It is with great pride that Diageo officially unveils the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company – a new project determined to locate lost and forgotten barrels of whiskey from around the world and share them with discerning adult fans. 

The first two variants to be released from the company will include the 20-year-old Barterhouse Whiskey and the 26-year-aged Old Blowhard Whiskey. Barterhouse Whiskey(SRP: $75) stocks were discovered in old warehouses at the famed Stitzel-Weller facility in Louisville, Ky. Rumor has it warehouse workers have already begun lining up for the first taste of this beautiful whiskey with a soft nose reminiscent of warm spice, biscuit and buttercream.  The whiskey’s mellow taste includes notes of roasted grain, charred oak and a brown sugar finish.  

Old Blowhard Whiskey (SRP: $150) was also found at Stitzel-Weller.  At 26-years-old, the whiskey contains exuberant, rich flavors with undertones of smoke and honey followed by a gentle finish – dry and spicy with a hint of orange peel.  Old Blowhard Whiskey is meant to be sipped slowly and best enjoyed among gregarious friends and unyielding debates. 

Both whiskies are hand-bottled with love in Tullahoma, Tenn., and are expected to begin appearing on select shelved throughout the U.S. in March 2014 under strict allocation due to limited supply.

It was a freezing cold night last November when our inaugural Glengoyne live online tasting event took place. Thankfully we were able to warm ourselves up with a dram or three of the finest Glengoyne single cask malts.

Together with Stuart Hendry, Brand Heritage Manager here at Glengoyne, I (Robbie Hughes, distillery manager) opened, sampled and discussed three Glengoyne single casks – and then Family members in attendance online were tasked with choosing just one of them for us to bottle.

The winner was Cask B – a sublime single cask 26yo Glengoyne. And it’s available to order now.

Visit the Glengoyne Online Shop to Buy Now >

Only 339 bottles in existence

This uniquely special Glengoyne comes from a first fill European oak sherry cask and is, I (Robbie Hughes) believe, a must for any Glengoyne drinker or collector. On the nose, chocolates and brambles give way to rum and raisin ice cream and lemon peel. The palate is mouthwatering, with real sweetness on the lips from honey, eucalyptus then oily lemon. The long finish eventually dries. It’s a beautiful Glengoyne to savour. We’ve presented it in a brand new engraved oak display box. The bespoke, heavyweight premium bottle features a unique metal/oak stopper and metal neck tag and seal. The front and back labels bear details of the cask. Priced at £350, bottles are ready to be dispatched. Drawn from a single cask of Glengoyne, there are only 339 bottles available, so once they are gone, they’re gone forever.

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Laphroaig “Càirdeas” Port Wood Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($64.99)
  This is the extremely limited edition Friend’s of Laphroaig bottling for 2013. Last time we got nearly 400 bottles of Cairdeas. This year we will get a fraction of that. So, yeah it’s gonna be hard to get.

United States – Single Malt

• Balcones Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($74.99)

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

FEBRUARY PREVIEWS: A WORK OF ART

Stand back, find the perfect viewing angle and be transported far beyond your screen with these masterpieces. A comforting and familiar kitchen, a pebble beach on Islay or perhaps a workshop where antique mahogany furniture is being restored? Plus – 73.61 ‘A work of art’ is available individually for one week only!

New UK Releases

Spicy & dry

73.61 & 24yo

Refill ex-sherry butt A work of art
We are transported into a joiner’s workshop that specialises in restoring antique mahogany furniture. The aromas filling the air are all very subtle and elegant; oily, waxy and hot melted glue mixed in with a smouldering Cuban cigar and a freshly made sticky toffee pudding…
BUY £92.40

Available as a single bottle for 1 WEEK ONLY!

