An Award-Winning Bottler Delivers a Tantalizing Trio

“Barrell has commanded the conversation for a long time when it comes to independent bottlings in American Whiskey. They have delivered what customers want with every single bottling – high proof quality whiskey – and they haven’t been afraid to innovate and push the envelope on unique finishes either.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

Barrell Craft Spirits’ founder Joe Beatrice has created America’s preeminent independent bottler of spirits. Working only in small batches or single barrels, Barrell has assembled the finest portfolio of casks available in the United States. They have won a bevy of major awards ranging from 2018’s Best American Whiskey according to Forbes’ Fred Minnick to Best Small Batch Bourbon at the 2019 San Francisco Spirits Competition, as well as a host of double gold awards. Their dedication and commitment to selecting the very best casks have placed them among the forefront in the industry. We are fortunate to have secured three incredible bottlings from this benchmark label. All three show not only Barrell’s commitment to quality but also a willingness to push boundaries. The resulting bourbons are every bit as engaging as they are delicious. From the beautifully blended Armida to the powerhouse rye exclusives, these are the very pinnacle of American whiskey.

Barrell Craft Spirits “Armida” Bottling Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($79.99)

Barrell strikes again. The first release of Armida is just 3,504 bottles and is a blend of 3 straight Tennessee bourbon whiskies finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian amaro casks. Their blending prowess is on full display as they perfectly mesh this wide array of flavors into a cohesive and delicious bourbon.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

Barrell has commanded the conversation for a long time when it comes to independent bottlings in American Whiskey. They have delivered what customers want with every single bottling—high proof quality whiskey—and they haven’t been afraid to innovate and push the envelope on unique finishes either. The key difference in Barrell’s finished choices over so many other producers’ is that they won’t release it if it doesn’t taste good. It’s not an interesting finish for the sake of finishing—it ‘s to make a great whiskey even better. The Armida is a limited release of just over 3000 bottles of three lots of Tennessee bourbon finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian Amaro casks. Each of these brings out a special characteristic of the Tennessee whiskey. And the real magic is in the miracle that none of the complex flavors clash, but rather work harmoniously to be greater than the sum of their parts. The nose is ripe pears, apples, and a basket of mixed stone fruits all dusted in a complex melange of baking spices. The amaro cask really complements the brandy cask in a big way on the nose. A palate that is distinctly buttered popcorn gives a pretty big clue to the source of at least part if not all of the whiskey itself. This flavor mixed with the funkier notes of Jamaican rum are a combination par excellence and should inspire some excellent Tiki drink in the hands of a capable bartender. A deep cocoa note is also quite assertive on the palate, presumably from the whiskey itself but highlighted by the amaro. As you transition into the finish of this whiskey, it’s easy to get lost. Your mind will wander from place to place and cask to cask as you try to pick the whole thing apart. The real beauty is in the realization that everything is so well integrated a determined drinker must work very hard to pick anything apart. It’s a blast to drink. At once outright delicious and a heady exercise for the geekier whiskey consumer to engage with.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2021

This splendid new blend is another indication that Barrell aims to be seen not only as the best bespoke bottler in craft spirits, but also the finest blender. The art of blending is anything but simple. When blending whisky 2+2 never equals 4. At home it’s fun to goof around with mixing different whiskies, but creating a blend whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts is neither art nor science-it’s magic! What our friends in Louisville have done with this excellent whiskey is create something that remains at its core bourbon (distilled in Tennessee, but not so distinctive as to be unmistakably Dickel), but brings a new and refreshing twist to the category. A complex mix of multiple barrel finishes-pear brandy, rum and amaro casks-creates truly new territory in terms of flavor without distancing itself so much from the category as to be unappealing to the purists. The color is deep copper. The nose bursts with redolent pears, maple syrup, stone fruit preserves, fresh herbs, and sarsaparilla. The palate bounces between undeniable pear flavors and the big herbs and spice of the amaro. It’s difficult to see exactly what the rum is doing here, but perhaps it’s adding some dried fruit and sweetness. Despite the complex mixture it avoids going bitter and stays remarkably refreshing. No detectable chalky vitamin flavors in my sensitive estimation, which will be good news for anyone leery of the Dickel thing. Altogether a lovely example of what’s possible with these small scale blending projects and a welcome addition to the Barrell pantheon.

