101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die

Ian Buxton

Published by Headline in hardback on 24th November 2016, priced £13.99

Third edition, fully revised and updated. Witty, focused, practical guide to some of the world’s finest whiskies.

101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.

Avoiding the deliberately obscure, the ridiculously limited and the absurdly expensive, whisky expert Ian Buxton recommends an eclectic selection of old favourites, stellar newcomers and mystifyingly unknown drams that simply have to be drunk.

The book decodes the marketing hype and gets straight to the point; whether from India, America, Sweden, Ireland, Japan or the hills, glens and islands of Scotland, here are the 101 whiskies that you really want. Try them before you die – Slainte!

Ian Buxton

Ian Buxton is a former Marketing Director of Glenmorangie and has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. He now runs a successful consultancy business. He was elected a Keeper of the Quaich in 1991, the highest honour of the Scotch whisky industry, and is a member of the international tasting panel for the annual World Whisky Awards and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers.

Twitter: @101whiskies

Malt Messenger Bulletin – Whisky Week Events, Ardbeg Committee & More

Whisky Week 2016 is just a few days away, and we still have room in some of our fantastic tastings at Kensington Wine Market. The party gets started on Sunday with two back to back Bruichladdich tastings hosted by Lynn McEwan, the daughter of Bruichladdich’s retired, legendary frontman. We have a big range of 8 whiskies including 4 new releases never before sampled in Alberta!

The following day, Halloween, we have Melanie Stranger for a not so Spooky Springbank tasting; costumes not required… For the occasion we have a couple of cool new releases never before sampled in Alberta, from Hazelburn and Kilkerran. We are crcking a Springbank 21 Year and have also stowed away a few interesting old Springbank bottlings to flesh out the tasting including the SOLD OUT Springbank 16 Year Local Barley. You won’t want to miss this one.

Things heat up the following night with Richard Urquhart from Gordon & MacPhail / Benromach. Another stellar range, we have be sampling the Benromach 35 Year and a 1990 Rare Old Rosebank. We will also be pouring our new exclusive Imperial 1996 and a Cask Strength Glenburgie 1995.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society November Outturn tastings are on Wednesday and Saturday next week. One of the perks of SMWS memberships is early registration for the monthly Outtrn tastings. While there are three seatings, two are sold out and there is only room left in the Wednesday night 8PM session.

We have whiskies from 4 different distilleries featured on the Thursday night: anCnoc, Balblair, Old Pulteney and Speyburn, and it is an old range at that! We are pouring a 1975 anCnoc, and two whiskies from 1990: Old Pulteney and Balblair. Lukasz Dynowiak, brand ambassador for the distilleries is our host.

Anthony Wills is back for at least the 5th straight year for a Kilchoman vertical. It has been a pleasure to watch this distillery grow and mature. For the first time ever, we have such a broad choice of available whiskies for the tasting, that we can’t include them all. We will sample 7 Kilchomans, and the highlights will include our newest KWM Cask, the new Kilchoman Sauternes and the latest bottling of the Kilchoman Original Cask Strength. This tasting is SOLD OUT.

Last but not least to conclude Whisky Week we are featuring Glencadam and Tomintoul on Saturday November 5 at 2PM. Iain Fortheath of Angus Dundee Distillers will be hosting the tasting. This is his first visit to Canada, and we have a great range for the tasting.

A quick note, if you are a fan of Ardbeg, and not yet a registered member of the Ardbeg Committee, you’ll want to make sure you register before November 1st. An Ardbeg Committee exclusive bottling announcement will be coming out. Follow this link to Join the Ardbeg Committee. The Ardbeg Committee release is restricted to members in Alberta, it is being released in some other provinces.

Finally I am very excited to announce the 2016 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is in store and available for purchase and pickup. We are really proud of our 3rd edition, and especially excited about the Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling for Christmas Day. It is the first SMWS cask bottled just for Canada!

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger Bulletin!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

In this Edition

1. Kensington Wine Market 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar is In Store!
2. Whisky Week Tastings at Kensington Wine Market
3. New KWM Exclusive Kilchoman PX Cask
4. Just In: Gordon Macphail Imperial 1996
5. Introducing Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016

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

twitter.com/scotch_guy, Instagram: instagram.com/kensingtonwm/

and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com 

Are You an Ardbeg Committee Member?

If you aren’t you should be… exciting news coming November 1!   

It’s a quirky fact that Islay, with a population of just 3000, has more than 140 Committees. And the biggest one of all? The Ardbeg Committee, with a worldwide membership of over 120,000 and counting.

