NEW PRODUCTS

Since Billy Walker and his team acquired the GlenAllachie Distillery they have set about revealing this hidden gem of a whisky to single malt lovers around the world.  It’s a fruity Speysider that Master Distiller Billy has woven his magic on by selecting just the right casks to put together not only an award winning core range but also some very special limited editions, including the rather interesting new Wood Finishes that have recently arrived with us.  See below for more details and check them all out online.

GLENALLACHIE WOOD FINISH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES For GlenAllachie’s first Wood Finish releases Billy Walker has chosen an interesting selection of ages and cask types.  There is an 8 year old Koval Rye finish, a 10 year old Port finish, and a 12 year old PX sherry finish.  They are all limited releases so don’t hang about if you want to try one (or more!) of these!

Buy Online: From £52.99    

Gordon & MacPhail honours silent distilleries with rare whisky releases

–Malt whisky creator unveils 2019 Summer Collection–

Single malt Scotch whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled its Summer Collection, which includes some of the oldest ever whisky releases from two silent distilleries.

Bottled as part of its ‘Private Collection’ range, Gordon & MacPhail 1969 from Dallas Dhu Distillery is joined by Gordon & MacPhail 1982 from St. Magdalene Distillery, a 38-year-old single malt.

Single malts in the Private Collection are personally selected by members of the Urquhart family that has owned Gordon & MacPhail for four generations. For over a century, the specialist has matured spirit from more than 100 Scottish distilleries in its own casks to create a liquid library found nowhere else in the world.

A third Private Collection release, Gordon & MacPhail 1966 from Longmorn Distillery will be available as part of the Summer Collection. The Speyside malt has been matured in a first-fill Sherry butt for 53 years, which has delivered a rich, dark mahogany colour, intense fruitcake notes on the nose and dark fruits on the palate.

These unique and rare releases are contained in bespoke crystal decanters housed in beautifully crafted wooden veneer presentation cases.

Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail said, “Our ‘Private Collection’ whiskies embody the expertise, skill and patience that has been passed down over four generations of my family.

“My grandfather, George Urquhart, recognised an opportunity to match new make spirit with carefully selected casks at a time when the vast majority of production went into blends. Over the decades he was able to master this art which has become his legacy.

“He could never be persuaded to bottle a whisky before he believed it had reached its ultimate peak in terms of quality – a tradition we’re proud to continue today.”

Gordon & MacPhail 1969 from Dallas Dhu Distillery [UK RRP £6950*]

Less than two miles outside Forres, Dallas Dhu was one of the westernmost Speyside distilleries. Closed in 1983, the distillery was designed by famed architect Charles Doig, who also designed the Gordon & MacPhail retail shop in Elgin.

Matured in a refill Sherry hogshead cask no. 1656 on 10 June 1969, only 176 bottles of Gordon & MacPhail 1969 from Dallas Dhu Distillery will be available for purchase from selected specialist whisky retailers internationally.

Gordon & MacPhail 1982 from St. Magdalene Distillery [UK RRP £1000]

The Gordon & MacPhail 1982 from St. Magdalene Distillery is believed to be one of the oldest bottled single malts from the distillery which used to stand in Linlithgow in the Scottish Lowlands.

A distillery with a rich and varied past, St. Magdalene was initially known as Linlithgow Distillery, before a merger with Bonnytoun Farm Distillery in 1826 led to a renaming. The distillery was built on the lands of St. Magdalene’s Cross Convent, although today all that remains is the malting barn and kiln.

Laid down the year prior to the distillery closing its doors for the last time, the Gordon & MacPhail 1982 from St. Magdalene Distillery was matured in cask no. 2092, a refill American hogshead. Only 161 bottles available to purchase from select whisky retailers internationally.

Gordon & MacPhail 1966 from Longmorn Distillery [UK RRP £6950]

Unlike many Scottish distilleries founded during the whisky boom at the end of the 19th century, Longmorn has continued with constant production right up until the present day.

Just 398 bottles are available of the Gordon & MacPhail 1966 from Longmorn Distillery, with the 53-Year-Old single malt whisky matured in cask no. 610, a first fill Sherry butt.

For more information on the 2019 Summer Collection visit: www.gordonandmacphail.com/our-whiskies/ranges/summer-collection/

#GordonandMacPhail

Further releases from the 2019 Summer Collection include Connoisseurs Choice 1989 from Balblair Distillery (UK RRP £400*), Connoisseurs Choice 2006 from Caol Ila (UK RRP £89.75*) and Connoisseurs Choice 1995 from Royal Brackla (UK RRP £167*).

29 July 2019

*Prices in international markets may vary due to local taxes and import duties.

Tasting notes

Gordon & MacPhail 1969 from Dallas Dhu Distillery (Private Collection)

43.1% ABV, outturn of 176 bottles, UK RRP of £6,950.

Matured in cask no. 1656, a refill Sherry hogshead. 

Colour: Mahogany

Aroma: Aromas of rich fruitcake laden with plump raisins, sultanas, and orange peel. An elegant sweetness of candied ginger, almond marzipan, and treacle toffee. Wisps of wood smoke and tobacco linger upon a backdrop of subtle oak. 

