Greetings from Tuscany!

If you are wondering what I’m doing here, no, they do not make whisky in Tuscany. At least not that I know of, though there is a single malt distillery in Northern Italy, Puni. I also love wine, and it is an important part of my business. The last time I was in Italy was 1995, and I was 17… After 18 years in the industry, and 7 and a half as owner of Kensington Wine Market, this visit, short though it may be, is more than a little overdue.

My next destination is Paris, for Whisky Live Paris. I am only half-joking when I say that it is the only Whisky Live worth going to. I’ll admit I haven’t been to all the Whisky Lives, but the Paris show is without question one of the best whisky shows in the world. It’s been 3 years since I last attended, and I am really looking forward to it.

After that, I am off to Scotchland, with one of my managers, Shawn Young. We have a jam-packed 5-day itinerary that will take us to Arran, Islay, and Campbeltown; far from enough time to do the areas justice, but enough to get a taste. Then we are off to London for The Whisky Exchange’s “Whisky Show”. A rival with Paris for the best whisky festival, IMHO.

As promised last week, we had some news that didn’t seem appropriate to share at the time, out of respect for Her Majesty’s passing. For one, the Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952 70 Year Diamond Jubilee bottling has arrived. It didn’t make sense to proudly proclaim the arrival of a whisky honouring her 70 years on the throne, while her family and the British Commonwealth were in mourning for her passing.

With the Royal funeral behind us, it also feels a little more appropriate to share just how good our Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask. Beyond good, actually; really, super good! I’ve included my full tasting note and details on how to buy a tasting sample of the whisky. Something we might start calling a ‘Drample’.

We also have a number of sought-after ballot bottles to tell you about. The FOMO on these is sure to be great, so there was no need to rush their announcement. I’m still thinking ‘slow whisky’ needs to become a thing. Technically there are two ballots: One is for the Ardcore Committee Edition, and the other is mostly Springbank with the Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2022 thrown in as a cherry on top.

Supplies are limited, so set your expectations accordingly. For the Ardbeg Ballot, you must be a Committee Member, which anyone can be with 5 minutes of free time and an internet-connected device.

For the other ballot, you must be an existing KWM customer in our database, with at least one prior purchase of $0.01 or greater since the start of 2020.

The biggest news in this Malt Messenger is that we are finally ready to start taking orders for the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar. 25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky is back for the 9th year in a row!

It took us a little longer than usual to sort out all the details, but, we are confident that we have put together another fantastic journey of whisky discovery! Our early bird pricing is in effect until October 5. Pay in full by that date, and you will save $60 on the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar!

Evan’s SMWS corner is also back, with the September Outturn from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. And we’ve highlighted some of the many really cool upcoming tastings we have, both in-store and online.

All that and more in this edition of the Malt Messenger.

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.

As they say in Tuscany, and most of Italy for that matter… ciao!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

1. Introducing: The Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask

2. Announcing: The KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar & Early-Bird Offer

3. Introducing: The Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952 Platinum Jubilee

4. Special Feature: North And South Star Tasting with Ian Croucher on September 30th

5. Evan’s Corner: SMWS Canada September 2022 Outturn

6. Another Mixed Ballot of Hyped-up Stuff

7. Ardbeg Ardcore Committee Ballot

8. The Fall Tasting Schedule is Now Up

9. A Short List of Sale Bottles

INTRODUCING: OUR GLENFARCLAS 1992

KWM 30TH ANNIVERSARY FAMILY CASK!

I know we mentioned this in the last newsletter, but I thought we should give it its proper due…

We were given the opportunity to sample a few Glenfarclas 1992 casks last year, to select one for bottling as a special Kensington Wine Market 30th Anniversary release. We had the privilege to bottle a 1997 Family Cask in 2011. As demand and prices for Family Casks rose over the last decade, I never thought we’d ever bottle another.

Last summer we were shown some samples of Glenfarclas distilled in 1992, and offered the opportunity to select one to help us mark our 30th Anniversary. 1992 is, after all, the year we first opened our doors, and whisky from the early 1990s is getting increasingly scarce and expensive. I never doubted for a moment that we would find a cask we liked, but rather I worried about the total cost of committing to a full cask of whisky from 1992.

After reviewing the samples, one of the casks clearly stood out; it was stunning. I knew at that moment that we couldn’t possibly pass on the opportunity to bottle another legacy bottling like this, and I think that gamble has more than paid off.

This is our 8th KWM exclusive bottling of Glenfarclas, and our second Glenfarclas Family Cask. The whisky was bottled on the 20th of January, 2022, at 29 years of age, as a special 30th Anniversary bottling.

While not inexpensive, it is, relatively speaking, a very good deal: $100 less than the Summer 2021 Family Cask release of 1992; and $240 less than the current pricing for Glenfarclas 30 Year. With the right perspective, this whisky is, in fact, a steal!

We’d like to thank our friends at Glenfarclas, and their importer Pacific Wine & Spirits, for being such big supporters of our humble business over the last couple of decades. And also for giving us the opportunity to bottle whiskies like this which set us apart from our competition!

Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask – 52.6% – 29 Year – First Fill Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, rich, and nutty with loads of candied fruit, chocolate, licorice, and treacle; this is old school sherry, and very tropical… Five Alive, mangos, papaya, and nectarines; fancy Italian leather; cold tea dregs and Demerara sugars; a touch of menthol and eucalyptus. Palate: damn… this is every bit as glorious as the nose implied it would be; soooohhhh old school; loads of chocolate, smooth leather, and fruity tobacco; sticky toffee pudding with warm treacle sauce; dried and candied fruits, cracked nuts and a side of Manzanilla sherry; still tropical, more mango, papaya, and guava, but also some stone fruits too, plums and nectarines; decadent spices, licorice, anise, and candied fennel. Finish: long, elegant, and rich; more candied fruit, Christmas cake, treacle, and Aussie licorice; chocolate, leather and spices to boot, this is the full package! Comment: I never thought we’d ever have an opportunity to buy another single cask of Glenfarclas; but a little more than a year ago we were offered some samples of 1992 Glenfarclas, for consideration as a 30th Anniversary bottling, and one of them was stunning, we simply couldn’t turn the opportunity down; and best of all, the bottled product is as good or better than the sample we tasted in 2021; this is old-school, tropical, sherried whisky; it is the kind of whisky we don’t often see anymore… and it is glorious; best of all, in the time it took to get here, the whisky is looking like even better value than it did a year ago; you’ll never see another whisky like this, at anything approaching this price ever again!” – $600

We are also offering 15ml samples of the whisky for sale, to give people an opportunity to try it before you buy it… they are linked to a tasting video. I am toying with the idea of calling them Dramples!

Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30 Annv 15ml Sample – $13.99

THE KWM 2022 WHISKY CALENDAR NOW

EARLY BIRD OFFER

Pre-Pay Early Bird Special Offer

Select this option if you wish to save $60 on the regular price of $460, by prepaying now in full (please note this cannot be combined with other offers or discounts). You will be charged $400+gst when we receive your order.

$400+gst

(no discounts)

EARLY BIRD PRICING OPTION ENDS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5th, 2022!

The KWM Whisky Calendar, aka “25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky”, is back for the 9th straight year. Once again the calendar will have a fresh new look, which will be revealed in a few weeks’ time. This year’s calendar includes 24 50ml premium whiskies, a custom logo Glencairn glass, and a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky for Christmas Day. You can follow along with us on the KWM Blog starting December 1st or on one of our various social media channels as we introduce and discuss each day’s whisky. And there is more…

Because they were such a big hit the last two years, we will once again be hosting the Whisky Calendar Recap Tastings throughout the month of December. Purchasers and recipients of the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar will be able to join us for any or all of the 5 virtual tastings on December 5, 10, 15, 20 and after Christmas on the 28th, at 7 PM MT. Each of them will cover the 5 previous day’s whiskies in the Calendar.

We always keep the exact whisky list a secret – there are too few surprises left in this life – but we can tell you this year’s Calendar includes 3 KWM exclusive casks, a couple of whiskies in their 20s, and more than a dozen distilleries and producers never before featured in any of our prior Whisky Calendars. We are confident that we have put together another fantastic Calendar this year, and we know you are going to love it!

Best of all, if you select the pre-pay preorder option, you will save $60! This option was very popular last year, and completely sold out 2020’s original production in just 2 weeks!

We anticipate the KWM 2022 Whisky Advent Calendars should be ready for pick up in early November. That is, so long as everything goes as planned, which, in the Post-Covid Era, you can never be 100% sure of. But we’ve planned accordingly, and ordered early from all of our suppliers!

INTRODUCING: THE GORDON & MACPHAIL

GLEN GRANT 1952 PLATINUM JUBILLE

This is the main reason we held off putting out a full Malt Messenger last week, and the reasoning should be self-evident. Its significance may be more poignant in light of her Majesty’s recent passing.

We had the privilege of launching this whisky’s sister bottling in 2012, the Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952 Diamond Jubilee 60 Year. That whisky was filled into cask only a few days before the Queen’s coronation and bottled at 60 years to the day. The 70 Year was filled earlier in 1952, on January 26th to be specific, which is of no significance, other than it was exactly 26 years before I was born. It was bottled on the anniversary of the coronation, February 6, 2022.

From Gordon & MacPhail

“Honouring the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 1952 from Glen Grant Distillery has spent the past 70 years maturing in a first fill Sherry cask. It was bottled on 6th February, the date of the Queen’s accession, and serves as a fitting tribute, exemplifying how character, patience and wisdom can mature over decades to deliver an exceptional legacy.”

Gordon & MacPhail M Glen Grant 1952 Platinum Jubilee 70 Year – 52.3% – First Fill Sherry Butt – Notes of beeswax polish give way to ripe fig aromas, toffee and orange zest. Aged leather tempers rum and raisin. Taste: Stewed blackberry compote, sweet clementine and milk chocolate flavours are followed by a menthol undertone. Finish: A long finish with a touch of smoke and a hint of pepper.” – $35,000.00

SPECIAL FEATURE: NORTH AND SOUTH STAR WHISKY TASTING WITH IAIN CROUCHER ON SEPTEMBER 30TH

Usually, we would put this tasting in with the rest of our Fall Tasting Schedule launch, which you may have already perused in last week’s email. However, we were late getting the information on this in-store tasting up and it is happening in 10 days.

If you are not yet familiar with North Star Spirits (and South Star), that is understandable. Beyond being a newer independent bottler (founded in 2016) that has quickly developed a reputation for solid releases (including a few superb older grains and spectacularly sherried blended malts), what makes it so interesting?

Join in on this tasting and ask that question directly to North Star Spirits founder Iain Croucher, who is coming to Kensington Wine Market to lead this tasting. He will lead those who attend through an impressive lineup that includes a wonderfully citric, grassy, and fruity 26-year-old Tobermory, a HEAVILY sherried 13-year-old Glenallachie, and the famous 7-year-old blended malt that was bottled to support Ukraine.

If you manage to keep your wits about you during the tasting, you could also ask Iain about his company’s plans to build their own distillery, and why the heck he thinks putting it in Campbeltown of all places is a good idea.

The tasting is happening on Friday, September 30th @ 7 PM at Kensington Wine Market and is limited to 20 seats.

Reserve your spot for only $30

Hopefully, we will see you there!

-Evan

EVAN’S CORNER:

SMWS CANADA SEPTEMBER 2022 OUTTURN

Andrew wrote up the August Outturn a few Malt Messengers back, but now you are once more stuck with my ramblings! Below are my thoughts on the September Outturn.

