Malt Messenger No. 63 – Exciting News for KWM & as always some Great New Whisky!
Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers, 2015 started off well, and it just keeps getting better! We’ve already had some amazing tastings. We started with Darkness and followed it with the 4th Annual Calgary MS Whisky Festival which was a huge success going off off without a hitch. I attended the 10th Annual Victoria Whisky Festival which is always a superb event. I gave master classes on Kilchoman and Kavalan, and attended a brilliant one by John Glaser of Compass Box and Michael Urquhart of Benromach/Gordon & MacPhail. Our 9th Annual Burns Supper, Scots Wha Hae, was a lot of fun with J. Wheelock from Authentic Wine & Spirits are I presiding over the Glendronach themed event. Interesting whiskies were trickling into the store, and then we got some really exciting news… a big international whisky award!
Kensington Wine Market was awarded “Highly Commended” (second place) in Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky – Rest of the World (not including Scotland or the US) in the category of Retailer of the Year – Single Outlet! This is our 3rd year in the running for this award, the only store in Canada to be so recognized, and second place came as a complete surprise. Suffice to say we are thrilled!
We have our Islay Mini Whisky Festival on Thursday February 26, celebrating whiskies from the island of Islay, Jura, Mull and the town of Campbeltown. The price is only $40 for the chance to sample up to 60 whiskies! More info on these events can be found below, registration is by phone 403-283-8000 or online.
There are lots of new whiskies in the store, including the 4th Edition of the Peter Arkle Series by anCnoc, which is exclusive to KWM in Calgary. We also have a trio of very limited new exclusive Japanese whiskies by Ichiro’s Malt. There is also an amazing new vintage Old Pulteney matured in peated casks, an official single cask bottling of Glenlivet and the latest edition in Bruichladdichs Islay Barley series. We’ve also got four new whiskies from Hunter Laing, a pair of older Old Malt Cask Bottlings and a couple of cask strength First Edition release both distilled in 1998.
This is just a taste of what’s come in to Kensington Wine Market since Christmas. We’ve already sold through most of The Whisky Agency bottlings that just arrived including beautiful bottlings of Bowmore, Littlemill and a MacDuff. Just this week we received 3 new vintage single cask bottlings of whisky from the cult closed Japanese distillery Karuizawa. They were sold before they even arrived. There are also a pair of new 25 year olds from two iconic Speyside distilleries: Balvenie and Mortlach.
There’s much more to come in the months ahead, including a raft of new whiskies from Springbank, Kilkerran, Kilchoman, Benromach, Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenhead and others. Look for another Spring Preview edition of the Malt Messenger soon. Finally, even though the weather’s been pretty spectacular here this winter, most of us still dream of making trips to warmer climes. If you’re looking for a good reason to get away this March, you could do no worse than checking out the Nth 2015 whisky festival in Las Vegas March 13 & 14. More details on this super premium whisky show can be found below. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Malt Messenger! In This Edition
- A Big International Whisky Award for Kensington Wine Market
- KWM’s Islay Mini Festival Next Thursday
- NEW EXCLUSIVE: anCnoc Peter Arkle 4
- NEW EXCLUSIVE Japanese whiskies from Ichiro’s Malt & Karuizawa
- Introducing the Old Pulteney 1990 Peated Cask
- Introducing the Glenlivet Tomnabat Hill 14 Year Single Cask
- Introducing Mortlach 25 Year
- Introducing Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm
- Introducing Balvenie 25 Year Single Barrel
- Two NEW Old Malt Cask Bottlings
- Two NEW First Edition Bottlings
- The Nth 2015 Vegas Whisky Show
Slainté! Andrew FergusonKensington 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
A Big Award for Kensington Wine Market
Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky 2015 – Retailer Single Outlet “Highly Commended”
We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized by Whisky Magazine’s “Icons of Whisky 2015: Rest of the World” as Highly Commended (or Runner Up) for”Whisky Retailer of the Year Single Outlet”. We finished second behind Berry Bros & Rudd, and offer them our sincere congratulations. Berry’s is Britain’s oldest wine merchant, founded 1688, also an independent bottler of whisky and owner of the Glenrothes single malt brand. Is it high praise to be considered in the same category as them as well as the rest of the esteemed field.
This is Kensington Wine Market’s 3rd straight year in the running for this award, having been shortlisted in both 2013 and 2014. We remain the only Canadian whisky retailer to be so honoured, and we would like to thank our customers, suppliers and partners for helping us to achieve this rare hounour!
Full results of the Icons of Whisky will be published in Whisky Magazine Issue 125 and can be visited at the Icons website www.iconsofwhisky.com/2015/restofworld/ .