Taste: Toffee apples with fruit and nut dark chocolate flavours accompany mouth-warming cracked peppercorns. Spice sits in the background while wood tannins begin to take hold.

Finish: Lingering and warming; roasted coffee beans evolve into a subtle herbal edge. Full of character with a crisp clean edge. 

Gordon & MacPhail 1966 from Longmorn Distillery (Private Collection)

46.0% ABV, outturn of 398 bottles, UK RRP of £6950.
Matured in cask no.610, a first fill Sherry butt

Colour: Darkest mahogany

Aroma: Intense sweet fruitcake aromas align with brown sugar, sticky prunes and candied citrus peel. Spice provides warmth with cinnamon and clove. Hints of vanilla come to the fore followed by forest fruits. A delicate oak smoke is present.

Taste: Sweet with bursts of pepper. Steeped dark fruits – blackberry and ripe cherries envelop warming spice leading to flavours of liquorice with dried tobacco and oak.

Finish: Long; mulled fruits and charred oak providing a subtle ash finish. 

Gordon & MacPhail 1982 from St. Magdalene Distillery (Private Collection)

53% ABV, outturn of 161 bottles, UK RRP of £1,000.

Matured in cask no. 2092, a refill American hogshead.

Colour: Golden

Aroma: Waxy lemons entwine with zesty lime and ripe banana. Creamy vanilla custard and almond marzipan aromas are layered with freshly cut grass and floral tones. Aniseed sits in the background.

Taste: Sweet; hints of cracked black pepper and candied tropical fruits give a touch of sweetness before rich dark chocolate truffle centred with salted caramel flavours come through.

Finish: Light and delicate with subtle hints of toasted malt, aniseed, and humidor.

Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

Established in 1895, family-owned Gordon & MacPhail is curator of some of the world’s finest and rarest single malt Scotch whiskies from over 100 distilleries. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued to pursue the perfect partnership between spirit and cask.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail has carefully matched spirit to the highest quality oak casks which are sent to distilleries throughout Scotland, filled with new-make spirit, and matured either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouse in Elgin.

It is this simple but endlessly complex pairing that creates an intriguing and unique portfolio of expressions – single malts that Scotch whisky lovers will not find anywhere else.

In April 2018, the company unveiled its streamlined portfolio:

• ‘Discovery’ – Utterly dependable, this flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies
• ‘Distillery Labels’ – A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries.
• ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ – The heart of our portfolio – always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
• ‘Private Collection’ – Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family.
• ‘Generations’ – A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces.

Standard-Setting Bourbons Every Collector Will Want to Own
“One of the most exciting distilleries in Kentucky.”
—Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

The ancestral heart and soul of bourbon in Kentucky is Bardstown, and no one is better positioned to drive the future production, consumption, and tourism of the bourbon industry than Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC). This state-of-the-art company is transforming the way you experience Kentucky and its finest export. Aside from the award-winning bar program, replete with rare bottlings, vintage spirits, and a gourmet restaurant on site, the distillery itself is setting the bar for how whiskey is made.

Led by Steve Nally, previously the master distiller at Maker’s Mark, BBC is making some of the most exciting distillate in Kentucky while servicing the industry in every way possible, and with as much transparency as anyone in Kentucky. They make custom contract juice for brands that need a home, they make their own distillate for their own brands, and they blend sourced whiskey into some of the tastiest bottles available on the market. While K&L exclusively introduced BBC’s first Collaboration Project with Copper & Kings several years ago, the company’s first official broad market releases are finally here!

Today, they have three stunning bottles on offer that showcase their expertise and creativity in blending and distilling.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – Fusion Bourbon (750ml) ($59.99)

The Fusion Series features their own distillate heavily, but also its fusion with other fine whiskey – in the case of Fusion #1 edition – it’s all Kentucky Bourbon. The first edition in the Fusion lineup is a showpiece made up of 60% of their own distillate blended with much older Kentucky bourbon. If you’re looking to glimpse the future of BBC’s own production – this is it.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 29, 2019

This is a delicious bourbon. The nose is sweet and light with a hint of vanilla. It is soft and easy to drink with layers of flavors. One of the most interesting and fun things about this whiskey is that on the side of the bottle is a list of the different whiskeys used to make this bourbon. Both purchased and Bardstown Distilleries own whiskeys are blended together and listed along with the mash bill . A great effort both in taste and in providing information about the product.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2019

This new distillery started producing in 2016 and quickly started laying down some of their stock. With equal parts 11yr 7mo Kentucky sourced bourbon, 2 yr old high rye estate bourbon and 20% estate wheated bourbon, this bottle expresses what the distillery is aiming to be and gives some good insight into the juice they’re making. The nose was rich and sweet and full of spices like cinnamon and cardamom mixed with mascarpone cheese. The palate was smooth and sweet with notes of banana creme and more cinnamon. If you’re looking to venture into something produced outside of the bourbon belt, definitely give this bottle a shot.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – Discovery Series #1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($129.99)

