Malt Messenger Bulletin – The Ardbeg Tractour & KWM’s Summer Tasting Schedule

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

Summer is here, the days are long, and as the song says, the living is easy. Take advantage of those longer days to check out some of our new summer tastings, just posted online today! The theme is “Quickies and Afternoon Delights”, and these fun 1 hour tastings (starting at 6PM) will get you in and out in enough time for dinner or drinks on the patio. Pop in on your way home from work or before heading out on the town. We have a wide range of wine, whisky, beer and cocktail classes with which to delight you. More details below and on our tasting registration page.

One of the most exciting events coming up in the next few months is the visit of the Ardbeg Tractour to Calgary. The Gateway to the Rockies is the only stop in Canada for this marvel of farming machinery, and it will be parked out in front of Kensington Wine Market on Friday July 11 while two back to back Ardbeg Master Classes hosted by Ruaraidh McIntyre take place in side. The tastings are a bargain at just $20, and will take place from 5-7 and 7-8PM. More details below and on our tasting registration page.

One of the most exciting new whiskies to come into KWM recently is the Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1994. Very few bottlings are seen from this elusive Speyside distillery, and this one caught our attention when it scored 96.5pts in the Whisky Bible. It is a KWM exclusive and sells for the very reasonable $115. More details on the Glentauchers can be found below, drop in for a sample!

Finally, Glenfarclas’ long awaited 60 Year Old whisky is to be launched in Canada this fall, and is available for special order. It is expected to retail at $22,000.00. Details on the whisky can be found below. Anyone looking for a bottle before Christmas needs to special order it by Thursday July 3rd, 2014. Pricing in Alberta is very competitive with the Global list.

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and I hope we’ll see you in store at one of our exciting new tastings.

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

Our Summer Tasting Schedule is Open for Registraion!

Tantalize Your Taste Buds!

Drop in to the store, call 403-283-8000, or better yet register online for our summer tastings!

The Ardbeg Tractour is Coming!

And Calgary is its only stop in Canada!

Just in time for the Calgary Stampede, the Ardbeg Tractor is coming to Calgary, and specifically to the Kensington Wine Market, North America’s first Ardbeg Embassy. The Ardbeg Tractor will be parked out in front of Kensington Wine Market on Friday July 11 to give our customers a chance to see it and sample some whisky. We have two back to back Ardbeg Master Classes (5-6 and 7-8PM), to be hosted by Ruaraidh McIntyre. These tastings will feature 5 Ardbeg expressions including Galileo and the new Auriverdes for the bargain price of just $20. Call the store to register, or Register Online.

On Saturday July 12 the Ardbeg Tractor is rolling into the National on 10th Ave (341 10th Avenue SW) for an event from 3 to 7PM. The complimentary event (RSVP to katy@bondpr.ca) will give guest the opportunity to sample Ardbeg-inspired appetizers and complimentary Ardbeg cocktails created by National’s mixologists Stephen Phipps and Alex Newman.

Whisky of the Summer? Drop in and sample Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1994 and decide for yourself!

Exclusive to KWM, 96.5pts Whisky Bible!

Glentauchers distillery was built in 1898 at the height of what became known as a the Pattison Whisky Crash, the devasting bursting of a late 19th century industry bubble. Unlike many of the distilleries founded around that time it survived and has been in production for the most part ever since. From the bottler: ” The Glentauchers Distillery Company started as a joint venture between James Buchanan, the creator of the “Black & White” and “Buchanan” blends and WP Lowrie. The distillery was designed by local architect John Alcock.”

The distillery is currently owned by Pernod Ricard, and there are virtually no official bottlings. The closest thing available are those released by Gordon & MacPhail, such as this 1994 vintage which scored 96.5pts in the last edition of the Whisky Bible. On a recent visit to Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin, Scotland, I had a chance to sample it. My tasting note from that visit is below. The whisky is available exclusively from KWM in Alberta, and is a lovely summer dram!

