FLAVOUR HUNTERS INVITED TO TRACK DOWN POP-UP GLORIOUS 12 WHISKY & GAME BAR IN LONDON 

12 single cask whiskies matched with 12 dishes of Scottish game tapas at Glorious 12 pop-up as The Scotch Malt Whisky Society celebrates game season. 

The British game season is off with a bang and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has teamed up with The Wild Game Co. to pair seasonal wild game with its rare single cask whiskies at the Glorious 12 pop-up at Studio 2, New Inn Yard in Shoreditch, London from 11-13 September. 

For 3 evenings only, flavour hunters are invited to feast on a menu of Scottish game tapas, which features 12 different types of wild game, including woodcock, hare, partridge and wild boar, expertly paired with the exceptionally varied flavours of 12 of the Society’s rare single cask whiskies. 

The Scottish tapas dishes on offer include:

Grouse, toasted brioche, roasted and pureed fig Roe deer striploin with frites, béarnaise and rowan jelly Partridge, butterbean and chorizo 

Glorious 12 will offer a ticketed hosting dining experience with two sittings each night at 6.45pm and 8.45pm. Ticket buyers will delve further into the world of flavours with expert talks each evening: 

Wednesday 10th September – Media launch night Thursday 11th September – Foraging flavours with Thom Hunt Friday 12th September – Game butchery with Thom Hunt Saturday 13th September – DIY meat smoking with Ru Emslie 

The bar will also be open to walk-ins to sample some of the drams and tapas dishes on offer. 

The pop-up will be staged at Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, with the contemporary gallery space being transformed into a Scottish tapas and whisky bar, with elements of the Scottish countryside transporting guests away from city life. 

Helen Stewart, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s UK Brand Manager, said: “The single casks that we bottle give us a wide, ever-changing variety of flavours to play with. Experimenting  with these rare whiskies alongside the wild game sourced by The Wild Game Co. has resulted in some fascinating flavour pairings.” 

Andy Waugh, founder of The Wild Game Co., said: “When it comes to game, our aim is to take people on journey of discovery so they can explore these seasonal meats, which are so often overlooked yet so available on our doorsteps. There’s not a better time than now to eat game, as it’s just come into season and pairing wild game with different types of whisky offers a whole new flavour experience.” 

The Glorious 12 Whisky & Game Bar, Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3EY – Thursday 11th September – Saturday 13th September 

Tickets/more information:

www.smws.co.uk/glorious12 

£29 – ticket price includes hosted dining experience, 4 pairings of game and whisky and a guest talk. Only ticket buyers have access to the full menu of 12 whisky and game pairings. 

The bar is also open to walk-ins who can order a limited selection of Society drams and game tapas from the bar. 

Twitter:

@SMWSUK #Glorious12 

Guest events:

Wednesday 10th September – Media launch night SMWS Brand Ambassador Annabel Meikle and Wild Game Co. founder Andy Waugh co-host media for supper and provide an insight into whisky and game pairings 

Thursday 11th September – Foraging flavours with Thom Hunt The founder of wild adventure company, 7th Rise, Thom Hunt, will guide guests through foraging in the wild, showing how to find the best of the countryside’s hidden treasures 

Friday 12th September – Game butchery with Thom Hunt Learn the basics of butchering game, including small birds and rabbits. Thom Hunt will detail the basics of skinning and butchering small game with a live demonstration, highlighting the best cuts and describing some of his favourite recipes 

Saturday 13th September – DIY meat smoking with Ru Emslie Game specialist Ru Emslie talks guests through how to smoke meat and fish at home. The talk includes how to make your own meat smoker as well as the best ways to create delicious wood-smoked game at home.

Malt Messenger Bulletin – Kensington Wine Market’s Fall 2014 Schedule is Now On-Line!

Our Fall 2014 tasting schedule is now on-line with an excellent array of tastings and events. It starts Tuesday September 9th with the legendary Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich, who is returning to KWM for two back to back tastings. We have a lot of unique tasting events scheduled with special guests from Springbank, Glendronach, Jura, Glen Garioch and other distilleries. Our Fall Single Malt Festival will be Thursday November 13th, it always sells out a month ahead of time, so don’t hesitate purchasing your ticket. Details on all of our whisky and spirits tastings can be found below. You can jump to the full list on our website now by following this link!