No matter how near or far, our members share a common purpose; to celebrate the re-awakening of Ardbeg, spread the word and dispense drams to those deprived of knowledge of this untamed spirit. Join us today.

Join the Ardbeg Committee

2016 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar 

With T-37 days until Whisky Advent, this year’s edition is more than 60% sold!

For the 3rd year in a row, Kensington Wine Market is producing its own Whisky Advent Calendar. 2014 and 2015’s editions were a huge hit, and sold out well before the start of Advent. This year’s edition is now available for purchase and pickup in store!

We are really excited about our 2016 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. For the third straight year we have designed and built our own exclusive Whisky Advent Calendar, featuring a custom logo Glencairn glass, 24 50ml whiskies and a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (The Society). The Society is the world’s largest whisky club, and bottles whiskies exclusively for its members. This year’s Calendar has a single cask from the Society that has been selected and bottled exclusively for the Calendar and Canadian Society members (750ml bottles will be made available to Society members in 2017!). In collaboration with the Society’s Canadian branch, we were even given the opportunity to name the whisky… Since Society whiskies are exclusively available to Society members, this is an opportunity for non-members to get their hands on a Society whisky. Recipients of the KWM Whisky Advent Calendar will be the first people to sample this exciting new whisky!

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. 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.

Order a Kensington Wine Market 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar $399.99+GST

Whisky Week Tastings at Kensington Wine Market 

October 30 – November 5

We have some really exciting distillery focused Master Class tastings coming up this fall. We added a second seating for the Bruichladdich tasting with Lynn McEwan on Sunday October 30. And there are going to be some amazing whiskies at the other tastings… you won’t want to miss out on them!

1. Bruichladdich Progressive Hebridean Distillers  – Sunday October 30 – 2 Sessions: 2-4PM (NEW 8 spots left) & 5-7PM (1 spot left) – Brand Ambassador Lynn McEwan (Jim’s daughter) will walk us through a range of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore, including a trio of new 10 year olds! – $25 – The Range:

• Bruichladdich Bere Barley
• Bruichladdich 10 Year 2nd Ed. NEW
• Bruichladdich Black Art 4
• Bruichladdich Black Art 5 – NEW
• Port Charlotte Scottish Barley
• Port Charlotte 10 Year 2nd Ed. – NEW
• Octomore 7.3 Islay Barley
• Octomore 10 Year 2nd Ed.  – NEW

1. Spooky Springbank – Monday October 31 – 7PM – Ok, so there is nothing spooky about Springbank, but I can’t think of a more fitting distillery to mark All Hallow’s Eve than Springbank. Brand Ambassador Melanie Stranger will take us through a range of whiskies from Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, including the new Kilkerran 12 Year from their sister distillery Glengyle! We will also sample a bottle of the SOLD OUT Springbank 16 Year Local Barley, and 3 different Springbank Society bottlings! – $35 – The Range:
   1. Hazelburn Barolo – NEW
   2. Kilkerran 12 Year – NEW
   3. Springbank Green 13 Year
   4. Springbank 16 Local Barley – SOLD OUT CULT WHISKY
   5. Springbank 15 Year
   6. Springbank 21 Year
   7. Springbank Society Longrow 13 Year
2. Glorious Gordon & MacPhail – Tuesday November 1 – 7PM – We’ll sample our two new Kensington Wine Market Caol Ila single casks along with some other G&M and Benromach expressions with Brand Ambassador Richard Urquhart. – $50
   1. Benromach 10 Year 100 Proof
   2. Benromach 15 Year 
   3. Benromach 35 Year
   4. Gordon Macphail Imperial 1996
   5. Gordon Macphail Rare Old Rosebank 1990
   6. Gordon Macphail Connoisseur’s Choice Tomatin 1997
   7. Gordon Macphail Cask Strength Glenburgie 1995
3. Scotch Malt Whisky Society November Outturn Tastings – Wednesday November 2 – 8PM – We’ll sample a range of 7 new Society whiskies, but we can’t tell you more than that, their a secret. – $40 for Members and $50 for Guests
4. anCnoc, Balblair, Old Pulteney & Speyburn – Thursday November 3 – 7PM – We’ll sample selected whiskies from these 4 Highland & Speyside distilleries, with Brand Ambassador Lukasz Dynowiak. Expect more than a few gems, we’re pulling out the stops! – $40
   1. anCnoc 12 Year 
   2. anCnoc 18 Year 
   3. anCnoc 1975
   4. Balblair 1990
   5. Old Pulteney 1990
   6. Old Pulteney 17 Year
   7. Speyburn ??? TBD – Aiming for 25 Year! 
5. Kilchoman 100% Islay – Friday November 4 – 7PM – Distillery founder Anthony Wills will be on hand for a Kilchoman Master Class featuring a new KWM exclusive cask, the new Sanaig release, two future releases and a range of other very peaty malts! – $30
   1. Kilchoman 100% Islay 6th Edition
   2. Kilchoman Machir Bay
   3. Kilchoman Sanaig
   4. Kilchoman Loch Gorm
   5. Kilchoman Sauternes – NEW
   6. Kilchoman Original Cask Strength – NEW
   7. Kilchoman PX KWM Cask 446 – NEW
6. Glencadam & Tomintoul Distilleries– Saturday November 5 – 1PM – Iain Fortheath of Angus Dundee Distillers will be presenting whiskies from the Glencadam and Tomintoul Distilleries. Iain is self-described: “Raconteur, International man of mystery, World Cheese Eating Champion.” – $20 
   1. Glencadam 10 Year
   2. Glencadam 14 Year
   3. Glencadam 15 Year 
   4. Glencadam 21 Year
   5. Tomintoul 12 Year
   6. Tomintoul 16 Year 
   7. Tomintoul Peaty Tang
   8. Old Ballantruan 10 Year