48.143 – WORM SILK

Putting worm in the name of a whisky bottle seems out of place – until you realize it might be a hint as to which distillery the whisky comes from. Think Worm Tubs – a piece of technology from a bygone era that only a few Scottish distilleries continue to employ.

This bottle was the first in the lineup and surprised many with its concentrated flavour. It is no shrinking violet, though there are some wonderful floral notes to be found throughout.

10.229 – MEXICAN MIXED PEBBLES

This is what I think of as atypical when it comes to Bunnahabhain. Usually, indie bottlings of Bunna around this age are either unpeated and heavily sherried or heavily peated from ex-Bourbon casks. This is one of those rare naked and more subtle Bunnas that is unpeated and aged in ex-Bourbon. It makes for a salty, floral and fruity treat with a dash of spice and ozone. You can taste the coast on this one, but without the smoke or sherry mucking it all up.

105.40 – THE SWEET KISS OF LEATHER SPLINTERS

With a whopping ABV of 66.2% you would assume this dram would pummel your nose from the first sniff and decimate your tongue upon tasting, but even neat you would be wrong. While this is a very concentrated spirit, it is also remarkably well balanced for something potentially combustible. The combination of herbal, nutty and fruit notes made this rare young Tormore one of my favourites of the night.

36.185 – AN ITALIAN GRAPE CAKE

This 18-year-old Sauternes cask finish from Benrinnes managed to take to the dessert cask quite nicely, with notes of spice and nuts and a nose that hints at Limoncello. A delicious dram and the oldest whisky in the Outturn.

DOURO CRUISE

Possible relation to Tom Cruise? No one can say for sure. What is known is that this is a 10-Year-Old SINGLE MALT Batch bottled at 50% ABV. The batch is made from ex-Bourbon barrels and ex-Ruby Port Pipes. This is a juicy and rich dram for 50%.

My only issue with it is self-inflicted: I put this too late in the tasting order. In hindsight, I should have had it in the third spot or possibly even the second. Live and learn!

44.149 – THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

Speaking of worms and worm tubs, this Oloroso cask finish Craigellachie surprised me by not having the hit-you-over-the-head meatiness that seems typical of whisky from this distillery – especially when it combines with sherry casks. Instead, it is an intriguing combination of both tropical and dried fruit notes along with nuts and spices. Like THE SWEET KISS OF LEATHER SPLINTERS, this is a wonderful dram that shows poise and balance despite carrying big flavour and alcohol level.

42.75 – COASTAL CONVOLUTIONS

If there is one downside to being a member of the Canadian chapter of the SMWS, it has to be that we don’t get a Ledaig every single Outturn. The same goes for Loch Lomond and Glen Moray. And Bunnahabhain. Oh, and peated Glenturret. Clynelish. Glen Elgin. Teaninich…

I guess what I am really complaining about is that we only get seven new drams each month. Anyhow, back to this 42. I was excited when I saw this was going to be in the September Outturn and couldn’t wait to taste it. It definitely did not disappoint (unless your name is Curt, who believes Ledaig almost always smells like a tire fire filtered through a pair of old knickers…when he’s being generous with his praise, that is) and comes across like a combination of Caol Ila and Laphroaig. Quality-wise, this bottle is up there with the small amounts of single cask teenage Ledaig we have seen from The Single Malts Of Scotland, Rest & Be Thankful, LMDW, The Whisky Agency, and more. May the teenage Ledaig never stop flowing! However, this guy is pretty much sold out.

Cheers,

Evan

ANOTHER MIXED BALLOT

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 January 1, 2020 (more than 2 1/2 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 which 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. The ballot closes at midnight, Friday, September 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:

1. Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2022 – 46% – Producer Description: “The 2022 Edition was matured in oloroso sherry butts for a minimum of eight years. The 22 casks selected are a combination of 20 fresh and 2 refill casks. Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Intense sweet pipe smoke, followed by waves of freshly cut strawberries and candied lemon peel. Lighter notes of Neroli (orange blossoms), soft toffee and cloves. Palate: An initial note of dark chocolate and toasted walnuts, gentle tobacco smokiness, hints of caramel and dates accompanied by subtle warming peat smoke. Finish: Long and evolving with cinnamon and liquorice wood, chocolate bitters and lingering earthy smoke.” – $137+gst – Available for purchase only by ballot!

2. Springbank Hazelburn 15 Year 2022 – 54.2% – Producer Description: “The annually released Hazelburn Sherrywood range provides a stark contrast to the fully Bourbon matured Hazelburn 10 year old. Matured in 100% Oloroso Sherry casks, this 15-year-old release is a complex, full-bodied dram.” Limited release of only 9,000 bottles. Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Zesty orange and tangerine notes initiate this dram, opening up to hints of milk chocolate, wine gums and fruit cake. Palate: The Oloroso maturation presents itself in notes of cinnamon, hard toffee and milk chocolate. There is a musty element reminiscent of cigar boxes and nutmeg. Finish: The cinnamon note persists, with notes of gingerbread and ground pepper developing in the finish.” – $145+gst – Available for purchase only by ballot!

3. Springbank Hazelburn 21 Year 2022 – 46% – Producer Description: “This Hazelburn 21-year-old was released in June 2022, with 3600 bottles available. Robust yet delicate, there is a complexity to this triple distilled offering.” Cask make-up: 70% Sherry, 30% Bourbon. Limited release of only 3,600 bottles. Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: A bold introduction to this dram, there are notes of caramel, treacle and sticky toffee pudding. Creamy chocolate liqueur and hints of ginger add to the punchy nose. Palate: A triple distilled dram with a robust palate, there are notes of creamy marzipan, prunes and choux pastry, balanced with a bitterness reminiscent of dark chocolate. Finish: A creamy mouthfeel with hints of sandalwood and liquorice round off this dram. – $490+gst – Available for purchase only by ballot!

