Don’t Miss This Truly Unique Find in Peated Scotch Whisky
Arran “Machrie Moor” Cask Strength Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)
“It’s really the perfect summertime peater.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L 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.

With the sheer number of stellar Scotch whiskies on our shelves and in the market at large, it’s hard to believe how difficult it is to find a single malt that’s a true medium peater—that is, not a full-on campfire yet still enough to satisfy the smoke hounds. This style is highly sought-after but rarely achieved, and Arran’s “Machrie Moor” flat out nails it. At levels of 20 parts per million, this whisky hits all the right notes in the perfect peat register. It’s a thrilling preview of what’s to come from Arran’s brand new distillery at Lagg, where the focus will be on all things peat. The Machrie Moor is bottled at cask strength and without coloring, so the authentic nature of the whisky is free to shine. It is by no means shy on the smoke character, but this feature serves as a steady background to a staggering showcase of aromas and flavors. Ocean brine, sweet citrus, and candied almonds highlight the wide-ranging profile of one of the more unique single malts we’ve come across in a long time. Although it’s a stunner at full cask proof, the Machrie Moor is also extremely receptive to water, so splash away and ride out the dog days of summer with a truly refreshing Scotch, the likes of which you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

Arran “Machrie Moor” Cask Strength Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)

Independently owned since its inception in 1995, the folks at Arran have been quietly making some of the very best island-distilled whisky in Scotland for 25 years. Their water source is 100% rainwater coming from Loch Na Davie high above the distillery. The clean water combined with 100% Concerto malt and a careful distillation is the essence of Arran—it’s fresh, barley-forward and shows flavors heavy with citrus, stone fruit, and vanilla pudding. They never color or chill filter any of their whiskies, choosing instead to retain all of the natural beauty they worked so hard to capture. The Machrie Moore is named for a distinct peat bog on the west coast of the island and features a fresh blast of peat that perfectly matches the amazing freshness of the Lochranza distillate. Since 2019 all of the peated production on the Isle of Arran has moved to the new Lagg distillery on the south side of the island. This is the last chance to sock away a few bottles of the cask strength Lochranza-peated whisky before it’s gone forever.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 01, 2020

This fun whisky from Arran is now more or less extinct at least in this package. We are forever in search of a great malt that can properly be described as “somewhat peaty.” Despite what many might believe, there are very few in between malts. Almost everything that’s readily available is either 30+ parts or zero. Yes there are a few exceptions, like Oban, Balvenie, and Dalwhinnie, but in general these don’t really cross the threshold to really feel the peat in a big way (Oban is probably the closest). There’s of course a few exceptions, but the options are extremely limited. So when we came across the Machrie Moor at the very reasonable 20 ppm, we were intrigued. Now add that this small batch is not colored and is bottled at cask strength and that’s a recipe for something special. The color is pale gold. The nose is extremely focused with an obvious ocean quality, but not the Laphroiag slap that some peat lovers might be craving. Instead, the smoke is lingering in the background with salinity and crystalline malt coming through. Clean and gentle, yet not boring by any means. On the palate some smoldering peat and some green earthiness. Green apple skin, crushed oyster shell, and bits of citrus. This is NOT a lightly peated whisky, but it’s a balanced medium peater, which is really very rare in our world. Bottled at cask strength, it’s delicious, but this guy loves water too so don’t be afraid to hit it with a few satisfying splashes of water. It develops some interesting character at the slightly lower proofs, offering more citrus, more fruit and a bit of the salted fish character that we all love so well.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 29, 2020

The color of dried straw and with a nose of smoldering peat, the cask strength Machrie Moor gives us a brief glimpse into what we might expect from the Lagg distillery in a number of years, albeit on a different set of stills. Rather than being very heavily peated, the Machrie Moor clocks in at 20PPM peat levels, just enough to shine against the light and fruity background of Arran without overwhelming it. It’s really a perfect summer time peater. Fresh and salty with tons of sweet citrus. Dusted in cocoa powder and redolent with caramelized almonds. The peat hangs like the air after a forest fire is put out – warm and heavy.