 View our full KWM Fall Tasting Schedule and Register Online, or call 403-283-8000.

Pop in to Sample Our New Exclusive Kilchoman 2011 KWM PX Finish Cask #466 

Another big Kilchoman, bottled 3 days shy of 5 years of age!

New for the fall of 2011, a PX Finished single cask of cask strength peated single malt Scotch whisky bottled exclusively for KWM. Distilled on the 28th of July 2011 the cask was bottled July 25th 2016, just a few days shy of 5 years of age. Our 5th exclusive Kilchoman single cask, 444/2011, has been bottled at 57.5%, just 222 bottles left. We were blown away when we selected this cask, now that it is here it is tasting even better!

Kilchoman 2011 KWM PX Cask 446 – 57.5% – PX Sherry Finish – 222 Bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, scallops in burnt butter with lagostines and a glass of off sweet dark sherry; very briny, oily peat and juicy sweet malt; brush smoke, dried dark fruits in maple syrup. Palate: round, honeyed and very fruity with loads of malt and building oily peat and firm smoke; doughy, a base of vanilla, more scallops cooked in butter, lagostines and smoked mussels; big chewy peated malt, lovely peat oils and dark spices: licorice and clove; big though the whisky is there is no hiding the fruits ranging from light and soft to dark and dried. Finish: medium-long, big but balanced; loads of malt, smoke, maritime notes, peat smoke and spices; maple syrup and dried dark fruits. Comment: we love Kilchoman, I don’t know what more to say, other than this is another lovely expression and we know you will love it!” – $160

JUST IN Gordon & Macphail Imperial 1996 

A Superb new Distillery Label Bottling from the Closed Distillery!

This exciting KWM exclusive is the nest closest thing to an official bottling from the closed distillery. It is also the least expensive bottling of Imperial we will ever see again. Bottled under Gordon & Maphail’s Distillery Label range the whisk was matured in 1st Fill and Refill Ex-Sherry casks. We’d prefer to see it bottled at 46%, but Gordon & MacPhail only lightly chill-filter their malts, and it is excellent!

Gordon & Macphail Imperial 1996 – 43% – 1st Fill & Refill Sherry – My Tasting Note Nose: fruit bomb, soft, delicate and layered; dried apricots, peach cobbler, stewed apples and poached pear; soft leather, building spices, creamed honey and building tropical notes. Palate: very soft, smooth and silky; loads of creamed honey, vanilla and layers upon layers of fruit; more poached pear, stewed apples, mangos, papaya and melon; the spices building with some dried dark fruits: raisins and dates: with firm new leather; cardamom and ginger spices with some white pepper. Finish: medium-long, drying and smooth; still very fruity and spicy, slowly fading out. Comment: I sampled this 7 months ago in the UK and knew it was a winner… it is even better than I remember. – $200

About Gordon & MacPhail’s Distillery Label Range: “In partnership with each respective distillery, all whiskies in our Distillery Labels range are uniquely labeled. In years gone by many of these unique designs were used ‘officially’ to bottle the whisky under license from the distillery. Today these trusted relationships with distillers enables Gordon & MacPhail to bottle whiskies at various ages, strengths and vintages – all with their unique distillery label.”

