Kilchoman 2008 Vintage & PX Finish ImpEx Exclusive are now in!

Established in 2005, Kilchoman  is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. Based on a farm on the rugged west coast of Islay, Kilchoman was the first distillery to be built on the island for 125 years. Kilchoman displays all that is great about the grass-roots traditions of Scotch whisky distilling. As well as being one of only a handful of distilleries still practicing floor malting, barley is also grown on the farm, making Kilchoman the only distillery to complete all parts of the whisky making process on site. Kilchoman truly is Islay’s farm distillery – from barley to bottling.

Kilchoman 2008 Vintage 46% ABV

This is Kilchoman’s first ever seven year old single malt, the most mature expression to be released by the Islay distillery since its establishment in 2005. The Limited Edition 2008 Vintage is a vatting of fresh ex American bourbon barrels filled in July 2008 and bottled in August 2015. This latest release is a continuation of Kilchoman’s by-annually released Vintage range, the distillery having previously bottled 2006 and 2007 Vintages. Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director; ‘The 2008 Vintage is a classic bourbon barrel aged Kilchoman however the additional maturation has added layers of soft fruit and sweetness not seen in previous releases.’    SRP $100/btl

Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Finish (#680/2010) ImpEx Exclusive 57.2% alc

This is a single cask release initially matured in an ex-Bourbon barrel before being transferred into a Pedro Ximenez Sherry cask for a 4 month finishing period, prior to being bottled at cask strength. ImpEx Exclusive.  SRP $140/btl

Please feel free to reach out for more detail on both bottlings: office@impexbev.com

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2015 – Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail (G&M) have hit the headlines by releasing two exceptionally old and rare whiskies from Mortlach – a 70 Year Old launched at Edinburgh Castle in 2010, and a 75 Year Old that first appeared this autumn, billed by G&M as ‘the world’s most exclusive single malt whisky’.

The four G&M Mortlachs shown at the first Whisky Show Masterclass of 2015 (Image © Simon J Hanna)

The latter was the star attraction at the first Masterclass of the 2015 Whisky Exchange Whisky Show, hosted by G&M sales director Stephen Rankin and ably assisted by whisky writer Charlie MacLean. Four Mortlachs were shown at the tasting:

• Mortlach 12 Year Old (Bot. 1970s)
• Mortlach 1938 (Bot. 1980s)
• Mortlach 1954
• Mortlach 1939 75 Year Old

Charlie opened proceedings with a little white lie (‘I’ve no idea what we’re tasting this morning… oh, it’s the Mortlachs!’) as we started with the 12 Year Old:

MORTLACH 12 YEAR OLD (BOT. 1970S), 40% ABV

Nose: Haunting aromas of leather books, flowers and violets, sweet spice and wax jackets, along with orange, honey and pot pourri. Quite a nose for a relatively young dram.

Palate: Rich honeyed fruit, stewed peaches, then more savoury notes of leather and wood polish. Soft and faintly smoky, with a rich mouthfeel.

Finish: Soft and rich, with the stone fruit lingering.

Comment: What a delightful whisky. Intense and heady, with such character.

Stephen and Charlie shared some of the history of Mortlach, which was the first distillery to open in Dufftown, in 1823, and would remain the only one until William Grant, who worked at Mortlach for 20 years, founded Glenfiddich in 1886. Charlie then did his best to explain Mortlach’s fiendishly complicated distillation style, known as the ‘2.81 process’, which uses six stills, all of different sizes, with some wash distilled twice, some three times and some four times.

Charlie said: ‘It takes a stillman at Mortlach a whole year to understand the process. It makes for a very heavy-style spirit, and one that was known as “The Beast of Dufftown”.’

On to our second whisky, distilled in 1938 and matured in sherry casks for 47 years:

MORTLACH 1938 (BOT. 1980S), 40% ABV

Nose: Rich and sweet, with tempting aromas of cinder toffee, chocolate and nut brittle. Big and generous, again with a hint of smoke, and plenty of dried fruit. A touch vegetal.

Palate: Creamy and peppery with some candied orange, blue cheese and tingling spiciness. A whole-hearted dram, with raisins, currants, cinnamon and nutmeg contrasting beautifully with the edgier peppery notes.

Finish: Warm spices coats the mouth, with the sweetness gradually fading.

Comment: A fascinating dram. I’m not sure that water does this whisky any favours; it stands perfectly well on its own.

Charlie was certainly a fan: ‘I could easily drink a bottle of it.’

We jumped forward to the 1950s for the third dram of the day, a 58-year-old bottled in 2012 and matured in Spanish oak:

MORTLACH 1954 (BOT.2012), 43% ABV

Nose: A totally different beast from the previous whisky, this has big, hearty aromas of cured meat, leather books and coal fires. Savoury and sweet, this is gutsy and brave.

Palate: Softer and fruitier than on the nose, this has warm, heady notes of apricots, sweet spice and dried orange peel. Quite dry, with a touch of smoke (again). Then some dark chocolate arrives, enriching the mouthfeel.

Finish: Rich and full, with orange and apricot notes lingering.

Comment: So, so different to the first two whiskies, but none the worse for it. This is how I think of Mortlach: a big, full-throttle dram but with an extra dimension that softens the spirit and adds layers of complexity.

