Malt Messenger No. 79 – New Whisky Galore

This might be the biggest Malt Messenger I’ve put out in years. It has been several busy months since my last full newsletter, and much has transpired since then. A boat load of new whiskies have flooded into the store, and some of them, though we have had them for weeks, have yet to be highlighted. This includes exciting news releases like the Highland Park Valkyrie, the Wyoming Outryder and Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Batch 7. More details on these below.

There is also the 15th Batch of single casks from Glendronach Distillery. These whiskies are the first batch of vintage single casks selected by the new Master Blender Rachel Barrie, and there are only 6 of them. The casks, filled between 1990 and 1995, range in age from 21 to 27 years of age. Only 12 bottles of each have come to Canada, exclusively to KWM and about half have sold! More details below.

A quick update on the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar. Due to the late arrival of 4 of the whiskies in the Calendar we have had to delay the roll out. We expect to have the first calendars built and in-store by November 13. The balance should be produced by the 20th. We appreciate everyone’s patience, as these delays were out of our control! There are also fewer than 95 calendars available for purchase, with more than 290 of the 384 calendars already reserved.

I am most excited about the 4 new KWM exclusive single casks in this newsletter. The first of these to be launched was our Millstone 100 Rye KWM Cask. It is not only our first ever Dutch whisky, but also our first ever single cask of 100% rye whisky. It was launched at a tasting with Partick van Zuidam, Millstone whisky maker, at the shop a little over 2 weeks ago. It has been a hit, with a third of the bottles sold in 3 weeks

The next two KWM exclusive single casks to arrive this fall are a pair of Gordon MacPhial Caol Ilas we will be launching this afternoon at an “insane” Gordon Macphail / Benromach tasting with Alastair Milligan. The Caol Ila samples Gordon Macphail sent us earlier in the year were too good to select just one casks, so we bottled two, a 2007 10 Year and a 2002 vintage 14 Year. We will be sampling these two whiskies as well as, Benromach 35 Year, Gordon MacPhail Brora 1982 and Littlemill 1991. The 4PM tasting costs just $80 which is a steal considering the whisky range is valued at more than 4000. More details on the Coal Ilas and the tasting below. Call the shop at 403-283-8000 to register.

The 4th new KWM exclusive cask to tell you about has been the most elusive. If you’ve followed me or read the Malt Messenger you’ll know I have a great fondness for Bowmore. I have wanted to bottle my own single cask of Bowmore for a decade, and we’ve finally managed to put our hands on a good one! We will be launching our Old Malt Cask Bowmore 21 Year KWM Cask on Thursday night at Kensington Wine Market with Andrew Laing. The tasting will be a mini festival featuring a wide range of whiskies from the Old Malt Cask and First Editions lines. The tasting costs $30 and includes a custom logo glass! More details on the new Bowmore and the tasting below!

We also have some exciting new whiskies from WM Cadenhead, established 1842, Scotland’s oldest independent bottler. Cadenhead is celebrating their 175th Anniversary this year, and they have bottled some very interesting new whiskies. The details on a dozen new Cadenhead Small Batch whiskies from distilleries like Convalmore (closed), Caperdonich (demolished), Heaven Hill (burned down), Mortlach and others can be found below. Some have gotten great reviews from Serge at Whisky Fun.

There are also new whiskies to tell you about from Laphroaig, Caol Ila, Brora, Adelphi, Millstone and more. So lets get to it!

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Malt Messenger.

Slàinte!

In This Edition

1. Old Malt Cask Bowmore 1996 KWM Cask Release Party with Andrew LaingKensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar Update
2. Two New KWM Exclusive Caol Ila Casks
3. Millstone 100 Rye KWM Cask
4. Our First Ever Exclusive KWM Bowmore Single Cask
5. Three Reasons for Canadians to Join the Springbank Society
6. Introuducing Springbank 19 Year Bourbon Wood
7. WM Cadenhead Small Batch 175th Anniversary Releases Batch 1
8. Other Selected New Cadenhead Releases Coming Soon
9. New Alberta Exclusive Millstone Cask
10. My Tasting Notes on Two New Adelphi Whiskies
11. Introducing Glendronach Batch 15
12. Introducing Canadian Club 40 Year
13. Introducing Highland Park Valkyrie
14. Introducing Wyoming Outryder
15. Introducing Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Batch 7
16. Introducing: Caol Ila 18 Year Unpeated
17. Introducing Laphroaig 27 Year
18. Available for Order: Brora 34 Year
19. We Have Some Michters 10 Year Bourbon

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

 

Old Malt Cask Bowmore 1996 KWM Cask Release Party with Andrew Laing Thursday Nov 2, 7PM 

More than 12 plus whiskies to be sampled and a glass for $30

Andrew Laing is back for another special tasting on Thursday November 2, 7PM, this time to launch a KWM exclusive Bowmore single cask. Curiously, it is almost exactly 10 years since his father was here to help launch KWM’s only Port Ellen single cask in 2007. Coincidence? 10 years later we have another Laing, one of the sons here, with another KWM exclusive Islay single cask!

This is the Bowmore cask that I have been longing to bottle as long as I’ve been working for KWM. It has taken a decade of searching and countless samples tasted before we found a Bowmore we were excited to put our name on.

This mini-festival style tasting will feature a range of at least 12 whiskies from Hunter Laing’s Old Malt Cask and First Edition lines, and will include the first public tasting of our exciting new KWM exclusive Bowmore single cask. The event price includes a KWM/Old Malt Cask Logo Glencairn glass!

To Register: pop into the shop, call 403-283-8000 or register online! 

 

Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar Update 

Less than 95 of 384 Calendars left! 

Firstly, we are a little behind on building our Whisky Advent Calendar this year… A couple of products were delayed, and are expected to arrive in the next week. This should allow us to have the first batch of calendars built and ready for pickup between the 10th and 15th.

There are a lot of exciting details about the 2017 edition, including the fact that we succeeded in bringing the base retail price down by $25, to $375+gst. We also have 25 all new whiskies, never before featured in the KWM Advent Calendar. This includes 5 whiskies bottled exclusively for the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar. While the bulk of the Calendar is still Single Malt Scotch Whisky, there are for the first time single malts from Canada, England and the Netherlands! This is our fourth straight year that we have designed and built our own exclusive Whisky Advent Calendar. It features  24 50ml premium whiskies, a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (The Society) and a custom logo Glencairn glass.

The Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is more than just a product for us – it is a way for us to share and connect with other whisky lovers in Calgary, Alberta and across Canada. Details on the whiskies’ released and their distillery will be posted on the KWM Blog each day of Advent. Recipients of the Calendar are encouraged to share their thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The KWM Whisky Advent Calendar also comes with a 10% discount card, good for any of the whiskies in the Calendar (excepting the Society whisky), subject to availability.

