Dufftown Whisky Tastings

May is Whisky Month and Dufftown kick-off the season of Whisky Nosings & Tastings with 5 single malts from Dufftown on the 18th May followed by a Masterclass of Glenfarclas on the 25th May.

After a break in June we start the Summer season that runs from 6th July till 14th September with excellent single malts from all the distilleries around Speyside.

This is followed by the Speyside Autumn Whisky Festival that runs from 22nd Sep. to 26th Sept. which falls in line with the end of the Summer and closure of some of distillery visitor centres for the winter months.

Details of the whisky tastings are on the www.dufftown.co.uk website or you can book a place on dufftown@dufftown.co.uk or phone +44 (0)1340 820507

Welcome to Dufftown

A vibrant and thriving Highland community that invites visitors to participate in a wide range of traditional Scottish activities and entertainment throughout the year.

Set in the heart of Speyside in north eastern Scotland, Dufftown is situated on the banks of the rivers Fiddich and Dullan at the foot of the Conval Hills.

Like other villages of its period, Dufftown has spacious streets laid out in a regular plan. The four main streets converge at the Clock Tower, which was completed in 1839. The Clock Tower was originally the town jail but is now home to the Tourist Information Centre.

Whisky making is the life blood of Dufftown. It involves every one from barley farmers to the Customs officers who ensure there are no irregularities with the duty due on the town’s spirits.

Whether you already know the north-east of Scotland or are just thinking of visiting, we are sure you will find Dufftown and the surrounding area a beautiful part of the Highlands and a unique opportunity to escape from the pressures of 21st century living.

Whatever the reason you come here, enjoy your visit and, as we say in Scotland: “Haste ye back!”

It’s an exciting time here at Just Whisky Auctions. The 2016 Speyside Whisky Festival just ended and some quality releases have already made their way to our shelves for our 30th (and biggest) ever auction.

Macallan 1957 – 25th Anniversary Rinaldi Brothers Inc

While we’re delighted to bring you some of Speyside’s finest whiskies, we’re also excited for the forthcoming Islay Feis Ile – which kicks off at the tail end of next week. As always, there will be huge selection of the latest Feis Ile bottles at Just Whisky – and we are happy to be the first auction to go live after the festival has ended. To enter your bottles from the festival please be quick – the auction cut-off deadline is the 1st June.

Cadenhead’s Bottles

Back to the bottles this month, and as the mercury rises outside with Summer finally making an appearance, the heat is rising inside with Matteo getting hot under the collar about some of the most interesting bottles on offer.

Bidding Ends from 8PM on Sunday 22nd!

`View The Auction Here

This weekend the Kensington Wine Market is marking its 24th Anniversary. We are now almost old enough to rent a car! Every year on our birthday weekend we throw a sale for our customers to help us celebrate, and this year is no different. Today, Friday May 13 through Sunday May 15 most of our inventory is on sale! Save 15% or more on all in stock wines. Save 10% or more on all in stock Whiskies, excluding SMWS whiskies and a few exceptions (see below). And save 5% on instock beer, gin and rum! Our birthday sale weekend is one of the busiest of the year, so the sale is only in store and online only. No phone orders please!

The sale rules and terms are below. I have also highlighted the whiskies and other spirits discounted more than 10%. There are some amazing deals for 15, 20, 25 and 30% off. Some of the items are in short supply and won’t last long. Best of all, if you pop into the shop, there is a very good chance you can try a sample of one of our exciting sale whiskies before you buy!

We have a special visitor tomorrow, George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery will be popping into KWM for a visit between 11AM and 12:30PM, Saturday May 14. George Farclas will be in store and on hand to talk about Glenfarclas, share some drams and sign bottles. George is a larger than life whisky personality and a great ambassador for his family owned distillery; the second oldest family owned distillery in Scotland. If you’ve never met him, this is your chance, and if you have, you know you won’t want to miss this opportunity to catch up.