The three whiskies tasted so far all impressed, but the one everyone had been waiting for was ready. Seventy-five years in the making, this Mortlach was distilled on 17 November 1939, and finally bottled at 44.4% ABV in 2015:

GENERATIONS MORTLACH 75 YEARS OLD, 44.4% ABV

Nose: Where to start? Savoury and creamy at first, with Stilton and salami, then walnuts and stone fruit. There’s a refreshing flinty, wet-stone note lurking in the background, as well as some soft floral notes, and toffee sweetness.

Palate: Layer upon layer of flavour – honeyed fruit, orange oil, peaches, then rich notes of toffee and woody spice. Rich and mouthfilling, but clean, not overpowering.

Finish: Rich treacle toffee and malt is the main characteristic, with the spices providing an aromatic backdrop.

Comment: I was lucky enough to try the 70 Year Old in Edinburgh back in 2010, and I was struck at the time at how fresh and sprightly the whisky seemed. Well, this even older dram is no different, and it demonstrates perfectly how the right barrel can transform a spirit. There is plenty of wood influence in the whisky, but it’s not overdone, and the freshness is staggering for such a venerable bottle.

Charlie likened the 75 Year Old to ‘an actress’s dressing room’, describing the whisky as the ‘Ingrid Bergman of single malts’. And with that dramatic cinematic analogy, the opening Masterclass of this year’s Whisky Show came to a close. The Beast of Dufftown was well and truly tamed…

• 1995 Benrinnes 20 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ( $99.99) In our opinion, Benrinnes might be the most underrated distillery in all of Scotland. We’ve purchased a number of casks from the Diageo-owned Speyside producer over the years and we’ve even taken a detailed tour of the space. In just about every interaction with both the whisky and the people who make it, we’ve been completely impressed in just about every way. That being said, the 20 year old cask that we pulled in this year from Benrinnes might be the best whisky yet. It’s a jaw-droppingly delicious single malt that brings big vanilla, big spice, loads of ripe fruit, and a creamy, soft mouthfeel for a screaming deal of a price. Two decades in wood at full proof for $99.99? If the label said Glenmorangie or Glenlivet instead of Benrinnes, you’d no doubt be looking at $180 per bottle or more, but the fact that this is Benrinnes cuts that price point right in half. The irony, however, is that we’d rather have the Benrinnes! The finish even flirts with a phenolic note and hints of smoke, despite the fact that Benrinnes doesn’t make peated whisky. Do not miss this whisky. It might be the best of this year’s Signatory crop.

• 1988 Blair Athol 26 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ( $179.99) Last year’s cask of 1988 sherry-aged Blair Athol from Signatory drove our customers into such a frenzy that we still get phone calls asking about it over a year later. The big, rich, caked-in-sherry flavor blended beautifully with the soft-fruited core of the Highland whisky’s profile, creating an absolute beast when bottled at full proof. We’re happy to announce to all those who’ve been begging us for more that we were able to return to Signatory this past Spring and purchase the lone sister cask to that beloved Blair Athol, bringing one last batch of that sherry-matured magic to K&L customers one last time. Whereas last year’s cask showcased all the sweetness and sugary spice that Oloroso sherry can offer, this whisky is much drier and earthier on the palate. It’s full of coffee bean, dried prunes, and burnt almonds, lingering far longer on the finish with a more dynamic finale of dried earth and savory splendor. It’s a fitting finale to one of the most talked-about and requested whiskies in K&L history. We’re happy we were able to send finish out the legacy with a bang!

• 1996 Glenlivet 19 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Sherry Butt Single Malt Whisky 750ml ( $89.99) The next round is finally here for one of the most-beloved Fall whisky editions in K&L history. We’ve been picking off these first-fill sherry butts of Glenlivet from Signatory ever since we first started visiting the Scottish bottler more than five years ago. While the vintage always stays the same (1996) the whisky gets older each time around! The most recent iteration has spent 19 years in cask, giving the whisky a dark amber hue and plenty of richness. The fudge and cocoa flavors from the sherry have sunken deep into the liquid, permeating it with spice cake, dried figs, and bits of ginger dipped in dark chocolate. Soft on the palate and smooth as silk, this whisky continues to get better as time goes by. Don’t wait around, however, because the annual Glenlivet Signatory release is also one of the fastest selling whiskies in K&L history, as well as one of the most popular. For your holiday parties or gift-giving needs, you won’t find a better whisky at a better price.

• 1981 Glenlivet 33 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ( $399.99) When you’re talking luxury whisky in today’s single malt whisky market, you’re talking four to five-figure price points based more on age statements and brand names than on quality or flavor. In 2015, a bottle of 25 year old Macallan will run you $1200. So how is it that K&L can track down a single cask of 33 year old Glenlivet, aged in sherry, and bottled at cask strength for $399? Sometimes it’s best not to ask questions. We’ve done it, however. We’ve brought it one of the most impressive, crowd-pleasing, all-encompassing single malts of the year with this 1981 Glenlivet, and it’s everything you hope it will be. Dark caramel, Christmas cake with baking spices, fudge, candied ginger, and loads of richness that coat the palate all the way through to the finish. The question you should be asking, however, is: will one bottle be enough?

