NEW WHISKY RELEASES for Holiday Tables, Cocktails + Gifting

BOURBON

Hardin’s Creek, crafted at the James B. Beam Distilling Co is a new brand that charts the ongoing story of the Beam family legacy, one that is more than 227 years in the making, through these highly limited and rare releases. Hardin’s Creek is the next generation of boundary-pushing, premium American Whiskey inspired by the expertise of seven generations of Beam Master Distillers.

• Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $149.99), is a thoughtful blend of two ultra-aged expressions: one 16-year-old-traditional bourbon and one 15-year-old high-rye bourbon blended to achieve a depth of flavor unlike any other in Beam history. Freddie Noe distilled it using precious barrels laid down years ago by other hands, which he then intuitively hand-selected, blending together centuries of expertise with a vision for the future.

• Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B. Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $79.99), is an homage to Colonel James B. Beam aka Jim Beam, who got the Clermont distillery up and running in just 120 days post-prohibition. In honor of that legacy, Colonel James B. Beam was crafted taking a page out of his signature style. The limited-edition, two-year-old whiskey achieves a depth of flavor usually reserved for more mature bourbons by taking it off the still at a lower distillation proof, imparting more flavor from the fermentation process and letting the barrel’s characteristics shine through at a younger age.

JAPANESE WHISKY

For more than three generations, the master blenders at the House of Suntory, the Founding House of Japanese Whisky, have devoted themselves to pursuing the harmony of Japanese nature and craftsmanship to produce the legendary Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki whiskies.

• Just launched in October, Hibiki Blossom Harmony Limited Edition (SRP: $160.00) blended whisky features whiskies finished in Sakura casks. Sakura Blossom season in early spring has always been an occasion for celebration in Japan, with many gathering around the beautiful flowering Sakura trees that inspire the Japanese to appreciate life as it blooms. Hibiki Blossom Harmony blends a rare selection of whiskies finished in Sakura wood casks with diverse matured malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries.

• Hibiki 30 Year Old (SRP: $5,000.00) was first released in 1997 as a rare, limited edition. It is the paragon of the Hibiki brand and the art of Japanese craftsmanship. For the first time, this exquisite bottle will be available in the U.S. as of October. Hibiki 30 features a select blend of Yamazaki® malt whiskies that are 30 years and older from Suntory’s treasured historic collection, with mild grain whiskies that have also matured at least 30 years. With a mere few thousand bottles produced each year, each is bottled by hand. This luxurious liquor has received accolades and awards from whisky connoisseurs around the world and it represents the pinnacle of whisky making at Suntory. 

• With the launch of the 2022 Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection, the House of Suntory unveils a fundamental piece of its unrivaled craftsmanship and introduces the foundational pillars of Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky – Puncheon, Peated Malt, Spanish Oak and Mizunara. The collection honors Tsukuriwake, which means “artisanship through a diversity of making” and is embraced by the Founding House of Japanese Whisky.

• • The Puncheon is considered as the “heart” of what makes Yamazaki Single Malt, Yamazaki. The Yamazaki Puncheon Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $450.00) is comprised of meticulously selected malts aged exclusively in puncheons crafted by Suntory artisans from hand selected American oak.

• • The Peated Malt is considered the “hidden accent” giving Yamazaki its complexity and lingering finish. The Yamazaki Peated Malt (SRP: $450.00) is comprised of meticulously selected heavily peated malted barley that is masterfully blended to create the quintessential Yamazaki Peated Malt that is gentle and refined.

• • The Spanish Oak is considered as the depth-enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential multi-layered full flavor with mature fruity notes. The Yamazaki Spanish Oak (SRP: $450.00) is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies matured in the highest quality oak casks originating from Northern Spain.

• • Mizunara is a species of oak native to Japan and is considered the signature enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential Japanese character and elegance. Whiskies which undergo a long maturation in Mizunara casks take on a distinctive Japanese spiciness and incense-like flavor of sandalwood and agarwood. The Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $620.00) is comprised of meticulously selected long-matured malt whiskies showcasing the rare, distinctive beauty of the hand crafted Mizunara casks.

SCOTCH

Made at the first distillery on Islay since 1779, Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is known as one of the most balanced Islay whiskies, which are often thought to be the smokiest Scotch whiskies in the world.

• Released earlier this year, Bowmore Masters’ Selection (SRP: $400.00) is a collaboration between Bowmore and Aston Martin, imagined and defined by two Masters, Bowmore Master Whisky Blender Ron Welsh and Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. This whisky marks the first time Bowmore has adopted the “Golden Ratio” principle – the mathematical ratio found in nature that creates aesthetically pleasing compositions – which sits at the heart of the design of every Aston Martin. Taking inspiration from an engineered approach, Masters’ Selection incorporates the divine proportion of 61.8% formed from a base of 21 year old Bowmore matured in first fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. The remaining parts are made up of exact ratios of each other, in line with the Golden Ratio theory, and include exceptionally aged Bowmore matured for over 35 years.

• Bowmore ARC-52 (SRP: $75,000.00), the most recent release in the storied partnership between Bowmore and Aston Martin, is sold in a cutting edge, strikingly futuristic and inspiring decanter – an appropriate homage to the oldest and rarest release to date from the two luxury brands. Just 100 decanters of Bowmore ARC-52 exist in the world, representing a highly exclusive, limited release and the height of achievement in collaborative bottle design. At its heart, ARC-52 is a celebration of how Bowmore and Aston Martin champion constant evolution and ingenuity to provoke, inspire and excite appreciators of true luxury. Available in select markets.

LOVE WHISKY? JOIN THE CLUB! LONDON IS GETTING A NEW WHISKY CLUB

Whisky lovers are celebrating with the launch of southwest London’s first whisky club.

From Thursday night 10 November, whisky fans can meet monthly at The Greyhound pub on beautiful Kew Green to sample some top drops and trade tasting notes, and meet the makers.

The club kicks off with special guest, Bill Shearer, brand ambassador from the innovative Islay distillery, Bruichladdich.

Bill Shearer, brand ambassador for Bruichladdich

London whisky influencer Don Howarth (AKA The Whisky Don) says the club is a ‘fun way to explore the world of whisky’ with tasting treats planned from the big name brands and indie distilleries alongside new wave whiskies to watch from Scotland and beyond. ‘Plus a couple of distillers might bring a bottle of something really special to try only at the club, he said.

Mr Howarth said that whether you’re a dram dabbler or a collector, everyone who likes to drink the water of life is welcome, ‘No smoking jacket required!’ he said.

He set up the club following the huge number of requests he was getting for private events in people’s homes. ‘I’ve been absolutely blown away by the number of people I’ve met who said they loved drinking whisky and they wanted to learn more about it.’

‘But it’s not all about the casks and water. How much you enjoy your whisky can be all about who you’re sharing it with,’ Mr Howarth said.

He said the groups had got ‘too big for the living room’ so it was time to move the meetings to the pub ‘where we can continue to grow.’

‘There are already clubs in north and east London but it’s time for the dram fans from southwest London to share the whisky love,’ he said.  https://www.thewhiskydon.com/

Co-founders Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day first met in 2013 and formed R&B Distillers with the common goal of building Scotland’s leading artisanal distiller. Focusing on local production, provenance, quality and doing things differently.

By 2015, they had identified the Isle of Raasay as providing the ingredients for the perfect dram, and planning permission to begin work revitalizing the Isle of Raasay’s nineteenth century Borodale House into a state-of-the-art distillery, visitor center, and luxury accommodation was granted in 2016.

Starting with a blank sheet of paper, they set about designing a distillery to create exceptional whisky that develops elegance, complexity, and depth early on in the maturation process and a handcrafted Hebridean gin that encapsulates Raasay’s style, character and impressive geological variety.

On the 31st of October we will be taking you through a journey of Single Cask Sample from the Raasay Distillery and the line-up will be the below:

Unpeated Ex-Rye Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Unpeated Chinkapin Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Unpeated Ex-Bordeaux Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Peated Ex-Rye Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Peated Chinkapin Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Peated Ex-Bordeaux Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength

Buy Now

My best-laid plans of getting this email to you much earlier have, as usual, fallen by the wayside. Funny how a week turns into 10 days, a Monday into a Friday, but alas this Malt Messenger is huge… I’d say I’m sorry about that… but it could have been even larger!

