Port Charlotte (Bruichladdich) 2011 PAC:01

The latest release of the Cask Exploration series. A heavily peated Port Charlotte distilled 2011. Matured in American oak and French wine casks before being bottled at 56.1%. A rich and elegant Islay. Port Charlotte 2011 vintage PAC:01 Islay single malt Scotch whisky from Bruichladdich distillery. The third release of the PC Cask Exploration Series matured in red wine casks from the Gironde left bank, north of Bordeaux.

Nose – Lots of fresh, fruit aromas mingle with the dry peat smoke to entice you into the dram; from the oak comes spices – cloves, ginger and cassia, along with chocolate, toasted malt with toffee, brown sugar and delicate coconut and vanilla notes. As you nose again, the fruit notes of both the spirit and the wood come together – melon and citrus from the spirit and dried plums and raisin from the cask. The earthy peat smoke wraps around the fruit and spice and holds everything together, highlighting the wonderful marine and ozone notes that breeze through the dram.

Palate – As the first drop touches your tongue, a wave of flavours sweep across the palate, the sweetness from the oak and malt lead, followed by the smoke, citrus and dried fruit notes. Another sip helps to order the flavours, and you find the oak notes, the dried fruit, marzipan and spice. Caramel and chocolate notes emerge alongside the peat smoke with its earthy richness. A little water opens the citrus fruit and marine elements and brings out a little more of the coconut and vanilla notes from the oak. The structure on the palate is firm and round and balances the depth of flavour of this whisky.

Finish – The peat smoke comes through on the finish with a more medicinal phenol style. Coconut and floral notes waver, and a saline marine element combines with the earthy smoke in the classic Port Charlotte style. The oak’s softness and the minerality of the spirit become wrapped in smoke, a familiar signature to this dram.

Shop Now – £93 / €91* / $107* / c$135*

Bruichladdich Distillery was established in 1881 by the Harvey family of distillers based in Glasgow. Situated on the Rhinns peninsular on the island of Islay close and close to the sandy bays of Loch Indaal. Re-opened in 2001 with much of the original Victorian equipment restored to working order. The first release of Bruichladdich’s new whisky was the highly acclaimed PC5, the first release in the limited Port Charlotte range. Also producing very highly peated Octamore, Organic using Islay grown barley, and triple and quadruple distilled single malt and single cask releases. Bruichladdich distillery participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Whisky Festival.

The Macallan Rare Cask is a distinct expression born from our continuous pursuit to seek out the extraordinary. With a masterful combination of art and science, The Macallan Whisky Maker selects exceptional oak casks that exhibit a distinctive and complex flavour profile.

This single malt is a deep ruby mahogany in colour with an intense sweet raisin note, before yielding to flavours of vanilla and dark chocolate, with layers of light citrus.

The Macallan Distillery Experience,

The Macallan Distillers Ltd, Easter Elchies,

Craigellachie, Moray AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

DEWAR’s 12YO and 18 YO Blended Scotch Whiskies

 Dewar’s shows its Mettle

Recently produced by IPL Packaging for Dewar’s, packaging for the brand’s latest 12YO and 18YO blended Scotch whisky expressions epitomise the twin benefits of striking impact and eco-friendly appeal and demonstrate metal’s versatility as a modern, sustainable packaging solution.

Identical in structure, yet differing in colour and design treatment, the Dewar’s 12YO and 28YO packs both feature embossed and debossed design elements on the body and lids and the iconic Dewar’s ‘white label’ on the front of each tin.  Both are gloss-varnish coated and feature printed spot matte varnish finishes.

The Dewar’s brand has long used metal as a packaging material for its many esteemed expressions and its no small wonder: as a packaging material metal is sustainable, economical, easy to handle, protective and attractive. It also fits comfortably into today’s circular economy.

Metal’s low carbon footprint is derived from its high recyclability rate; it has the potential to be recycled numerous times without molecular degradation or loss of structural integrity.

Tin and metal is also the most commonly recycled of all household materials (almost three quarters of metal packaging is recycled in Europe). From a packaging design perspective it can also be as economic or as luxurious as required – able to be moulded into several shapes and sizes, thereby promoting its use across diverse industry verticals.

Ultimately for brands looking to improve their sustainability credentials without losing the quality look and feel of their packs – tin, with all its versatility, is an ideal choice.

For more information visit www.dewars.com or www.iplpackaging.com

New Glen Moray campaign inspires drinkers to ‘shake, sizzle, sweeten and share’ their single malt this summer

For summer 2021, Glen Moray single malt whisky has launched a new campaign to showcase the wonders of whisky as a spirit to savour and share in the warmer months.

From delicious fruit-infused cocktails to sip in the garden to spicy steak sauces to sizzle on a barbecue and refreshing iced desserts for after; these new recipes are designed to make the most of a single bottle of Glen Moray Elgin Classic in the great outdoors, sharing good times with friends.

To create their collection of new summer drinks and dishes, Glen Moray has enlisted the help of some adventurous collaborators, challenging them to dream up refreshing concoctions to enjoy in the sunshine, inspired by the light, smooth and fruity flavours of the whisky.

Top UK chef and cookery book writer Ben Tish, spirit supremos Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison plus ‘diggers and swiggers’ The Thirsty Gardeners have all joined the campaign, whipping up food and drinks recipes with a bottle of Glen Moray Elgin Classic and some of the season’s most luscious ingredients.

Four recipes will feature in a leaflet included in special ‘Share the Flavour of Summer’ packs of Glen Moray Elgin Classic appearing in supermarkets from July. The campaign will be supported by a new Glen Moray microsite packed with updates, tips, recipes and ‘how to’ videos from the summer drinking team.

For Glen Moray, it’s all about encouraging people to explore the taste and versatility of their popular whisky, in a year when people will be looking for new things to do and try at home over the summer.