Sweet, fruity & mellow

121.67 & 13yo

Refill ex-bourbon hogshead Energising and enigmatic
The nose could make the unwary recoil (Tabasco, vinegar, nettles, gloss paint), yet it was also sweetly attractive (sticky dates, fig rolls, Liquorice Allsorts, raisins, toffee). The intense, hot, tasty palate had mouth-gripping oak and black tea tannins, stir-fry sauce and jalapenos but was also surprisingly and satisfyingly sweet…
BUY £47.10

Heavily Peated

53.201

18yo

Refill ex-sherry butt True love on a pebble beach
The nose inspired a picture – boy and girl – pebble beach, bonfire smoking – he cut his hand opening oysters – she applied bandages and iodine from a first aid box; she was wearing powder puff and lavender perfume – he stole a honeyed kiss…
BUY £71.70

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 http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Karuizawa 1984 Sherry Cask #3663

The news: we have a new Karuizawa going up on the website – Karuizawa 1984 Sherry Cask #3663 bottled 2013 at 56.8%. However, we’ve decided that we’re going to do things a little differently with this release… The problem with … Continue reading >>

Cask No. 53.187                             $175 

Simplicity at its best

Islay

We found ourselves on a warm sunny day sitting on the harbour wall with fish & chips for lunch and the fresh aroma of heavily starched white sheets on the washing line is being carried by the sea breeze. The tide is going out and smells of rock pools, mussels and oyster shells are emerging. The taste neat is a fine combination of sweetness and wood smoke, Arbroath smokies being prepared on the beach. With the addition of water we moved from the harbour along the coastline to a peat bog. Briny and salty aromas fill the air as we cut the peat and spread it out across the moor to dry. The taste is now that of smoky bacon, bacon frazzles, honey glazed ham and the minty sweet finish of Mentos.

Drinking tip: As a reward after a hard day’s work

Colour: Chartreuse French liqueur

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 22 years

Date distilled: January 1991

Alcohol: 51.2%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 4.183                               $125

Something for Everyone

Highland, Island

Where do we start – sweet like an apple flan or a Garibaldi biscuit or heather honey, savoury like roasted tomatoes with basil or a Miso soup or Bovril. At the same time briny, smoky, sooty and ashy with perfume notes of exotic cedar. The taste is a mouth-watering mixture of toasted peanuts, treacle tart with clotted cream and a balsamic tahini dressing over a salad with toasted sesame seeds. Water adds maritime aromas of fish boxes, driftwood and seaweed as well as sea salted dark chocolate and berry Pavlova topped with vanilla whipped cream. The taste is now burnt toast with salted butter and marmalade as well as garlic Indian Nan bread.

Drinking tip: Before, during and after a barbeque on the beach

Colour: Red gold

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 13 years

Date distilled: June 2000

Alcohol: 62.1%

USA allocation: 54 bottles

Cask No. 7.89                                 $205

The Perfect Comfort Blanket

Speyside, Lossie

The nose neat is very comforting; bread and butter pudding, plum crumble, dark chocolate with raspberries or bitter orange, caramelised sugar, an empty cigar box and freshly ground coffee. The taste did not disappoint; Peach Melba yoghurt with a sprinkling of white pepper as well as cinnamon and cardamom. Only a drop of water transported us into the kitchen for breakfast; fruit scones, brioche, toast, Golden syrup sponge cake, cocoa powder and fresh fruit salad. The taste is very moist like an apple sponge cake or a peach cobbler with custard and vanilla ice cream. This is a classic example from the distillery that switched from direct coal firing to steam heating as late as 1994.

Drinking tip: On a warm summer’s evening in the garden

Colour: Moroccan gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 27 years

Date distilled: September 1985

Alcohol: 54.1%

USA allocation: 54 bottles

Cask No. 76.105                                     $155

A continuous snow-fall of curiosities

Speyside, Spey

The nose spread a smear of sweetness (Danish pastries, Victoria sponge, Wagon Wheels) textured by a continuous snow-fall of curiosities – aniseed, Kummel, grappa, sandalwood, conifers, grass, leather, raisins, pineapple and sherry – complex and intriguing. Adding water brought out the fruitiness – strawberry, pear, kiwi and tinned fruit cocktail. The palate, though big and hot, had sweet juicy fruits and a succession of mouth-watering flavours – apple skins, blackcurrant Starburst in waxed paper and egg-custard tart. The heat came from ginger, nutmeg and pepper spice, but (especially with water) this was a refreshing, smooth and enjoyable dram from the first of Dufftown’s seven stills.