The Discovery Series Edition #1 puts BBC’s blending chops on display. It’s a combination of 4 different sourced Kentucky bourbons ranging from 5-13 years old and is a masterpiece. Unlike anything on the market at any price, this bourbon is the definition of “greater than the sum of its parts.” The 121.21 proof is stunningly perfect to sip neat and speaks to the exceptional balance.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 10, 2019

While we visited Bardstown Bourbon Company on our annual KY trip this past April, we didn’t have the chance to taste this particular product since the blend wasn’t done yet. After receiving an explanation of what they were expecting the final blend to be made up of, we couldn’t wait! It was still on our receiving dock when I pulled a bottle and cracked it open. The nose is insane. It’s full of mint and a little bit of chocolate. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had such a strong mint nose in a bourbon before. Some of the Four Roses yeast strains give a strong mint fragrance, but this is next level. Caramel and wood spice back up the sweet herbal aroma and the high proof cuts off any sweetness from getting to cloying. The palate is equally entrancing. It attacks from all angles. You get zip and cut and weight and silky texture. The flavors are complex and layered, like a Cafe Diablo, but brighter. The finish is long and bright with a reiteration and reinterpretation of the mint note that started it all. A truly exceptional blend from the hedonistic team at one of the most exciting distilleries in Kentucky.

Cameron Hoppas | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 22, 2019

I love Four Roses for its minty and spicy aromas, but this brand-new release from Bardstown may just become one of my new favorite whiskeys. It is wildly delicious. With juice between 5-13 years old (90% is 10+ years old), the whiskey is dense and aromatically complex. Cool mint leads on the nose, with orange zest, coriander, and spiced nuts. On the palate it has an interesting spicy caramel with dried cherry and candied orange peel, but all built on a delicate and subtle, yet dark and earthy foundation. This is certainly my favorite style of whiskey, expertly crafted and blended. If this is the future of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, I’m glad I’m here to taste it.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

This is one of the most phenomenal bourbons I have ever tasted. With a brand-new, state-of-the art-facility and the reputation as the premier “custom crush” distillery in the area, the Bardstown Bourbon Company has spared no expense in bringing us an epic whiskey. The BBC even prints its mash bill on the bottle, which is very uncommon in bourbon, where many try to keep their recipes secret. The nose is a blend of mint and perfume and the palate is incredibly smooth and slightly candied. The new frontier of bourbon is here and Bardstown Bourbon Company is leading the way.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

The third in a cool series of projects coming out of the relatively young Bardstown Bourbon Company. Following their Fusion and Collaborative releases, this bottling called Discovery combines Kentucky Bourbons primarily between 10 and 13 years with some 5 year old thrown in as well for a bit of punchy youth. I like that each of the bottlings give details on what’s going into the blend regarding age as well as mashbill. In our day and age, we could all use more transparency (whether we’re talking about whiskey or politics). After well-polished wood, various fruit notes play on the nose: orange zest, canned peaches, and cherry cough drops. The medium caramel scents blend seamlessly with the vibrant spices. On the palate, the caramel comes out more prominently while the spices get more earthy (clove, coriander, anise) and more herbal (mint, fresh hay), but the finish is boldly peppery.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – Collaboration Series Phifer Pavitt Reserve Bourbon (750ml) ($129.99)

The followup in the Collaboration Series, the new Phifer Pavitt Reserve bottling more than anything shows the deft hands at work at BBC. 9 year old Tennessee whiskey is finished for 18 months in Phifer Pavitt Reserve Napa Cabernet barrels. While most wine-finished bourbons lack freshness and finesse, the Phifer Pavitt has both in spades. Bottled at 107 proof, everything lines up perfectly. Simply pour it on ice and enjoy the best and most balanced Manhattan you’ll ever “mix.”

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 01, 2019

This bourbon is finished in used California Cabernet barrels which add a beautiful dark color. The nose is interesting and pretty. In the mouth it is full bodied and has a wonderful creamy mouth feel. It is layered and complex and will make a wonderful special occasion whiskey.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2019

A nine-year-old Tennessee whiskey finished in Napa Cab barrels? What more could you want? The nose is super expressive, giving off sweet, burnt caramel, seared pluots, and black cherries. The palate reflects some of the big tannins you get from Napa Cabs with the oak flavor coming along with them while also providing a corn sweetness, not dissimilar to the Kix cereal of my youth. The finish was a sweet plum sugar, almost jammy, undoubtedly another contribution from the Cab barrel. This dram offered the best from both worlds and played together nicely.

Things are turning fizzy as August sees us sharing the joys of pairing a Society whisky with a beer and celebrating the enhanced enjoyment that we can get by matching one with the other. Click over to our website now to view our First Friday collection of new casks plus our expert pairing recommendations.

August Outturn will be released on Friday, 2 August at 9am. Get ready to order your favourite flavours now.

AUGUST OUTTURN          ALL BOTTLINGS

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 – New Compass Box Whisky & a New Tasting!

The Dog Days of Summer are here, and most of you have likely turned your attention to things other than whisky. And who can blame you? Summer is short in our great nation, but it is glorious nonetheless. I wasn’t expecting to send out a Malt Messenger Bulletin until later in the week – and for a completely different reason, which I will hint at below – but then two whiskies we weren’t expecting to arrive until the Fall showed up unexpectedly.