About the Distillery (Courtesy of Gordon & MacPhail): “”Founded by Thomas MacKenzie, the building of Imperial Distillery coincided with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee no doubt an influencing factor in its naming. With a shaky start and history, Imperial Distillery started production in the summer of 1898 only to close a year later for over 20 years. Production did recommence in 1919 but, again, for only six years. The construction of Imperial differs from other Speyside distilleries as it was built of red Aberdeen brick with an iron beam and pillar framework to make it fire resistant. Imperial closed during the 1980’s. It was purchased in 1989 by Allied Distillers who reopened the distillery in 1991. It was mothballed in 1998.”

Introducing: Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016 

A Superb new Distillery Label Bottling from the Closed Distillery!

Limit 1 per customer!  

Each year, Laphroaig’s master distiller, John Campbell, crafts a limited edition malt to celebrate friendship (“Cairdeas” in Gaelic). This 2016 bottling features fully-matured Laphroaig aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being artfully married together for a second maturation in Madeira seasoned traditional hogheads. The result is a unique epression to be savoured by Friends of Laphroaig, old and new.

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016 – 51.6% – Madeira Finish – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: On the nose you’ll find an aroma of ripe orange fruits and sweet liquorice that mixes delightfully with our traditional peat smoke. Palate: On the palate our classic peaty, earthy flavours emerge with a hint of saltiness. Creamy orange tones follow and with a bold and lingering spicy dryness and nutty finish. The result is a fabulous expression to be savoured by Friends of Laphroaig, old and new. This 2016 Cairdeas has been bottled at 51.6% ABV and is non chill filtered.” – $120

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

Owner & Operator

Ferguson’s Whisky Tours

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Victoria Caledonian Distillery: Inaugural Cask Offer

– custom design your own 30L single malt, single cask whisky –

From Graeme Macaloney, Victoria Caledonian Distillery

I am delighted to announce the Victoria Caledonian Distillery is now producing single malt new-make spirit and has a popular 30L custom-designed single malt, cask owners program.

Uniquely, we have great Scottish whisky makers in Dr. Jim Swan and Mike Nicolson, the best pot stills from Forsyths coppersmiths in Scotland, and finest ingredients (incl. oak wood from Spain, Portugal and Kentucky) underscoring the quality of our single malt cask offer. Dr. Swan, said when commissioning our distilling process that:

“your new-make is the best that I have seen in any distillery at this stage, super fruity”.

Truly a great compliment from the man behind the World Whisky Awards Best Single Malt Whisky of 2015. Thanks also to Mike Nicolson’s expertise as a 3rd generation master distiller having worked in 18 Scotch whisky distilleries, our new-make is super-fruity, surprisingly smooth, with a clean, mouth-watering malt base.

As you design your own cask(s) of whisky from our choice of 10 oak wood casks and 5 different new-make spirits (unpeated, light peated, medium peated, heavy peated single malt, and Irish-style pot still whisky), with input and support from Andrew Campbell Walls, our Scottish level III WSET whisky Sommelier, we are confident that the resulting whisky will be top quality. This is underscored by the fact that you are buying a 30L portion of a 200L – 500L cask, the remainder of which will be bottled and sold by our distillery as special expressions.

R to L: 3rd generation Scotch Master Distiller Mike Nicolson, world award winning Scottish wood maturation expert Dr. Jim Swan, and Founder/fermentation engineer, Scotsman Dr. Graeme Macaloney.

We have carefully designed the cask offering to be a fun, interactive experience all the way from designing your cask with Andrew from your choice 5 new-make spirits and 10 oak-wood options, to distillery visits to track your spirit’s progress, to bottling parties and ultimately a bottle / case swapping party where you might exchange your whisky with other cask owners you may have coordinated with!

We have carefully designed the cask offering to be a fun, interactive experience all the way from designing your cask with Andrew from your choice 5 new-make spirits and 10 oak-wood options, to distillery visits to track your spirit’s progress, to bottling parties and ultimately a bottle / case swapping party where you might exchange your whisky with other cask owners you may have coordinated with!

R to L: 3rd generation Scotch Master Distiller Mike Nicolson, world award winning Scottish wood maturation expert Dr. Jim Swan, and Founder/fermentation engineer, Scotsman Dr. Graeme Macaloney.

Caley Academy.

For those who purchase 4 casks, we have a special reward program such that you will be eligible to attend our 5 day exclusive Caledonian Academy at no extra cost (due to its exclusivity, the Caley Academy is restricted to one person per 4 casks). This academy carries a value of $1,500 and is not open to the public but reserved for distillery investors and cask owners, and select ‘trade’ people.

