Wow, so summer is here at last. We hope that you have time to enjoy the weather with your families and have some time away from the daily grind.

So much has happened and taken place for us – and I’m sure all of you – but there is still so much more to come. No rest for the wicked! In May and June we had The London Whisky Weekender, Fèis Ìle 2014, the ‘Spirit of Indie’ and Glenlivet series and more besides.

So, in this eagerly awaited instalment of ‘The Lounger’ you will find news on the next Whisky Festivals, the current and next tasting series and other events, plus industry news, an event review and of course the all-important competition…

Let’s crack on!

SINGLE MALTS OF SCOTLAND

Our current series is going great guns with the London, Leeds and Liverpool dates having already taken place. However, if you are in Sheffield, Newcastle, Brighton or York you are in luck as there are still places available! A lovely tasting of 6 single cask stunners from the ‘Single Malts of Scotland’ range.

SMOS – DATES AND VENUES:

SHEFFIELD Tuesday 15th July 7pm THE TAP, PLATFORM 1B, TRAIN STN.
BRIGHTON Thursday 17th July 7pm LORD NELSON, 36 TRAFALGAR ST.
NEWCASTLE Friday 18th July 7pm BLACKFRIARS, FRIAR STREET

SEPTEMBER WORLD WHISKY REVIEW

One of our most popular tasting series is back, bigger and better than ever!  As most of you will know, we love whiskies from everywhere as long as they are tasty. Well, more and more whiskies from all over the world qualify in this regard. So for this series, put simply, we will be tasting – blind – six whiskies from around the world in our regular venues around the country. Just click on the relevant link below to get booking.

WORLD WHISKY REVIEW – DATES AND VENUES:

LONDON Wednesday 10th Sept 7pm THE RED LION, CROWN PASSAGE
SHEFFIELD Tuesday 16th Sept 7pm THE TAP, PLATFORM 1B, TRAIN STN.
LIVERPOOL Wednesday 17th Sept 7pm JENNY’S BAR, FENWICK ST.
LEEDS Thursday 18th Sept 7pm CROSSKEYS, WATER LANE
BRIGHTON Thursday 18th Sept 7pm LORD NELSON, 36 TRAFALGAR ST. MANCHESTER Friday 19th Sept 7pm BRITONS PROTECTION
NEWCASTLE Friday 19th Sept 7pm BLACKFRIARS, FRIAR STREET
YORK Saturday 20th Sept 7pm BRIGANTES, MICKLEGATE

TASTING FROM HOME PACK

For those unwilling or unable to make a ‘physical’ tasting, we will be offering this series as a ‘tasting pac’k so you can enjoy at your leisure from home. These have been extremely popular so far and this version will be available from September – watch this space!

WHISKY (FESTIVALS) GALORE!
Early-Bird for Liverpool & York(shire)

Our ‘autumn season’ festivals will soon be upon us and we wanted to give you one final opportunity to take advantage of the early-bird tickets for Liverpool and York(shire). To that effect we will keep the 2 for £50 offer on both these festivals until this Sunday, the 12th July. After that, like Manchester, both festivals will revert to the regular price of £30 for a full day ticket or £20 for a half day’s fun. Still great value, but I’m sure you’d rather pay less! Just click on the relevant banner to be taken to the relevant festival.

We are working hard to make these the best festivals in their respective areas yet, so keep checking the website for more details on exhibitors and classes over the summer.

EVENT REVIEWS

We’ve desperately been trying to keep up with all of our events on the ‘Blog’ and so we have reviews of the amazing London Whisky Weekender, our Tall Ship tastings at the Islay Festival and our recent Glenlivet Vertical series. Worth taking a look I reckon, plus check out the video of the London Whisky Weekender – you might spot yourself!

COMPETITION TIME

Seeing as there is a small competition for teams from various nations kicking an inflated leather globe around a field at the moment, we thought we would theme our very own competition around this obscure pastime. Click here to submit your answers.