Drinking tip: To get the juices flowing on a Sunday afternoon

Colour: Hay in the moonlight

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 19 years

Date distilled: May 1993

Alcohol: 59.3%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 77.30                               $95

Attractively accessible and mouth-watering

Highland, Northern

The nose was attractively accessible, with barley sugars, cream soda, fondant sweets, shortbread and pastry with custard – other notes included fresh linen, lemon, pear sorbet, candied angelica, orange zest, flowers and felt-tip pens. Some preferred it with water – tinned fruits in syrup, lime, under-ripe mango, daffodil stems, cream horns and malted cereal. The palate was straightforward and easy-drinking, yet mouth-watering; stewed apples, pears in syrup, vanilla, pineapple tarts, caramelised sugar, hessian and cayenne pepper. The reduced palate was softer and more ‘giving’ – toffee, tablet, rice pudding, apricot jam, tropical fruits and sherbet fizz. The distillery complex includes a substantial maltings.

Drinking tip: Suited to an afternoon in springtime – aperitif perhaps

Colour: Pale yellow

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: April 2003

Alcohol: 61.9%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

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

The last week has been a bit of a blur in the wake of our Burns Supper and Year End Inventory Sale. Our 9th Annual Burns Supper with Peter Currie from Duncan Taylor went off without a hitch. We had a great range of Duncan Taylor whiskies, including the stunning and tropical Black Bull 40 Year ($302.99). We also introduced two new exclusive Duncan Taylor KWM casks due early in the Spring from Mortlach and Deanston, more details below.

We’d also like to thank all of you who checked out our year-end inventory sale this weekend, in store and online. You cleaned us out! We’ll be rebuilding the whisky section over the next few weeks and have a lot of exciting new things on the way, like the Duncan Taylor casks mentioned above.

There are a pair of really exciting events coming up over the next two weeks, beginning with a Compass Box Dinner at Buchanans Chop House on Tuesday February 4 with brand ambassador Chris Maybin. We’ll be sampling a range of 8 Compass Box whiskies including the two new Great King Street Experimental Batches and a very curious new release called, The General. The General $259.99, due this coming Wednesday, is a very old blend made up of whiskies at least 33 years of age (some even older). The dinner includes a three course meal at Buchanans and 8 whiskies for just $90. Frankly it’s a steal.

On Thursday February 13 we have something really exciting in store (no pun intended, it is an offsite event) The Great Macallan Tasting, $225. Two weeks ago a six liter bottle of the Macallan ‘M’ auctioned for charity broke the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold. When the hammer dropped in Hong Kong, the final price was nearly USD$630,000.00. It was a stunning sale, not only because the whisky had no age statement, but also because it can be had in a 700ml bottle for CAD$4,000.00. I was keen on trying the whisky before the auction, now I’m dying to. Curious? You’ll find more details on the Great Macallan Tasting below.

Finally I am gearing up for another year of Ferguson Whisky Tours adventures with a May 11-17 trip to the Speyside and trips to Islay (September) and Kentucky (October) in the works. Send me a note if you’d like some further details. More to come in the next Malt Messenger and shortly on www.fergusonwhiskytours.com.

Hopefully we’ve peaked your curiosity, and we’ll see you at one of these great events. There are some tasting notes below for a few new whiskies as well and some details on a few others. Until next time, I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin.

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 .

