to bottle the whisky under license from the distillery. Today these trusted relationships with distillers enables Gordon & MacPhail to bottle whiskies at various ages, strengths and vintages – all with their unique distillery label.”
About the Distillery (Courtesy of Gordon & MacPhail): “”Founded by Thomas MacKenzie, the building of Imperial Distillery coincided with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee no doubt an influencing factor in its naming. With a shaky start and history, Imperial Distillery started production in the summer of 1898 only to close a year later for over 20 years. Production did recommence in 1919 but, again, for only six years. The construction of Imperial differs from other Speyside distilleries as it was built of red Aberdeen brick with an iron beam and pillar framework to make it fire resistant. Imperial closed during the 1980’s. It was purchased in 1989 by Allied Distillers who reopened the distillery in 1991. It was mothballed in 1998.”
New Irish Whiskies
2 Single Malt and 3 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskies!
The Teeling is a new limited release marking the first new legal distillery in the city of Dublin in 125 years. We will only be getting 8-12 bottles of it. There is also a new 12 year old single malt from the Cooley Distillery bottled under the Jack Ryan label. It is a tribute to the Ryan family’s 100 years at the famous Beggar’s Bush pub in Dublin. We also finally have access to three new expressions of Redbreasts: 12 Year Cask Strength, 15 Year and 21 Year. They are all very highly rated! Redbreast is Single Pot Still (formerly Pure Pot Still) Irish whiskey, meaning it is made from a mix of both malted and unmalted barley. It is a style distinct to Ireland.
- Teeling Revival Volume 2 13 Year – This 2nd edition of the Teeling Revival was produced to celebrate Teeling Distillery’s year in operation. This 13 Year Old Single Malt Irish whiskey was distilled in 2002. It spent the first 12 years of its life in ex-Bourbon casks. After this it was finished in 12 months in Calvados casks. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: ginger snaps, short bread cookies, lemon zest and bright cooked apples; crisp grassy malt and polished oak. Palate: soft, silky and honeyed; more biscuitty notes: shortbread and ginger snaps but also a creamy backbone of vanilla and white chocolate; very appley, classic apple pie, poached pear and zesty citrus notes; round and chewy there is more toasty oak. Finish: long,coating and smooth; loads of fading barley, vanilla, honey and white orhard fruits; just a hint of citrus. Comment: another lovely release of Teeling, the casks they kept after selling the Cooley ditillery continue to impress; can’t wait to sample the spirit from their new Dublin distillery!” – $163
- Jack Ryan 12 Year Irish Single Malt – 46% – Matured in Ex-Bourbon Barrels –
My Tasting Note: “
Nose: very tropical, bright sugars, wine gums and Jelly Bellies; juicy malt, layers of fruits and minty mojitos.
Palate: big juicy malt, soft toasted oak and subtle spices with more sugars; still tropical, loads of fruit, Jelly Bellies, wine gums; some late licorice and leather with more mint.
Finish: long, rich and very layered, loads of fruit, full of character.
Comment: another stunning single malt from the Cooley distillery, excellent value!” – $110
- Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength – 57.4% – Whisky Advocate Tasting Note (96pts 57.7%): “Irish Distillers has already released two 90+ pot still whiskeys this year, but this is the knockout blow, an immense take on the wonderful Redbreast. The nose gives little away, all damp autumn leaves and fermenting forest fruit, but on the palate it’s a fireworks display, a colorful mix of apple and pear, berries, vine fruits, chocolate liqueur, and oily pureed fruit. It’s coming to the States soon, and rumor has it there’s more to follow. But this will do. I can’t think if I’ve ever tasted a better Irish whiskey.” – $100
- Redbreast 15 Year – 46% – Whisky Advocate Tasting Note (92pts): “Redbreast 12 year old is a classic pure pot still Irish whiskey; where can you go from there? This new 15 year old expression is more muscular (bottling at 46% and not chill filtering certainly helps), but there are trade-offs. It’s a bit closed on the nose (like a great Bordeaux wine that’s too young). I do enjoy the silky/oily texture, the bold resinous oak spice grip on the finish, and the rich nutty toffee, fig, black raspberry, chocolaty, chewy nougat throughout the palate. Still, it’s not as eminently drinkable, refined, or balanced as the 12 year old.” – $115
- Redbreast 21 Year – 46% – Matured in Ex-Bourbon & First Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks – 96pts Whisky Advocate: “Wow! After the wonderful 12 year old cask strength, Redbreast does it again. This is a different beast altogether, but it is a stunner. This is Roger Waters doing The Wall: over the top, unsubtle, and totally entertaining. There’s lots going on: fermenting apples, juicy oils, spice, and dark cherry and berry fruits zip and fizz over the palate, the wood influence is sublime. I’m comfortably numb.” – $220
Introducing Macallan Edition No.2
The first from the new series to come to Canada!