As Claire Baigrie, Glen Moray UK Sales Director notes: ‘We are an adventurous and inclusive single malt and we want everyone to share and enjoy our whisky all year round. We know however that people sometimes let their single malts languish in the drinks cabinet over the summer months. So we’ve taken action! Our three collaborators were asked to take inspiration from the flavours of our Elgin Classic whisky and dream up new ways to serve it for warm summer evenings, BBQs and back garden gatherings. And these are no ordinary whisky recipes. They’re ingenious, creative and easy to make, packed with fresh fruity flavours and fun tips for new ways to experiment with whisky and enjoy its delicious flavour with friends. Our mission is to show just how many things you can do with a single bottle of Glen Moray whisky and we hope enjoy making and mixing them up at home this summer.’ 

THE THIRSTY GARDENERS

Foraging experts Nick and Rich have raided their garden to create two deliciously light and aromatic cocktails. Their Rhubarb Whisky Sour starts with a home-made rhubarb syrup, which is then shaken with Glen Moray Elgin Classic for a summery take on this classic whisky cocktail. Their easy-to-make rosemary bitters are the starting point for a delicious Rosemary Old Fashioned which brings a sweet, summery, scented flavour to the mix.

BEN TISH

Ben has created a rich, tangy ‘Ultimate BBQ Sauce’ with a tasty whisky kick that’s easy to make and perfect for marinading steaks, basting on meats and veggies or slathering on a burger before topping with cheese. He also turns seasonal, summery strawberries into a refreshing and vibrant Strawberry Daiquiri Granita ‘iced cocktail’ dessert with a lovely Glen Moray hit.

NEIL RIDLEY AND JOEL HARRISON 

Inspired by the rich, malty notes of Glen Moray, Neil and Joel have created a Sunshine Punch, packed with the flavours of fruit, honey and vanilla and perfect for sharing; and the refreshing Elgin Cooler, a summery spritz that blends whisky with peach, apple and a hit of fresh mint.  

Neil and Joel’s Glen Moray Sunshine Punch

Made in advance to allow the mixture to fully infuse for the tastiest experience, this punch is perfect for sharing with friends as you soak up the sun. The rich, malty notes of Glen Moray combine beautifully with the ripe citrus ingredients and the sweet flavours of honey and fresh vanilla. 

375ml Glen Moray Elgin Classic

1 fresh vanilla pod, split

The zest of one fresh lemon

Zest of half an orange

2 tablespoons honey

5 dashes cocktail bitters (optional)

1 small piece of fresh ginger, chopped

1 small apple, sliced

350ml chilled green tea

Add all the ingredients to a large bowl. Stir and allow to steep for a few hours or overnight. Strain using a small sieve and store in the fridge until needed. Serve over ice in a short tumbler, with a slice of orange. Makes ten drinks. 

                Visit for more summer inspiration: https://www.glenmoraysummer.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/GlenMorayDistillery

www.instagram.com/glen_moray_whisky

www.twitter.com/glenmoraydist

 GLEN MORAY

Glen Moray is one of Scotland’s best loved single malt whiskies. It has been crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, on what was once the Elgin West Brewery site on the banks of the River Lossie. Pure waters from the river, locally malted barley, distillation in traditional copper stills and maturation in American ex-bourbon casks combine to give the whisky its smooth, well-balanced, classic Speyside character. Glen Moray has always been a place where curiosity about flavour and cask maturation has been encouraged. Records dating back to the early days show new make spirit maturing in a wide variety of different casks – a highly unusual practice at this time. A passion for experimentation and a deep knowledge of wood have been passed down through generations of Glen Moray distillers. The result is today’s exceptional and extensive range of whiskies, offering a flavour and style to suit all tastes. Glen Moray is the 5th biggest malt whisky brand by volume in the UK and is growing in international markets.

BEN TISH

Ben Tish is the Culinary Director of London’s Norma Restaurant and the Stafford Hotel, and is established as cooking at the forefront of the modern tapas scene. At the Stafford Ben oversees the hotel’s food offering including the Game Bird restaurant, the American bar and private dining. In September 2019 he opened the critically-acclaimed Norma – a Sicilian-Moorish influenced restaurant on London’s Charlotte Street featuring a bespoke raw bar serving Sicilian style crudos.

Classically trained with over 20 years’ experience, Ben spent his formative career working with Michelin starred chefs such as Jason Atherton and Stephen Terry at various ground breaking London restaurants. He went on to head up his own operations at the Italian restaurant Al Duca in St James, London, and the Crinan Hotel in the West Highlands. More recently he was Chef Director and Partner of the Salt Yard Group – a group of 5 highly-acclaimed modern Spanish / Italian restaurants in Central London.

Ben is also an accomplished and award winning food writer with three published cook books. Moorish, his last book, was published in April 2019 and was named cook book of the year in the Times Magazine. Ben will publish his fourth book SICILA in Summer 2021. He appears regularly on TV including Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch, and Masterchef and writes for Delicious, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, Noble Rot, Restaurant Magazine, Chef Magazine, and other publications. 

THE THIRSTY GARDENERS

Allotment swashbuckling diggers and swiggers….Nick Moyle and Rich Hood are the Two Thirsty Gardeners, writers and bloggers who turn home grown and foraged ingredients into a variety of drinks. Living in Somerset they plunder their allotment, gardens and local hedgerows to conjure up a range of drinks from beers and ciders to cocktails and liqueurs. Their first book, Brew it Yourself, features recipes for some of their favourite boozy brews while their new release, Wild Tea, sees them explore more sober territory with a range of teas, coffees and infusions made from leaves, flowers, roots and berries. 

