Springbank Society Newsletter

August 2015

Greetings Society Members,

I hope you are all enjoying a nice Summer and have been experiencing some warm weather wherever you are! Unfortunately the Campbeltown weather hasn’t been too kind to us this year but I suppose it just makes us even more thankful for the odd sunny day that we’re blessed with! The Summer seems to have flown by, I can’t believe that we will be in September soon so I thought it was best to drop by with the latest news for you all!

Information for New Society Members

We have welcomed a large number of new members to the Springbank Society over the past few months so a big hello to all of you and welcome aboard!

Just a quick reminder of the process – you will receive updates from the Society whenever there is a new general release from the distillery, whenever there is a new Society release or just when there is some important news to share with you. You will receive information on new bottlings via email but other general news will tend to be added to the Society Blog on the Springbank Distillers website, which you should have been informed about when you joined. Regrettably, I haven’t been able to update this as much as I would like to since the website went live, as things have just been so busy over the past few months, but I will hopefully get more updates on there soon.

If you would like to order bottles after a new release, or at any time throughout the year, you can email me at society@springbankwhisky.com or call on +44 (0) 1586 55 2009. Unfortunately we are currently unable to ship bottles to America and Canada due to strict import laws but can ship to all other counties worldwide. For the Society releases, we do have a source in Canada who can import them for members so you can still order the exclusive Society bottlings when they are released. I will explain this in more detail when the next bottling is available.

If you would like the shipping prices for a particular country sent over to you then just ask and I will be more than happy to provide them for you. Also, if you have any general questions at any time then please do not hesitate to get in touch and I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. At busy times, this can take longer than I would like but I do try my hardest to reply as quickly as I can.

News from the Distillery & Sales Team

We’ve welcomed a record breaking number of visitors to the distillery this Summer, with September already looking to be the busiest month of all with lots of large group bookings in the diary. It’s always fantastic to see so many people making the long journey to Campbeltown to visit us and we really do appreciate each and every visitor. We know Campbeltown is not the easiest place in the world to get to but hope that it is worth it for our visitors when they get here and that they leave happy! There have been plenty of tour guides on hand to show the visitors round with Jim, Martin, Cameron, Donald, Mhairi and Lea all working very hard and gaining more experience and confidence each day.

Gavin and his team at the distillery are currently malting on both malt floors which is always one of my favourite sights to see at the distillery. The team will malt until the end of October when they will move all the malted barley up to Glengyle to distill until mid- December. The spirit from Glengyle is maturing beautifully at the moment and we are all getting increasingly excited about the launch of the 12 year old next year. Apparently there is a sample bottle of the upcoming 12 year old doing the rounds in the office so I will need to try and get my hands on that soon!

The Sales Team have their diaries fully booked for the next few months with lots of trips scheduled. Between them, Ranald, Melanie, David and Grant will visit Germany, Belgium, Japan, France, Poland, Switzerland, North America, Norway, Sweden and Italy as well as a few festivals within the UK. I will be attending the Glasgow Whisky Festival with Grant in November so I’m already looking forward to that and will hopefully see some of you Society Members there!

Springbank Whisky School Dates 2016

Some of you have possibly already noticed the Springbank Whisky School dates for 2016 on the Society Blog but here is some information for those who haven’t:

The dates for the Springbank Whisky School 2016 have now been announced and spaces are filling up quickly already, with people who had registered their interest earlier in the year. For those of you who don’t know about the Whisky School, during the Summer months we offer whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to come and work in the distillery. Whisky School students get to experience traditional distilling methods first hand at Springbank where they will work for a period of 5 days under our expert supervision. During the week, students will gain knowledge and experience in all stages of the whisky making process including malting, mashing, distilling and bottling as well as gaining some ‘tasting’ experience along the way!

The dates for next year are:

Term 1: Week commencing Monday 16th May 2016 – FULLY BOOKED

Term 2: Week commencing Monday 23rd May 2016 – FULLY BOOKED

Term 3: Week commencing Monday 30th May 2016 – SPACES AVAILABLE

Term 4: Week commencing Monday 6th June 2016 – FULLY BOOKED

Term 5: Week commencing Monday 13th June 2016 – SPACES AVAILABLE

Term 6: Week commencing Monday 20th June 2016 – SPACES AVAILABLE

Term 7: Week commencing Monday 27th June 2016 – SPACES AVAILABLE

Term 8: Week commencing Monday 4th July 2016 – SPACES AVAILABLE

If you would like further information on prices, availability and what exactly is involved, please email Janet at whiskyschool@springbankwhisky.com.

Campbeltown Malts Festival 2016

Continuing on from the success of the 2014 & 2015 Campbeltown Malts Festivals, Springbank, Glengyle, Glen Scotia and Cadenhead’s will team up again next year to host the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2016. The festival will take place from Wednesday 18th-Friday 20th May 2016 and I can’t wait to start the planning! As always, Thursday (19th May) will be dedicated to Springbank Open Day with Glengyle, Glen Scotia and Cadenhead related events taking place on the Wednesday (18th) and Friday (20th).

