Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Esters are one of the groups of flavour compounds that we find in malt whisky. You create an ester by combining an acid with an alcohol, and these esters then give you the fruity, floral aromas that we can get in some Scotch whisky. You can make esters in quite a few parts of the process. You do it in fermentation, you do it in distillation, and you also create them during maturation.”

🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post

As you know we are hard (but relaxed) at work to provide you with a great anniversary program in September! We will be out there meeting you and our exhibitors at several festivals.

Want to meet us? The first quarter of the year is usually a period of lots of relaxed whisky festival goodness! The next couple of days, February 9th and 10th, you can find us in Alkmaar at the Hielander festival. So if you have got any questions or suggestions, or want to find out why Maltstock is so relaxed!

Don’t just take our word for it. Hear from our guests! Seasoned Maltstock guests (The very relaxed Bianca and Victor) will join Klaas in the Maltstock stand in Alkmaar. Stop by for a relaxed dram and here about Maltstock from a guest perspective

So, see you at a festival nearby or in September at our 15th edition of Maltstock!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan, Teun

So feel free to join the relaxed fun. Simply get your ticket here:

https://www.maltstock.com/shop

Visit Us On Islay.

Whether you’re dropping in for a dram or looking to soak up Laphroaig for the day, our new tour schedule has something for everyone. Learn more about our new tours and experiences below, and don’t forget, Friends are always welcome. Our Visitor Centre team has grown due to some promotions, and we’re delighted to unveil our new tour programme starting this March.

Alongside the release of our revamped tour schedule, this year promises a number of unforgettable ways to interact with our Visitor Centre and production teams; from sharing a dram on Laphroaig Day at Fèis Ìle to engaging virtual events that we can’t wait to unveil throughout the year.

Our new tour programme combines beloved favourites with new tastings, offering a unique journey into what makes Laphroaig truly special – there’s something for everyone

learn more

Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll & Bute Scotland, PA42 7DU, United Kingdom

Happy 2nd Ramnaversary!

Today, we are marking the second anniversary of what we at Kensington Wine Market have come to call the “infamous Dodge Ram incident.” At 4:56 AM on February 11, 2022, an individual used a stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck to let himself into the store.

The break-in was not exactly a precision operation. Only $500 worth of whisky was stolen, but the collateral damage to property, product, and loss of income was more than 500x times that. It was a very disruptive event, and though we were well looked after by our insurer in a material way, we still lost more than we gained. We couldn’t let customers into the store for more than a week, and it was more than a year before the store was completely restored.

But most importantly no one was hurt, so we picked up the pieces and got on with things.

During the highs and lows of the months which followed, we did our best to stay positive. And in proper KWM fashion, we never lost our sense of humour… remember the “I assure you we are open” banner? (That’s a “Clerks” reference for those who don’t know.)

Last year, we chose to mark the anniversary with a “Door Crasher Sale.” Now, following two years of effort, cleanup, and a whisky wall relocation, we are launching a “Door Crasher Bottling.” You might think it a bit macabre for us to be making light of the occasion in this way, but it is very much on brand. When life gives us lemons, we make lemonade… then we distill said lemonade, shove it in a used Bourbon barrel we had lying around, and then find a way to turn it into a marketing campaign!

The image below is from the back label of the bottle!

Others have asked if I know his name, and once more, I do not, and frankly, I am happier not knowing. I don’t know what hardships or life decisions led us to the point where our paths collided (not just figuratively), but in any case, I forgive him and sincerely hope he finds peace and happiness in his life.

I am thrilled to be releasing our first Kensington Wine Market “Door Crasher” bottling this morning. It’s another excellent whisky from our friends at Glenfarclas, it’s great value for its age, style and quality, and most importantly, it’s fun!

Whether you treat yourself to a bottle or not, I hope the label will at least give you a chuckle.

Oh, and before any of you get any crazy ideas or feel compelled to do something rash – like let yourself into the store before we open at 10 AM – let me assure you that we have plenty of bottles available… and despite the fact, we don’t open for another 5 hours… you can order a bottle online now!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition

1. Introducing: The Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Door Crasher Edition

2. Upcoming Tastings

Introducing: The Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Door Crasher Edition!

The idea to do a door crasher bottling was born within a couple of months of the break-in, and it was initially hoped we could release one on the first anniversary. That was in retrospect overly optimistic, as the bottling only just arrived in time for the second anniversary.

This is our 9th KWM exclusive bottling of Glenfarclas, and this is the 5th time that they’ve let us take some creative liberties with the label. Glenfarclas has been a great partner for my entire career, and time and time again they continue to offer us incredible value!