1. Which brand of whisky has ex-England Footballer David Beckham signed for as Brand Ambassador?
2. Which Islay Distillery hosted its very own World Cup at this years Fèis Ìle?
3. Which Scotch Distillery is geographically closest to Brazil, the host nation and ex-players of Football?
4. Name 4 whisky distilleries located in the World Cup finalists (2014) home countries.
5. Who famously stated that ‘this whisky has more bite than Luis Suarez’?

2 winners will receive a World Whisky Review tasting pack when we have them in September.

MUSIC FESTIVALS

You may or may not realise that last year TWL ‘did’ its first music festival – The Beacons Festival in North Yorkshire. The team took the cask bar and a complement of fine whiskies and educated, entertained and refreshed the festival-goers into the small hours over three days.

Well, so good a time did we have that we have decided to do it all again! This time Joe and team will be not only be at Beacons once more, but also the fabulous Secret Garden Party in Cambridge. So if you or anyone you know are planning a trip to either, tell them to come and say hi and try some great whiskies.

Enjoy your summer whatever you get up to and remember a whisky is not just for winter!

Sláinte,
Eddie, Amanda and Joe
The Whisky Lounge Team

Price: £25.00
Date: Thursday 31st July
Time: 7:00PM
Location: N&P Cellars, Stourbridge get directions

BOOK ONLINE

Atlantic City, Wyo. – Miner’s Delight Inn will host its sixth season’s “Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six” on July 12, 2014. To celebrate this momentous anniversary whisky importer ImpEx Beverages will send Whisky Ambassador Chris Uhde to the inn to share six stunning single malt Scotch whiskies.

Chris Udhe, Whisky Ambassador

From the Isle of Arran Distillery Chris will pour 14 year old and a limited release whisky finished in Amarone wine casks. The recently released Tamdhu 10 year old, matured solely in sherry casks, comes from the Speyside region of Scotland, as does the Glenrothes 18 year old, which matured in a single sherry cask and was bottled by independent bottler The Creative Whisky Company at 104.6 proof. Of the two Islay malts Chris will pour the first comes from Bowmore Distillery – it’s a 12 year old bottled at cask strength (116.8 proof) by The Creative Whisky Company. Chris will share the latest expression from Islay’s newest and smallest distillery, Kilchoman. Loch Gorm, the whisky’s name, is the distillery’s sherry cask offering, and this 2014 version is the second limited edition in the annual series.

As ImpEx Beverages Western Sales Manager, Chris’ expertise lies not only in whisky as a product and symbol of Scottish culture and heritage, but he has also proven to be gifted in sales, marketing and business operations, from specialty exclusive accounts to large scale region-wide programs. In addition to his role at ImpEx, Chris is Whisky Expert for the United Scottish Society of Southern California, the founder of the Southern California Whiskey Club and he volunteers as the Whisky Curator for the Daily Pint in Santa Monica, LA Weekly’s Whisky Bar of the Year 2013. With 14 years of experience in the spirits industry under his belt, Chris is affectionately known as the Whisky Red Head or Whisky Ginger, and you can find him traveling throughout the West educating retailers, bartenders and consumers about the process of making and drinking fine whisky.

The night’s tasting will span the hours six till nine p.m., and the fee is a whopping $10. Innkeepers Barbara and Bob Townsend will have on hand a few delights to cleanse your palate between Chris’ whiskies. To find the inn visit this site:  minersdelightinn.com 

Slàinte,

Bob

Hi folks. A quick email to say that the 39th auction will end this evening. For the benefit of our first-time bidders, this is how it works.

From 6pm UK time the software starts monitoring activity on the site, and as long as bids are being made, the auction stays open. When bids start tailing off, the software will shut down the auction.

Making a bid with, say, 10 seconds to go, will extend the auction for another five minutes. This feature has been designed to beat sniper software.

Please note : The auction does not end at 6pm, only the end process begins then. It can take 90 minutes or two hours before all the bids are made, so there is no need to rush to bid dead on 6pm

We hope you have enjoyed the auction.