There was a fantastic turn out for the 2015 festival and it was great to see so many Society Members coming all the way to Campbeltown to visit us! A review of this years festival was posted on the Society Blog at the beginning of July so for those who couldn’t make it over, head to the blog to read all about the events which took place. More information on the various 2016 events will be released at the beginning of next year so I will email you as soon as any plans are confirmed.

Upcoming Releases & Current Products

August has been an extremely busy month for our Bottling Hall staff who have been working very hard, making sure we have plenty stock of all our core products. Included in the recent bottling programme is our new version of the ever popular Springbank 12 year old Cask Strength. This has been matured in a combination of 70% Sherry casks and 30% Bourbon casks, been bottled at 53.8% and is very limited with only 9,000 bottles for worldwide distribution. The price for the Springbank 12 year old Cask Strength is £47.00 and as it is part of our core range, members receive their 10% discount on it, working out at £42.30 for Society Members. The UK allocation of this bottling is extremely limited and our shop will only receive a small number of bottles so it will be strictly limited to one per person and will likely sell out within a day or two. The tasting notes for the August 2015 release are:

Nose: There’s a saltiness similar to Campbeltown Loch fishing creels, a typical Springbank maritime style. Spicy notes are very dominant: cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and some ground black pepper.

Palate: Lip licking – thickly buttered gingerbread, sticky toffee pudding and crème brûlée. Cream and butter really coat the mouth in classic Campbeltown style.

Finish: Dry finish ending with barbecue smoke and chicory sauce.

Also recently bottled is the 2015 version of Longrow Red. This is the 4th in the Longrow Red series which has produced bottlings matured in Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Port casks so far. The new edition has been matured in Pinot Noir casks and is 12 years old. It has been bottled at cask strength of 52.9% and again, there are only 9,000 bottles available for worldwide distribution. The price for this is £58.00 and as a Society Member, you will get your 10% member discount, meaning it will cost you £52.20. Again, please note this bottling will be limited to one bottle per person as it is just so limited. The tasting notes for the new Longrow Red are:

Nose: There’s a cornucopia of fruity aromas: marmalade, strawberry preserve, fruit coulis and orange sherbet. Not forgetting the tobacco smoke which is associated with Longrow whiskies.

Palate: The fruit theme continues with raspberry jam, and strawberry jam with cream sponge. The whisky has a sweet side too, rich toffee, honeycomb and candy floss.

Finish: Very soft, this Longrow whisky doesn’t disappoint with campfire smoke and charred embers dominating the finish.

Both new releases will be hitting shops around the UK this week including our Cadenhead shops in Campbeltown, Edinburgh and London. They will also be available in various other countries very soon, including our Cadenhead shops in Cologne, Berlin, Salzburg, Odense and Baden. Both bottlings are likely to sell out from our Campbeltown shop very quickly so if you would like to order a bottle then please let me know ASAP and I will try my best to get one for you. I am going to be on annual leave from Tuesday 1st September until Wednesday 16th September so if you are placing an order from Tuesday 1st September, please call the Whisky Shop directly on +44 (0) 1586 55 1710 (option 1).

As mentioned, we have recently stocked up on all core products so here’s a reminder of what we have, including the up to date prices of each:

– Hazelburn 10yo:” £38.00 (-10% Society discount) = £34.20

– Hazelburn 12yo:” £50.00 (-10% Society discount) = £45.00

– Springbank 10yo:” £38.00 (-10% Society discount) = £34.20

– Springbank 12yo:” £47.00 (-10% Society discount) = £42.30

– Springbank 15yo:” £53.50 (-10% Society discount) = £48.15

– Springbank 18yo:” £84.50 (-10% Society discount) = £76.05

– Springbank 21yo:” £180.00 (-£10.00 for Society Members) = £170.00

– Longrow Peated:” £38.00 (-10% Society discount) = £34.20

– Longrow Red:” £58.00 (-10% Society discount) = £52.20

– Longrow 18yo:” £84.50 (-10% Society discount) = £76.05

Next Society Bottle

As previously mentioned, the next Society bottling is due to be released at the end of September. Unfortunately I am unable to provide any other information on it at the moment but I will send details as soon as I can so thank you for you patience!

Support the continuation of the Campbeltown Ferry Crossing

Many of you will already know that as well as my various Springbank related tasks, part of my job is also to administrate and organise events for Explore Campbeltown. For those who don’t know about Explore Campbeltown, it is a marketing initiative founded in 2013 by Springbank Distillery, the Ardshiel Hotel and Machrihanish Holiday Park. Since February 2013, we have been working together with the local businesses of South Kintyre to help promote the area, showcasing what wonderful goods and services the  Kintyre peninsula has to offer and to encourage more people to visit/spend their holidays here. As well as creating a website to showcase our local businesses, we have hosted many successful events including two Christmas Markets in the Malt Barns at Springbank, a Fashion Show and a Wedding Fayre with many more lined up for the future.

At the moment, we are working closely with the Campbeltown Ferry Sub-Group to campaign for the current 3 year trial summer ferry service from Ardrossan-Campbeltown to be made permanent. The summer service, which started in May 2013, is in the final year of its 3 year trial and it’s important that the ferry continues beyond the current trial period to provide a vital link between the central belt and Kintyre. The first CalMac ferry from Ardrossan arrived in Campbeltown on Thursday 23rd May 2013 and the final ferry, this year, is scheduled for Sunday 27th September 2015.