A deposit of $150 will be charged for each calendar requested. This helps KWM with the production costs. The balance of the payment will be taken a few days before delivery to our shop. ETA is mid-October!

Order a Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar!

Two New KWM Exclusive Caol Ila Casks 

The samples were so good we couldn’t just pick 1!

Who doesn’t love Caol Ila? For the second year in a row with were paralyzed with the inability to decide between two different Gordon Macphail casks of Caol Ila. So we did what any sane person would do. We bought both! These 2002 and 2007 vintage single casks were both matured in American oak, and they are very different. Both classic Islay, but stylistically miles apart. Here are my tasting notes on both!

G&M Caol Ila 2007 KWM Cask – 58.6% – 10 Year – Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honey glazed ham with cloves; chewy British bacon dipped in maple syrup with orange rinds; clean wood smoke and a touch ashy with a salty maritime tones. Palate: round, chewy and sweet; more honey glazed ham with crisp spices: clove and fennel; buckwheat blueberry pancakes and chewy-salty British bacon with maple syrup; creamy vanilla with wood ash holding back layers of fruit: orange rinds, melon and banana. Finish: long, coating and classic Islay; very maritime, smoky and salty with glazed ham; bold but smooth and layered. Comment: I may have a slight preference for this younger bottling over the other cask we’ve bottled; it is very good for a 10 year old single cask!” – $122 – 224 Total Bottles 

G&M Caol Ila 2002 KWM Cask– 52.5% – 14 Year – 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: beeswax, apple crumble, peanut brittle and almond paste; oily, butter-poached scallops and lobster tail dipped in lemon-butter; lots of big, round vanilla notes, but also a trace of chunky malt and citrus tones. Palate: big, round, creamy and bold; still nutty, loads of vanilla and honey, building into thick dried-grassy-barley and soft peat smoke; more scallops and lobster follow with a generous helping of lemon-butter; citrus fruits and more exotic tropical far lie beneath a building tarry-earthiness. Finish: it settles into an oily, coating, smoky and drying finale; very long in the tooth, but also fresh. Comment: while the younger cask is a more unapologetic, bacon-y, and in your face malt, this older cask is more complex and leaning towards seafood and citrus tones; what a pair!” – $145 – Just 155 Bottles

Millstone 100 Rye KWM Cask 

A Big Jammy-Fruity-Spicy Dutch Rye… move 

over North America! 

Not just our first ever exclusive Dutch whisky, but also our first ever single cask of rye! Bottled at 53.2% from a mash of 50% malted and 50% unmalted rye grains, ground in windmills. The whisky has been matured in New American Oak. Only 144 bottles.

Millstone 100 Rye KWM Cask – 53.2% – Matured in New American Oak – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet, creamy and honeyed with fresh Jujubes and dill pickle juice; some orange sherbet and vanilla icing sugars; toasted oak and firm spices; doughy and fresh with a hint of licorice. Palate: big, round and earthy; perfumed and oily; more licorice and assorted fresh Jujubes; tangy citrus meets spicy-oily rye tones; juicy and toasty with Demerara sugars. Finish: big, rich, bold and lasting; fruits, liquorice and spices linger through a long creamy finish. Comment: the virgin oak has leant this whisky and maturity and richness beyond its years, also a silky back bone which tames the bold 100 rye spirit.  – $88

Our First Ever KWM Exclusive Bowmore Single Cask 

A decade of longing and searching lead us to this 21 Year Old Old Malt Cask Bowmore!

If you read my newsletters or follow me on social media, it will become more than apparent that I have a soft spot for Bowmore. I have been searching for a Bowmore single cask for KWM for more than a decade now. The closest I came, or so I thought, was about 6-7 years ago when I was sent 4-6 samples of Bowmore by an independent bottler, I won’t say which, with a family connection to the distillery. They were all sherry casks and I had a vision of bottling my own Bowmore Laimrig… It wasn’t to be! The samples were dreadful. It was only just this summer that I finally found one I was excited to put my name and KWM’s brand on. The whisky was in a parcel of samples sent to me by Douglas Laing. It blew me away, it was exactly what I was looking for, and it was worth the wait. One last side note by bottling the whisky at 50% under the Old Malt Cask label, vs. a marginally higher cask strength in the First Editions packaging, we saved ourselves and our customers about 30%!

 Old Malt Cask Bowmore 21 Year– 50 % – Distilled March 1996 – Bottled June 2017 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, floral and sweet; a touch of Parma Violets (sweet lavender candies) clotted cream, crème brule and salted caramel ice-cream; light-savoury-smoke, lemon and pear drops, vanilla bean Jelly Bellies and wine gums. Palate: creamy, buttery, oily and fruity; silky layers of honey and vanilla are rolled out with lots of soft fruits: guava, midori melon, green banana and lots of citrus; more wine gums; the smoke is delicate, floral and decadent, with more lavender and peppermint; the clotted cream caries through on a dry Brittish scone; more ice-cream too: a double scoop of salted caramel and Earl Grey tea. Finish: long, silky and creamy with layers of fruit, floral tones, elegant smoke and gentle toasted oak. Comment: this was worth the wait; a beautiful malt; my kind of Bowmore!” – $200 – 229 Bottles

Three Reasons for Canadians to Join the Springbank Society 

Two new Society bottlings and special discounts…  

Kensington Wine Market is the only place in the world you can buy Sprinbank Society whiskies other than the distillery. You have to be a Springbank Society Member to buy them, but we can help you with that. The cost of membership is a onetime fee of £50, paid to the distillery. If you are not a member and would like to join the simplest process is to request a form from me by e-mail, complete it and return it to me. I will forward it on to the Distillery. Once you are a member you will be notified about the limited Springbank Society releases when they come to Canada, and have an opportunity to buy them.

So what are the three reasons to join the Springbank Society? The first two are a pair of new Society releases:

1. Springbank Society Longrow 14 Year Fresh Sherry – 53.2% – Fresh Sherry Butt – Distilled: October 2001 – Bottled: October 2016 – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich walnut, pecan, notes of stewed fruits with woodiness and scent of worn leather. Taste: Stewed fruits remain, rhubarb, dunnage warehouse flavour and woody. Finish: Meaty and chewy, dry with menthol as the smokiness builds up.” – $140+gst                   
2. Springbanks Society 9 Year Sauternes – 57.1% – Fresh Sauternes Hogsheads – Distilled: November 2007 – Bottled: May 2017 – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Dunnage warehouse; bruised fruits, sun dried raisins and treacle toffee with icing sugar and port notes appearing as the nose develops. Taste: Syrupy texture, with earthy and oaky notes, prunes, redcurrants and bramble jam. Finish: Chewy, sweet and rich like sticky toffee pudding and Christmas cake; hints of treacle, brown sugar and dark cherries.” – $120+gst

And the third reason? Springbank Society Members save 10% on non-Society Springbank whiskies, as well as those from their sister distillery Glengyle (aka Kilkerran), and Cadenheads. On the subject of Cadenheads, see below for the latest releases, including some exciting 175th Anniversary bottlings!