One of our best selling whiskies in 2018 was the Compass Box No Name, aka “Compass Box Ardbeg”. John Glaser caused quite a stir when he took a parcel of Ardbeg and blended it with Caol Ila and Clynelish. Many people couldn’t believe the sacrilege of taking Ardbeg and polluting it. But having had the privilege to sample the Ardbeg on its own before blending, as well as the final product, I can assure you John took something good, and made it great. At the time we assumed it would be a one off. I was confident it would be a hit just because it contained Ardbeg. Then when I sampled it, I was certain.

The release of a second No Name came as a bit of a surprise. John didn’t have a special parcel of Ardbeg casks to work with this time, but rather sherried Caol Ila. Once again, John and his head blender Jill Boyd went to work making something good, great! That is, after all, the whole point of Blended Scotch whisky in the first place. Making something better than the constituent parts. Compass Box No Name No.2  is built primarily around Caol Ila with the addition of Clynelish, Talisker and a mystery Highland Blend. It is a worthy successor to the first edition, and not the only new Compass Box Whisky we are expecting on Wednesday.

We are also expecting the Compass Box The Circle this week. This is the first edition of a whisky named for Compass Box’s bartender program and contest. The first winner of the contest, a London (UK) bartender names Rosie Mitchell, wanted to create in her words: “an approachable whisky to be shared with friends.” The Circle, a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky,  is built around a special parcel of Tamdhu, blended with Clynelish matured in sherry, peated Orkney malt and Highland blended malt matured in French oak. I can’t wait to try it…

The two new Compass Box Whiskies got us thinking… maybe a tasting is in order? So, we are holding a Compass Box No Name No.2 / The Circle Launch tasting on Thursday August 8th. We will be comparing No Name No.1 vs. No.2, as well as sampling The Circle and 5 other Compass Box Whiskies. Only 22 spots, you won’t want to miss this one!

There are a couple of other new whiskies to inform you about, including the  Highland Park Twisted Tattoo. It is a 16 Year old, matured predominantly in Rioja seasoned wine barriques, but also ex-Bourbon. We are also expecting a dozen bottles of a heavily sherried Blended Malt from Morrison MacKay, the Old Perth 23 Year. You can probably guess what it is composed of? Likely the same stuff as the other mystery, sherried, lightly peated blended malts we’ve been seeing for a few years.

I’ve also finally written up my own tasting note on the Amrut Madeira Finish. It is lovely, and exceeded my expectations. I am a bit of skeptic when it comes to wine casks, but this did not disappoint.

Last but not least, this is a note to keep your eyes open for another Malt Messenger Bulletin Thursday night or Friday morning. We are having a Surprise Summer Sale this coming weekend… It will not include new products, such as any of the whiskies in this news letter!

I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well. Please let me know if you have any comments, questions or requests. As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

Slàinte!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition

1. New Compass No Name No.2
2. Introducing: Compass Box The Circle
3. Compass Box No Name No.2 / The Circle Launch Tasting
4. New Old Perth 23 Year Blended Malt
5. Introducing: Highland Park Twisted Tattoo
6. My Tasting Note: Amrut Madeira Finish
7. Up-coming Tastings

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: Compass Box No Name No.2 

A Worthy Successor! 

Bottled at 48.9%, this second edition of No Name, by Compass Box, is composed of predominantly Caol Ila, blended with Clynelish, Talisker and a mystery Highland Blend. Composed of whiskies matured in Sherry seasoned oak, American oak Hogshead and French oak. 88pts Whisky Fun.

 Compass Box No Name No.2 – 48.9% – Composed of Caol Ila, Clynelish and Talisker – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: round, creamy, doughy, floral and fruity with a summer-y maritime effervescence; juicy, malty and honeyed with a velvety nose feel; oodles of citrus: juicy orange, lemon oil and dried apricots; a firm hint of clean smoke emerges later, with soft muddy oily peat and a touch of potpourri. Palate: starts bold and creamy, going through waves of flavour and intensity; buttery-creamy vanilla, tarry peat and cigar ash; chocolaty with hot spices: is that Talisker chili oil poking through?; seafood-y Caol Ila notes are there too; juicy citrus, chewy malt, melons, apricot and even a touch of tropical fruits; salted caramel, fennel seeds and Dutch licorice. Finish: long, coating and creamy with soft vanilla, bright fruits and hot spices; cigar smoke and tarry peat; like the palate, lots of layers. Comment: anyone hoping for a repeat of No Name No.1 will be disappointed; those in search of a complex, layered and elegant pleated malt will find themselves full satisfied; a worthy successor to the first release!” – $172

Producer Description: “For this, the second Limited Edition of the No Name series, we’re again allowing the whisky to speak for itself. Still very smoky indeed, there is a new depth and delicacy. To borrow a musical analogy, No Name was peat as power chord; No Name, No. 2 has brought some harmonics to the party. Built around an elegantly smoky Islay malt matured in refill Sherry butts, the second peated whisky we have used comes from the Isle of Skye. To these we added some old and ethereal single malt whisky from the Northern Highland village of Brora and just a dash of malt whisky finished in new French oak to add an underlying richness.”