We are currently working with local businesses to gather information which will help us compile statistics for us to argue our case. We are very keen to get the community and visitors involved in supporting the continuation so we have created a Facebook page titled ‘Keep the Campbeltown Ferry Crossing’. It would be great if those of you on Facebook could ‘like’ and ‘share’ the page to help spread the word. We are encouraging ferry users to interact on the Facebook page by sharing their stories, opinions and photographs and if we get a good, positive response to this, it will hopefully help in our bid to keep the ferry in service beyond the current 3 year trial period.

The service has been an extremely positive addition to Kintyre and many of our visitors travel to Campbeltown using the ferry so we are desperate to make sure we do all we can to try and make the crossing a permanent service. We are in the process of designing a short questionnaire on Survey Monkey which will ask a few questions about the service, targeting ferry users out-with the local community. When this goes live, it would be great if any of you who have used the service could help us out by answering the few questions. The link to the survey will be posted on the Ferry Facebook page as well as the Springbank and Explore Campbeltown Facebook pages as soon as it goes live so it would be really great if you could fill out the survey.

I think that is all the news I have for you at the moment but I will be back in touch at the end of September to give you all the details about the next Society release.

Sláinte,

Mairi

For the Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact Janet at society@springbankwhisky.com

Hi folks. The auction is now live with an incredible array of top-class whiskies.

Enjoy!

Kind regards from Glasgow

THE 53rd AUCTION

 

Our August auction is now live and ends on Monday 7^th September 2015!

View August Auction

We’ve had a busy month updating our website, introducing new features to make bidding and customising our auctions easier! All in time for our largest and most interesting auction to date.

It all starts this month with one of the most desirable Japanese whiskies ever bottled; Karuizawa 1964 48 year old was exclusively bottled for Wealth Solutions and limited to a mere 143 bottles. This well presented stunning whisky has rarely appeared at auction and we are excited to offer this to you in our August sale.

We are also excited to bring to auction a fantastic collection of bottles from the 1970s (and earlier); a selection of which can be seen below. These incredible bottles really show how distillery styles have changed over the last 50 years, there is also a great selection of unusual blends dating back to as far back as the 1930s.

 

Ardbeg Auriverdes originally released on the 31^st May 2014 was one of the most talked about releases of last year. This Gold Edition of Ardbeg Auriverdes was released exclusively to bloggers, journalists and ambassadors, never officially released to the public. 

Please remember!

There is no registration fee, our commission structure is very competitive and we offer worldwide shipping. For our terms and conditions please click here.

With close to 20 years of experience in the whisky industry, Whisky Auctioneer specialises in auctioning whisky whether it be fine, old, rare, collectable or affordable. Formed in 2013 and based in Perth, central Scotland, we aim to be the most comprehensive website for the buying and selling of whisky online.

www.whiskyauctioneer.com

Happy Bidding!

 

Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival 2015 

Dufftown 2000, originators of the Autumn Whisky Festival in Dufftown, will again be hosting a full range of events for the Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival from 24 to 28 September 2015.

During the festival, whisky connoisseurs from all over the world will be able to tour and taste an incredible array of fine single malts from a number of the Speyside Distilleries.

Dufftown 2000 will be hosting the “Dramble” on Mon 28 September 2015 where a maximum of 30 persons can walk all the distilleries of Dufftown. Drams will be given at each of the 7 distilleries, including Kininvie & Convalmore.

New for this festival is a Beer & Whisky afternoon at the New Inn at Aberchirder. Gary Smith’s annual beer festival coincides with the Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival in Dufftown and we are offering transport to and from this event where you will be able to sample real ales and selected whiskies.

But there is more – music and dancing to the Ice House Ceilidh Band on Friday Night in the Memorial Hall, the Craft Fayre in the Memorial Hotel on Saturday and Sunday and visits to the outlying distilleries of Speyside.

The best of Scotland’s culture will be on show alongside the celebration of its national drink.

The festival will start with a Whisky Nosing and Tasting – Whiskies of the Speyside line – followed by the Gathering of “Mates of the Whisky Museum” event on Thursday evening in the Memorial Hall.

We will also be arranging our usual complement of bus tours to the distilleries not normally open to the public on each day of the festival.

SEPTEMBER TASTINGS

New List Open Tasting – 19 Greville St – Sat 5 Sept  More >

Steak & Whisky Tasting – 19 Greville St – Mon 7 Sept  More >

Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults – Fri 11 Sept  More >

Old & Rare Tasting – 19 Greville St – Tue 15 Sept  More >

Dunfermline Preview Tasting – Garvock House Hotel – Fri 18 Sept  More >

York Preview Tasting – Brigantes Bar & Brasserie – Fri 18 Sept  More >

Meet the Brewer Tasting – The Vaults – Wed 23 Sept  More >

Liverpool Preview Tasting – Malmaison – Fri 25 Sept  More >

Newcastle Preview Tasting – The Caledonian Hotel – Fri 25 Sept  More >

New Members’ Tasting – 19 Greville St – Tue 29 Sept  More >

LAST AUGUST TICKETS

Carlisle Preview Tasting – The Hallmark Hotel – Fri 28 Aug  More >

At the Illusionists Table – 28 Queen St – Fringe show More >

Scott Smith: Wonders at Dusk – 28 Queen St – Fringe show More >

FREE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE VAULTS

Monday Night Drop-In: Closed & Old School Whisky Night >  Mon 7 Sept

Monday Night Drop-In: Last Drops Night >  Mon 21 Sept

Browse All Tastings >

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

 

