Federal Wines & Spirits

A Precious Scotch to Share and Savor Old Malt Cask Glen Grant 30 Y. O.

Today we offer to you a 30 year old single-malt from The Glen Grant distillery. This single-cask independent bottling is a wonderful dram of which we only have 15 bottles. We feel it will go very fast.

The bottler, Old Malt Cask, is one line of single cask scotch whisky from The Laing family. It is one of many brands from this scotch blending company, which was started in 1948 – 1949 by Fred Douglas Laing and is now run by his two son’s: Fred and Stewart.

Boston has not seen enough from these brands in the past, now their future is looking much brighter with a new importer and wholesaler. We should see many more very good selections from their holdings of single malts and single grain whiskies.

This 30 Y.O. Glen Grant is from a refill sherry cask bottled at the cask strength of 46.9% (with a few drops of water it really opens up). The sherry on the lighter side, and integrates seamlessly with the malt. Very well balanced, it shows wonderful depth. A moorish dram that not enough people will taste.

Below are tasting notes that are on the bottle.

Nose– malty freshness, sweet biscuit(sponge style) with a citric aroma

Palate– smooth, balanced with sweet spices, delicate for it’s age!

Finish– medium long, remains fresh and carries an herbal quality.

Pricing   Reg. $ 264.99 – Sale $234.99

The 2nd Nth Whisky Show in Las Vegas 2012

This is the 2nd. year for this very exclusive festival. This is not your regular whisky show. the Nth is a festival that is looking to showcase some of the most elite whisk(e)y in the world, to those who may want to purchase some of the rarest and most exquisite gems of the whisky world. It may not be a show for all whisky lovers, but if you are thinking of going, I have heard only great things . Although I did not attend last year, this year I will be there!

Let me know if I can help you in any way, we will attach a link to their website here.

Please pass this on to any friends who are Scotch enthusiasts!

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits

——————————————————————

Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/ 

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks ‘Highland Park Thor’

Highland Park Thor  52.1% abv  £111.00 inc vat  £92.50 ex vat 

Highland Park Thor OB 16yo 52.1%alc.

Official blurb:

“This is the very first bottling in the Highland Park Valhalla Collection, a series of four truly elemental whiskies, which draw their influence from the Norse gods themselves.

First up is the mighty hammer-slinging heavyweight himself – Thor. Thor, undoubtedly the most legendary of all the Norse gods, Son of Odin, the ruler of Asgard, was avidly worshipped by Viking warriors as the defender of mankind and gods alike. In fact, it was said that you can see Thor’s handiwork on Orkney, at the roughly hewn cliffs of Yesnaby on the far western shore. An epic piece of stone masonry if ever there was!

Highland Park Thor is a unique single malt, aged for 16 years and bottled the natural strength of 52.1%. Like its namesake, Thor is a meeting point of nature’s forces, exuding a dynamic and bold character on the surface, but with an unexpected softer side at its heart. This limited edition bottling comes housed in a carved wooden frame, which echoes the fearsome contours of a traditional Viking long ship.”

Official Tasting Note:

Appearance:

Rich amber, with an iron ore glow

Nose:

Concentrated and forceful, with an explosion of aromatic smoke, pungent fresh ginger, antique copper, stewed plums, and golden syrup. With water, earthy notes emerge, like a garden after a heavy rain shower.

Palate:

Thor’s high strength grabs the palate and refuses to let go. Initially dry, with fiery gingerbread then vanilla, blackberries, fresh mango, peach and hints of cinnamon. As its big flavours swirl around the mouth, some softer, sweeter notes develop, giving Thor and unexpected layer of complexity and depth.

Finish:

The finish thunders on, leaving behind lingering notes of sweet vanilla and an intense spiciness. For more information about Thor and the rest of The Valhalla Collection (some big surprises are yet to come) head on over to www.whiskyofthegods.com

BenRiach 17yo Peated Septendecim 46%
Colour: Rich summer gold with a freshly harvested barley impression.
Nose: A robust mix of fresh peaty aromas, constructed around a central core of apples and toasted nuts which have been dowsed in wild mountain honey. Full of energy and vibrancy.
Taste: Sweet concentrated peat flavours dominate from the start. Bold and intense. The peaty heart is united with honey-infused raisins, roasted nuts and a luxurious leather impression. Full-bodied with fantastic length. A real heavyweight, which will impart a lasting impression on the palate.

BUY NOW ONLY £47.99

Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins
Nose: Honey, vanilla, chocolate, nougat and toffee in abundance followed by hints of wholesome freshly ground nutmeg.
Palate: Creamy and rich as expected from the nose, with notes of chocolate covered honeycomb mixed with pistachio and crushed almonds. Rich and oily from its maturation in small casks, it gives an impression of bein older than its ten years.
Finish: The ground nutmeg is still evident on the finish but the creaminess outstays the spices to a long smooth and sweet finish. With water this dram develops an even sweeter finish, fruity and sugar candy, it becomes even smoother.