JOEL HARRISON AND NEIL RIDLEY

Joel and Neil are professional drinks writers, consultants, hosts and presenters. Neil and Joel have written six books on whisky and distilled drinks, winning the ’Best Drinks Book’ in The Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2015. They are both ‘Keepers Of The Quaich’, one of the highest accolades in the Scotch whisky Industry, were made Mousquetaires d’ Armagnac, in recognition for their services to the global promotion of this noble French brandy, Rectifiers of the Gin Guild for their work within the growing gin market and are both Liverymen for the Worshipful Company Of Distillers. Both are regular drinks contributors across a range of media titles, and are more widely known for their regular TV outlet, Channel Four’s Sunday Brunch where, for the past six years, they have acted as the show’s most enduring drinks experts. Their appeal is simple: dispelling the myths and misunderstanding which surround the drinks world, presenting a clear, concise message to the growing number of those drinkers eager to experience the stories behind an array of incredible drinks from around the globe.

Mature Scotch Rarities: The Upside of the 700ml

In late December of 2020, the TTB quietly passed a regulation that allowed 700ml bottles to be imported into the US. While this might not seem like big news, it is actually a windfall for spirits lovers as it unlocks a stash of previously untapped bottlings to our shores. We could not be more excited, as it quickly adds another dimension to our unparalleled spirits program. Below you’ll find some of our first discoveries in this format, and they are all incredibly rare and rewarding mature Scotch collectibles that also present remarkable value compared to other standards from the distilleries. If these are any indication of what’s to come, those extra 50ml will not be missed.

1994 Glen Keith 24 Year “Antique Lion’s Savannah Series” Cask Strength Single ex-Bourbon Barrel Speyside Single Malt Scotch (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $299.99 View

1988 Tormore 31 Year “Hunter Laing Old & Rare Heritage Platinum Selection” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $349.99 View

This lovely Oloroso Sherry butt from the Tormore Distillery was distilled in May of 1988 and bottled in 2019. A sister to the wonderful barrel we purchased last year, this time bottled in 700ml, it represents one of the best values in old, sherried malt available in Scotland today. The Tormore Distillery and its iconic copper roof is one of Speyside’s newer distillers. Built in 1958, great care was taken with the design of the exterior, unlike at other distilleries of the period. The distillery was expanded in 1984 and can produce upward of 3.7 million liters of alcohol per year. Nonetheless, it’s extremely rare to find Tormore of any age in the U.S. The relatively short and wide stills give a rich and textured spirit which lends itself nicely to sherry aging. Bottled at natural cask strength of 49.1% ABV and without chill filtration, only 60 bottles of this exceptional cask are available in the U.S. exclusively at K&L Wine Merchants. As described by the bottler, “This amber coloured whisky matured in an Oloroso sherry butt has lashings of hazelnuts, coffee, chocolate and tobacco on the nose. Spicy and nutty on the palate with a touch of toffee leading to a long, rich, peppery finish.”

1987 Bunnahabhain 30 Year “Hunter Laing Old & Rare” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $399.99 View

This stupendous old Bunnahabhain is as complex and delicious as it is rare. Of course, any Islay whisky that’s made it to the 30-year mark will command an extremely high price, but considering where the distillery’s own 25-year is priced these days, we felt this single sherry butt offered significant value. Distilled in 1987 and bottled at a natural cask strength of 48.4% ABV

1984 Benrinnes 30 Year “Silver Seal – Whisky is Nature” Single Barrel #2268 Speyside Single Malt Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $549.99 View

This exquisit example of the special Speysider is bottled under Massimo Righi’s exceptionally beautiful “Whisky Is Nature.” The majestic dipiction of an African Bull Elephant adorns the label appropriately hinting at the deep and complex nature of the whisky inside. This single cask #2280 turned out 480 bottles at cask strength, but only 36 bottles made it to the US and is sold exclusively at K&L Wine Merchants.

A celebratory release from Speyburn to commemorate the 18th anniversary of Bobby Anderson’s position as distillery manager. This single malt, aged for 18 years in American and Spanish oak casks, has aromas of toffee and sugared almonds, as well as tropical fruits on the nose. The palate holds flavours of rich dark chocolate, toffee and a touch of citrus, with plenty of smoke throughout. The finish is long and smoky, with a sweeter honeyed edge.

Glenfarclas 40 Years

The stunning core bottling encased within the red doors. A highly acclaimed whisky.  Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. This 40 year old Scotch is a truly amazing whisky, so fresh and vibrant for an old Scotch. 95/100 by the Malt Advocate magazine.

Nose: Reminiscent of relaxing in an old leather armchair while eating walnuts and chocolate covered raisins.

Palate: A sweet initial taste, orange segments dipped in liquid chocolate. Then a lovely flavour of burnt brown sugar at the back of the mouth.

Finish: The dry finish oozes big tannins and more rich dark cocoa beans. Let the whisky breathe a little or add a drop or two of water to fully open up the dram.

£973.25

Shop Glenfarclas 40 Years »

Glenfarclas Distillery was established in Speyside in 1836 by Robert Hay and following his death it was bought by John Grant in 1865 and has remained in the ownership of the Grant family ever since. The interior of the visitor centre is stunning, the walls are lined with the original oak panels salvaged from a lounge on the liner SS Empress of Australia when she was scrapped 1952. Ace sherry casks underpin the ethos of Glenfarclas single malt whisky, exemplified in the Family Cask range, and way back in 1968 released its first cask strength single malt. The range includes Glenfarclas 15 Year Old, Glenfarclas 105 and Glenfarclas 21 Year Old alongside the Family Casks series.

The dog days of summer are here, and I hope this finds you well, whether at home, at the cabin or on an adventure. You may not be thinking about whisk(e)y right now, but there are some very cool new things you should be aware of.

The timing of some of these arrivals isn’t the best. I don’t relegate peated whiskies to the winter, but I don’t generally reach for them when the weather is in the 30s and already smoky. But we’ve been waiting for some of these whiskies for close to 6 months, so we’re thrilled they’ve finally arrived.