Introducing Springbank 19 Year Bourbon Wood 

A stunning single cask of Springbank bottled exclusively for Alberta!

This single cask Springbank has been bottled exclusively for Springbank’s Alberta importer Gold Medal Marketing. Just 162 bottles of this 19-year-old, 1998 vintage single cask. Matured in a First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel and bottled at a cask strength of 57.4%.  It is pricey, but it is spectacular!

Springbank 19 Year Bourbon Wood – 57.4% – 1998 Vintage – First Fill Ex-Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: salty, vanilla and peanut butter icing sugars, creamy, toasty and subtly oaky; oh wow, this is classic old Springbank… here come the apricots, fatty oils and soft doughy oak tones; a hint of peaty and juicy tropical fruits: mango and papaya. Palate: round, oily, creamy and decadent and malty; soft oily peat rolls over the palate like a wave; more vanilla and peanut butter icing; dried apricots with kiwi and mango; still salty (salted caramel) with some elegant smooth smoke and fatty-buttery oils; a touch of old engine oil just to round things out. Finish: big, round and low; it drips from the palate, coating it and leaving a creamy, decadent warming sensation. Comment: this is very well matured older Springbank; hard to believe it is just 19 years of age, it tastes much older! – $340

WM Cadenhead Small Batch 175th Anniversary Releases Batch 1 

5 Rare Closed Distillery Bottlings!

Cadenhead’s is the oldest independent bottler in Scotland, established 1842, and it is also one of the finest! Their whiskies have been exclusive to KWM for the last 3-4 years and we have been patiently waiting for their 175th Anniversary, and some very special bottlings…  Batch 1 of the Cadenhead’s Small Batch 175th Anniversary releases are going to be here next week. 4 single malts from seldom seen closed distilleries and one very rare old Bourbon!

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Banff 1976 – 51.2% – 40 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Apple Tarte Tatin, aniseed, herbal with lots of waxy fruity notes. Palate: Peaches, lime zest, orange blossom  water, hints of oak, greengages and gooseberries. Finish: Very distant coal dust, polished oak and lingering tropical fruits.” – $1050 – Only 6 bottles! – SOLD OUT
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Caperdonich 1977 – 50.5% – 39 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich sherry notes but also creamy, milk chocolate, toffee sauce, plums and nectarines. Palate:  Thick and chewy sherry with toffee, raisin butter, brown sugar and coffee creams. Finish: Chewy, hints of cloves and ground ginger along with figs, plums and treacle toffee.” – $1000 – 91pts Serge
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Convalmore 1977 – 56.8% – 40 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Lemon thyme, soft earthy notes along with eucalyptus, peach stones and butterscotch. Palate: Faint coal dust, juicy apples, kiwi fruits and hints of liquorice, cumin powder and raspberries. Finish: Gently warming, very creamy with caramelised bananas , pears in syrup and more butterscotch.” – $1000 – 91pts Serge
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Heaven Hill 1996 – 50.8% – 20 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Poppy seeds, orange marmalade, white chocolate, fudge and cinnamon. Palate: Soft wood spice, slightly drying with nutmeg, more fudge, beeswax and milk chocolate. Finish: Coffee beans, cinnamon and paprika.  drying oak with growing orange oils, cumin and star anise.” – $340 – Only 6 bottles! – 1 per customer
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Rosebank 1991 – 50.5% – 25 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Vanilla, strawberry jam, satsumas, candy floss and golden syrup. Palate: Juicy and mouth coating with a trace of white pepper, unripe bananas and growing vanilla. Lychee, fennel, mint leaves, mangoes, raspberry ripple ice cream and faint chocolate notes. Finish: Juicy and mouth coating with a trace of white pepper, unripe bananas and growing vanilla.” – $540 – Only 6 bottles! – SOLD OUT

 

Other Selected New Cadenhead Releases Coming Soon 

Exciting new Small Batch Releases Exclusive to KWM!

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Blair Atholl 1988– 53.6% – 28 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Floral, with cut grass, dried apricots and sweet toffee. Palate: Chocolate eclairs, soft all spice, more toffee and whipped cream. Finish: Blueberries, hints of menthol with cherry cake and dark chocolate.” – $340 – Just 12 Bottles
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Fettercairn 1988 – 55.4% – 28 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Autumnal forests, banana loaf, and soft ashy notes. Palate: Marzipan, icing sugar, crystallised oranges and soft oakiness. Finish: Red fruits, melted tablet, dunnage warehouses with a salty edge.” – $340 – Just 12 Bottles
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Glentuachers 1990 – 52.6% – 26 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Grapefruit and lime, syrupy notes with vanilla and coconut. Palate: Blackcurrants, cherries, brown sugar, green apple skins and very chewy. Finish: Chocolate milkshake, cocoa butter and dry spice ” – $325 – Just 12 Bottles
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Strathmill 1992– 45.9% – 25 Year – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Pineapples, mango, papaya and cocking chocolate. Palate: Cherry tomatoes, haricot beans, coconut, chocolate flakes and oranges. Finish: Green bananas, slate and wet leaves and a hint of ash.” – $225
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Mortlach 1987 – 30 Year – 48.2% – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Creamy, minty, fruit coulis, hints of praline and toffee sauce. Palate: Leather, straw, maple syrup and condensed milk. Finish: Sweet, crispy cakes, syrup, vanilla and raspberries and white chocolate.” – $425 – Just 12 bottles!
6. Cadenhead Creations 1991 Batch 3 Light Creamy Vanilla – 44.6% – 18 Year- Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Vanilla, granulated sugar, shortbread, grassy and fresh. Palate: Satsuma peel, milk chocolate, icing sugar and strawberries. Finish: Butterscotch, sweet, long and fruity with vanilla icing.” – $125
7. Cadenhead Vatted Islay 1991 – 46% – 25 Year – Married in a Sherry Hogsheads – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Big and meaty, smoked meats with fig compote and lots of farmyard notes. Palate: More ashy notes come through on the palate breaking through red cherries, faint cinnamon and bloody oranges. Finish: Long and lingering interplay between, wet ash, creamy toffee notes and mincemeat pies.” – $290 – Only 6 Bottles – 1 Per Customer

New Alberta Exclusive Millstone Cask 

A Seductive new 1996 Vintage Virgin American Oak Cask!

