They say time flies when you’re having fun and the last few months have certainly flown by so clearly I’m having a great time. It’s been a busy year thus far and the last three months have been especially so since purchasing the store. For starters we launched a new website and I spent two and a half weeks crisscrossing Scotland looking for new whiskies. A few weeks after returning from Scotland Hunter and I hit the Bourbon Trail looking for new Bourbons. You be happy to know we have a couple coming!
I am in the process of putting the final touches on a full edition Malt Messenger, scheduled for next week. It is full of exciting news, tasting notes and new tastings. But it’s been a while since you last heard from the Malt Messenger, and I do have news which just can’t wait.
Our most exciting news is that we have started taking orders for the 2015 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. This is our 3rd year in the calendar game and our 2nd producing our own in-house edition. Last year’s calendar was a huge success and sold out before it even hit the shelves. We feel this year’s calendar is even better and we expect it won’t last long either.
We are also just two weeks away from our Whiskies of Summer Mini Festival. This Mini Festival will feature over 90 whiskies focusing primarily on lighter style Single Malts, Blends, Bourbons and other whiskies. But, there will be some heavier malt too, to keep some of you anoraks keen! The festival is already half sold out and will take place Thursday July 30th at KWM. The price is $50.
The next Malt Messenger will fill you in on a lot of the new whiskies we’ve seen over the last few months with details and tasting notes. For those who can’t wait a week, you will find a summary of highlights below. I also want to remind you that the Ardbeg Perpetuum is here.
I hope this wee Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well and I look forward to welcoming you at the shop sometime soon.
Sláinte!
Andrew Ferguson
In This Edition
- TAKING PRE-ORDERS: 2015 KWM WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR
- WHISKIES OF SUMMER FESTIVAL – JULY 30th
- ARDBEG PERPETUUM IS HERE!
- SUMMARY OF NEW WHISKIES
Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market
PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: scotch_guy, Facebook: scotch.guy.1 and Instagram: kensingtonwm.
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
TAKING PRE-ORDERS FOR THE 2015 KENSINGTON WINE MARKET WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR!
25 More Days of Dram Fine Whisky...
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+GST. until September 15th. After September 15th the Calendar’s price will go up to $400+GST. The calendars should be ready for pickup before the end of October.
The image shown is a sample of what the final product may look like!
Pre-Order Your 2015 Whisky Advent Calendar Here! Please note some customer have been experiencing error messages ordering on line. If this is the case for you please send me an email. In all cases so far we have received the order. We are in the process of trying to work out the bug on our new site.
WHISKIES OF SUMMER FESTIVAL – JULY 30th
There is more than one way to stay cool this summer…
Our first summer whisky festival with touch on the lighter side of whisky. We’ve rounded up some lighter style single malts, Bourbons, Blends and Japanese whiskies for a mini-Festival style tasting. 80+ Whiskies will be on offer with a lot of new releases, one offs and rarities. So gather the friends and kick off your August Long Weekend in style…
Thursday July 30th – 7-9PM – $50
Register on line, by phone 403-283-8000 or in store!
THE ARDBEG PERPETUUM IS HERE!
Celebrating Ardbeg Day 2015 & 200 Years in the Life of the Distillery…
Ardbeg’s 2015 Ardbeg Day Bottling has been created by Dr. Bill Lumsden from a mix of stock. In celebrating the distillery’s 200th year they have decided to dip into a wide range of stock. Some have compared this whisky to the Roller Coaster, in terms of its creation. It has been 47.4%. The whisky has flown off our shelves with just a little over a dozen bottles left in store and only a small top up order still to come. This one will be sold out by the end of July!
Ardbeg Perpetuum – 47.4% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: decadent and creamy, floral peat, slightly burnt bacon and saline solution with creme brule and tangerines; a curious balance of vanilla, licorice and smoldering cedar shavings; Palate: very honeyed and creamy, some gentle oily-earthy peat, bacon dipped in maple syrup, barley sugars and more creme brule; the licorice note is still there with some darker fruits and spices; I still find the tangerine but with Five Alive fruit punch and a building salty maritime tarryness; Finish: long, coating and very soft for such a peaty maritime dram; the final flourish is oily and sweet with heathery floral overtones.” – $130
Pre-Order the Perpetuum for $129.99 +GST
SUMMARY OF NEW WHISKIES AT KWM!
More details to come…
There are a lot of new and exciting whiskies that have come into KWM over the last three months. Over the next couple of Malt Messengers I’ll fill you in with more details on them. For the time being, here’s a partial list to drool over:
1. anCnoc Peat Cutter – $82+GST
2. anCnoc 2000 Vintage – A great value malt! – $98+GST
3. anCnoc 1975 – Only 2 left! – $690+GST
4. Ardbeg Perpetuum – $130+GST
5. Arran 18 Year – The oldest Arran bottled to date and a limited release! – $120+GST
6. Arran Cask Stregth 12 Year – 53.2% – $80+GST
7. Auchentoshan American Oak – $57+GST
8. BenRiach 15 Year Sauternes – $88+GST
9. BenRiach Albariza 18 Year – $135+GST
10. Blackadder Glen Esk 1983 30 Year – Extremely rare, only 4 bottles for Canada from this obscure closed distillery! – $1920+GST
11. Blackadder Black Snake Vat 6 First Venom – $135+GST
12. Blackadder Raw Cask Auchentoshan 21 Year – $255+GST
13. Blackadder Raw Cask Auchentoshan 23 Year – $290+GST
14. Blackadder Raw Cask Lochranza 18 Year – Yes this is an 18 year old Arran! – $222+GST
15. Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley – $150+GST
16. Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley 1L – $74+GST
17. Compass Box Hedonism Quindecimus – The only thin more beautiful than the bottle is the whisky! – $201+GST
18. Compass Box Peat Monster 15th Annv Magnum – $166+GST
19. Edradour Fairy Flag 15 Year – $180+GST
20. Glendronach 12 Year Sauternes Finish – $90+GST
21. Glendronach 18 Year Marsala Finish – 135+GST
22. Glendronach 18 Year Tawny Port Finish – $140+GST
23. Glenfarclas 1996 Fino Cask – I have one signed bottle left! – $1650+GST
24. Glenfarclas Family Cask 1976 – $1000+GST
25. Glenfarclas Family Cask 1977 – $770+GST
26. Glenrothes Sherry Reserve – Our top whisky pick for summer sipping whisky whether at the lake, on the patio or in the woods… it is very refreshing! – $75+GST
27. Laphroaig 25 Year 2013 Cask Strength – $640+GST
28. Laphroaig 25 Year 2014 Cask Strength – $640+GST
29. Mars 2011 The Revival – $195+GST
30. Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year – $1160+GST
31. Nikka Taketsuru 40 Year – SOLD OUT, BUT WE MAY GET ANOTHER – $6000+GST
32. Nikka Yoichi 12 Year – $130+GST
33. Signatory Bunnahabhain 1988 26 Year – $290+GST
34. Signatory Dufftown 1997 16 Year – $180+GST
35. Signatory Glen Keith 1995 19 Year – $120+GST
36. Signatory Glenlivet 1981 32 Year – $380+GST
37. Signatory Glenlivet 1981 33 Year – $385+GST
38. Signatory Imperial 1995 19 Year – $175+GST
39. Sovereign Invergordon 1964 50 Year – Best priced 50 Year Old around! – $590+GST
40. Tomatin Cask Strength – Incredible value! – $70
41. Tomatin CuBocan Virgin Oak – $82
Descriptions and tasting notes for some of these whiskies can be found on our website. The others will be updated over the week’s ahead.
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
