John Walker & Sons Voyager – The Competition

I like boats. From dinghies up to ferries I, for some reason, feel more at ease when surrounded by water. Having grown up inland it’s a bit of a mystery how this obsession developed, and now living in one of  the highest areas of London (on the 6th floor, no less) I don’t get a chance to play on the water very often. However we’re running a competition at the moment to let a lucky pair of winners attend a rather exclusive boat-borne party. The boat in question is the John Walker Voyager, a three masted 1920s style racing yacht that has been making its way around the world in the wake of the release of a new whisky from Johnnie Walker – the John Walker & Sons Odyssey. The Voyager has been docking in various ports, throwing parties for a variety of different whiskies from Johnnie Walker and is currently making its way across Europe. The John Walker & Sons Odyssey is a rather shinily presented blended malt, put together by master blender Jim Beveridge using whisky from only three distilleries, undisclosed of course. For a bottle geek like me it’s equally impressive due to the presentation – the decanter (styled after the shape of a sail) comes clipped into a geared metal frame that should, thanks to the combined powers of gravity and momentum, keep the bottle upright. It’s shiny……. – See more at: … Continue reading >>

Join the next Scotch Malt Whisky Society Outturn Tasting!

When: Monday July 8, 2013 from 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM PDT

Note: Registration is required in advance, by the Friday morning prior to the tasting please! Please arrive 5-10mins early to check-in, tasting starts promptly at 6:45pm

Where:  Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales, 3020 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver, BC V7R 2N4 (We time the event as best as we can to be transit friendly. Please ensure you have a safe way to get home.)

Event Fee

SMWS Members = $40 +GST and Non-Members = $50 +GST

Please join us for a tasting of another fabulous line-up of single cask, cask strength whiskies from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society(SMWS) by registering below!!! The SMWS releases up to seven new bottlings every month and our Outturn tastings are your opportunity to try before you buy, get to know other members and enjoy a few tasty nibbles to pair with the whiskies! Open to both Society members and non-members alike; invite your whisky-loving friends & join the fun to explore SMWS’s rare and wonderful single malt whiskies. Click on the Register Now link below or stop by our shop to register today! PLEASE REGISTER AT THE LATEST BY THE FRIDAY PRIOR TO THE TASTING. Space is limited, so please register early! Memberships are now available in-store! For more info on SMWS visit www.smws.ca If you have any questions about the event, SMWS generally or how to register, please get in touch.

ENJOY SMWS PRODUCTS RESPONSIBLY, PLEASE ARRANGE SAFE TRANSPORT HOME. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Get more information on SMWS July Tasting

Register for SMWS July Tasting Now!

CASK MASTERS 2013

Hi all, just a quickie for now and I hope summer has arrived wherever you are. Our next series of tastings, starting next week, have got to be the hottest ticket in town – our crazy summer £10 tastings! How often do you get to taste 4 fine whiskies – 3 of which are not available anywhere – for such a paltry amount?!

In all seriousness, we are very excited to be presenting to you three single cask whiskies from the uber-innovative Glenmorangie Company. The concept behind these tastings is for YOU to assist in the choosing of the next limited edition Glenmorangie bottling. EVERYONE who comes to the tastings will have the opportunity to cast their vote for their favourite of the three whiskies – truly whisky by democratic opinion, how often does that happen?!

If you want to get involved, have a look at the dates below, click on your preference and get booking!

LONDON           Monday 1st July, Red Lion 7pm
LONDON           Tuesday 2nd July, Red Lion 7pm
BRIGHTON        Wednesday 3rd July, Hilton Metropole 7pm
NEWCASTLE     Friday 12th July, Blackfriars 7pm
SHEFFIELD       Monday 15th July, The Blake 7pm
LEEDS               Wednesday 17th July, Crosskeys 7pm
YORK                 Friday 19th July, Brigantes 7pm
MANCHESTER  Saturday 20th July, Britons Protection 7pm
EDINBURGH      Wednesday 24th July, The Cube 7pm

Come and join us on our continuing expedition to bring whisky to all parts of the UK! That’s all for now, but we’ll have a full round-up of upcoming event news next week.

Slainte!
Eddie, Amanda and Joe

Hi folks. Due to the non-appearance of a plasterer, the office will again be closed TODAY (Tuesday) for the delivery or collection of bottles. The 27th auction will go live on Friday or Saturday.

Kind Regards from Glasgow

The SWA Team

www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com

REMINDER:
Victoria Caledonian Distillery Special Presentation/Whisky Tasting today!

What: Be a Founder-Owner of a new local whisky distillery and real ale brewpub – whisky tasting & presentation
When: Tuesday June 25, 6:30 pm.
Where: Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales – 3020 Edgemont Blvd
Cost: FREE! RSVP to Graeme@MacaloneyDistillers.com with the date / location in the subject line!