G&M Glentauchers 1994 – 43% – Refill Sherry Butts & Recharred American Oak Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: melons, pinapple and kiwi fruit; lots of honey, beeswax and citrus, subtle honey and soft floral tones; Palate: creamy, honeyed and still floral with smooth decadent oak and gentle spices; more melon and pineapple with a building creamy oakyness; Finish: long, clean and sweet, still fruity, soft and decadent.” – $114.99

Glenfarclas 60 Year 1954

Pre-Order by Thursday July 3rd

If the price of the whisky has caught you off guard, you can console yourself in the knowledge it could have been much higher. Demand for this highly collectible whisky was such that one Asian market apparently tried to buy it all and was prepared to pay to do so. Glenfarclas is a global brand, and they weren’t prepared to see it all go to one jurisdiction. Of the 360 bottles produced, 13 are slated to come to Canada. KWM is offering the whisky at pre-order price of $22,000.00, which is quite competitive considering the distillery is projecting a Global list price of more than $26,000.00 (£14,500.00).

Please find below the distillery’s press release. If you would like to order a bottle please contact us ASAP! From the Distillery:

“Ballindalloch, 6th of May 2014

J & G Grant launch 60 Year Old Glenfarclas

J & G Grant are delighted to announce the launch of a new 60 Year Old Glenfarclas. Only 360 bottles of this incredibly desira ble, rare single malt whisky will be produced offering a unique opportunity to acquire one of the oldest bottles ever released by this iconic family owned distillery.

Officially launched on the 3rd of April 2014 at the Nth Whisky Show in Las Vegas by George Grant, Glenfarclas’ Sales Director and 6th generation of the family, it will be rolled out across other key markets over the coming months.

George Grant says, ‘At a time when more and more distilleries are going down the no age statement route for their super premium products, we are delighted to be able to release this magnificent 60 year old Glenfarclas. My grandfather started laying down stocks for the future way back in the 50s, so it is thanks to his incredible foresight that we are able to bottle this today. I’m sure he would have been as impressed by it as I am.

Matured in a first fill sherry butt, it has an incredibly dark, rich mahogany colour. It is surprisingly vibrant with lots of dried fruits, demerara sugar and spice coming through on the nose as well as the rich, oaky tannins that one would expect from a whisky of this venerable age. The sherry influence really comes through on the palate, with rich treacle, bitter coffee and espresso notes all making an appearance. The finish is the longest I have ever experienced – 20 minutes later you will still be able to taste the subtle nuances of this incredible dram.’

The long family history and heritage is reflected in the packaging; a bespoke cut crystal decanter mirrors the shape of the classic Glenfarclas bottle while each side of the hexagonal presentation box represents one of the 6 generations of the Grant family to own and manage the distillery since 1865.

This is a truly exceptional bottle that will be sure to delight whisky aficionados around the globe. It is expected to retail for around £14,500.00.”

To pre-order a bottle send reply to this email or order it through our website!

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

William Grant’s Rare Cask Reserves
Now available to order – £250 

On 10th March this year whisky writer and historian Charlie Maclean, Darren Leitch and Scott Dunn of The Whisky Shop accompanied two W Club members to hand select three incredible whiskies to be bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop. 

A truly rare and unique combination of some of the finest whiskies available from the William Grant’s rare cask reserves were selected and blended. The pack includes a blended malt scotch whisky, a blended Scotch whisky and a blended grain whisky. All bottled at 47% volume.

Click here to learn more about their fantastic journey in the latest edition of our Whiskeria magazine.

‘Master blenders’ for the day with one of the chosen casks.

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky over 25 years old
Bottled at 47%Vol 35cl
Deep amber. Slight nose prickle, but generally nose cooling. A light mossy note to start, with some baked apple and burnt toffee. With a little water, it still remains dense, then comes an artificial lavender scent. The taste is sweet then dry and slightly bitter, with a surprising spiciness; with water the taste is less sweet/dry, with a very light smokiness in the finish.

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky over 25 years old
Bottled at 47%Vol 35cl
Full gold in colour, with bigger body than most grain whiskies. A sweet, lightly cereal nose (vanilla sponge), faintly herbaceous, and even lighter with water, with a hint of oaky spice. A sweet, cooling mouthfeel, then drying; a light sweetness, with violets, then a tart oakiness; still some spice (nutmeg, white pepper).

Blended Scotch Whisky over 25 years old
Bottled at 47%Vol 35cl
This incredible whisky has been blended using some of the finest whiskies not only from William Grant’s own distilleries but also from key distilleries in the Highlands and on Islay.
Deep amber colour, and a relatively gentle nose-feel. The nose clearly indicates American oak – sawdust, oak shavings, bourbon. Behind this, fresh red apples, with a touch of cinnamon, and buttery vanilla sponge. A pleasant texture and a sweet taste to start (with clover flowers), becoming drier, with oak notes in the middle.