Curriculum:

* Theory 101 (mornings): malting, brewing, distilling, maturation;
* Practical hands-on (afternoons, depending on production schedule): Turning the malt floor, milling the grist, mashing for wort, extracting the hops, fermenting, cutting the spirit, filling casks;
* ‘Quality control tastings’: valinch cask sampling, tutored tastings (beers & whiskies), blending
* Graduation party: Caley Academy Diploma presentation.

Facebook: @VictoriaCaledonian; @TwaDogs; Twitter: @VCaledonian; @TwaDogsBeer

Wemyss Malts Launch New Batch Strength Limited Edition Blended Malts Series

Independent bottler Wemyss Malts is releasing three new blended malts to complement its award winning range. Wemyss Malts – Batch Strength is a new range of blended malts that have been blended from a selection of extraordinary casks of single malt whiskies from over 10 Scottish distilleries, each utilising signature malts to define their flavour and aroma as the whisky names suggests.

The first three Batch Strength blended malts have been assigned Batch no.001. The Hive Batch Strength 001 – 54.5%alc./vol., Spice King Batch Strength 001 – 56.0%alc./vol. and Peat Chimney Batch Strength 001 – 57.0%alc./vol. have each been bottled non chill-filtered and at the strength found to be ideal for the character of the individual batch. Each of the new blended malts delivers intensified aromas, mouthfeel and flavours due to the increased strength of alcohol by volume.

William Wemyss, Founder and Managing Director at Wemyss Malts, commented: “Our new Batch Strength blended malts, consist of just 6000 bottles each, providing the whisky enthusiast and adventurous consumer with more variety in their choice of blended malts. Our Batch Strength range is intensely enjoyable neat, with ice and makes the perfect ingredient for quality, short whisky cocktails such as the Old Fashioned or Rob Roy.”

Wemyss Malts Batch Strength Blended Malts – Batch 001 will be available from mid-October from selected retailers in the UK, EU and key Asian markets with suggested retail prices ranging from £45 to £50. Future batches will be bottled in varying in quantities due to the amount of casks, volume of liquid and the final alcohol strength of each blended batches.

Notes:

 Edinburgh based Wemyss Malts is owned by the Wemyss family and their family seat in the brand logo is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.

 Wemyss Malts has an ongoing blended malt whisky range bottled at 46% comprising: The Spice King, The Peat Chimney and The Hive; single malt single cask bottlings and blended Scotch range, Lord Elcho.

 Wemyss blended malts have won prestigious World Whisky Awards four times: The Hive 12yo in 2012, Spice King 12yo in 2013, Velvet Fig in 2015 and Kiln Embers in 2016.

 The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include boutique gin Darnley’s View, together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.

 The family has opened a single malt distillery at Kingsbarns, near St. Andrews in Fife www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

Following on the heels of our instant-sellout 50 Year Invergordon comes another amazing selection in with an inimitable character and stunning age statement. Those who like their whisky old and rich will definitely be interested in the 1973 Carsebridge 42 Year Old “Sovereign.” Those who like it rare will love the fact this ancient cask only produced 72 bottles in total. Those who like their whisky dark will revel in the dark mahogany of its hue. Those who only drink whisky from “closed” distilleries can rest easy: Carsebridge was closed in 1983 and demolished in 1992. This 42 year old grain whisky is old, rare, dark, rich, and from a long lost producer. The only thing it isn’t is overpriced! Once again, we used our direct buying power to keep the price reasonable. You’ll find this whisky picks up right where the now-sold out Garnheath left off. The only problem is that we only have 72 bottles.

1973 Carsebridge 42 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whiskey (750ml) ($249.99)

Much like our other 42 year grain whisky cask from Garnheath distillery, this 42 year old grain also comes from a long lost producer. Carsebridge was one of the many industry casualties of 1983 and was permanently closed after the whisky business suffered serious economic setbacks. The grain facility was originally founded at the end of the 1700s, making it one of the oldest in Scotland until it was completely demolished in 1992, after staying dormant for almost a decade. This 1973 single cask of Carsebridge, bottled for us by Sovereign, is another rich and full-bodied whisky that brings serious bang for the buck. While malt whisky prices for 30+ year old expressions continue to reach four figures, the misunderstood grain whisky market continues to stay low and reasonable. Candied citrus, toasted oak, sweet vanilla, and a richness that can only come from over forty years in wood dance over the palate in waves of Scotch whisky deliciousness. Due to the ancient age, however, this barrel evaporated down quite heavily. Less than 80 total bottles were retrieved and sent to over to us, making this selection a true rarity. Bottled at 53.3%