The Alberta importers for Dutch whisky maker Millstone have selected a virgin oak cask to be bottled exclusively for the Alberta market. The cask was apparently a favourite of owner and whisky marker Patrick van Zuidam, offered by accident to Craftworks Spirits owners Greg and Jarka Winters. I would like to sample the whisky again, away from the aromas of a rich meal, however I was impressed with it. Here is my preliminary tasting note…

Millstone 1996 Virgin American Oak Cask 1376 – 51.45% – 20 Year – My Tasting Note: “Nose: bread and butter pudding with canned whip cream; dried apricots and peaches n cream; strawberry puff candies an cooked marshmallow; French bakery notes: fruit flan, croissants and other baked goods. Palate: waxy, tropical and creamy; toasty, oily and coating; more dried apricot, peaches and whip cream from a can; floral and spicy with toasted coconut, marmalade and some orange rind. Finish: warming, toasty and peppery; the fruits are all on the front end, but traces linger with a waxy oily grip. Comment: this is a lovely, layered and fruity malt; 20 years in virgin oak, has surprisingly not overwhelmed the spirit, but it has had a deft touch! – $285

My Tasting Notes on Two New Adelphi Whiskies 

A Big Bowmore and a Lovely Laphroaig!

Adelphi puts their hands on some superb single casks, and these two will just bolster that reputation. They are pricey, but this is a trend we’ve seen on both Laphroaig and Bowmore, across the spectrum of independent bottlers. Rumour has it they are no longer selling or trading their casks! Here are my tasting notes on the two:

1.  Adelphi Bowmore 1997 – 57.2% – 19 Year – Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: polished oak and new Italian leather shoes; treacle sauce on warm sticky toffee pudding and Werther’s Orginal; some subtle smoke, candied orange and hints of lavender. Palate: big, round, fruity and smoky… surprisingly smoky; more polished oak and new leather notes; the lavender picks up with some cold Earl Grey tea and Demerara sugar; dark chocolate covered espresso beans, liquorice and treacle sauce. Finish: round, fruity and smoky; the fine leather, liquorice and chocolate tones linger long with floral lavender and cold tea. Comment: a surprising dram, at once more smoky than I would expect for a 19 year old Bowmore, and less sherried than the colour let on; a lovely older Bowmore, and a fine Cigar malt!” – $280 – Only 18 bottles. 
2. Adelphi Laphroaig 1996 – 57.1 % – 20 Year – 2 Refill Ex-Sherry Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: doughy, buttery, creamy, tropical and honeyed; some medicinal tones and juicy malt start to emerge, but where is the peat? this is a kitten. Palate: honeyed, creamy and doughy with some yeasty-washback tones; oily-smoky-chewy-barley; fresh cut green grass and tarry ropes; the peat is soft and round with some floral tones; a bit of orange peel, brown sugar and building earthy spices. Finish: warming, earthy and peaty; it is still doughy and malty; floral and peaty with firm but gentle salty smoke, its last flourish is bone dry. Comment:  this is a round, malty and fresh Laphroaig; age has softened some of its rougher Ileach edges, but it hasn’t lost any of its identity! – $375 – Only 16 bottles

Introducing Glendronach Batch 15 

Only 6 Vintages Between 1990 & 1995!

Where once there were 12 vintage single cask per release, there are now just 6. This is the first release of single cask since Rachel Barrie took over as Whisky Maker for BenRiach Distillery Co. and therefore Glendronach as well. There are no exceptionally old releases anymore, no doubt a sign that there is less and less to be had from the distillery. Just 12 bottles of each are coming to KWM, and they are already nearly half sold. While they are pricey, keep in mind the last batch of the Glendronach Grandeur, Batch 8, at 25 years, sold for $850, and the 25 and 27 year olds here are much less than that!

From the Producer: The six whiskies released in Batch 15 from 21 to 27 years of age, and are drawn from either Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso sherry casks. The oldest cask released in Batch 15, cask number 7005, has the appearance of polished cherry wood, with notes of fresh mint leaves on the nose, together with touches of cigar box and cinnamon in rich plum juice on the palate. Toasted oak spice and roasted coffee beans can be found in the nose of the youngest cask in this batch, cask number 4418, while the palate offers crisp candied peel, with sweet figs and sugared dates dusted with cocoa.

Whisky Maker Rachel Barrie says: “Aficionados of the The Glendronach will not be disappointed with this latest Batch, picked from the richest and deepest casks in our earthen-floored warehouses. I am privileged and delighted to see them released from their slumber, for enjoyment by discerning connoisseurs around the world; as time slowly passes, I anticipate the unearthing of more hidden gems.”

1.  Glendronach 1995 Cask 4418 – 52.6% – 21 Year – Perdo Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: dried prunes, toasted oak spices and coffee beans with hints of ginger biscuit and dark chocolate. Palate: crisp candied peel marries with sweet figs and sugared dates, dusted with cocoa and freshly ground barley. – $385
2.  Glendronach 1994 Cask 3379 – 51.6% – 22 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet dates and a hint of cinnamon,enriched with plum sauce and white pepper spice. Palate: dark chocolate and rich orange marmalade drenched over stewed dark fruits, contrasting with a warming oak spice.” – $415
3.  Glendronach 1993 Cask 43 – 59.2% – 24 Year – Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: sour plums and dark marischino cherries combine with orange bitters, black pepper and rich espresso. Palate: Rich molasses poured over dark dried fruits balance perfectly with crisp, peppery oak spices. – $450
4. Glendronach 1992 Cask 89 – 57% – 25 Year – Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: rich date loaf, coffee beans with hints of orange peel and warm ginger. Palate: rich dates, dark prune syrup, stem ginger and black pepper corns, dark chocolate and hints of orange marmalade. – $490
5. Glendronach 1992 Cask 52 – 58.5% – 25 Year – Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: roasted coffee beans, sherry-soaked dark fruits, rich oak spices and a gentle herbal back note. Palate: cigar box spices infusing through rich prunes, dark treacle and orange zest.” – $490
6. Glendronach 1990 Cask 7005 – 53.4% – 27 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: gentle notes of fresh mint leaves, cloves held in a robust Muscavado sugar and spiced stewed prunes. Palate: touches of cigar box and cinnamon in rich plum juice, rounded by roasting coffee beans and chocolate raisins.”  – $590

Introducing Canadian Club 40 Year 

The oldest Canadian whisky ever bottled!

Bottled to mark Canada’s 150th Birthday, the Canadian Club 40 Year is the oldest whisky ever bottled by the brand, and possibly in the history of Cnadian whisky! The whisky has been bottled at 45% and scored 96pts in Whisky Advocate.

Canadian Club 40 Year – 45% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: Walkers Shortbread, ginger snaps and cooked raisin; very grain forward, oily corn tones; because increasingly buttery and fruity; very jammy: Hero strawberry and bleuberry jams; pear drops and lemon bitters. Palate: creamy, floral and subtly woody; grain forward, more corn; soft and silky once it settles down, glentle-sweet oils, pineapple, papaya and kiwi fruit; mixed berry Hero jam and a touch of white pepper; begins to dry and becomes spicier. Finish: the finish is long, drying, floral and sweet with hints of earth and peppery spices. Comment: think old Scottish single grain, but on the lighter end of things; very pretty and interesting; it would not be hard to crush a bottle!” – $235

From the Produer: “Four decades ago, our craftsmen barreled this exceptional liquid, then let it rest in oak barrels, allowing time for it to absorb as much flavor as possible from the wood.  Our patience resulted in this definitive whisky experience.  The oldest aged expression in the history of Canadian Club, and quite possibly the oldest Canadian whisky in history.”