• 1985 Linkwood 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml ( $199.99) Linkwood is one of the most iconic Speyside distilleries not typically sold as a stand-alone single malt, and for good reason: Diageo needs every drop for Johnnie Walker and the various other blends sold by the spirits giant. Linkwood is considered by most blenders to be the ideal canvas, loaded with fresh fruit flavors, a flutter of grassiness, and plenty of weight on the palate. While younger single malt expressions typically bottled by independent labels can be quite enjoyable and perfectly drinkable, they often lack depth and complexity in our opinion. What’s missing is age. Wouldn’t it be great to see how Linkwood tastes after three decades in wood? Now we finally can thanks to this incredible little cask we found tucked into the corner at the Signatory warehouse this year. This 29 year old Linkwood is pure Speyside heaven, loaded with rich vanilla and caramel aromas that tease you into a second and third nosing. The palate is soft and oily, much lighter than the nose would suggest, with a touch of that grassy element coming into play on the finish. This is textbook Highland whisky, a whisky for Glenlivet and Glenfiddich drinkers who enjoy the classic flavors of single malt Scotch whisky, but are looking for more nuance and depth–something more out of the ordinary. For serious aficionados, this is a screaming hot deal. The cask had proofed itself down under 50% naturally, so we knocked another $60 off the bottle price by choosing NOT to take it at “cask strength”.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Week(s) are nearly upon us and the excitement is building. The first tasting this Sunday with Richard Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail features a terrific range topped off with bottlings of Rosebank and Port Ellen. There are still a few tickets left for what we expect will be a very memorable tasting. The excitement continues with events featuring: Springbank, Kilchoman, Old Pulteney, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Glecadam, Tomintoul, BenRiach, Glendronach and Glenglassaugh. It all comes to a climax with our Fall Single Malt Fesitval on Thursday November 12, which is the lead off to our big Fall Sale November 13-15. Information on all of our tastings can be found online!

Our biggest news is that our Kensington Wine Market 2015 Advent Calendar project is completed and the finished product is now in store and available for pickup. Didn’t order it in advance? There’s no need to panic just yet, we still have some available for $400+GST. At the time of writing there are fewer than 80 remaining of the 384 Calendars produced. We are very proud of this year’s KWM Whisky Advent Calendar, and we’re confident you’re going to love it too.

There are lots of noteworthy new whiskies in stock at KWM, more than can reasonably be accommodated in this newsletter, so we’ve highlighted some of the most important ones, including two new KWM casks. Our first American whiskey cask in quite a while is a very decadent, delicate and tasty barrel from Heaven Hill Distillers. Our Bernheim Kentucky Wheat KWM Cask, $70, has been a huge hit in the few short weeks we’ve had it in store. The actual barrel, selected by Hunter and I, is currently sitting on the sales floor.

Our 4th cask of Kilchoman arrived just prior to the Bernheim, and perhaps didn’t get as much attention as deserved. When it arrived I was touring wine country! Yes the Scotch Guy made a pilgrimage to Napa and Sonoma, but more about that at another time. Our new Kilchoman 2010 KWM Cask 440, $140, is a Bourbon Barrel matured Islay malt with tons of character. It is shockingly smooth for its age (5 years), and strength (60.4%)! Don’t believe us? It has been flying off the shelf. Pop in for a free sample before it is gone.

Lots of other exciting new whiskies have come in too, like the Glenmorangie Tusail, $110, Glenmorangie’s latest Private Collection Release. There is also the Octomore 7.1, $130, from Bruichladdich and a new Bourbon from Michter’s, the Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish, $100. The long awaited Glenfarclas £511.19, $150, the bottle marking the 150th Anniversary of the Grant Family’s ownership of Glenfarclas has also just arrived along with the Glenfiddich Original 1963, $125. The latter is a recreation of the first single malt expression launched by Glenfiddich in 1963.

There are some exciting new Asian whiskies in stock as well, from Kavalan and Amrut. From Amrut we have a new single cask bottled for Canada, the Amrut Bangalore Tiger, $115. It is a lovely big sherry cask matured malt. There is also the Amrut Naarangi, $130, a very limited release, matured in casks that previously held sherry and orange peels. We also received a very limited quantity of Amrut Greedy Angels 10 Year, $850, at the time of writing we have just one left in stock! It is sublime and the oldest Indian whisky ever bottled! In addition to these new releases the full Amrut range is back after a long drought in our market, including: Intermediate Sherry, Portonova and Fusion.

Kavalan’s range hasn’t changed too much, they are still focusing on a core of top quality single malts. The Kavalan Solist Bourbon, $138, Solist Sherry, $162, and Solist Vinho, $162, are all back in very limited quantities. The price has come down on these in the last year making them a much more attractive proposition. The Vinho is Whisky Magazine’s 2015 World Whisky of the Year and strictly limited to one per customer. But there is also one limited edition, one off release coming in next week: The Kavalan Amontialldo & Manzanilla Decanter Set, $750.

Last but not least we also have some exciting new whiskies from Beam Suntory, including releases from Bowmore and Auchentoshan. From Bowmore we have the 6th release in the popular Tempest line, Bowmore Tempest VI 10 Year, $95. We also have the Bowmore 23 Year Port Matured, $660, which is a superb new offering. It was one of the highlights of my Feis Isle visit to Islay in May. There is also the Auchentoshan Virgin Oak II, $150. I don’t think we saw the first batch here, but we won’t hold that against this curious new release.

Lots to be excited about this month and more to come. I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger, and that it finds you well!