As to the delays, you can blame the usual suspects: Covid, Brexit, container shortages, port strikes, and railroad closures. Some of our producers have even had a hard time sourcing palettes to load their cases on to in order to load them into containers… I’ve said it before, its chaos out there. And now with the looming prospect of disharmony between the Feds and those who man the border, it looks like the roller coaster ride is set to continue!

In the last Malt Messenger, I told you about our new Teeling 15 Year KWM Armagnac Cask. Now I have the privilege of announcing a new virtual tasting with Master Distiller Alex Chasko set for Friday, August 20. Teeling tastings are typically hosted by Brand Ambassadors, but I think everyone needs to meet the man behind the whiskey, so I’ve convinced Alex to join us live from Ireland.

We received a ton of new whiskies in last weeks and months. As time has allowed – mostly when procrastinating working on the new website – I’ve been writing up some of my own tasting notes. In the last two weeks, I’ve knocked off 8 of the 18 new Boutique-y Whiskies and the two limited edition High Coast releases exclusive to KWM. I’ve also scrambled to write tasting notes for some whiskies which only arrived in-store on Wednesday.

These include the long-awaited Peat’s Beast Islay Single Malt Whiskies! We have just received the Batch Strength, Batch Strength PX, 27 and 34-year-olds. The latter two are rumoured to be Laphroaig and Bowmore respectively, and I’ve written my own tasting notes for both, as well as the PX.

I have also laboured to write up my own notes on a pair of new Dumangin Single Malts, finished in Ratafia Champenois (of course). Ratafia Champenois whisk(e)y finishing is what our friend Gilles Dumangin does… in addition to making award-winning Champagne and Ratafia. There is a 12-year-old Fettercairn and a 13 year Glenrothes.

I was also motivated to write up a tasting note for the new Ardnamurchan AD/01.21:01 Single Malt. Only the second-ever global release from one of Scotland’s hottest new distilleries, and it didn’t disappoint!

We have also just received our first new shipment from Gordon & MacPhail in months including a mix of Connoisseurs Choice and Distillery Label bottlings. There are also a number of new whiskies from Morrison Whisky Distillers (formerly Morrison MacKay), Woodford Reserve, and La Maison Du Whisky (the latter being a trio including Caperdonich 20 Year, Macallan 30 Year and Caol Ila 40 Year)!

In the coming soon department, we are expecting the Compass Box Menagerie and Benromach 21 Year in the weeks ahead. Accordingly, we are taking pre-orders.

Last but not least I’ve rounded up a few of the whiskies from the July and August Scotch Malt Whisky Society Outturns. Evan’s left his corner… so you’ll have to make do with my thoughts!

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 or comments. But be patient, I may be head down, working on our new website, which will be launching in a couple weeks (I know you’ve heard that before).

If you want to place an order, please do so online. I will process email orders, but if you don’t want to miss out on something the website is your best bet!

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

IN THIS EDITION

1. New Teeling Tasting with Master Distiller Alex Chasko

2. My Tasting Notes on Some Recent Whisk(e)y Arrivals

3. The Peat’s Beast Whiskies Are Finally Here. And They Are Good!

4. A New Shipment of Gordon & MacPhail

5. New Whiskies from Ardnamurchan

6. New from LMDW’s Artist Series

7. New Dumangin Ratafia Finished Whiskies

8. New Whiskies from Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers

9. Introducing: Woodford Straight Malt Whiskey

10.  Coming Soon: Compass Box Menagerie

11. Coming Soon: Benromach 21 Year

12.  SMWS Canada Summer 2021 Outturns Recap

NEW TEELING WHISKEY TASTING

WITH MATER DISTILLER ALEX CHASKO

THE PEAT’S BEAST WHISKIES ARE FINALLY HERE!

At long last they have arrived. We’ve been waiting for these beauties since March… Blah, blah, blah shipping problems…

The PX and 27 year are exclusive to KWM, and the 34 Year is exclusive to KWM in Calgary. I’ve cracked three of them to write tasting notes. The 27 Year is reputedly Laphroaig, and is surprisingly medicinal and grippy for its age. I like it, Curt loves it!

I’m especially jacked about the 34 Year, which is from a parcel of Bowmore, finished in Cognac casks, which has popped up in a few places. Islay Violets 33 Year ring a bell? It is gorgeous, and very satisfying!

1. Peat’s Beast Batch Strength Islay Single Malt – 52.1% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Elegant and refined. Soft delicate honey notes are entwined with vanilla spice, creamy caramel and cinnamon. Then suddenly… the growl of bonfire smoke, sea spray, cardamom and tar rope hits you. The beast is awake! Taste: You can feel its immense power as it pours onto your palate like a violent thunderstorm. You need to brace yourself. Its “natural strength” is untamed and ferocious. Yet, seconds later – this beastly peaty, fiery spirit is soon soothed by the warmth of your tongue. Almost immediately a calmness, a stillness pervades as seductive notes of moist banana cake, thick treacle, mocha with whispers of sweet pineapple, ginger and cumin finally come into play to give you an unforgettable aftertaste. Everyone has a little beast in them – this one more than most.” – $82

2. Peat’s Beast Batch Strength PX Islay Single Malt – 54.1% – Finished 9 months in PX Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: dark, rich and peaty; a touch of malt, smoked oysters and Detol; Fruit Source bars, grilled figs wrapped in prosciutto, coal dust and seaweed wafers. Palate: staying in the food vein, there’s a lot here; more grilled figs wrapped in prosciutto, seaweed wafers and Fruit Source bars; more chocolaty than I was expecting, with juicy malt and barrel aged stouts; the smoked oysters, Detol and coal dust are all still there, as is the earthy peat, all properly tamed by the sweet sherry notes. Finish: long, coating and sherried with ashy peat, Detol and sweet dark fruits. Comment: let it breathe; that’s probably always good advice, but it took about 20 minutes in the glass before the true colour started to show, especially on the nose; the closest thing we’ve had to this in recent months is our Elements of Islay Peat & Sherry.” – $105 – Exclusive to KWM!

