Cask No. 27.107                                      $145

To the Manor born

Campbeltown

Thick, old fashioned vanilla ice cream, with tinned peaches, then a complex of polished leather (an antique desk, a sea chest, a worn leather chair, a vintage car), but also sherry trifle and creamy yoghurt, amber beads and rich fruit cake. Rich and sweet to taste, then tannic-dry with bitter chocolate and salt crystals; sandalwood. Water sweetens the nose to treacle toffee and sticky toffee pudding, hazelnut and almond praline – rich and complex. The taste is rich, sweet and very fruity; elegant, with dark chocolate and treacle, and Macademia nuts in the aftertaste.

Drinking tip: Digestif after Sunday lunch

Colour: Teak oil, with scarlet lights

Cask: Refill gorda

Age: 16 years

Date distilled: May 1998

Alcohol: 56.0%

USA allocation: 180 bottles 

Cask No. 3.217                              $145

A Delicatessen Shopping Basket

Islay

This had all the makings of a great feast of prosciutto ham, sundried tomatoes, roasted fish skins, sushi and brown sauce. A leather jacket stuffed into a canvas bag and a pouch of pipe tobacco. A damp forest with recently burnt heather and a shale beach. Much discussion ensued on the topic of ham – honey glazed or German peppered? They were all in agreement that it had delicious foodie characteristics in a warm plastic box. Lavender lip balm and orange peel were detectable above the blast of tar, sea spray, incense sticks and wet hessian rope.

Drinking tip: Drink neat or only a splash of water

Colour: A foxes brush

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 16 years

Date distilled: September 1997

Alcohol: 55.6%

USA allocation: 180 bottles 

Cask No. 35.101                            $330

‘Oh How Joyfully’

Speyside, Lossie

A gentle and soft aroma to start, almost shy, but it heightened our expectations of what was to come. Making baked apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped pecans, currants, raisins and sultanas as well as anise-flavoured cookies, a smell of pine needles and wood sap from a fresh cut fir tree – happy childhood memories of the night before Christmas. It is a waxy, oily, honey mouth coating texture with flavours of sandalwood, resin and exotic spices. With water there is a hint of wood smoke followed by candied orange and lemon peel, dried fruits and cardamom. Now on the taste a pleasant light woodiness combined with fragrant spices and fresh mint – this makes a great Advent dram.

Drinking tip: Whilst wrapping Christmas presents or decorating the tree

Colour: Resonant sunset over the sea

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 39 years

Date distilled: February 1974

Alcohol: 46.2%

USA allocation: 78 bottles

Cask No. 39.95                              $100

Caressing, warm and friendly

Speyside, Lossie

The nose, fresh and attractively youthful, tumbled aromatic antics of vanilla, gorse flowers, sandalwood, scented candles and melon, plus plentiful sweet suggestions  (stroop waffles, toffee ice-cream, lemon puffs, Edinburgh Rock, white chocolate). The palate also provided intense sweetness in the form of butterscotch, brown sugar, toasted marshmallows and custard creams; but we also found marmalade and black tea bitterness, white pepper, orange blossoms and ‘licking a new stave’. Still refreshing, the reduced nose conveyed pot-pourri, icing sugar, nougat and pancakes with lemon and honey. The palate now seduced us with its caressing sweetness and friendly warmth. From the east Elgin emporium.

Drinking tip: On a camping holiday, even when the sun don’t shine – this will provide warmth and smiling contentment

Colour: Pale buttercup

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: May 2004

Alcohol: 61.2%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 112.7                              $130

Youthful vigour in a barrel prison

Highland, Western

The nose had sweetness (butterscotch, honey, syrup) but that was held fast by a barrel stave prison of woody, spicy aromas – clove, hot cross buns, glossy magazines, charred and toasted oak and vanilla. It seemed creamier and more perfumed with water – beeswax, linseed oil, hazelnut and Yankee candles. The palate had a youthful vigour involving gooseberry, pea-pods, green olives, grass, greenhouses and glue – but also carried silky textures, marshmallow and toffee bonbon sweetness and interesting citrus. In reduction, we tasted apple skins, cream soda and pot-pourri – light but pleasantly refreshing stuff to delight Captain Haddock (Tintin) whose favourite dram this is.

Drinking tip: Fairly easy-drinking, anytime whisky – but would go well with Tintin comics or movies

Colour: Golden syrup

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 13 years

Date distilled: September 2000

Alcohol: 58.5%

USA allocation: 150 bottles

Cask No. G1.12                    $135

Mouth-puckering citrus and pleasant sweetness

Grain

The nose seemed delicate, yet also lively – gardens after rain, honey, vanilla, waffles, pepper and pine – but mainly fruit (melon, tangerine, grapefruit, strawberry, lemon, lime). The neat palate combined mouth-puckering citrus with pleasant sweetness (crème anglaise, honey nut cornflakes, lemon puffs) to balance; then leather, cocoa and dry woody spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg) on the finish. The reduced nose was a joy – lemon-scented candles, lemon drizzle cake, orange barley water, orange blossom and subtle shades of liquorice, cumin and tarragon. The palate now had lemon sherbet, lime zest and French fancies, with pencil shavings, gingerbread and star anise in the after-taste.