Dundee Dell | 5007 Underwood Ave | Omaha | NE | 68132

Malt Messenger No. 65

This Malt Messenger has been a long time coming. Some of the news is new to the Malt Messenger but if you’ve been in store, or follow me on Twitter or Facebook, it won’t be quite as new, so let’s call it “newish”! That’s the beauty about Facebook and Twitter posts, they’re quick and easy to produce and instantly send snippets of information to your followers.

Twitter especially has become a powerful way for both myself @scotch_guy and KWM @KensingtonWM to stay in touch with our customers. Both of our accounts are currently approaching 3000 followers, a milestone to be sure, but a trifle when compared to the Kardashians or President Obama. Comparatively small, our following is strong, and whether it is the latest exclusive wine in shop, the hottest new beer on the shelf, or the barrel I’m sampling at Springbank Distillery in Scotland, Twitter has become the easiest way to stay in touch. If you’re socially inclined, I invite you to connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. We look forward to welcoming you to our digital community.

Tweets and Facebook posts aside, my favourite way to virtually connect with our whisky followers is still the Malt Messenger. Over the last few weeks I’ve chipped away at this edition and it is full, so here we go!  Our Very Rare Malts in the Summer tasting tomorrow which is another, never to be repeated, range of exciting new whiskies. And then there is the 2015 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar, more than a quarter of which has already sold. We are really excited about this year’s calendar, the range is all new and we have added a special 100ml single cask Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling for Christmas day. We are actively taking orders and expect another sell out!

There are a lot of new and newish whiskies to tell you about: First out, our new exclusive Jura single cask. It’s taken 18 months to get here and has me waxing poetic about my recent trip to the island. We also have newish exclusives from Glenrothes and Benromach that have been patiently waiting for a mention. And, there are new whiskies from BenRiach, Glendronach and Caol Ila too. The Arran 18 Year has been in for a couple of months, it’s the oldest whisky ever bottled by the distillery and the final whisky in the trilogy of 16, 17 and 18 year. We’ve also received just 4 bottles of the only bottling we’ve ever had, and are likely ever to see, from the Glen Esk Distillery.

There’s a lot to ingest in this Malt Messenger, and stay tuned because there is a lot more news to come this fall. As they say in the HBO series, Game of Thrones, Winter is Coming… but not just yet. I hope you’ll find something here to help you raise a toast to the last few weeks of summer, Don’t despair though, I can assure you it will be an amazing fall!

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition
1. Very Rare Malts in the Summer
3. 2015 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar
4. New Exclusive Jura 1995 Sauternes Cask
5. New Exclusive Glenrothes Sherry Reserve
6. New Exclusive Benomach Chateau Cissec
7. New Whiskies from BenRiach & Glendronach
8. New Whiskies from Compass Box
9. Introduing the Arran 18 Year
10. Introducing thr Caol Ila 15 Year Unpeated
11. Best of Bourbon Tasting

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

2015 KENSINGTON WINE MARKET
WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR
25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky…

Now taking deposits for the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar

Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Advent Calendar is back! Last year’s calendar, our second and the first one we produced entirely in house, was a huge hit. It sold out before it hit the shelves. This year’s is even better. It still includes 24 x 50ml whiskies and a custom Glencarin whisky glass. But, that is not all! We are offering an even wider range of whiskies and we are also including an extra 25th bottle. As a special treat for Christmas morning, there will be a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottling. This is a rare treat indeed, and usually only available to Society members. All of this year’s whiskies are different from 2014 and we are really excited about the range. There are 23 single malts from Scotland, Ireland, India and Taiwan, as well as a boutique blend and a boutique blended malt. Whether it is for yourself or to give as a gift, we know it won’t disappoint. Don’t hesitate! This one is sure to sell out fast, and the price goes up September 15!

You can pre-order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Advent Calendar online, by phone 403-283-8000 or in store. A $150 deposit will be taken for each calendar requested at the beginning of August. The calendars will be available at the “early bird price” of $375 until September 15. After September 15 the Calendar’s price will go up to $400. The calendars should be ready for pick-up before the end of October.

Pre-Order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar $375+GST

JURA 1995 BOUTIQUE BARREL SAUTERNES
SINGLE CASK FOR KWM!
18 months is a long time to wait, but it was worth it…

I love the island of Jura, it is one of my favourite places in Scotland to spend a night, and it doesn’t hurt that there is also a distillery to visit. The island is wild, remote and surprisingly large, roughly 40kms long. Its width varies between as much as 8 and as little as a kilometre at its narrowest point. The southern portion of the island is dominated by three ancient rounded conical volcanoes or Paps (derived from the Norse for breasts). The north is undulating and rugged with more mountains, and like the rest of the island, a lot of moor.