The main reason is that too many interesting things have been arriving, and there is not enough time to curate them all. Further, our new Chief Moral Officer, Walter the Dog (actually still very much a puppy), is taking up much of my time with training, and stress-relieving play… So he is fulfilling his primary responsibility quite well, despite his youth and serious lack of experience.

We have loads of new and returning whiskies now in stock to tell you about from Dumangin, Cadenhead, Gordon & MacPhail, Signatory, GlenAllachie, MacNair’s, Shelter Point, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Berry Bros., Arran, Doc Swinson’s and more… The list would actually have been longer, but we have held a few things back for the next Malt Messenger. Too much of a good thing can be overwhelming, and it would have delayed this newsletter even longer!

In case you missed the announcement last week, we have finally revealed the design for our KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar. We are closing in on completing this year’s Calendar, but alas we are waiting on one final, and crucial product… expected any day now!

In addition to our own Whisky Calendar, we have 6 other Advent Calendars from Drinks by the Dram and That Boutique-y Whisky/Gin Co. There are details below, but you can browse all of the Advent Calendars here!

There is also another ballot with some Bourbon and sought-after Scotch whiskies. Once more this is only open to existing KWM customers who have made a purchase at KWM since July 1 of 2020. Allocations on many of the items are small, but please don’t resort to sending me a plea or petition, this is a stressful enough process without that!

Finally, we have moved the date for the Kinda Rare & Old Whiskies Virtual Tasting. Information on that is below.

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

Kensington Wine Market

In This Edition

1. New Whiskies from Dumangin

2. New Whiskies from Cadenhead

3. New & Returning Whiskies from Gordon & MacPhail

4. New & Returning Whiskies from Signatory

5. New & Returning Whiskies from GlenAllachie and MacNair’s

6. Evan’s SMWS Corner – The October Outturn

7. Shelter Point is Back

8. Berry’s Ronnie’s Reserve ’69, ’75, & ’79 Are Back!

9. Arran Whiskies are back in-stock!

10.   New & Returning Doc Swinson’s Whiskies

11.  Other New Whiskies

12.   Calendars & Gift Packs from That Boutique-y & Drinks by the Dram

13.   Another Ballot… Deep Breath

14.  Up-Coming Tastings

New Whiskies from Dumangin

We have six new whiskies from our friend Gilles Dumangin. In addition to being a talented Champagne maker (his Champagnes are our bestsellers!), Gilles also makes a fortified wine called Ratafia Champenois, some of which we stock. In addition to winemaking, Gilles is also a whisky nerd, and for the last couple of years, he has been buying casks of whisky from all over the world to finish in his own Ratafia Champenois casks. I had the privilege of sampling the 6 whiskies below, in the cask, last time I visited his winery. I’ll get my own tasting notes out on these shortly!

1. Dumangin Whisky Ardmore 2009 – 48% – 9 Years in Refill Hogsheads / Finished 2 Years in a Ratafia Champenois cask – Producer Tasting Note: “Peppery nose, rubbery, rich feeling peat, lemon zest.” – $159.99

2. Dumangin Whisky Benrinnes 2008 – 48% – 10 Years in Refill Hogshead / Finished 23 Months in Ratafia Champenois – Producer Tasting Note: “Orange peel, slightly oily, hint of smoke and sherried” – $159.99

3. Dumangin Whisky Bushmills 2014 – 48% – 6 Year – 6 Years ex-Bourbon / 12 Months in Ratafia Champenois – Producer Tasting Note: “Fruity, aromatic palate. Salty butter, all kinds of blossom, sweet vanilla cream and citrus.” – $134.94

4. Dumangin Whisky Cooley 2009 Grain – 47.1% – 11 Year – 10 Years in Refill ex-Bourbon & STR Casks / 12 Months in Ratafia Champenois – Producer Tasting Note: “Rich, soft oils, melt-in-the-mouth grain and just a hint of barley for good measure.” – $134.99

5. Dumangin Whisky Craigellachie 2007 – 48% – 12 Years in Refill Hogsheads / 15 months in Ratafia Champenois – Producer Tasting Note: “Honey, peaches, apples, green grass on the nose. Custard, mint, mineral water, a bit of pepper and fall spice, sweet tea, and marmalade on the palate.” – $167.99

6. Dumangin Whisky La Piautre – 46.3% – 3+ YearsMaturation / 15 Months in Ratafia Champenois – Producer Tasting Note: “Oily and opulent whisky amplified by the Ratafia Champenois touch.” – $139.99

New Whiskies from Cadenhead!

This release is a lot more exciting than the last… hopefully, a sign of things to come. I am tempted to set a bottle of each aside for a future tasting… but the event calendar is pretty full right now!

1. Cadenhead Original Collection A Highland Distillery 37 Year – 46% – 1985 – Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Brandy snaps, ginger bread with thick butter, baked apples. Palate: Oily. Allspice, apple crumble. Finish: Hoppy notes, apple skin, prunes, hazelnuts.” – $930

2. Cadenhead Original Collection Glentauchers-Glenlivet 14 Year – 46% – 2008 – Bourbon & Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Pear drops, peaches, treacle, nutmeg. Palate: Pears pouched in red wine, vanilla ice cream with milk chocolate flakes. Finish: Rich and warming. Orange essence, mulled wine, cloves and dark chocolate.” – $178

3. Cadenhead Original Collection Loch Lomond 17 Year – 46 % – 2005 – Oloroso Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Meaty! Burning Bbq coals, soy sauce. Palate: Spare ribs smothered in sweet BBQ sauce, honey glaze ham, cigar smoke. Finish: Pulled pork, cocoa powder, white pepper, dark fruits soaked in rum.” – $230

4. Cadenhead Original Collection Glenlossie-Glenlivet 12 Year – 46% – 2010 – Re-charred Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Fresh and zesty. Chocolate raisins, tropical fruits, vanilla sponge, lemon drizzle cake. Palate: Rich. Creamy, vanilla custard, marzipan. Finish: Creme brûlée, pear drops, lemon fondant, light.” – $170

5. Cadenhead Original Collection Tamnavulin-Glenlivet 14 Year – 46% – 2008 – Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Stone fruits, syrup, pineapple, peach, grapefruit. Palate: Lemon zest, banana fritter, caramel sauce, creamy with a suitable tanginess. Finish: Fermented fruits, flat cola, dime bars, bourbon biscuit.” – $178

6. Cadenhead Original Collection A Tennessee Distillery 18 Year – 46% – 2003 – Tennessee Whisky – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose:    Vanilla pods, salted caramel, honeysuckle. Palate: Caramel latte, honeycomb, milk chocolate. Finish: Root ginger, sweetened butter, many layers of sweetness.” – $290

New & Returning Whiskies from

Gordon & MacPhail

Turns out that only one of these is truly new or newish… The 1989 Mortlach and 1988 Linkwood were here and gone in a flash earlier in the year. Man time flies… That being said, everything is pretty exciting regardless, and the price on the Glenburgie 21 Year… it is starting to look like impressive value!<

1. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Linkwood 1988 – 55% – 32 Year – First Fill Sherry Butt – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich stewed fruit aromas combine with fresh ginger leading to a hint of beeswax polish. Taste: Blackcurrant and raspberry flavours give way to soft dried tobacco notes and mature oak. Finish: A medium-bodied finish with lingering spice and grapefruit zest.” – $1320 – Limit 1 Per Customer! 

2. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Mortlach 1989 – 54.2% – 31 Year – Refill Sherry Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich brown sugar and stewed apples lead to glacé cherries and raisins alongside a subtle touch of honey and ginger. Dark honey and almond flavours lead to raisins, warm ginger and lingering fruit loaf.” – $1300 – Limit 1 Per Customer! 