3. Peat’s Beast 27 Year Islay Single Malt – 50.1% – Matured in American Oak – Rumoured to be from Laphroaig! – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Generous, bold and powerful, the hand of time has fully crafted this gentle giant as a spectrum of enticing nuances reveal its iconic credentials; ginger spice, Madagascan Vanilla pod, Autumn leaves bonfire smoke and freshly baked banana bread. There is also a seductive interplay of roasted walnuts, thick black toffee, bitter chocolate and liquorice that lingers gently on the aftertaste. Taste: Complex yet intriguing, as a multitude of enticing flavours makes their presence felt. It makes you smile involuntarily, the way a distinguished whisky of this exceptional calibre does with its many fine attributes. Age, along with the gentle hand of “Mother Nature” has truly crafted and moulded this noble Islay single malt to perfection. Like all great things, it must be given time to take in these noble qualities of aged mulled wine, moist Christollen cake, smoked Old English marmalade and treacle tart. However, another level of exuberance quickly follows on with generous flavours of apple tart tatin, thick marzipan, old balsamic and espresso coffee. A hint of sun-kissed raisins, over-ripe Cayenne pineapple and Bakewell tart drenched in maple syrup completes this aged masterpiece. Comment: Truly, a compelling portrait of beauty.” – $380 – Exclusive to KWM!

4. Peat’s Beast 34 Year Islay Single Malt – 47.1% – Bowmore Finished in Cognac Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Divinely decadent with a sophisticated coffret of enticing aromas which immediately makes their presence felt, reverberating seductive nuances of Scottish Heather honey spread over hot buttered toast, Turkish Delight, Doyenne du Comice pear skins and Swiss White chocolate. There is also an exciting vibrancy of caramel fudge, Cape gooseberries, Ogen melon and Vanilla panna cotta slowly unfolding in the background. A gentle kiss of peat smoke and American white oak ebbs away softly on the drydown. Taste: What a stunner! What a beauty! It walks the line between power and finesse and after 34 long years, this is not surprising. This magnificent single Islay malt demands and should receive full concentration, respect and reverence as it reveals so many rich treasures of delight – salted caramel, sticky toffee pudding, lime marmalade and frangipane. Broad-shouldered and well built you must give this aged icon plenty of time on the palate to fully tease out those extra layers of fig cake, liquorice stick, manuka honey and ginger spice. There is just a faint whisper of grapefruit acidity and saline persistency to round off this nugget of liquid gold.” – $595 – Exclusive to KWM in Calgary!

NEW FROM GORDON & MACPHAIL

We’ve been waiting months for many of these whiskies…. cue tiny violins. They got snagged in the complications around international shipping. The Mortlach and Linkwood 15 Years are now bottled at 46%, which is very cool. The upper end Connoisseurs Choice bottlings are all 30 plus years of age and priced accordingly. They don’t disappoint!

1. G&M Distillery Label Glentauchers 2006 – 43% – 13 Year – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet and light fruits; lemon, pineapple and orange. Vanilla pod develops softly and accompanies boiled sweets with a subtle hint of banana. Taste: Gentle spice with grapefruit and cracked black pepper. Finish: Lemon cheesecake comes to the fore alongside subtle white chocolate and soft vanilla.” – $100

2. G&M Distillery Label Linkwood 15 Year – 46% – First & Refill Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose is quite full with balanced oaked tannins, a touch of Fraise des Bois liqueur and notes of musty port. The palate is full and firm with notes of arak, dark toffee, vanilla spice and buttery oak. The finish is quite long and oaked with a touch of spice.” – $125

3. G&M Distillery Label Mortlach 15 Year – 46% – Producer Tasting Note: “The nose is rich with cereal sweetness and warm barley. Apple blossom rises without effort and notes of malmsey and stewed fruits and Christmas punch emerge with spice and muffin. The palate is quite full and quite sweet. The cereal notes return with a syrupy texture. Shades of sherried sultanas and notes of freshly cut fruit salad, hints of toasty oak with obligatory vanilla spice and peppery warmth. The finish is long with the fruit and spice rising readily from the oak.” – $125

4. G&M Distillery Label Mortlach 25 Year – 43% – First Fill & Re-Fill Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich and full; Sherry and orange marmalade notes combine with stewed dates and prunes. Underlying herbal aromas surface and transform into brown sugar with gentle toffee highlights. Taste: Pronounced Sherry influences join crème brûlée, orange marmalade, sultana, and raisin flavours. Hints of mature oak appear whilst an aniseed edge underscores dark chocolate notes. Finish Medium with lingering charred oak and cocoa powder. – $320 – Limit 1 Per Customer

5. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glen Grant 1990 – 57.3% – 30 Year – Refill Bourbon Barrel – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Aromatic vanilla aromas lead to ripe pineapple and sweet toffee. Taste: Spicy white pepper gives way to sweet and creamy flavours of baked apple and toasted oak. Finish: Fresh green apple notes linger on the finish.” – $925 – 90.75pts Whisky Base

6. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glenlivet 1990 – 54.4% – 30 Year – Refill American Oak Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich VANILLA aromas complement fresh PEAR and DRIED APRICOT. GREEN APPLE notes develop alongside MALTED CEREAL and gentle aniseed. Taste: Mouth-warming black pepperR leads to a subtle note of lychee and soft dark honey flavours. An undertone of orange peel develops and gives way to a hint of white chocolate. Finish: A long and mouth-coating finish with lingering dried mango and baked apple.” – $1125

7. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Glenlivet 1987 – 49.2% – 33 Year – Refill American Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Fresh green apple and sweet dark honey aromas lead to a hint of ripe pear. An undertone of vanilla pod develops alongside subtle toasted oak. Taste: Smooth and delicate; orange peel flavours give way to malted cereal. Soft brown sugar develops alongside baked pear with a hint of cracked black pepper. Finish: A medium-bodied finish with lingering spice and creamy custard.” – $1500

NEW WHISKIES FROM

ARDNAMURCHAN DISTILLERY

This is only the second global release of Ardnamurchan, and it comes hot on the heels of the very well-received inaugural bottling. Ardnamurchan is in my humble opinion, one of the most exciting new distilleries in Scotland.