Tasting notes by Charlie Maclean

Simply click here to purchase this stunning set of whiskies

Lismore
a refreshing value in quality single-malts

Lismore is an independent bottler of single-malts from Speyside. Today I present two bottlings: Lismore 15 year old and Lismore 18 year old. That’s all I really know, and beyond it I can only speculate. Since they are single-malts we know that the contents of each bottle came from a single distillery, but I don’t even know if they both came from the same distillery (I think not). There is no explanation of how this bottler came to acquire these casks (there rarely is), but again I have my theories.

What I do know is that I have tasted them and they are both very nice. Finding a nice single-malt isn’t hard of course, it’s finding one at a great price that is increasingly challenging. Now and then, little mystery can be a price worth paying for such extraordinary value. Wherever these Lismores come from, the whisky is a real treat, and deals like this don’t last long.

Lismore 15 year old 40% The color of a 15 year old copper still. The nose is majestic, elegant, and living up to all expectations. Heather honey tones and orange peel are topped with a drizzle of maple syrup. $54.99

Lismore 18 year old 40% Smooth, polished oak appearance. Sherried aroma with light cinnamon undertones. Notes of toffee, butterscotch and cotton candy. $74.99

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits
Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: 617-367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

We have a new collection of Small Batch Gold Label single cask offerings for you this month.

The small batch gold Label range will be a limited offering due to the smaller casks used to age this range or the amount those greedy old angels take as a share of the amber liquid, distribution is always a one off delivery so if you want one it’s best to get ordering soon.

First off we have a rather rare vintage from Glenlossie distillery, Aged a full 48 years in an ex bourbon cask distilled way back in 1966 only 168 bottles in the world from this cask so it’s first come first served on the last 3 bottles with one bottle per customer to make things a fair as possible.

Others to look out for in this range are Glen Keith 29 years old in refill bourbon cask only 108 bottles in the world, once again age has not diminished this great dram from the Glen Keith distillery and finally from this month’s rare vintages we have an amazingly rich Glenlivet 25 year old, while it’s a bourbon oak cask take a look at the tasting notes and see if like ourselves it reminds you of one of those Sherrywood tastings? Only 252 bottles world wide.

Glenlossie-Glenlivet Distillery 1966 48 Year Old – 70cl / 43.5%

Nose: Sweet juicy old school whisky. A touch of wood smoke and then some peaches in syrup, pears, mangoes and apricots

Palate: Soft fruitiness, faint trace of smoke, dried banana flakes and then more juicy fruits.

Finish: Lingering soft smoke intertwined with touches of cream and lashings of tropical fruits.

Glen Keith Distillery 29 Year Old 1985 – 70cl / 47.5%

Nose: Sweet juicy fruits, quite tropical, lime leaf, mango and soft notes of ginger.

Palate: Very creamy, lots of syrupy fruit notes with a trace of oakiness.

Finish: Light and refreshing. Some citrus oils and bursts of honeycomb.

Glenlivet (Minmore) Distillerty 25 Year Old (Sherrywood) – 70cl / 54.5%

Nose: Blackcurrants and black cherries, quite creamy, toffee apples and a touch of cinnamon.

Palate: More red fruits, raspberry jam, a touch of white pepper and a hint of aniseed and caramel.

Finish: Honey, a touch of orange and then some malt loaf before the darker fruits return.

Jura 10 Year Old
40%abv

£30.95

Off the west coast of Scotland lies a magical island of soft sea breezes, freshly caught lobster and a bank that comes once a week. As good as life used to be. One shop, one pub, one community. One fine malt whisky distillery. A gift from nature. Pure spring water, clean fresh air and generations of tradition quietly crafting a more delicate island malt. Colour – Deep amber gold. Nose – Light, rich and aromatic. Positive and firm. Silky, almondy wood notes. Palate – Firm, distinguished, elegant tones. A fruity oiliness with just a hint of smoke gently enriches the palate.