Compass Box Dinner with Chris Maybin

Tuesday February 4, 7PM, at Buchanan’s Chop House, $90

Join us at Buchanan’s Chophouse 738 3 Avenue SW, Tuesday February 4, for a whisky dinner/tasting with Chris Maybin, Brand Ambassador for Compass Box Whisky. This boutique blending firm has made a name for itself over the last decade as the first boutique blender of Scotch whisky. Small though they may be, they’ve almost singlehandedly reinvigorated the Blended Scotch whisky category. We’ll be sampling a number of new limited edition releases including the 10th Anniversary Peat Monster special release, two experimental batches of the Great King Street Blend, an exciting new release called “The General”, a blend consisting of whiskies more than 33 years old! In all we’ll sample 8 Compass Box Whiskies while exploring the brand and enjoying a three course meal. 8 whiskies and a three course meal at Buchanans for just $90!

For more information or to register call 403-283-8000 or visit our website: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php.

The Great Macallan Tasting Featuring ‘M’

Your chance to taste the world’s most expensive whisky! February 13, $225

I’d only just seen the news online when a reporter from CBC called me for my thoughts on a bottle of Macallan which had sold at auction for $630,000.00, a new record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold had just been set. I was then and still am a little baffled, because the sale, the proceeds of which went to charity, was a stupendous sum to pay for a whisky with no age statement. The Scotch in question was a 6L version of the Macallan ‘M’ (CAD$3,800.00), the pinnacle whisky of the distillery’s new 1824 Series, all of whose whiskies are without age statements. 1750 of the regular 700-750ml Lalique Crystal Decanters were distributed around the world, including a couple of dozen for Canada. Four six liter Imperial Decanters were also produced, with one going to a private buyer in China, the distillery keeping two for themselves and the fourth put up for auction. The Macallan Brand is the darling of whisky collectors, especially on the super-premium end, but the sale price still caught everyone, including yours truly by surprise.

A little over 5 years ago Kensington Wine Market conducted out first Ancient Malts tasting at KWM with a bottle of the Macallan 50 Year Lalique, the first whisky in a collaborative series of six bottlings with the world famous crystal producer. I opened the whisky on air for the CBC, I was stunned. The following two nights I poured it for 40+ customers at two sold out KWM tastings, it was a hit! The whisky was stunning, and was the oldest and most expensive bottle we had ever opened. So when I heard about the new offering Macallan ‘M’ I knew we had to open one, there would have to be another tasting. I was intrigued by it, sure there was no age statement, but this was clearly rare old whisky. Could it be the successor to the 50 Year?

Kensington Wine Market will be opening the Macallan ‘M’ $3,800.00 (or $630K if you want a large format bottle…) at the Grand Macallan Tasting on Thursday February 13 at the Southern Alberta Pioneers Hall, 3625 4th Street SW. We also be sampling the 1824 Series: Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby as well as a couple of other Macallans to round things out. $225 is a small price to pay for a night of good company, and a chance to taste the world’s most expensive whisky.

Call 403-283-8000 to buy a ticket or do so online at: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php  .

Taking Pre-Orders: New KWM Duncan Taylor Casks

Mortlach 1995 18 Year & Deanston 1994 19 Year
Duncan Taylor has one of the largest privately held collections of Scotch whisky casks in the world. A couple of years ago they launched their innovative and trademarked Octave Program which finishes whiskies in 1/8th size custom sherry casks. These small casks kick the maturation process into overdrive as there a great ratio of surface are to liquid giving more opportunity for interaction. Kensington Wine Market has selected two Octaves to be bottled exclusively for our store, launching them at our Robbie Burns Supper on January 25th in Calgary with brand ambassador Peter Currie. The whiskies will be available from the store in May or June. We are accepting pre-orders on these small casks.