Kind regards from Glasgow

The SWA Team

The 39th Auction

JULY EVENTS

New List Open Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 5 July
Steak and Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Mon 7 July
Irish Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Wed 16 July
Old and Rare Whisky Tasting, The Sign of the Don Restaurant, London – Fri 18 July
Haggis & Whisky Tasting, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Fri 18 July
Steak & Chips Tasting, The Vaults, Leith – Sat 19 July
New Members Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Tue 22 July
Dundee Members Tasting, Malmaison, Dundee – Thu 24 July
Harrogate Members Tasting, Hotel du Vin, Harrogate – Fri 25 July
Stirling Members Tasting, The Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling- Fri 25 July
Durham Members Tasting, Radisson Blu, Durham- Fri 25 July
Birmingham Members Tasting, Hotel du Vin, Birmingham- Fri 25 July

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

Jolly Toper’s whisky tastings normally take place on Thursday nights from 7:30pm until approximately 10pm at The Kilderkin, 65/67 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, (they do a mean pizza). For more details on the tastings themselves please click here

P/O/U/R/S = Peaty, Old, Unusual, Rare and Sherry cask matured. Recently many people have requested the exact nature of the line up at the ‘pours’ tastings remain secret so a proper ‘blind’ tasting can be held. However I understand some attendees would be more comfortable knowing which drams were to be tasted before committing to attending. If you don’t want to know the confirmed line up contact us before checking the details listed below.

* = £3 discount for first timers and members. Membership costs £10 for 13 months.

Future dates:

P/O/U/R/S 10.7.14 £TBC*

Hopefully the new Cadenheads Authentic Collection will be bottled on time for us to taste the best 5 – otherwise 5 choice drams.

7/8/14 Canal boat tasting of 5 closed distilleries – £TBC but circa £35 – see below SOLD OUT

– On Thursday evening 7.30pm the 7th, our second tasting on a canal barge, new route from Linlithgow, featuring 5 closed distilleries which were located alongside a canal: Glen Mhor 30yo Cadenheads, Littlemill 21yo Lady of the Glen bottling, Port Dundas Cadenheads Small Batch 24yo 46%, Rosebank 12yo 43% Flora and Fauna and St. Magdalene. Tickets circa £35.

~*~

– Sunday 24/8/14 at 3pm our initial walking tour of Edinburgh, ~£25 -visit sites of interest to whisky enthusiasts and try 5 drams connected to the capital and learn of the role ‘Auld Reekie’ played in Scottish whisky’s rise to prominence. Drams include Caledonian SMWS 30yo, North British 24yo 46% Cadenheads Bourbon barrel, a 1970s bottled Queen Anne, Glen Kinchie 24yo 49.2% Bourbon hogshead Cadenheads and EH10 blend 40%.

~*~

After the Edinburgh Festival POURS tasting will restart from Thursday 28th August at 7.30 and will be every fortnight from this date until the end of the year – notwithstanding issues with these dates and the venue….

~*~

Future themed tastings: a vertical Glendronach tasting, Bottled at the Distillery No.3, sherry casks and Canadian whiskies.

Visit The Jolly Toper

NEXT IN LONDON: IRISH WHISKY TASTING

Ambassador Sam Macdonald will host this unique feast of a tasting, comparing Irish and Scottish single casks. Enjoy a great chance to try the extremely rare 117.3 and proprietary Teeling, with a suckling pig, crackling and all the trimmings for a luxury supper – delicious!
Wed 16 July, 6.30-9pm 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

Tomatin Single Malt Whisky Tasting Thursday 31st July 2014

A greatly anticipated Whisky tasting. Held by Alistair Mutch, this event features a line up with two brand new products from award-winning distillers Tomatin (Tomatin 1988 / 25 YO and the 14 YO Port Wood Finish)

£25.00 inc VAT

The evening’s delectable list is as follows:

• Tomatin Legacy
• Tomatin 12 Year Old
• Tomatin 14 Year Old / Port Wood Finish
• Tomatin 18 Year Old
• Tomatin 1988 / 25 Year Old
• Tomatin Cu Bocan

Starts 7 p.m. in N&P’s cellars
For further details, email us here

See you in 2015!