Ardnamurchan Single Malt AD/01.21:01 – 46.8% – 5 Year – 65% ex-Bourbon & 35% Sherry – 50/50 Split of Peated & Unpeated Malt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeyed and malty; green Jolly Ranchers, strawberry Twizzlers, and candied lemon peel; clean wood smoke and salted caramel; decadent spices. Palate: Sweet, malty, and smoky over a backdrop of fruits and creamy oak; only one sip down, and it is already so layered; honeycomb, salted caramel, and creme brule; the fruits start with white and citrus fruits before teasing with something a little more tropical; the malt is juicy, the spices decadent and the smoke clean and elegant. Finish: medium in length with a velvety coating mouthfeel; the creamy oak and hint of smoke linger long after the fruits, spices, and malt have exited. Comment: a lovely follow up to the first bottling, it is elegant and complex beyond its years; yet more evidence that they are doing things right at Ardnamurchan!” – $100

NEW FROM LMDW ARTIST RANGE #10

These are pricey, but also very rare; we are only receiving between 1 and 3 of each. They are from La Maison du Whisky, sourced from Signatory Vintage, with whom they have a very close relationship.

These releases are from the 10th Anniversary Artist Range, with artwork by Sei Arimori. Sei splits his time between Belgium and Japan, his art is always abstract, using the technique of egg tempera, often associated with the application of gold or silver leaf.

LMDW Artist Caperdonich 20 Year Cask 29488 – 55.8% – Distilled 2000 – Bottled 2020 – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: refined, distinguished. The very slender first nose is a subtle mix of citrus fruit (lemon, grapefruit), vanilla, wildflower (dandelion, buttercup), ripe fruit (pear, apple), and spices (black pepper). Allowed to breathe, the spices become hot (Cayenne pepper) and Mirabelle plum, pineapple, and banana are added to the fruits found on the first nose. Malted barley then fills the aromatic palette with resinous notes (pine, thuja). As a whole, the nose is remarkably consistent.

Palate: clean, lively. The same citrus fruits from the nose bring lots of energy to the attack, as new fruits (peach, canary melon) appear. On the mid-palate, malted barley creates a beautifully herbaceous transition. The end of the palate is then slightly medicinal (ointment), vanilla, and floral (lily, iris). Gradually, a magnificent chocolate bitterness adds relief to the flavour palette’s mouth-watering character. Overall: long, full. At the start of the finish, noble spices (cinnamon, ginger, cumin) arrive just before exotic (persimmon, guava), honeyed (acacia), and herbaceous (straw, flax) flavours. Refreshing, the very end of the palate is mentholated and then medicinal (tiger balm). Much later, coconut milk, vanilla, and lavender honey bring lots of sweetness to the retro-nasal olfaction. The empty glass is malty (barley pulp), powdery (rice), fruity (William’s pear), and slightly animal (bacon).” – $850 – 86pts Whisky Fun – Only 3 bottles.

LMDW Artist Macallan 30 Year Cask 1034 – 53.5% – Distilled 1990 – Bottled 2020 – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Nose: Fine, subtle. Deliciously vanilla and fruity (pineapple, mirabelle plum), the first nose is also honey (acacia, lime), malty and vinous (white port, muscat). When aired, absolutely delicious aromas of apple pie, queen claude and candied ginger rub shoulders with numerous heady flowers (iris, tuberose, lily, dahlia). Then, one can not more “Speyside”, the aromatic palette is covered by a multitude of grains of malted barley. Palate: Rich, powerful. Beautifully liquorice and oily (rapeseed, sunflower), the attack on the palate also reveals citrus fruits (orange, clementine), exotic fruits (passion, mango) and spearmint. On the mid-palate, various spices (cloves, cumin, coriander, dill) bring a lot of vitality to the taste palette. Gradually, exquisite flavors of chamomile, clover and fresh walnuts cover the taste buds. Very creamy, the finish is vanilla, saffron and spicy (black pepper, cinnamon). Overall: Long, fluffy. Very powdery (rice cake), the start of the finish evokes a very large sake. Beautifully herbaceous (boxwood, holly, juniper), it becomes more and more greedy over time (calisson d’Aix, prune flan). Tertiary, the retro-olfaction is animated by notes of iced chestnut, chestnut, pine resin and verbena. Extremely concentrated, the empty glass is slightly camphorated, herbaceous (alfalfa, coriander), lemony and above all malty (barley porridge, porridge).” – $3000 – 90.67pts Whisky Base – Only 1 Bottle

LMDW Artist Caol Ila 40 Year Cask 7709 – 53.5% – Distilled 1979 – Bottled 2020 – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Fine, racy. Animal (leather, bacon) and powdery (ginger, rice), the first nose shows us Caol Ila with a more peaty and roasted (coffee) face than usual. On ventilation, soot settles on the palate while a thick smoke creates a particularly opaque screen. Suddenly, the sun appears, candied lemons, juicy pears, heady bouquets of flowers (peony, gladiolus), acacia honey, aromatic plants (verbena, sage) as well as the breath of a sea breeze irrigates an aromatic palette whose maturity is matched only by complexity. Palate: Rich, fleshy. Harmonious, the attack on the palate is at the same time peaty, earthy, fruity, floral, herbaceous, spicy, saline… in a word, “complete”. All these tones compete in intensity. With great nobility of expression, the mid-palate is simultaneously malty, spicy (saffron), honey (lime blossom), infused (chamomile), finely chocolate and liquorice. Very colorful, the aftertaste transports us to the middle of a field of freshly cut barley lit by the last rays of the sun. Overall: Long, silky. At the start of the finish, tasty notes of lime, vanilla custard and exotic fruits (passion, guava) give the answer to chocolate, liquorice, earthy and saline flavors of great beauty. Intensely smoky and slightly camphorated, the retro-olfaction is radiant with youthful spirit. A long time later, blocks of dry peat escape from the empty glass, spray as well as malted and smoked barley grains.” – $4400 – Only 2 bottles!