Jura 16 Year Old
40%abv
£44.95

For sixteen years in beachside warehouses, the gentle sea breezes have combined to make a whisky that truly expresses the magic of the island. A great age to drink Jura according to the locals. The rich colour of golden sun rays combine with a taste of strong butter notes, tinged with oranges and spices, leaving a sweet toffee and honey finish. Taste the best of island life. Visit the island, meet the people, explore the past. Colour – Glassy golden highlights. Nose – Full and rich. Each aroma beautifully structured to reveal harmony at its best. Silk and honey with a hint of ginger spice encompass this floral bouquet. Palate – Soft peaches and honey with a hint of citrus and marzipan will slowly arise, yet the backbone of its heritage continues to ebb away on the aftertaste, leaving the palate rewarded and satisfied.

Jura Superstition
45%abv
£39.50

The people of Jura are superstitious. From the prophecy of the one-eyed Campbell to an aversion to cutting peat before May, age-old island beliefs resonate to this day. Drawing on Jura’s finest older malts and spring-peated younger whiskies, Jura Superstition is a tribute to the people, the traditions and the mystical heritage that make Jura island life unique. Colour – Deep intense mahogany with glittering sun rays. Nose – Firm and positive, yet forcibly mellow. Strong accents of phenolic aromas. Rich, sensual nuances of honey and marzipan. Palate – Spice, honey, pine and peat aromas make a dramatic impact, the long years in oak casks have tempered and tamed this mystic spirit creating a long, lingering and tantalising aftertaste.

Jura Prophecy
46%abv
£54

A new addition to the Jura line-up, Prophecy is a robustly peated Jura. A limited release (labelled as Limited Annual Release Year 1), it is bottled at 46% ABV, without chill-filtration. A vatting of several vintages, the oldest whisky was distilled in 1989. Having tasted Jura Prophecy a few days ago, we think it might well surprise a few Islay loving peat-heads. As one would expect with any Jura whisky, it is supple and round in texture. On both the nose and the palate it is noticeably peaty, with bonfire notes, liquorice and spicy sea spray. A big step up from the more commercial Jura Superstition, this is a real surprise and definitely worth investigating.

Late June 2014 Outturn Offerings 

Cask No. 7.94                 $205 

Silk Sarong Seduction  

Speyside, Lossie 

Caramels swimming in the foam of a chocolate porter; apricot liqueur spilled on a ballroom floor; a leather purse, tanned with Burgundy and sultriness, left on a barstool. The mouth is a silk sarong of smuggled rum and toasted acorns held in the arms of a woman with perfume dabbed on her wrists. A little water gives us her mouth, shaped like a fresh fig, after she’s washed down almond macaroons and orange fudge with cola gone flat on the site of an old chapel in Elgin. Finishing with betel nuts wrapped in honeyed firefly wings for sweetness and light. 

Drinking tip: Anniversary dinner: after the cake, before the kiss 

Colour: Amber glinting in sunlight 

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 27 years

Date distilled: September 1985

Alcohol: 55.6%

USA allocation: 120 bottles 

Cask No. 29.146                     $150 

Bright and uplifting 

Islay 

Burning heather, smouldering logs and toffee rolled in ash – something medicinal (Germolene, First Aid box) oyster shells, cigar box, glazed gammon with clove, sweet and sour pork with fried rice and increasing peat smoke – that was the nose; somehow bright and uplifting. The palate was ashy, smoky and earthy, with wild mushrooms, soy sauce, prawn toast, gammon and pineapple and tasty spices (cardamom, toasted coriander seeds, chilli). Water opened up the floral side of the nose (rose petals); the palate also developed some perfume – marshmallows, fruity bubble-gum and gin and tonic with cucumber. Friends of this distillery have a square foot. 

Drinking tip: To evoke memories of beach bonfires on Islay – or to accompany a Chinese takeaway 

Colour: Polished beech

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 18 years

Date distilled: April 1995

Alcohol: 58.1%

USA allocation: 96 bottles

Cask No. 39.92                               $180 

Dessert Wine and Smoking Jacket 

Speyside, Lossie 

Like well-aged Sauternes this complex whisky displays a nose of honey covered toast , chocolate with dapples of coconut and strawberry. The taste delivered a decadent American Breakfast; crispy bacon, pancakes and maple syrup.  The addition of water created the notion of supper as scents of grilled pork chop were followed by Eton Mess. Aromas of toasted cedar wood were interspersed with ginger. The palette offered the panel darkly roasted coffee, ginger cake and brown sugar coated peach all consumed within a draughtsman’s office. A decadent offering from this Elgin distillery. 