We’ve had fun becoming whisky anoraks this month, getting to know the facts behind the flavours, and exploring the role technology is playing in enjoying whisky. Now’s the chance to put your new knowledge to the test as you delve into a cheeky selection of new mid-month releases, with a wealth of styles and flavour profiles to choose from.

view all new whiskies   view all whiskies

PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the demand of these new bottlings, you may encounter our new queue system in operation. The new system is being tested in response to our recent member survey, as we look to improve your experience online. Thanks!

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

Malt Messenger Bulletin

Surprise Summer Sale Starts Now

The tags are up, the banner is hung and the pricing is live, our Surprise Summer Sale is on!

We only have 4 store-wide Sales a year at KWM. The Surprise Summer Sale is usually held earlier in August, but as we delayed our May Birthday Sale to June, we thought it best to push this one back by a few weeks too. So for those of you who thought we’d forgotten or skipped it this year, SURPRISE!

Before we get to the juicy details on the sale, there are a few other exciting tidbits we would like to share with you before it is too late…

Firstly, we have a really exciting pair of new Virtual Whisky Tastings scheduled for Saturdays September 12 & 26. For the Boutique-y Whiskies Double Header we will be joined from the UK by Special Guests Sam Simmons (Head of Whisky) and Dave Worthington (Global Brand Ambassador) for the Boutique-y Whisky Co. Just $80 for two tastings of six whiskies each, including 21 year old Ben Nevis & Clynelish, a 28 Year Cambus and a 24 Year Bourbon… More details below. These tastings are already 2/3 sold… only 35 spots left!

There is a new GlenDronach in town, a 2009 Vintage 10 Year, bottled exclusively for Canada. The whisky staff are all rather impressed with it, something you don’t often here. It has been a rather hot commodity over the last week. Note as a brand new arrival it is not on sale!

We also have an exciting whisky return, the Berry’s Blue Hanger 11th Limited Release is Back! This KWM exclusive has been gone for the shelves for a couple of years. We are doubly excited about its return, as it also dropped in price by $45/bottle… Only about 30 of the 60 bottles which just returned are left!

Now back to the Surprise Summer Sale. The pricing is live online now. As always, we have created PDFs with the best deals on Whisky & Other Spirits as well as Wine, to help you focus your shopping.

Please order through the website if you can, or swing by the store. You are welcome to pop down to the store, but if you do please wear a mask, be patient if there is a line, and respect our other Covid-19 Policies.

If you are looking to have your order packed for pickup please note we already have a healthy waiting list, and it could take up to a week for your order to be ready.

If you are requesting Curb Side pickup, please give us at least 4 hours to pull and process your order. Ideally please wait until you receive the confirmation it is ready.

We are expecting higher than normal demand for delivery in Calgary. Free Delivery for orders over $50 is still available, but again please be patient as we work through all the requests.

Happy Hunting!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/

or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1

New Virtual Whisky Tasting(s) 

The Boutique-y Whiskies Double Header with Sam Simmons & Dave Worthington!

If you’ve been paying attention to my emails over the last little while, you’ll have noted that we had to get creative with virtual tastings on account of not being able to pour samples… Hoping that will change in the near future, but in the interim, we’ve been using available gift packs and 50mls to put on virtual tastings. While scouting the available options I noticed there was a decent amount of last year’s “12 Whiskies of Christmas” from That Boutique-y Whisky Company left in the market.

The set is composed of 12 wax sealed 30ml bottles, and there are some cool whiskies in it: Cambus 28 Year Single Grain, 21 Year Clynelish & Ben Nevis, and a 24 Year Bourbon to name just a few. So we negotiated a deal (they originally sold for $110+gst) and purchased the lot of them with an eye to putting on some tastings. We approached the chaps at That Boutique-y Whisky Company about taking part in the tastings, and they jumped at the opportunity.

We will be splitting the whiskies over a pair of tastings on Saturday September 12th and 26th, at 5PM, to accommodate our friends in London. We will be joined in the tastings by Sam Simmons (Head of Whisky) and Dave Worthington (Global Brand Ambassador). The cost is $80+gst for the samples. We can pack them for out of town pickup. Free Delivery is available within Calgary city-limits. A zoom link and password will be emailed out the day before the tasting.

The people are thirsty, and demand is high, only 35 of the 95 spots for the tasting are still available!