Drinking tip: A summery dram, perfect for a pre-barbeque dram in the garden to get the juices flowing

Colour: Apricot blush gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 23 years

Date distilled: December 1990

Alcohol: 60.3%

USA allocation: 72 bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society at www.smwsa.com

GLENGLASSAUGH RELEASES RARE 51 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT

Glenglassaugh Distillery is extremely proud to launch a sumptuous 51 Years Old single malt. 

This complex and sophisticated dram is an extremely rare, one-off whisky. Bottled at cask strength on May 14 this year, non-chill filtered and with no colour added, this is truly an exceptional dram.

Specially selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker, the rich and flavoursome whisky is from 1963 cask 3301 and has been maturing in our coastal warehouses at Portsoy for over 51 years. Distilled and filled to cask on February 15 1963, it is one of the oldest casks in our inventory and brilliantly captures Glenglassaugh’s unique Highland coastal character.

Founded in 1875 by local entrepreneur James Moir, Glenglassaugh was mothballed for over twenty years, lying silent and forgotten until production was re-started in 2008. It was taken over by BenRiach last year and the distinctive fruity character of its whisky is loved by all who discover it.

Master Distiller Billy Walker said: “We’ve inherited some extraordinarily fine whisky at Glenglassaugh. It’s a real treasure trove and the 51 years old is the oldest bottling ever released from Glenglassaugh…and it is of unbelievable quality.

“It’s a gorgeous Glenglassaugh – a silky, sublime balance of fruits and herbs mingling seductively with astonishingly refined oaken notes. Put simply, it is elegance personified.”

Colour: Rich mahogany holds a deep crimson edge.

Nose: Fascinating depths and layers develop from figs and prune syrup to delicate apricot and hints of blackberry. All carry invitingly subtle soft Belgian chocolate and intriguing hints of roast coffee.

Palate: The exclusive mellow yet full-bodied character gives a rich, complex symphony of red fruit preserve, touches of treacle and the slightest mountain herb influence. Gentle clove oil, distant sour cherries and the softest peppery oak add a memorable sophistication to this rare vintage.

Finish: The rarity of the vintage mirrors the rarity of the unique characteristics of the whisky. Combining many facets of its ever-changing nature as it opens on the palate, the style and elegance of this rare whisky are to be savoured.

The Glenglassaugh 51 Years Old comes in a beautiful wooden box, hand-crafted in Scotland. Each bottle is hand-numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Billy Walker.

On our website (www.glenglassaugh.com) you’ll find more information on this new release.

NEW PARCELS: MORE SECRETS FOR SHARING

Oh my goodness! Members have done a great job as Santa this weekend and Society elves have been sending out bottles at a frantic pace. With only a handful of rare bottles left from the December list, we couldn’t leave you without exciting, panel-picked whisky when you need it most. So fear not, brave gift-givers: we’ve added two new Japanese bottlings (look out for the highly prised provenance), a corker from a closed distillery and two palate-pleasing parcels. You’re still in time to be everyone’s favourite Santa… #happysharing

Last orders for Christmas delivery midday Friday 19 December.

Sweet, fruity & mellow

124.5

Juicy fruits and spicy oak

RARE & MATURE 23 year old Japanese malt from a first-fill ex-bourbon hogshead.

Low availability: only 14 left!

£275.00

Deep, rich & dried fruits

119.14

Raspberry imperial stout

RICH & INDULGENT 11 year old Japanese malt from a first-fill bota corta.

Did you know this comes from the same distillery as Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky of the Year?

Low availability: only 45 left!

£155.00

Juicy, oak & vanilla

25.69

Fresh faced and fabulous!

Rare chance to own a rare bottle: LOW OUTTURN of only 35 bottles and CLOSED DISTILLERY.

Low availability: only 14 left!

£175.00

Browse New Bottlings>

Browse All Bottlings>

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Wemyss Velvet Fig

Matured in Oloroso Sherry casks to generate rich autumn and winter fruits and spices. Limited release from the owners of Kingbarns Distillery.

Velvet Fig Scotch $48.81

Ladyburn 40 year old
Ladyburn was the shortest-lived distillery in Scotland, and is therefore one of the rarest malt whiskies you will find. If you can find it.  The Whisky Shop has acquired one of the last remaining casks of Ladyburn. Filled in 1974 and aged until its 40th birthday on 21st November 2014. Cask 89/199 No.74 has produced only 157 bottles. Now you’ve found it. Get one while you can.
£2500 Click here to buy

Jack Daniel’s Holiday Select 2014
2014 is the very first year in which Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett individually selected the Holiday Select barrels which were used to create this unique limited release. He has decided to showcase the depth and richness that a single barrel can offer and selected the most robust and complex whiskey he sampled.