Whisky Advocate Tasting Note: “After 40 years in barrels, the trademark Canadian Club dark fruit is as rich as ever. Reminiscent of raisin tarts with sprinkles of sweet baking spices, then strawberries and black pepper. Warming but never hot. No tannins, no woodiness; silky barrel tones are the only hint of oak, while soaring floral esters speak loudly of time in the barrel. The glowing, never-ending finish is spectacular. Canada’s Sesquicentennial Celebratory Release.” 96pts

Introducing Highland Park Valkyrie 

A Smokier Highland Park!

We actually launched this in September, but until now it has escaped the attention of the Malt Messenger. The Valkyrie, bottled at 45.9% is the first in a series of the 3 Highland Park releases, with Valknut and Valhalla to follow in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Valkyrie is a smokier than typical expression of Highland Park, made with a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt than is typical in distillery bottlings. It has been matured in a mix of First Fill American oak and Ex-Sherry casks. Andrew sampled it at the distillery in May, tasting note coming soon!

Highland Park Valkyrie  – 45.9% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Green apples | Sun-ripened lemons | Oriental spices | Vanilla | Preserved ginger | Dark chocolate | Salty liquorice | Warm aromatic smoke.” – $105

87pts Whisky Advocate: “Valkyrie replaces the current Dark Origins expression and was matured in a combination of first-fill American oak sherry casks, American oak bourbon casks, and European oak sherry casks, along with some refill casks. Apricots and aromatic wood smoke on the nose; slightly oily, with raisins. Stewed fruits on the palate, with earthy peat, licorice, and black pepper. Aniseed, dark berry notes, and wood spice in the finish.”

From the Producer: “Plunging down from the dark heavens, the Valkyries would descend like avenging angels on horseback to comb the battlefields for the bravest of the fallen warriors, heroes fit to enter the great Norse god Odin’s hall, Valhalla. VALKYRIE celebrates our rich Nordic ancestry here on Orkney, where we were once part of a vast Viking kingdom, and its packaging was designed by internationally renowned designer and Viking Soul, Jim Lyngvild. Exquisitely balanced and delivering wave upon wave of warm aromatic smoke and richly ripened fruit, VALKYRIE is the first in a series of three special Viking Legend releases and has just been awarded the Chairman’s Trophy in the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, scoring 99 out of 100.

“The Valkyries go weaving with drawn swords, Hild and Hjorthrimul, Sanngrid and Svipul. Spears will shatter, shields will splinter, Swords will knaw like wolves through armour. Darraðarljóð (Song of Oarrador), Njal’s Saga”

Describing the fall of Brian Boru to Viking forces at the Battle of Clontarf, 1014

Introducing Wyoming Outryder 

A Blended High Rye Content Bottled in Bond Whiskey!

This curious whiskey from Wyoming is a blend of high-rye American Whiskey and Bourbon. Even more curious is that it is Bottled in Bond. This means:

– All whiskey in the bottle must be produced by one distillery and by one distiller over the course of one distillation season.

– The whiskey must be at least four years old.

– It must be bottled at 100 proof / 50% ABV

– The whiskey must be aged in bonded warehouses under United States federal supervision.

– The label on the bottle has to state which distillery it comes from and also where it was bottled.

From the Producer: “It’s crafted from two distinct mash bills distilled in November of 2011.  The first mash bill contains 48% winter rye, 40% corn, and 12% malted barley and the second reflects a traditional bourbon mash bill of 68% corn, 20% winter rye, and 12% malted barley.  In keeping with Wyoming Whiskey’s tradition, these grains are all non-GMO and grown in Byron, Wyoming by Rageth Farms.”

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder Bottled in Bond – 50% – Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Corn, menthol, mint candies, new leather, hay bales and grass with hints of damp earth, cinnamon, Mackintosh’s Toffee, Lucky Elephant Pink Candy Popcorn, orange marmalade, grilled lemons and spicy rye. Palate: Spicy and sweet with kettle corn, sweet chili sauce, a touch of black liquorice, strawberry jam, sour peach candies, light peppermint and a touch of citrus tang, oak and rye spices. Finish: Spicy and minty rye meets smooth and sweet corn. Comment: Adding a rye component the typically sweet and juicy Wyoming Distillery style lends earthy nuance plus a mint and menthol edge. This is a fun and out of the ordinary Bonded Whiskey. – $112

Introducing Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Batch 7 

Only the 2nd Ever Peated Release! 

This is the 7th release from Two Brewers, which is as distillery within Yukon Brewing in Whitehorse, Yukon. Hearkening back to Release 03 – This release of Two Brewers Single Malt is Peated – in fact, it is a little bit more peated then that past release. Only 1750 bottles are in this release, only a portion of which will be coming to Alberta. 43% ABV

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 7 Peated – 43% – Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Candied bacon, chai tea with honey and cream, banana, nutmeg, hickory sticks, a barn – full of hay and set on fire, eucalyptus, vanilla bean, well-worn leather jacket, spicy and floral cigar smoke.  Palate: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches, lemon custard pastries, dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee candies, chai tea with cream again, mild spices, peppercorn bacon, poached pears and saltwater taffy. Finish: Oily and slightly creamy leading to fruit and spice on the fade. Comment: The peat adds depth. A peaty and seductive volume in the continuing Two Brewers’ repertoire.” – $100

About Two Brewers: “Yukon Brewing was formed by Bob Baxter and Alan Hansen in 1997, the result of a canoe trip conversation taken well beyond the campfire. After years of building a successful local craft brewery, they decided to expand into spirits and in 2009 invested in a small pot still. Hence came the birth of Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Whisky; made in small batches, with a variety of malted and roasted grains, using different fermentation techniques and a mix of barrels. The goal is that no two releases will be the same, so that as each expression emerges, it is layered and complex and probably never to be repeated.”

Introducing: Caol 18 Year Unpeated  

The oldest yet bottling of unpeated Caol Ila!

The annual, unpeated release of Caol Ila is now 18 years of age, bottled at 59.8%.The oldest ever unpeated release of Caol Ila!

Caol Ila 18 Year Unpeated – 59.8% – Matured in American Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Surprisingly weighty, with a meaty backbone that doesn’t rely on the distillery’s usual smoke for depth. First impression is of lemon flavours along with green-leaf herbs and soft spiciness. A dry mineral then builds in the glass to add a chalky flavour. Palate: A fine line taste between sweet, acidic and salty. It slips into sweet candied fruit, then into intense salted caramel and toffee. Hints of sea-spray dance between the three flavours until the fruit and char unite in triumph. Finish: Warming, soft and long with notes of vanilla. Succeeded by deep warmth which fades to soft spice and oak.” – $185

Introducing Laphroaig 27 Year 

Not just your average 27 year old!