This limited edition Macallan is a collaboration between Macallan’s master whisky maker Bob Dalgarno and the three Roca brothers who own the restaurant El Celler De Can Roca in Girona, Spain. Said restaurant has twice been named the best restaurant in the world.The whisky was created by blending Macallan single malt matured in seven different oak cask types (both American and European oak) from four different bodega. The whisky has been bottled at 48.2%.
Macallan Edition No. 2 – 48.2% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Treacle, ginger, toffee apples and rich fruits. Layers of vanilla open into tropical fruits and subtle green wood. Palate: Warm with spice as cracked black pepper and cloves join with hints of chocolate, brown sugar, oak and nuts. Finally, liquorice and brandy snaps come through. Finish: Full, slow, warm and wonderfully viscous.- $170
Two New Whiskies from Fountana Group
From a pair of obscure distilleries, Glenburgie and Inchgower!
The first is from a Hunter Laing label, Distiller’s Art. Glenburgie is a distillery we don’t often see bottled, and just 42 bottles are coming to Alberta; KWM will get at least a dozen. The Hepburn’s Choice Bottling, from Inchgower, is another distillery we don’t often see bottled. This single cask was bottled for the Alberta market with a picture of Moraine Lake (in Banff National Park). Hepburn’s Choice is a label from Langside Distillers.
- Ditiller’s Art Glenburgie 16 Year – 48% – Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: waxy and sherried, leather and dried dark fruits; dark bakers chocolate and cloves in honey baked ham. Palate: big and thick, still waxy, creamy and leathery with loads of dried dark fruit, dark bakers chocolate and cigar tobacco; earthy, dunnage warehouse notes and building spices: more cloves puled from honey baked ham, candied fennel and Dutch licorice. Finish: very long, coating and leathery; spices, dark fruits and tobacco; leaves the mouth drying and tingling. Comment: you don’t see Glenburgie very often so if you are looking to have at least one on the bar, you’d be hard pressed to do better than this!” – $132
- Hepburn’s Choice Inchgower 20 Year – 50% – Sherry Buttt? – 636 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: butter and eggs whipped with brown sugar; Dulce Leche, subtle leather, fresh sliced lemons, lightly perfumed French soap and dewy botanical gardens; soft, elegant and oaky; sea breeze on a warm day. Palate: big, rich, creamy, maritime and toasty with building spices, leather, dark sugars and earthy tones; still buttery and sugary, a little like raw cookie dough, leather and tobacco develop with tart lemon and sour orange; coffee bean, slightly burnt raisins, licorice and treacle; Christmas cake and tobacco emerge with time. Finish: long, warming and spicy; the treacle and licorice linger longest with some leather and tobacco. Comment: Inchgower is typically a big, muscular malt, with Maritime hints owing to its coastal location; this one highlights those features with a touch of finesse. – $170
Introducing Monkey Shoulder
A Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Popular with Bartenders!
After what seems like a decade, Monkey Shoulder is finally coming to Alberta! The Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons, owners of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie distilleries. Monkey shoulder is a blend of the three malts together, at 43%.