Ardbeg Day is fast approaching, and details on the Ardbeg Night festivities should be out soon. We will be holding three Ardbeg Day Master Class tastings at Kensington Wine Market, Saturday May 28: 1-2PM, 3-4PM and 5-6PM. The tastings are just $25 and feature six different Ardbegs including the new Ardbeg Dark Cove release. We have also squirreled away bottles of the Ardbeg Supernova 2014 and Ardbeg Perpetuum just for the occasion.

Finally, if you didn’t see last night’s announcement, KWM has made a contribution to the Red Cross for the Fort McMurray disaster relief. We have two further opportunities coming up in June which will help contribute to the relief efforts. We are partnering with Compass Box Whisky, Authentic Wine & Spirits and Peasant Cheese to put on special tasting with Chris Maybin on June 2nd. And we are just ironing out the details for a special Macallan event with Dan Volway on June 8. Details will be finalized and announced early next week!

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and look forward to greeting you in store with a dram!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

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

twitter.com/scotch_guy, Instagram: instagram.com/kensingtonwm/

 and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

Sale Rules

1. Sale is this weekend only, now through midnight Sunday May 15 2016.
2.  All in stock Whiskies, with a few exceptions (noted below) are at least 10% off. 88 selected whiskies are other sprits are discounted 15 to 30% and are listed below.
3.  All in stock Wine are at least 15% off with some much better deals.
4.  Scotch Malt Whisky Society Whiskies and Membership Kits are not on sale!
5. Sale is in store and online only. No phone orders please! You may reply by email.
6. Payment must be provided at the time of purchase for online and email orders. No layaways.
7. Sale is on in stock items only, with the exception of KWM exclusives, on which we will honour the discount, should we run out. These items have been bolded.
8. The sale prices will not be extended beyond Sunday May 15, nor will they be applied retroactively.
9. In the event of a discrepancy in price the Point of Sale at Kensington Wine Market will be taken as correct.
10. Prices quoted below are regular retail, before discounts, and do not include GST.

Save 15%

1. Adelphi Glen Garioch 1993 22 Year – Regular $255
2. Balblair 1999 – Regular $145
3. BenRiach 15 Year PX – Regular $100
4. BenRiach 1976 Cask 541 – Regular $850 – Only 2 left!
5. BenRiach 1998 Cask 6394 – Regular $180
6. BenRiach 1999 Cask 8687 – Regular $178
7. Benromach 1976 – Regular $1100
8. Black Gold Highland Park 1995 – Regular $395
9. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon – Regular $41
10. Celebration of the Cask Caol Ila 1998 – Regular $420
11. Coopers Choice Garnheath 28 Year – Regular $270
12.  Coopers Choice Higland Park 20 Year – Regular $250
13. Coopers Choice Ledaig 17 Year – Regular $180
14.  Coopers Choice Lochside 48 Year – Regular $465
15. First Edition Glen Garioch 1990 – Regular $205
16. First Edition Tormore 26 Year – Regular $250
17. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Inchgower 2000 – Regular $108
18. Glendronach 1972 Cask 706 42 Year – Regular $2500 – Only 1 left!
19. Glendronach 1994 Cask 3273 – Regular $290
20. Glendronach 1995 Cask Cask 3806 – Regular $280
21. Glendronach 1995 Cask 4034 – Regular $280
22. Glendronach 2004 Cask 5524 – Regular $174
23. Glendronach 8 Year The Hielan – Regular $64
24. Old Pulteney 1997 KWM Cask 1636 – Regular $200
25. Prichard’s Double Chocolate Bourbon – Regular $135
26. Sazerac Rye 6 Year – Regular $65