Barrell Craft Spirits 7 Year Old Single Barrel K&L Exclusive #M221 Indiana (MGP) Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($99.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

One of my favorite things about being able to buy single barrels is in showcasing how different the “same whiskey” can be. Single Barrel M221 has the same specs, a similar proof—112.18 in this case—and pedigree as M225, yet they taste completely different. M221 is a spice bomb. It’s cinnamon and pepper and cloves and blackened pumpernickel. There is a faint overture made towards the stone fruit of M225, but it is brief and fleeting. A slight diesel note gives this cask a mean (but delicious) edge. It will kick your ass and not bother learning your name. It is not for the faint of heart.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2021

Another great single barrel of Indiana rye here. I respect Barrell’s policy of pricing all single casks similarly regardless of age. While this might seem a smidge high on paper, there’s very little out there of this caliber and almost none that’s single barrel and cask strength. The color is auburn. A bit restrained on first pour but time in the glass benefits it greatly. This has some interesting nearly tropical fruit aromas coupled with roasted nuts and dark roasted arabica bean. A dusty note that’s not unusual for mid-aged MGP permeates elegantly throughout. The entry drops all the fruit in favor of candied peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla, cacao nibs. It’s all very nicely packaged with a long dry, but not overly spicy finish. This one goes down real easy, but doesn’t let you forget that it’s 112 proof. A warming menthol builds on the palate as you continue with the glass. Just delicious stuff. I’m hoping these barrels are the start of the second coming of rye. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Barrell Craft Spirits 7 Year Old Single Barrel K&L Exclusive #M225 Indiana (MGP) Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($99.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

For as wildly popular as true single barrels of whiskey are, it’s remarkable that more brands won’t bottle them. Fortunately there is Barrell. This 7 year MGP rye is a choice barrel selected first by Barrell and then once again by K&L. In the bottling we want as little done as possible and Barrell is happy to oblige. Dump it out, run it through more of a strainer than a filter to get the chunks of wood out, and stick it in a bottle. Nothing more. Barrel M225 hits the glass at a hefty yet approachable 113.7 proof and is a splendid combination of earthy spice and bright fruit. My expectation is to be dominated by spice—and it’s not lacking by any stretch—but it’s also just so much more balanced than most ryes on the market. It’s a masterclass in the wide array of flavors the rye grain has to offer all in one single barrel.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2021

The wonderful distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN has become ubiquitous across the craft bottling scene, providing juice for countless brands throughout the country to bottle under their own label. They made their name on the modern whiskey scene selling gorgeous old rye whiskey through brands like Old Scout and High West, both of which have since exhausted their stocks as well as being sold to larger alcohol conglomerates. Slowly over the last couple of years, we’ve seen stocks rebuild and bottlers find ways to put quality juice in the bottle. Barrell has had a good line on stocks and they’ve been patient with these to bottle them when they’ve finally turned the corner maturity-wise. Barrell has a policy of bottling all single casks at the same price, which might make some old timers say this one is a bit overpriced. There is very little rye whisky of this quality on the market at any price point, however, and there’s not a single cask strength single barrel in this age range under $100 from any producers in KY, TN or Indiana that comes close. The color is auburn. The nose is earthy herbal rye, fresh and dried mint, orange peel, exotic old growth wood, and cinnamon. Really starting to show that age here. The powerful nose translates perfectly to the palate. Beautiful balance between the bold green rye flavors and sweet citrus liqueur to balance. Hints of black pepper, dill, licorice, black currants and a brambly leafiness. Not the dill bombs of yesteryear, but perfect older rye that scratches that rye itch unlike few other on the market today.

Macallan 25 Years (2020)

We have our hands on last year’s annual release for this big age Macallan. 90s distillation and one of the most revered whiskies. Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. One of the most revered whiskies in the world, a perfect example of sherry cask matured Speyside single malt. 2020 limited release. The Macallan Distillery was established by Alexander Reid in 1824 as Elchies Distillery near Easter Elchies House. Easter Elchies House dates back to 1700 and the estate itself to at least the 17th century.

Macallan Distillery is a malt whisky distillery situated in Speyside whisky region. The old still house was re-commissioned in 2008 and now Macallan Distillery operates with two still houses sheltering twenty-one copper stills. A brand new distillery is under construction and designed to house thirty one stills thereby retaining Macallan amongst the top producers by volume. On-site maturation is carried out in traditional dunnage warehouses and by racking in large new warehouses on the estate. Popular official releases include Macallan 18 Year Old and Macallan 30 Year Old.

£1,664  / €1,867  / usd$1,892 / cad$2,883*

 

 

Take A Walk On The Wild Side

SINGLE MALTS OF SCOTLAND AND
SINGLE CASKS BY THE WHISKY EXCHANGE

MONDAY 25 JANUARY, 10AM

THE PAST HAS GREAT TREASURE.
THE PRESENT HAS EXTRORDINARY RICHES.