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition

1. EXCITING UPCOMING TASTINGS
2. 2015 KWM WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR UPDATE
3. OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW BERNHEIM SINGLE CASK
4. OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW KILCHOMAN SINGLE CASK
5. INTRODUCING THE NEW GLENMORANGIE TUSAIL
6. INTRODUCING OCTOMORE 7.1 ISLAY BARLEY
7. INTORDUCING MICHTER’S TOASTED OAK
8. INTRODUCING GLENFARCLAS £511.19
9. INTRODUCING GLENFIDDICH 1963 ORIGINAL
10. NEW & RETURNED WHISKIES FROM AMRUT
11. NEW & RETURNED WHISKIES FROM KAVALAN
12. NEW WHISKIES FROM BOWMORE & AUCHENTOSHAN

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

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

EXCITING UPCOMING KWM TASTINGS

KWM Whiskies Week(s) is About to Get Started…

Our Whisky Week(s) events begin on Sunday afternoon with a barn burner of a Gordon & MacPhail/Benromach tasting hosted by Richard Urquhart before moving onto Springbank with Ranald Watson on Monday evening. There are only a couple of tickets left for both tastings. The first will feature a great range including new Benromach 15 Year and whiskies from Rosebank and Port Ellen. The Springbank tasting will feature a broad range of styles from Hazelburn, Springbank and Longrow including the Springbank 21 and 25 year olds and the Springbank Society Longrow 13 Year Chardonay.

Our Kilchoman and Old Pulteney tastings are sold out, but we have a new recently added tasting for Glencadam/Tomintoul with Jimmy Robertson on Monday November 9th. The tasting is a bargain at just $20 and will feature a range of six whiskies from Glencadam and Tomintoul distilleries. Our BenRiach/Glendronach Casks Release party with Alisdair Stevenson still has 15 of 50 tickets available for sale and will be a mini festival of whiskies from BenRiach, Glendronach and Glenglassaugh distilleries. The week concludes with our SOLD OUT Fall Single Malt Festival and our Annual Fall Sale. Here are some more details on the two tastings:

1. Gordon & MacPhail w/ Richard Urquhart – Sunday November 1 4PM – We have an excellent range for this tasting of Benromach and Gordon & MacPhail whiskies which will build to a finale including very rare offerings from Rosebank and Port Ellen. – $100
2. Springbank w/ Ranald Watson – Monday November 2 7PM – One of our favourite ambassadors Ranald Watson will be in to do a grand tasting of Springbank including a new exclusive Society bottling and the 21 and 25 year olds! – $50
3. Glencadam & Tomintoul w/ Jimmy Robertson – Monday November 9 7PM – Join Angus Dundee International Brand Ambassador Jimmy Robertson for a master class at KWM. We will sample a broad range of whiskies from the Glencadam and Tomintoul distilleries. This is Jimmy’s first visit to Alberta in 7-8 years. – $20
4. Ben Riach/Glendronach Cask Launch – Wednesday November 11 7PM – To celebrate the launch of our 5th and 6th casks we are throwing a party with Alisdair Stevenson featuring whiskies from BenRiach and Glendronach as well as their sister distillery Glenglassaugh. – $30
You can pop into the store, call 403-283-8000 or register online for these or any other KWM Tastings.

KWM Whisky Advent Calendar Update

25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky, Now In-Store…

Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Advent Calendar is back! Last year’s calendar, our second and the first one we produced entirely in house, was a huge hit. It sold out before it hit the shelves. This year’s is even better. It still includes 24 x 50ml whiskies and a custom Glencarin whisky glass. But, that is not all! We are offering an even wider range of whiskies and we are also including an extra 25th bottle. As a special treat for Christmas morning, there will be a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottling. This is a rare treat indeed, and usually only available to Society members. All of this year’s whiskies are different from 2014 and we are really excited about the range. There are 23 single malts from Scotland, Ireland, India and Taiwan, as well as a boutique blend and a boutique blended malt. Whether it is for yourself or to give as a gift, we know it won’t disappoint. Don’t hesitate! This one is sure to sell out fast!

The calendars are now ready for pick and purchase in store. At the time of writing there are fewer that 80 of the 384 calendars produced left in store for purchase!

Order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar $400+GST

OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW BERNHEIM SINGLE CASK

A Superb New Kentucky Wheat Whiskey Selected by Hunter and Andrew at HEaven Hill in Kentucky…

Hunter and I had the great fortune to travel to Kentucky in June, for the primary purpose of hand selecting our own single cask of Bernheim Kentucky Wheat Whiskey. A first in Canada, this exclusive cask has been bottled at 45%, from a mashbill of at least 51% corn. It is available no where else in the world, but our shop! Bernheim is a whiskey produced by Heaven Hill Distillers, matured in rickhouses in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Bernheim Kentucky Wheat KWM Cask – 45% – Andrew’s Tasting Note: ” Nose: delicate, decadent, floral and toasty; there is a prominent silky honey note along with soft wheat notes and juicy white fruits: apple and pear; vanilla, honey and marzipan are all present too; Palate: soft, silky and toasty, like the nose there is again a load of honey, marzipan and creamy vanilla, this is a soft decadent whisky; the grain begins to show along with some floral tones and baked goods: glazed donuts and French bakery goods; the white fruits are there, burried under all the decadence is a bit strudel with vanilla ice cream; Finish: the finish is deft, like the nose and palate, soft, silky and toasty with fadings sugars, white fruits and floral flourishes.” – $70

OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW KILCHOMAN SINGLE CASK

The best new peaty whisky in the shop…

In the 10 years since the distillery opened Kilchoman has made quite a name for itself. The distillery’s nearly flawless spirit and rigorous oak policy have ensured that their young whiskies can compete with the best in the world. Our previous three casks of whisky from this maverick Islay Distillery were all big hits and our 4th has just arrived. Distilled in 2010 and matured in an American Ex-Bourbon Barrel at 5 years of age it is another cracker! Only 221 hand numbered bottles are available at a cask strength of 60.4%.