1. Duncan Taylor Mortlach 1995 KWM Octave – 18 Year – 55.4% – My Tasting Note: Nose: meaty like a good Mortlach should be right off the bat; dark fruits, earthy leather and tobacco over a backbone of honey and vanilla; notes of coffee bean and cinnamon stick and cardamom emerge later; Palate: round, fruity, spicy and syrupy; classic Christmas cake and candied fruit notes right off the bat with treacle sauce and maple syrup; layers of chocolate, tobacco and leather develop with dark spices like anise, clove and fennel; Finish: long, fruity and sweet with more Christmas cake and maple syrup and a final flourish of candied fennel. – $169.99 Estimated Retail Price
2. Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 KWM Octave – 19 Year – 54.7% – My Tasting Note: Nose: “fresh, creamy and fruity with malt and round oak; some nice weight with notes of melons, Creme Anglaise, candied fruits, orange rind and some growing hints of spice; Palate: rich, creamy and layered with lots of tingling spice; the fruits and creamy oak come rapidly to the fore with the malt and spices coming in the second wave; lots of different fruits from soft melons to orange rinds and candied cherries; candied ginger and Cinnamon hearts add a layer of decadent spice; Finish: long, lingering and coating with toasty oak spices and clean earthy oak lingering long while the fruits and cream fade. – $174.99 Estimated Retail Price

A few new drams to tickle your taste buds!

We have four exciting new whiskies from Compass Box in stock or due this coming Wednesday and a trio of new whiskies from a new independent bottler: First Editions. I’ve also included a tasting note on the new Talisker 57 North and Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3 is flying out the door just as its predecessors did. It is a great whisky at a great price, but not for long… The price on this whisky will be going up by about $20 to reflect international demand for it and the reality of a falling Canadian dollar. It will still be a great buy at around $105, but it is a steal while it lasts at $83.99!

1. Compass Box Great King Street Experimental Batch 1 – 43% – The Sherried Blend consisting of 28% Lowland Grain and 72% Malt mainly from the Highlands and Speyside with a trace amount from Islay. – Only 120 bottles have come to Canada! – $39.99
2. Compass Box Great King Street Experimental Batch 2 – 43% – The Peaty Blend consisting of 33% Lowland Grain Whisky and 67% Islay Malt – Only 120 bottles have come to Canada! – $39.99
3. Compass Box Peat Monster 10th Anniversary – 48.9% – The limited edition release exclusive to KWM consists of a blend of malts from Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Clynelish and a few other distilleries, mainly matured in new American oak with about 2% finished in new French oak. – $99.99
4. Compass Box The General – 53.4% – Exclusive to KWM in Calgary – Only 48 Bottles Available with nearly half spoken for. – The General is a blend of two whiskies which were long ago independently blended, married and forgotten in the cask. The youngest whiskies in the blend are 33 years of age! – $259.99

 
5. First Edition Glen Scotia 1991 – 59.6% – 22 Year – Refill Barrel – My Tasting Note: Nose: creamy and fruity, with soft caramel and a hint of salt; vanilla pods and Demerara sugars; Palate: big and spicy with loads of rich toasty oak, white peachy fruits, a hint of clean smoke and salty caramel; there is a hint of something vaguely tarry which along with spices gives some edge to the otherwise very creamy malt; Finish: lots of layers, toasty oak and more clean salty smoke with caramel.” – $141.49
6. First Edition Littlemill 1988 – 55.8% – 24 Year – Refill Hogshead – Exclusive to KWM – My Tasting Note: Nose: “floral and creamy, peaches and apricots with white grapes; the white fruit really starts to come out with apples and pear; Palate: floral and decadent with lots of sugars and some firm toasty oak; French style crepes with powdered sugar and lemon juice; melon, pineapple and some other tropical notes; Finish: long and creamy with lots of soft vanilla, more trop fruits and long lingering floral tones.” – $189.99
7. First Edition Miltonduff 1995 – 58.3% – 18 Year – Refill Hogshead – My Tasting Note: Nose: “raisins and coconut shavings and Scottish cranachan; mango and papaya with some toffee cake and chewy malt; Palate: round and malty with some lovely American oak notes: vanilla, coconut and toasty honey; both white and light tropical fruit notes with some grassy malt; Finish: long, malty and honeyed with some drying toasted oak and more coconut.” – $141.99
8. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3 – 54.9% – No Age Statement – Oloroso & PX Sherry – My Tasting Note: “Nose: firm leather, chocolate orange, candied fruits and treacle sauce; Palate: rich, fruity and layered with some late spices; it gently warms the palate with notes of candied fruits, leather and some earthy spices; Finish: long, rich, fruity and sweet with tingling-drying spice.” – $83.99
9. Talisker 57 North – 57% – Originally Duty Free Only – Only 168 bottles came to Alberta – My Tasting Note: “Nose: lovely layers of oily peat, clean salty smoke and hot peppery spices; waxed citrus fruits and floral heather honey; Palate: round and fruity with more oily peat oils, citrussy fruits and a backbone of floral honey; white chocolate sauce, decadent hot spice and some growing dark salty smoke; Finish: long, coating and rich with the soft peat oils, floral honey and spices going the distance.” – $159.99