£59 Click here to buy

Aultmore 12 year old
A little-known distillery situated in an area known as the Foggie Moss, between Keith and Buckie, Aultmore is finally emerging from its misty moorland to see the light of day as a range of single malts.
The Aultmore 12 year old showcases the fresh, grassy signature style of this distillery.

£50 Click here to buy

Glenfarclas 15 year old Gift Set
With greater complexity than the younger Glenfarclas, the 15 Years Old is a great whisky drinker’s whisky. It is bottled at 46% simply because Mr Grant ‘s grandfather preferred it at this strength. It’s still a family favourite. This stunning Glenfarclas gift pack comes with the award winning 21 year old and 25 year old miniatures – making it the complete Glenfarclas gift this Christmas!

£59 Click here to buy

December is here with just 17 shopping days left until Christmas. Christmas can certainly be a stressful time, something I know all too well having worked in retail as long as I have. For the past decade I’ve been putting together a Christmas gift guide to help our customers simplify their decision making process. Finding the right gift can be daunting, especially if you’ve not been indoctrinated into the world of whisky.

Our 2014 Christmas Gift Guide starts with unique gift packs, accessories and miniatures, all perfect for stocking stuffers. The meat of the gift guide though is my whisky recommendations. I’ve given both peated and unpeated offerings in 9 different price ranges from under $70 to well over $2000 per bottle. I hope it gives you a little inspiration and helps make your shopping experience that much more relaxed! Most of the whiskies on the list are available for sampling, just in case you want to try them yourself. So print this off and, with paper in hand, pop by to pay us a visit.

Our Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule is also out and open for registration. I’ve highlighted all the whisky and spirits tastings below. The full tasting schedule can be viewed on our website. Highlights include Scots Wae Hae! our annual celebration of Robert Burns and Whisky, the Islay Mini Festival (our own little Feis Isles!) and The Bourbon Trail which will feature slides from my recent whisky pilgrimage to Kentucky.

Finally the the MS Calgary Whisky Festival is coming early in January. Tickets are $99, are for a great cause and make an excellent gift. Don’t hesitate, see the side pannel. Buy your tickets by December 15th and you’ll be entered to win the early bird draw.

I hope you enjoy the Malt Messsenger Christmas Gift Guide.

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Issue
1. Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule is Now Online
2. December KWM Winetime is Online and in the Mail
3. 2015 Malt Messenger Christmas Gift Guide
4. MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .  www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

2015 MS Calgary Whisky Festival

Thursday January 15 2015
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. Buy your tickets before December 15th and you’ll be entered in the draw to win the gift basket pictured above which is a $400 value and includes a sold out Silver Seal Glendronach 22 Year! $99

Buy Tickets Now

Winter 2015 KWM Tasting Schedule

A Range of Exciting Tastings Including a Mini Festival Dedicated to Islay!

You can view the full KWM Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule Online including all or our wine, whisky, beer and other spirit tastings. Here is a breakdown of our winter spirits tastings:

 1. Hello Darkness – Tuesday January 13 2015, 7PM – Good old sherried whisky is increasingly hard to come by, as demand for sherry is plummeting while that for Scotch whisky is soaring. We’ll sample six heavily sherried whiskies to tease out the darkness within. – $60
2. MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2015 – Thursday January 15, 7PM – The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies from over 30 presenters and a capacity of 500 participants.Tickets are going fast and are available exclusively from the MS Society. – $95
3. Lost in Translation – Thursday January 22 2015, 7PM – For nearly 100 years the Japanese have been making whisky in the Scottish style, albeit with their own twist. Their reputation is soaring, as some of their whiskies are among the finest in the world. – $75
4. Scots Wha Hae – Sunday January 25 2015 7PM – Caledonians Unite! It’s time to celebrate all things Scottish. Glendronach and BenRiach are the distilleries we’ll be focusing on for this our 9th annual Robbie Burns Supper. We’ll have bagpipes, poetry, haggis with neeps and tatties and six amazing single malts all from Glendronach and BenRiach distilleries, including some new exclusives to KWM! No previous whisky experience required. Location: Fort Calgary 750 9 Avenue, SE – $99
5. Bob Kyle’s Rare Drams – Thursday January 29 2015, 7PM – Don’t let the fact that Bob cheers for Dundee United get in the way of the fact that he puts on a good tasting, besides, he has the accent! We’ll sample whiskies from Glencadam, Tomintoul and Carn Mor. -$50
6. Classic Single Malts – Thursday February 5 2015, 7PM – This is our “classic” introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made and sample six distinct styles. – $35
7. The Bourbon Trail – Tuesday February 10 2015, 7PM – Follow our whisky expert Andrew Ferguson on a virtual tour of Kentucky’s Bourbon country while sampling a range of carefully selected Kentucky whiskies. – $35
8. Rare Malts – Thursday February 19 2015, 7PM – Only the rarest whiskies, those more than 20 years of age or from closed distilleries are considered for this very special tasting. – $80
9. Islay Mini Festival – Thursday February 26 2015, 7PM – Islay’s annual Islay Festival, or ‘Feis Isle’, usually takes place in Scotland in May, but with so many peaty Islay malts available, why wait till May! Surely a cold February night will work just fine. – $40
10. The Whisky Isles – Tuesday March 10 2015, 7PM – Islay’s not the only island whisky made in Scotland. Join us as we journey to all the other whisky isles starting with Arran and ending on Orkney’s mainland. Tue Mar 10 – $50
11. The Irish are Coming! – Tuesday March 17 2015, 7PM – The Irish Are Coming! $35 Will you be celebrating Saint Paddy’s Day with us? Ah, it’s sure to be a right Irish treat. Irish beer and Irish whisky. Is there a better way to be putting on the green? – $35
15. Master Malts – Thursday March 26, 2015, 7PM – Only the rarest and very special whiskies are showcased at this tasting which always highlights some of the most exciting new whiskies in the world! – $99