I’ve never made it much beyond the town of Craighouse on land, though I have made a number of boat trips to the island’s northern tip to see the Gulf of Corryvreckan, one of the world’s largest tidal whirlpools. I’ve long been curious about what lay further up the road on Jura, and though the island’s population today hovers around 195 souls, give or take a few, it hasn’t always been that way.

Most of the island’s population live in the town of Craighouse, but
there are small hamlets dotted up and down the west coast. The
island was first inhabited around 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. By 6000BCE much of the island would have been covered by a forest of birch trees, but as the climate warmed the forests were cleared for farming and agriculture by 2000BCE. The climate changed again a little over 1200 years later leaving most of the island boggy and not too unlike its present condition today.

Though the population is around 200 today, it may have been as high as two or three thousand in the 1700 and 1800’s. There are scores of abandoned villages on the island’s northern coast, so remote they are best reached by boat. The island’s population was well in decline before the Highland Clearance, and a boat load of 50 Diurachs is known to have left for Canada in 1767. The oldest census of the island, from 1831, records a population of 1,312. Sadly, it has continued to decline ever since.

The original Jura distillery dates from 1810, though the island’s population were able to distil for personal consumption until 1781. The first Jura distillery operated until 1901 when then proprietor, one James Ferguson, had a falling out with the land owner Colin Campbell. The two couldn’t agree on who’s responsibility it was to repair the pier, so Ferguson removed the stills and other equipment, took the roofs of the buildings and left for greener pastures. Under Scottish law a buildings owner is required to pay rent only so long as the building has a roof!

The current distillery was born in 1963 out of a desire to provide jobs and stimulus to the island. The population had dwindled to barely more than 100. The new landowners wanted to stem the tide and it seems to have worked. Jura is now a thriving little community and a destination of interest for the most ardent whisky fanatics, deer stalkers and those seeking refuge from the bustle of busier places like Islay.

I made good on my desire to follow the road as far as it goes on Jura and even further on my visit during Feis Isle this past May. I drove my car to the end of the paved road and hopped on my mountain bike. On a rugged path I rode over old bridges, past beautiful manors, farms and abandoned crofts. I passed the remote house where George Orwell wrote 1984 and made it almost all the way to the Gulf of Corryvreckan. Jura is so rugged a mountain bike can only get you so far. The intermittently harsh weather aside, it was an incredible day, and one I won’t soon forget.

Why have I waxed poetic and gotten so far off the beaten path thinking of Jura you ask. Because we just received a new exclusive single cask of Jura, one we have been waiting for for nearly 18 months. I’ll save you that long story except to say we are thrilled it’s here. Some of the cask, it seems, was sold somewhere in Europe (Twitter is a wonderful thing) but we do know that 204 of the 270 bottles have finally found their way to our shop. I hope you enjoy it!

Jura 1995 Boutique Barrels KWM Sauternes Cask 58.9% 18 Year Matured in ExBourbon Finished in a Sauternes Barrique Cask #8

Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: soft creamy and coating with vanilla, citrus and floral malty notes – a little like a fine French soap; Wine Gums and darker notes of leather, eather and oak slowly start to emerge; there are also underlying silky tendrils of honey. Palate: it starts light and soft but quickly builds with more honey, citrus and oak; the alcohol is held very well in check by soft and subtle layers of fruit, chocolate, leather and earth; more Wine Gums, building spices and nutty notes. Finish: long, layered and fruity (lots of orange) with fading spices and coating oaky oils. Comment: this one was well worth the wait; the staff loves it and so will you!” $159.99

NEWISH EXCLUSIVE GLENROTHES SHERRY RESERVE!
Our top summer sipping whisky pick…

We’ve long been fans of the Glenrothes brand at KWM, but we haven’t worked much with it exclusively. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for a while now looking out for an opportunity to find one. And, I think we’ve found it! A Whisky Magazine review this winter tipped me off to the Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve. It was given a Silver Medal by Whisky Magazine, scoring 90pts with Anabelle Meikle, I’ve included her tasting note below.

Some of the fussier types will complain that it has no age statement. Others might poo poo the trace of sulphur, yes it has a faint touch on the nose. But, all-round and dollar for dollar, this is a tasty little whisky and great value. However, don’t take our word for it, pop in for a sample. We think you’ll agree it’s a perfect summer sipping whisky for sitting by the fire, hanging out on the dock or as an apres-mountain bike!

Glenrothes Sherry Reserve 40% Distiller’s Tasting Note: Bouquet: Orange peel, fruit cake, vanilla, ginger bread, black cherries and pear drops. Palate: Spicy, ginger, oaky notes, crème brulee. Finish: Lingering spiciness with orange peel notes.” $74.99

Annable Meikle’s tasting note in Whisky Magazine

Nose: Lemon and pears poached with turmeric and saffron, heady and exotic. Perfumed flower pollen, frangipane and pineapple with a waxed balsa wood.

Palate: A tingle of mace at the tip of the tongue then a thicker syrup like texture. Lemon cake with sherried sultanas, ginger nut biscuits and spiced carrot cake with butter cream icing.

Finish: Big and silky texture with a clean finish. Comment: Sultry and brooding. Katharine Hepburn in a glass.

NEWISH EXCLUSIVE – BENROMACH CHATEAU CISSAC!