Kilchoman 2010 KWM Bourbon Cask 440- 60.4% – 5 Year – ExBourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: fresh with big notes of marzipan, orange pith, toasty oak and sea salt caramel; underneath briny coastal notes begin mingling with tar and earthy smoke begin to develop; the are soft fruits too, Asian pear, honey dew melon and mango salsa; Palate: juicy, smoky and fruity there is immediately a lot going on: chewy malt, barley sugars; sea salt caramel, candied salmon and building earthy peat and dark spices; more Asian pear, mango salsa and a touch of melon, bright orange notes all atop a creamy base; the smoke is clean and firm but soft; sticky soft Panda brand licorice comes to the fore; Finish: refreshing, almost minty, with fading fruits, sugars, malt and smoke maritime flourishes; Comment: if you love peat, you are going to adore this one! – $140

INTRODUCING THE NEW GLENMORANGIE TUSAIL

The latest release in the distillery’s Private Collection range…

The 6th release in Glenmorangie’s Private Edition has been produced with Maris Otter barley, malted by hand on traditional floor maltings, this limited edition will only be available for a short time. From the Distillery: “A rich winter variety of barley first introduced in 1965, Maris Otter was bred specifically to meet the demand for a high quality brewing malt and recognized for its ability to impart rich, rustic malty flavours. Now used only by a select
few who continue, like Glenmorangie, to uphold an ethos of sacrificing yield for quality by using only the finest ingredients, the result is a whisky celebrating the variety’s renowned taste profile.”

Glenmorangie Private Collection Tusail – 46% – My Tasting Note: Nose: fresh, honeyedand malty with unripened citrus; the malt is the star of the show, you can almost sense the soil through the spirit; waxy with some melon and almond paste, a touch of soft new leather too. Palate: still very malty, lovely soft earthy tones and toasted oak before slowly developing fruits and honey; there is an oilyness uncharacteristic of Glenmorangie, though it is still light and clean; the base is creamy with more melon, citrus, some delicate floral tones and a chalkyness (from the soil?). Finish: soft and floral with citrus, cream, melons and lots of slowly fading oily malt. Comments: this is a very curious malt, I don’t think terroir with whisky often, but in this case the malt and its chalky overtones are so dominant; overall a lovely whisky and a really interesting addition to the Private Collection range. – $110

INTRODUCING OCTOMORE 7.1 ISLAY BARLEY

Another very peaty release of whisky from Scotland’s Whisky Isle…

The first of two 2015 releases of Octomore is another 5 year old, produced of Islay Barley peated to 208ppm and matured 5 years in American Oak before bottling at 59.6%. This release is very limited in Alberta, KWM is only getting around 30 bottles!

Octomore 7.1 Islay Barley – 59.6% – 5 Year – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Initially the nose is sea spray and caramel, lemon balm and pipe tobacco. Slowly, the peat smoke rises from the glass, gentle but strong lifting vanilla, mint, toffee, golden syrup and almond. Peach follows with pear syrup and buttercup. A symphony, a delight to experience. Palate: Wow! Smoothness, sweetness and then smoke. A texture like no other, satin soft and devilishly warming. The American oak influence is in perfect tune with the smoke and soft fruits delicately, skilfully coaxed from the still during exceptionally slow distillation. Vanilla, honey, citrus rise up to be met with sea spray and leather, smoked mussels mix with autumn bracken and crème brûlée. Finish: As the sweetness from the oak fades the salt comes to the fore one last time while the gentle peat smoke steady and true grows and outlasts all else. – $130

INTRODUCING MICHTER’S TOASTED OAK BOURBON

The Latest Release from our Favourite Bourbon Producer…

You don’t see a lot of finished Bourbons, Maker’s 46 comes to mind, and like that whisky this one is quite different. Michter’s takes great pride in their wood policy! Bottled at 45.7% this Bourbon is finished in a toasted but un-charred barrel, air dried for 18 months. Only 60 bottles are coming into Alberta!

From the Distillery: “Introduced to great acclaim in the Fall of 2014, Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon is a groundbreaking whiskey expression. It is made by taking Michter’s US 1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon and then aging it for an additional period in a second custom made barrel. This second barrel is assembled from 18-month air dried wood and then toasted but not charred. The truly unique and delicious taste of Michter’s US 1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon represents a remarkable achievement given that it is Kentucky Straight Bourbon with nothing extra added or done except placement in a second toasted barrel.”

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon – 45.7% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Campfire and cinnamon, with pecan and candied fruit. Lingering finish of baked pears, vanilla, and marshmallow.” – $100

INTRODUCING GLENFARCLAS £511.19

A special Anniversary bottling of Glenfarclas…

The Grant family have owned Glenfarclas for 150 years, making this their 150th Anniversary. The distillery is older though, dating from at least 1836. This new limited release has been put out to mark that ocassion.

