Events

Cardrona Distillery Unveils Special Release to Celebrate Seventh Birthday – Middle Earth Whisky News

Cardrona Distillery Unveils Special Release to Celebrate Seventh Birthday

New Zealand’s award-winning Cardrona Distillery is celebrating a milestone seventh year of production tomorrow [Saturday 5th November] by introducing an outstanding new single malt whisky to its luxurious range of small batch spirits – The Otago Pinot Cask.

The celebratory release is an exquisite marriage of four locally sourced, hand selected Felton Road Pinot noir casks. The result is an extraordinary dram from a New World Master. With only 1,217 bottles available, the distillery’s first 700ml bottle is the perfect gift for any discerning whisky lover keen to explore New Zealand’s leading-edge contributions to the art of distilling.

A Cardrona’s spokesperson explains:

“Cardrona Distillery uses a revolutionary method to preserve the casks’ rich Pinot noir seasoning, bringing them to the distillery within hours of the wine leaving the barrel and immediately charging them with new make spirit.  

The casks are then matured in the extreme environment of the Cardrona Valley, which itself plays a vital part in the maturation process. Temperatures can vary from -10°C in winter to a soaring 40°C in summer, and at 600m above sea-level with zero humidity – there really is nowhere on earth quite like the Cardrona Valley. The elements have all played a part in this expression, melding the spirit into a simply extraordinary whisky. We can’t wait for the UK’s discerning whisky afficionados to sample a dram.”

 The Cardrona Day Special Release: 2022 Otago Pinot Cask is non-chill filtered and naturally flavoured. RRP £175

Tasting notes

Colour: warm rose gold

Nose: black amber plum and nectarine

Taste: raspberries, poached nectarines, toffee, roasted cashews and baking spices. 

www.cardronadistillery.co.uk

 Instagram:  @cardronadistillery     Facebook: @cardonadistillery    LinkedIn:@cardonadistillery

Desiree Reid

About Cardrona

Cardrona is a unique brand, distilling hand-crafted luxury spirits in New Zealand’s stunning Southern Alps to share with the world. The Cardrona story is infused with the magic of the Cardrona Valley and the incredible vision and determination of founder, Desiree Reid, who sold her family farm to pursue her dream of building a modern, family-run distillery in her native New Zealand. She chose the Cardrona Valley for its unspoilt tranquillity, crisp clean air and the availability of superb quality local ingredients, perfect for foraging across the seasons. Most importantly, it gave her access to the crystal-clear, mineral-rich Alpine waters of New Zealand’s highest mountain pass for production.

Founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to be honored at Scottish Whisky Awards – Scottish Whisky News

 

Founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to be honored at Scottish Whisky Awards 2022

We would love you to join us for the 4th Annual Scottish Whisky Awards where the founder of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is to receive a significant lifetime achievement award for services to Scotch Whisky.

Pip Hills will be presented with the Dr Jim Swan Award at the national awards celebration in recognition of his trailblazing efforts to create what is believed to be one of the world’s first whisky clubs.

The SMWS is now one of the world’s largest whisky clubs with over 30,000 members. Hills was member number 001 of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and is recognised as its entrepreneurial founder for his vision and drive to make the Society a success over ten years

We are looking forward to seeing you all on the 30 November 2022.

Sláinte!

The Scottish Whisky Awards Team

Book Tickets

View Finalists 2022

Kensignton Wine Market Malt Messenger Bulletin by Andrew Ferguson – November 9, 2022 – Almost Christmas Whisky News

At long last, our KWM 2022 Whisky Calendars are nearing completion. If you have already purchased or pre-ordered your KWM Calendar, you should be able to pick it up beginning on Saturday, November 12 in-store.

Out-of-town orders requiring packing will be ready beginning on Monday, November 14. You should have already received an email with some details on how to request packing. Please complete the form, even if you think you have already given us instructions as it will help us streamline the packing process.