A curious new bottling of mature Laphroaig, bottled at a very low cask strength of 41.7%. This low strength is more easily understood when you consider the whisky was matured in both Ex-Bourbon Barrels and more crucially Quarter Casks, 125L barrels. These Quarter Casks increase the surface area exposure to the spirit, leading to a more rapid maturation and a much higher angel’s share.

Laphroaig 27 Year – 41.7% – Matured in Ex-Bourbon Barrels & Quarter Casks – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: A ripe, pulpy tropical fruit flan, topped with finely chopped toasted macadamia nuts and smothered with vanilla cream. Palate: the smoke is tempered by limes and nectarines, giving way to sea salt and mild chilli. Finish: Antique leather and green tobacco leaf.” – $1430

Brora 34 Year 2017 

The Latest Limited Annual Release from this Formerly Closed Distillery!

That Diageo would put out yet another annual release of Brora was not a surprise, but the announcement a few weeks back that they would reopen the distillery certainly was. Along with Port Ellen and Rosebank, the long closed distillery is set to reopen. But of the three it has the greatest chance of someday reliving its past glory, as much of its equipment is still in place. Having said that, I will be in my mid-late 70’s by the time its whisky reaches this age!

Brora 1982 34 Year – 51.9% – Re-fill American Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: : “Nose: At first maritime and mineral, with dried seaweed. Then a wave of flavours suggest a cider farm’s workshop in springtime. Finally, sweet flavours roll in with green leaves, all on a faintly waxy base. Palate: The waxy texture for which Brora is renowned starts sharper than you expect, with fruit, chili and fresh-ground black pepper. As the heat subsides, fruity dark chocolate and soft barrel-char smoke appear. Finish: Some spice in the finish as aniseed slowly fade to leave sweet-spicy oak. With a final quick burst of black pepper and sweet fruit.” – $2200

Serge @whiskfun.org: “Indeed, perhaps not Brora’s best vintage, but let’s see what gives… Colour: straw. Nose: it frankly is a Clynelishy Brora. Virtually, this is Clynelish, with this waxy style, the ripe fruits, the faint smokiness, this orange peel, and all the beeswax. And lamp oil, hay, a little clay… All very fine, all quite subtle, and yet rather fat and assertive. Class. Mouth: wonderful. This time, it’s more Brora than Clynelish, with more mineral notes, more chalk, a small mustardy side, more sea elements, and rather more lemons than tangerines. Also green bananas, ripe white currants, and some slightly smoky lemons. Some wulong tea as well, this is very complex. Finish: only medium, but beautifully waxy and citrusy. Totally love the saltier signature. Oysters? Comments: not a peat master, but in a higher league than that of several previous 1982s by G&M (CCs and such). It’s good that they had decided to keep this puncheon until the year 2015. Smart decision! SGP:553” – 92 points.

We Have Some Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon 

But Just a Handful of Bottles!

There is a small amount of this rare collectible Bourbon available. Limited to 1 per customer!

Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon – 47.2% – From the Producer: “Mature in age and truly exceptional in quality, Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon has earned its place as an enduring favorite of the most discerning whiskey connoisseurs. The “Best American Whiskey” according to Food & Wine magazine, our 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon represents the culmination of over a decade of patient aging in our specially chosen, new charred American white oak barrels.” – $240

Whisky Advocate Tasting Note: “Released in the spring of 2016. True balance and consistency from nose to finish, showing toffee, saltwater taffy, cinnamon Jolly Rancher, crème brûlée, nutmeg, toasted pecan, chocolate, fruit, delicate spice. Hints of pear, peach, and apple. I love the coffee and hazelnut on the long finish. I wonder if the taste would improve in the 107 to 111 proof range. As it is now, this is a must-have sipper.” 91pts

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

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Springbank Society – October 2017 Bottling 

We trust this newsletter finds you in good health.  Here in Campbeltown the trees are shedding their leaves and the days getting shorter as we race through autumn into the depths of winter.  The perfect time to bring a bit of warmth to our lives with the release of our next society bottle!

Longrow 9yo Sauternes 56.3%

Available to order from 30th October 2018.

Please note we will not take pre-orders for this release. Only email orders from 30th October onwards will be accepted. 

An email will be sent on this date to signal when you can start ordering the bottle.

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with information on the release and how to order it. You will receive a society newsflash on the release date to remind you when the bottles are available.

Springbank Society October 2017 Bottling

Longrow 9yo Sauternes

Cask type: Fresh Sauternes Hogsheads

Distilled: November 2007

Bottled: October 2017

Strength: 56.3%

Outturn: 1134 bottles

Tasting notes:

Nose :  Light smokiness, fresh plums, honeycomb, chocolate peppermints, walnuts, almonds, sticky toffee pudding, chocolate crepes, sugarcane, dark chocolate.

Palate : Cocoa powder, spice, pepper, dates and prunes. Raspberry coulis, caramel, ripe bananas, cherries and a mineral note. Slightly dry with a sticky mouthfeel.

Finish : Cherries, dry smoke, soot, raisins, burnt embers, baked apples, poached pears, biscuit base, shortbread, caramel shortcake, ginger and crushed black pepper.

For the avoidance of doubt: the bottles are not available yet and we will not be taking pre-orders.

Purchasing and delivery/collection

Please read this section carefully to ensure this process goes as smoothly as possible.

The bottle shall be available for £45.00 and initially it will be 1 per person however, once it becomes clear what the level of interest is, then it is possible you could get a second. 2 bottles per member will be the maximum. When you order a bottle next week, please state if you would be interested in a second bottle.

We will only process email orders. No phone orders.

When you first order a bottle, please tell us if any of the following things apply to you.

•  If you would like a second bottle
•  If you would like to collect it from one of our Cadenhead shops
•  If you are based in Canada
•  If you have any other delivery preferences (not covered by the points above) then it may be helpful, but not essential, if you would include them in your original email too.

Once you place your order you will receive an email back, letting you know that your order has been received and that a bottle has been reserved for you.  As is usual with a Society release, this may take several days. Please do not be alarmed if you do not hear back immediately.

Again, as is standard practice with Society bottles, if you wish for your Society bottle(s) to be sent to a Cadenhead shop on mainland Europe (now Baden, Cologne and Odense) you will pay for them upon collection. We have processes in place to make sure these bottles arrive much faster than they have done for previous releases.
In previous years we have been able to send Society bottles to Cadenhead shops in Berlin and Salzburg however, Springbank Distillery does not have another shipment bound for these shops and soon neither of them shall be Cadenhead stores. As such it is no longer an option to send the bottles to these shops.