From the Distillery: “Family Reserve to celebrate the 150thanniversary of family ownership of the Glenfarclas distillery. On the 8th of June 1865, John Grant, 1st generation of the Grant family, bought the distillery for £511.19s.0d. His grandsons, John and George, later formed the company J. & G. Grant and to this day it remains an independent business and firmly in the hands of the family’s 5th & 6th generation.

Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d Family Reserve – 43% – Non-Chillfiltered – Mostly First Fill Sherry Butts Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Sweet and rich sherry, like a toffee syrup over a freshly toasted French baguette, the nose promises fresh fruit smothered in heather honey, ending almost like a sweet port. Then a dry yet sweet taste, a lovely balance of fruit, light nuttiness and milk chocolate develop, followed by a very palatable long and easy finish. A copy of the original bill of sale is included with each bottle along with a note from George Grant explaining the significance of the £511.19s.0d Family Reserve to the Grant family tradition.” – $151

INTRODUCING GLENFIDDICH 1963 ORIGINAL

Back to the Future of the 1st Global Single Malt…

No this is not a whisky from 1963 at an insanely good price, it is a recreation, an homage! This new release is inspired by Glenfiddich’s first official bottling, Glenfiddich Straight Malt, which was launched in 1963. With all the hype around single malts today, it may be surprising that prior to 1963, they were almost non-existent. While independent bottlers like WM Cadenhead and Gordon & MacPhail had already been selling single malts for over 100 years, distilleries exclusive distilled malt whisky for blending.

From the Distillery: “Inspired by the original 1963 Glenfiddich ‘Straight Malt’, the expression with which Glenfiddich brought single malt to the world, this special edition is an exclusive addition to our Collection of single malt Scotch whiskies.

“It was faithfully recreated by our Malt Master Brian Kinsman using our extensive archives and exclusive whisky sample collection.”

Glenfiddich 1963 Original- 40% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Fruity and floral with the hallmark Glenfiddich hint of pear. Subtle oak notes and a youthful, biscuity character. Taste: Pleasantly sweet with lively fruit notes and a soft vanilla oakiness. Flavours develop with the addition of a little water to reveal delicate spices, citrus and fresh baked oatcakes. Finish: Deliciously dry.” – $125

NEW & RETURNED WHISKIES FROM AMRUT

A slew of fine single malts from the pride of Bangalore…

We’ve been starved of Amrut for a while in Alberta whilst the distillery did some retooling and the importer to Canada changed. And after nearly a year, Amrut is back with a bang. The ever popular Fusion and Intermediate Sherry lead the way, but we also have: Bangalore Tiger (a new single sherry cask for Canada), Naarangi (a real curiosity) and Greedy Angels (the oldest Amrut ever bottled).

New Amrut Releases
1. Amrut Bangalore Tiger Sherry Cask – 55.6% – Matured in Bourbon & Finished in a single PX Sherry Cask selected by Brand Ambassador Ashok Chokalingham for the Canadian Market. – My Tasting Note: “Nose: butterscotch ice cream, Caramilk chocolates, baking spices, warm cocoa and jujubes; soft and fruity with malt, honey and soft toasty oak. Palate: rich, fruity and malty with more Caramilk bars, big creamy butterscotch ice cream, cocoa powder and baking spices; a little bit of Demerara and nutty tones with some soft leather and chewy licorice candies. Finish: soft and long with lots of fruits, fading spices and sugars. Comment: this is a lovely single cask, not enormously complex but very pleasant and rich! – $115
2. Amrut Naarangi – 50% – Derives its name from the Hindi word for orange. Barrels were filled with sherry and orange peels for three years. The barrels were then filled with 3 year old whisky which was left to mature a further three years. From the Distillery: “”The whisky is not dominated by the Orange but remarkably balanced out”, notes Ashok Chokalingam, GM – International Markets, Amrut. “The finish is of subtle orange notes while in the middle ground you can find the traditional Amrut signature.” Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: A tug of war between Suet Pudding and dried figs with moderate teasing of orangey citrus. With time, more dried fruits evolve and is a stunner. Taste: Viscous, full bodied like a syrup transcending to slat and sweet akin to orange influence and is a joy. Finish: Slightly dry and one can neglect it. The finish is moderately sweet and a loud dance of orange on the finale. – Estimated Price $130
3. Amrut Greedy Angels – 46% – Only 320 Bottles Produced – Set includes full sized decanter and a 50ml at cask strength 71% – Just 9 bottles Coming to Alberta – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Tropical fruit cocktail in the vicinity and can be disintegrated to papaya, mango and pineapple trio with signature Amrut liquorice. Taste: Malty and a do or die fight with the tropical fruit notes and amazingly balanced. Not so easy to stop there and an essay in chew ability. Finish: Enough dryness just measured; neither too dry nor too low and sweet and citrus finish. – $850 – Only 1 left!