3. G&M Distillery Label Glenburgie 21 Year – 46% – Refill Sherry Butts – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich stewed fruits and roasted hazelnut aromas with hints of brown sugar. Taste: Cooked apple and cinnamon flavours mix with red berries, with a lingering charred oak finish.” – $200

4. G&M Distillery Label Mortlach 15 Year – 46% – First Fill & Refill Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Distinctly malty initially with fresh aromas of a woodland hedgerow. Delicate Sherry notes linger and weave with rich indulgent toffee, sweet liquorice, and orange marmalade. Taste: Reminiscent of a Black Forest cake; the initial sweetness develops into fruity blackcurrant jam, maraschino cherry, and creamy vanilla. Freshly peeled orange notes add a fresh lift. Finish: Well rounded; hints of candied citrus fruits and oak complement the lingering malty edge.” – $125

5. G&M Distillery Label Linkwood 25 Year  – 46% – First Fill & Refill Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Hints of baked apple, stewed raisin, and cinnamon enhance rich Sherry influences. Sweet liquorice aromas develop enhanced by light floral nuances. A polished oak edge remains. Taste: Sweet and spicy; date, prune, and raisin flavours complement warming pepper. Hints of cinnamon and clove add spice. Tangy blackcurrant notes mix with sweet cherry jam and candied citrus fruit. Finish: A nutty edge balances the lingering oak notes.” – $350

New Whiskies from Edradour

We are never quite sure what we are going to get with each delivery from Edradour… whether it is a single cask or small batch bottling, the turnover is impressive for a wee little distillery. And the quality over the last ten years has been improving steadily!

1. Edradour SFTC Sherry 10 Year – 58.6% – 2011 – Sherry Butt No. 548 – $165

2. Edradour 2010 Natural Cask Strength – 56.7% – 12 Year – Sherry Butt No.38 – $220 – 87.58pts Whiskybase

3. Edradour Ballechin 8 Years – 46% – 1x Edradour 2013 Sherry Cask #572 – 3x Ballechin 2013 Bourbon Cask #s: 23-25 – $108

4. Signatory Edradour 10 Year – 46% – 2011 – Sherry Cask #485 – $112 – 88.67pts Whiskybase!

New Whiskies from Signatory

We have just received a big top up order from Signatory, including bottlings from their Un-Chillfiltered Collection (46%), Cask Strength Collection, and some Old & Rare Releases Too!

Un-Chillfiltered Collection

1. Signatory Ben Nevis 2013 – 46% – 8 Year – Hogsheads (316, 322, & 323) – $120

2. Signatory Glendullan 2009 – 46% – 12 Year – Hogsheads ( 313253 & 313254) – $115

3. Signatory Teaninich 2009 – 46% – 12 Year – Hogsheads – 717626 & 717633) – $110

4. Signatory Unnamed Orkney 2009 – 46% – 13 Year – Hogshead (#DRU 17/A67 #18+19) – $125

5. Signatory Unnamed Speyside – 2009 – 46% – 13 Year – Refill Butts (Dru 17/A195#36) – $125

Cask Strength Collection – Lots of Sherry here…

1. Signatory Allt-A-Bhainne 2000 – 52.4% – 20 Year – Matured in Hogsheads / Finished 12 Months in Fresh Sherry Butt #6 – $410 – 87.83pts Whiskybase

2. Signatory BenRiach 2000 – 59.2% – 21 Year – Matured 20 Years in Refill Butts before Finishing in Fresh Sherry Butt #6 – $410 – 89.75pts Whiskybase

3. Signatory Braeval 2000 – 59.2% – 21 Year – Refill Sherry Butt #6392 – $410 – 90pts Whiskybase

4. Signatory Caledonian 1987 – 52% – 32 Year – Hogshead #23482 – $535

5. Signatory Caol Ila 2010 – 57.3% – 11 Year – Refill Hogshead / Fiished 14 Months in a Sherry Butt #109 – $225 – 89pts Whiskybase

6. Signatory GlenAllachie 2007 – 65.6% – 14 Year First FIll Sherry Butt #900163 – $225

7. Signatory Mortlach 2007 – 52% – 14 Year – Matured 12 Years in Refill Hogsheads / Finished 16 Months in a Fresh Sherry Butt #3 – $265

30th Anniversary & Other Old Vintages!

Old & Rare whiskies are getting more and more expensive, thankfully Signatory is still offering some good value.

1. Signatory Bunnahabhain 1973 – 42 Year – 47.9% – Refill Sherry Butt #12145 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: old school from the first whiff; chocolate shavings on a foamy cappuccino; soooh chocolaty: Carnation Hot Chocolate mix, Glosset Raisins, and Eatmore candy bars; dried dark fruits to start, then more tropical ones with papaya and kiwi notes; smooth old leather and agave nectar. Palate: oh damn, this is sit down and take your time whisky… shame I don’t have much of that, and only a wee sample to work with… cue tiny violins; still very old school, soft sherry tones, firm but smooth old leather, musty dunnage warehouse notes and loads more chocolate: chocolate mouse, Glossets, Eatmore and Carnation hot chocolate made with love (slowly with milk, not water); gentle spices, more tropical fruits, and decadent syrups. Finish: long and coating, the notes from the palate ease into the finish leaving the former watering, thirsting for more; fresh and a little minty as the curtains draw. Comment: this is a lovely single malt, the kind of dram many of us took for granted a decade ago, and which now are truly the proverbial needle in a haystack; this is the sort of magic which can only happen with time, and which is never guaranteed.” – $2,725 – 91pts Whisky Fun

2. Signatory 30th Annv Bunnahabhain 1968 – 41.8% – 50 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – Whisky Fun Tasting Note (Serge): “Nineteen sixty-eight! Hold on, wasn’t that the vintage of the famous ‘Auld Acquaintance’ that turned plenty of heads when it came out? Including this one? Colour: full gold (paler than the 40). Nose: you do feel it’s an old one. This nose reminds me of all those old casks that we could nose at Duncan Taylor’s when they had started their ‘Auld and Rare’ range. You do feel quite a lot of oak, but in the best cases, and this is one of them, that old oak kind of transmuted into some kind of od embrocation, or cough syrup, without any obvious dryness. Say pine resin, coconut wine, camphor, melted beeswax and just pollen. It’s very specific. Perhaps a hint of artichoke. As always, it’s on the palate that the war will be fought, but we have confidence in this case… Mouth: and we were right. Honeydew, mead, fir liqueur (from the neighbouring Vosges mountains), crystallised pineapple, papaya jam… In truth it is not ‘oaky’ at all on your palate! Rather a miracle, and probably a stunning refill cask that had decided, in the first place, to play it elegantly. Like an old British actress, my dear. Finish: pretty long, still fresh ,never oaky, with various honeyed notes and reminiscences of many an old chardonnay from the best terroirs. I know, terroir again… Like, Meursault? Comments: I suppose they have been monitoring this marvellous old cask for decades, wondering if it would have hold until their 30th. It did – mind you, the best casks are smart, they are almost persons! No, really! SGP:561 – 91 points.” – $4500

3. Signatory 30th Annv. North Port (Brechin) 1981 – 57.2% – 36 Year – Refill Sherry Butt – Whisky Fun Tasting Note: “What what what what what? Colour: straw. Nose: this was matured by time, not by wood (respectively wine, rum, sherry…) So the age is purely theoretical, because this butt was probably rather lazy, which is actually good news since complexity only comes with proper age. Are you following me? This is actually very subtle, with many herbal teas and flowers, lime blossom, honeysuckle, woodruff, orange blossom, also lighter honeys, acacia, all-flower honey, lavender (no, lavender honey isn’t strong at all)… And would you believe this, there’s some marshmallows in a long-forgotten 36 yo single malt whisky! With water: menthol up, as often with very old whiskies. Mouth (neat): I think it needed these 35+ years in lazy wood, and I’m sure it wasn’t ready yet at the ripe age of 30. That’s the magic of malt whisky. Amazing mix of flowers, nuts, and waxy fruits, while there are dozens of each. So a short summary: fresh almonds, nectarines, dates, chestnut pollen, propolis, macadamia nuts… and approx. 1,764,680 other tiny flavours. With water: sublime mead. Ambrosia, the drink of the gods. Finish: medium, fantastically beehive-y. Comments: mind you, it could be that this was the very last ‘new’ North Port we’ll ever taste. But we aren’t sad, should we be sad?… It’s a very brilliant bottle nonetheless, I utterly loved it for its intrinsic qualities. Very well done Signatory! SGP:551 – 92 points.” – $3360 – Also 90.5pts Whiskybase