 Boutique-y Whiskies Double Header with Dr. Whisky aka Sam Simmons – Saturday September 12, 5PM & Saturday September 26, 5PM – $80+gst

Register by phone at 403-283-8000 or  online.

Introducing: The Glendronach 2009 10 Year 

A Very Decent Place Holder for the GlenDronach 12 Year…

If you are wondering why we haven’t seen certain releases from the BenRiach and GlenDronach distilleries over the last few years, there is a very good reason for it. The GlenDronach 15 Year Revival has its own reasons for only infrequently being available, mainly owing to a shortage of suitable stocks.

For the rest of the BenRiach Distillery Co. Whiskies, which include BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh, many of the skus are tied up in a dispute between the old importers, and the new one. Until it is resolved -and apparently progress has been stagnant-, many of the products like the GlenDronach 12 and 18 Years won’t be returning to Alberta. In the interim, the distillery has bottled a 2009 10 year old small batch whisky for “Canada” to replace the 12 Year. It arrived in-store on Wednesday, we cracked a bottle and were suitably impressed. My tasting note below.

GlenDronach 2009 10 Year – 43% – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: nutty with soft leather, raisins, chocolate and syrup; doughy with baking spices, vanilla icing and dry grasses. Palate: rich and nutty its starts slow but builds in to decadent spices, syrup and cooked raisins; sweet and dumpy with black licorice and dark chocolate; candied orange and chewy malt; late vanilla, dunnage warehouses and minty-floral-tones. Finish: medium in length with leather, spices and candied fruit. Comment: released to replace the 12 Year, at least in Alberta; this is quintessentially GlenDronach and a lovely dram; I think it would have been improved at 46%, but I digress; the nose is good and the palate is better; very quaffable stuff!” – $96

Surprise Summer Sale 

The Best Deals & Fine Print!

We last saw this whisky about 2-3 years ago, and were thrilled when we had the opportunity to get it back. Especially when we found out the price was dropping nearly $50. Whisky Advocate Magazine gave this edition of the Blue Hanger Release a rating of 92pts and titled it their 2015 Blended/Blended Malt Whisky of the Year. As with the last time it was here, it is again exclusive to KWM, with only 60 bottles for Canada.

The 11th release is a vatting of a total of 8 casks:  4 hogsheads, 3 sherry butts and 1 puncheon. Amongst these is purportedly both peated and unpeated malt from Bunnahabhain distillery but the rest of the makeup is not known, or cannot be disclosed…

Berry’s Blue Hanger 11th Release – 45.6% – Hogsheads & Sherry Butts/Puncheons – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honey and marzipan mingle with clean smoke and chocolate salted caramel tarts; crisp lemon and orange with loads of creamy vanilla and dried fruits: raisins and apricots. Palate: round and immediately smoky, earthy and chocolaty all laid over a base of silky vanilla and decadent honey; firm spices develop including bright ginger, black licorice and candied fennel; there are dried fruits hinting at a sherry influence balanced out by muddier tones of sweet peaty malt. Finish: big, bold and malty with lovely vanillans, leather, dried fruits and spices; delicate clean salty smoke and gentle earthy peat underneath! Comment: lots going on here though it is not as peaty as some past releases, very layered and complex; a gateway whisky to more heavily peated malts?” – WAS $165 – NOW $120+gst

Whisky Advocate Tasting Note: “It’s the intensity of flavor that just grabbed me by the lapels and spun me round. It harbors intense tangelo juiciness; that unparalleled concentration of deep citrus skillfully mingled with dark vanilla, dried apricots, and gentle smoke. This goes the distance, delivering wave after delicious wave: peach juice, mandarin, pineapple cubes, and lemon zest. A firm, unctuous finish shows a little charred wood and dark sugar cloaked in fine smoke. Tongue pleasing and very special indeed. £90” (Spring 2015) 92pts Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick”

Surprise Summer Sale 

The Best Deals & Fine Print!

Most* in-stock Whisky, Gin, Rum, Brandy and Other Spirits are 10-50% off!

Browse Whisky & Spirits Discounted by 15% or More!

Most* in-stock Wine is at least 15% off, with savings up to 50%!

Browse Wines Discounted 20% or More!

All in-stock Beer is 5-30% off!