ALL WILL BE REVEALED ON 25 JANUARY.

EXPLORE WEMYSS MALTS

Malt Messenger Bulletin

Even More New Tastings, a Few New Products & Even More Deals!

We are just over a week out from the annual KWM Year-End Inventory Sale. The shop will be closed on Monday, February 1 so we can count what is left in the store. We hold a sale every year on the weekend before to reduce what needs to be counted… But while the Year-End Inventory Sale is a week away, we have some deals on now!

We added 21 whiskies to the list of Sale Items this morning, with savings of between 20 and 30%. Some highlights include the Tamdhu 15 Year, Aberfeldy 21 Year, Bowmore 18 Year and the Craigellachie 13 Year, which is a steal at $56 (after a 30% discount).

We have also just opened up two new Virtual Whisky Tastings: A Very Belated Ardbeg Day with Bryan Simpson and the Cadenhead Original Collection with Cameron McGeachy. The sample sets for both tastings are poured and ready to go. Bryan will be joining us live from his home in Toronto, while Cameron will be joining us live from Campbeltown, on Scotland’s Kyntire Penninsula.

Connal Mackenzie, Sales Director for Adelphi and the Ardnamurchan Distillery, joined us live for a virtual tasting this past Saturday. I’ve been to the distillery, one of the most remote in Scotland, a few times over the last 5-6 years, and have been eagerly awaiting the first release of whisky. It did not disappoint. We have a bit of the very first whisky release, Ardnamurchan AD 09.20:01, available for sale. Limit 1 bottle per customer.

There are also some new Bourbons from Smooth Ambler, four different single barrels of Old Scout Bourbon. The Barrels have been bottled with proceeds from the sale of each bottle going to one of two charities supporting out of work hospitality workers: The Bartenders Benevolent Fund and the CPBA – or Canadian Professional Bartenders Association.

There are also some new whiskies from the High Coast Distillery in Sweden. We’ve actually had whisky from the distillery before, which used to trade under the name BOX. The BOX whiskies were good, but 500ml bottles and very expensive. The new range is all 700mls, and the prices are a lot better. The whiskies are also getting good reviews, and I can’t wait to try them.

I’ve also left our newest whisky and rum arrivals from Cadenheads, which were in the last Malt Messenger, up for browsing. They are a great value, and I thought they might tempt you to join us for Cameron’s tasting!

Finally, don’t forget to stay tuned for the Year-End Inventory Sale announcement, in about a week’s time.

As always, please let me know if you have any comments, questions or requests. In the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In this Edition

1. New Virtual Whisky Tastings

2. Other Up-Coming Virtual Whisky Tastings

3. Introducing: The Ardnamurchan Single Malt AD 09.20.01

4. Introducing: High Coast Whisky from Sweden

5. New Single Barrel Bourbons in Support of Bar Tenders

6. New Whiskies from Cadenhead.

7. On Sale Before the Big Sale

NEW VIRTUAL WHISKY TASTINGS

We are just getting started with the virtual tastings, and we will continue to add tastings to the lineup over the weeks and months ahead.

·     A Zoom link for each of the tastings will be emailed 12-48 hours prior to the tasting.

·     A pick-up date for the samples is indicated for each tasting!

·     Tasting samples can be delivered in Calgary city-limits for a $10 fee, which will be waived for orders over $100.

A Very Belated Ardbeg Day Tasting w/ Bryan Simpson

·     Date: January 28, 2021 @ 7PM

·     Cost: $40.00

·     Pick-up Date: Available Now

We’ve been hanging on to some rare bottles of Ardbeg for a special occasion, and this is it. Not surprisingly, we had to put a pin in our Ardbeg Day celebrations this year, but we looked at that as more of a postponement than a cancellation. So, here we go with our first ever Ardbeg Day in January… Bryan Simpson, Ardbeg brand ambassador for Canada will be your host as we sample through a range of 8 Ardbegs (15ml pours), including: An Oa, 10 Year, Wee Beastie, Traigh Bahn 19 Year Batch 2, Supernova 2019, Drum Committee Edition, Blaaack and Blaaack Committee Edition. This is the most epic Ardbeg tasting we’ve had in a “wee” while, and you won’t want to miss it. Each participant will receive 8x 15ml samples and an Ardbeg tasting glass. Thursday, January 28th @7PM

*LIMIT 1 TASTING REGISTRATION PER CUSTOMER!