Miniatures
1. Auchentoshan 12 Year 50ml – Auchentoshan’s flagship bottling in all its glory. $3.99
2. Big Peat 50ml – Same Big Peat blended Islay malt whisky with a dash or Port Ellen in it, much smaller bottle! – $10.99
3. Bowmore 12 Year 50ml – The distillery feels it is best paired with oysters, probably best not to put those in the stocking too! – $3.99
4. Glendronach 21 Year 50ml – If you think the full size bottle is bargain priced, check out the miniatures. Very low stock! – $7.99
5. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength 50ml – The only cask strength miniature in the market. – $10.99
6. Glenfarclas 40 Year 50ml – At this price it is almost the same price per ml as the full size bottle! A great whisky and a top notch stocking stuffer. – $55
7. Jura Superstition 50ml – Jura’s moderately peated expression is a perfect stocking stuffer. – $4.99

Gift Packs
1. KWM’s Wee Whisky Gift Box – We’ve taken four 50ml miniatures (Auchentoshan 12 Year, Bowmore 12 Year, Jura Superstition and Glendronach 21 Year Parliament) and tucked them into a Christmassy box, that you won’t event need to wrap. It’s all ready to go! – $29.99
2. Auchentoshan Collection – Three 50ml single malts from this Lowland distillery in a compact gift pack. – $25.99
3. Bowmore Collection – Three 50ml single malts from Islay’s oldest distillery. Bowmore 12, 15 and 18 year olds. – $25.99
4. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength, 12 & 15 Year – Glenfarclas’ entry level gift pack includes the world’s first cask strength whisky, the 105 and the 12 and 15 year olds. – $35.99
5. Glenfarclas 15, 21 & 25 Year – It’s not often you see gift packs featuring older whiskies like these, and the price is great! – $49.99
6. Kilchoman Gift Pack – Includes a full size bottle of Machir Bay and two Glencairn glasses, for about $5 more than the bottle alone! – $79.99
7. Tomatin Gift Pack – 12, 15 and 18 year olds in a compact stocking stuffer. – $22.99
8. Tomintoul Tri-Pack – This pack like the Glenfarclas has some mature malts in it, 10, 16 and 33 year olds! – $32.99
9. Scotch Malt Whisky Society New Members Kit – Much more than just a gift pack, this is your portal to membership in the World’s largest whisky club. The Society bottles single cask cask strength whiskies exclusively for its members and launches 7 new ones every month in Canada. For more info visit: www.smws.ca – $230.00

Accessories
1. Glencairn Glass – The classic glass for drinking whisky, specifically single malt Scotch whisky. – $15.99
2. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2015 – The most comprehensive list of tasting notes on world whisky updated annually. We will remove the dust jacket for you at no added cost. – $21.99
3. Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015 – The best annual reference on the world of Malt Whisky, highlighting all Scottish, Irish and Japanese malt whisky distilleries, as well as many of those in the world beyond. My favourite annual whisky book. – $29.99
4. Glencairn Cut Crystal Glass – Take the classic Glencairn glass and make it fancy. This elegant glass is a must for the connoisseur. If only it were available in Ron Burgundy’s day, he would certainly have swapped a tumbler for it. – $49.99
5. Glenfarclas an Independent Distillery – A wonderful book on Scotland second oldest family owned distillery. – $49.99

Whiskies Under $70
1. Bowmore Small Batch – Naked Bowmore, malty, grassy and briny; youth is its asset! – $54.99
2. Glenglassaugh Torfa – The first peated whisky to come out of Glenglassaugh may be young, but it is sweet, lightly peate and citric with white fruits. – $64.99
3. Compass Box Great King Street – This is an easy drinking crowd pleasing blend at a great price. – $49.99
4. Tomatin 12 Year French Oak – Sweet and creamy with lots of spice, this limited edition will not last long, especially at the price. – $66.99
5. Breuckelen 77 Rye & Corn Whiskey – A curiosity to be sure, 85% rye and 15% corn mash, matured in small batches. – $67.49