4. Springbank Longrow 23 Year 2022 – 58.1% – Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of details floating around for this one. That’s often the case for single cask bottlings. What we do know is that this was bottled in 2022 after maturing in a Refill Sherry Butt for 23 years. So…a 1998 or ’99 vintage we’d guess? Limited release of only 546 bottles. Whiskybase score of 90.43/100 – $620+gst – Available for purchase only by ballot!

5. Springbank 30 Year 2022 – 46% – Producer Description: “This limited release is a perfect encapsulation of Springbank’s character; sweet and syrupy with a waxy mouthfeel, this 30-year-old is worth the wait.” A marriage of Bourbon/Sherry. Limited release of only 1,400 bottles. Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Characteristically Springbank on the nose, tropical fruits dominate with notes of pineapple, tangerine and peach, and a vanilla note developing over time. Palate: Sweet, citrusy notes of lemon and tangerine are prominent on the palate, complemented by the delicate peat smoke influence. There are notes of opal fruits, sherbet sweets and turkish delight, along with hints of coconut. Finish: The tropical fruit notes carry through to the finish, along with a waxy element and notes of mint leaf to round off this dram.” – $2000+gst – Available for purchase only by ballot!

Enter The Mixed Ballot Here

ARDBEG ARDCORE COMMITTEE BALLOT

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

As with all limited edition Ardbegs these days, this whisky is only available by ballot.

Producer Description

“From a Distillery with more ups and downs than a pogoing punk comes Ardcore. Created with roasted black malt, roasted to the extreme, this spirit is all about what happens up front – centre stage. The malt is what defines its distinctive profile. Described as tasting like ‘biting on a spiky ball’, Ardcore is a dram that wears its heart on its sleeve… its black heart! Notes of charcoal and sweet smoke make for an in-your-face nose, while potent notes of aniseed and dark chocolate stamp this bottle out as one fit only for the most Ardcore of fans.”

Ardbeg Ardcore Committee – 50.1% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Spicy and savoury, Ardcore grips the senses with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused coffee grounds making for a mosh pit in the glass. Like a safety pin through the septum, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note is present, while swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage. Taste: A jaw-dropping spicy and fiery mouthfeel leads to an explosion of rich, smoky flavours – cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers all pogo in unison on the palate. Amped up aniseed and malty biscuit elbow their way to the fore, punkturing taste buds. Finish: In an altogether sweeter finish, long, lingering notes of treacle toffee, soot and smoke make for an anarchic, but delicious, aftertaste.” – $185+gst – Available for purchase only by ballot!

Enter The Ardbeg Ardcore Committee Ballot Here

UPCOMING TASTINGS

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

North & South Star Whisky with Iain Croucher

·     Date: Friday, September 30

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $30

·     This is an in-person tasting!

Iain Croucher, the man behind North Star and South Star whiskies, as well as the coming new Dál Riata Distillery in Campbeltown, is coming to town for the first time, so we are rolling out a fine range of malts. We’ll sample 8 expressions of North & South Star whisky, including the Blended Malt for Ukraine, a 13-year-old rather sherried GlenAllachie, and a 26-year-old Tobermory. A steal for $30.

Friday, September 30 @ 7PM.

SMWS October 2022 Virtual Outturn

·     Date: Wednesday, October 5

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $55

·     This is a VIRTUAL TASTING!

Log in, pour your drams, and join us from home, the beach, or the woods for the October 2022 Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada Virtual Outturn Tasting. The KWM team will be your guide as you sample through an exciting range of 7 new, never-before-sampled SMWS whiskies. Wednesday, October 5, 7 PM.

*Active SMWS Members will Save $10 on one set of samples for the tasting. For the $10 discount, individual SMWS members must register independently. The price will not show online when you submit but will be adjusted when we review and process the order.

Wednesday, October 5th @ 7 PM

SMWS October 2022 In-Person Outturn 6 PM

·     Date: Thursday, October 6

·     Time: 6 PM

·     Cost: $60

·     This is an in-person tasting!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada’s October Outturn tasting will feature new, never-before-featured whiskies. The range will be the same as the virtual tasting the night before but will also include nibbles from our friends at Peasant Cheese, and the comradery that can only come from 20 SMWS Members in our tasting room. Please note we will not be holding back stock of the Outturn bottles specifically to purchase for this in-person tasting, though there will likely be bottles of most whiskies still available.

Thursday, October 6 @ 6 PM.

 

Amrut Whisky with Ashok Chokalingam

·     Date: Friday, October 7

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $55

·     This is an in-person tasting!

Our friend Ashok is returning to Calgary for the first time in a number of years and we are thrilled to have him in store for an in-person tasting. A lot has changed since we last saw Ashok, he is now Amrut’s Distillery Manager. We will sample 7 Amrut expressions, including, if the stars align, a special treat.

Friday, October 7th @ 7 PM

OLD first MALT edition CASKs

·     Date: Tuesday, October 11

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $50

·     Virtual Tasting

Now that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Excuse the cheek, but we feel this is going to be an awesome tasting! We’ve recently received a curious new range of Old Malt Cask and First Edition whiskies from our friends at Hunter Laing. The tasting will include 7 single cask whiskies from Ben Nevis, Glenburgie, Highland Park, Jura, Linkwood, Miltonduff, and Royal Lochnagar. All in all, we will dabble in 141 years of single malt Scotch whisky.

Tuesday, October 11th @ 7 PM

KWM Casks Bruichladdich Cask Launch – In-Store Tasting

·     Date: Thursday, October 13

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $50

·     This is an in-person tasting!