Cadenhead Original Collection w/ Cameron McGeachy

·     Date: January 28, 2021 @ 5PM

·     Cost: $40.00

·     Pick-up Date: Available Now

Our friend Cameron McGeachy, WM Cadenhead’s Sales Manager, will join us live from Campbeltown, Scotland, as we virtually taste our through the latest Cadenhead whiskies to reach Canada. Cadenhead’s is not only Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, but it is also one of our favourites here at KWM. We’ll be sampling whiskies from Caol Ila, Deanston, Dufftown, Glenrothes, Strathclyde, Tomatin & Tullibardine. The tasting includes 7x 15ml samples.

OTHER UP-COMING

VIRTUAL WHISKY TASTINGS

KWM Casks Recap Tasting

·     Date: January 22, 2021 @ 8PM

·     Cost: $55.00

·     Pick-up Date: Available Now

·     Only 10 Spots Left!

We’ve launched some pretty cool single cask whiskies over the course of the last 9 months. In normal times we would have put them into a tasting or two, but we are not in normal times. Thankfully, the AGLC has changed the rules and is allowing us to pour samples for the purpose of virtual tastings, so we’re going to recap 7 of the great KWM exclusive whiskies we’ve launched in 2020. The tasting will consist of 7 20ml samples including our new Glenfarclas 25 Year KWM “Ferg Hommage” bottling, our 12-Year-old Kilchoman and the two new Whisky Agency mystery Speyside whiskies. 8 PM Friday, January 22

Dumangin Whisky with Gilles Dumangin

·     Date: January 23, 2021 7PM

·     Cost: $50.00

·     Pick-up Date: Available Now!

·     Only 6 Spots Left!.

Gilles Dumangin is best known for his fabulous Champagnes and his award-winning Ratafia Champenois (a fortified wine). But Gilles also loves whisky, and he’s been a busy chap… Gilles sourced whisky from a number of distilleries around the World, and then finished it, in Champagne, in his own Ratafia seasoned casks. We think he’s on to something… We’re are thrilled to have Gilles join us live from France for a virtual tasting of six of his whiskies, as well as his Ratafia. This tasting includes 6x20ml samples of the whiskies and a 50ml of the Ratafia Champenois. 7 PM Saturday, January 23.

Boutique-y Whisky Roulette Double Header with Dave Worthington

·     Dates: February 13, 2021 5PM & February 27, 2021 5PM

·     Cost: $160.00 (2 Tastings & 7 Whiskies)

·     Pick-up Date: Available Now!

·     Only 12 Spots Left!

The boys are back with another Boutique-y Double Header tasting. This time we will be tackling the “Boutique-y Greatest Hits Collection Vol. 1” in a virtual trans-Atlantic game of spin the bottles (the Greatest Hits Collection Spins). The tasting will take part over 2 nights, Saturday, February 13, 5 PM MT and Saturday, February 27, 5 PM MT. On each night we will sample 5 of the 10 50ml bottles in the Greatest Hits Collection, selected at random. Call it Whisky Roulette or Spin the Bottle… We will also sample two bonus drams each night, 28ml samples filled by KWM of 4 other Boutique-y whiskies. Dave Worthington will be our guide, and with a little luck, Sam Simmons will crash the party. 5 PM Saturday, February 13 & 5 PM Saturday, February 27..

INTRODUCING: THE ARDNAMURCHAN SINGLE MALT – AD 19.20.01

Of the dozens of new distilleries in Scotland, one of the ones I’m most excited about is Ardnamurchan. This western Highland Distillery is one of the most remote in Scotland, but the drive, not one for the faint of heart, is one of my favourites in Scotland. The setting is spectacular, located on the remote and rugged Ardnamurchan Peninsula. I’ve made the pilgrimage there at least twice, possibly three times, it is hard to be sure.

The driving force behind the distillery, is Managing Director Alex Bruce. Alex is better known for the Adelphi Selection independent bottlings. The Ardnamurchan Distillery and Adelphi Selection brands are owned by parent company Adelphi. Jim Swan consulted on the project, and while Alex didn’t want to produce the archetypal “Jim Swan” spirit, Alex did opt for longer fermentations and slow distillations.

Building started in 2013, with the distillery and its warehouses carved into the hillside. It is a miracle they managed to get all their equipment down the single track road. The first spirit trickled off the stills in 2014, and it was the following year that I paid my first visit. I was impressed with the distillery, and also the spirit coming off the stills. The distillery’s releases of Ardnamurchan Spirit over the last few years did not disappoint.