Whiskies Under $100
1. Tomatin Cu Bocan Sherry Ltd. Ed. – Big sherry meets big smoke and they live happily ever after. Nice addition. – $80.99
2. BenRiach 15 Year Madeira Finish – We used to stock this years ago as an exclusive, and it has come back, once again exclusively from KWM. Sweet spicy and very smooth! – $87.99
3. BenRiach 15 Year PX Finish – Also exclusive to KWM, this BenRiach is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry and is syruppy and fruity, but still soft and smooth. – $87.99
4. Hepburn’s Choice Braeval 12 Year – You don’t see Braeval, AKA Braes of Glenlivet bottled very often but this sherry matured independent bottlings stands tall. Rich, nutty and creamy with spices and dark fruits. – $87.99
5. Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Edition – Both classic Islay and Kilchoman with both the sweet Bourbon notes and the medicinal, salty peat shining through! – $99.99

Whiskies Under $150
1. Glendronach 2003 – Our latest cask, and 5th from Glendronach landed only 3 weeks after the 1993. Matured in PX Sherry it is a sweetly sherried malt and flying off the shelves. – $114.99
2. G&M Glentauchers 1994 – A malt you almost never see bottled, this stunner from Gordon & MacPhail caught our attention, as well as that of the 2014 Whisky Bible, 96.5pts. – $114.99
3. Whistle Pig 100/100 Straight Rye – Canadian rye whisky from right here in Alberta matured 5 years in new American oak and finished in Ex-Bourbon. Sweet, dark, decadent and spicy with layers of spice. – $119.99
4. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 526 – One of the oldest Arrans ever bottled, this KWM exclusive sherry cask is a delight with candied fruits, spices and a very smooth finish. – $129.99
5. Berry’s Aberlour 1994 KWM Cask – A very unusual Aberlour, in that there is no trace of sherry, with prominent Bourbon notes: honey, toasted oak and nutty tones. Bottled exclusively for KWM. – $139.99

Whiskies Under $200
1. Yoichi 15 Year – Our best selling Japanese whisky is one of our best drams under $200. Tropical with subtle smoke and lots of spice. – $144.99
2. Springbank Society Madeira 15 Year – You have to be a member to buy Springnbank Society bottlings, but membership is just a onetime fee away. This Madeira finish is Springbank at its finest. – $159.99
3. Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 – Finished in 80L Octave sherry casks this malt is more delicately sherried than its sister Mortlach bottling. Only six of 71 bottles left! – $179.99
4. Cadenhead Glen Garioch 1990 24 Year – Juicy and toasty the palate is surprisingly peated with lots of clean, crisp smoke – $195.99
5. Glendronach 1993 KWM – This 20 year old stunner from the hills north of Huntly has been bottled exclusively for KWM. It is deep and very fruity with lots of spice. – $199.99

Whiskies Under $300
1. Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 – Aged Bruichladdich is getting hard to come by these day, this 23 year old from a Refill Sherry Butt is an anomaly and an exceptional dram. Exclusive to KWM. – $234.99
2. Tasliker 25 Year 2011 – When this started to fly last week when we announced the price pending increase we snapped up a couple extra cases. Tropical fruits, clean salty smoke and classic Talisker cayenne spice. – $249.99
3. Signatory Bunnahabhain 1988 – This 25 year old was matured in a Refill Sherry Butt and have been very popular with our customers. Exclusive to KWM. – $274.99
4. Cadenhead Linkwood 1987 – This 26 year old Linkwood is the product of two Sherry butts, though the sherry influence is very subtle. Lush, coating and toasty with French baked goods, candied orange and melons; becomes more floral, with white chocolate and juicy oak. – $284.99
5. Highland Park Freya – The 3rd release in the Valhalla series is matured in American oak and is a big departure from the earlier two bottlings. Very limited and selling quickly! – $299.99

Whiskies Under $600
1. Yoichi 20 Year – More than just the big brother to the 15, this is the oldest core expression in the distillery’s range. Only 24 bottles came to Alberta, all to KWM, and just 3 remain. – $329.99
2. Signatory Caol Ila 1983 30 Year – A different single cask than the one we just sold out of, this one was matured in a Hogshead and bottled at 51.6%. Only 187 bottles, with just 6 coming to Canada exclusively to KWM. – $399.99
3. Black Gold Bunnahabhain 1995 – Mahogany in colour the whisky is 18 years old and a sherry monster. We only received 6 bottles and have just 2 left! – $399.99
4. Highland Park 30 Year – I remember when I could order this for the shop anytime I wanted. Now it’s not so easy to come by, we have just one bottle coming. Big fruit, balanced sherry, honey and peat. – $549.99
5. Glendronach Grandeur 24 Year – Batch 5 is yet a stunner, 48.9% from a small parcel of sherry casks. It was a hit at Ancient Malts. Notes of maple syrup, treacle, chocolate and classic sherry cask notes. Only a handful left! – $519.99