More info on the KWM Website!

Introducing: Compass Box The Circle 

An approachable whisky for sharing with friends!    

A lightly peated limited edition Blended Malt built around a special parcel of Tamdhu, the circle was also created with Clynelish matured in sherry, peated Orkney malt and Highland blended malt matured in French oak. The blend was created with Rosey Mitchell, the winning bartender from Compass Box’s global, The Circle Competition. Bottled at 46%.

Producer Description: “Rosey Mitchell is the 2018 winner of The Circle, our programme designed to inspire bartenders around the world. Rosey’s prize? To create a blend with Compass Box founder John Glaser and whiskymaker Jill Boyd. Rosey wanted to make an approachable whisky to be shared with friends, something for the daytime, a whisky with brightness. She called it “sunshine in a glass. The Circle is based around a parcel of fruity and creamy single malt from the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside. This is supported by malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery. A touch of peated malt whisky from an Orkney distillery and a small proportion of a French oak-finished blended malt whisky complete the recipe. We think we’ve achieved exactly what Rosey envisaged. The whisky is bright and warm with a creamy softness. It practically radiates sunlight!”

Compass Box The Circle – 46% – Distilleries: A single malt whisky from the Tamdhu Distillery, supported by malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery, a lightly-peated single malt from Orkney, and a small proportion of a Highland malt blend. – Wood: First Fill Bourbon barrels, refill Sherry butts, recharred American oak hogsheads, and a small proportion of whisky finished in French oak casks with a light toast. – Producer Tasting Note: “Bursting with apple, vanilla and malty notes. A very delicate hint of smokiness is noticeable on the finish.” – $165

Compass No Name No.2 / The Circle Launch Tasting 

Yeah, We Are Going to Have Tasting…  

Two new Compass Box Whisky Co. limited editions is as good a reason as any we can think of to put on a tasting, so that’s exactly what we’ve done. We will be tasting the new releases: The Circle and No Name No.2. And just for fun we have tracked down a bottle of No Name No.1 for comparison. 5 other Compass Box Whiskies will round out our range!

Compass Box No Name No.2/The Circle Launch – Thursday August 8, 7PM – $35

New Old Perth 23 Year Blended Malt Whisky 

Another Mystery Sherried Bomb Blended Malt 

We had the 22 year old sister bottling last fall. Once people tried it, it flew off the shelves. This 23 year old is getting some good early reviews, and our expectations are high. Unfortunately we are only getting a dozen bottles, so it won’t last long. Just 515 bottles available globally, from a sherry cask, bottled at 44.9%.

Like a lot of the other sherried, mystery blended malts out there, this whisky is believed to be ex-Edrington stock, vatted together for botting as a Famous Grouse Blended Malt. The whisky was never used, and has been sitting in casks ever since. It likely contains malt whisky from Macallan, Highland Park, Tamdhu, Glenrothes, Glenturret and others.

Older Perth 23 Year – 44.9% – 1994 Sherry Butt – No producer tasting notes or reviews yet! It has a good average score of 88pts on Whisky Base. – $235 – Limit 1 Per Customer

Introducing: Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 

A Very Unusual Highland Park, Predominantly Wine Cask Matured! 

This limited edition Highland Park was created by marrying 153 casks of the whisky matured in casks seasoned with Spanish Rioja, with 70 more first fill ex-Bourbon casks. 46.7%.

Producer Description: “For the first time, we’ve married whisky matured in oak casks seasoned with Spanish Rioja wine – 153 casks in total – with whisky matured in 70 first-fill bourbon casks. The result is TWISTED TATTOO 16 Year Old, a rich and full-bodied single malt whisky with a distinctively different character.”

 Highland Park Twisted Tattoo – 46.7% – Matured in ex-Spanish Rioja & ex-Bourbon – Producer Tasting Note: “Sweet vanilla | Sun-ripened peaches | Summer berries | Full-bodied red wine | Light peat smoke” – $120

The Story Behind the Brand: “Tattoos are a vital part of our cultural heritage today. They tell the world who we are, without saying a word. In collaboration with Danish tattoo artist and modern day Viking Soul, Colin Dale, we created the bold design for this whisky, which celebrates the tattoo as a mark of both standing apart and being part of a tribe – just like Highland Park. Colin’s intricate design is inspired by the free-flowing Nordic knotwork found on Viking wood carvings and reflects the Norse legend of the Midgard serpent, which grew so large it twisted round the Earth to grasp its tail in its mouth.”

My Tasting Note: The Amrut Madeira Finish 

I Love it When Something Exceeds My Expectations!   

Sometimes you just need to try something for yourself to be sure. The Amrut Madeira Finish exceeded my expectations! The Amrut Madeira Finish is the first whisky from India finished in Madeira casks. Only 4,800 bottles of the whisky were bottled at 50%. It is limited at KWM to 2 per customer. 92pts Whisky Advocate.