Six years and change on from the first distillation, the distillery has 10,000 casks maturing, and the first release of proper Ardnamurchan Single Malt Scotch Whisky is here. We don’t have a lot, so we are limiting sales to 1 per person. The distillery produces both peated and unpeated spirit, and the first release is a 50/50 marriage of these styles. We sampled it on Saturday, during our Ardnamurchan Virtual Tasting with Connal Mackenzie. It was a hit.

Ardnamurchan Single Malt AD/09.02.01 (Release 01) – 46.8% – 65% Ex Bourbon cask / 35% Sherry cask – 50/50 Split Peated & Unpeated – Producer Tasting Note: “Honeycomb, waxy peel, oyster shells, brine, strawberries with black pepper and bonfire embers.” – $105+gst Limit 1 per Customer

86pts Whisky Fun: Summary — Full Tasting note on our website: “Did anybody ever try to smoke gingerbread? The aftertaste is more on a classic citron/brine/smoke combo. Comments: this impressive young baby improves a lot with oxygen. Let them breathe! Can’t wait to try these when them too are eleven.

SGP:655 – 86 points.“

SINGLE BARREL BOURBONS IN SUPPORT OF BARTENDERS

Sovereign Wine & Spirits, the Canadian importer for Smooth Ambler and Old Scout Bourbons, have selected four different single barrels of Old Scout, $5 from each of these four bottlings benefitting two different charities: the Bartender’s Benevolent Fund and the CPBA – or Canadian Professional Bartenders Association.

KWM will also donate $5/bottle sold between now and the end of March to the respective charities!

1. Old Scout Bourbon BBF1 – 56.4% – 5 Year – $98.99

2. Old Scout Bourbon BBF2 – 58.4% – 5 Year – $98.99

3. Old Scout Bourbon CFBA#1 – 58.1% – 5 Year – $98.99

4. Old Scout Bourbon CFBA#2 – 57.3% – 5 Year – $98.99

INTRODUCING: HIGH COAST WHISKY

We’ve actually seen these whiskies before, under the brand name BOX. They were good, if a little pricey given they were 500mls and rather young. Rebranded High Coast, the distillery opened in 2010 in 19th Century buildings. One of the most northerly distilleries in the World, the artic circle passes through the distillery.The distillery has a long fermentation, 72-96 hours, leading to a fruitier profile. It also has some of the coldest cooling water in the world, ranging from 2-6C. The distillery uses both peated and unpeated malt. The following 4 releases have just arrived, and will begin trickling in to the store this week:

1. High Coast ÄLV – 46% – 6 Years – ex-Bourbon – Unpeated – Producer Description: “Älv is the Swedish word for River. Outside our front door runs the beautiful river Ångermanälven, the heart of the High Coast region and essential to our distillery. We are able to make such elegant whisky thanks to the naturally cold, crystal clear water sourced from the river. Älv — a well-balanced soft single malt with vanilla tones. Älv is our most elegant whisky.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Vanilla, Coconut, Sponge cake. Palate: Sweet vanilla, Mature pear, Apple. Finish: Long sweet vanilla notes.” – $96

2. High Coast BERG – 50% – PX Sherry Casks – Producer Description: “BERG – is a sherry matured whisky which has the same natural colour as the Nordingrå granite which can be seen protruding the dramatic landscape of the High Coast. The casks have previously held the flavoursome Pedro Ximénez sherry.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Sultanas, gooseberry, honey, dark chocolate. Palate: Long and fruity with a spicy aftertaste. Finish: Rich dates and balanced honeyed sweetness.” – $105

3. High Coast Hav – 48% – 5 Years – Bourbon, Sweedish Oak & Hungarian Oak – 76,82% unpeated whisky and 23,18% of peated whisky – Producer Description: “Hav is the Swedish word for Sea. In the majestic landscape of a world heritage site, High Coast Distillery sits where the beautiful river Ångermanälven merges into the sea. Here, the river is just about to reach the coast and slowly disappear out into the world, just like our single malt whisky. The message Hav brings to the world is an expression of oak, with a touch of spice and a little northern hardiness.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Fruity, Spicy, Cloves, Light Peat Reek, Nutmeg. Palate: Well balanced, Fruity, Spicy, Peat aroma. Finish: Oak, Cloves, Vanilla.” – $96

·     High Coast Timmer – 48% – 6 Years – Producer Description: “Peated single malt whisky matured in first fill Bourbon barrels. Timmer is our peated whisky, our humble tribute to the men and women who once lived and worked here. Those who risked their lives fighting icy cold waters as they steered the heavy logs downstream and kept warm by burning fires under the pale moon light.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Aroma: Peat, Vanilla. Palate: Campfire smoke, Rich Vanillia Sweetness. Finish: Citrus, Ash.” – $96

NEW WHISKIES FROM CADENHEAD

Cadenhead has put a pin in the Small Batch range and instead put out what they are calling the Original Collection at 46%. Our understanding is this was to stretch the amount of stock they could supplier retailers like us with. Here’s what’s coming!