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 20, 2016

As long as Scotland is willing to sell us 40+ year old grain whiskies for the price of 20 year old single malts, I’m going to keep buying those casks. Grain whisky is one of the most misunderstood categories in the industry and it’s exactly that lack of understanding that keeps costs low. Just like Nikka’s Coffey Grain or the new Haig Club from David Beckham, grain whisky is distilled like Bourbon on a column still from unmalted barley, wheat, corn, or rye, to a more neutral character before being aged in oak like single malt. It’s what’s eventually blended with single malt to create “blended whisky” (the blend being two different types of whisky) like Johnnie Walker. While we’re used to seeing single malt as its own commodity, we rarely see grain whisky make a solo performance. When you taste this Carsebridge, however, you’re going to be wondering why not? It’s rich, decadent, and utterly satisfying. It’s also more than forty years old, at full proof, and satisfying in a way that few 20 year old whiskies can ever be. I think you’ll be pretty happy no matter what kind of whisky you like, ultimately!

Also For Purchase – Limited Availability on our Best Mature Whiskies:

1973Carsebridge 42 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whiskey (750ml)$249.99 View

1992Longmorn 24 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$159.99 View

1996Springbank 19 Year Old Single Fresh Port #731 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$259.99 View

1996Springbank 19 Year Old Single Rum Barrel #761 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$259.99 View

1996Springbank 19 Year Old Single Refill Sherry #507 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$259.99 View

1996Springbank 18 Year Old Hunter Laing’s “Old & Rare” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml)$299.99 View

1988Highland Park 28 Year Old “Cadenhead” Small Batch Cask Strength Single Malt Sotch Whisky (750ml)$309.99 View

Springbank 21 Year “Single Cask” Oloroso Sherry Butt Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$449.99 View

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)

Email: wine@klwines.com

K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA

San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

The Amazon Echo has been launched in the UK and US and now users can test their knowledge of Scotch Whisky courtesy of Andre de Almeida at the ‘Inside the Cask’ blog (http://www.insidethecask.com/).

The Scotch Whisky Quiz is completely free to use for Amazon Echo users. Each time someone access it there is a random set of 10 questions asked with multiple choice answers. Examples of questions asked include:

* Which three ingredients is Scotch whisky made from?

* During Scotch whisky production, at which stage of the process is alcohol made?

Andre created the quiz is to spread the knowledge of Scotch whisky on a new technology platform and to increase the number of visitors to his personal website ‘Inside the Cask’ about drinks, travel and retail.

As someone who has had to train complete beginners on the basics of Scotch whisky (after many years working in the Drinks industry across Maxxium, The Edrington Group, William Grant & Sons and now the Loch Lomond Group) Andre decided to take the initiative to create a Scotch Whisky Quiz for beginners and those interested to learn more in an interactive way through a quiz, via the Amazon Echo.

He had to teach himself during his spare time at weekends on how to create and have an Amazon Echo ‘skill’ (what Amazon calls a voice app) certified and approved by Amazon.

An independent, family-owned whiskey makers with a world-class distillery in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming. All of the ingredients (corn, wheat and barley) that go into the Wyoming Whiskey are non GMO, are sourced from inside the state and the water is pulled from a natural limestone aquifer that gives the whiskey a very unique texture and minerality. 5 years old at 44% ABV

TASTING NOTES:

COLOR: dark amber.

NOSE: floral, with a hint of vanilla bean and caramel pudding.

PALATE: floral with brown baking spices and browned butter, vanilla crème, caramel, and a hint of cinnamon.

FINISH: medium length finish with toffee. Spice and vanilla fade.

Fountana Beverage Corp.

LONGMORN UNVEILS LUXURY PORTFOLIO OFFERING

Introduction of Longmorn 23 Year Old and a definitive new reinterpretation of the iconic Longmorn 16 Year Old completes single malt’s luxury portfolio

Longmorn single malt Scotch whisky has unveiled two new expressions to complete the Longmorn portfolio; Longmorn 23 Year Old and a luxurious reinterpretation of the renowned Longmorn 16 Year Old. The bottlings join Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice in the line-up, offering Scotch whisky connoisseurs around the world the ultimate single malt Scotch whisky experience that pushes the boundaries of luxury, quality and craftsmanship.

The new Longmorn 23 Year Old is the culmination of more than two decades of maturation in the finest traditional oak casks, chosen to complement the soft, creamy and rich flavour profile of the Longmorn spirit. Longmorn 23 Year Old is the peak interpretation of the distillery’s inimitable character and is bottled without chill-filtration, offering flavour notes of ripe pear and soft red apples that give way to a long, smooth finish. The expression is available at the RRP of $1,450.