Amrut Madeira Finish – 50% – Matured in Bourbon finished in Madeira Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeycomb, sour dough and fresh glazed fruit flan; soft, floral and dusty; cooked raisins and madeirized fruit; French soap and Indian curry spices; loads of firm but gentle oak. Palate: soft on the approach it quickly builds in to a warm, rich, fruity and spicy whisky; hot but far from sharp; more honeycomb, fruit flan and toasty oak; more cooked raisins, orange marzipan and English marmalade; soft leather and loads of decadent sugars and spice. Finish: long, warming and rich; it cascades through waves of spice, decadent sugars, fruit and creamy oak. Comment: this exceeded my expectations; it is complex, elegant and beautiful; a very good malt!” – $155

New Summer Tasting Schedule  

We Have a Wide Range of Tastings to Keep You Refreshed During the Dog Days of Summer! 

Whisky & Spirits Tastings, all start at 7PM, unless indicated:

1. Scotch Malt Whisky Society August Outturn Tastings – Thursday August 1 8PM or Friday August 2 8PM – Want a peek into the world’s largest whisky club? We have opened up the August tastings to non members. You will taste the Society’s latest, exclusive offerings. We host SMWS tastings the first week of each month. Become a Member and you save $10 on class registration. This month’s tastings are especially cool, they involve beer pairings. Want to know more? – $50 ($40 for Members)
2. The Price is Right: Scotch Edition – Tuesday August 6th – The wine staff had so much fun with the concept that the whisky staff went ahead and stole it! Can you taste the difference between a top shelf dram and a bargain bottling? Find out whether you’re the frugal sort or if you truly have expensive taste in this blind Scotch tasting. – $40 – SOLD OUT
3. Compass Box No Name No.2 / The Circle Launch – Thursday August 8 – Two new Compass Box Whisky Co. limited editions is as good a reason as any we can think of to put on a tasting, so that’s exactly what we’ve done. We will be tasting the new releases: The Circle and No Name No.2. Just for fun we have tracked down a bottle of No Name No.1 for comparison. 5 other Compass Box Whiskies will round out our range! – $35
4. Blinded by Bourbon – Thursday August 15 – Brown paper bags are covering all the bottles for this blind Bourbon tasting. We are hiding your biases from you and giving you the chance to discover – or rediscover – a new favourite! – $35
5. Indie Cred: Unofficial and Exciting Whisky – Tuesday August 20th – Official bottlings are usually good and often great, but everybody loves an indie darling. We’ll indulge in some of Scotland’s best-kept secrets, which typically come in small batches or single casks, and on occasion…a dose of mystery! – $50

Register in-store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online!

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

An Award-Winning Bottler Delivers a Tantalizing Single Barrel
Barrell Bourbon “K&L Exclusive” 14 Year Old Cask Strength Single Barrel #E522 Straight Bourbon ($109.99)

Barrell Bourbon’s 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 to quality cask selection and bottling whiskies unadultered at cask strength has earned them the awards and reputation in the industry to perpetuate their penchant for access to the very best any distillery or broker has to offer.

While we have long loved Barrell’s small-batch whiskeys here at K&L, this is the first time we’ve been able to select from their already vetted selection of casks for an exclusive bottling. We jumped at the chance and sorted through a host of samples of extremely old Tennessee bourbon. While they won’t confirm where the whiskey comes from, it’s not a secret in the industry that George Dickel has old whiskey to sell, while other Tennessee producers do not. What we know for sure is that this 14-year-old whiskey is delicious and tastes like a better, older, full proof version of some of the 9-year-old Dickel casks we have bottled in the past. Namely, it is toned down on the big, buttered popcorn notes and amped up on the chocolate, dusty cocoa notes without picking up too much wood tannin. It’s a perfectly balanced whiskey in a style we don’t often get to see. It’s what happens when the palates at Barrell narrow down a huge selection of Tennessee whiskey into only the best handful of casks, and then we at K&L take the cream of that crop. The barrel only yielded 128 bottles, so act fast to secure yours, as they won’t be here long.

Barrell Bourbon “K&L Exclusive” 14 Year Old Cask Strength Single Barrel #E522 Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($109.99)

K&L Notes: While there is a plethora of aged Tennessee whiskey on the market at the moment, there is certainly an enormous variation in the quality of those casks. Careful selection by Barrell and a subsequent selection by us at K&L have led to this beauty being bottled. At 14 years old, it really shows its age in all the best ways. It’s dark and spicy without being overly tannic. The sweet brown sugars have caramelized perfectly into a robust and complex whisky expressing notes of chocolate, citrus, and a lively herbacous note to be savored. Clocking in at nearly 108 proof, it’s a powerful whiskey, but not overly hot.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

This new single barrel from Barrell Bourbon is BIG on spice and fruit, like a dessert you’d bake in autumn or winter. Cinnamon apples and cobbler come out on the nose with candied citrus and toasted oak. A nice supple mouthfeel is balanced with the spices which hit different points on my palate and light up my cheeks. Rich vanilla coats the tongue before a menthol medicinal finish.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

Bottled exclusively for K&L and made at George Dickel, this bourbon is a great addition to our Tennessee whiskeys. Bottled at cask strength, this guy shows lots of chocolate, muscovado, and apple crumble notes on the nose. Though it is rich and sweet in the mouthfeel, the cask strength nature keeps it from being cloying and offers a toasted sourdough element. The 14-year aging process has helped it to blend seamlessly and given it spice and length. A touch of citrus at the end gives it an unexpected lift and leaves you wanting just a little bit more.