I’m off to Scotland in a week’s time. The best place to follow my adventures is my Twitter feed: twitter.com/scotch_guy. Time permitting I will also be posting to my whisky tour company fergusonwhiskytours.com/blog/. I’m heading up into the Highland for a few days of work before guiding a troupe of intrepid whisky pilgrims on a west coast adventure to Islay, Jura, Arran and Campbeltown.

One other note, I took the ALS Icebucket Challenge yesterday, the video is up on YouTube. In return I’ve nominated some others to follow in my footsteps, to see who , watch the video, check out my Twitter feed or have a look at the wee post on our KWM Blog.

Don’t forget, we are taking pre-order for: The Kensington Wine Market 2014 Whisky Advent Calendar. We first sent out notice of them on Thursday last week, and already 1/3 of the 288 units are spoken for. The perfect pre-Christmas gift for the whisky lover in you life, and a great way to toast the season.

I hope this email finds you well and that you enjoy the rest of your summer.

Slainte!

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

Bruichladdich Tastings with Jim McEwan

Tuesday September 9
5PM -or- 7:30PM $30

Jim McEwan was the chief visionary behind the revival of Bruichladdich and is one of the most captivating brand ambassadors in the world of whisky. We’ll be putting on two back to back tasting with Jim to highlight this very special distillery and its cult whiskies.

More Information

The Kensington Wine Market Fall 2014 Whisky and Spirits Tasting Schedule

More than enough to keep your thirst quenched this fall!

Our Fall Tasting Schedule is now On-Line and open for registration. You can register on our website, in-store and over the phone. We have special tastings marking the release of new exclusive casks and exciting guest presenters like Willie Tait, Jim McEwan and Iain MacCallum. There is also our Fall Single Malt Festival, and another edition of Ancient Malts. I hope we’ll see you this fall!

1. Bruichladdich w/ Jim McEwan – Tuesday September 9 5:00PM or 7:30PM. – Jim McEwan was the visionary behind the revival of Bruichladdich and is one of the most captivating brand ambassadors in the world of whisky. We’ll be putting on two, back to back, so everyone gets a chance to taste the highlights of this very special distillery. The same whiskies will be served at each event. Register for. – $30
2. Independent Macallan – Tuesday September 16 – There is perhaps no more iconic single malt whisky than The Macallan. It is the Cadillac of single malts and an aspirational brand the world over. We’ll take a look at the distillery, exclusively, with independent bottlings going back to 1970! – $80
3. Classic Single Malts – Tuesday September 23 – This is our classic introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made, and sample six distinct styles. – $35
4. Give Thanks for Bourbon – Our resident Bourbon expert, Hunter Sullivan, will take you on an exploration of America’s biggest contribution to the World of whisk(e)y. You’ll sample whiskies you’ll be very thankful for! – $35
5. Rare Malts – Only the rarest whiskies, those more than 20 years of age, or from closed distilleries are considered for this very special tasting. – $80
6. A Duriach Supper w/ Willie Tait – He may be five foot nothing, but his personality is that of a giant. Jura’s Brand Ambassador Willie Tait will entertain you with the mysteries of Scotland’s least populated whisky island, and guide you through a range of fine whiskies while you enjoy a three course meal at Buchanan’s Chophouse, 738 3 Ave SW. – $100
7. Modern Cocktail – What makes a great cocktail? Let our “mixologist” Phil Grandbois be your guide. You’ll learn the tricks, the techniques, and the ingredients… all put together with a dash of fun! – $35
9. Springbank Society Launch – This mini-Festival style tasting will celebrate the launch of the Springbank Society in Canada. We’ll be sampling a wide range of whiskies from Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, including a selection of whiskies exclusive to members of the Springbank Society. – $30
10. Glendronach Casks Tasting w/ Stewart Buchanan – Stewart will be in town to guide us through a range of Glendronach single malts including two casks bottled exclusively for the Kensington Wine Market (1993 and 2003). – $40
11. Glen Garioch Cask Launch – Kensington Wine Market has an exception exclusive Glen Garioch cask on the way. To celebrate we’re throwing an open house, mini-festival style tasting with Morison Bowmore’s Master of Malt Iain McCallum. You’ll have the chance to sample a range of whiskies from Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch, including our new cask! – $25
12. Fall Single Malt Festival – Thursday November 12 – Our famous biannual whisky festival may be limited to just 100 participants, but there will be just as many whiskies to sample in this festival style tasting. – $60 – !!!Warning! Tickets sell out very quickly!!!
13. Classic Cadenhead Single Malts – Thursday November 20th – W.M. Cadenhead is Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, and they sit on a treasure trove of old and rare whiskies. We’ll sample a range of 7 Cadenhead whiskies, exclusive to KWM, from 10 to 48 years of age. – $85
14. Ancient Malts – Wednesday November 26 -or- Thursday November 27 – This tasting features the rarest of the rare, whiskies from 30-50+ years of age and it never disappoints. We’re keeping tight lipped on this one for now, but suffice to say it will be another fabulous event! The same whiskies will be served at each event. – $250