If you haven’t already ordered a KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar, the good news is we still have some left… and we’ll have stock on hand for in-store purchasing beginning on Saturday!

In addition to our own Whisky Calendar, we have 6 other Advent Calendars (Whisky, Gin & Rum) from Drinks by the Dram and That Boutique-y Whisky/Gin Co. There are also Port, Beer, and Prosecco Calendars. For more information, you can browse all Advent Calendars here!

In other news, there is an Ardbeg Embassy Dinner in Calgary on Friday, November 25, hosted by Ardbeg’s Canadian Brand Ambassador Bry Simpson, at Comery Block. The range will include a pair of Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19-Year-olds, two different Ardbeg 25-Year-olds. Details and how to register can be found below.

Tickets are also now on sale for the 10th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival, on Thursday, January 18, 2023. After a 2 year hiatus, Calgary’s largest whisky festival is back!

Our biggest sale of the year – the Pre-Christmas Fall Super Sale – is also rapidly approaching. Consider this your save-the-date reminder for the sale which runs November 18-20.

Last but not least, the Amrut Spectrum 004 2022 has just arrived. We featured it at a tasting last month with the one and only Ashok Chokalingham. It is lovely!

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Online ordering and in-store purchasing are always our preferences.

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition

1. The KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar Will Be Ready for Pick-Up Beginning Saturday!

2. Calgary Ardbeg Embassy Dinner

3. The MS Calgary Whisky Festival Is Back – 2023 Tickets On Sale Now!

4. Save the Date: Our Annual Fall Super Sale Runs November 18-20

5. Introducing: The Amrut Spectrum 004 2022

6. Upcoming Tastings

THE KWM 2022 WHISKY CALENDAR – AKA 25 DAY OF DRAM FINE WHISKY – IS BACK!

Our KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar will be ready for pickup and in-store purchase beginning on Saturday. We always over-order products when planning our Calendar, as something always goes wrong. Despite ordering most of the items over a year ago some products never shipped, and others were late. We couldn’t be 100% certain of the final product list in this year’s Calendar until we had 25 whiskies in hand, which finally we will have on the weekend.

1/3 of the whiskies in this year’s Calendar are from producers we haven’t featured in any of the 8 prior editions of the KWM Whisky Calendar. The Calendar also includes 3 KWM single casks, and the oldest SMWS whisky I can remember, from one of my favourite distilleries…

One of the things I am most excited about this year is our bonus trip down memory lane, waxing nostalgiac on 25 of the most memorable single casks we’ve bottled in our 30-year history!

Lots to look forward to in the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar, and I hope you’ll join us on the journey we like to call 25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky!

Click on the text below for more info:

The KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar – $460+gst

CALGARY ARDBEG EMBASSY DINNER

Bry Simpson, Canadian Brand Ambassador for Ardbeg, will be hosting an Ardbeg Embassy Dinner at Comery Block in Calgary on Friday, November 25 at 7 PM. Ignore the misspelling of whisky… 😉

Participants will enjoy a whisky-themed meal along with 6 limited edition Ardbeg Single Malts:

1. Ardbeg 8 Years Old For Discussion

2. Ardbeg Fermutations

3. Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Batch 2

4. Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Batch 3

5. Ardbeg 25 Year 2020

6. Ardbeg 25 Year 2022

The cost is $150 per person. Register by email with Comery Block by clicking below!

Register Here

THE CALGARY MS WHISKY FESTIVAL IS BACK

2023 TICKETS ON SALE NOW

After a 2 year Covid-19 hiatus, the MS Calgary Whisky Festival is back. The 10th Annual event will take place at Arts Commons on Thursday, January 18th. We are working on a few Master Classes and some other exciting details which will be announced later.

General Admission is from 7-10 PM, and includes a Glencairn Glass. VIP tickets come with a cut crystal glass, early admission to the event at 6 PM, and a few other perks we will be announcing soon!