Cameron Hoppas | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

This is a sophisticated cask strength bourbon. While it carries classic, big bourbon aromas, it’s incredibly well-integrated and smooth–dark, rich and woody. The foundation deep aromas of cereals, burnt sugar, and licorice, with pretty delicate aromas of dried brush, sweet spices and fresh mint. It has a dense weighty body and concentrated flavors that match up to the cask strength ABV. Powerful, smooth, and elegant.

Limestone Branch Distillery Launches Yellowstone® Limited Edition

Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2019 

(Lebanon, Ky.) July 24, 2019 – Limestone Branch Distillery introduces the 2019 variety of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, set to hit the market in August. This year’s edition includes a hand-picked selection of the most unique barrels – those hidden gems in the rick house – including barrels of extra-aged nine-year and 12-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

“I tasted many quality, mature Kentucky Straight Bourbons in order to find the right two ages for this year’s release – I had a certain taste profile in mind and I sought those barrels that matched it,” says Steve Beam, head distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery. “The barrels I chose were in different parts of the rick house and each barrel’s unique location contributed to the taste profile and complexity of this bourbon. When combined, these extra-aged bourbons create a mature and complex bourbon with robust spice and oaky undertones.”

Yellowstone has been one of Kentucky’s favorites since 1872. This year’s edition brings cinnamon notes with toffee, dried fruit and a hint of citrus to the palate, followed by a dry finish of brown sugar and oak. Using Beam’s expertise and honed palate, only the finest barrels were chosen for this year’s release.

Bottled at 101 proof and available in 750ml bottles nestled in commemorative tubes, the 2019 Yellowstone Limited Edition continues to honor the long-standing tradition.

Approximately 12,500 bottles of this bourbon are being produced at Limestone Branch Distillery, and the suggested retail price is $99.99.

About Limestone Branch Distillery 

Steve Beam and his brother Paul Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011, with the goal of crafting the finest whiskey in small batches, honoring their long family heritage. With a history of distilling on both sides of their family – Beam and Dant – the brothers are seventh-generation distillers. In 2015, by partnering with Luxco, they brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family, just in time to commemorate the brand’s 105^th anniversary. As one of the founding members of the Kentucky Craft Bourbon Trail, Limestone Branch Distillery is located in Lebanon, Ky., in the heart of bourbon country.  The distillery is well-known for its handcrafted products, including Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey.

For more information on Limestone Branch Distillery and Yellowstone, please visit www.limestonebranch.com, www.yellowstonebourbon.com or www.facebook.com/limestone-branch-distillery

After 2018’s super-early April announcement of Diageo’s annual Special Releases collection surprised everyone, we’ve been wondering what they were up to this year. The radio silence has now been broken, and the first tidbits of information about the range of whiskies has now landed.

Don’t know what the Special Releases are? Learn all about them in our handy guide: Diageo Special Releases – what are they?

Diageo Special Releases 2019: the line-up

This year’s collection will feature eight new cask-strength Scotch whiskies, and they’re all single malts this time.

The line-up is:

• Cardhu 14 Years Old
• Cragganmore 12 Years Old
• Dalwhinnie 30 Years Old
• Lagavulin 12 Years Old
• Mortlach 26 Years Old
• Pittyvaich 29 Years Old
• Talisker 15 Years Old
• The Singleton of Glen Ord 18 Years Old

It’s an interesting selection, with some potentially very interesting whiskies. It’s also missing a couple of things that we’ve come to expect.

Missing in action

Firstly, there’s no blended malt this year. The past two releases have seen Collectivum XVIII and Cladach in the line-up, both blended malts with a theme – the former was made up of single malts from Diageo’s 28 working distilleries and the latter featured whiskies from coastal distilleries. They both divided opinion, but I’m sad to see them go. Unless there’s a mysterious ninth bottle waiting in the wings for a late announcement, as both Collectivum and Cladach were…

Secondly, there’s no grain whisky this time. The past four years have seen long-aged single grains, from the comparitively youthful Cally 40 Year Old, to the elegantly wizened Port Dundas 52 Year Old, but this time the focus is back on malt.

And there’s no Caol Ila. A mainstay of the collection since almost the beginning, the yearly release of Caol Ila Highland is the general public’s only chance of getting its hands on this otherwise unobtainable unpeated version of the Islay whisky. It’s been a reasonably priced hit in every year’s line-up, so it’s both unexpected and sad not to see it this time.

What’s new?

While the Lagavulin 12 Year Old is an old friend, and most of the rest of the list are drams that are reminiscent of ones we’ve had before, there are a few whiskies in the announcement that have piqued my interest:

Talisker 15 Year Old – I do love a Talisker and, after last year’s eight-year-old release picked up fans, I’m intrigued to see what they do with an older entry in the Special Releases collection. The announcement described it as ‘A sweet, yet deep and spicy bottling layered with unmistakeable maritime flavours’ – that suggests a sherry-matured dram to me. Will it be a replacement for the Caol Ila Highland or something a bit different?