KWM’s Islay Mini Festival Next Thursday
Thursday February 26th – $40
Feis Isle, or the Islay Festival, takes place over 10 days at the end of May each year. All of Islay’s whisky distilleries have a day to highlight their brand and welcome guests from around the world. I’m heading over to Islay to experience the full Feis Isle experience this May, but that got me thinking, why not have our own little Islay Festival at KWM?
So we’re putting on a mini Islay Festival for a maximum of 80 guests featuring whiskies from all of Islay’s active distilleries, as well some from Campbeltown, Jura and Mull. There will also be some independently bottled whiskies from Signatory, Wilson & Morgan, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Cadenhead and more!
And remember, there’s much more to Islay than peat!
Register by phone (403)-283-8000 or online.
NEW EXCLUSIVE anCnoc Peter Arkle 4 Warehouse
The latest release in anCnoc’s Peter Arkle Series – $84.99
From the Distillery
In 2012 anCnoc teamed up with Scots born illustrator Peter Arkle to launch a series of Limited Edition whiskies. Now living in New York Peter refers to anCnoc as ‘remarkable liquid’ and enjoys its ‘magic’ so it seemed fitting that he should work on producing the packaging for our Collection. Not only was each tube and label design inspired by Peter’s visit to our Knockdhu Distillery and depicts a unique aspect of our process, the liquid inside each bottle was equally as special.
The warehouses at Knockdhu have been guarding the secret magic that is happening inside them for many years. They don’t just protect the liquid while it matures but actually add to that maturation process. anCnoc would not be anCnoc without these buildings.
anCnoc Peter Arkle – 46% – Matured in Ex-Sherry & Bourbon Casks – Exclusive to KWM in Calgary – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: This dram has top notes of cut flowers and lemon meringue. It opens up to honey sweetness, creamy vanilla and a touch of sherry spice.Taste: Rich and firm-textured, sweet flavours of raisins and honey, followed by orange peel and fresh custard topped with hot toffee. The finish is long, sweet, spicy and full of dried fruit and caramel.” – $84.99
NEW KWM EXCLUSIVE Japanese Whiskies from Ichiro’s Malt
Japan’s Boutique Whisky Producer
Ichiro’s Malt is the brand name given to whiskies bottled by Ichiro Akuto the founder of Chichibu distillery and grandson of the founder of the now closed Hanyu distillery. Ichiro Akuto has been bottling single malts from both Hanyu and Chichibu as well as blends and blended malts under this label. Only available in extremely limited quantities in Canada, they are currently exclusive to KWM.
We just got in very limited quantites of the following bottlings by Ichiro Akuto:
- Ichiro’s Malt & Grain – 46% – This Blended whisky is the product of Japanese malt and grain, and possibly the product of some more international distilleries. – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Graham Wafers and some perfumed floral notes with dusty grain and some chewier malt; something exotic like Kiwi, almond paste and Halls citrus lossenges; Palate: almost Bourbon like, quite toasty, floral and delicate, very prominent corn (presumably from the grain) and another curious assortment of fruit flavours: more kiwi, bright citrus, banana and some menthol (the Halls like notes from the nose); still floral with more light grains and heavier malt, could there be a trace of rye? Finish: long, drying, dusty and sweet with more fading grains and floral tones.
Comment: this is a light easy drinking dram with lots of layers, I think Ichiro used a pretty broad palate of flavours in the creation of this one.” – $134.99 – Only 12 bottles!
- Ichiro’s Mizunara Wood Reserve – 46% – A blended malt including Chichibu and Hanyu matured in Japanese oak. – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: the Japanese oak jumped out of the bottle the moment the cork was lifted; rich, earthy and spicy but balanced; the spices are dark but tamed: some fennel, candied ginger, cardamom and nutmeg; become more floral and creamy. Palate: big, rich and fruity, almost sherried (Pedro Ximenez) with syrup and decadent spice: candied ginger and cinnamon hearts; there is some youthful barley but also the feel of older more mature whiskies in the mix; a balance of subtle oils and floral notes with more intense leather and tobacco. Finish: long, rich, coating and spicy with fading sugars and fruits. Comment: this is a very enjoyable dram and the Mizunara wood certainly makes its presence felt.” – $184.99 – Only 18 bottles!
- Ichiro’s Double Distilleries – 46% – A vatted malt consisting of Chichibu and Hanyu. –
Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: my first instinct says aged gouda (the candy of the cheese world); Demerara sugars and spice, licorice root and some emerging honey notes; creamy with melons, soft leather and Starbust candies; Palate: more waxy Starburst candies, thick and coating, more melon, lots of vanilla and oh the spices… layered and rich with some juicier fruits and soft leather; some minty floral notes and lots of honey with dark Demerara sugars and Licorice Nibbs developing; Finish: long, layered and rich but still smooth and silky; Comment: light but layered, rich and refreshing; this one won’t last!” – $184.99 – Only 12 bottles!