See note from Graeme below for full info:

Many of us have had a passion for seeing how Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y and real ales are made, and even dreamt about participating in or becoming a founder-owner of a distillery or brewery. This is now a reality — not in Scotland or Ireland but right here in BC. Graeme Macaloney PhD, an experienced fermentation engineer and a Scotsman, is launching a full scale single malt & pot still whisky distillery, and real ale brew pub – the Victoria Caledonian Distillery – and is conducting a series of complimentary “Show & Tell” presentations including complimentary whisky tasting at: Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales…

6:30 pm Tuesday 25th June

Founder-Owners benefit from a range of whisky and real ale benefits, including:
• A five-day hands-on brewing and distilling academy;
• Founders Reserve whisky (bottles or cask) or real ale keg(s);
• Founder-Owner branded jacket and branded glassware;
• Annual maturation party with meal, real ales & whisky, etc;
• Potentially significant financial return.

The new distillery plans have the full support of highly experienced Scotch whisky industry experts. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity to get in on the ground floor, Graeme will be presenting and answering questions. This ‘show & tell’ session will, of course, include complimentary tastings of two excellent single malt whiskies. If you would like to attend this private presentation and are genuinely interested in this program, please RSVP to Graeme indicating our venue and date.

Slàinte!

P.S. Graeme, in his consummate professionalism, has asked us to include the following: This communique is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in MacMhaol-onfhaidh (‘Macaloney’) Brewers & Distillers Ltd (MBD). This document is not an offering memorandum and should not be construed as such. Anyone who wishes to invest in MBD should refer to MBD’s Offering Memorandum and should carefully consider the risk warnings and disclosures contained therein before making an investment decision. You may request a copy of the Offering Memorandum by contacting MBD at Graeme@MacaloneyDistillers.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the tastings!

Slainté,

Crystal Coverdale
General Manager
Edgemont Fine Wines, Sprits & Ales

3020 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver BC
604-984-9463
Open Daily 9am-11pm, Free parking at back

Driving Directions

The Vancouver and Victoria July Outturn Tastings

In July we raise a dram to Shakespeare and find ourselves in a Victorian garden in Las Vegas. Curious as always!

Space is limited so sign up early to ensure you can enjoy our latest batch of single cask beauties!

In Vancouver please join us on

Monday, July 8th at 6:45pm

Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales
3020 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver

Click here to register: http://ow.ly/m5fWx
For more information call 604-984-9463

______________________________________

In Victoria please join us on

Friday, July 5th at 6:30pm

The Strath Ale, Wine & Spirit Merchants
919 Douglas Street, Victoria

To register please call 250-370-9463
or email whisky@strathconahotel.com

(You may read a review of the June Outturn Tasting here )

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
104-1240 Kensington Road NW, Suite 160
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3P7
Email – curious@smws.ca

While the history of whisky is long and proud, with legend telling of Saint Patrick bringing the craft of distillation to Scotland, the history of the Quaich is no less long or illustrious.

 The word Quaich comes from the gaelic “cuach” which means cup and they have been used for centuries to welcome or bid farewell to guests, or as a mark of comradeship or friendship. Sharing a dram of whisky from a Quaich has long been symbolic of binding people together in love, friendship or comradeship or to welcome or bid farewell to favoured guests. Today quaichs are often given as a gift to someone held dear.

This two handled Scottish drinking cup may have originated with the practise of drinking whisky from a scallop shell and progressed to forming these shallow cups from wood, stone or horn. Over the years the cups became more elaborate and highly skilled craftsmen fashioned wooden quaichs with beautiful celtic designs. From the 17^th century, as metals came to be more commonly used, quaichs have been made of  brass, pewter, silver or a combination of all three. The original outer shape was retained but the thick bases were thinned to reduce the the weight.

Quaichs originated in the Highlands and weren’t used in Lowland Scotland until the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie when the quaich travelled south in the canteens of the Prince’s army. The quaichs of the army were reputed to have glass bottoms enabling the drinker to keep an eye on those around him; a sad reflection on treacherous times.

Alex Scott & Co Ltd, a long established Aberdeen based company would like to offer you the chance to win a beautiful quaich so you may sup your dram in the traditional way and our gift set even provides a miniature of MacAllan Gold single malt whisky for the first filling.

To enter simply email the answer to the following question along with your name and address to sales@kiltmakers.co.uk using the subject line Quaich Competition, and we will draw the winner, at random, from the correct answers. Closing date June 19th, 2013…….. Please don’t forget to title your email Quaich competition.

What is the Centenary Quaich?

1. Quaich which resides in the Scottish Parliament building and is used for ceremonial occasions.
2. An international rugby union trophy contested annually by Ireland and Scotland.
3. A annual flat race run at Ayr races each September with the Centenary Quaich also being the name of the trophy.
4. A quaich presented to Queen Victoria by her loyal Scottish Subjects at the turn of the twentieth century.