Returned Amrut Releases
1. Amrut Fusion – 50% – Unpeated Indian and Peated Scottish Barley. – Distiller’s Tasting Note: Nose: Heavy, thickly oaked and complex: some curious barley-sugar notes here shrouded in soft smoke. Big, but seductively gentle too. Taste: The delivery, though controlled at first, is massive! Then more like con-fusion as that smoke on the nose turns into warming, full blown peat, but it far from gets its own way as a vague sherry trifle note (curious, seeing how there are no sherry butts involved) – the custard presumably is oaky vanilla – hammers home that barley – fruitiness to make for a bit of a free-for-all; but for extra food measure the flavours develop into a really intense chocolate fudge middle which absolutely resonates through the palate. Finish: A slight struggle here as the mouthfeel gets a bit puffy here with the dry peat and oak; enough molassed sweetness to see the malt through to a satisfying end, though. Above all the spices, rather than lying down and accepting their fate, rise up and usher this extraordinary whisky to its exit. – $76
2. Amrut Intermediate Sherry – 57.1% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Instead of the usual biscuit aroma, we now get moist cake. And my word: is it fruity and spicy!! Love the freshly waxed oak floor, too. Brain-explodingly complex and multi-layered with one of the most intriguing sherry-style-bourbon-style marriages on the market. Taste: Cracking delivery and entirely unique in form. The structure is decidedly oak-based, but acts as no more than a skeleton from which the juicy sultana and spices drape. Salivating, too, as the barley kicks in powerfully. But the liquorice-orangey-honeycomb bourbon theme quietly shapes the flavour profile; the spices pulse and glow. Finish: Quite a chunk of natural caramel quietens the more exuberant characteristics; long and elegant.” – $110
3. Amrut Portnova – 62.1% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: A Thick pudding of a nose; fruit and caramel have merged into one slightly over-oaked soup; burnt apple pie. Taste: This is essentially a port pipe sandwich…. and it shows. The spicy, jammy fruit is interwoven through any amount of caramel while the oaky saltiness gets the taste buds both salivating and puckering until you run dry. Finish: Long, massive oak with quite evident traces of the virgin barrels now detectable. And more of a cocoa hue as it progresses. At last some muscovado sugars arrive to supplant the berry fruits. – $128

NEW & RETURNED WHISKIES FROM KAVALAN

Single cask whiskies from Taiwan’s cult distillery…

1. Kavalan Solist Bourbon – 58.6% – Matured in a Single Ex-Bourbon Barrel – Whisky Advocate Tasting Note: “This is the pick of the bunch, the whisky equivalent of Fountains of Wayne; an effervescent dessert whisky, which from the first aroma to the final finish is a consistent mix of vanilla, coconut, and overripe banana, sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon.” 94pts – Reviewed 2012. – $138
2. Kavalan Solist Sherry – 57.8% – Matured in a Single Sherry Butt – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Clean and complex with multi-layers of dried fruit, nuttiness and spices with some marzipan and vanilla touches to it as well. Palate: Rich, oily and full with pleasant dried fruit and spices that linger on in the mouth plus a hint of fine coffee.” – $162
3. Kavalan Solist Vinho – 2015’s World Whisky of the Year is a curiosity, matured in a single ex-American Wine Barrique at cask strength. Similar to the solist sherry but with lots of unique layers. – 57.1% – World Whisky Awards Tasting Note: “Lots of stewed fruits on the nose. There’s also aged Bourbon notes. Water brings out custard creams. Surprisingly smooth on the palate. The alcohol is very present. It’s like Bourbon infused milk chocolate. Another nutty, meaty, savoury nose, with sweet notes in the backdrop. Very sweet pruney flavours initially on the palate, with fruit cake and big clove, chilli and dry cinnamon. Walnut and hazelnut on the very dry finish. Immediately and subtly liquor rich. Tiny bit of incense, a thread of spice and smoke. Caramel, marzipan, coffee-vanilla, fudge, rich, creamy, dried black fruits. Integrated and surprisingly light. Element of sandalwood. Starts creamy, waters out, almost disappears before rubbing hot brown sugar into the oesophagus. Tiny bitter trace.” – $162 -Strictly one per customer! We may not be able to get you a bottle right away…
4. Kavalan Solist Fino – Until the release of the decanter set below, this was Kavalan’s ‘piece de resistance’… it is still a stunning whisky. Matured in a single ex-Fino Sherry Cask and bottled at cask strength, it is the lighter more delicate of the sherried styles highlighting the distillery’s tropical fruit notes. – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: rich aroma of sherry, with creamy toffee and fudge qualities, and the slightest hint of chocolate blends with the fruity character of the spirit. Palate: natural sweetness on the tongue is accentuated with a gentle fudge flavor. Complex fruity flavors are layered with dry smoked wood aromas. – $TBA – Expected on a future order.
5. Kavalan Amontillado & Mazanilla Decanter Set – A truly magnificent twin decanter set from much talked about Taiwanese, Kavalan. The distillery was completed in December 2005. It produced its first spirit in March, 2006, and released its first bottling in December 2008. This twin decanter set is comprised of two single cask expressions, one from an Amontillado cask and the other from a Manzanilla cask. Both bottled at cask strength in stylish twisted decanters alongside two matching glasses, all encased in a wooden presentation box. Includes: 1 x Amontillado Single Cask decanter – 500ml; 1 x Manzanilla Single Cask decanter – 500ml; 2 x Crystal Stopper 2 x glasses – $750