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

Macallan 42 Year Old 1969 Decanter | incl. tax: £12,000.00

Duncan Taylor Rarest is a collection of single cask whiskies no longer widely available, bottled at natural cask strength and unfettered by chilled-filtration. Carefully selected from the company’s coveted reserves, Duncan Taylor Rarest delivers unparalleled levels of luxury and refinements. Rarest Macallan 1969, the series inaugural release, is presented in a decanter of exquisite crystal, intricately engraved and adorned with hand cut silver. Bringing its 42 years journey full circle, Rarest Macallan 1969 is housed in an elegant display case, honed by our cabinet maker from the very cask that matured it to perfection. Generations of passion, knowledge and craftsmanship drive Duncan Taylor Scotch whisky today. Duncan Taylor Rarest is the culmination of the company’s vision; to provide the most authentic Scotch whisky without compromise…

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop wishes everyone a ‘Happy Burns Day’.

Wait. What is ‘Burns Day’?
Burns Day is a celebration of the life of Robert Burns, author of many Scotish poems. Celebrations usually consist of suppers held on or near the poet’s birthday, January 25th, a.k.a. Robert Burns Day. Burns Day ‘suppers’ typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish celebrated by Burns in ‘Address to a Haggis’), Scotch whisky, and the recitation of Burns’s poetry. Some formal dinners are hosted by organizations such as Burns clubs, the Freemasons, or St Andrews Societies. (With Thanks to Wikipedia) To be more blunt – “Auld Lang Syne” – the song your sing on New Year’s Eve but don’t quite understand…He wrote that.

While we may not be eating Haggis tomorrow, we thought we’d use Burns Day as an excuse to tell you about some bottles at the ‘Shop’ that would be great for your celebration.

Cheers!
Jonathan & Eric
Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442

www.parkaveliquor.com
info@parkaveliquor.com

The Rumor Still. The Park Avenue Liquor Shop’s Exclusive bottling of Kilchoman is almost at an end. There are less than 20 bottles left of this single cask beauty. Quick notes = Bourbon Cask – non-chill filtered. Color: Pale Straw. Nose: Strong peaty aromas, pear drops, citrus and hints of mango. Palate: sweetness then peat smoke and mixed fruits. Finish is long, clean and refreshing leaving hints of peat smoke and cloves.
Our price: $91/btl

Park Ave Liquor Exclusive. 2007 Single Cask. 4yr old, 124.6 proof

Glenmorangie: Companta
(Private Edition)

Inspired by Dr Bill’s travels across France’s greatest vineyards and the friends made along the way, Glenmorangie Companta (Scots Gaelic for ‘friendship’) is a refined balance between bold spice and rich, smooth sweetness; the result of a careful assemblage of spirit extra matured in Grand Cru casks from Clos de Tart and those of a lusciously sweet fortified wine from Côtes du Rhône.