This is not a single cask, nor is it cask strength. This is a batch of 15 year old Glenfarclas, matured in sherry, and bottled specifically at 56%, because the break-in on February 12, 2022, took place at 4:56 AM. There are also 456 bottles…

Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Door Crasher Edition – 56% – Sherry Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, round, and sherried with classic Christmas cake notes; both dried and stewed fruits; orange peel heavy mincemeat, chocolate covered almonds and Glosset Raisins; nutty toasted oak, soft new leather, and tobacco leaf; oily and enticing. Palate: rich, oily, and fruity with firm building spices; more Christmas cake, dried, and stewed fruits, and mincemeat pie to boot; big hits of licorice root, pickled ginger slices, and a touch of clove; more chocolate, leaning to the dark baker’s chocolate side; Eatmore, earthy dunnage notes, leather and tobacco; treacle sauce and crème caramel. Finish: warming, oily and fruity with fading nuts and spices; long and coating. Comment: this is our third KWM exclusive bottling of Glenfarclas, and it might be the most sherried yet; it has a lovely balance of fruits, spices, and oak; it is a privilege to put our name on it… and a cheeky sketch!” – $150

SAZERAC BARREL SELECT TO OFFER BARREL OF BLANTON’S GOLD FOR CHARITY, PROCEEDS BENEFIT ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

Winner of the Blanton’s Gold Charity Sweepstakes receives a VIP Blanton’s Gold barrel selection experience

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 8, 2024) – For the first time, Sazerac Barrel Select (SBS), Sazerac’s single barrel release program, is holding a sweepstakes for the chance to select and purchase a barrel of Blanton’s Gold Bourbon. The Blanton’s Gold Charity Sweepstakes will be open to the public, with proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The winner of the Blanton’s Gold Charity Sweepstakes will receive:

• A VIP behind-the-scenes tour at Buffalo Trace Distillery for the winner and up to seven of their guests.
• A private barrel selection experience where the winner will thieve, taste and select their barrel.
• $20,000 prize, which may be used to purchase personalized bottles yielded from the selected barrel.
• A private lunch at Buffalo Trace Distillery.
• The empty barrel.

“Sazerac Barrel Select is designed to offer fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we’re thrilled to offer Blanton’s Gold, one of the most coveted bourbons on the market,” said Diego Bianchi, Barrel Select General Manager. “We are proud to support St. Jude and their mission to advance cures, and means of prevention, of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases through research and treatment.”

The Blanton’s Gold Charity Sweepstakes begins February 12, 2024.  Entrants will receive one entry into the sweepstakes for every $100 donation made through the registration site. To enter and make a donation benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and to view the full official rules, visit www.SazeracBarrelSelect.com/drawing. All entries must be received by 11:59pm ET on February 29, 2024. The winner will be randomly drawn and notified via phone and email the week of March 4, 2024.

SBS is an exclusive, membership-based program for individuals and small groups to visit Buffalo Trace Distillery. In recent years, SBS has worked with multiple charitable organizations to raise more than $3 million for a number of great causes. Though the Blanton’s Gold Charity Sweepstakes is open to the public, SBS encourages those who are not members to sign up and participate in the quarterly drawings. SBS membership is free and those interested can sign up here.

Named after Colonel Albert Blanton, one of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s former presidents and legendary craftsman, Blanton’s is the world’s first single barrel bourbon. Created in 1984 by Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee., Blanton’s has become a favorite among discerning bourbon aficionados and the whiskey curious alike. Blanton’s Gold, the second bourbon created in the Blanton’s collection, is bottled at 103 proof and features powerful dry vanilla notes in harmony with hints of honey amid strong caramel and corn.

For any questions regarding the Blanton’s Gold Charity Sweepstakes, please email charity@sazerac.com.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/  

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

No purchase or donation necessary to enter or win.  Purchasing a product will not improve your chances of winning.  Must be legal resident of 50 U.S. or D.C, excluding NY, age 21 or older as of date of entry.  Registration begins at 12:00am EST 2/12/2024 and ends at 11:59pm EST 2/29/2024.  To enter, and for complete official rules including eligibility and full prize description, scan the QR code or directly visit www.SazeracBarrelSelect.com/drawing.  Approximate retail value (“ARV”) of prize award: $20,000.  Odds of winning based upon number of eligible entries received.  No alcoholic beverage is part of any prize award.  Void wherever prohibited or restricted by law.  SPONSOR: Sazerac Company, Inc., Louisville, KY.

Valentines Day
14th Feb 2024

Ready to feel the love this Valentines Day? 

Let us be a part of your unforgettable moments with a special 3-course Valentine’s menu for £35 pp, available throughout the week of 12th – 18th Feb 2024. Special menu available in addition to our usual a la carte menu, this offering is specially crafted for you and your loved ones.