NEW WHISKIES FROM BOWMORE & AUCHENTOSHAN

Of citrus and peat…

Bowmore has long been one of my favourite whiskies, and I have a soft spot for Auchentoshan too. The Bowmore Tempest range has been a wonderful addition to the distillery’s stable, and I look forward to sampling the 6th incarnation as I expect it will not disappoint. The Auchentoshan Virgin Oak II is new to me, I haven’t tried the first batch, not sure it came to Alberta, but if it is anything like the Valinch I’m interested. We also have a new one off, released a few years back in the UK, it has only just now found its way to Canada. The Bowmore 23 Year Port Matured was one of my highlights at this year’s Feis Isle on Islay, it is sublime!
1. Auchentoshan Virgin Oak – 46% – Matured in Virgin Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Marzipan and honeyed nougatg, toasted vanilla, caramel and cotton candy. Palate: Remarkably smooth and deep with caramel, chocolate cream, spiced orange and maple syrup. Finish: Warm with Bourbon, vanilla, maple-candy and sweet molasses.” – $150
2. Bowmore 10 Year Tempest VI – 54.9% – First Fill Ex- Bourbon Casks – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Breathe in a tropical fruit explosion of sweet mandarin, zingy pineapple and papaya. Palate: Sip toasted coconut, sweet almond and mellow peat. Finish: Savour passion fruit, pomegranate and tropical ocean dew finish.” – $95
3. Bowmore 23 Year Port Matured – 50.8% – Matured in Port Pipes – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Breathe in rich, smoky and very complex plum skins, black cherries and dark chocolate are interwoven with wood smoke and sea-salt, seductive sandalwood and walnuts thrown into a roaring fire. Palate: Sip a swathe of rich smoky velvet, which brings luscious layered autumn fruits, tingly winter spices, blood orange and sensual winter black truffles. Finish: Savour long and rich smoke infused blood orange, truffle and walnut oil. – $660
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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, 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
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Laphroaig 24 Year Old 1990 Old & Rare

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Jack Daniels Select Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey 750ml ( $59.99) Finally, cask strength Jack. Not sure how long this will last, but at least we’ve got some serious juice coming out of Lynchburg. Critics, even the ones who discount the brand outright, are widely in agreement that this is some serious juice. Enjoy the massive intensity that 120-140 proof Tennessee Whiskey offers, while retaining that soft smooth body and finish.

Glenfiddich 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve Single Malt Whisky 750ml $45.99

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Macallan 25 Year Old

Distilled 1989, bottled September 2015 for the Golden Pearl Collection. Only 170 decanters from a single cask.

Macallan 25 Year Old 1989 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whiskey. Single cask #17894 distilled September 1989 and bottled September 2015 by Gordon & Co. for Pearls of Scotland Golden Pearl Collection. 171 bottles.

The Macallan Distillery was established by Alexander Reid in 1824 near Easter Elchies House on the Easter Elchies estate. Easter Elchies House dates back to 1700. Macallan Distillery is a malt whisky distillery situated in Scotland’s Speyside whisky region. The old still house was re-commissioned in 2008 and now Macallan Distillery operates with two still houses sheltering twenty-one copper stills. On-site maturation is carried out in traditional dunnage warehouses and by racking in large new warehouses on the estate. The Macallan visitor centre welcomes visitors throughout the year and offers distillery tours. The Macallan Distillery also participates in the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Macallan Golden Pearl – $548.68

Coming Soon….

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016

Compass Box “This Is Not A Luxury Whisky” Limited Edition Scotch Whisky 750ml ( $249.99)

This whisky is a TEXTBOOK John Glaser whisky, the esteemed head blender of Compass Box. It’s so subtle and nuanced, not meant for those who want big, bold, and brash. It’s a big wave of ripe stonefruit, sweet grain, soft vanilla, and waves of toasted oak. It’s like I’m tasting Scotch again for the first time. Made from: 79% 19 year old Glen Ord in sherry; 10.1% 40 year old Strathclyde; 6.9% 40 year old Girvan; and 4% 30 year old Caol Ila. This is where I’ll have to beg to differ with John. This is the definition of luxury whisky. It’s like a super high-end version of Johnnie Blue, but 1000x better and bottled at cask strength. More please!!! (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Come Home to a Bottle of Bothy

New Limited Edition Release from the Isle of Arran Distillery

Monday 19^th October: The award-winning Isle of Arran Distillery has today launched its latest limited edition bottling. Named for the modest dwellings that were common to the highlands and islands, The Bothy Quarter Cask was matured in small barrels reminiscent of those used in the whisky trade in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The multi-vintage Arran Single Malt selected for The Bothy was initially matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels. It was then transferred for secondary maturation into smaller casks, made of the finest American oak.

This process produces far greater contact between the whisky and oak and a faster, more intense maturation. The end result is a full-bodied expression of The Arran Malt.

James MacTaggart, Master Distiller at the distillery said: “The centuries-old history of whisky making on the island is at the heart of everything we do and with this new bottling we’ve captured those traditions.

“There are only 12,000 bottles available worldwide so we expect this edition to be highly sought-after. The picturesque artwork on the bottle, coupled with a superior dram laden with heritage, makes this a beautiful collector’s item as well as a fantastic whisky to drink and savour.”

Evoking the scents and colours of autumn, The Bothy has a nose of sandalwood, malty barley and damp oak. A sweet palatte with the Arran character of fresh pineapple, green apples and toasted brioche is enriched with a kick of red chilli. Finishing with refreshing citrus notes, The Bothy delivers all the complexity and richness for which the distillery is well renowned.

Bottled at Natural Cask Strength 55.7% abv, The Bothy Quarter Cask will be available at specialist whisky shops and www.arranwhisky.com from 11am on the 19^th October priced at £54.99. 

Notes:

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com

* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.