4. Signatory 30th Annv.Teaninich 1983 – 57.5% – 35 Year – Refill Sherry Butt  Whisky Fun Tasting Note: “What a hit, this series by SigV! Colour: straw. Nose: very different, more restrained, more on sunflower oil and mown lawn, grasses, leaves, concrete and plaster, ink, soot, fresh almonds… In a way we’re closer to Claxton’s than to the Japanese 1983, but that may be a matter of water. With water: it remains a little narrower and more austere, but some perfect notes of mentholy almonds and lemon balm are making their appearance. Some perfect beeswax as well. Mouth (neat): a rather pungent fruitiness, on green apples, raw cider, and even white calvados. A touch of barley syrup around all that, as well as a little white pepper. I think it really needs water indeed. With water: indeed. Some amazing earthy lemons, some ginger, turmeric, touches of peat, oysters, then caraway and cloves, Stolle… I’m just wondering, did these 1983s stem from the A-Side distillery or from the B-Side? I think B-Side was the one they closed for good 1984, and then demolished. Finish: rather long, wonderfully citrusy and earthy. Some limoncello in the aftertaste. Comments: I think I’ll have to learn a bit more about the respective styles of A and B Teaninich. Was this B, a.k.a. Old Teaninich? Or Teaninich’s Brora, if you wish? Exceptional whisky nonetheless. Angus was right about Teaninich!” – $1125

New & Returning Whiskies

from GlenAllachie & MacNair’s

MacNair’s is relaunching, with a range of three whiskies. Look for a tasting in the new year… We also have some new & returning GlenAllachies, a few of which are immediately below, the others will be offered by ballot… see much further below!

1. GlenAllachie 8 Year – 46% – PX & Oloroso Sherry as well as Virgin Oak and Red Wine Barriques – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Heather honey, butterscotch and cinnamon, followed by waves of ginger, toasted almonds and mocha. Taste: Lashings of treacle, dried sultanas and butterscotch, with cinnamon, peppermint and honeycomb.” – $79

2. GlenAllachie 12 Year – 46% – Vigin Oak, PX and Oloroso Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Layers of heather honey, cinnamon, butterscotch and sticky raisins, with notes of mocha lingering in the background. Taste: Bursts of orange zest, heather honey and damsons, followed by lashings of mocha, dark chocolate, cinnamon, figs and dates.” – $86 – Limit 1 per customer!

3. MacNair’s Lum Reek 10 Year Cask Strength – 55.4% – Composed of Islay, and Speyside whiskies (including GlenAllachie) aged in first fill ex-Bourbon, ex-Red Wine and ex-PX Sherry casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Waves of smoke, heather honey and ginger, fusing with cinnamon, treacle and vanilla. Taste: Lashings of dark chocolate, ginger and citrus, with smoked spices, plantains and tannins.” – $108

4. MacNair’s Lum Reek 12 Year – 46% – Composed of Islay, and Speyside whiskies (including GlenAllachie) aged in first fill ex-Bourbon, ex-Red Wine and ex-PX Sherry casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet peat reek combining with butterscotch and mocha. Taste: Lashings of rich peat reek with mature heather notes, bog myrtle, butterscotch, toffee and sweet spices.” – $100

5. MacNair’s Lum Reek 21 Year – 48% – Composed of Islay, and Speyside whiskies (including GlenAllachie) aged in first fill ex-Bourbon, ex-Red Wine and ex-PX Sherry casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Subtle peat smoke, dark chocolate shavings, runny honey, and vanilla fudge. Taste: Old leather, cedar wood and gentle undertones of peat, alongside oodles of cocoa, vanilla pods, and sweet spices.” – $260

Shelter Point is Back!

We had Chris Read, Brand Ambassador for Shelter Point in-store last week, for a relaunch of the Shelter Point brand in Alberta. It was a great tasting, and we have the following whiskies back in stock!

1. Shelter Point Single Malt – 46% – Producer Description: “Shelter Point Single Malt Whisky is a classic expression made in small batches using traditional methods, pot distillation and water from our own aquifer. Still: Copper wash and spirit stills by Forsyths Base: 100% malted BC barley Natural colour and non-chill filtered Bottled at 46% Alc.Vol” – Producer Tasting Note: “The whisky shows a balanced marriage of fruits, caramel, barley, baking spices, honey, sea air, hints of wine, smoke and the sweet leathery mouthfeel of a high-quality single malt.” – $83

2. Shelter Point Ripple Rock – 46% – Producer Description: “Campbell River’s 1958 Ripple Rock explosion is the inspiration behind this expression of Shelter Point single malt whisky, aged in alligator charred virgin American oak casks and bourbon barrels. Distilled from 100% Malted BC Barley and glacier fed aquifer water in traditional pot stills the whisky is bottled without colouring or chill filtration.” – Producer Tasting: Note: “Distilled in traditional pot stills with glacier fed aquifer water, Ripple Rock explodes with flavour, with vanilla spice and oak on the nose, caramel with raisins, barbeque notes, pepper and clove on the palate, balanced with toffee and chocolate on the finish.” – $83

3. Shelter Point Smoke Point – 53% – Producer Description: “Smoke Point single malt whisky is a proprietary vatting of whisky that has been aged in barrels smoked with driftwood from our shore and native woods found around the distillery. The rich smoky flavours carry a salty tang and hint of iodine from the seaweed and salt on the driftwood that balances perfectly with the sweet creamy mouthfeel. Still: Copper stills by Forsyth’s 100% malted BC barley, Natural colour and non-chill filtered 53% Alc.Vol” – Producer Tasting Note: “Experience campfire, cigar smoke and oak on the nose. Chocolate, fruit, and toffee on the palate, finishing in a delicious combination of creme brulée and salty graham cracker” – $90

4. Shelter Point Cask Strength – 58.7% – Producer Description: “Shelter Point Single Malt Whisky is a classic expression made in small batches using traditional methods, pot distillation and water from our aquifer. Sitting on the coast of Vancouver Island the spirit benefits from the unique influence of our geography, ocean and terroir as it ages in different select casks. This cask strength expression of our Classic Single Malt Whisky allows you to experience our award-winning whisky as it comes from the barrel.” – Producer Tasting Note: “The whisky shows a balanced marriage of fruits, caramel, barley, baking spices, honey, seaside whiff, hints of wine, smoke and the sweet leathery mouthfeel of a high-quality single malt.” – $105

Evan’s Corner:

The SMWS Canada October 2022 Outturn

After running both the virtual and in-store tastings for KWM last week, which combined for around 75 SMWS members attending. The consensus opinion is that the October Outturn was a very good one. The fallout from this? Two of the bottles from the Outturn have already sold out. The good news is we still have some stock of the remaining five bottles – one of which was in my personal top two from the tasting.

Below is the list of bottles in the Outturn in the order we tasted them in:

88.28 – SALMON SURPRISE! – The name of this bottle perhaps should have been SURPRISE: NO SALMON DETECTED! It seems that our own tasting panels did not get the fish and sushi notes that the SMWS panel that put together the tasting notes did. If I looked at the dram sideways, I could personally convince myself there was a fresh sashimi note, but I was in the minority. Regardless, this is a great dram that shows a combination of saline, fresh fruit and peanuts that Speyburn seems to put together so well.

35.309 – DARWIN’S TIPPLE – Another Outturn, and another solid Glen Moray in the lineup. There are periods where like with distillery number 53 (Caol Ila), you can be fairly certain to see a 35 in an Outturn. Both Glen Moray and Caol Ila are showcased so often by the SMWS is both distilleries make spirit that seems to take well to whichever type of cask you throw it in – even plain old ex-Bourbon or refill casks.