Early Bird Ticket Sales Are Open Now

·     General Admission 7-10PM $98 + Fees

·     VIP Early Admission 6-10PM $138 + Fees

Early bird pricing ends on November 30, after that the price of both ticket classes will go up by $20/each.

Purchase MS Calgary Whisky Festival Tickets

SAVE THE DATE

OUR ANNUAL FALL SUPER SALE RUNS NOVEMBER 18-20!

Our biggest sale of the year – the annual Pre-Christmas Fall Super Sale – is coming up in just over a week. We will have huge savings, with almost everything in the store 5-50% off!

A special sale email, highlighting the best deals, will be out first thing on November 18!

INTRODUCING:

THE AMRUT SPECTRUM 004 2022

Amrut’s innovative Spectrum is back! Bottled at 50%, the whisky is initially matured in ex-Bourbon before finishing in custom casks made with new American Oak, new French Oak, ex-Oloroso, and ex-PX Sherry staves.

Amrut Spectrum 004 2022 – 50% – Producer Description: “To make the Spectrum 004, a two-part maturation technique has been employed: the first being maturation of new make spirit in ex-Bourbon casks, followed by transferring the aged spirit into the custom barrels. The custom barrels are made with 4 different kinds of staves: new American Oak with Char level 3, new French Oak with light toasting, ex-Oloroso staves and ex-PX Sherry staves. The aforementioned barrel has equal proportions of all four kinds of staves arranged in a one-after-the-other manner lending their own characteristics and complexities to the malt coming into its own on the nose and the palate.” – $172

Calendars & Gift Packs from That

Boutique-y Whisky Co. & Drinks by the Dram

You know we are getting close to Winter when the shop gets inundated with Advent Calendars. We have a ton of new gift packs and advent calendars from our friends at Drinks by the Dram and That Boutique-y Whisky Company!

Gift Packs

1. Drinks by the Dram Japanese Whisky Set – 5x30ml Japanese Whiskies – $70

2. Drinks by the Dram Regions of Scotland – 5x30ml One single malt from each of Scotland’s Regions. – $55

4. That Boutique-y Whisky Scotch Set – 4x50ml Scotch Whiskies – $55

5. That Boutique-y Whisky Premium Scotch Set – 4x50ml – $92

6. Drinks by the Dram Whisky Collection Set 2022 – 12x50ml Primarily Scotch whiskies. – $126

7. Drinks by the Dram Irish Whiskey Series 2022 – 12x50ml Irish Whiskies – $90

“Holiday” Dare We Say Advent Calendars…

In addition to our own KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar, we also have 6 different Holiday “Advent” Calendars from Drinks by the Dram and That Boutique-y Whisky Co. Rather than clog this email with descriptions, you can find all the info on our site, including the full product lists. But we suggest you don’t look at that… there are too few surprises left in this World.

2. That Boutique-y Whisky Holiday Calendar – 24x30ml Whiskies – $259.99

3. DBTD Peated Whisky Holiday Calendar – 24x30ml Peated Whiskies – $279.99

5. DBTD Scotch Whisky Holiday Calendar – 24x30ml Scotch Whiskies – $279.99

6. DBTD Whisky Holiday Calendar – 24x30ml Whiskies – $280

Upcoming Tastings

Our Fall Tasting Schedule is coming soon, but in the meantime, here are a few events to entertain and delight you!

!!!NEW DATE!!!

Wednesday, November

23rd

Kinda Rare & Old Whiskies: 20 is the new 30

·     Date: Wednesday, November 23

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $150

·     Virtual Tasting

Who are we kidding? In the current circumstances, this tasting is far from “Kinda Old.” And when have you ever sampled 3 21+-year-old Edradours? I thought so! And the previous image didn’t help, so we have added a new one!