!!ALL TASTINGS START PROMPTLY AT 7:00 PM Seating is strictly limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Telephone: 283-8000 to register or do so online. It is recommended that those attending wine tastings use public transportation. Tastings are complete with light snacks!!

Taking Pre-Orders: Kensington Wine Market 2014 Whisky Advent Calendar!

Nearly 1/3 are already spoken for! “24 Days of Dram Fine Whisky!”

Kensington Wine Market 2014 Whisky Advent Calendar – Although it sold out well before its arrival, we didn’t feel last year’s Advent Calendar was good value, so this year we’ve put our own together. A total of 288 will be produced, and we are taking orders for them now. They will retail for $359.99 + GST. You can reserve them now for a $150 deposit. Each KWM 2014 Whisky Advent Calendar contains 24 unique 50ml whiskies and a specially marked Glencairn glass. The actual list of whisky is a surprise, and we’ll know you’ll enjoy it. If you are looking for an enticement, one of the whiskies is 40 years old and retails for more than $700 a bottle (750ml)! This is the perfect pre-Christmas gift for the whisky lover in your life, and a great way to lift your spirits. Slainté! $359.99

The Macallan ‘M’ is Available Again!

The Pinnacle Dram in the 1824 Collection

This has been our hottest selling premium whisky over the last 10 months. Frankly we’ve had a hard time working through our list of requests. Well we’ve finally done so, and I have 2 further bottles available to us. It is a stunning whisky, classic older sherry cask whisky in a beautiful decanter. This is the pinnacle of Macallan’s 1824 Series, and by far the oldest and rarest whisky in their stable. A 6L version sold at auction in January 2014 for north of $630,000.00 US, making it the world’s most expensive whisky! We poured it at a tasting this winter, and it was a huge hit!

Macallan ‘M’ – 44.7% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: raspberry sauce, damp Christmas cake, nutty Oloroso sherry and tingling spices; some hints of vanilla and dark sugars with treacle sauce and chocolate coated coffee bean; melons, pineapple and other tropical fruits emerge with some patience before being replaced by leather and tobacco; and then it is on to the spices, cinnamon sticks, powdered ginger and cardamom; Palate: immediately fruity with flavour tendrils spreading in a bewildering number of directions; classic Christmas cake and nutty sherry notes make way for the finest soft leather and soft cigar tobacco; more chocolate, coffee bean, maple syrup and now some sweet Panda Brand black licorice; the fruits emerge again as the sherry and leathery notes recede showing some orange peel, melons, mangoes and a hint of pineapple; I could go on; Finish: varies by sip, at times a wave of spices rippling across the tongue; other sips fade into soft leather and nutty sherry or old earthy Dunnage sherry notes; but it is always long, complex and fruity; Comments: the haters will say what they will about the lack of an age statement and the price point, that is until they try it, this is one hell of a good whisky. ” – $3799.99

Last chance to join the October Kentucky Bourbon Tour!

6 days and 7 nights in Bourbon Country!