Terms and Conditions:-  The winner will be notified of their win by email and the prize sent by post. No further correspondence will entered into and the judges decisions are final. The prize cannot be substituted or exchanged for cash. The competition is open to all except employees or relatives of Alex Scott & Co (kiltmakers.co.uk) or employees and relatives of Red Evolution. Important – entries will only be accepted from those who are 18 years old or over. This contest will run until Wednesday June 19th, 2013.

The noted philosopher Homer J. (Jay) Simpson is credited with coining the term “crisitunity”. It came about when his daughter Lisa pointed out to him that the Chinese used the same word for both crisis and opportunity. Well, such a “crisitunity” has popped up at the Kensington Wine Market, and we are going to take full advantage of it. Our Spring Single Malt Festival is this Thursday June 13, and it has been sold out for months. Next Tuesday, the 18th of June, we are scheduled to host a Japanese whisky tasting: called The Last Samurai (nothing to do with Tom Cruise). Unfortunately the whiskies for this tasting have not been released in time so we will be postponing it until late July. Nevertheless we are going to turn this crisis into opportunity by offering a scaled down Spring Mini Whisky Festival to accommodate those of you who can’t be with us this Thursday. I’ve included details on the new Spring Mini Whisky Festival and postponed Last Samurai.

Mini Whisky Festival Added for Tuesday June 18th – $50

The Spring Single Malt Festival this year sold out 2 months ago, and I know that there are many of you who wish you had tickets. We are putting on a special mini festival on Tuesday June 18th, for a maximum of 40 interested participants. We won’t have every whisky from Thursday’s event available for sampling, but there will be a lot of them. Rob & Kelly from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Andy Dunn from Gold Medal Marketing and J. Wheelock from Authentic will all be on hand in addition to myself and Hunter. We will have a range of 50 whiskies available for sampling, covering many of the highlights from Thursday’s event.

To register visit https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php , call the store at 403-283-8000 or pop in to get your tickets.

Master Malt – Tuesday June 25th – $95

Our tri-annual high-end whisky tasting is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and we have another excellent selection of whiskies on offer. We will sample through a range of 7 Scotch whiskies, six of which are between 30 and 50 years of age! All but one of the whiskies are new to the market. As the tasting is blind I can’t share any further details with you now, you’ll have to join us on the 25th to find out what we’ll be tasting.

To register visit https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php, call the store at 403-283-8000 or pop in to get your tickets.

Last Samurai Japanese Whisky Tasting Moved to Thursday July 25th

Unfortunately the whiskies for this tasting which was originally slated for next Tuesday did not arrive in time, so we are pushing the tasting back by a month to the 25th of July. I am really excited about this Japanese whisky tasting as it includes 7 new whiskies exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market, 5 of which are from single casks. Having just returned from Japan where I visited some of the distilleries I have some interesting photos and stories to share. We are getting as few as 6 bottles of some of these whiskies.

The range is as follow:
1. Karuizawa Asama 1999 & 2000 – $109.99
2. Karuizawa 28 Year Cocktail Series – $403.99
3. Karuizawa 1969 42 Year Cask 8183 – $1176.49
4. Nikka Coffee Grain 2000 Single Cask – $246.99
5. Nikka Coffee Malt 1998 Single Cask – $264.99
6. Nikka Yoichi 1989 Single Cask – $293.99
7. Nikka Miyagikyo 2002 Single Cask – $268.99

To register visit https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php, call the store at 403-283-8000 or pop in to get your tickets.

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

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

Counting down to #youranCnoc Day 17th June

With #youranCnoc Day fast approaching, it’s time to get your smart phones primed to take the picture that could win you a bespoke bottle of anCnoc – and an unforgettable four-night trip to New York.

The #youranCnoc campaign – launched to celebrate the third limited edition Peter Arkle release for anCnoc – is already making its mark and Monday June 17th is shaping up to be a day to savour for whisky fans around the world.

That’s when we’ll be asking you to tweet us a pic which sums up how you savour your dram. In return, the 10 we like best will provide the spark for Scottish-born, New York- based illustrator – and anCnoc partner – Peter to design you a personalised bottle. Our overall winner will then be flown, with a friend, to have their bottle presented to them by Peter in Manhattan.

It’s easy to enter. Snap a picture that sums up your ideal anCnoc experience and Tweet it to @anCnoc_whisky using #youranCnoc between 00.00 (GMT) on Monday June 17th and 09.00 (GMT) on Tuesday June 18th.

Peter enjoys his best while relaxing on his New York roof terrace, but whatever your inspiration – be it an uplifting country landscape, a beach barbeque, or even a night in front of the fire – we’d love to see it. So remember, think, snap then tweet on June 17th.

Visit http://ancnoc.createsend4.com/t/j-l-jujkjik-ddyhiidkd-u/ for more information and terms and conditions or watch the video to see how it works.

Slainte!
anCnoc