77.71 – OAT SO STICKY – This bottle came right out of left field for me, and ended up being one of my two faves in the Outturn. Whisky from Glen Ord doesn’t usually make me stand up and take notice, but that is the great thing about SMWS bottlings. What makes this one wonderful is the dichotomy of having a wild assortment of disparate aromas and flavours going on, yet still, somehow, remaining a cohesive, unified whole. This is very much a sum is greater than its parts type of whisky – probably because the math involved in its makeup is far too confusing for my feeble mind to calculate.

93.179 – 1970’s MOVIE DRAM – It was a Glen Scotia, and it was great. It shall be missed. NEXT!

4.292 – PEAT FIRE TALES ON ORKNEY – Highland Park seems to be the SMWS’s favourite distillery to spoil for people: It seems like every SMWS bottle from HP either gets Orkney in the name or heather written in as a tasting note. Way to give ruin the mystery, guys! Anyhow, this is a deep, dark, and quietly brooding HP. Those are all good things in my opinion, despite the dram reminding me of my own moody and despondent teenage years. At least the whisky leaves me with fond memories!

122.46 – THE INLAND SHORE – This was easily the most divisive bottle in the Outturn. I love it, Curt hates it, so it is up to you to make the call. This whisky is peated and from Loch Lomond distillery, so its weirdness is somewhat understandable. If you, like me, find yourself craving a dram that combines notes of campfires, jasmine tea, and bug spray then you should check this one out!

41.148 – A MERRY-GO-ROUND OF MULTIFARIOUS AMUSEMENTS – We have had a few big, sherried Dailuaines from the SMWS recently. This – like the others that preceded it – is sadly gone.

Cheers,

Evan

Berry’s Ronnie’s Reserve

1969, 1975 & 1979 Are Back!

These are some of the best priced malts you will ever see again from the 1960s and 1970s… mark my words!

Berry’s Ronnie’s Reserve 1979 The Nose – 49.4% – 40 Year – American Oak Sherry Cask 5454 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: fruity, silky and decadent; creme brule, creme caramel, and Manuka honey, with loads of fruit, mostly of the tropical variety; mango, papaya, pineapple, Mandarin orange, and melons; French crepes with powdered sugar and lemon juice. Palate: lush, decadent, and fruity with a silky backbone; more creme brule and creme caramel, with agave nectar and Manuka honey; still very fruity, leaning mostly in the tropical direction: grilled pineapple, underripe mango, honeydew melon, papaya juice, and kiwi; soft leather, fruity tobacco and medium dark chocolate to round things out, followed later by decadent spice. Finish: long, fresh, fruity, and coating with oak spices bringing up the rear; refined and elegant. Comment: it’s been more than a year since I first tasted this, and it is even better than I had remembered; absolutely brimming with tropical fruit, decadent delights, subtle spice, and all kinds of nice!” – $1500

Berry’s Ronnie’s Reserve 1975 The Nose – 45.5% – 44 Year – Refill Hogshead Cask 10619 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, soft and fruity; deeper sherry tones than the 1979, but more floral and once more brimming fruits mainly in the tropical department; crystalized honey, star anise, fancy soft leather gloves, and a touch of playdoh… Palate: still rich, but soft and elegant; this is a whisky that shows its age while staying well on the right side of the hill; brown sugar, Christmas spices, and decadent puddings: plum, bread & butter, and rum raisin; singed orange peel, brandy-soaked cherries and tropical fruits: guava and ripe mango; maple walnuts and candied almonds; floral and slightly vegetal. Finish: long, rich, and spicy with loads of fruits and decadent delights; mouthwatering. Comment: this is a lovely old single malt, more true to the Glenrothes house style than the 1979; also more sherried and antique-y; hard to choose between the two, but based on the finish of this 1975, it has my vote… though I should really try it again!” – $2200

Berry’s Ronnie’s Reserve 1969 CV – 46.9% – 50 Year – Refill Hogshead Cask 16202 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: gooey old rum notes (1940s Long Pond…); musty old oak, polished church pews, window putty, and latex primer; fruit punch, Scottish tablet, and Christmas cake; Glosset Raisins and Eatmores. Palate: still with the old rum notes… curious; more Christmas cake, fruit punch, Glosset Raisins and Sunrype Fruit Source bars; treacle sauce, mixed berry compote and soft old leather; Armagnac, leather, cigar tobacco, and Eatmores; more old wood and musty warehouse notes. Finish: light, fruity, and surprisingly fresh for a 50 year old single malt; thick with treacle, leather, tobacco, and chocolate. Comment: this is an ancient whisky that simultaneously highlights its age without straying into the bitter notes that many over-the-hill single malts possess; now to go find that heel of G&M Long Pond 1941 to do a comparison!” – $5200

Arran Whiskies Back In Stock

 The following Arran whiskies are back in-stock. Descriptions and tasting notes are on our website!

1. Arran Barrel Reserve $60

2. Arran Port Cask Finish $83

3. Arran Machrie Moor Peated $79

4. Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength $84

5. Arran Quarter Cask 56.2% $85

6. Arran Sherry Cask The Bodega $90

7. Arran Sauterne Cask Finish $83

8. Arran 10 Year $68

9. Arran 21 Year $220

NEW & RETURNING DOC SWINSON’S WHISKIES

NEW

1. Doc Swinson’s High Proof Bourbon Triple Cask – 57.25% – Producer Description: “An extraordinary mingling of bourbons finished in three types of European casks; Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and Cognac.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Crackerjacks, nut brittle, dark chocolate cherries, fruit leather and stewed plums. Palate: Marzipan, dark cherries, whipped cream, allspice, caramel, and rich oak tannins. Notes: This cask strength edition really showcases the finishing casks.” – $135

2. Doc Swinson’s L’Esprit Bourbon Cognac Finish – 57% – Doc Swinson’s L’Esprit is a 5-year-old Bourbon finished in Cognac Puncheons. Sweet and spicy. Designed for those less hung up on pure Bourbon and more for those who are just looking for quality and uniqueness. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Orange marmalade, Irish soda bread, citrus zest, marzipan. Palate: Golden raisins, honey, dark chocolate, dried tobacco, creme brulee , candied orange peel. Notes: Exceptional balance of sweet and citrus notes, a smooth sipping bourbon with a toasted oak finish.” – $135

3. Doc Swinson’s Rye Funky Drummer – 53.2% – Funky Drummer is a blend of two five-year-old straight rye whiskeys, finished in Jamaican rum casks. Funky doesn’t even begin to describe this one. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Pineapple skins, fuji apples, baking spices, vanilla. Palate: Pineapple, bannana syrup, fuji apple, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and loads of vanilla. Notes: A fruity and fun rye whiskey with lots of baking spices, banana bread, and tropical fruits. An exciting pour.” – $134

RETURNING

1. Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Bourbon – 47.9% – “Three different cask types are used in finishing this Bourbon. Each batch in Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Bourbon series thus far has used MGP Distillery’s 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley mash bill that is aged then finished in a combination of PX Sherry, Oloroso Sherry, and Cognac casks. After finishing the batch is married together in ex-Cognac Foeders before being bottled at 47.9%. – Producer Tasting Note: Nose: Crackerjacks, caramel, nut brittle, dark cherries and chocolate-covered caramels. Palate: Marzipan, bright cherry, spearmint, whipped cream, spicy cinnamon, and nutmeg. Comment: A rich and full-bodied bourbon with a satisfying bouquet of nuts, cherries and spices.” – $108

2. Doc Swinson’s Blenders Cut Bourbon – 57.5% – The mash bills in question contain 21% and 36% Rye, respectively. The whiskey made is aged for five years before being bottled at a very respectable 57.5%. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Stone fruits, vanilla, pecans, oak and fresh cream. Palate: Apricots, brown sugar, peanuts, toasted almond, charred oak, dark chocolate cherries. Comment: Rich and full-bodied bourbon that clings to the tongue and takes you on a ride through Mr. Wonka’s bourbon factory.” – $85

OTHER NEW WHISKIES

A random assortment of new whiskies which have either trickled into the shop, or which are expected to in the weeks ahead…