1. Cadenhead Caol Ila 12 Year – 46% – Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Faint candle smoke, peppermint, toasted marshmallows. Palate: Stewed apples, vanilla yogurt, kiwi fruit. Finish: Burning coals, honey ham, salted caramel.” – $120 – Limit 1 per customer!

2. Cadenhead Deanston 10 Year – 46% – 80% Bourbon + 20% Madeira – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Apple skins, green tomatoes, stewed fruits. Flavour: Malty. Rye bread, freshly baked cake. Finish: Long finish with sour grape candy and ice gems.” – $94

3. Cadenhead Dufftown-Glenlivet 10 Year – 46% – Bourbon + PX Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Danish pastry, geraniums, toasted oats and caramelised brown sugar. Flavour: Raisin and rum ice cream, fruit loaf, sultanas. Finish: Slightly tannic, cigar boxes, rock salt.” – $100

4. Cadenhead Glenrothes-Glenlivet 23 Year – 46% – 60% Bourbon & 40% Sherry – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Apricots, dried mango, treacle, and banana chips. Palate: Green apples, Danish pastry, stewed rhubarb, and cherry yogurt. Finish: Mouth coating, subtle spice, ginger snaps, coffee liqueur.” – $225

5. Cadenhead Tomatin 12 Year – 46% – Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Icing sugar, marzipan, Battenberg cake, strawberries. Flavour: Salted and sweet popcorn, lemon meringue pie, crystallised orange peel. Finish: Well balanced with cinnamon sugar and butter fudge.” – $108

6. Cadenhead Tullibardine 13 Year – 46% – Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Freshly cut grass, digestive biscuits and lots of tropical fruits. Flavour: Candy floss, white chocolate, vanilla pods and creme brûlée. Finish: Oily. Faint pine notes, hard boiled sweets and hoppy.” – $108

7. Cadenhead Strathclyde 31 Year – 46% – Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Vanilla ice cream, raisins, pecan pie, peach slices in syrup. Flavour: Dark chocolate orange, dense madeira cake, soft spiciness. Finish: Creamy. Pistachio ice cream, cashews and peanut butter.” – $208

ON SALE BEFORE THE BIG SALE

A lot of importers have dropped prices ahead of Burns Day, somewhat forcing our hand. So even though our Year End Sale is just a week away, we’ve got some new deals for you right now!!!

None of these whiskies will be discounted more during the Year-End Inventory Sale. So you can be assured you won’t save more by waiting…

New Sale Items:

1. Aberfeldy 16 Year – Was $110 SAVE 20% – Now $87.99

2. Aberfeldy 21 Year – Was $180 SAVE 20% – Now $143.99

3. anCnoc 2002 Vintage – Spanish and American Oak Casks- Was $120 SAVE 20% – Now $95.99

4. anCnoc Peat Heart – Was $95 SAVE 20% – Now $75.99

5. Bowmore 18 Year – 43% – Was $125 SAVE 20% – Now $99.99

6. Caol Ila 15 Year Unpeated – 59.1% ABV – American & European Oak – Was $190 SAVE 25% – Now $142.49

7. Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve – 59.6% ABV – Unpeated – American & European Oak – Was $185 SAVE 25% – Now $151.99

8. Craigellachie 13 Year – American Oak – Was $80 SAVE 30% – Now $55.99

9. Game of Thrones Mortlach 15 Year – Matured in Sherry Finished in Bourbon – Was $220 SAVE 25% – Now $164.99

10.  The Deveron 18 Year – Was $190 SAVE 20% – Now $151.99

11. Johnnie Walker Green Label – Blended Malt – Was $82 SAVE 20% – Now $65.59

12. Lagavulin 8 Year – Was $92 SAVE 20% – Now $73.59

13. Lagavulin Distillers Edition 2018 – Finished in PX Sherry – Was $175 SAVE 20% – Now $139.99

14.  Royal Brackla 16 Year – Matured ex-Bourbon Finished in Sherry – Was $174.99 SAVE 20% – Now $139.99

15. Royal Brackla 21 Year – Was $279.99 SAVE 20% – Now $223.99

16.  Talisker Distillers Edition – Finished in Amoroso Sherry Butts – Was $120 SAVE 20% – Now $89.99

17. Talisker Storm – Was $98 – SAVE 25% – Now $73.49

18. Talisker Port Ruighe – Finished in Port Casks – Was $120 SAVE 30% – Now $83.99

19. Tamdhu 12 Year – Sherry Cask Matured – Was $98 SAVE 20% – Now $78.39

20. Tamdhu 15 Year – Sherry Cask Matured – Was $140 SAVE 20% – Now $111.99

21.Teeling Single Malt – Matured in American Oak / Finished in Wine Casks (Sherry, Port, Madeira & more) – Was $92 SAVE 20% – Now $73.59

STAY HOME… WE’LL DELIVER!