Last month’s Spirit of Toronto Whisky Gala was yet another night to remember and a big belated thank you goes out to everyone who participated—the photos are now online:

Spirit of Toronto 2014 Photos on Flickr!

Highlights from our 10th anniversary bash include a dozen masterclasses where our guests sampled whiskies that spanned both the world and the past century… a special focus on Islay courtesy of Gordon and Melanie Homer of www.islayvisits.net… the sublime pairing of whisky and oysters… live jazz and retro cocktails… cigars with fine spirits on the outdoor terrace of Roy Thomson Hall… and our Bourbon & Roses stand hosted with Southern charm and hospitality by our friends from Union 613 in Ottawa.

Last but not least a special thank you goes out to all of the participating exhibitors who completed this memorable evening by showcasing more than a 100 premium products. It is thanks to their on-going support that Spirit of Toronto has enjoyed ten years as Canada’s premiere tasting event.

Although Spirit of Toronto 2015 is still months away, planning has already begun as we confirm some of next year’s guest speakers. Have a great summer and we’ll touch base again in the new year with a preview of what’s to come.

In the best of spirits,

Johanna Ngoh
Executive Producer
Spirit of Toronto Annual Whisky Gala

Malt Messenger Bulletin – The Ardbeg Tractour & KWM’s Summer Tasting Schedule

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

Summer is here, the days are long, and as the song says, the living is easy. Take advantage of those longer days to check out some of our new summer tastings, just posted online today! The theme is “Quickies and Afternoon Delights”, and these fun 1 hour tastings (starting at 6PM) will get you in and out in enough time for dinner or drinks on the patio. Pop in on your way home from work or before heading out on the town. We have a wide range of wine, whisky, beer and cocktail classes with which to delight you. More details below and on our tasting registration page.

One of the most exciting events coming up in the next few months is the visit of the Ardbeg Tractour to Calgary. The Gateway to the Rockies is the only stop in Canada for this marvel of farming machinery, and it will be parked out in front of Kensington Wine Market on Friday July 11 while two back to back Ardbeg Master Classes hosted by Ruaraidh McIntyre take place in side. The tastings are a bargain at just $20, and will take place from 5-7 and 7-8PM. More details below and on our tasting registration page.

One of the most exciting new whiskies to come into KWM recently is the Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1994. Very few bottlings are seen from this elusive Speyside distillery, and this one caught our attention when it scored 96.5pts in the Whisky Bible. It is a KWM exclusive and sells for the very reasonable $115. More details on the Glentauchers can be found below, drop in for a sample!

Finally, Glenfarclas’ long awaited 60 Year Old whisky is to be launched in Canada this fall, and is available for special order. It is expected to retail at $22,000.00. Details on the whisky can be found below. Anyone looking for a bottle before Christmas needs to special order it by Thursday July 3rd, 2014. Pricing in Alberta is very competitive with the Global list.

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and I hope we’ll see you in store at one of our exciting new tastings.

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

Our Summer Tasting Schedule is Open for Registraion!

Tantalize Your Taste Buds!

Drop in to the store, call 403-283-8000, or better yet register online for our summer tastings!

The Ardbeg Tractour is Coming!

And Calgary is its only stop in Canada!

Just in time for the Calgary Stampede, the Ardbeg Tractor is coming to Calgary, and specifically to the Kensington Wine Market, North America’s first Ardbeg Embassy. The Ardbeg Tractor will be parked out in front of Kensington Wine Market on Friday July 11 to give our customers a chance to see it and sample some whisky. We have two back to back Ardbeg Master Classes (5-6 and 7-8PM), to be hosted by Ruaraidh McIntyre. These tastings will feature 5 Ardbeg expressions including Galileo and the new Auriverdes for the bargain price of just $20. Call the store to register, or Register Online.

On Saturday July 12 the Ardbeg Tractor is rolling into the National on 10th Ave (341 10th Avenue SW) for an event from 3 to 7PM. The complimentary event (RSVP to katy@bondpr.ca) will give guest the opportunity to sample Ardbeg-inspired appetizers and complimentary Ardbeg cocktails created by National’s mixologists Stephen Phipps and Alex Newman.