1. Don Michael Andean Black Corn Whiskey – 45% – Malted Barley and Black Corn – ex-Bourbon Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Toasted corn, with hints of vanilla and a smokey note finish. As the whiskey breathes there are subtle hints of dehydrated fruits such as raisins and dried apricots. Palate: On initial contact with the palate Black Whiskey is intense, balanced with toasted vanilla, prominent oak notes and hints of dried fruits. Next are the bold flavors of cinnamon, cardamom and coffee, with a unique finish of carmel corn creating a complex and distinct whiskey with plenty of personality.” – $70

2. Lindores Abbey The Casks of Lindores: Bourbon – 49.4% – Bourbon Cask – Producer Description: “The first “Casks of Lindores” bottling featured exclusively bourbon barrels, one of the three core cask types used at Lindores, and was limited to 11,000 bottles. These ‘Casks of Lindores’ releases were designed to be sold exclusively through selected stockists and are not for sale online.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Mellow vanilla, fruity, vibrant and buttery with citrus touches and a hint of pepper from the wood. Palate: Vanilla mixed with orchard fruits like green apples, then peppercorns, lingering with a long finish.” – $96

3. Lochlea Harvest Edition First Crop – 46% – Producer Description: “Lochlea ‘Harvest Edition’ (First Crop) is inspired by the busy harvest season on Lochlea Farm, when the barley is ready to be harvested and eventually used for next year’s whisky. The bottle’s ashy coral red label and carton were chosen to reflect the summer sunsets and Ayrshire soil, which changes to a deep red hue once the barley has been harvested.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: stewed apples, pear drops, oat biscuits. Palate: strawberries, violet, toasted marshmallows. Finish: signature Lochlea cereal & freshly cut grass.” – $86

4. Lochlea Our Barley – 46% – Producer Description: “Matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels, Oloroso Sherry casks and STR barriques, Lochlea ‘Our Barley’ sits at 46% ABV and is non chill-filtered with no added colouring.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Pear syrup, fruit bon bons, warm cut grass, marmalade. Palate: Golden syrup, pepper, rye bread, macadamia nuts, cream soda. Finish: Long finish with a lasting orange beeswax note.” – $84

5. Lochlea Sowing Edition – 46% – Producer Description: “Sowing Edition is a perfect springtime whisky with green apple skins, pear drops and custard creams on the nose; vanilla sweetness, orchard fruits and hazelnuts on the palette with a final fruity sweetness lasting to the finish. Made from barley grown within sight of the distillery, Lochlea Whisky is an Ayrshire dram through and through.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: green apple skins, pear drops, cereal, custard creams. Palate: vanilla sweetness, orchard fruits, hazelnuts. Finish: fruity with a final sweetness & lasting viscosity.” – $87

6. Two Brewers Release 36 – 46% – 7 Year (22% / 78% 8 Year) -Moscatel Finish – Producer Tasting Note: “The fragrant bronzed dram attracts, scents of apricot and golden raisins, toasty fruit jam. The swallow start clean and gently sweet, dry malt tones opening across the palate, shrouded by mounting oak and sherry. A classic Two Brewers finish with fleeting Moscatel.” – $106

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 giftpacks 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

Another Ballot – Deep Breath First!

We are keeping some of the other ballot terms, conditions, and suggestions from prior offerings:

1. As long as your name is in our customer database, and you’ve spent more than $0.01 at KWM since July 1, 2020 (more than 2 years), you are welcome to enter this ballot.

2. You are welcome to enter your name for only one, or all of the whiskies on the ballot, but please note we cannot accommodate preferences; please do not enter the ballots for any bottles you don’t intend to actually purchase.

3. We will be making an effort to make sure as many people as possible get at least 1 bottle of something, accordingly, no one will be selected to purchase more than one of the bottles on offer.

4. Don’t be a dick… please don’t enter the ballot for any bottles you have already acquired elsewhere or that you intend to flip for a profit right after picking them up. Refer to my intro if you need more context on this.

5. If your name is drawn you will be billed or contacted for your payment info within 1 week of the ballot closing.

6. Don’t call or email us asking if you were selected for a bottle, please wait until you hear from us!

7. Please do not submit more than 1 entry, or enter the ballot with an alias, on behalf of your spouse, children, roommate, dog, or teddy bear. We aren’t stupid. If we feel you are trying to increase your chances of winning, you may be disqualified.

8. Please don’t petition me or write me a life story about why you deserve a bottle… these ballots are already painful enough for us to deal with, and you are not doing yourself any favours!

9. The ballot closes at midnight, Sunday, October 30.

*PLEASE DON’T EMAIL ASKING TO BE ENTERED IN THE BALLOT. YOU MUST DO SO YOURSELF. EMAIL REQUESTS WILL BE IGNORED!

In this ballot: No photos this time… does that matter?! Allocations on everything but the GlenAllachie 10, and 15 are very light, so please go in with an open heart and low expectations!

1. Blood Oath Pact No. 8 Bourbon – 49.3% – Producer Description: “A masterful union of three well-bred bourbons. One, a 14-year ryed bourbon. Two, an 11-year ryed bourbon. And three, and 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks from the Normandy region of France to impart slight apple on the nose with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. With each sip, feel transported to Northern France by way of Kentucky.” – $325

2. Canadian Club 45 Year – 50% – Producer Description: “CC’s pivotal role during Prohibition paved the way for it to be enjoyed by iconic characters in some of the most acclaimed films and TV series from the 1960s through to present day. With a past as storied as the characters who supped it, Canadian Club is a true global icon in its own right.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Savor the enticing aromas of warm pear, baking spices, and toffee with a hint of leather. Then enjoy the taste of espresso crema balanced with wine poached pear and nutty praline.” – $510

3. GlenAllachie 10 Year Cask Strength Batch 7 – 56.8% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Waves of heather honey, dried fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg, followed by orange peel, mocha and treacle. Taste: Lashings of dark chocolate, figs and heather honey, with raisins, cinnamon, plums and hints of orange zest.” – $115

4. GlenAllachie 15 Year – Yes, sadly it has already come to this… – 46% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Waves of heather honey, dark chocolate and figs, with notes of fruit cake, mocha and cinnamon. Taste: Lashings of fig syrup, mocha and treacle, followed by dark chocolate, sweet spices and heather honey, fused with ginger on the finish.” –  $125

5. GlenAllachie 21 Year Cask Strength Two – 51.1% – Producer Description: “From amongst the 50,000 casks maturing across our 16 warehouses, Billy hand-selected five vintage Pedro Ximenez casks for this bottling. With a very limited release of only 1,600 bottles available worldwide, The GlenAllachie 21 years old is offered at cask strength, natural colour and non-chill filtered, meaning this annual small batch release showcases GlenAllachie in its purest form.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Lashings of cocoa, heather honey and orange peel, with notes of cinnamon, mocha and fruit cake. Taste: A fusion of fruit cake, treacle and heather honey, followed by layers of orange peel, stewed fruits and dark chocolate, with ginger and orange zest on the finish.” – $440

6. Highland Park Cask Strength 2022 – 64.1% – Producer Tasting Note: “Lightly charred oak | Honey-glazed lemons | Crushed aniseed | Ripe mango | Cloudy heather honey | Whipped vanilla cream | Aromatic violet | Pink grapefruit zest | Rich sponge cake | Smouldering peat smoke” – $155

7. Laphroaig Cairdeas 2022 – We are only getting 6 bottles… total… no whining, please! – $152

8. Macallan 25 Year 2022 – Only one bottle, as with past years it has gone up in price from the last release. We are only getting 1 bottle! – $3250

Enter the Ballots Here!

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

Bog v. Bodega: Peat Monsters & Sherry Bombs

·     Date: Thursday, October 27

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $80

·     This is an in-person tasting!

Peat and sherry are unquestionably the big guns in the whisky world. While these are arguably the most polarizing styles of whisky out there, they’re also far and away the most in demand. The theme for this tasting is elegantly simple: dark-sherried beauties meet bold smoky beasts. From the bodegas of Jerez to the peat banks of Scotland, we’ll work our way through some of the most intense flavours on the spectrum. Though not a tasting for the faint of heart, Curt has pulled together some special bottles for this range!