Please note that if you want your order sent to Berlin or Salzburg shops you must let us know, no later than November 8th.

If you plan to have your Society bottle(s) sent to the Edinburgh or London shops then, as with the previous release, deliveries to these shops will be handled in a similar way to when Society bottles are sent to the other Cadenhead shops. Instead of charging £2 per bottle and delivering them individually, we will not charge anything for delivery and they will be sent as part of the scheduled Cadenhead shipments.

Once again and finally, we will only process email orders from 30th October 2017 (Campbeltown time). No phone orders.

We will send out an email on 30th October to let you know when you can start ordering.

To join the Springbank Society please email Springbank Society 

Glenrothes 12 Year Old 2005 Old Malt Cask #14095

Just-in! A sumptuous single cask sherry butt bottled August 2017 by Hunter Laing & Co. Flavours of ripe figs, dark chocolate, caramel and sweet oranges. Nose: Ripe figs, dark chocolate and caramel. Palate: Sweet with oranges, caramel and white pepper. Finish: Long with gentle spices, a hint of oak and oranges. Glenrothes Distillery was established in the narrow valley of the Rothes Burn on the west side of Rothes in the Speyside whiskey region by James Stuart & Co. in 1878. This is a large malt whiskey distillery owned by Berry Bros & Rudd of London, with eighteen washbacks, ten copper stills singing in their own mighty cathedral and has retained its traditional pagoda roof. Popular distillery releases include Glenrothes 1995, 1998 and Glenrothes Peated.

Shop – £46.75

Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2017 Launching in October

(Lebanon, Ky.) October 12, 2017 – Limestone Branch Distillery introduces the 2017 version of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, finished in charred wine casks, set to hit the market in October. This year’s limited edition combines hand-selected, seven and 12-year Kentucky Straight bourbons, with a special addition of Limestone Branch Distillery’s first available, 4-year Kentucky Straight bourbon. The bourbon is then rested in once-filled, double seasoned barrels, which are toasted and then lightly charred.

“We are beyond proud to be using some of our own distillate in this year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition,” says Steve Beam, president and distiller of Limestone Branch Distillery. “This is a momentous release for our family and it is meticulously handmade, grain to glass, right here at our distillery.”

Bottled at 101 proof and available in 750ml bottles signed by Steve Beam and nestled in commemorative tubes, Yellowstone Limited Edition offers an earthy flavor, dark and rich, with a nose of toasted oak, caramel and butterscotch at the front of the palette, giving way to rich leather and dark summer fruit on the finish. Approximately 7,000-8,000 bottles of this bourbon are being produced this fall at Limestone Branch Distillery, and the suggested retail price is $99.99.

“By finishing the bourbon in charred wine casks, we allowed the juice to intensify and evolve, creating a wonderful result,” says Beam. “While last year’s edition was more about subtle nuances, this year’s edition we focused on intense flavors and a richer final product.”

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 105th 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.

Released in time for Hallowe’en, November Outturn takes taste buds to another realm with 12 full-bodied single cask whiskies to taste and explore. Treat the senses to a rich and indulgent experience with spiced fruits, treacle toffee pudding, gooey chocolate cake, blood oranges and pumpkin pie.

READ OUTTURN

To Join:

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 Pair of Very Attractively Priced Whiskies from Luxco

These newest additions to our whiskey section are poised to earn many adoring fans. Not only are they very attractively priced, but they hold their own against some of the more coveted bottles in the market today.

Let’s start with the 100 proof Wheated Edition. Just to make double sure, I put a few glasses in the hands of my assistants here at K&L and told them it was a sample from a new Weller 107 single barrel that I had just purchased. Their eyes lit up and not one of them assumed the whiskey wasn’t what I said it was. In fact, they were downright stoked about the quality. Then I immediately confessed. Alas, it was not Weller 107, but rather a new 100 proof wheated Bourbon from Luxco, the folks behind Rebel Yell and Ezra Brooks. How much would it cost, they asked? A cool $26.99, I replied.

The nose is an absolute dead ringer for Weller. If you poured it for me blind, that’s what I’d say. Pencil shavings, sweet oak, and caramel. Big spice. 50% ABV booming right out of the glass. The palate has more of those three elements, but also a creaminess that’s perhaps even more compelling. The finish has another flurry of oak spice, pepper, cinnamon and clove. It’s basically a really great version of Old Fitzgerald BIB in a different bottle and for the price I’m backing up the truck. I’ll have no problem selling every single bottle we have before the week is over.

And then I’ll be backing up a few trucks after that. There’s no amount of this whiskey that will satiate the current demand for delicious, high proof, wheated Bourbon right now in California right now. We have guys selling their souls for Weller Reserve, yet the Nicholson is far better.

Now let’s talk about the Nicholson Reserve, a classic corn/rye mashbill Bourbon also at 100 proof. Basically, if you liked our 100 proof Faultline release from a few years back, this is like a baby version for a $12 discount. There are some great herbaceous accents, lots of pepper from the rye, and a gush of savory notes on the finish, but again the texture is the real star. The nose is brimming with toasted wood and the 50% ABV really dials up all that oak from front to back. The Nicholson Reserve at $32.99 is like the perfect middleground between the standard Elijah Craig and the Barrel Proof.

Basically, you’re gonna want at least one of each and there’s plenty to go around. When I sell out of the first lot, I’ll be heading back to Luxco for more. And more after that. And more after that. This is exactly the type of Bourbon I’m after right now: abundant, delicious, with no hype, and plenty of availability and no allocations.

 

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

There’s still 62 days until the big day, but you can cross one thing off your Christmas shopping list early with the brand new 12 Drams of Christmas. Guaranteed to be on every whisky fan’s letter to Santa, these fantastic whisky selection packs feature twelve 3cl drams, one for each day of the festive season, and come in Standard and Deluxe editions – now in stock and available for immediate dispatch at The Whisky Shop!

Next day UK delivery available International Shipping

12 Drams of Christmas

Fresh off the first sleigh from the North Pole workshop, this whisky selection pack is the perfect gift for your true love this Christmas! Featuring twelve 3cl bottles of some fantastic whiskies, one for each day of the season, 12 Drams of Christmas will keep the festive spirit going to January 5th.

We’re all about Christmas surprises, but if you really can’t wait to find out which whiskies are included in this wonderful gift pack, just click on the link below for the full list.

£70 Buy Now

12 Drams of Christmas Deluxe Edition

Looking for something a little bit extra special for your true love this Christmas? The 12 Drams of Christmas Deluxe Edition has a 3cl bottle for each day of the festive season.

Featuring some rare and old whiskies including limited edition Scotch, Japanese whisky and a single cask exclusive to The Whisky Shop, you can find the full list of drams by clicking the link below.