Sale Rules & Conditions

Due to Covid-19, we have a few more than usual!

• This Summer Sale is this weekend only: Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23, 2020. It will end at 6PM in-store and 11:59PM online.
• Most in-stock Wine is at least 15% off with savings of up to 50%. Excludes some new arrivals.
• Most in-stock Whisky is at least 10% off, with well over 250 products 15-50% off! Excludes some new arrivals.
• All in-stock Spirits, including, Cognac, Gin & Rum, are all at least 10% off, with many discounted 15-30% and a few up to 50% off!
• All in-stock Beer is at least 5% off with others discounted by up to 30%!
• Sale pricing will not be applied retroactively or carried forward from the end of the sale.
• Sale is on in-stock items only, with the exception of KWM exclusives (including SMWS on sale), on which we will honour the discount should we run out (provided we still have stock).
• In the event of a discrepancy in price or discount, the Point of Sale at Kensington Wine Market will be taken as correct.
• No additional discounts or promotions can be applied on top of these discounts. The best discount available will be the only one applied.
• No phone orders please.
• We strongly urge you to consider ordering online.
• Free Delivery and Curb Side Pickup Are Available.
  • Please give us at least 4 hours after placing your order for Curb Side Pickup
  • Deliveries will be arranged on a first come first serve basis next week.
• In-store shopping is limited to 6 customers at a time. Do not come in to the store if you have any Covid-19 symptoms. Please wear a mask, observe a 2 metre social distance with other customers and staff, refrain from picking up products unless you intend to purchase them. Kindly limit the amount of time you spend in-store out of respect to other customers who may be waiting to enter and shop as well. If you are asked to wait before entering please be patient.
• In-store Sale Hours:
  • 10-8 Friday
  • 10-8 Saturday
  • 11-6 Sunday

*Exclusions include some select new items, limited Nikka whiskies and most Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies.

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger! 

Contact & Disclaimers 

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change and don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in-store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

Owner & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Howard Cai Select releases Grand Islay Peat & Sherry Single Cask range from Bowmore

Distilled in 1998 at Islay’s famous Bowmore Distillery and aged in Sherry Casks for 21 years within the walls of the legendary No. 1 Vaults, these whiskies are exclusively available at Howard Cai Select.

While each of the eight single casks has unique characteristics, they all share a robust peat profile, with complicated Sherry notes, rounded by the Hebridean sea air.

The whisky was then non-chill filtered and bottled keeping the spirits natural rich, deep colour. With a wonderfully long and delightful finish, this range of single casks results in a truly magical experience.

Plus, to celebrate the Year of the Rat, four of the casks were treated with traditional Chinese zodiac imagery.

About Howard Cai 

Established in 2009, Howard Cai Select is China’s first independent Single Malt Whisky bottler. A life member of The Keepers of the Quaich and renowned whisky expert, Howard has made it his mission to broaden people’s appreciation for fine Scotch Whisky in China. Howard successfully pairs these whiskies with Nouveau-Chinese cuisine in his exclusive fine-dining establishments. Each hand-picked cask is aged and bottled in Scotland at its original strength. Then detailed information of when the whisky was distilled and bottled is provided, guaranteeing provenance. Also, the packaging design includes Chinese-cultural elements to help celebrate this combination of East and West. Each batch is a truly unique experience.

For more information about Howard Cai Select Single Cask and the investment opportunity please contact: HowardCaiSelect@gmail.com

The Epicurean Launches Its 3^rd “Wood Series” Single Cask Bottling

Douglas Laing & Co has today released a Rivesaltes Wine Finished Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky as part of The Epicurean Wood Series.

The Epicurean’s latest specialist Single Cask release is bottled at a high alcohol strength of 48%, and offered without chill-filtration. The 100% natural bright gold colour of the spirit is imparted by the Rivesaltes-seasoned Single Cask used for maturing the award-winning Lowland Malt. With this innovative series, The Epicurean seeks to demonstrate that flavour is created throughout the Whisky-making process but most significantly during the interaction between the spirit when it is in oak casks.

The Epicurean Malt was first matured in premium American Oak wood barrels before being re-racked into hand-selected Rivesaltes Single Casks for a second maturation period of more than twelve months. The result is a full-bodied Malt with layers of complexity and character.