 Whiskies Under $750
1. Glencadam 1982 32 Year – Like drinking silk this very limited single cask of Glencadam showed very well at Ancient Malts. Lots of melon, white chocolate and toasty oak. – $629.99
2. BenRiach 1977 Cask 7114 – Only 12 bottles of this 37 Year Batch 11 release have come to Canada, exclusively to KWM. Matured in Sherry and Finished in Bourbon. Well received at Ancient Malts. – $574.99
3. BenRiach 1977 Cask 1891 – A 37 Year old Dark Rum finish, only 6 bottles have come to Canada, all to KWM. Notes of Demerara, boiled sweets, toffee and vanilla with berry fruits. – $574.99
4. BenRiach 1978 Cask 5469 – A 36 year old release from Batch 11 matured exclusively in ex-sherry, and bottled at 41.7%. Only 12 bottles for Canada, all from KWM. Fairground candy apple, cinnamon and delicate ground black pepper mellow to touches of fig, sultanas and stewed sweet barley. – $524.99
5. Glenglassaugh 1972 KWM – If you haven’t sampled our 39 year old single sherry cask of Glenglassaugh, make your way down to KWM for a sample. of the 150 bottles we had filled of the very tropical, lightly sherried whisky, only about two dozen reamain! – $699.99

Whiskies Under $2000
1. Glenfarclas 40 Year – This used to be $500 a bottle, and if you’re taken aback by the new price, $720, consider this, the price is going up again and will be over $1000 next year. They could sell everything they make to Taiwan, and are struggling to keep up with demand. At $720, this is still excellent value and a beuatiful Speyside malt. – $719.99
2. Brora 35 Year – Available by request this bottling of Brora is one of the finest ever from the distillery which closed in 1983. A fine expression and available by special order. – $949.99
3. Benromach 1969 42 Year – Sampled with Michael Urquhart at his farewell tasting in November, this is the last of the bottles we brought in exclusively this fall. Big Christmas Cake, spices, chocolate and some deep tropical fruits. – $1,299.99
4. G&M Port Ellen 1979 34 Year – I thought this was the last sub $2000 Port Ellen, but I’ve bee proven wrong, see below. Regardless this is a stunner at 34 years of age, from an unusual vintage, 1979. – $1,449.99
5. Executive Decisions Port Ellen 30 Year – Just when I thought we’d seen the last of the Laing family’s Port Ellen casks, and state as much in my newsletter, this pops up! – $1,649.99

Whiskies $2000 And Up
1. Bunnahabhain 40 Year – The star of our Ancient Malts tasting late last month, this rare whisky is all about finesse. Tropical with some faint maritime notes, it is a study in subtlety. – $2,899.99
2. Macallan ‘M’ – The pinnacle bottling of the 1824 Series now has company, see below. We’ve sampled this in store and it is a stunning dram, available by special order. The palate opens rich in wood spices, slowly showing all their viscosity. Wood smoke flits in and out. – $3,799.99
3. Macallan No. 6 – Is a celebration of the collaboration between Macallan and it sherry producers matured in first fill casks. Heavy and sumptuous. Like a rich fruit cake with raisin, dates and figs, apples, sultanas, orange; then ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and hints of clove. – $3,899.99
4. G&M Glen Grant 1952 60 Year – Just 2 of 85 decanters have found their way to Alberta of this Diamond Jubilee bottling. Matured in a single 1st fill sherry cask laid down just days before Elizabeth’s coronation, the whisky is very well balanced and soft for its advanced age, showing no signs of exhaustion. It scored 92pts from Whisky Advocate: “Superb mature nose with subtle whisky rancio, mixing fragrant mango with a little mint, rosewater, and waxiness; there’s even some custard and a whiff of woodsmoke before sandalwood brings back the exotic edge. The palate is delicate with an amazingly fresh acidity that becomes herbal (basil and tarragon).” and 92.5pts from the Whisky Bible. – $13,999.99

MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update

Thursday, January 15, 2015 w/ 2 Ticket Options

The Macallan Reflexion
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS
Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. New this year we are offering a VIP package, which will include a Macallan Master Class featuring a very rare and special bottling. The VIP Ticket is $149 (SOLD OUT) and the regular ticket $99. Only 40 VIP tickets are available!

Get your tickets now, they won’t last long.

Order tickets through the MS Society by clicking here!

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

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

Glenglassaugh 51 Year Old – 1963 Single Cask #3301

With the three distilleries The BenRiach Distillery Co Ltd now owns, Glenglassaugh has the oldest stock with some casks dating back to 1963. The oldest cask available from the distillery has been chosen for this very special release. Distilled in 1963 single cask #3301, a bourbon barrel was filled 15th February 1963 and left to slumber for an incredible 51 years before being bottled in 2014.

A stunning and historic release from Glenglassaugh distillery – each bottle has been hand numbered, is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Master Distiller Billy Walker and is housed in this beautiful hand crafted wooden presentation box.