Thursday, October 27th @ 7 PM

Boutique-y North-West Euro Express w/ Dave Worthington

·     Date: Saturday, October 29

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $50

·     Virtual Tasting

Can you think of a better way to spend an early Saturday evening in October than geeking out on whisky with Boutique-y Dave and the KWM crew? We have selected 8 whiskies for the tasting, released as a part of Boutique-y’s North-West Euro Express. The range highlights single malts, ryes, and a buckwheat spirit (that can’t legally be called whisky) from North West European Distilleries. We’ll be sampling drams from Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Saturday, October 29th @ 5 PM

SMWS November 2022 Virtual Outturn

·     Date: Wednesday, November 2

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $55

·     Virtual Tasting

Log in, pour your drams and join us from home, the cottage, or work… for the October 2022 Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada Virtual November Tasting. The KWM team will be your guide as you sample through an exciting range of 7 new, never-before-sampled SMWS whiskies.

Wednesday, November 2nd @ 7 PM

Elixir Distillers Single Casks with Celine Tetu

·     Date: Friday, November 4

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $50

·     This is an in-person tasting!

Elixir Distillers has become one of our best partners in recent years, and they keep feeding us some absolutely amazing single casks. The most recent batch was selected in the Winter or Spring of 2021, but due to all the challenges around logistics these days, they only just arrived in the late Spring! We did a version of this tasting in the summer with Elixir Distiller’s Celine Tetu, and now she’s coming to town, so we’ll feature the same range in-store. Guests will sample 7 Single Malts of Scotland bottlings, with 6 of them being cask strength, single cask whiskies.

Participants will try the 4 most recent KWM casks: Ardmore 11 Year, Glenburgie 22 Year, Imperial 22 Year, and Mannochmore 13 Year, and 3 others: Ben Nevis 1997, Linkwood 11 Year, and Reserve Casks Glencadam 10 Year.

Friday, November 4th @ 7 PM

…By Any Other Name: Secret Whiskies from Not So Secret Distilleries

·     Date: Tuesday, November 8

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     Virtual Tasting

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

A little bit of Romeo and Juliet for you, folks. But what is in a name? We sorta think that’s a topic for group discussion. And a discussion is almost always more enjoyable over a few drams (this is incontrovertible truth). There are a few distilleries in Scotland that are very protective of their brand. There are others that simply produce a handful of in-house styles under different names. In both cases, we often find labels that make us second-guess our distillery knowledge. For this event, we’ll be tasting a few very well-known distilleries bottled under some very different names. We’ll tell some stories and maybe even speculate a bit in some cases. Join us for an evening of sipping, sleuthing, and secret revealing. Curt was really excited about this range, and we can assure you it won’t disappoint.

Tuesday, November 8th @ 7 PM

Boutique-y Cool & Unusual Whisky w/ Dave Worthington

·     Date: Saturday, November 12

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $70

·     Virtual Tasting

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

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: $25

·     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.

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Sun 11 AM to 6 PM

 

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. in Franklin County Joins the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® Adventure

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, continues to grow rapidly with the addition of Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. in Franklin County as its 24th stop.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association created the statewide journey in 2012 as the nation’s first attraction to feature the burgeoning boutique distilling movement. Its partner attraction, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour, was founded by the KDA in 1999.

Also in 2012, Whiskey Thief Distilling was founded, operating more recently under the name Three Boys Farm Distillery. The new owner, Walter Zausch, acquired the Franklin County site at 283 Crab Orchard Road two years ago and set his sights on joining the KBT Craft Tour.

“We’re ecstatic to welcome guests into our 10-year-old distillery,” Zausch said. “We offer a unique and unforgettable experience celebrating single barrel Bourbons at barrel-strength, uncut and unfiltered. And we will keep making Bourbon and Whisky using our very traditional processes. We are ready to share the next decade of Whiskey Thief Distilling as part of the Craft Tour.”

Visitors to Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. enjoy an informative and casual Bourbon experience, sampling from several barrels of uncut and unfiltered Bourbon, and can even bottle their favorite to take home. The back patio and cocktail bar, surrounded by the corn grown and used in the Bourbon, allows guests to relax and enjoy the scenic Kentucky landscape.

Mandy Ryan, the KDA’s Director of Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experiences, said the growth and popularity of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® over the past 10 years has been phenomenal.

“Our Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences continue to expand as interest in our signature spirit soars,” Ryan said. “We are thrilled to welcome Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. and encourage visitors to seek out this and the other incredible KBT Craft Tour distilleries.”

Coupled with the 18 larger-scale distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour, the KDA now boasts a record 42 immersive experiences for Bourbon and spirits lovers to enjoy when visiting the Bluegrass State.

Attendance at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® experiences continue their rapid rebound from COVID and closures, up 160% in total attendance from last year and expected to exceed record numbers in 2022.

The KBT Craft Tour® has tallied over 2 million distillery tours since its inception.

The KBT Craft Tour® is divided into four regions — Northern, Central, Western and Bluegrass — with unique challenge coins commemorating the finish of each upon completion. After finishing all four regions, guests are awarded a collectible barrel stave tray to display their coins.

The 24 participating distilleries are:

NORTHERN REGION

New Riff Distilling, Newport

Second Sight Spirits, Ludlow

The Old Pogue Distillery, Maysville

Boone County Distilling Co., Independence

Neeley Family Distillery, Sparta

CENTRAL REGION

Copper & Kings American Brandy Co., Louisville

Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Crestwood

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Louisville

Jeptha Creed Distillery, Shelbyville

Log Still Distillery, Gethsemane

Limestone Branch Distillery, Lebanon

Preservation Distillery, Bardstown

WESTERN REGION

The Bard Distillery, Graham

Boundary Oak Distillery, Radcliffe

Casey Jones Distillery, Hopkinsville

Dueling Grounds Distillery, Franklin

MB Roland Distillery, Pembroke

BLUEGRASS REGION

Barrel House Distilling Co., Lexington

Bluegrass Distillers, Lexington

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., Franklin County

Castle & Key Distillery, Frankfort

Hartfield & Co., Paris

James E. Pepper Distillery, Lexington

Learn more at kybourbontrail.com/distilleries/kentucky-bourbon-trail-craft-tour/.

Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for Bourbon and spirits issues. Its diverse membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are building the next generation of the timeless craft.

Kentucky Bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic industries, a thriving $9 billion economic and tourism engine that sustains more than 22,500 jobs with a payroll topping $1.23 billion each year.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.

Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 475% since the turn of the century.

Kentucky now boasts more than 11.4 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.6 million barrels last year alone, the fourth year in a row that production topped the 2 million mark.

The KDA recently announced 2022 is on track for the highest visitation year in the KBT’s history. Due to the rise in Bourbon tourism and a growing demand for authentic curated experiences, many of Kentucky’s distilleries are asking visitors to book their tours in advance.

To support their efforts and ensure whiskey lovers from around the world can fully immerse themselves in all that Kentucky’s distilleries offer, the KDA launched a campaign asking people to “Book Now, Bourbon Later.” Click here to read more.

For more information about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences, contact Mandy Ryan at mandy@kybourbon.com.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®,, BOURBON TRAIL™, KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME®,, ORDER OF THE WRIT®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TALES®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL WELCOME CENTER®,, URBAN BOURBON TRAIL® and THE PROOF IS HERE®are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly.

HIBIKI BLOSSOM
HARMONY 2022

The 2022 edition of Hibiki Blossom Harmony is made up of a rare selection of malt and grain whiskies finished in sakura wood casks. A floral and herbal bouquet of rose, sandalwood and rosemary lead to notes of honey, candied orange peel and white chocolate on the palate.

Due to a limited allocation, this sought-after annual special release is only available for purchase via ballot until 23:59 BST on Wednesday 26 October 2022. Find out how to enter below!

ENTER THE BALLOT

HOW TO ENTER

• Click the ‘ENTER BALLOT’ button to add the bottle to your basket.
• No other bottles may be added to your basket as part of this transaction.
• To confirm your entry, complete the checkout process.
• You must enter your card details but will not be charged unless you win.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Winners of the ballot will automatically be charged for the price of the product they are successful in purchasing (price breakdown will be detailed at checkout), plus any relevant taxes and charges.
• Only one entry per person. Multiple entries will be ignored.
• The ballot will close at 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 26 October 2022 and the draw will take place on or after Thursday 27 October 2022.
• Ballot winners will be contacted with confirmation of purchase. Unsuccessful entrants will receive confirmation that they have not been selected.
• This ballot is not open to employees of The Whisky Exchange or associated companies.