The definitive Longmorn 16 Year Old is now the ultimate version of what made the classic expression so revered; crafted using a higher proportion of rare first-fill American oak casks, the new Longmorn 16 Year Old offers a more luxurious mouth-feel, drinking experience and increased smooth, vanilla flavour notes. Rested in a combination of ex-sherry, American and traditional oak casks and still bottled without chill-filtration, Longmorn 16 Year Old has an enriched flavour profile of ripe orchard fruits, sweet vanilla and smooth milk chocolate and is available at the RRP of $252.

Founded in 1894, the Longmorn Distillery has a rich history of crafting exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies. Built during the golden age of industry, its founder John Duff ensured it would emblemise his pioneering insight into craft distilling and use the latest technology available. Established to cater for a growing appetite for fine whisky and luxury, each bottle of Longmorn single malt reflects this dedication to innovation and excellence and has been crafted to offer the ultimate luxury Scotch whisky experience, the product of exceptional talent and precision.

As part of the renaissance of Longmorn today, each expression in the range is presented in distinctive packaging that better befits its quality and reputation; the glass bottles have high, broad shoulders, a long pouring neck and are largely transparent to showcase the quality of the whisky inside. Other modern luxury cues reflect the golden era of luxury and the Industrial Revolution, when the distillery was founded. Longmorn 23 Year Old, is presented in a lacquered wooden gift box, underpinning the indulgence of the portfolio.

The completion of the Longmorn range follows the release of Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice in January 2016, whose name was inspired by the legend that Longmorn was every distiller’s favourite dram apart from their own. Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice offers a new way to enjoy the renowned classic toffee flavours found within the spirit from the distillery and has been well-received in 27 markets to date. The introduction of the Longmorn range is set to excite luxury spirits drinkers and is in response to an increasing demand for the most indulgent Scotch whiskies.

Trevor Buckley, Longmorn Master Distiller, adds: “It is a great honour to be able to share two new prized creations from the Longmorn Distillery, Longmorn 23 Year Old and Longmorn 16 Year Old. The craft production methods at Longmorn have not changed since the days of John Duff and today we reap the rewards of this commitment, as they have allowed us to push the boundaries of quality and luxury in Scotch whisky.

“Longmorn 16 Year Old has long been a firm favourite among Scotch whisky connoisseurs, but we wanted to make it even more luxurious than it was before and the Longmorn team has certainly achieved this. Similarly, Longmorn 23 Year Old offers the pinnacle presentation of the inimitable Longmorn spirit and provides the ultimate luxury Scotch whisky experience. I very much look forward to seeing whisky connoisseurs the world over discover one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets and I hope they enjoy these new expressions of this Speyside icon.”

Miriam Eceolaza, Longmorn Brand Director at Chivas Brothers, comments: “Through the addition of Longmorn 23 Year Old and the new Longmorn 16 Year Old, we are excited to unveil the newly complete Longmorn range to Scotch whisky aficionados around the world as it represents the ultimate luxury Scotch whisky experience from the distillery. Building on the unmistakable characteristics of excellence laid down by John Duff, who founded the distillery in the late 19th Century, the new Longmorn family has pushed the boundaries of luxury and quality and offers a new journey of discovery for discerning drinkers through the prestige whisky category – it’s certainly Longmorn’s time to shine.”

NOTES EDITORS

Longmorn 16 Year Old tasting notes (48% ABV)
Nose: Stewed orchard fruits, layered with indulgent notes of sweet vanilla crème brûlée
Taste: The palate is rewarded with the rich flavours of ripe fruity pears and luxuriously smooth, creamy milk chocolate
Finish: Full-flavoured and exquisitely drawn out

Longmorn 23 Year Old tasting notes (48% ABV)
Nose: Soft vanilla fudge and creamy caramel, dipped in milk chocolate and honey
Taste: The taste leads with ripe pears and sweet red apples interlaced with tantalizingly spiced ginger cake
Finish: An exceptionally long and velvety smooth finish. A fitting reward for the patience and perfection that its founder put into its creation

About Longmorn
Founded in 1894 by pioneering Scotsman, John Duff, Longmorn is the ultimate luxury single malt whose spirit is revered for producing a Scotch whisky with a unique depth and intensity. In setting up the distillery, Duff embraced the philosophy of intelligent luxury to combine the adventure, ambition and craft of the late 19th Century with emerging technologies to create a whisky for the growing luxury appetite. Known as the best-kept secret in Scotland, Longmorn has long been considered top class by whisky distillers, blenders and connoisseurs.

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
www.chivasbrothers.com

@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
www.pernod-ricard.com

Our First Commonwealth Collection Whisky Is Finally Ready!