You should know the drill by now: the big man has identified a range of whiskies he wants to taste, and the range is unlikely to disappoint. This time around we have a range of 8 whiskies: 6 in their twenties and 2 in their early thirties. We have a trio of old Edradours, a Millstone distilled in the 1990s, a Gordon & MacPhail Miltonduff from 1989, and OB single casks of BenRiach (1997) and GlenDronach (1990). In total, you’ll enjoy just shy of 200 years worth of single malt whisky!

Wednesday, November 23 @ 7 PM

Boutique-y Cool & Unusual Whisky w/ Dave Worthington

·     Date: Saturday, November 12

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $70

·     Virtual Tasting

·     ONLY 4 SPOTS LEFT!

This will surely be one of the most fun ranges we sample with Boutique-y Dave. It includes 4 recently release That Boutique-y Whisky Co. Blends at 22, 32, 42 and 52 years of age! The last one is a real curiosity, as having fallen below 40% it isn’t legally whisky… but it will be interesting to try! To round out the lineup we are adding Ledaig 21 Year, Allt-A-Bhaine 23 Year, and a teaspooned presumably Glen Scotia 24 Year. 216 years of liquid history, with one of the industry’s most entertaining hosts!

Saturday, November 12th @ 5 PM

Glenfarclas Family Casks 2021 – The 2000s

·     Date: Tuesday, November 15

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $65

·     Virtual Tasting

·     10 SPOTS LEFT!

No, we won’t be sampling the KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask in this session, but we still have an incredible lineup of Glenfarclas single casks. We held back a bottle each of some of the highlights from the Summer 2021 Glenfarclas Family Cask releases. In this session, we’ll sample bottlings from 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Tuesday, November 15th @ 7 PM

Buzzard’s Roost Virtual Tasting with Jason Brauner and Judy Hollis Jones

·     Date: Tuesday, November 22

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $25

·     Virtual Tasting

Buzzard’s Roost isn’t your typical Rye Whiskey bottler. The company was founded by Jason Brauner – the owner of the famous Bourbon Bistro in Louisville Kentucky. Jason has selected over 100 single barrels of Bourbon, Rye, and American Whiskey over the years and decided to take his experience and put it to good use by selecting casks and bottling under his own label.

Buzzard’s Roost puts flavour at the fore by utilizing different casks styles to finish their Rye and Bourbon Whiskey. We are excited to have Buzzard’s Roost Founder and Master Blender Jason Brauner and CEO Judy Hollis Jones join us via Zoom and lead us through their whiskey lineup which includes The Buzzard’s Roost Barrel Strength Rye, Char #1 Rye, Peated Barrel Rye, Toasted Barrel Rye, and two Bourbons from the company that have yet not hit shelves in Alberta!

Tuesday, November 22nd @ 7 PM.

Kinda Rare & Old Whiskies: 20 is the new 30 Virtual Tasting

·     Date: Wednesday, November 23

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $150

·     Virtual Tasting

Who are we kidding, in the current circumstances this tasting is far from “Kinda Old”… And when have you ever sampled 3 21+ year-old Edradours… I thought so! And the previous image didn’t help, so we have added a new one!

You should know the drill by now: the big man has identified a range of whiskies he wants to taste, and the range is unlikely to disappoint. This time around we have a range of 8 whiskies: 6 in their twenties and 2 in their early thirties. We have a trio of old Edradours, a Millstone distilled in the 1990s, a Gordon & MacPhail Miltonduff from 1989, and OB single casks of BenRiach (1997) and GlenDronach (1990). In total, you’ll enjoy just shy of 200 years worth of single malt whisky!