We’ve somehow managed to keep a lid on the fact that we have had a new KWM exclusive Bruichladdich cask quietly slumbering up at our warehouse for months. Thanks to our favourite Bogyman – “Supply Chain Issues” – we have received no fewer than a dozen single casks in the last 3 months; a typical year’s worth. One of the last of the dozen casks to arrive, we made the decision to hold the Laddie back for a Fall release to give some of our other casks a chance to shine. In addition to being the first consumers to sample our new Bruichladdich cask, tasting participants will also have the opportunity to sample our prior Bruichladdich cask and a selection of 5 other recent KWM single cask bottlings. If history is any guide, this Bruichladdich cask won’t last long. So the icing on the cake for those who attend our virtual or in-person tasting is that they will have an opportunity to purchase a bottle a week before any other consumers!

Thursday, October 13th @ 7 PM

KWM Casks Bruichladdich Cask Launch – Virtual Tasting

·     Date: Friday, October 14

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     Virtual Tasting

Same as above, but Virtual. From the comfort of your own home!

Friday, October 14th @ 7 PM

Shelter Point Returns with Chris Read

·     Date: Tuesday, October 18

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $20

·     This is an in-person tasting!

One of our favourite Canadian Distilleries, Shelter Point, has been on a bit of a hiatus from Alberta in recent months. Now they are coming back, and in fine form too, with new whiskies, a new brand ambassador, and a new importer. Brand Ambassador Chris Read will be our guide as we sample through 7 Shelter Point whiskies, including the soon-to-be-released Evans Family Reserve, and Shelter Point 10 Year.

Tuesday, October 18th @ 7 PM

Rye Not Rye? Virtual Tasting

·     Date: Tuesday, October 20

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     Virtual Tasting

If all you know of Rye is Crown Royal, we are sorry (mostly because we believe Rye Whisky should actually contain…well…rye; absurd, right?). Rye is making a comeback and as a city that is home to one of the best Rye producers in the world, we are not strangers to good old-fashioned (not the cocktail) near-100% Rye whiskies. Luckily more and more people are jumping on the rye train and the flavours are vastly different even if the mash bills are the same. Canada has very loosey-goosey rules when it comes to what makes Canadian Rye Whisky, other countries have more firm rules on how Rye Whisky can be made and we want to share those with you. Harmony and Evan are proud to present a lineup of near-100% Rye-based whiskies that are sure to knock your boots off.

Tuesday, October 20th @ 7 PM

Glenfarclas KWM 30th Anniversary Tasting with Deborah Stewart – 6 PM & 8 PM

·     Date: Tuesday, October 25

·     First Seating Time: 6 PM

·     Second Seating Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     These are both in-person tastings!

Glenfarclas’s Deborah Stewart will be our special guest as we celebrate the launch of our Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask with an incredible vertical tasting. We will sample the Glenfarclas 15, 21, 25, 30, and 40-year-olds, as well as the KWM Cask Strength 21 Year and our new 1992 Family Cask. In all, 181 years of liquid history for just $40!!!

Tuesday, October 25th @ 6 PM andTuesday, October 25th @ 8 PM

Kinda Rare & Old Whiskies: 20 is the new 30

·     Date: Wednesday, October 26

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $150

·     Virtual Tasting

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 pair of Millstones 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, October 26th @ 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

Glenfarclas Family Casks 2021 – The 1990s

·     Date: Tuesday, November 1

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $100

·     Virtual Tasting

On the one hand, this tasting was a great opportunity for us to feature our new Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask… But it also has the added benefit of allowing us to sample some of the amazing Summer 2021 Glenfarclas Family Casks we received in the Spring. There were too many to fit into one tasting, so we broke them down into the 1990 and the 2000s. This tasting will feature the following S21 vintages: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998; as well as our own exclusive 1992 cask.

Tuesday, November 1st @ 7 PM

Elixir Distillers Single Casks w/ 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

Fall Single Malt Festival – Night 1 & Night 2

·     Date 1: Tuesday, November 10

·     Date 2: Tuesday, November 24

·     Time: 7 PM to 9 PM

·     Cost: $75

·     This is an in-person festival tasting!

As we did in the Spring for our 30th Anniversary, we are offering two more-or-less identical Fall Single Malt Festivals, two weeks apart, both for a moderately smaller crowd than usual, to give as many of our whisky friends as possible a chance to attend. There will be up to 100 whiskies to sample, and the price includes a 30th Anniversary KWM logo glass. As always, our neighbour Peasant cheese will be lining your stomachs with delicious cheese, charcuterie, sausage rolls, and other treats! Both Festivals are limited to 80 participants and we are asking people to only register for one date or the other, not both, out of respect for other customers.

Thursday, November 10, 7 PM – 9 PM & Thursday, November 24, 7 PM – 9 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

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

A SHORT LIST OF BOTTLES ON SALE

Even when we are not in the midst of a store-wide sale, we often still have a bottle or three discounted. This can be due to us carrying too much stock or an importer’s limited-time offer where we pass the savings onto our customers.

Below is a selection of bottles currently on sale.

You can browse all of our on-sale items here.

La Maison Du Whisky Artist 4.5 Royal Brackla 13 Year

Part of the Artist Collective Series 4 from La Masion Du Whisky, this 13 year old Royal Brackla was matured in 2 Refill Sherry Butts filled in 2007 and bottled at 48%.

$169.99 $127.49

25% OFF

Maltbarn Highland Malt 1993

Distilled in 1993 and bottled at 48.3% in 2019. Only 141 bottles from a Bourbon Cask.

There’s a wee bit of rumblin’ that this may, perhaps, just might, could possibly be, Glenmorangie. But then again, even the importer hasn’t had confirmation, so who knows? In most cases that might seem like a gamble. With Maltbarn, however, you can usually wager on it being a good bottle, no matter the who, what, why, where, and when.

$349.99 $262.49

25% OFF

Benromach 10 Year Old

Bottled at 43% after maturing in a mix of ex-Bourbon & Sherry casks, the lightly peated 10-year-old is one of the best 10s around and has been bottled in the distillery’s new livery!