NEW DUMANGIN RATAFIA FINISHED WHISKIES

We have two new single malts from our friend Gilles at Dumangin. Champagne Dumangin & Fils is our best selling Champagne producer. Gilles also dabbles in a local fortified wine, Ratafia Champenois, and is a whisky nerd to boot. So he started sourcing casks and finishing them in his own Ratafia Casks. We’ve got a few other Dumangin Whiskies in-stock, but here are the new ones, with my tasting notes!

Dumangin Whisky Fettercairn 2008 – 48% – 12 Year – Aged 10 Years in a Hogshead – Finished 15 Months in Ratafia Champenois – My Tasting Note: “Nose: raspberry coulee, quince paste, and cranberries; Red Licorice Nibbs; clotted cream and strawberry jam on a warm scone. Palate: soft and fruity with building spice; more Red Licorice Nibbs, dried cranberries and quince paste; Fruit Source bars, smooth new leather, and building dark fruits: raisins and prunes; strawberries and raspberries dipped in chocolate. Finish: the vanilla base emerges on the long finish balancing the red fruit notes and toning down the chocolate a touch. Comment: this whisky is bursting with red fruits and doesn’t at all come across as wine-y; another lovely bottling from our friend Gilles.” – $160

Dumangin Whisky Glenrothes 2007 – 46% – Matured 11 Years in a Hogshead – Finished 19 Months in Ratafia Champenois – My Tasting Note: “Nose: firm spices, earthy dunnage warehouse notes, and floral top notes; dark chocolate dipped strawberries, cinnamon stick, and fudge brownies; malty with orange peel. Palate: big, rich, and spicy; earthy and floral the ratafia has only kissed this one, but the French oak spices have left their mark; more strawberry and orange peel, with earthy and leathery with tobacco, espresso bean, and dark bakers chcolate. Finish: warm and spicy with more leather, tobacco, and chocolate. Comment: you could easily confuse this with a sherry cask whisky, maybe that’s how it started out; the ratafia cask has added spices and earthy tones; nice balance.” – $160

NEW WHISKIES FROM MORRISON

SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERS

Formerly Morrison MacKay, now just Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers. There are the new releases of Old Perth, the new range of Mac-Talla whiskies, and a few new Carn Mor Strictly-Limited offerings. Mac-Talla means “echo” in Scots Gaelic, and is a new range of undisclosed Islay Single Malts.

1. Old Perth Original Blended Malt – 46% – Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Sophisticated sherry-sweet tones and subtle spice are the heart of this Original malt, giving way to warm dried fruits and honeyed cloves.” – $63

2. Old Perth Cask Strength Blended Malt – 46% – Sherry Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Delivering a robust, earthy palate with powerful ginger and cinnamon spice, this unadulterated whisky is bottled at cask strength to reveal a full-bodied aroma” – $79

3. Carn Mor Mac-Talla Mara – 58.2% – American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Intense bonfire smoke with hints of citrus zest. Taste: Smoked barbecue meat, charred oak and a long powerful finish. Intense and smoky for those adventurous palates.” – $89

4. Carn Mor Mac-Talla Terra – 46% – American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Citrus notes, smoky barley and fresh sea air. Taste: Clean woodsmoke, salty sea spray and a crisp, clean smoky finish. An absolute delight for any classic Islay Whisky enthusiast.” – $74

5. Carn Mor Strictly Limited Ben Nevis 6 Year – 47.5% – Sherry Hogsheads – Producer Tasting Note: “Smoked bacon and maple syrup.” – $98 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

6. Carn Mor Strictly Limited Glen Elgin 13 Year – 47.5% – 1st Fill ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Ripe summer fruit salad with fresh pineapple and juicy peaches.” – $115

7. Carn Mor Strictly Limited Glen Keith 7 Year – 47.5% – Virgin Oak Finish – Producer Tasting Note: “Salted caramel and juicy tropical fruits.” – $100

8. Carn Mor Strictly Limited Glenrothes 10 Year – 64.4% – Sherry Hogshead – Bob Kyle’s Tasting Note: “….on the palate immediately I get strawberries and cream served with a burning stick of barley sugar. There are Fireworks in the mouth and the taste continues long after the fireworks have gone. Lots of creamy barley but this whisky needs to sit in the glass and wait for its owner (rare drammer) to come along. Another wee sip brings out the power of the dram…but a second sip shows the whisky who’s boss…it’s the whisky…..ha ha.” – $120

INTRODUCING: WOODFORD RESERVE

STRAIGHT MALT WHISKEY

It isn’t a Single Malt, but rather a high malt mash content whiskey. I’m curious to see how this turned out, as I’ve long found Woodford’s spirit, distilled in a trio of copper pot rather than column stills, to be more Scottish in-style than most American distillers.

Producer Description: “Unlike a typical 100% malt whiskey, Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey crafted from 51% malt and aged in new charred oak barrels, making it the malt whiskey for bourbon drinkers. The base of 51 % malt results in a whiskey that is richly flavorful and complex and amplifies the nutty characteristics found in the original Woodford Reserve.”