£4750.00 (£3958.33 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glenglassaugh 51 Year Old – Vintage 1963

BenRiach 35 Year Old

Released to fill the void left from the now discontinued 30 year old BenRiach is this super premium 35 year old expression. Bottled at 42.5% vol and presented in this rather swanky whisky presention box.

£425.00 (£354.17 ex vat)

Click here to purchase BenRiach 35 Year Old

Glendronach Grandeur 24 Year Old Batch 006

Batch 6 of the Grandeur series from GlenDronach distillery has been specially selected by Master Distillery Billy Walker from from some of the oldest and most unique Oloroso sherry casks at GlenDronach. A 24 year old expresion bottled at 48.9% vol.

£297.50 (£247.92 ex vat)

Click here to purchase GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 6

CHRISTMAS PARCELS OUTTURN: PANEL PICKED PRESENTS

The Society’s Tasting Panel take enormous pleasure in uncovering truly exceptional and interesting single casks for our members. The only thing they enjoy more is sharing their thoughts with you and, judging by our selection of Panel picked presents, our nosers have been very good boys and girls this year.

Boasting 4 new Japanese bottlings (including 2 rare grains), 3 new distilleries, a long-lost friend from a closed distillery, a powerful 3yo bourbon and our oldest ever bottling from our first ever distillery, this bottling list is exceptional. There are 4 perfectly paired parcels and 4 spectacular singular bottles available, all bursting with flavour and very limited in numbers.

#happysharing

Spicy & Sweet Rollercoaster Pair

120.7

Sweet, fragrant and satisfying

Deep, rich & dried fruits
14 years old

UNUSUAL & DELICIOUS Japanese single cask malt from a first-fill bota corta

G12.1

“Oh so sweet”

EXTREMELY RARE Japanese single cask grain whisky from a re-charred hogshead.

Juicy, oak & vanilla
11 years old

120.7 & G12.1 for £229 BUY

*both bottles exclusively available in the pair

Meaty Peaty Trio

4.199

Boy scouts and bikers

Lightly peated
14 years old

Drinking tip: For the hip-flask at a wedding

53.216

BBQ in pine-clad dunes

Lightly peated
21 years old

Drinking tip: For your evening barbeque by the sea

3.234

Scallops cooked on a puffer shovel

Peated
16 years old

Drinking tip: Barbeque – with meat, fish or marshmallows

4.199, 53.216 & 3.234 for £169 BUY

*all three bottles exclusively available in the pair

Sweet Seduction Pair

24.127

Northern Lights

Spicy & sweet
23 years old

A sweet dram matured in a refill bourbon hogshead from a very popular distillery.

25.66

Bette Davis doing DIY

Extremely rare example from a CLOSED DISTILLERY

Spicy & sweet
23 years old

24.127 & 25.66 for £209 BUY

*both bottles exclusively available in the pair

Tongue-tingling Twosome

2.91

Buck’s Fizz and Gewurtztraminer

Young & spritely
12 years old

Drinking tip: Could liven up jaded senses or taste-buds.

5.42

Bathed in a bakers shop

Juicy, oak & vanilla
13 years old

Drinking tip: At a christening perhaps?

2.91 & 5.42 for £109 BUY

*both bottles exclusively available in the pair

Browse New Outturn

Browse All Bottlings

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

The New Map of the Whisky Distilleries in Scotland 

Manuscript Maps  has produced a stunning map of the Whisky distilleries of Scotland.  Designer Kevin Sheehan says “I wanted to create a map that beautifully captured the essence of whisky, not just showed the geographic location of every distillery”  The maps included information and imagery about the manufacture of whisky and even an extract from Burns’ poem ‘John Barleycorn’. 

The map took over 120 hours of drawing, using a dip-pen with different calligraphic nibs; additionally, many hours were spent researching distilleries and locating them on the map. Thirty distilleries are profiled on the map, which were selected based on their age, uniqueness, production of consistently good whiskies and include distilleries from every region.

Whisky maps of  Ireland, Japan, and/or the Tennessee/Kentucky are planned. 

Prints can be purchased at www.manuscriptmaps.com

Well, here we are ladies and gentlemen. A month to go to Xmas and we are all being bombarded with penguins and fairies and all things in-between. Anything to part you from your hard-earned proverbial.