$73.99 $55.49

25% OFF

Cooper’s Choice Old Rhosdhu 1994

Old Rhosdhu is a fruit driven single malt produced by the Loch Lomond Distillery. It is a style that we haden’t seen for nearly a decade, until a handful of bottlings started to appear in recent years. This particular bottling was distilled in 1994 and bottled after 27 years at 47%.

$324.99 $259.99

20% OFF

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

Three American Oak Whiskies:
TD0148, TD0191 & TD0310

In this sumptuous release of three, ballot entrants have the opportunity to experience the diversity of our most awarded wood-type via three different American oak variations:

American oak ex-Tawny
American oak ex-Bourbon
American oak ex-Whisky

The seasonal effect that spring has on our whisky barrels is undeniable. Looking at the number of Sullivans Cove single casks that are approved by our panel year after year, an eagle eye will note there is always an uptick at the beginning of spring. We see the flowers bloom, and so does the whisky as flavour compounds come out of their cold-weather funk.

What a delicious time of year.

TD0148 American Oak ex-Bourbon

An intricately structured confectionary delight, TD0148 was matured for 15 years and 8 months in a 200L American oak barrel that was previously used to produce Bourbon, and yielded just 198 bottles.

TD0191 American Oak ex-Sullivans Cove

Matured for 15 years in 300L American oak cask previously used to age Sullivans Cove single malt whisky, TD0191 embodies all the joys of Spring! Powerfully evocative, it provides the perfect sensory canvas for nostalgic memories of the season.

TD0310 American Oak ex-Tawny

Matured for 13 years and 9 months in a 300L American oak cask previously used to age Tawny Port, TD0310 has qualities reminiscent of old-world Scotch whisky. There aren’t many barrels that have made Distillery Manager, Heather Tillott genuinely emotional upon trying them, but this was one.

VIEW FULL CASK DETAILS

These whiskies will be released via ballot, opening for 24 hours from 10am Hobart time on Monday 26 September. Further details, including links to the ballots, will be sent via email prior opening.

A note on our ballot system. 

Our policy is one entry per person, per household, per ballot. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter each ballot once only. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballots close.

Tormore 1993 29 Years Old Connoisseur’s Choice

This limited-release malt was distilled in 1993 at the Tormore distillery, located in the Speyside region of Scotland. It was aged 29 years in a single First-Fill Sherry Butt and bottled by Gordon & Macphail for their Connoisseur’s Choice collection without dilution or chill-filtration. Only 554 bottles were produced.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Stewed red berries complement vanilla pod and subtle cocoa powder. Medjool dates give way to dark treacle and notes of soft aniseed.

PALATE Baked apple intertwines with cinnamon and ginger spice. Dark chocolate leads to subtle citrus fruit and charred oak.

FINISH Full with lingering summer berries and soft herbal notes.

Only 554 bottles were produced.

£270.00

Shop now

LAPHROAIG 10 YEAR OLD CASK STRENGTH BATCH 15

Now Open for Ordering

The KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar

We wanted you to be the first to know that we are now taking orders for the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar.

We are a little late getting out this offer, in part we thought we should wait until after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, may she rest in Peace!

But that is only part of the reason. It has been tough pinning down a price on this year’s Calendar. Despite the fact that we ordered many products nearly a year ago, we are still at the mercy of supply chains. So we can only guess at the final range, but fear not no matter what comes in it will be great, we have more than a few gems in reserve.

There is also the matter of inflation, which is so hot right now… It has touched the cost of almost everything including cardboard, glass bottles and yes whisky… You could say all three of those things are rather critical to this project. We have worked hard to keep our costs down, without sacrificing the quality of the product, and feel this year’s Calendar once again offers incredible value!

As with the past couple of years, you have two options to reserve a KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar: the Pre-Pay Early Bird offer, and the full price Pre Order & Pay Later Option.

If you select the Pre-Pay Preorder option, you will save $60!

About the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar

The KWM Whisky Calendar, aka “25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky”, is back for the 9th straight year. Once again the calendar will have a fresh new look, which will be revealed in a few weeks’ time. This year’s calendar includes 24 50ml premium whiskies, a custom logo Glencairn glass, and a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky for Christmas Day. You can follow along on the KWM Blog starting December 1st, or on one of our various social media channels as we introduce and discuss each day’s whisky. And there is more…

Because they were such a big hit the last two years, we will once again be hosting the Whisky Calendar Recap Tastings throughout the month of December. Purchasers and recipients of the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar will be able to join us for any or all of the 5 virtual tastings on December 5, 10, 15, 20 and after Christmas on the 28th, at 7 PM MT. Each of them will cover the 5 previous day’s whiskies in the Calendar.

We always keep the exact whisky list a secret, there are too few surprises left in this life… but we can tell you this year’s Calendar includes 3 KWM exclusive casks, a couple of whiskies in their 20s, and more than a dozen distilleries and producers never before featured in any of our prior Whisky Calendars. We are confident that we have put together another fantastic Calendar this year, and we know you are going to love it!

Best of all, if you select the pre-pay preorder option, you will save $60… this option was very popular last year, and completely sold out 2020’s original production in just 2 weeks!

We anticipate the KWM 2022 Whisky Advent Calendars should be ready for pick up in early November, that is as long as everything goes as planned… which in the Post-Covid Era you can never be 100% sure of. But we’ve planned accordingly, and ordered early from all of our suppliers!<

Two Options to Order the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar

Pre-Pay Early Bird Special Offer

Select this option if you wish to save $60 on the regular price of $460, by prepaying now in full (please note this cannot be combined with other offers or discounts). You will be charged $400+gst when we receive your order.

$400+gst

(no discounts)

EARLY BIRD PRICING OPTION ENDS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5th, 2022!