Join us this Saturday, October 22nd for the release of our  Cider Barrel Matured Virginia Highland Malt Whisky (Cider-Finished).  It will be available to sip and purchase at our Lovingston, Virginia Visitors Center from 11am-6pm.

The Commonwealth Collection features our whisky cask-finished in different barrels from around Virginia. The first release is a cider-finished whisky, with barrels coming from our friends at Potter’s Craft Cider in Free Union, Virginia. It is perfect for the Fall season, when temperatures are starting to cool and leaves are turning.

We only produced 261 cases so it won’t last long!

Virginia Distillery Company

299 Eades Lane

Lovingston, VA 22949

BALLANTINE’S LAUNCHES THE SECOND ‘ARTIST SERIES’ WITH THREE LIMITED EDITION GIFT PACKS

DESIGNED BY MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER, DAVE MA

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, has partnered with renowned music video director and photographer, Dave Ma, to launch three new limited e dition gift packs for 2016. Created to champion inspiring and innovative individuals who are committed to expressing their creativity in unique ways, for its second year Ballantine’s Artist Series gift packs showcase Dave Ma’s unique perspective of Scotland, the home of the whisky, in a series of stunning aerial photographs.

Moving to London from the beaches of Sydney a decade ago to pursue a career in music photography and video direction, Dave Ma started a ‘zine’ to showcase his work with emerging bands. Dave has worked with some of today’s most exciting music artists, including Bastille and Rudimental, however his repertoire extends well beyond music photography, with a newly discovered passion for capturing aerial landscape photographs.

Travelling around the world, Dave began to realise that the best TV screen was his aeroplane window . This kick-started a desire to shoot aerial views whilst flying, and, after realising that by playing with the colours in his shots he could make terrains look ‘otherworldly’, his first series of aerial landscapes were featured on the Jagwar Ma single artwork for Come Save Me.

To push his landscape images of the Scottish Highlands beyond realism, Dave reworked his striking photographs for the Ballantine’s Finest Sleeve and Tin with a bold two-tone colour palette to reflect the energy and youthful personality of the Finest blend. For the first time, tactile technology has been used on the Ballantine’s Finest Sleeve to reflect the look and feel of the rugged terrain of this corner of Scotland. For the Ballantine’s 12 Year Old Tin, Dave added depth to his stunning photograph with a rich blue colour palette to reflect the complexity of flavours in this distinguished 12 year old blend.

Dave Ma said of the collaboration: “I was ultimately drawn to working with Ballantine’s for the excitement of doing something completely different, that would still represent my artistic style. It was awe-inspiring to see that part of Scotland, and to be able to shoot a really unique perspective of that landscape. My focus was to capture the natural beauty of the terrain, but I wanted to move the images away from the all-too-familiar green landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and give each gift pack its own distinctive look, which reflected the personalities of each of the blends.”

Sophie Gallois, Global Marketing Director for Ballantine’s, added: “The Ballantine’s Artist Series champions unique individuals that ‘stay true’ to their creative style and Dave Ma is no exception. He captured the beauty of our Scottish heritage, resulting in these striking gift packs that will no doubt be a great addition to any whisky connoisseurs’ collection and complement last year’s designs as part of the Ballantine’s Artist Series collection.”

The 2016 Ballantine’s Artist Series Limited Edition gift packs will be available globally from October 2016.
For more information, visit Ballantines.com.

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past ten years for its outstanding quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, continuing the brand’s tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. In 2013, Ballantine’s continued its innovative approach by launching Ballantine’s Brasil, a spirit drink made from selectively cask steeping Scotch whisky with Brazilian lime peel.
www.ballantines.com

Twitter: @Ballantines

Facebook: facebook.com/ballantines

Twitter: twitter.com/ballantines

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ballantines

About Dave Ma
Dave Ma is a renowned photographer and music video director. The son of a greyhound racing trainer, he grew up part way between the beaches of Australia and the dog track. He first established himself after moving to London a decade ago, where he began collaborating with the band Foals, shooting numerous press campaigns and music videos for the band. He has since shot portraits and music videos for artists, icons and musicians including Nick Cave, Sonic Youth, Diplo, Skrillex, A$AP Rocky and Jagwar Ma. In addition to his celebrated work in the music industry, Dave Ma’s experience in shooting the intricate detail of different terrains aerially was an angle that inspired the designs for the 2016 Ballantine’s Artist Series. Dave Ma splits his time between Los Angeles and London.

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s No. 2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the single malt whisky that set the standard; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
www.chivasbrothers.com
@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
www.pernod-ricard.com