We Are Offering Some Great Deals

&

Free City-Wide Delivery for Orders Over $100

FREE DELIVERY – We are offering free delivery for orders over $100 placed online or over the phone, and will do our best to deliver within 72 hours.

CURBSIDE PICKUP – Place an order, we’ll let you know when it is ready. Call us when you are out front or parked in the back lot and we’ll bring it out. Simple as that!

GIFTING – Want to send someone a care package? All gifting options are still available. Quarantined parents and closed schools qualify as a “wine emergency”. Gift cards are also available and can be used over the phone.

If you are able, please submit your order online. We will answer any questions you might have before finalizing and processing your order. You are not automatically billed when you submit your order.

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

We will do our best to answer and process as many phone orders as we can. Call us at 403-283-8000.

COVID-19 Precautions at KWM

To protect our staff and customers we have implemented some policies!

Please do not enter the store if:

·     You have returned from Outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks, or you live with someone who has!

·     You are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected to have contracted COVID-19.

If the above applies to you, please order online or by phone and we can deliver!

Precautions we are taking in-store:

·     All of our staff are wearing masks, and we’d appreciate if you would do so too!

·     We are only allowing 6 customers in the store at any given time.

·     We have hand sanitizer throughout the store for the use of customers and staff.

·     We kindly ask that you do not to pick up products unless you intend to purchase them.

·     We are frequently disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and high contact areas within the store.

·     We are also not accepting cash payment at this time.

·     Staff are frequently washing and disinfecting their hands.

·     We have cancelled all in-store tastings.

·     We are monitoring our staff for symptoms.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all try to navigate this challenging time!

403-283-8000

888-283-9004

Store Hours

Sunday: 11am – 6pm

Mon – Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thu – Fri: 10am – 9pm

Sat: 10am – 8pm

*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.*

Barton Distillery 1792 K&L Exclusive Cask #4017

Bottled in Bond Kentucky Bourbon (750ml)

$39.99 View

After Jim Murray awarded the 2020 Whisky Bible’s Whisky of the Year to Barton Distillery’s 1792 Full Proof, it’s been absolutely impossible to keep their products in stock. While we were able to select a couple of full proof barrels (and bought every one we could because it’s delicious) the whiskey is outstanding at any proof, so when we were able to pile on with a barrel of BIB – it was a no brainer.

Some Scotch for your supper?

The countdown to Burns Night is on! Make sure you’re stocked up on stellar Scottish drams to toast the Bard on Monday 25th January. Wondering what the experts will be sipping this Burns Night? Benriach’s Stewart Buchanan has his sights set on a large dram of Benriach The Smoky Twelve and something sweet on the side…

“Although Benriach The Smoky Twelve pairs perfectly with haggis, the rich fruits, spices and nutty sweet smoke lead me more to the other Scottish national dish, Cranachan, often referred to as ‘the uncontested king of Scottish desserts’! A perfect pairing as I’m sure you’ll agree.”

Shop the Benriach range ›

Get into the Chinese New Year spirit!

Raise a toast to the Year of the Ox with one of these exceptional whiskies, featuring special bottlings from Johnnie Walker and Glenfiddich. Or try something new with Ming River Baijiu: a classic Chinese spirit that won’t be like anything you’ve ever tried before…

Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Year of the Ox
£224.00

Buy Now ›

John Walker & Sons
King George V
£550.00

Buy Now ›

The wait is almost over! The January Outturn is nearly here, ready to kick off a new year of flavour exploration. We are only a couple of days away from being able to deliver whiskies to our members in Europe again, so we have decided to hold off from releasing the Outturn until we can all share it together. The full Outturn will now go on sale to all members at 12 noon (UK time) on Tuesday, 19 January.

In the meantime you can head over to our website and browse the bottlings. We have a whirlwind of 29 new casks for you to dive into, featuring a mouth-watering array of Flavour Profiles. Will you start 2021 with some familiar flavours, or try something a bit more adventurous?