Drinking tip: Cigar in hand and nose upturned 

Colour: Golden syrup

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 23 years

Date distilled: October 1990

Alcohol: 49.5%

USA allocation: 72 bottles 

Cask No. 100.10                             $90 

Spritzy and tasty with a bitter twist 

Speyside, Deveron 

The nose commenced with spirity pear, apple and wood shavings; then sweetness emerged – vanilla, Rice Krispies squares, strawberry Angel Delight, barley sugars and Edinburgh Rock; tea leaves and tobacco later. The palate had pepper, horseradish and wasabi heat, but was tasty (sugared almonds, Cadbury’s mini eggs, red apple, sweet citrus) with an attractive bitter twist (tonic, fruit skins, perfume spray, oak). The reduced nose was more accessible, if little changed (rhubarb and custard sweets, grass, sherbet straws). The palate now settled to peeled twigs, lychees, sherbet lemons, purple fruit pastilles and some spritzy effervescence. This distillery once had a whisky fountain. 

Drinking tip: Could be a palate cleanser or an aperitif 

Colour: Sandy ocean bed

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 8 years

Date distilled: February 2005

Alcohol: 60.3%

USA allocation: 120 bottles 

 Cask No. 121.67                             $125 

Energising and enigmatic 

Highland, Island 

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 (sticky toffee pudding, chocolate, runny honey, raspberry ripple). The reduced nose was interesting, energising and enigmatic – putty, waxed jackets and sanded wood, but with comforting kitchen smells (apple crumble, shortbread, lemon sponge). The palate continued lively and tasty – orange peel, lemon meringue pie dusted with pepper and crystallized ginger. Arran’s only distillery. 

Drinking tip: A stimulating dram – to spark up the old grey matter when faculties are flagging 

Colour: Oiled pine

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 13 years

Date distilled: December 1999

Alcohol: 58.1%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

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

We are coming to the end of our month celebrating all that is Jura here at Milroy’s of Soho. Whilst we have been enthusing about the sweet and delicate Jura 10 Year Old; the rich and full bodied 16 Year Old; and the smoky and peaty Prophecy bottling; we have decided to end with a cheer to the limited edition Tastival bottling.

Released initially for the Jura stretch of this year’s Feis Isle celebrations, the Jura Tastival aims to capture the imagination of the drinker. This whisky with not one, not two, but seven cask finishes, encourages the drinker to write their own tasting notes on the back of the bottle. The launch of this Island single malt will culminate with the official tasting notes being revealed in August.

Jura Tastival – 44% ABV – £84.95 – Buy Here.

*TWO COMPLEMENTARY JURA GLASSES WITH EVERY JURA PURCHASE!!!*

IF YOU DON’T BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET…

 HIGHLAND PARK 1997 £39.95

PORT CHARLOTTE 2002 £67.95

ISLE OF JURA 1990 £79.95

… nobody else will! We are delighted with our latest exclusive own label bottlings. All of them are drawn from a single cask (so in limited supply) bottled unchillfiltered at 46% (except for the Jura at 51.1%) and have been quality control tested and fully approved by RMW staff! The Port Charlotte which has been 100% matured in a rum barrel and the cask strength 23 year old Jura are the stand out bottlings, which we are quietly confident will sell out swiftly. In addition to these two gems, we also have a Blair Athol, a Bunnahabhain and a Highland Park. Each bottling represents the distillery of it’s origin in a exceptionally positive light. We dare say that the relevant distillery owners might even regret selling some of these casks on once they try them!

FOR ALL GENERAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL: 0131 524 9380

or email: contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

Royal Mile Whiskies
Whisky Magazine’s ‘Retailer of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011’

New Elements Of Islay – Billy Abbott edition!

The Elements of Islay range of whiskies is one that’s very close to my heart. While it’s bottled by our sister company, Speciality Drinks Ltd, the TWE Blog team often help out when putting together a new release. The first whisky I helped select after starting work in the drinks industry was Kh1, a surprisingly hard choice between three excellent cask samples, and the Elements have stuck with me ever since. From Kh1 onwards, I’ve at least had a taste of the new releases before they’ve hit the shelves, and have offered up my palate to help choose casks and decide which whiskies to vat together for the various releases. However, the latest batch are a bit more special to me than the previous ones – these have my name on the bottle.