The Rivesaltes Wine casks hail from the town Rivesaltes in the south-west corner of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region of France.

Chris Leggat, Managing Director, who selected the Rivesaltes casks used said: “The Epicurean brand is growing well – its spirit quality coupled with its versatile style is increasingly recognised but from time to time, we like to experiment and innovate with this Malt as it lends itself so well to cask finishes. The cask and the Whisky add their own unique personalities and with this Rivesaltes finish, the outcome is a balanced marriage of cask and spirit character – we are delighted with the result.”

With only two Single Casks of this specialist Malt released, the spirit is said to have a sweet, honeyed style showing sugared cereal, milk chocolate, hazelnuts and crystallised citrus fruits.

Packed in a premium gift tube, The Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish Limited Edition is expected to retail at £59.99 

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING:

www.douglaslaing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/douglaslaingwhisky

Instagram: @remarkable_malts

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Islands (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay). Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

We don’t do many press releases, but as an award-winning small independent bottler we wanted to get the message out about our new Winter 2020 outturn as they are all very different and have all been driven by consumer feedback and requests (sometimes demands!).

“Despite all the surreal times, tough times and frankly sad times we have all been through during 2020, the last twelve months have been an exciting year for GreatDrams as a business; we have started exporting our limited edition whiskies abroad, we have rebuilt our website and brand from the ground up, we have refocussed the company to offer more bottlings than ever before, to act as a cask brokerage too and we through challenging times we have built a thriving online virtual whisky (and gin) tasting platform too” – Greg Dillon, co-founder of GreatDrams.

As a company of two people, husband and wife duo Greg & Kirsty Dillon, we are able to be really nimble when it comes to what we do with our range, what we release and when we release new limited edition whiskies.

“Every whisky we release is limited edition, never repeated and never released for the sake of it”, as Kirsty likes to explain, “we deliberately set the company up to only release small releases of each product a it keeps it interesting for us, and for our customers who come back time and again, and really shape what we do as a business”.

And now we have three new releases going into the final few months of the year.

KNOCKDHU SINGLE CASK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

This whisky is the first Port Cask-matured single malt we have released, having spent its whole maturation period in a First Fill Ruby Port Barrique. The flavour profile, a thick spirit owing to reduced reflux in the stills and the use of worm tubs in the process, is full of with luscious berry fruity notes and an indulgent dark chocolate note has a thick, creamy mouthfeel that will bring you back time and again.

“For the lucky few who have already got their bottles of this release, virtually all have said its their favourite of our releases to date; the rich flavour profile is stunning and we have been blown away by the positivity received for our Knockdhu already,” notes Greg.

Age: 8 Years Old     |     Distilled: 23rd April 2012     |     ABV: 48.2%     |     Only 183 bottles ever released

CHRISTMAS 2020 SPECIAL RELEASE SINGLE CASK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

This much anticipated, and requested, Christmas Series release is a Single Cask Single Malt whisky from the Blair Athol Distillery in the Highlands. For this release we wanted something truly indulgent and Christmassy with a lovely sherried character to it – big winter fruit notes, some zesty orange and lime and subtle, soothing spice and a hint of marzipan notes create a luxurious flavour profile to conjure the flavour of Christmas cake, and with it a dram to reminisce with and to celebrate with those you love, no matter how surreal the year has been.

“Last year our Christmas release sold out in nine days which was hugely unexpected, so we are excited to see what happens with it this year!” – Kirsty

Age: 9 Years Old     |     ABV: 46.2%     |     Only 150 bottles ever released

GIRVAN 30 YEAR OLD SINGLE CASK SINGLE GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY

An ancient grain whisky from the Girvan Distillery – distilled in 1989, this 30 Year Old has spent thirty years patiently sleeping, maturing, developing… This limited edition Girvan 30 Year Old Single Cask Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottling is a release of just 96 bottles globally. With fruity and buttery notes being the most forward, a lovely vanilla sweetness develops on the palate to give a luxurious texture, and a rather indulgent whisky to sip, savour and celebrate with.

Our oldest release to date, bottled at natural cask strength, this whisky comes from the Girvan distillery in Ayrshire, having been distilled just after Christmas, 1989.