Apologies, but we need to add a short delay to the release of the January Outturn. We want to include our EU members in the launch but during testing, we discovered a glitch in the new payment system we’ve set up especially for them post Brexit. The extra time will allow us to resolve the issue.

Many thanks for your understanding and patience, we hope you’ll agree that it is worth the wait to be able to allow all members to enjoy our new bottlings. Sharing has always been at the heart of everything we do.

VIEW NEW BOTTLINGS

VIEW OUTTURN HUB

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

A “Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It” Single Cask Whiskey from Clear Creek
Clear Creek McCarthy’s “Hard Water Exclusive” Single Barrel #168 Cask Strength Oregon Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) ($89.99)
“We can’t imagine having found a better barrel ourselves.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Buyer

NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

It’s been nearly a decade since we last offered a cask strength bottling from McCarthy’s. This is not for lack of trying but is a testament to just how in-demand these category-defining whiskies are. As a result of bar closures, one of our favorite whisky bars in San Francisco, Hard Water, could not take their exclusive allocation of this coveted spirit. While we would have much preferred to have enjoyed this single malt while taking in the view at Pier 3 along the Embarcadero, circumstances make it possible for us to offer it here. At full proof, this incredible single malt really shows its outsized personality. We could go on and on, but we will simply summarize by saying this is American single malt at its very best. If you’ve ever enjoyed a bottle of McCarthy’s, then you absolutely must pick this one up. And if true Scotch is your thing, we urge you to compare this beauty against your favorite Islay—to say it holds its own would be an understatement. There’s no way this whiskey will be around for long, so make sure to get a jump on it before it is gone for good.

Clear Creek McCarthy’s “Hard Water Exclusive” Single Barrel #168 Cask Strength Oregon Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) ($89.99)

The wonderful McCarthy’s Single Malt whisky has been a staple on our shelves since Steve McCarthy first thought to import Scottish peated malt and distill the grain on his little Holstein pot still. Steve is one of the godfathers of American craft distilling and fired up his first still to make pear eau-de-vie in 1985. His interesting idea to blend very smoky spirits with active air-dried Oregon oak is one of the great revelations in craft whisky. In so many ways, Steve was ahead of his time. We were lucky years ago to bottle their first cask strength barrel for K&L and we’re just as proud to have this exceptional barrel in stock. That first barrel we did, all those years ago, pissed more people off than perhaps any other special bottling we’ve done to date. Steve was only filling a couple of barrels a year and so our one barrel depleted the entire country’s stock for the year by half. Our friends at Hard Water in San Francisco selected this special cask and while it’s not nearly as impossible to get a single barrel of McCarthy’s now, this is the only one they’ve bottled for California at cask strength. We’re sad that things are such that Hard Water isn’t able to sell this barrel themselves, but we’re honored to be able to share it with the world. We can’t imagine having found a better barrel ourselves. It was bottled at cask strength of 111.2 proof without chillfiltration on February 3rd, 2020.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

We’ve always had a great relationship with Clear Creek and that’s not changed since Steve McCarthy handed over the reins to Hood River Distillers back in 2014. While we’ve consistently stocked the regular whisky and the excellent eau-de-vie, we’ve not been offered the opportunity to sell cask strength single barrel McCarthy in nearly a decade. So when I got a call from the distributor that one of our favorite bars in San Francisco wasn’t able to take their barrel due to restaurant closures, I jumped at the chance to help. Of course, we tasted the whisky before buying it and were quickly reminded of what we loved all those years ago about the cask strength version of this special distillate. At full proof, there’s an added depth and weight that’s simply lost when brought to proof. The color is deep copper. The nose is a gorgeous mixture of sweet oak spice, mesquite smoke, espresso bean, ripe plums and hints of salinity. It’s smoke but not as obviously peated as the standard release, showing a lot more oak influence in a good way. On the palate the opposite is true. A slightly Band-Aid-y but much more obvious peat comes rushing straight through the center of the palate at first with the sweet oak and bold spice kicking up behind. The palate is relatively oily and round but the bold spice is nearly as strong as the peat. With a drop of water this gorgeous spirit finally relinquishes some of the spice and the whole thing seems to open up quite perfectly. More obvious malt, some citrus and earthy smoke on the nose now. A perfectly balanced peat on the palate with a clear line to Islay now, showing some more yellow citrus and much more salinity. This is incredibly good whisky considering the age and offers a glimpse of what American craft distillers could be doing if they followed in the footsteps of the category’s founders. Some might enjoy the overt woodiness straight out of the bottle, which is nicely balanced and not at all astringent, but with water we start to really see this thing click into gear. A great barrel and hopefully one of more to come in the future.