The Elements are a range of whiskies whose labels tell you very little about what’s in the bottle. There’s no age statement, no cask number(s) and, most importantly, no distillery name. There is a code, which is fairly easy to work out, but the whiskies are put together to show off some great flavours without the preconceptions you might otherwise get from the label.

Annoyingly for Speciality Drinks, buying Islay whisky has become increasingly difficult over the years, with many distilleries stopping sales back in the early 2000s. Fortunately, they started stocking up before then, and there’s still at least a few years’ worth of releases to come.

Each time a batch of Elements of Islay bottlings is put together, Speciality Drinks approaches someone associated with the world of whisky to taste and approve the whisky in the bottles, and have their name on the label. They started with Charlie Maclean, the current king of whisky writers, and have since had luminaries from across the industry: writers Dom Roskrow and Ingvar Ronde, Islay super-fan Gordon Homer, collector Hideo Yamaoka and, for the last release, my colleague Ollie Chilton, who now looks after the Elements range.

I helped out with the selection of the whiskies this time – a hard task that involved accepting glasses pushed into my hand by Ollie, and offering up opinions on the liquid therein. Afternoons were spent blending various casks to find a mix that was better than the sum of its parts; single casks were compared and contrasted; judgements were made as to whether whiskies would get better with more time in the cask. At the end of the process, with four whiskies selected and ready to go, I was asked if I’d be the one to approve the drams this time and have my signature on the label.

I obviously said yes.

This latest release definitely tends towards the heavier and smokier end of the Islay spectrum. There’s nothing light and grassy or even delicately peaty this time, although there is a spot of Br4 and some Bw1 left if you’re looking for something along those lines. This release is about powerful flavours and the more traditional distillery characters.

One thing to note, before I drop in some tasting notes: I can’t give out much information on these whiskies other than what’s on the bottle. There are two reasons behind this:

1. It’s part of the ideology of the range. We have selected single casks and small vattings of whiskies to show off what we consider to be the best that the distillery can produce. That can be along the same lines as official releases, or something totally different, but in the end we just focus on flavour and character.

2. I don’t know much about them other than what they taste like – the focus when creating the whiskies was the flavour and character, and that’s what I had to hand about each whisky when tasting them.

Ar4, 58.1%. £89.95

There’s not much whisky from Ar floating around, other than the casks hidden in their warehouses, and it’s been hard to get hold of for a while. Fortunately, Speciality Drinks have some squirreled away and we had a few samples to choose between for this release. After Ar3′s sherry-heavy approach, to the point of being a bit much for me (despite my love of the combination of peat and sherry), this one goes for a much cleaner and more traditional take on the distillery’s character:

Nose: Earthy and sweet – peat fires and barley sugar. Behind that is spiced vanilla sauce and brioche, with leafy notes and touches of smoky bacon.
Palate: Softer than expected from the nose at first, but still solidly smoky. However, intensity builds, with lemon zest and vanilla accompanied by growing medicinal peat and charcoal. Remains quite sweet, with barley sugar notes balancing the bitter char, and touches of aniseed and cinnamon developing.
Finish: Long and sweet, with anise, liquorice and menthol, although lighter than that might sound and quite sharp. Some darker notes develop as it fades.
Comment: A great example of whisky from the distillery as well as being a bit different. Powerfully flavoured but easy drinking and with a great finish.

Bn6, 56.9%. £49.95

Again, this one is a departure from previous releases from Bn, and looks very much towards the distillery’s usual style. Rather than big peat and bourbon casks, as several of the previous releases in the range have veered towards, this is all about sherry and spirit character.

Nose: Dark dried fruit to start – sweet and spicy. Some more tropical touches develop: dried mango, papaya and pineapple kubes. Spiced fruit loaf (lightly toasted), orange zest and a hint of cocoa appear later on. Surprisingly light and zesty, although with a solid sherried weight behind.
Palate: Sweet and buttery to start: Eccles cakes, Victoria sponge with raisins. Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut, liquorice touches and some developing leafy notes.
Finish: Lingering spice and damp oak, with burnt raisins, a touch of apple and some dark liquorice as it fades.
Comment: Well-balanced sherry influence gives some intense and dark flavours, while allowing some of the fruity nature of the spirit to shine through.