Pay Later / Full-Price Pre-Order

Pay Later Pre-Order – If you want to reserve a KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar and pay the full price of $460+gst later, please select this option to submit your order, and you will not be charged until a few days before it is ready for pick-up.

$460+gst

Please order online if you can (using the links above), or by phone at 403-283-8000 if you can’t. 

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, comments, or requests.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Store Hours

Mon – Wed 10AM – 8PM

Thurs & Fri 10AM – 9PM

Sat 10AM – 8 PM

Sun 11PM to 6PM

*All Prices Quoted here are subject to change and do not include GST. In the case of pricing discrepancies, the price at our point of sale will be taken as correct.*

 

Armorik confirms its status as a pioneer by launching Armorik 15 years old – Breton Whisky News

Whisky Live Paris approaching, Armorik Breton Single Malt Whisky is unveiling two new bottlings. An Armorik 15 years old, which confirms its status as a pioneer and demonstrates the distillery’s know-how in maturing whisky. At the same time, the distillery launches a limited edition of its peated Breton Single Malt, Yeun Elez, bottled at cask strenght and matured in ex-Pineau des Charentes casks.

Armorik 15 years old – Single Malt Breton Whisky

 A few years after the launch of its Armorik 10 yo, the distillery reveals a little more of the numerous possibilities offered by the several thousand casks stored in Lannion, Bretagne.

Being the first permanent 15 years old French Whisky and offered in a limited edition of 1500 bottles every year, this Armorik 15 yo becomes the 2nd bottling of the range with an age statement. It attests to our expertise and knowhow about maturation, for over 20 years.

This Armorik 15 years old has been matured for 9 years in Bourbon casks and transferred to Sherry Oloroso casks for 6 more years. “Armorik 15 years old has acquired with age a sort of elegant, aromatic fullness, while retaining the fruity freshness characteristic of our distillate.”

Bottled at 46%, un-chillfiltered and natural color, it will be sold in France by La Maison du Whisky at around 95 EUR (all taxes included).

ABOUT ARMORIK WHISKY BRETON SINGLE MALT

Armorik was born in Brittany, at the Warenghem distillery. Founded in Lannion in the Côtes d’Armor, on the Pink Granite Coast, our distillery has been independent and family-owned for over 100 years.

We use French barley, water from our own source and a traditional know-how. Our stills are two traditional pot stills. We are committed to creating an exceptional single malt that reflects the Breton character.

NEW SHOP EXCLUSIVE

We are delighted to introduce our latest exclusive single cask.
This unique, stunning malt was aged for 4 years in a First-Fill Bourbon Cask and charmed us with its sweetness and complexity.

It was bottled at natural cask strength of 63.5% with no chill filtration and no artificial colouring.

NOSE: Caramel, sweet red apples and vanilla.
PALATE: Butterscotch, custard cream and orchard fruits.
FINISH: Soft & silky, creamy texture and mouthfeel.

Only 232 bottles were produced.
£67.00

Shop now

Lindores Distillery was built on the sight of Lindores Abbey, which was a witness to many important historical events, but most importantly this is where the first ever documented whisky distillation took place. Over 500 years ago King James IV ordered Brother John Cor to distil “Aqua Vitae” – the water of life.

Filmland Spirits Launches Its Initial Collection of Whiskey In The U.S.

The award-winning spirits brand uniquely blends the worlds of film and whiskey together

Los Angeles, CA (September 1, 2022) – Filmland Spirits announces its world premiere in the U.S. market unveiling three core whiskey expressions – “Moonlight Mayhem!” – Bourbon, “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – Cask Strength Bourbon, and “Ryes of the Robots” – Rye Whiskey.

Filmland Spirits is disrupting the industry by creating A Blockbuster in Every Bottle®. Combining its enthusiasm for whiskey, passion for movies and dedication for storytelling, Filmland Spirits aims to bring people together through captivating tales and great tasting spirits. Crafted with a moviemaking mindset, Filmland approaches whiskey production much like the making of a feature film.  The creative team starts with their vision for an original retro B-Movie concept.  This evolves into a script with robots and monsters, heroes and villains and a plot that keeps your mouth watering.

From there, Filmland Spirits designs an original movie poster in pulp-style art consistent with the B-movie genre; this becomes the front label for each expression, a truly unique innovation in the world of spirits. The bottle itself is tall, heavy and distinct and inspired by the world of moviemaking.

Consumers will have the chance to preview each story on the back label which shows a synopsis of the B-movie and the key characters. Those itching to know more about each story can head to the Filmland website to read snippets of the script, view storyboards and even watch an animated trailer! Filmland’s award-winning spirits are sourced from the finest whiskey throughout the U.S. Once “on location” in Kentucky, they are blended to perfection then finished and bottled. Filmland Spirits CEO, Troy Bolotnick, explains more:

“After a lifetime of blending together passions for storytelling, movie-making and whiskey, we are thrilled to invite everyone to the premiere of Filmland Spirits!  I’m incredibly proud of the crew we’ve assembled and all the creativity and skill  that has resulted in our award winning bourbons and rye. They are delicious and fun, outrageous and unique and  I can’t wait for our audience of customers to dim the lights, grab a bottle and enjoy the show!”

Ahead of its launch, Filmland Spirits impressed tastemakers within the spirits industry by winning multiple awards at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Filmland took home two gold medals; one for its small batch cask strength straight bourbon – “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – and one for its small batch straight rye whiskey – “Ryes of the Robots”. Its small batch straight bourbon expression – “Moonlight Mayhem!” – received a silver medal. Not only are these medals a testament to the quality of each whiskey, but also debut the team’s superior blending skills. We can expect to see this applied to future expressions as the collection expands.