 Save 20%

1. Bernheim Kentucky Wheat KWM Cask – Regular $80
2. BenRiach 1996 KWM Cask 189 – Regular $220
3. Berry’s Miltonduff 1995 KWM Cask – Regular $170
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Keith 1973 – Regular $710 – Only 3 left!
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Miltonduff 1978 – Regular $620 – Only 3 left!
6. Creative Whisky Company Exclusive Blend 1991 – Regular $113
7. Creative Whisky Company Glen Garioch 1994 – Regular $160
8. Creative Whisky Company Glenturret 1994 – Regular $160
9. Creative Whisky Company Tobermory 1994 – Regular $145
10. Dalwhinnie 25 Year 48.8% – Regular $680
11. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Auchroisk 1996 – Regular $140
12. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Ledaig 1999 – Regular $120
13. Glenmorangie Companta – Regular $120
14. Great King Street Glasgow 50ml – Regular $7
15. Hudson New York Corn Spirit- Regular $52
16. Master of Malt Braes of Glenlivet B2 – Regular $150
17. Signatory Dufftown 1997 – Regular $180
18. Signatory Glen Keith 1995 – Regular $120
19. Signatory Glentauchers 1996 – Regular $180
20. Sovereign Cambus 40 Year – Regular $440
21. Sovereign Lochside 52 Year – Regular $1260 – Only 1 left!
22. Sovereign Girvan 26 Year – Regular $184
23. Writer’s Tears Cask Strength – Regular $170

 Save 25%

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Auchentoshan 1992 – Regular $210
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Cragganmore 1999 – Regular $115
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Garioch 1991 – Regular $210
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Spey 1995 – Regular $154
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenallachie 1992 – Regular $190
6. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenlivet 1972 – Regular $800
7. Celebration of the Cask Mortlach 1995 – Regular $220
8. G&M Glenrothes 1997 Quaich Cask – Regular $185
9. Glendalough 4 Year Double – Regular $62
10. Glendalough Sherry Cask Poitin – Regular $60
11. Glenrothes Sherry Reserve – Regular $75
12. Jura 1995 Boutique Barrels Sauternes – Regular $160
13. Mortlach 25 Year – Regular $1100
14. Saint Vivant Armagnac 1934 – Regular $985
15. Saint Vivant Armagnac 1955 – Regular $750
16. Wilson & Morgan Glenrothes 25 Year – Regular $500
17. Wilson & Morgan Invergordon 30 Year – Regular $315

Save 30%

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Glendullan 1992 – Regular $150 – Only 1 left!
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Teaninich 1973 – Regular $435 – Only 1 left!
3. Darkness Dailuaine 15 Year Pedero Ximenez – Regular $185
4. Darkness Tomintoul 18 Year Oloroso – Regular $185
5. Samaroli Sherry 22 Year Single Malt – Regular $250 – Just 3 left!
6. Secret Spirits Scotch Whisky Advent – Regular $425 – Just 2 left!
7. Strathmill 25 Year – Regular $520
8. Sweet Wee Scallywag Blended Malt – Regular $82
9. Wee Whisky Gift Box 2015 – Regular $80 – Just 1 left!

All sale items can be browsed online: https://kensingtonwinemarket.com/products/on-sale/

We are excited to announce the full schedule for the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2016 which begins NEXT WEEK! We are excited to see everyone who will travel to Campbeltown next week and final preparations are well underway to make your trip worthwhile!

The festival will take place from Wednesday 18th-Friday 20th May with various events each day, celebrating the quality malts produced at Campbeltown’s three distilleries. The full schedule is as follows:

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Glen Scotia Distillery will be hosting their second annual Open Day at the distillery with doors opening at 10am. There will be a selection of local stalls and demonstrations from their Loch Lomond coopers throughout the day as well as tours and tastings at the following times:

11am:  Manager’s Office with Staff Member (£30 per person – maximum of 6 people)

11:30am:  Free Tour

12pm:  Food Pairing Demo

1pm:  Dunnage Warehouse Tasting with Distillery Manager (£20 per person – maximum of 20 people)