Cl6, 61.2%. £59.95

The folks at Speciality Drinks really like whisky from Cl, and over the years we have spent a lot of time blending and tasting whisky from the distillery. A few years ago, we helped put together a release for a different range of whiskies in the Speciality Drinks portfolio, and in the process of doing so came across a few excellent casks that we put to one side for later use – Cl6 is from one of those special ones. There’s not much of it, as the cask wasn’t particularly full, but it’s probably my favourite of this release.

Nose: White toast, apple jam and freshly cut ferns. Pine needles and subdued pine smoke sit underneath with barley sugar and rich-but-thin caramel. Some minerality develops – granite and flint – along with mulchy leaves. It’s quite fragrant, with the darker notes propping up the lighter elements.
Palate: Powerful. There is some heat from the high ABV, but above that floats delicate flavours: white chocolate, honeysuckle, sweet apple and white grapes. Underneath there are darker notes, with dark chocolate, charcoal, liquorice and burned-meat umami. Water simplifies things, helping the flavours to integrate, although at the cost of the more subtle notes.
Finish: Soft and very long: green plum, green wood, cinnamon, hot chocolate and chocolate cookies, with a hint of cherry menthol.
Comment: Subtle, despite its high ABV, and as long as you can get past the strength, it’s very rewarding. Fortunately, it also takes water well, becoming much more approachable for those times when you don’t want to think too hard.

Lp5, 52.4%. £69.95

Again, a return to distillery form for this one. It’s not sherried, unlike previous batches, and it doesn’t go towards a far-out flavour profile – it’s a classic, sweet and fruity example of whisky from the distillery. It’s from a small batch of casks, bottled after being selected in a blind tasting.

Nose: Sweet smoke and classic medicinal touches: fresh bandages, sea spray and ozone. Aniseed balls sit up front, with richer flavours behind – Victoria sponge and digestive biscuits.
Palate: Big mineral hit to start, with cracked granite and seaside rock pools. Sharp peat smoke comes in, with sweet earth and touches of sweet-cure bacon. It’s quite intense, with developing aniseed, darker grainy notes and touches of Fisherman’s Friends. Water dims the spiciness and dials up the sweetness, while maintaining the smoke and sharp edges.
Finish: Salty liquorice, damp earth and mouth-drying smoke.
Comment: Classic, focused and intense. One for lovers of old-school medicinal peat.

Work is already in progress to select the next whiskies to bottle in the range. A few promising cask samples have appeared and more are on the way down from Scotland as I type. Even though it’ll be someone else’s name on the bottle next time, I’ll still keep a watchful eye on the process. Watch this space.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – New Elements Of Islay – Billy Abbott edition!

FAIRGROUND THRILLS: THE BIG DIPPER

An adventure unlike any other: get ready to experience spikes of adrenaline and intenstine-twisting thrills, we’re dipping the prices on our summer selection of fairground flavours. Hold on tight for a white-knuckle ride – thrill-seekers can enjoy a 20% saving on these Panel-picked bottlings. Leave behind your everyday world and go head-first into flavour… enter ‘BIGDIPPER’ at our online checkout.

Be first in the queue, this fairground attraction ends Thu 26 June

Sweet, fruity & mellow

94.4 Ode to Autumn
WAS £92.40 BUY £73.92

Browse more old & dignified sale bottles HERE

Spicy & sweet

72.35 Pink Grapefruit Granita
WAS £110.30 BUY £88.24

Browse more spicy & sweet sale bottles HERE

Spicy & dry

28.24 Curiouser and curiouser
WAS £82.80 BUY £68.64

Deep, rich & dried fruits

9.76 Out of Africa
WAS £92.40 BUY £73.92

Old & dignified

35.101 Oh How Joyfully
WAS £280.00 BUY £224.00

Browse more old & dignified sale bottles HERE

Light & delicate

7.96 Subtle quality in a lady’s handbag
WAS £85.30 BUY  £68.24

Browse more light & delicate sale bottles HERE

Juicy, oak & vanilla

64.51 Tuck-time in a stately home
WAS £87.20 BUY £69.76

Lightly peated

44.59 Lime marinated grilled chicken
WAS £87.20 BUY £69.76

Something different: Grain Whisky

G4.5 Sweet and Spicy
WAS £83.10 BUY £66.48

Browse SALE

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