Wednesday, November 23 @ 7 PM

Kinship Collection 2021 +1

·     Date: Tuesday, December 6

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $225

·     Virtual Tasting

Who doesn’t love old Islay malts? We bought a couple of sets of the 2021 Kinship Collection from Hunter Laing because we knew we were going to want to open one for a tasting. The set consists of:

Ardbeg 19 Year, Bowmore 33 Year, Bruichladdich 29 Year, Bunnahabhain 31 Year, Caol Ila 40 Year, and Laphroaig 23 Year. But that’s only 6 whiskies, and we like to have at least 7 at our tastings, so we are tossing in a lovely sherried First Edition Laphroaig 14 Year to round out our range. Join the KWM team as we sip our way through 189 years of Islay glory!

Tuesday, December 6th @ 7 PM

FREE DELIVERY

 

We are proud to offer Free City Wide Delivery on all orders over $100 Monday-Friday!

Orders under $100 are subject to a flat rate $10 delivery fee.

CURBSIDE PICKUP

Physical distancing is made easy with curbside pickup.

Order online or by phone, wait for confirmation your order is ready then call us when you are parked in the back or out front.

Be sure to let us know what your vehicle looks like!

403-283-8000

888-283-9004

Regular Store Hours

Mon-Wed 10 AM – 8 PM

Thurs & Fri 10 AM – 9 PM

Sat 10 AM – 8 PM

Sun 11 AM to 6 PM

Whisky Lounge Schools are now available to book! – Whisky School News

Greetings whisky-lovers From TWL HQ

We are genuinely chuffed to share with you the news that..

WHISKY SCHOOLS ARE COMING BACK TO LONDON ON 26th NOVEMBER 3rd DECEMBER and 10th DECEMBER!

We hope to have news of more around the country soon, so watch this space!

Here’s what you need to know…

Ever wanted to know more about the most diverse spirit in the world?

The Whisky School is designed for anyone with an interest in whisky and wants to learn more in an informal but informative fashion. All in the atmospheric and grand setting of the Malmaison.

Find out how whisky is made and discover the different styles produced all over Scotland and the rest of the World. The history, regionality and provenance will be discussed as well as in-depth looks at wood maturation and the new-make spirit.

PLUS attendees will get the chance to blend their very own whisky, choose a brand name for it and take a miniature of it home with them!

After completing the course and successfully passing a final exam, the ‘candidate’ will receive a signed certificate and more importantly the confidence to speak the ‘language of whisky’.

A rough outline of the ‘syllabus’:

Introduction.

History overview. Look at whisky regions of Scotland and tasting.

Production:

Looking at what makes each single malt ‘tick’. All processes looked at with particular emphasis on maturation and wood management.

Blending Workshop:

History of blending, tasting and hands-on blending workshop

World Whiskies:

History and production of world whiskies (Japanese, Taiwanese, Indian, American). Maturation/wood management.

Final Exam & ‘graduation dram’

The price includes:

All whiskies sampled (around 20-25)All course material2-course light lunch A Glencairn Whisky Tasting Glass to take home with you. A signed Whisky Lounge ‘Whisky School’ Certificate – for successful candidates!

BOOK NOW!

Nottingham Whisky Festival 19th November 12-4pm

That’s it. For now, but stay alert!We hope you are all well and look forward to seeing you all somewhere, soon!

Slainte!

Eddie

The Whisky Lounge Team

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tasting Kelowna, BC November 19th, 2022 – Single Cask Whisky News

SMWS KELOWNA TASTING

We’re thrilled to announce a Scotch Malt Whisky Society tasting at ARC Liquor in Kelowna! SMWS Canada founders Rob & Kelly Carpenter will be on hand to take you through six SMWS whiskies alongside some light bites in this sit-down event. Bottles and memberships will be available for purchase at ARC Liquor.

This is open to members and non-members alike, so forward this to your whisky-loving friends and join us for what is sure to be a fun evening. Sign up below:

SMWS KELOWNA TASTING

at ARC LIQUOR – 1973 Harvey Ave.