3pm:  Free Tour

4pm:  Manager’s Office with Distillery Manager (£50 per person – maximum of 6 people)

For bookings or more information, contact Glen Scotia on +44 (0) 1586 552288 or email glenscotiashop@lochlomondgroup.com

The following events will also be taking place on Wednesday 18th May 2016:

11:30am:  Springbank Society Tasting in the Malt Barns at Springbank Distillery (FULLY BOOKED)

3pm-6pm:  Whisky Impressions Liquid History Tour (FULLY BOOKED)

7pm:  Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery 12th Anniversary Dinner (FULLY BOOKED)

9pm:  Whisky Quiz (more information below)

In addition to the dinner held at Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery, the Ardshiel Hotel, Craigard House Hotel and the Harbourview Grille at the Royal Hotel will also be hosting whisky themed dinners. For menu information and bookings, please contact each hotel directly:

Ardshiel Hotel:  +44 (0) 1586 552133

Craigard House Hotel:  +44 (0) 1586 554242

Royal Hotel:  +44 (0) 1586 810033

After the success of the 2015 quiz, Whisky Macs Bar & Grill will be hosting another Whisky Quiz at 9pm on Wednesday 18th May. Teams of up to 4 will be accepted and the cost will be £2 per player (£8 for team of 4). The only two rules are ‘no mobile phones’ and ‘the quizmaster is always right’!

Thursday 19th May 2016

The Springbank Open Day will take place on Thursday 19th May and we hope to attract a range of locals and visitors to the event. The gates will open at 11am and the following will take place throughout the day:

• Free tours of Springbank & Mitchell’s Glengyle distilleries on the hour from 12-4pm
• A selection of over 25 stalls from local businesses
• Hot Food and Cakes
• Three special Springbank Open Day bottlings
• Warehouse Whisky Bar
• Fyne Ales Bar (plus tastings – more information below)
• Marquee Bar
• Various Masterclasses and Tastings, as listed below:

11:30am:  Springbank Intimate Tasting: How wood influences our spirit (FULLY BOOKED)

12:30pm:  The Distillery Manager’s Springbank Warehouse Tasting (FULLY BOOKED)

12:45pm:  Kilkerran Mini Masterclass: Trio of Single Casks (£15) (SPACES AVAILABLE)

1:30pm:  Springbank Masterclass: New and Forthcoming Releases (FULLY BOOKED)

2:30pm:  The Distillery Manager’s Springbank Warehouse Tasting (FULLY BOOKED)

2:45pm:  Springbank Intimate Tasting: Favourites from the past (FULLY BOOKED)

3:45pm:  Cadenhead Masterclass: Cask Samples & Current Bottlings (FULLY BOOKED)

4:30pm:  The Distillery Manager’s Springbank Warehouse Tasting (FULLY BOOKED)

New and exciting news for 2016 is that as well as having their usual bar set up in our marquee, Fyne Ales will also be hosting 3 tasting sessions throughout the day. The tastings will be held at 1pm, 2pm and 5:30pm and should last 30-40 minutes each. The tastings will be bookable on the day at the Fyne Ales bar in the marquee and there will be a cost of £5 per tasting with 15-20 people on each. The tastings will take place in Warehouse 10 and all people taking part in the tasting should meet at the Fyne Ales bar 10 minutes before the tasting begins to be led over to the warehouse. 

Look out your dancing shoes in the evening as from 7pm-11pm, the Malt Barns will be brought to life with live music. Upcoming young local band Rhuvaal will kick proceedings off at 7pm before the return of popular local band THE WEE TOON TELLERS who received rave reviews after a lively set at Springbank Open Day 2015. Local photographer Raymond Hosie will be in the Malt Barns from 8:30pm-10:30pm with his popular photobooth service, there will be a licensed bar and Callie Catering will be pitched up outside, serving hot rolls until 11pm. Entry is free and no ticket is required.