 

The Glencairn Glass invites writers to compose Scottish themed crime stories for its second short story competition

Last year the world’s favourite whisky glass – The Glencairn Glass – launched its first ever crime short story competition attracting entries from talented crime writers across the globe. The competition is being launched again this year, in partnership with the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and Scottish Field Magazine, with the theme; “A crime story set in Scotland”.

Over the past three years The Glencairn Glass – produced by the Scottish family-run glassware company Glencairn Crystal – has supported and celebrated Scottish crime writing talent working closely with the Bloody Scotland team to sponsor their prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes. Its inaugural short story competition was launched last year to build on this creative collaboration.

This year’s competition opens for entries on 18^th October and runs until 31^st December.  Both experienced and novice crime writers are invited to submit their stories, in no more than 2000 words, around the theme: “A crime story set in Scotland”.

The first prize winner will receive £1000, the runner up will be awarded £500. Both will also receive a set of six bespoke engraved Glencairn Glasses. The winning entry will be published in Scottish Field Magazine in spring 2023 and both stories will be published online at the Scottish Field website, as well as the Glencairn Glass website.

The competition judging panel will comprise Tariq Ashkanani, whose debut novel Welcome to Cooper won this year’s Bloody Scotland Debut Award 2022, and Sharon Bairden, an established book reviewer and author of psychological thrillers; Sins of the Father and You Need Me.  The third judge is Glencairn Crystal’s marketing director Gordon Brown, who has written ten crime novels with his latest – ‘Any Day Now – out now. Gordon is also one of the founding directors of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival.

Gordon Brown commented: “The response to last year’s inaugural short-story competition was fantastic. I’m looking forward to celebrating all of this year’s entries with a wee dram in a Glencairn Glass.”

Last year’s inaugural competition was won by Brid Cummings, a fiction writer and occupational therapist, based in South Australia. Her winning story – Halmeoni’s Wisdom – was a dark tale of human trafficking, illegal trade and a desire for freedom.

Brid commented: “Winning the inaugural Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition was a fantastic experience – not only did it provide an opportunity to build my profile and connect with other crime writers, it also gave me the confidence to finish my psychological suspense novel, which has recently gained 3rd prize in the Yeovil Literary Prize. I would highly recommend this competition to anyone wishing to start a career in crime writing.”

Bloody Scotland’s Festival Director, Bob McDevitt, said: “At Bloody Scotland we are passionate about supporting new writing and encourage aspiring writers to seize this fabulous opportunity. A short story is a great stepping stone to writing a novel. Whatever your background or experience we encourage you to give the Glencairn Glass short story competition a go!”

All short story entries must be submitted at www.whiskyglass.com/crime-short-story-competition with the competition closing at midnight on the Saturday 31st December 2022. Details can also be found at www.scottishfield.co.uk. The winners will be announced in March 2023.

Notes

For further details about competition rules and regulations please visit: www.whiskyglass.com/crime-short-story-competition

Glencairn Crystal:

The Glencairn Glass, created in 2000 is the world’s favourite whisky glass.  Glencairn Crystal now make 5 million Glencairn Glasses per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 140 countries worldwide.

Short story competition judges: 

Tariq Ashkanani is a solicitor based in Edinburgh, whose debut novel Welcome to Cooper won this year’s Bloody Scotland Debut Award 2022. He also helps run Write Gear, a company that sells high-quality notebooks for writers, and co-hosts Write Gear’s podcast Page One. 

Sharon Bairden is author of psychological thrillers, Sins of the Father and You Need Me, published by Red Dog Press. She is an established book reviewer and lives on the outskirts of Glasgow. Sharon has worked in the third sector since graduating with BA(Hons) in Psychology. She is Chief Officer of an Independent Advocacy Service and has a passion for human rights and social justice.

Morgan Cry is the alias of Gordon Brown, who has written ten crime novels and thrillers, including his crime thriller series set in Spain’s Costa Blanca as well as the Craig McIntyre series. He is a founding director of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival and marketing director for the Scottish glassware company, Glencairn Crystal.

Join us for a Great Tasting

A Benromach Experience with Alastair Milligan Saturday 29th October 7pm
£30.00

A Virtual Tasting with Woodrow’s of Edinburgh
Friday 4th November 8pm
£30.00

Islay Explorer Whisky and Food Paired Tasting Event Friday 16th December 7.30pm
£35.00

Malt of the Month

Inverurie Whisky Shop
1 Burnside, Burn Lane
Inverurie
AB51 3RY
United Kingdom

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THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS Announces First MASTER OF BOURBON Examination for April 2023 in Kentucky

The first MASTER OF BOURBON examination will take place between April 25th and 28th at a private ranch on the Bourbon Trail near Lexington, Kentucky, with all candidates and judges in residence. The total cost of the program, including all on-site lodging, exams, supporting master classes, and 3 spectacular tasting dinners, is $6200pp. The exam itself consists of an oral theory segment, an essay-based theory segment, and a multi-hour blind tasting of different Bourbon expressions.

Enrollment for candidates from all backgrounds is open now on the website of the Council of Whiskey Masters. www.whiskeymasters.org/master-of-bourbon

The U.S.-based Council of Whiskey Masters was founded in 2019 and has become the foremost certification organization dedicated to whisk(e)y, offering a Bourbon track as well as a Scotch track. The Council is supported by an advisory board of more than 30 of the globally most respected whiskey experts alive today. All master-level exams are judged by board members. The full list of board members is published on the website.

Candidates in the study program start with Level 1, by either becoming a Certified Bourbon Professional (CBP) or Certfied Scotch Professional (CSP). Level 2, the Certified Whiskey Specialist (CWS) credential, covers the major types of whiskey globally, leading to well-rounded international knowledge. Studies and exams for these two levels are conducted 100% remotely, based on an ebook study guide and multiple-choice online exams.

The two Level 3 credentials, MASTER OF BOURBON and MASTER OF SCOTCH, offer the world’s top certifications for individuals who dedicate their life to the study of whisk(e)y.

On September 12th, 2022, the Council announced 5 new MASTERS OF SCOTCH, after days of intense days of examinations at Rothes Glen Whisky Castle in Speyside, Scotland. Judges were drawn from the Council’s advisory board, featuring Masters of the Quaich Charles MacLean and Bernhard Schäfer, leading spirits judges Tobias Gorn and Arthur Nägele, as well as the legendary Whiskey Couple Hans and Becky Offringa.

The Council and its members look forward to announcing the very first class of MASTERS OF BOURBON to the world. Between 15 and 25 candidates are expected to participate in this examination. The next MASTER OF SCOTCH exam will take place at the same time and location.

Resources:

Website Council of Whiskey Masters: www.whiskeymasters.org

MASTER OF BOURBON Enrollment: www.whiskeymasters.org/master-of-bourbon

Additional Information and Questions: Write to Office@WhiskeyMasters.org

LOCH LOMOND TASTING with Gary Mills

The original distillery held a set of pot stills with rectifying plates in their necks (also known as Straight Neck Pot stills), allowing different flavour streams to be produced. Expansion in 1990 saw a second pair of the same design being installed, before the distillery installed two continuous stills three years later in which to make its own grain whisky. Two ‘traditional’ swan neck pot stills were added in 1998, before an additional continuous still, set up to produce grain whisky from a 100% malted barley mash, was installed in 2007.

With the recent addition of two more Straight Neck Pot stills, Loch Lomond has the capability to produce 11 different distillates for its whisky brands (not including the spirit coming from Glen Scotia). Wine yeasts have also been used to help create different flavours. In many ways it is more akin to a Japanese approach to distilling than a Scottish one. In this particular evening Gary Mills will talk us through their expressions with a real breadth of flavours!

Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old Inchmurrin
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old
Loch Lomond 14 Years Old
Loch Lomond 18 Years Old

And a special dram to finish of the evening direct from the distillery!

Buy Now

Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX
United Kingdom