Saturday, Nov. 19th  7:30pm  $55(+GST)

Please enjoy our products responsibly; no drinking and driving

SIGN UP HERE

Abbey Whisky Malt of the Moment! Isle of Raasay Single Malt R-01.1 – Scotch Whisky News

MALT OF THE MOMENT

These dark, driech November days already have us day dreaming about last summer when we gazed across at the beautiful Isle of Raasay. In memory of sunnier times, we’re offering Raasay as our latest Malt of the Moment.

The latest single malt release from Raasay distillery! R-01.1 has been created from peated and unpeated Raasay spirit matured separately in first fill Rye whiskey, Chinkapin oak and first fill Bordeaux red wine casks, then combined resulting in a lightly peated dram. Raasay R-01.1 was bottled in 2022 at 46.4% vol on the Isle of Raasay using water from their on site well.

Peat Level: Barley 48-52ppm

Fermentation Time: 3 and 5 day fermentations

As ever if you have any questions or queries, please just ask.

Slàinte Mhath

SHOP NOW

Milroy’s of Soho Monkey Shoulder Tasting Monday 7th November, 2022 – Scotch Whisky News

Once upon a time, all of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries malted their own barley. The wet grain from the steep would be spread over a stone floor for a week to begin germination, and it had to be turned regularly to prevent the little rootlets from matting together. Malt men would march up and down flipping the grain over their shoulders with malt shovels, known as shiels. Some developed repetitive strain injury causing one arm to hang low like a monkey’s.

In 2005, long after anyone had wielded a shiel in earnest, Monkey Shoulder was released as a hip new brand of Scotch from the house of William Grant & Sons.

In this particular evening Callum Rixson will be talking us through the modern whisky drinks serving us some delicious drams of Monkey Shoulder alongside some beautiful cocktails.

Monkey Shoulder Original
Smokey Monkey
Fresh Monkey

Buy Now

The Whisky Exchange “Whisky of the Year 2023” – Whisky News

Whisky of the Year 2023

Our highly-anticipated annual tasting is back! Come on a journey to help us decide what will be our Whisky of the Year 2023. Join us in person and tell us your opinion by blind tasting and voting on a carefully selected line-up chosen by industry professionals.⁠ We can’t wait to see which one you crown the winner!⁠

THE DETAILS
Venue: Bridewell Hall, 14 Bride Ln, London EC4Y 8EQ
Date: 17 November
Time: 7-9pm
Price: £65

BOOK NOW 

Celebrate St Andrew’s Day with Scottish Whisky Awards – Scotch Whisky News

Celebrate St Andrew’s Day with the Scottish Whisky Industry

Individuals, teams and businesses working in Scotch Whisky are now gathering in numbers for the industry’s annual dinner and celebration which takes place on St Andrew’s Day. The 4th annual Scottish Whisky Awards is now just five week’s away and finalists are being urged to book their place at the event which has over 300 guests already confirmed.

Don’t miss out on this important whisky industry networking event which will present medals and awards in over 20 categories. Are you a finalist?  Don’t forget to tag us #scottishwhiskyawards.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the awards!

Sláinte!

The Scottish Whisky Awards Team

Book Now

View Finalists 2022

HIBIKI BLOSSOM HARMONY 2022 BALLOT at The Whisky Shop – Japanese Whisky News

HIBIKI BLOSSOM HARMONY 2022 BALLOT

Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2022

Opting for a finish in sakura wood is tricky to find a balance due to the bold, spicy character of the wood and its challenge to work with compared to oak. This balance is expertly achieved, showcasing notes of floral honey, fragrant spice, ripe fruits and toasted oak.

£175.00
Register Your Interest

Upcoming ballot for Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2022 – Register Your Interest now!

Hibiki’s latest release highlights expert blending, incorporating whisky from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. The twist on Blossom Harmony 2022 is the finish in sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) wood which has a distinctive subtly flora and spicy character to impart into the blend. Register now to receive information when the ballot opens at the start of November! This will be exclusive to members of The W Club so sign up below if you haven’t already.

Sign up to The W Club →


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