Monkey Shoudler – 43% – Producer’s Tasting Note: Nose: Zesty Orange meets mellow vanilla, honey and spiced oak. Taste: Mellow vanilla with spicy hints. Finish: Super smooth. – $68
About Monkey Shoulder: “One day, our legendary Malt Master David Stewart decided to create the world’s first ‘triple’ malt, by combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. Why’s it so mellow?: Well, for starters, there’s not a single drop of grain whisky in our Monkey Shoulder, and the chosen malts mature in first fill ex-bourbon casks. Our own coopers repair these ex-bourbon casks so that they impart a smooth and mellow vanilla flavour into the resting malt whisky. And then, there’s Brian Kinsman who’s our new Master now. He always chooses the right combination of casks for every batch he makes, ensuring each one is deliciously smooth and rich as the last. The three Speyside malts are then blended together in a small marrying tun where they hang out making eyes at each other for anything from three to six months.”
What is Monkey Shoulder?: “The term ‘monkey shoulder’ harks back to our whisky making heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that maltmen sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand. It had a tendency to cause their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s, so they nicknamed it ‘monkey shoulder’.”
Introducing The Exceptional Whisky Range
Single Grain, SIngle Malt and Blended Malt Scotch Whiskies
The exceptional range is the brain child of Don Sutcliffe a 35 year veteran of the spirits industry and Willie Phillips who was managing director of Macallan for 23 years. The range consists of Blended Malt, Blended Grain and a Blended whisky. Every batch is unique and crafter to be interesting rather than consistent. Evan and I sampled them and were impressed by the range. We have to buy a case of each of the three if we want one of them, so we have a special promotion… buy 2 of the 3 and save $5 per bottle. Buy one of each and save $10 per bottle.
- The Exceptional Malt 2nd Edition – 43% – A range of mature casks, including Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Balvenie, Kininvie, Glendfiddich, Alt-a’Bhainne, Auchroisk, Glenallachie, Westport, Speyside and (of course) Macallan distilleries, were blended and married in first-fill Oloroso Sherry. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: chunky, wine gums, big orange, heather honey, jujubes and floral tones; some lovely old “antique-y notes”. Palate: rich, spicy, malty; dark fruits, leather, chocolate and musty-leathery tones. Finish: long, rich and fruity.” – $160
- The Exceptional Grain 3rd Edition – 43% – Remarkable mature casks – from North British, Loch Lomond, Strathclyde, Cameron Bridge and Carsbridge distilleries, blended and married in the first-fill Oloroso Sherry butts. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: decadent, citrusy, cream, powdered sugar and French crepes; very floral elegant and silky. Palate: very sweet, silky and toasty; almonds, citrus and charred oak; more French crepes and delicate floral notes. Finish: long, creamy, elegant and smooth. – $160
- The Exceptional Blend 1st Edition – 43% – A mature grain and malt Whisky casks from North British, Strathclyde, Cameron Bridge, Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Balvenie, Kininvie, Glenfiddich, Alt-a’Bhainne, Auchroisk, Glenallachie, Westport, Speyside and (of course) Macallan distilleries, were blended and married in first-fill Oloroso Sherry butts. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: juicy, floral and silky with soft creamy notes of vanilla ice cream, lemon and goat cheese. Palate: honeyed, fruity and spicy with a malt and floral notes; more vanilla ice cream, jujubes and decadent spice. Finish: long, great balance of malty notes and grain.” – $160
Macallan 25 Year – 1 Bottle Available
One of the most sought after whiskies in the world!
It is one of the most sought after whiskies in the world, it’s price has been going up by about $100-200 a year for the last decade. We are lucky if we get a couple of bottles a year…
Considered by most afficianodos as the ‘royalty’ of the malt whisky world, the original ‘Chateau’ distillery stands today, near Craigellachie, and is open to visitors world-wide. The character of Macallan has traditionally stemmed from its use of the expensive ‘Golden Promise’ barley variety. It’s richness is also enhanced by the use of especially small stills and for its loyalty to sherry aging.
Macallan 25 Year – 43% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Citrus, balanced with cinnamon, sherry and wood smoke. Palate: Full and rich with dried fruits and wood smoke. Finish: Long with dried fruits, wood smoke and spice. – $1600
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
Owner & Operator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