Friday 20th May 2016

The final day of the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2016 will be dedicated to Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery and Cadenhead’s Independent Bottler.

At 11am, the gates to Glengyle Distillery will open where there will be hourly free tours of the distillery, local stalls, tastings and a Cadenhead ‘Lucky Dip’ bar.

At 12 noon, there will be a Kilkerran Work in Progress Masterclass (FULLY BOOKED) and at 2pm, there will be a Question & Answer session with an expert panel who are, or have been, involved with the build, running or promoting of the distillery. As well as asking any questions you may have, you will also be treated to 3 drams throughout the session, including an EXCLUSIVE sample of the upcoming Kilkerran 12yo whisky which will be available to buy in selected markets from August 2016. The cost of the Q&A session is £10 per person and tickets can be purchased on the day or beforehand by emailing mairi@springbankwhisky.com. There will also be two Cadenhead Warehouse Tastings during the day (FULLY BOOKED) and events at Glengyle Distillery will conclude at 3:30pm.

In addition to the Glengyle and Cadenhead events, at 11am there will be an Architecture Tour of Campbeltown with David McEwan and at 2:30pm there will be Heritage Tour of Campbeltown with Alex McKinven. The tours of Campbeltown are very interesting and give a great insight into Campbeltown’s historic past, its rich heritage, its people and its stories as well as gaining an insight into some of Campbeltown’s finest buildings and their history. The tours are conducted by local volunteers who deliver the tours free of charge for the public. The tours last approximately one hour and booking in advance is essential. Please contact the Campbeltown Tourist Information Centre to book your spot – you can email them at campbeltown@visitscotland.com or call +44 (0) 1586 552056.

Events will conclude on Friday evening with a night of live music in the Ardshiel Hotel who will host The Coaltown Daisies as part of their ‘A Whisky For the Road’ Live Tour. For more information, please call the Ardshiel Hotel on +44 (0) 1586 552133.

The break down of events on Friday 20th May is:

10am:  Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting with Mark Watt (FULLY BOOKED)

11am:  Architecture Tour with David McEwan (SPACES AVAILABLE)

12 noon:  Reflection on the Kilkerran Work in Progress series (FULLY BOOKED)

2pm:  Kilkerran Question & Answer Session with expert panel (SPACES AVAILABLE)

2:30pm:  Heritage Tour with Alex McKinven (SPACES AVAILABLE)

3:30pm:  Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting with Mark Watt (FULLY BOOKED)

Evening:  Live Music from The Coaltown Daisies in the Ardshiel Hotel (SPACES AVAILABLE)

For more information on any of the above events, please contact Mairi by emailing mairi@springbankwhisky.com or calling +44 (0) 1586 552009. 

Kind regards,

Nathan

Nathan Currie 

Springbank Society 

Birthday Sale

Proudly Celebrating 24 Years! 

KWM is celebrating 24 years of award winning service with our 24th annual anniversary Birthday Bash! The sale begins Friday May 13 and ends Sunday May 15. You can shop online or better yet pay us a visit. All in store wines will be discounted 15% or more. Your favorite single malts and other whiskies will be discounted 10% and beer will be discounted 5%. Please join us and let’s celebrate.

We look forward to welcoming you!

MEMBER OFFER: EDINBURGH WHISKY SOLSTICE 2016

Partnering up again with the whisky Lounge for the 4th year, we’re heading back indoors and will be setting up our Edinburgh Whisky Festival in the Assembly Rooms on George St. This iconic Georgian venue has long been at the heart of Edinburgh hosting thousands of events from Royal banquets to film festivals, but for this day in June it will play host to Scotland’s most iconic drink – whisky! As in previous years you can expect to see a fantastic display of whiskies from Scotland and around the world, we’re also working on some sensational master-classes which will leave even the most seasoned whisky drinker astounded and amazed…

Date: Saturday 25 June

Time: 12 – 5pm

Location: Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street

Tickets: £30

SMWS MEMBER OFFER: 2 tickets for £40 – save £20!   