Consumers who wish to purchase “Moonlight Mayhem!” – Bourbon (SRP: $54.99), “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – Cask Strength Bourbon  (SRP: $79.99) and “Ryes of the Robots” – Rye Whiskey (SRP: $59.99) will be able to pick up a bottle at  select spirits stores in California and Kentucky. Filmland Spirits are also available for purchase via their website and select e-commerce retailers, and can be shipped to a large number of states in the U.S. For additional information about Filmland Spirits please visit www.filmlandspirits.com and be sure to follow Filmland Spirits on Instagram

(@FilmlandSpirits) and Facebook.

About Filmland Spirits: Founded in 2020, Filmland Spirits is a new, California based company founded by a crew of whiskey enthusiasts, movie buffs and storytellers.  Filmland Spirits produces whiskey and whiskey inspired spirits on location in Kentucky, USA. In the Fall of 2022, Filmland Spirits launched its initial three whiskey expressions consisting of two bourbons and a rye whiskey. Its ultra-premium and award-winning liquids are housed in custom bottles inspired by the world of moviemaking, then paired with a label that is a movie poster based on an original B-movie script written specifically for each expression. Filmland Spirits are truly Stories You Can Drink® and offer an original and unique concept to the liquor category that ensures there’s A Blockbuster in Every Bottle.®

The Filmland Spirits crew consists of serial entrepreneurs with proven track records, corporate execs from CPG, and entertainment as well as spirits industry veterans in sales/distribution and marketing.  The company is a unique combination of creatives, writers, whiskey nerds and business leaders with a passion for storytelling and great tasting, high quality spirits.

About Each Whiskey Expression

The first expression in Filmland Spirits core whiskey lineup, “Moonlight Mayhem!” –  Bourbon is a small batch straight bourbon whiskey aged in a white American Oak casks for 4+ years. This 94 proof whiskey is delicious and sweet, with notes of cherry and citrus on the nose, vanilla and caramel on the tongue and an intricate finish of toffee and toasted oak. Emphasizing versatility, this Bourbon can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. Consumers will be delighted and terrified by the Moonlight Mayhem! story: the Romeo and Juliet inspired saga is set in a post-modern world where werewolves are the dominant species on planet earth. Consumers will wonder if hero Tommy Dawson and Slyvane Saxon, his shape-shifting carnivorous girlfriend, can protect their love from disapproving families and dangerous foes? Or if she will be unable to resist sinking her teeth into the delicious snack that is her sweetheart? Consumers curious to learn more about Moonlight Mayhem! can head to the brand website to read pages of the script, see storyboards and watch the movie trailer.

Like classic films that get the extended cut treatment, Filmland Spirits second core expression “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – Cask Strength Bourbon is a small batch straight bourbon just like “Moonlight Mayhem!”. It is also aged in white American Oak casks for 4+ years, but comes in at a proof of 115. This cask-strength bourbon has special notes and flavors one wouldn’t experience with the regular strength: it keeps consumers on the edge of their seats with twists and turns of cherry and chocolate on the nose and tongue, a spectacularly creamy mouthfeel and an endless finish of cacao, leather and applewood. Enjoyed neat or with a drop of water, this expression will surely delight consumers. Just like the original story, Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut continues the saga between Tommy Dawson and Slyvane Saxon but with the inclusion of deleted scenes from the original script, making for an extra rich story. Consumers yearning to learn more about Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut can visit the brand website to read pages of the script, see storyboards and preview the movie trailer.

Filmland Spirits third expression – “Ryes of the Robots” – Rye Whiskey – is a small batch straight rye whiskey aged in white American Oak barrels for 4+ years. This complex 94 proof rye whiskey has spicy notes of cinnamon and clove on the nose, mint and pepper on the tongue and a long chocolatey finish with subtle hints of oak. Best served neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail, this rye is sure to please whiskey fans who prefer a bit of zest in their dram. Like the whiskey itself, the Ryes of the Robots story provides a spicy take on the world’s future. In the aftermath of the Automation Wars of 3050, the world rejects technology and embraces a simpler time where cocktail clubs are the new state houses and bartenders hold sway.

When a fallen technology titan builds an army of robotic bartenders to conquer the world, the only hope is Courtney Winters, the Cocktail Consortium’s number one bartender. Can she fend off this despotic army of mechanized mixologists or will this be the world’s unhappiest hour?!

Consumers curious to learn more about the Ryes of the Robots can head to the brand website to read pages of script, see storyboards and watch the movie trailer.

Yeun Elez Single Cask ex-Pineau des Charentes – Peated Single Malt Breton Whisky

The distillery is proud to announce at the same time a limited edition of its peated whisky, Yeun Elez.

After the successful launch of this new peated whisky in 2020, the distillery unveils a new side of its work with peat. For experimental purposes, the Yeun Elez peated new make has been aged in a wide variety of casks, very different to one another. With this limited edition, the distillery presents the result of an unusual maturation in ex-Pineau des Charentes casks.

Acquired from the Cognac house Rémi Landier, this cask has brought to the new make an incomparable sweetness and pastry notes that surround the smoke of the distillate. Bottled at 58.7% cask strenght, intense, full-bodied and unique, it evolves towards wood fire. Limited to 666 bottles…

ABOUT ARMORIK WHISKY BRETON SINGLE MALT

Armorik was born in Brittany, at the Warenghem distillery. Founded in Lannion in the Côtes d’Armor, on the Pink Granite Coast, our distillery has been independent and family-owned for over 100 years.

We use French barley, water from our own source and a traditional know-how. Our stills are two traditional pot stills. We are committed to creating an exceptional single malt that reflects the Breton character.

Just landed:
Mossburn Exclusive Single Casks

We are excited to introduce a collection of four independent single cask releases from Mossburn which are exclusive to The Whisky Shop! These are specially selected by us so we can be sure they are drams that you as our customers will love as much as we do. Members of The W Club will receive 10% off.

View all New Releases →