Whisky of the Summer? Drop in and sample Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1994 and decide for yourself!

Exclusive to KWM, 96.5pts Whisky Bible!

Glentauchers distillery was built in 1898 at the height of what became known as a the Pattison Whisky Crash, the devasting bursting of a late 19th century industry bubble. Unlike many of the distilleries founded around that time it survived and has been in production for the most part ever since. From the bottler: ” The Glentauchers Distillery Company started as a joint venture between James Buchanan, the creator of the “Black & White” and “Buchanan” blends and WP Lowrie. The distillery was designed by local architect John Alcock.”

The distillery is currently owned by Pernod Ricard, and there are virtually no official bottlings. The closest thing available are those released by Gordon & MacPhail, such as this 1994 vintage which scored 96.5pts in the last edition of the Whisky Bible. On a recent visit to Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin, Scotland, I had a chance to sample it. My tasting note from that visit is below. The whisky is available exclusively from KWM in Alberta, and is a lovely summer dram!

G&M Glentauchers 1994 – 43% – Refill Sherry Butts & Recharred American Oak Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: melons, pinapple and kiwi fruit; lots of honey, beeswax and citrus, subtle honey and soft floral tones; Palate: creamy, honeyed and still floral with smooth decadent oak and gentle spices; more melon and pineapple with a building creamy oakyness; Finish: long, clean and sweet, still fruity, soft and decadent.” – $114.99

Glenfarclas 60 Year 1954

Pre-Order by Thursday July 3rd

If the price of the whisky has caught you off guard, you can console yourself in the knowledge it could have been much higher. Demand for this highly collectible whisky was such that one Asian market apparently tried to buy it all and was prepared to pay to do so. Glenfarclas is a global brand, and they weren’t prepared to see it all go to one jurisdiction. Of the 360 bottles produced, 13 are slated to come to Canada. KWM is offering the whisky at pre-order price of $22,000.00, which is quite competitive considering the distillery is projecting a Global list price of more than $26,000.00 (£14,500.00).

Please find below the distillery’s press release. If you would like to order a bottle please contact us ASAP! From the Distillery:

“Ballindalloch, 6th of May 2014

J & G Grant launch 60 Year Old Glenfarclas

J & G Grant are delighted to announce the launch of a new 60 Year Old Glenfarclas. Only 360 bottles of this incredibly desira ble, rare single malt whisky will be produced offering a unique opportunity to acquire one of the oldest bottles ever released by this iconic family owned distillery.

Officially launched on the 3rd of April 2014 at the Nth Whisky Show in Las Vegas by George Grant, Glenfarclas’ Sales Director and 6th generation of the family, it will be rolled out across other key markets over the coming months.

George Grant says, ‘At a time when more and more distilleries are going down the no age statement route for their super premium products, we are delighted to be able to release this magnificent 60 year old Glenfarclas. My grandfather started laying down stocks for the future way back in the 50s, so it is thanks to his incredible foresight that we are able to bottle this today. I’m sure he would have been as impressed by it as I am.

Matured in a first fill sherry butt, it has an incredibly dark, rich mahogany colour. It is surprisingly vibrant with lots of dried fruits, demerara sugar and spice coming through on the nose as well as the rich, oaky tannins that one would expect from a whisky of this venerable age. The sherry influence really comes through on the palate, with rich treacle, bitter coffee and espresso notes all making an appearance. The finish is the longest I have ever experienced – 20 minutes later you will still be able to taste the subtle nuances of this incredible dram.’

The long family history and heritage is reflected in the packaging; a bespoke cut crystal decanter mirrors the shape of the classic Glenfarclas bottle while each side of the hexagonal presentation box represents one of the 6 generations of the Grant family to own and manage the distillery since 1865.

This is a truly exceptional bottle that will be sure to delight whisky aficionados around the globe. It is expected to retail for around £14,500.00.”

To pre-order a bottle send reply to this email or order it through our website!

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