Age: 30 Years Old     |     ABV: 54.5%     |     Only 96 bottles ever released

All our releases are non-chill filtered and of natural colour.

“We have been toying with when to release our ancient Girvan for a while now and it felt right to do so now as it is just over 30 years old, is so rich and luxurious in its flavour composition and, frankly, like all our releases, we fell in love with it… who doesn’t love an ancient grain whisky?!” – Greg

In addition to new releases, GreatDrams is now taking bookings for private virtual whisky and gin tastings September through December, so far since lockdown was announced GreatDrams’ virtual tastings – public and private – have had over 2,000 participants and has added a fun dimension to what we do. Greg notes that he “never expected to do virtual tastings, and set the first one up as a way to get around 20 people to have a drink with him to alleviate the monotony of lockdown and it just spiralled from there”.

To get in touch and talk whisky contact info@greatdrams.com or to buy limited edition whisky www.greatdrams.com/whisky-shop

ABOUT GreatDrams

www.GreatDrams.com
www.twitter.com/GreatDrams
www.Instagram.com/GreatDramsGreg
www.Facebook.com/GreatDrams

GreatDrams is all about raising spirits.

We launched GreatDrams, a family business, to bring great quality, limited edition whiskies to the people. Never repeating a release and never compromising on flavour. Award-winning from our first dram, we aim to make great whisky more approachable and available to whisky drinkers.

In 2019 we were crowned Cheshire Drinks Producer of the Year at the Taste Cheshire awards, picked up one double gold and one gold at the Great Taste awards and were awarded 91.5 points and 80.5 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020 respectively for our two core releases of the year. We will introduce whisky drinkers to their next favourite dram.

We are experts in finding incredible tasting rare casks of whisky. Each bottle is hand numbered, is limited edition, only a finite amount of it will ever be bottled, and it is all available exclusively from us; once they’re gone, they truly are gone.

We also help ordinary people, businesses and anyone who’s interested in owning a cask of whisky make that dream or commercial objective a reality. Get in touch to discuss owning your own part of whisky history.

We love what we do and are constantly searching for whisky that not only has a story behind every drop and means something to us, but tastes sensational.

4 year old Inchfad bottled for the NHS with profits going to Healthcare charities

Independent Bottler The Single Cask have bottled a unique single cask whisky and is donating all profits to Healthcare charities.

The COVID crisis has been tough for everyone, and continues to present challenges. The heroes of the hour are our NHS, healthcare, and frontline workers. They have, and continue, to look after us all.

As soon as warehouses in Scotland opened again after lockdown, The Single Cask decided to swing into action and bottle something special. They chose a unique single cask Inchfad, distilled at Loch Lomond in the Highlands. Inchfad is rare today, with the distillery itself no longer bottling this range. This heavily-peated single malt scotch whisky is renowned for its soft fruit and malt notes.

The Single Cask selected a four year old ex-bourbon cask, distilled in 2016. At cask strength of 61.4% the whisky has been bottled in its natural colour and without chill-filtration.

Tasting notes for this whisky are:

● Nose: barbecued, smokey pineapple with sweet malt, seasoned with white pepper and cinnamon.

● Palate: soft tropical fruit in the form of pineapple and mango, with both the malt character of the original spirit and the influence of the oak cask coming through, together with a touch of white pepper and cinnamon.

● Finish: long and satisfying with elements from both nose and palate present – smoked pineapple with malt, oak and wood spice.

All profits from the 197 bottles of this single cask expression will be donated by The Single Cask to healthcare charities in recognition of, and in support of, their ongoing efforts fighting COVID.

This 4 year old Inchfad bottled for the NHS is available to buy for £49 at www.thesinglecask.co.uk/nhs

For further queries please contact Ed Leigh: ed@thesinglecask.co.uk

Notes

About The Single Cask

The Single Cask bottles unique spirits one cask at a time. We search hard to find exceptional single malt whisky, Irish whiskey, and American bourbon. We like whiskies that showcase a distillery’s characteristics or an interesting maturation technique. But in the end, if it’s delicious, we put it in a bottle. We bottle our whiskies at cask strength, natural colour, and without chill-filtration. This keeps the whisky as pure and natural as possible; just as we found it in the cask. Our glass bottles are styled like a decanter, designed to be passed around a group of friends as they enjoy sharing a dram together. The best whisky should be opened, shared and enjoyed; not left to gather dust on a shelf. We’re passionate about what we do. We’re here to get these single cask releases into whisky-lovers’ hands.