BUY >

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

May Long Weekend Offers Whisky Festival Experience

Whisky lovers don’t have to wait until January to experience their next whisky festival. During the May long weekend the Highland Games Whisky School offers a whisky festival experience in an outdoor setting. Eight classes will be held May 21, 22 and 23. Participants may take classes focused on a specific distillery, sample a range of malts or experience whisky and food pairings. Held in Topaz Park, Whisky School tuition includes entrance to the Highland Games.

Whisky school classes this year focus on single malt whiskies from Scotland and the United States. Tastings are presented by whisky ambassadors who share distillery anecdotes and insider information while exploring each whisky’s distinctive characteristics.

Saturday May 21 classes begin at noon with a selection of Glenlivet malts. At 1:45 enjoy the malts of Glenfarclas with Gavin Cameron and at 3:30 explore the world of Bourbon with Matt Jones.

Sunday May 22 explore the malts of Aberlour at noon, a selection of vintage malts paired with chocolate at 1:45 and Legend of Bourbon, a look at the history and the modern interpretation of Bourbon at 3:30.

Monday May 23 at noon Bill Jones of Deerholme Farm joins Andrew Campbell Walls of Victoria Caledonian Distillery to present a whisky and local food pairing. At 2:45 experience the exclusive malts of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society paired with Xoxolat chocolate.

Advance registration is required for Whisky School classes. Cost for whisky school classes is $35 and includes a day pass to the Highland Games. Cost for the whisky and food pairing is $45. Whisky School students are also able to purchase an engraved Victoria Highland Games Glencairn whisky nosing glass for $15Proceeds of the Whisky School benefit the Victoria Highland Games Society.

More details on each class and registration forms are available at victoriahighlandgames.com/games/attractions/whisky-school

Chivas Regal hosts Art of Blending sessions at London’s oldest whisky shop, Milroy’s of Soho 

Chivas Regal has been carefully selecting and blending whiskies since 1801 – get an insight into what it takes to become a master blender and create your very own unique whisky at Milroy’s of Soho from 12-15 May 2016.  

Book your place here: chivasregaluk.eventbrite.co.uk 

The Chivas Regal Art of Blending sessions usually last an hour and you can blend your very own Scotch whisky and discover the traditions, craft and expertise of the Chivas Regal Master Blenders.  

Standard tickets

£25

Taste Chivas 12, Chivas Extra

Take home your own blended bottle

Premium tickets

£45

Taste Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas 18 and Chivas 25 Take home your own engraved blended bottle.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is looking for volunteers to take personality test and sample rare whiskies

How would you like to sample rare whiskies in the name of scientific research?

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is looking for 100 volunteers to take a written personality test and taste whisky samples at its Project Flavour Behaviour event at Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C. on Saturday 21^st May 2016.

Project Flavour Behaviour is being carried out by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society this World Whisky Day (21^st May 2016), in partnership with Dr. Adam Moore from the University of Edinburgh’s Psychology Department.

The event is part of a series of secretive research experiments taking place around the world. These events will be taking place in cities worldwide, including Vancouver, London and Edinburgh.

Participants at the event, which is free, will take a written personality test and then taste several special samples of single malt whisky.

A previous knowledge of whisky is NOT required – an open mind and adventurous spirit is all you need.

The findings from the event will be analysed by Dr Moore and feed into the ongoing Flavour Behaviour experiment, which will be unveiled in more detail during 2016.

To sign up to be a volunteer taster, visit: http://www.smws.com/projectfb

Project Flavour Behaviour Free event – 3pm-5pm on 21^st May 2016 at Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009  

#projectFB

Twitter: @SMWSAmerica

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SMWSAmerica 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottles single cask single malt whisky – www.smws.com 

Media enquiries 

For more information, contact Society Brand Ambassador Phoebe Brookes at phoebe.brookes@smws.com