A fruity and richly layered new expression from Gordon & MacPhail’s Speyside Distillery…

I first sampled this whisky at Michael Urquhart’s Benromach Master Class at the Victoria Whisky Festival in January. We sampled a range of Benromachs including the Hermitage, 10 Year and Organic. But it was the Chateau Cissac that got me the most excited. Before the tasting was over I had emailed Benromach’s Western Canadian importer, Gold Medal, to line up exclusivity on it in Calgary. It was a good call. We received a pretty good allocation of the whisky, and most of it has already sold. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should pop by KWM for a sample.

Exclusive to KWM in Calgary this new Benromach has been finished for 20 months in Chateau Cissac wine casks after maturing in first fill Bourbon casks. The whisky has been bottled at 45% wit just 180 bottles having come to Canada.

Benromach is the smallest distillery in the Speyside, located in the town of Forres. Originally established in the late 1800’s, the distillery was brought back from oblivion by Gordon & MacPhail in 1998. It produces a traditional lightly peated Speyside style of single malt.

Benromach Chateau Cissac 45% My Tasting Note: Nose: very creamy and honeyed, some chewy malt with apple/peach crumble; a nice touch of premium licorice, Demerara sugars and some soft leather; some orange and milk chocolate. Palate: dark milk chocolate, some soft leather and big rich spices; some musty-earthy oak with more cooked apple and pear in brown sugar crusted crumble; becomes creamier and more subtle with each sip. Finish: medium-long with a coating soft leather, cooked and dark fruits with delicate spices and coating creamy oaky oils. $94.99

NEW WHISKIES FROM BENRIACH & GLENDRONACH

4 Very Tasty New Finishes, all of the 18 Years Old…

BenRiach and Glendronach are two of KWM’s best selling whiskies. Glendronach outsells any other single malt in our store by at least 2 to 1, possibly more. And BenRiach is no slouch, it has been a hot whisky in our shop since the current owners took over the distillery in 2004. Like a couple of the other whiskies noted above, half of these whiskies are new, and the other two newish. It isn’t always easy to find time to write! In any case, they are all interesting and worth consideration. While I’ve tasted them all, I have yet had a chance to write them up!
1. BenRiach 18 Year Albariza 46% Peated Spirit Matured in Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry. Albariza is the name of the white soil in Andalucia where the sherry grapes are grown. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet dates and ripe fogs engulfed in a unique heather honeyed peat smoke, softening to hints of ripped herbs and sweet barley. Taste: A sweet, sherried character holds lashings of vanilla, chocolate and rum-soaked raisins; all drenched with waves of intense camp fire peat reek and a subtle white pepper and stem ginger warmth.” $135
2. BenRiach 18 Year Dunder 46% Peated Spirit Matured in Bourbon Finished in Dark Rum Casks. Dunder is the name given to the residue leftover after the distillation of sugar cane juice. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Crisp candied peel holds waves of soft peach and ripe banana dusted with Demerara sugar. Delicate rounded peat smoke combines with gentle sweet oak spices. Taste: Dramatic peat smoke and barley complement crisp citrus zest, white pepper and fresh ginger. Caramelised orchard fruits and dried apricots develop to a rich grassy wood smoke finish.” $148
3. Glendronach 18 Year Marsala Finish 46% Finished in Marsala Hogsheads. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Golden syrup over stewed orchard fruits, infused with a touch of candied ginger, hazelnut and warm, deep oak spices. Palate: Richly spiced wildflower honey pours over fire roasted apples, softening to golden sultanas and ripe pear. All balanced with vibrant ginger, white pepper, fresh-cut oak and stewed barley. Conclusions: Torrents of delicious contrasting full-bodied characters, rolling from dominant summer fruits to peppery, richly toasted oak spice.” $135
4. Glendronach 18 Year Tawny Port Finish 46% Finished in Tawny Port Casks. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Elegant notes of golden syrup drenched over red fruit compote with a contrasting grapefruit balance. Touches of cinnamon and nutmeg add to a rounded, warm depth. Palate: Vivid, tart cranberries and crisp barley marry harmoniously with stewed plums and roasted apples. Cedar wood and sweet cigar box spices add a delicate warmth and unique complexity to the long warm finish. Conclusions: A beautifully structured balance of contrasting rich fruit characters and intriguing warm oak spices.” $140

NEW WHISKIES FROM COMPASS BOX

Two new gems from our favourite Scotch whisky blender

Compass Box is one of our favourite producers, for 15+ years they have been producing the most interesting Blends and Blended Malts in Scotland. These two new bottlings are very limited and also 15th Anniversary releases. They are both very elegant and lovely additions to their range. Pity they are both one off limited releases!

From the producer about the Hedonism Quindecimus: “Since we launched the Compass Box Whisky Company in 2000, we have always believed there can be a certain elegance in excess. Our first bottling – the original Hedonism – explored a brave new world of flavour previously uncharted in the world of Scotch. Eight years later, with Hedonism Maximus we used exclusively older, rarer whiskies in pursuit of the indulgent, unctuous, august pleasure that we knew only mature stock could deliver. In this our fifteenth anniversary year, we felt it was time to go back to where it all started for Compass Box and reinvent Hedonism once more for a very limited edition celebratory bottling.”