Introducing Old Pulteney 1990 Peated Cask
Only 24 bottles for Alberta, and we bought 18 of them! $274.99
This 23 year old bottling of Old Pulteney was matured in both ex-Sherry and Bourbon casks which previously held peated whisky. Bottled at 46% this limited edition is being released in very small quantities in Alberta. Being matured in peated casks this is a very unique expression of Old Pulteney which is typically unpeated.
Old Pulteney 1990 – 46% – 23 Year – Matured in Refill Ex-Bourbon & Ex-Sherry casks which had previously held heavily peated whisky. – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: This is a curious dram, the fruits were pouring out of the glass as the whisky poured; creamy with candied pineapple, lots of honey, some ashy smoke and a bit of brine; some lovely layers, with the peated cask adding some complexity; Palate: very sweet, smooth and smoky with a creamy base, and lots of fruit; more diced candied pineapple, honey and vanilla with a big salty backbone; the peat never fades away with leather and some darker fruits emerging; Finish: long, coating, creamy and fruity with more ashy salty smoke; Comment: a winter night dram, but very drinkable, I could see a bottle of this disappearing quickly.” – $274.99
Introducing Glenlivet Tomnabat Hill Single Cask
A cracking 14 year single cask $244.99
Bottled at a strenght of 59.5% this whisky is bottled from a single sherry butt (cask 32171), with a total outturn of 492 bottles. About Tomnabat Hill: “Rising to 526m and overlooking the village of Tomintoul, Tomnabat hill is the venue for one of the most challenging races in Scotland. The hill also overlooks the Deinabo Estate which was leased by the Smith family and was the site of the distillery of the same name until 1859 when everything was moved to the current site of Minmore farm.”
Glenlivet Tomnabat Hill – 59.5% – Cask 32171 – Sherry Butt – 492 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: the orange hits first, some toasty notes, malt and then melon with some papaya and floral notes; very honeyed with a lovely nosefeel for the strength and golden syrup; Palate: very honeyed, creamy, and floral with loads of vanilla, citrus, malt and smooth toasty oak; the fruits really come through on the second sip, more melon, papaya and candied orange; very chewy with barley sugars; Finish: long, toasty, floral, citric and sweet; Comment: lots of character and fruit for a whisky of its age at nearly 60%!” – $245.99
Introducing Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm
An impressive whisky for just 6 years! $74.99
This edition of the Islay barley was made from barley grown at Rockside Farm (the one surrounding Kilchoman distillery) about 4-5 miles north and west of Bruichladdich on the island’s west coast. The whisky has been bottled at 50% after 6 years.
Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm – 50% – 6 Year – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: youthful and zesty with loads of barley, toasty oak sugars and some brine; very grassy with some clean smoke, fresh sliced lemon and oat cakes with soft goat cheese; Palate: very well balanced for such a youthful whisky, loads of honey and big grassy malt; the citrus fruit is still there: fresh sliced lemon and orange on soft goat chese; more faint smoke with a prominent saltiness; the youth is there but there are no rough edges even at 50%; Finish: medium long and coating with fading honey, oak, malt and citrus; Comment: lots of character for a whisky of just 6 years of age.” – $74.99
Introducing the Mortlach 25 Year
The exclamation point on Mortlach’s new core range. $1099.99
Mortlach was once only the preserve of independent bottlers, but no more. Diageo has creat a new range consisting of Rare Old, Special Strength (Duty Free Only), 18 Year (yet to be released in Canada) and this 25 Year. The bottles for this range, and in particular this 25 year old, are designed to reflect Victorian engineering designs in a tribute to one of the key figures in Mortlach’s history, George Cowie, a civil engineer. In the rest of the world, save the US and Canada, the whisky is being sold in 500ml, for £600 ($1115CDN, $1600 when you consider the size difference). The 25 year is the top end of a range of four whiskies representing Mortlach distillery’s core range. I had the chance to pre-sample the whiskies in September with brand ambassador Georgie Bell.
Mortlach 25 Year – 43.4% -Refill ExBourbon – My Tasting Note: Nose: classic older whisky notes, smooth leather, silky white chocolate and beeswax and subtle sweet perfumes; salted caramel vanilla ice-cream, mangoes and papaya, powdered spice; Palate: beautiful, very honeyed, more beeswax and tropical fruits with an overall antique character; even more elegant than the 18 but still very vibrant and fruity; layer upon layer; more fuzzy peaches, jujubes and some of the early browning apple; Finish: very elegant, extremely smooth and layered; the waves keep coming. – $1,099.99
Introducing the Balvenie Single Barrel 25 Year
Balvenie takes its single barrel line up a notch! $949.99
Released for the first time late in 2014 each bottling is one of just a few hundred bottles from a given cask, never more than 300, matured in Refill Ex-American oak casks and bottled at 47.8%.