£125 Buy Now

The Newest “Old Particular” Single Cask Selection – Talisker 8 Year

As promised, we’re about to being moving into the Fall/Winter segment of our Old Particular single cask selections. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and that little nip in the air starts awakening our thirst for peated Scotch whisky. Let’s begin with the perfect October warm up: an absolutely perfect cask of Talisker 8 year old. If you liked the Lagavulin 8, you’re going to love this Talisker (especially since this one’s at full proof and costs about the same).

Anyone familiar with Talisker understands its role in the pantheon of Scotland’s greatest distilleries. Located on the Isle of Skye, a rugged and remote locate battered by the wind and sea, the malt produced at Talisker has always captured the imagination of whisky drinkers with its maritime flavors of salt, smoke, oil, and peat. It has also long been one of Scotland’s most refined and elegant whiskies, balancing those elements with restraint and delicacy in comparison to Islay’s more powerful and intense expressions like Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Talisker is a smoky whisky, full of bonfire and soot, but the standard 10 year distillery release manages to mellow out the phenolic elements with ample fruit and vanilla. It’s that ability to restrain those rugged island forces into something accessible and beautiful that has made Talisker’s reputation.

What this single barrel cask strength eight year old edition allows for is an unbridled and unrestrained look into the whisky’s true power and potential. It’s everything we know and love about Talisker, just dialed up. The first sip brings sweetness from the malted barley and oak cask maturation, followed by fruit and baking spices as well, but then the power of the proof kicks in and the peat takes over. There are notes of tar and salt, followed by more chimney smoke and earth, before those notes begin to fade and the earthier notes of pure peat highlight the finish. All in all, it’s a Talisker lover’s dream, but it’s Talisker with an ode to Islay in terms of power and potency. I’ve tasted it on seven different occasions today and I can’t get enough of it.

2008 Talisker 8 Year Old “Old Particular – K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) – $59.99

Bunnahabhain 8 Year Old 2009

Bunnahabhain 8 Year Old 2009 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in first fill sherry hogsheads freshly bottled September 2017 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Cask Strength series. Sweet and spicy with treacle, baked apple and raspberry flavours. Bunnahabhain Distillery was established in 1881 on the north eastern tip of the Isle of Islay by the shore of Bunnahabhain Bay and overlooking the Sound of Islay. All the building materials were transported by puffer and unloaded at the distillery pier. Now tucked away at the end of the single track ‘main’ road with spectacular scenery all the way. Bunnahabhain Distillery is equipped with four huge pear shaped stills and produces Scottish malt whiskey which is released in blends and in single malt and single cask bottlings. A participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Core editions include Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old

Shop – £48.74

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky launches 1990 Vintage Cask travel retail exclusive with World Duty Free at Heathrow

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today released its eagerly anticipated 1990 Vintage Cask Travel Retail Exclusive in partnership with World Duty Free, a Dufry company and Heathrow Airport. The limited expression is available to purchase exclusively in World of Whiskies and World Duty Free stores in all terminals at Heathrow as part of a dedicated in-store activation until January 2018.

Taking you on a historical journey of Old Pulteney, this exquisite Vintage tells a tale of craftsmanship and dedication, dating back over a quarter of a century. This full-bodied spirit began its story in American oak ex-bourbon casks, developing its characteristically complex nature, before moving to Spanish oak where it became richer, darker and adopted a sweetness with hints of spice. The unique expression finished with a brief spell in casks which previously held heavily peated whisky – providing a unique smoky final flourish for this powerful Maritime Malt.

Glimmering bronze in colour, the 26 Year Old 1990 Vintage Cask has an aroma of spice, vanilla, toffee and sweet honey, balanced by a thin veil of warming wood smoke and oak. Bitter orange marmalade and caramel apples soon follow on the nose to create a long-lasting sensory experience for this exquisite and complex dram.

Rich in mouth feel and intense in flavour, the palate opens up with strong praline and sultana sweetness on a thick bed of warm, savoury smoke. Citrus strikes the top note with hints of vanilla lingering in the background, giving a finish, which is long and smoky.

James Bateman, Director, Global Travel Retail at International Beverage commented: “We’re very excited about the exceptional new Old Pulteney 1990 we’re releasing exclusively with World Duty Free for Heathrow airport. We’re looking forward to giving Heathrow travellers something special to pick up and enjoy at their journey’s end.” 

Nigel Sandals, Liquor Category Buying Manager UK at Dufry continues, “Customers in our World Duty Free and World of Whiskies stores are always looking for something a little different – collectors and connoisseurs want to add something unique to their collection, whilst many travellers are looking to purchase whisky as a special gift. The Old Pulteney Single Malt 1990 Vintage Cask is an exclusive and outstanding whisky and we’re delighted to have been able to work with closely with our partners at International Beverage, to make this exclusive whisky available to our customers”.

Old Pulteney 1990 is neither chill-filtered nor coloured and is bottled at its natural cask strength of 46% ABV. It has a RRP of £288 per bottle.

For further information about Old Pulteney visit www.oldpulteney.com

Notes 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Old Pulteney is one of the world’s finest and most distinctive single malt Scotch whiskies. Known as the ‘Maritime Malt’, it is crafted in the windswept coastal town of Wick, home to the Pulteney Distillery which is one of the most northerly on the Scottish mainland. The distillery was established in 1826 in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s famous herring boom which drew a fleet of over 1000 boats and 7000 workers to this remote and rugged harbour.

Old Pulteney is the embodiment of this place, its people and its remarkable history. The skilled Pulteney Distillery team continues to craft whisky using the most traditional and time-honoured techniques that most others have long abandoned. This includes the uniquely shaped Pulteney stills, which are reflected in the design of the Old Pulteney bottle on shelves today.

Matured in hand-selected oak casks, the resulting whisky has been acclaimed for its excellence, its smooth drinking style and faint hint of the sea. Old Pulteney holds the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ for 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – one of the industry’s highest accolades – and most recently the ‘World’s Best Single Malt Whisky’ of 2016 by the prestigious World Whiskies Awards. The whisky also achieved top ten status in the UK single malt market in 2012 and is flourishing in many other countries around the world.

About International Beverage

International Beverage Holdings (www.interbevgroup.com/) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (www.inverhouse.com/) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries. The holding was also named ‘Distiller of the Year’ 2016 and 2017 in the Scotland round of Whisky Magazine’s annual Icons of Whisky Awards.

International Beverage brands include:

• Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
• Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network. Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.

About Heathrow:

Heathrow is Europe’s largest airport and one of the world’s top international aviation hubs. As the UK’s global gateway, Heathrow welcomes more than 76 million passengers every year with a commitment to making ‘every journey better’. The airport is home to more than 80 airlines and is Britain’s largest cargo port, helping to drive British trade growth by connecting the nation to more than 190 destinations around the world. Following an investment of more than £11 billion over the last 10 years, Heathrow is currently ranked by passengers as the ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ for the third year running and the ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ for eight years in a row.