From the producer about Peat Monster Cask Strength Magnums: “We’ve taken our already big, already peaty, already smoky malt Scotch whisky, The Peat Monster and delivered it at cask strength in a double-size magnum bottle. Available only for a short time and only in this large format, it’s a unique opportunity to explore the complex balance of our usual Peat Monster at a higher bottling strength.”

1. Compass Box Hedonism Quindecimus 46% Blended Grain Whisky. Producer Tasting Note: “The combination of grain whiskies from different distilleries and of varying ages has created extraordinary complexity and juxtapositions of flavour. Indulgent yet lively, unctuous yet light, you will find a deep, sweet caramel coconut succulence combining with exultant tropical fruits.” $201

2. Compass Box Peat Monster Cask Strength Magnum – 57.3% – Producer Tasting Note: “Rich and full on the palete with complex earthy peat and smoke characters. Hints of citrus fruit, nuttiness and toasted oak.” $166

INTRODUCING ARRAN 18 YEAR!

Arran has finally come of age!

It still seems like yesterday when the Arran whisky first came into KWM. The unchill-filtered Arran Malt had no age statement, was young, 5-6 years old, but it had lots of character. Then the wood finishes started coming out, all manner of them: Port, Chardonnay, Rum, Brandy, Cognac and all different kinds of wine casks. The Arran 10 Year was the first milestone, and is still and excellent buy for its age and price.

Since then there have been many memorable bottlings including the Devil’s Cask series, Bere Barley releases, Millenium Casks and the two previous whiskies leading to the new 18 year: 16 Year and 17 Year. Well they’ve made it and are as strong as ever. This first Arran 18 Year is a limited release, one off whisky, completing the late teens trilogy. Get em while you can, next stop 19, 20, 21 years and more!

Arran 18 Year 46% 9000 Bottles Matured Exclusively in ExSherry Hogshead Casks. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Aroma: Baked peaches with honey and toasted almonds. Sherry cask charring and subtle spice. Palate: Waxy and coating with warmth of crystallized ginger and sweetness of crème brulee and caramelized brown sugar. Water uncovers floral notes, macadamia nuts and Seville orange marmalade. Finish: Hazelnuts and nougat mingle with lightly toasted brioche and toffee apples. $120

INTRODUCING CAOL ILA 15 YEAR UNPEATED

The latest annual release in Caol Ila’s unpeated range…

Distilled in 1998 from an upeated batch of Caol Ila this 15 year old has been bottled at 60.39% after maturing in First Fill Ex-Bourbon Casks. Very limited quantities have come into Alberta, available only at a select few liquor stores including KWM. We have received a total of just over 40 with half of that having sold!

Caol Ila 15 Year Unpeated 60.39% First Fill ExBourbon. Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Unhurried and warming, yet surprisingly mellow. Fresh and cleansing, with malty, grainy cereal, crisp-breads topped with icing sugar and sherbet lemon sweets. Behind this there’s a dried herbal note and a maritime, distant scent of the sea. A reassuring fresh tang floats above fluffy marshmallow and vanilla, before late top notes of strawberry appear, which become chalky and minty, with milk chocolate. Water introduces old-fashioned oilskins; it’s heady, herbal and sweet, like a Victoria sponge filled with cream and strawberry jam. Palate: Smooth and very sweet to taste, then salt toffee with chilli. Warming, sweet and prickly with lovely early liquorice and dark chocolate notes. All this is delicate at first, but soon firming and expanding on the palate, growing appetisingly herbal, with lots of cough candy and dried raisin fruit. With water it is very easy to drink; lightly oily, fresher, sweet and fragrantly fruity, with appetising saltiness (that maritime note again). Finish: Medium length, clean and elegantly sustained throughout. Warming, with supple tannins, becoming dryer and more fragrant, with hints of juniper, leading to late eucalyptus. With water, there’s a clean, fresh, after taste.” $140

INTRODUCING THE BLACKADDER RAW CASK GLEN ESK 1983 30 YEAR

One of the Rarest Whiskies We Will Ever Have at KWM…

This might just be the only bottling of Glen Esk we ever see at KWM! In my 13+ years at the store, this is the first, and we have only received a very limited number of bottles. Bottled at a cask strength 59.1% from a single refill sherry butt, 88pts from Serge at Whisky Fun.

Glen Esk is one of those closed distilleries that even those in the know have likely never heard of. The distillery and whisky also went by the name Glenesk or Hillside, located near Montrose in the Eastern Highlands. It was converted from a mill in 1897 during the high of that Century’s whisky boom. For the early part of the 20th Century, when open it produced grain whisky, but was converted into a malt distillery in 1964 in the early days of another whisky boom, renaming the whisky Hillside. A drum maltings was installed at the distillery in 1968, and expanded in 1973. The distillery’s license passed to William Sanderson & Sons Ltd. from Scottish Malt Distillers in 1980, with the distillery renamed Glenesk.

Sanderson was famous for the Vat 69 Blended Scotch which is still in circulation. Glenesk single malt was an important part of the recipe, nevertheless the distillery closed in 1985 after the late 1970s whisky bubble spectacularly burst. The distilling license was cancelled in 1992. The distillery buildings were dismantled in 1996. There are very few bottlings of Glen Esk on the market, and this is to my knowledge the only one currently available. KWM has it exclusively in Alberta and is only receiving 4 bottles!