The Single Cask be found here

● Website: www.thesinglecask.co.uk
● Instagram: @thesinglecask
● Twitter: @the_single_cask
● Facebook: @thesinglecaskuk

As we prepare to celebrate our spiritual home with The Gathering next month, we’ve taken the opportunity to once again delve into our deepest warehouses and select three exceptional casks to add to our Vaults Collection.

The whiskies of The Vaults Collection will transport you to another time and place, reliving whisky of a bygone era, this time from a group of distilleries which are rarely bottled by the Society. Pour a dram and indulge yourself in whiskies which are held in the highest regard by the Society’s esteemed Tasting Panel and create a moment of history in your own whisky journey.

To purchase bottlings such as these please contact the Society for Membership details…

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 New Allocation of an Old Favorite from Suntory
Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (Elsewhere $195) ($119.99)
“Hakushu has always been my favorite of the Suntory malts.”
— 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.

It is no secret that Japanese single malts have become wildly expensive in recent years. This is what happens when a limited-production collectible meets a precipitous climb in demand. That being said, on occasion, we are able to track down a bottling that bucks this trend and isn’t priced into the stratosphere—enter the Hakushu 12 Year Old. A prized bottling in Suntory’s impressive collection, this peated malt has developed quite a devoted following over the years. Graced with a modest touch of smoke, it unveils a classic Japanese profile of persimmon, melon, honey, vanilla, and jasmine. Lithe and elegant, there’s also some underlying power that makes the whole composition all the more intriguing. Priced elsewhere north of $200, we have this classic Japanese malt for a razor-sharp price of $119.99. This is a steal for a whiskey of this caliber and is practically unheard of in today’s market. Japanese whiskies with an age statement are harder to find by the day, so unearthing one with this kind of pedigree and so affordably priced is a real boon for collectors. We sold through an allocation of the dazzling single malt in record time earlier this year and expect this allocation will go just as quickly. You’ll want to make your move now to secure your bottles.

Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (Elsewhere $195) ($119.99)

Whisky Advocate: “Although only two years older, this expression of Hakushu—the first to be launched in the U.S.—shows a fleshier side to the distillery’s wares. While it has retained the freshness of the 10 year old, it shows more pineapple and grapefruit on the nose, with a little fragrance of jasmine and osmanthus. On the palate, it’s fresh and lively with a hint of persimmon and a tickle of smoke. Recommended. (DB, Spring 2012)”

K&L Notes: Suntory’s Hakushu, known as the “forest distillery,” was built in 1973 as a sister distillery to Suntory’s Yamazaki (previously the only Japanese single malt available in the United States). The facility is located at a high-elevation site next to the pristine waters of the Ojira River, which are used to dilute the whisky itself. Hakushu distillery uses different styles of oak barrel to age their single malt, but mainly hogshead, which, according to the distillery is, “suitable to the clear air and cool humid climate.” The 12-year old from Hakushu is lightly peated and very delicate in its flavor profile. The light and fruity style of the whisky is quite similar to the Yamazaki 12, but the smoke really makes up for any lack of richness. We’ve seen insane price increases over the last five years on Japanese whisky and inventory getting tighter and tighter, but for a limited time, we have Hakushu 12 in stock and available to sell, and at a fraction of the price you’ll see at many other retailers across the country.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2019

Hakushu has always been my favorite of the Suntory malts. The sweet and elegant malt profile is rounded out beautifully by the gentle peat smoke giving the whisky more body and texture than its brothers. The “forest distillery” also produces a verdant whisky – it feels green and fresh, cool and earthy. Moist peat and cool mint gently hold up the bouquet of flowers and cereal notes. The palate is extremely balanced with pepper and cinnamon playing off of the sweeter grain notes. The smoke is more rich body than intense fire. A long and earthy finish is sweetened by a maple syrup and caramel note that leaves a very pleasant aftertaste. With Japanese whisky being so hard to get these days, you have to get while the gettin’ is good.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2019

This expertly crafted single malt has extraordinary balance for a peaty style and a refreshing salty lightness that makes me come back for more. I love that this has the smoke and complexity of peat, but doesn’t get bogged down with oily heaviness. To the contrary, this is a refreshing whisky that is fantastic to enjoy after a big meal!

LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES REVEALS COMPLETE BRAND REFRESH 

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled a complete brand refresh which includes redesigned packaging across its domestic and Global Travel Retail single malt Scotch whisky ranges.

The investment comes after strong business growth over the past five years which has seen Loch Lomond Whiskies become one of the top five fastest growing single malt brands in the world, listed in over 125 markets.

The new look packaging introduces a more contemporary aesthetic alongside simple flavour descriptors allowing consumers to easily navigate their way through the portfolio.

The restructured portfolio brings the Inchmurrin 12 year old and Inchmoan 12 year old under the Loch Lomond Whiskies brand, forming the heart of the range alongside Loch Lomond 12 year old.

These three expressions demonstrate the capability of Loch Lomond’s innovative distillation and long fermentation, which can deliver a range of flavour profiles, from the light and fruity Inchmurrin to the heavily peated Inchmoan, with Loch Lomond 12 year old in between.  Loch Lomond Original, Loch Lomond Classic, Loch Lomond 10 year old and Loch Lomond 18 year old complete the domestic portfolio.

A further three aged Loch Lomond single malts are due for release later in 2020, building the appeal of the range.

John Grieveson, Chief Marketing Officer, commented: “We recognise that in a growing and increasingly fragmented market the continued success of the Loch Lomond Whiskies portfolio depends on our ability to clearly communicate what makes our whiskies so unique. The breadth of flavour characteristics available across the range is unrivalled across the industry. Our investment in this brand refresh allows us to better communicate this range of flavour profiles to consumers, as well as improving stand out of the Loch Lomond Whiskies brand, and celebrating our much-loved location close to the banks of Loch Lomond.”

The new look packaging retains the familiar stag icon and features a more prominent Loch Lomond brand name and age statement to increase visibility on shelf. The outline of the famous Loch Lomond has been incorporated into the background of each gift box, celebrating the distillery’s enviable location. A simple flavour descriptor also features on both the gift box and bottle.

The design will also be rolled out across the Loch Lomond Whiskies Global Travel Retail range, better aligning the two collections, and improving brand recognition.

In 2018, Loch Lomond Whiskies entered a prestigious, five-year partnership with The Open, golf’s original championship. The partnership with The R&A includes support of the AIG Women’s British Open and showcases the full range of Loch Lomond Whiskies on a global scale.  In February 2020, Loch Lomond Whiskies concluded a new agreement with the Professional Golfers’ Association (The PGA) to become a ‘PGA Partner’ and the title sponsor of the Scottish PGA Championship. More recently Loch Lomond Whiskies, have confirmed their commitment to golf as new sponsor of the European Tour’s newly launched ‘UK Swing’ in July and August.

Founded in 1814, the Loch Lomond distillery can trace its roots back to the Littlemill distillery, which was established in 1772 and is the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Its current malt and grain distilleries, in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, close to the banks of Loch Lomond, were commissioned in 1964 with first distillation in 1966.

When it opened, Loch Lomond distillery’s ground-breaking straight necked stills were a revelation, enabling production of a lighter, fruitier spirit and greater control over the whisky’s character. Under the later ownership of the Bulloch family further distilling innovation took place with the aim of being self-sufficient. It is among only four distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry to maintain an onsite cooperage which makes and maintains 20,000 casks annually.

For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com .

Loch Lomond Whiskies Domestic Portfolio:

• Loch Lomond Original (70cl)
• Loch Lomond Classic (70cl)
• Loch Lomond 10 year old (70cl)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old (70cl)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old Inchmurrin(70cl)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old Inchmoan(70cl)
• Loch Lomond 18 year old (70cl)

Loch Lomond Whiskies Global Travel Retail Portfolio:

• Loch Lomond Original (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond 14 year old (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond 18 year old (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond Madeira finish (1 litre)

Notes:

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.
• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.
• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request. lochlomondgroup.com

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old; Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12-Year-Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
  • PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12 Year Old
  • GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 10 Year Old