Come & create lasting memories with us.

See Whiski Rooms Valentine’s Menu here

SHOP FOR VALENTINES DAY GIFTS

Struggling for a Valentines gift? Visit us in our shop beside Whiski Rooms or browse our online web shop for a fantastic range of over 500 whiskies, gift hampers and Scottish gifts, all can be delivered.

Browse our Whiski online webstore

International Scotch Day: a day to celebrate

Today, we raise a glass to International Scotch Day! Scotch is fundamental to our heritage and our business. We produce over 100 individual Scotch brands; in financial year 2023 Scotch alone made up made up a quarter of Diageo’s total net sales value (see presentation page 4). And we offer award-winning Scotch Whisky experiences to consumers and tourists keen to discover more about this iconic product. (The Johnnie Walker Experience in Princes Street, Edinburgh, was named the World’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience at the 2023 World Travel Awards)

To celebrate International Scotch Day, here are four of biggest stories from some of Diageo’s iconic Scotch brands and markets from the last six months:

1. Johnnie Walker
   In September the Johnnie Walker team launched Blue Label Elusive Umami – a limited edition release that was inspired by one of the world’s most hard-to-define and alluring flavour profile: umami. It signalled the partnership of two masters of their craft: whisky making with Master Blender Emma Walker and creative gastronomy with Japanese chef Kei Kobayashi. He brings a unique craftsmanship and flair to his cuisine – like the rarity and craft that goes into making every bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Only one in 25,000 casks succeed in bringing this limited-edition blend to life.The launch created huge excitement and it was officially launched at a remarkable event in Paris. Over the following months teams across the globe celebrated the launch of this remarkable innovation. The official South East Asia launch took place in in Singapore in October, hosting 180 guests from nine markets (Japan, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia & the Philippines)
2. Mortlach
   Mortlach, one of Diageo’s most exclusive single malt brands celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2023. And in December Mortlach announced that to honour two centuries of distilling excellence, it would proudly welcome legendary Philippe Starck as its first Creative Director. The MORTLACH x STARCK debut collection will be revealed in Spring 2024. “One of the most visionary contemporary creators, Philippe Starck, joins Mortlach as our true partner and we are proud to be the first Scotch whisky brand he has ever worked with,” said Pedro Mendonça, Diageo’s Global Reserve Managing Director.“Together we will venture into creative new heights, reinventing what whisky will represent to a generation, reimagining and rebuilding the spirit of Mortlach.”
3. Scotch in India
   Back in November at Capital Markets Day, Diageo India CEO Hina Nagarajan took investors through the exciting progress and opportunities that exist in the Scotch category. India is already well established as the biggest whisky market in the world – and the most valuable TBA category in that market, almost twice the size of beer.Interestingly however, she pointed out that Scotch accounts for 13% of the total whisky value in the country and is the fastest growing and most profitable segment. And in the last four years, while there has been premiumisation in the Indian whisky market with the mid-price segment, it is imported Scotch that is on the march, growing at 32% – with our three biggest brands (Johnnie Walker, Black & White and White Dog) all selling over 1m cases each.Hina said: “Post Covid, we took the lead and invested ahead of the industry by focusing on our commercial and luxury business unit and stepped up on new marketing capabilities. Our investments are paying off – with sales value of Scotch doubling in the last two years. This has meant that we have recruited 10m new consumers into Scotch – almost double that of our nearest competitor.”
4. Port Ellen
   And finally, just this week Diageo celebrated the much-anticipated opening of the Port Ellen distillery later this year with a new release. Port Ellen Gemini is a set of two uniquely extraordinary bottles, a testament to the distillery’s rich past and portentous future. At 44 Years Old, Port Ellen Gemini is the oldest ever Single Malt Scotch Whisky to be released directly from the distillery. The whisky was drawn from three exceptional casks specifically selected long ago for this new experiment, and split into two whiskies which took diverging paths of maturation.Port Ellen Gemini Original allows an appreciation of the distillery’s time-honoured craft and the characterful Islay smoke whilst Port Ellen Gemini Remnant uses the rediscovered remnant cask in a world first, capturing the ancestral DNA of the distillery’s past. Closed for over forty years, Port Ellen will be born again as a distillery re-envisioned for the future, pushing the boundaries of experimentation in Scotch Whisky with a mission to investigate the mysterious flavours of smoke.

We will continue to apply the same care, skill and entrepreneurial spirit to creating our Scotch whiskies as the founders of our legendary brands and on International Scotch Day we raise a dram to them.

Watch the highlights from last year!

Click below to play.

BUY TICKETS NOW