Blackadder Raw Cask Glen Esk 1983 30 Year 59.1% Refill Sherry Butt. Tasting Note by Serge at WhiskyFun.org: “AKA Glenesk AKA Hillside AKA the closed distillery that everybody’s forgotten about. It’s true that we’ve already tried some sister casks (Abe Rosenberg/Duncan Taylor stock) and that those have been… ach, err, strange. It’s to be noted that 1983 was the distillery’s antepenultimate year of distilling. Colour: dark gold. Nose: it’s a bit as if someone had finished some diesel oil in a sherry butt, and the funniest part is that this is not unpleasant at all. Quite the opposite! Humidor, tea box (where your mother’s always been keeping assorted kinds of herbal teas), old copper coins, shoe polish, hay… Plenty of hay and eucalyptus. With water: more hay and eucalyptus, plus orange zests. So, something pretty oriental. Mouth (neat): fat, very herbal, phenolic, grassy… Really a malt unlike any other. Bark, star anise, green tea, cough lozenges, tar, grapefruits. All lovely. With water: orange cordial, old cough syrups. Excellent. Finish: long, herbal, orangey and phenolic. A drop of yellow chartreuse. Comments: if you’re a serious malt aficionado, drop the big brands and buy this very bottle, if you can find it. That’s an order! Because, this may well be my favourite Glen Esk/Glenesk/Hillside ever – but I’ve barely tasted a dozen. Shame shame shame (shame on me). SGP:452 88 points.” $1920

BEST OF BOURBON WITH HUNTER SULLIVAN

A sampling of our newest and favourite Bourbons… w/ Hunter. No distillery cats orbuffalo!

Best of Bourbon – Thursday August 28 6pm. Join our #1 Bourbon fanatic, Hunter Sullivan, for a tour de force of some of his favourite Bourbons. Michters, Blanton’s, Knob, Bookers, and much much more! HAving just visited the Bourbon Trail, he has many new tales to tell! $30

Register in store, by phone 403-283-8000 or online!

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, 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
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

WhiskyFest™ New York & San Francisco
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AUGUST & EARLY SEPTEMBER TASTINGS

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SHERRY, SAUSAGES AND JAMON IBERICO

WINTER WHISKY TASTINGS!

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” – Hunter S Thompson

Whisky tastings are great fun and that’s the reason we run as many as we possibly can. However if you’ve attended our events before the chances are you probably don’t want to keep going to the same re-hashed tasting. Our Introduction To Whisky (formerly ‘How To Taste Whisky’) masterclass is an important part of what we do here but we realise this doesn’t have the same lure for you guys a second time around. So we’ve been putting our heads together to come up with a variety of new concepts that you can (in some cases quite literally) get your teeth stuck into!

We’re teaming up with the fantastic guys at Gonzales Byass to bring you a sherry and sherry cask whisky matching, where you can sample the whisky and the sherry which seasoned its cask next to one another. Furthermore we’re reinvigorating our whisky and food pairings, firstly with Jamon Iberico (a trip to Barcelona well spent) matching and also a whisky and gourmet sausage pairing! Finally we’ve teamed up with our brothers and sisters at The Vault to bring you a Whisky Cocktail Masterclass!

All of our events are hosted at Milroy’s of Soho, 3 Greek Street, London, W1D 4NX and begin at 18:30 and conclude at approximately 20:00.

THE TASTINGS

Whisky Cocktail Masterclass – 08/09/15

Considering we have a cocktail bar tucked away behind a secret door at the back of our shop. It is somewhat surprisng that we haven’t done this yet! We have teamed up with our brothers and sisters from The Vault to bring you this whisky cocktail masterclass. You will be sampling your way through a variety of whiskies and cocktails as you learn about their construction and how whisky can be balanced into an amazing mixological delight! Furthermore, there will be discounts on drinks after the event too because we’re nice like that!  £50

Whisky & Sherry Masterclass – 14/09/15

We’ve teamed up with legendary Spanish sherry producer Gonzales Byass to bring you our very first whisky and sherry masterclass. Ex-sherry casks have long been used to mature single malt Scotch whisky. Tonight, we will be sampling sherry cask matured whisky with the sherries that graced the casks previously. Rich whisky and fine sherry, needless to say we are very excited!  £35

Whisky & Jamón Ibérico Masterclass – 16/11/15

Our web manager recently visited Barcelona and whilst he was there he learnt all about the cured Spanish ham – Jamón Ibérico. Furthermore he has worked out a number of whisky pairings to match! This evening we will be indulging his flight of fancy with succulent Jamón Ibérico and magificient whiskies, as he talks you through the production and history of each ham and whisky. Top tip: Don’t mention whisky and curry to him or that will become a thing.. £35

Whisky & Sausage Masterclass – 11/01/16

Another tasting back by popular demand! We freely admit that this shouldn’t work but for some reason it really does! This tasting is all about the debate, we provide artisan sausages and some of our favourite whiskies, then you have to decide if the pairings work! Perhaps our most outrageous tasting but certainly our most fun! £45