Mortlach 26 Year Old – the now discontinued Mortlach 25 Year Old, launched a few years back as part of the revamped range, remains one of my favourite whiskies from the distillery. However, will this 26-year-old focus on a bourbon-cask maturation, as the 25 did, or will it go for the more traditional sherry maturation?

Cragganmore 12 Years Old – Cragganmore was one of my first whisky loves, but even so a 12-year-old release wouldn’t normally inspire much interest from me. However, this one has an interesting word hidden in the short description we’ve been sent: ‘A complex and intriguing bottling that combines Speyside elegance with a touch of spice and smoke’. Smoke. Hmm…are they talking a touch of char or have they been playing with peat? Only time will tell…

We expect to see the Diageo Special Releases 2019 arrive in the Autumn, and until then all we can do is wait. Along with the current heat wave, it’s another reason to wish for the summer to end sooner rather than later.

If you want to see what’s happened in previous years, we’ve got details and tasting notes for the past decade of releases here on the blog: 2008 pt1/2008 pt2, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

We still have a few bottles from previous year’s releases – you can find them on our Diageo Special Releases page.

Introducing the two newest additions to our whisky family, Jura Aged 21 Years: Time and Tide.

In the vast wilderness of our tiny island home, it’s easy to lose track of time. But if you stop a moment in that beautiful wilderness and listen to the silence, the only sound to be heard soon helps you find it once more: the tide. Like the whisky in our casks, it’s an irresistible reminder of time’s power.

JURA AGED 21 YEARS: TIME

A Travel Retail Exclusive, this exclusive 21 year old single malt is part of our Aged Vintage series. Bottled at 47.2% ABV. Sweet island smoke is revealed in this dark amber autumn gold spirit. Matured for 21 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and finessed in ex-peated malt casks.

JURA AGED 21 YEARS : TIME

An exclusive 21 year old single malt from the Aged Vintage series. Bottled at 46.7% ABV. Sweet and smoky from 21 long years of maturation first in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and further finessed with a spicy character from hand-selected virgin American White Oak casks.

LIMITED EDITION SCOTCH TEES OFF CRISTIE KERR PARTNERSHIP

New single malt captures spirit of Kerr Cellars with Pinot Noir finish 

Loch Lomond Whiskies, The Official Spirit of The Open, Women’s British Open and Ladies Scottish Open, has released a very special limited edition single malt Scotch crafted in partnership with US women’s golf icon, Cristie Kerr.

Kerr, who won the 2007 U.S Women’s Open and the 2010 Women’s PGA Championship, became Loch Lomond Group’s first female golf ambassador last year. She now owns and operates Kerr Cellars in Napa Valley, USA, and is a qualified sommelier. This is the winery’s first partnership in spirits.

The Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 was finished in French oak barrels which previously held Pinot Noir red wine from the Kerr Cellars winery.

The 2002 spirit was selected to celebrate Cristie’s first win on the LPGA tour and spent six months maturing in the Pinot Noir barrels, which were shipped to the Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, near Loch Lomond, in October 2018.

The barrels are composed of Vosges Oak from the Alsace mountains in Eastern France. They were seasoned for three years prior to being delivered to the Loch Lomond cooperage and used for six months to mature the 2002 spirit carefully selected by Loch Lomond Master Blender Michael Henry to form the release.

The Pinot Noir finish has amplified the fruit characteristics associated with the Loch Lomond Distillery to create a truly special single malt Scotch.

Colin Matthews, CEO, said: “It is extremely exciting to be offering this truly unique limited edition release created in partnership with our ambassador, women’s golfing star Cristie Kerr. Since Cristie launched Kerr Cellars she has applied the same rigour and pursuit of excellence she displayed in golf to producing some of the world’s best wines.

“Our Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 captures the best of both worlds, wine and whisky, to offer a very special Scotch which will be sought after by golf fans and those who know their drinks alike.”

The Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 has an ABV of 48.14%. It is presented in elegant navy-blue packaging which incorporates a discreet rendition of Kerr Cellars’ distinctive logo and also bears Cristie’s signature, creating a must-have item for followers of both golf and whisky.

Since turning professional in 1996, Kerr has recorded 20 wins on the LPGA Tour in addition to her two Majors. She was also World No. 1 on three separate occasions throughout 2010.

Kerr said: “I’ve long admired Scotch whisky and it is a great privilege to be working with such an acclaimed distillery to create my first single malt. The French Oak Pinot Noir casks we shipped to Loch Lomond Whiskies’ cooperage previously held some of our most highly rated red wine and I can’t wait for golfers and whisky fans to discover the superb single malt Scotch that they have helped produce.”

For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

Tasting notes

The Loch Lomond 2002 Vintage Single Malt delivers fresh red berries, strawberry and cranberry with creamy vanilla. There is green apple and kiwi fruit with lime citrus and a gentle honeyed sweetness before mouth-watering fruit and warming ginger spice on the finish. Bottled at 48.1% ABV and non-chill filtered ensure a rich mouthfeel and a deep and complex flavour, just as nature intended. 

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 a Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge 2017. 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 Reserve
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious and coveted global competitions:

• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond Signature