Balvenie 25 Year Single Barrel – 47.8% – From the Distillery: “The Balvenie Single Barrel Traditional Oak is characterised by subtle spices and rich honeyed sweetness and Malt Master David Stewart only selects casks of whisky for bottling that have the character he expects of Balvenie matured for 25 years exclusively in American oak. However, no two casks will ever produce an identical single malt. As such, the single malt from each cask of Single Barrel Traditional Oak Aged 25 Years is unique and no more than 300 bottles will be filled from any one cask. This is reflected on the bottle label – hand numbered and carrying the distillation date, bottling date and cask number in which the whisky was matured.” – $949.99 We have access to just 6 bottles!
Two New Old Malt Cask Bottlings
Tullibardine 23 Year & Glenglassaugh 25 Year
Old Malt Cask is a line of independently bottled whiskies from Hunter Laing.
- OMC Tullibardine 23 Year – 50% – Refill Hogshead Ref 10453 – Distilled in 1990 & Bottled 2014 – 319 Bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: mulled mint leaves, mincemeat and candied cherries; dried chunks of orange and pineapple, pure vanilla and floral perfumes; there is something very curious on the nose that I just can’t put my finger on, sandalwood perhaps; Palate: more mint on the palate: mint leaves freshly mulled for a mint julep or a mojito; honey and vanilla cream with more dried orange and pineapple; sandalwood and Old English Butterscotch with milk chocolate; still floral with soft toasty oak and building spice; Finish: long, drying and oaky with prominent spices and more sugary mint; Comment: lots of layers with some classic Tullibardine notes, and some real curiosities.” – $191.99
- OMC Glenglassaugh 25 Year – 50% – Sherry Butt Ref 5362 – Distilled in 1984 & Bottled 2009 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big rich and nutty on the nose with a very prominent sherry character; dark fruits, spices, leather and tobacco; there is a buttery creamy undertone to it all; Palate: this is a big, rich and nutty sherry bomb; is it a finish, or a first fill sherry cask just on the right side of being overcooked? classic Christmas cake notes, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spices like clove; Finish: long, dark rich and still nutty; this is a stunning finish; Comment: this is a beautiful big sherry matured whisky, a classic sherry bomb!” – $199.99
Two New First Edition Bottlings
Auchentoshan and Ben Nevis
First Edition is a line of independently bottled single cask whiskies at cask strength from Hunter Laing.
- First Edition Auchentoshan 1998 – 53.4% – Refill Hogshead – 321 bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: waxy, creamed honey and dried orchard fruits; very malty and floral with toasty tones and barley sugars; Palate: green, very toasty, more creamed honey and malt; very floral with more dried fruits; Finish: long, coating, toasty, floral and smooth.” – $149.99
- First Edition Ben Nevis 1998 – 57.6% – Sherry Butt – Curiously only 256 bottles from this Butt after 15 years, typically there would be 500-600+. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: loads of dried fruits, nutty, a hint of rubber, some earthy tones and lots of licorice; very prominent orange, brandy soaked cherries, brown sugars and spice;Palate: leathery and nutty with dried fruits and loads of spice; this is a big sherry bomb, brown sugar and massive amounts of licorice with clove, fennel and anise; Finish: long, smooth and nutty with more spice and dried fruits.” – $131.99
The Nth 2015 by Universal Whisky Experience
March 13 and 14 in Las Vegas Nevada
“Universal Whisky Experience is celebrating its Fifth Annual Show in 2015! Established in the summer of 2010 by the renowned whisky collector and connoisseur Mahesh Patel. His sole aim was to provide the World’s most exclusive and luxurious whisky tasting experiences.”
Three tickets levels are available for the festival Friday March 13:
- The High Roller Ticket: This is THE ticket for exclusive access to all the show events, tastings, Master Classes and super pours. Experience the entire show, in style, with The High Roller. – $2495.00USD
- The Connoisseur Ticket: For those seeking a high-class experience that includes a few extra indulgences without going over the top, then this is your ticket to the show. – $525.00USD
- The Enthusiast Ticket: Introducing a new ticket level for Nth 2015. Enjoy the event and get a little ‘sampling’ of the show. Super Pours and dinner reception not included. – $395.00USD
There are also some incredible Master Classes available on Saturday March 14. I’m heading down for the 5th straight year, and really looking forward to the Master Classes. The show is a great opportunity to sample very old, rare and collectible whiskies, many of which never find their way to Canada. For more information visit: universalwhiskyexperience.com/
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
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.
Sláinte!
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