We here at TWL HQ are no different, excepting one thing. Well maybe two or three things. We can promise you no penguins or fairies for a start. But we can promise you plenty of Christmas spirit. Although we are all about whisky not just being for Christmas, we also recognise that lots of people either want whisky-orientated gifts or want to give said gifts. Therefore, without any further ado, we submit to you our ideas for you…

SALTY SEA-DOG Blended Malt Whisky 47.3%

Yes ladies and gentlemen it is back! Our very own label peaty little scamp is onto its third ‘litter’, with this one named ‘Littlest Hobo‘. Fans of THAT iconic 80’s TV show will remember the hero in question hitching around, helping people out wherever he went. Well our Hobo has been travelling the world, but with a mission of searching for peaty whiskies to blend for this bottling. We think he has done a cracking job, with the whisky within being smoky, minty, spicy and delicious. A 20cl bottle of this strictly limited batch is just £25 including UK delivery, or £35 with a smart TWL gift box and a pair of Glencairn Whisky Tasting glasses. Click HERE or on the picture to order. You’d be barking not to! (sorry)

TASTING GIFT PACKS

Possibly the greatest gift for the aspiring or even seasoned whisky-lover. Our gift-boxed tasting from home packs have everything covered for a tasting for one in the comfort of their own home. Why risk your money on one bottle of something they may not like when they can sample 6 outstanding whiskies from us? These incredible sets start from just £25 including delivery. Click HERE and select ‘Tasting Packs’ in the menu.

LONDON WHISKY WEEKENDER 2015

After the roaring success of last year’s inaugural ‘Whisky Weekender’ in the heart of old industrial London, we are set to repeat and better ourselves. MORE whisky, MORE food, MORE fun and with a firm emphasis on craft (distilling and more…), this should be THE whisky event of the year in London.

Details of the weekend will emerge in the coming weeks, but for you loyal customers, we have a juicy little ‘Early-Bird’ offer for you. The usual price of £30 will be foregone for the first 100 people to book onto each session, who are able to get a pair of tickets for £50! Click HERE or on the banner to get booking – and as always, we can produce PDF tickets for those wanting a physical gift to give.

‘ULTIMALT’ TASTING SESSIONS

We have been working on this little beauty of a series for what feels like years! Finally we have pinned down the inimitable Colin Dunn of Diageo and put together a real humdinger of a tasting. Colin has got out the big guns, and a for few lucky guys and gals, he will be presenting – in association with The Whisky Lounge – a mini-series featuring historic Diageo ‘Special Releases’ as well as a mystery bottle on each night. Dates are…

LONDON             THURS 26th FEB 7pm            SALT BAR, SEYMOUR St. W2

MANCHESTER   FRIDAY 27th FEB 7pm            BRITONS PROTECTION

NEWCASTLE      SAT 28th FEB 7pm                  BLACKFRIARS, FRIARS STREET

Tickets are £50, which is a bargain given the whiskies on tasting, and are strictly limited. Another perfect gift for the whisky-lover! Click on the relevant date and venue above for more detail.

Fèis Ìle 2015

For those with a want and need to go straight to source and fill their souls as well as their glasses, then this is what you want. The Fèis Ìle is a magical event on the magical island of Islay which is already a Mecca for peaty whisky-lovers. We are taking another lucky group of people with us next year – this time with an option to stay on a working tall ship as well as our regular house at Finlaggan. If you’re interested in coming with us, click HERE to find out more, check out comments from those that have been with us and then feel free to get in touch with questions you may have.

…GUIDE TO WHISKY

Have someone in your life that likes whisky but doesn’t know why? Would you like to learn a little more about your favourite tipple in a friendly, informal and cosy environment? Our ‘Whisky Lounge Guide to‘ nights are a brilliant way of brushing up and empowering yourself whilst kicking back with a few drams with one of our team. We have various dates at all our usual venues – the first of which are up on the website and take place in February. Click HERE and look for the ‘Guide’ to find out more.

BURNS(ISH) NIGHTS  

Our legendary and traditional new year tastings are back for 2015! At a venue near you we will be tasting some fantastic whiskies and feeding you with a yummy snack or meal – venue dependent. We may even read a poem or two in honour and remembrance of the Scottish bard – but the emphasis is on the whisky! Prices vary so please check the website. Due to popular demand we have put on further dates so pay attention! Click HERE and look for Burns in the list to find out more…

GIFT VOUCHERS

If you’re simply unsure of what to go for, we also have a our wonderful TWL Gift Vouchers that the recipient can use to buy tickets or products from the website. All you need to do is head over to the shop HERE, choose gift vouchers and add the appropriate number of vouchers to your basket and buy! If you then add the name of the recipient to the order notes on the checkout screen, we can then email you PDFs of the vouchers for you to print and trim and pop in a card. Don’t forget that we can also email PDF tickets for any of the above events to help you create the perfect gift. Add the recipient/s names to the order notes on the checkout screen and we’ll do the rest!

COMPETITION TIME

Very simple one this month as we are so snowed under! All we would like you to do is share and like this newsletter on Facebook – we want more people to know about us! Click HERE to go to our FB page and look out for when this newsletter hits it. We will then enter you in for a prize draw for our extensive stash of whisky-related goodies and cask samples. We are literally clearing up the warehouse in order to start the New Year with a squeaky clean space, so don’t miss out!

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!

That’s it for now, so plenty for you to Mull over (sorry again). No news this month as I’m sure, like us, you are busy enough, but we’ll get back on it next time. We will be in touch again before Xmas but in the meantime, be safe, keep dramming and we hope to see you soon.

Slainte, Eddie, Amanda and Joe The Whisky Lounge Team.