Aroma
On the nose, Companta exudes rich, ‘autumnal’ scents of red berries and damp forest floors, with a hint of fragrant woodsmoke complementing notes of aromatic, nutty oak.
Taste
Upon tasting, a spicy palate redolent of cherries and stewed fruits is slowly revealed, as notes of sugared plums, blood orange and rose-hip syrup emerge alongside milk chocolate and brown sugar.

Our price: $130/btl
NOTE: This bottle is not yet available via our website.
Please call for availability.

Oban: 21 Year Old

A limited edition Oban, part of Diageo’s 2013 Special Releases. One of the most highly sought after bottlings from this year’s selection, this natural cask strength Highland single malt was matured in rejuvenated American Oak and second-fill ex-Bodega casks. Only 2,860 numbered bottles were made available. Our allocation is extremely limited.

Nose: Honey and a briney note that becomes akin to pickled courgette, moving into spicy caramel.
Palate: Fresh with light toffee and fruit throughout. Crushed sea salt. Ends on refreshing cucumber.
Finish: Drying with creamy roast chestnuts and oats.
(With Thanks to Masters of Malt)
Our price: $500/btl

Kilkerran: ‘Work in Progress’
Sherry Wood

Recently awarded ‘Lowlands/Campbeltown Single Malt of the Year’ by Whisky advocate.
The 5th in the Kilkerran Work in Progress series (distilled at Glengyle distillery in Campbeltown) is a sherry wood matured dram, which has picked up some nice color and flavor over its years in wood.
Nose: Rich and buttery, with brown sugar and cakespice. The waxiness found in the bourbon cask is also here, along with some honeysuckle, but they’re overpowered by fruit – sultanas and stewed apple.
Palate: Oily and sweet, with more stewed apple and some charcoal touches. Floral touches and raisins sit behind the apple, along with some tingly cinnamon. It almost gets soapy, but stops just before it gets there.
Finish: Dark, woody spice lingers, along with some char, turning towards Digestive biscuits over time.
Our price: $70/btl

Glengoyne: 18 Year Old

Spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. This is the result of 18 long years and a generous proportion of first-fill sherry casks.

Nose:
Awash with red apple, ripe melon and fresh banana. Heavenly and well rounded, it drifts into hot porridge topped with brown sugar.
Initial taste:
Full bodied, round and rich. At first macerated fruits, marzipan and walnuts; then warm spices, dry cocoa and lingering Seville marmalade.
Finish:
Long, warm and dry.

Our price: $140/btl

Please contact the store with any questions. Due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Not responsible for typographical errors. The Park Avenue Liquor Shop does not endorse the eating of Haggis. We just mentioned it because it is part of the tradition of ‘Burns Day’. So…that’s up to you.

As Scotland celebrates the life and works of Rabbie Burns this week, we’ve released two brand new – never seen before in the UK – bottlings to toast the bard! Plus, we’ve used our poetic license to bring you some inspired pairings to explore…

New UK Releases

Sweet, fruity & mellow

59.44 Mountain days and fun on the beach
30th Anniversary Label!
BUY £137.20

Spicy & sweet

71.39 Sweetness gently tickled by oak
BUY £108.80

Poetic License Pairings

“A Man’s a Man for A’ That” Pair

Rich or poor, islander or mainlander, malt or grain: Rabbie thinks it’s not your origins that determine your worth: compare these very different drams and decide for yourself…

4.181 A muscle man from Orkney
&
G4.6 Ray Mear’s digestif

BUY £117.30

“A Red, Red Rose” Pair

We dedicate a love poem to three beloved – metaphorical – women evoked by the floral aromas in these beauties…

35.90 A blonde in an Afghan coat
&
125.68 A tale of two ladies

BUY £126.90

“All the World’s a Stage” Pair

Make the world a smaller place and explore it a sip at a time with these two island drams: they’re poles apart…

R5.2 To life, love and loot
&
53.200 A day at the beach

 BUY£118.80

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 http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video