The trip will begin in Louisville and conclude in Lexington. The price will include accommodation for 7 nights, 2 in Louisville, 1 in Bardstown and 4 in Lexington; October 4-11. The reason four nights are being spent in the latter location is the proximity of distilleries. I have two prices for the trip, one is for single occupancy and the other is for double whether as a couple or two individuals with separate beds. The costs are approximate and will be confirmed 1 month prior to the trip. Estimates:

– Single Occupancy $3615/person
– Double Occupancy $5469/couple ($2735each)

Price includes:

• Accommodation at good hotels.
o Marriot Louisville Downtown
o Hilton Lexington
• Ground Transportation
• Dinner on the Lexington Dinner Train
• Distillery Visitor Center and Tasting costs.
Price doesn’t include:
• Flights
• Most meals.
• Golf or Other add on activities.
The rough itinerary is as follows, some items may shift and or be replaced:

Day 1 – Saturday October 4 – Calgary to Louisviller
– Accommodation – Louisville
Day 2 – Sunday October 5 – Louisville Area
– Golf AM or Alternate Activity
– Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
– Jim Beam Distillery
– Accommodation – Louisville
Day 3 – Monday October 6 – Bardstown
– Heaven Hill
– Barton
– Willet
– Accommodation – Bardstown
Day 4 – Tuesday October 7 – Bardstown to Lexington
– Marker’s Mark
– Four Rosses
– Wild Turkey
– Accommodation – Lexington
Day 5 – Wednesday October 8 – Lexington
– Golf or Alternate Activitiy
– Other Activity
– Accommodation – Lexington
Day 6 – Thursday October 9 – Around Lexington
– Wild Turkey (if not above)
– Woodford
– Town Branch
– Accommodation – Lexington
Day 7 – Friday October 10 – Around Lexington
– Buffalo Trace
– Accommodation – Lexington

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

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Highland Homecoming Tasting, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Thu 4 Sept
Keswick Members Tasting, Middle Ruddings Country Inn, Keswick – Fri 5 Sept
New List Open Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 6 Sept
Steak & Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Mon 8 Sept
The Gamekeeper’s Pantry Tasting, The Vaults, Leith – Fri 12 Sept
Game Dinner in The Dining Room, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Thu 18 Sept
York Members Tasting, Bedern Hall, York – Fri 19 Sept
Dunfermline Members Tasting, Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline – Thu 25 Sept
Liverpool Members Tasting, Malmaison, Liverpool – Fri 26 Sept
Glasgow Members Tasting, Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow – Fri 26 Sept
Newcastle Members Tasting, The Caledonian Hotel, Newcastle – Fri 26 Sept
Guildford Members Tasting, Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, Guildford – Fri 26 Sept
Winchester Members Tasting, Winchester Royal Hotel, Winchester – Fri 26 Sept
New Members Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Tue 30 Sept

Browse all events

HIGHLAND HOMECOMING MEETS WILD GAME

Our Ambassador will sample with you 5 drams from the largest of Scotch Whisky regions, complemented by a delicious game supper. He will prove that, just like its very diverse landscape, the whisky cannot be reduced to one flavour profile. So whether you like your whisky light and grassy or prefer a the smell of peat bog in your glass, whether you are fond of maritime and iodine notes or you are looking for heathery scents you will surely find what you were looking for tonight…

Thu 4 September, 7-9.30pm 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

Visit the lovely market town of Huntly in Aberdeenshire and celebrate Huntly & District Pipe Bands 2014 ‘Homecoming’ on the afternoon and evening of Saturday 30th August at this FREE open-air event.

Witness the stirring spectacle as ten North East pipe bands mass and march through the town centre down towards Huntly Castle, which dates back to the 1500s.

The dramatic castle ruins then provide the perfect backdrop for a massed pipe band arena, where Highland dance, local choral, fiddle, folk and rock music performances will take place throughout the afternoon and evening on two open air stages. These will be followed by the event highlight – a rocking bagpipes and drums performance by the highly acclaimed Red Hot Chilli Pipers – who will add their own inimitable twist to ‘Pipes in the Park’!

Afterwards, as the sun sets, hear the pipe bands retreat as one by one; they leave the sound of pipes trailing by the castle walls before the event comes to a poignant close.