Woodford Reserve Straight Malt Whiskey – 45.2% – Matured in New American Oak – Producer Tasting Note: ” Nose: Soft nutty notes drizzled with light caramel and milk chocolate coat a layer of fruit character (apple, dried fruit, tropical fruit). Hints of brown spice, savory mint and brown sugar mingle with a rich note of freshly milled toasted oak. Taste: Dark chocolate and caramel coated nuts are dried out with a dusting of cocoa powder and brown spice. A fruit medley brightens a trace of toasted coconut and rich, bright oak character. Finish: Nutty and subtly sweet chocolate malt notes.” – $58 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

COMING SOON: COMPASS BOX MENAGERIE

Built around a parcel of Mortlach, Compass Box Menagerie is a whisky composed from many different “species of spirit” from light and from heavy to light, fruity to smoky, and pungent to ethereal.

Producer Description: “Certain whiskies taste that little bit wilder than others, and we have brought together some of these strange and beautiful creatures to create our Menagerie. We have focused on parcels of malt whisky that in addition to their fruity or spicy charms have something animalic about them just beneath the surface. This is a whisky of mossy woods as opposed to floral meadows; Menagerie is what you put into the hipflask ahead of a Tuscan truffle hunt.

“Building on chocolatey and meaty malt whisky from the Mortlach Distillery, we have added whiskies of a citrusy and earthy nature from the Deanston Distillery. Our Highland Malt Blend – aged for a number of years in custom French oak barrels – lends a brooding spiciness, while malt whiskies from the Glen Elgin and Laphroaig distilleries bring musky tropical fruit and tarry smoke, respectively.”

Compass Box Menagerie Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – 46% – Producer Tasting Note: “Menagerie boasts a complex aroma of baking spices, leather, tar and musky fruits. The palate is engagingly lush with even more fruit, while oily smoke and forest floor notes linger in the finish.” – $155

COMING SOON: BENROMACH 21 YEAR

We saw a bit of this earlier in the year, but barely enough to satisfy half of our requests. Thankfully, we are expecting more in the weeks ahead, and enough this time to spread the love around.

Lightly peated and matured in only first-fill casks, as is the Benromach way, for 21 years before bottling at 43%. The whisky is the culmination of nearly three decades of work since Gordon & MacPhail bought the distillery in 1993. It took fully 5 years to bring it back into operation, with the first spirit running in 1998. Two decades and change on from that, the distillery can now boast of a core range 21-year-old whisky, which they distilled themselves!

 

Benromach 21 Year – 43% – Producer Tasting Note: “Aromas: Sweet sherry aromas with underlying citrus, ginger and oak notes, accompanied by a touch of smoke. Palate: Sweet, initially with cracked black pepper, Seville orange and raspberry flavours lead to baked apple and subtle spice. Finish: Charred oak and soft smoke.” – $235

SMWS CANADA SUMMER OUTTURNS RECAP EVAN’S MIA

SO I’VE PUT MYSELF IN HIS CORNER!

Evan’s on vacation, so you’re stuck with my thoughts this time around… cue Bat Man reference!

Let’s begin with the August Outturn, because it’s fresh in my mind, as we sampled them on Thursday night. I won’t waste your time with the ones which have already gotten away, rather I’ll share a few thoughts on the ones we still have stock of.

The good news for the August Outturn, is that we still have plenty of stock of my favourites, which were: 41.36 and 12.50.

1. 41.136: Varnished crumpets is a 12 year old Speysider with a complexity and maturity well beyond its age. It is thick fruity and rather lovely. To be honest I was convince in our blind tasting that it was an older whisky from a different Speyside distillery in the same tasting. – $145

2. 12.50: Four-layers and fudge-frosted is an 11 year old Speysider from 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel which is so chocolaty, I can’t believe it wasn’t sherry cask. This was distilled and put in to cask in the Billy Walker years, and it punches well above it’s weight! – $150

3. 9.201: Major sweetie was Evan and Cam’s 2nd favourite. It is a fine malt, and it grew on me, but IMHO it didn’t stand up to the two above. If Evan were writing here, I’m sure he’d strongly disagree with me. – $212

4. 53.335: Wine and brine is Caol Ila finished in a Refill Madeira cask. Caol Ila is hard to screw up, unless you put it in some kind of a wine cask. Thankfully this one was finished in a refill cask and it worked. Lots of character here and surprisingly approachable for its age and strength, 61%. – $150

The July Outturn Tasting was only a month ago, but that feels like a lifetime for some reason. I only half-jokingly say that I can’t remember anything before Covid-19… but since that isn’t a thing in Alberta anymore, maybe I’m just choosing not to remember!

I know I really liked the 38.30… but no real surprise there, I think my second favourite was 35.266. The whiskies remaining from the Just Outturn are:

1. 38.30 An abundance of hidden delights is a delicate, tropical and antique-y 25 year old from a seldom seen closed distillery. Bottled from a marriage of casks, rather than a single as is usually the case, it is right in my wheelhouse. I adore this style of whisky, but know the price tag will give some of you pause. – $680

2. 35.266 Traditional butterscotch fudge at a dozens years of age is a fine and elegant Speyside malt from the Chardonnay of distilleries. A light fresh summer dram with lots of layers. – $152

3. 44.134 Souper trooper is a very pretty and elegant malt with soft fruit tones. A perfect summer sipper. – $200

4. 93.145 Sweet filth is in my opinion if you’ll have it, a bit mislabelled. I got really excited because I love it when this distillery is talking dirty to me. I found this one to be rated more PG13 than rated R. – $145

5. 16.43 Oddly satisfying was a hit in the Outturn tasting, and lived up to its name being a bit weird but still enticing. It is a peated malt from a tiny distillery, but could easily have passed for an Ardmore (which it is not). – $132

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The Mossburn name was released in 2017 as a range of classic Independent Bottler Malts. In the nearly three decades prior, the team developed and honed its skills in blending and bottling whiskies and a variety of other spirits. Their combined experience spans generations, with over a century of continuous family history in the Scotch Whisky industry.

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Inverurie Whisky Shop

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