Slainte,

Ronnie Routledge.

Pipes in the Park 2014 Speyside Single Malt 46% 70cl

A one-off bottling for Homecoming Scotland 2014: Pipes In The Park, Huntly.

Tasting Notes.
A soft, light, fruity and floral Speysider with gentle tones of citrus and caramel.

Natural colour and non-chill filtered.

Price: £23.33 ex VAT
£28.00 inc VAT

Hands-On Whiskey Distilling Workshop
September 7 – 12, 2014

Greetings!

There are only 5 spaces left for the Hands-On Whiskey Distilling Workshop in New Holland, MI. Register NOW to be part of this event!

Join us Friday, October 3rd at 6pm, for an extraordinary evening of food, drink, and conversation, as we finally tap into the one and only barrel of whisky that we’ve had quietly aging over the past seven years.

The evening starts in the distillery with Whisky samples and hors d’oeuvres.

Here you will learn how the whisky was made. We will walk you through the reduction process of spirits, and learn why our slow chilled batch methods make a difference to the smoothness. Then it will be time to engage the nose and the palette. After receiving samples of 3 proposed finished strengths at 40, 44 and 48%; you will then be the judge of your perfect whisky once you’ve learned a few tips for tasting.

This customized whisky offering will be available for you to order at this event only. Once we bottle the remainder of the whisky at our preferred blend, it will be released slowly until sold out, much like the time it took to make it. It is the first, and likely the last whisky we will make.

Once your tastes have been teased by this fine libation, we will move into the bistro for a pig roast feast, and finish with mile high apple pie. Other spirits (including the whisky), cider and wine will be available for purchase with your dinner in the bistro.

For full event details, see our website here

Tickets are $49 per person. Call us today at 250.743.4293 to reserve your spot, or register online at here . Don’t delay, as this one is sure to sell out fast!

Our August extended auction is live

Ends on Monday 8th September!  

View August Auction 

Johnnie Walker 1805 Celebration Blend

This stunning bottle and box, produced to mark the 200^thanniversary of John Walker’s birth is making a re-appearance this month. This extremely limited Johnnie Walker was never available for public sale as all of the bottles were given to people who, in Diageo’s words, “made a significant contribution to modern life.”  Blended from nine whiskies all aged between 45 and 70 years old and limited to only 200 bottles, this is bound to be a hotly contested bottle this month.

Let’s take a wee look at Port Ellen this month, there are  a number of bottles available but least of all we have the First, Second and Third Official release making an appearance! 

We think this could be one of the rarest Glenlivets ever bottled.  This special bottling of 36 bottles of 18 year old Glenlivet was given to Major Ivan Straker on his retirement as the Chairman of Seagrams in 1993. Major Ivan Straker is perhaps better known as the man ‘who saved the Grand National’.

He worked for the company between 1962 and 1993 and on his retirement was awarded 36 of these bottles.  After much research and discussion we are fairly sure that the majority was consumed in his own homes with only one bottle appearing at auction since 1993. 

This bottle was gifted to a friend who has kept it hidden away until this point…this could well and truly be one of two bottles remaining of this Glenlivet.

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 over 10 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.  

http://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/ 

Happy Bidding!

AUGUST & EARLY SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September Outturn Preview Tasting, The Vaults, Leith – Fri 29 Aug
Ducks Members Tasting, Duck’s, Aberlady – Fri 29 Aug
Highland Homecoming Tasting, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Thu 4 Sept
Keswick Members Tasting, Middle Ruddings Country Inn, Keswick – Fri 5 Sept
New List Open Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 6 Sept
Steak & Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Mon 8 Sept
The Gamekeeper’s Pantry Tasting, The Vaults, Leith – Fri 12 Sept

Browse all events

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

BIG CHANGES TO THE TOUR

After many years of faithful service the pre-tour video has been retired. Instead your guide will take you on the tour, which will now include a visit to our Warehouse No. 1. The amazing aromas and sight of walls of casks quietly sleeping is an experience you will keep with you for a long time. Definitely worth a visit.

Call the distilery on 01953 717939 to book your tour.