BUY NOW £55

BenRiach Solstice 2 17yo peated/port finish 50% 70cl
Colour: Impressive colour spectrum, showing distinct rose characteristics, with a bright copper crest.
Nose: Fabulous aroma of stewed summer berries including strawberries, blackcurrants and red currants. The berry component is richly locked together by a muscular peaty blast. Latter traces of fortified wine and grape like qualities become apparent.
Taste: Initially dry roasted nutty flavours flow over the palate. This advances to become a heavy peaty affair. Subtle notes of dried raisins and candied fruit. Clean and very enticing with the dominant peat flavours lingering on the palate. Smooth and very long.

BUY NOW ONLY £59.99

NEW YEAR – NEW PRODUCTS
Out with the old (drink it up) and in with the new…Ready for your drinking pleasure!

 
This has been a long but eagerly awaited arrival… but it is here at last. Of the allocation that we received only 3 bottles are left for sale and only one purchase per customer please…

BUY YOURS NOW FOR £175
but be quick…..

Our mailing address is:

T.B.Watson Ltd.
11/17 English Street
Dumfries, Scotland DG1 2BU 

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins’

Springbank OB Rundlets & Kilderkins 49.4%alc.

Distilled November 2001

Bottled January 2012

I love this because of its lack of subtlety, as enjoyable as a Die Hard movie.

A limited release of 9,000 bottles matured in mini-casks formerly described as ‘rundlets’ or ‘kilderkins’. Small casks give more wood in contact with less whisky and so more maturation effect in time.

A lovely deep old-gold in colour (according to our LFW Descriptors mat), it has a witching, dark aroma of sinister things… Thick smoke (dragon breath, coal and tobacco) with tomatoes, cloves and greenhouse elements. It’s woody – new wood, pepper, nutmeg and sandalwood and also estery – oranges and Dundee cake. Lots going on but all quite straightforward.

To taste it’s initially salty and so big flavours result of new cedar wood. It is fizzy and vigorous with no subtlety; a cross between Vinnie Jones and Sid James, with a tad surgical spirit in the swallow.

Water (it’s 49%) reveals more fruit as oranges, solvent as cellophane (that’s a first for me) and distinct medicinal characters but not of the peaty-phenolic sort, more surgical spirits or sour-esters. The harrr filling the mouth after swallowing is like the aftermath of tarry ciggies (Player’s No. 6).

We all enjoy this, it’s defiantly different but still a rich whisky that sherry fans will be happy with.

Difficult to place on the Flavour Map but I’d have it in square I 5 Rich

Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins

Price excluding VAT: £47.08
£56.50 Including VAT at 20%

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

The Claymore Times

~ All The News That’s Fit To Drink ~

1993 Glendullan 43% (LCBO# 266833)

Just released, Speyside malt from Dufftown, a 1993 Glendullan distilled at 43%. Dufftown is known for its distilleries or as they say ‘Rome may be built on seven hills but Dufftown was build upon Seven Stills” Glendullan being the last one built in 1897 with this particular whisky being priced at $85.95 per bottle.

If you want to sample this and other classics, I’ll be hosting a tasting in Whitby later this month, plus Jim McEwan will be in town and I had a lovely wee evening with Simon Brooking (Laphroaig) and Marc Laverdiere (Macallan and Highland Park) see pages 4+5 for more details.

Set in Glen Fiddich – the valley of the deer – Dufftown was founded by the 4th Earl of Fife to provide employment after the Napoleonic Wars. Thanks to its naturally pure water, it soon became the centre of the distilling industry. Today, the town lays claim to the title of “Malt Whisky Capital of the World” and the Glendullan distillery continues to thrive on the original site where it was built in 1897.

Production began in 1898 and in 1902 the Glendullan single malt was supplied by royal request to King Edward VII. In 1972 the distillery was expanded to meet demand, with six stills added.

What’s going on in the area:

The LCBO Scottish whisky extravagance was an excellent night out with Simon Brooking representing Laphroaig and Marc Laverdiere representing Macallan and Highland Park.  Very educational and entertaining, we even got to try the newly released Highland Park THOR and as an extra bonus the Four Seasons Hotel served Haggis, what more could one ask for?

I’ll be hosting a whisky tasting in Whitby at the Dockside Pub on the 21st February at 7:30pm. The dockside is located at 1600 Champlain Av, Whitby, call the Dockside at 905-571-1600 for tickets. There will be a flight of 5 whiskies and owner Rob Schofield will be supplying some Hors d’oeuvres that his master chef has created especially for this evening, should be a fun night and a chance to nose some rare whiskies, tickets are $49 each.  

Neil Middleton and Companions of the Quaich (Niagara on the Lake) are having a whisky tasting on the February 7th with some whiskies that are not available from the LCBO and promises to be an interesting night, contact Neil at 905-468-0802 or email nmiddleton@cogeco.ca for more information.

Stephanie of The Dam Pub is hosting on the 21st of Feb a 3 flight whisky tasting for $25. Time is 7:30 at 53 Bruce Street South, Thornbury, ON 519-599-2110 or email at stephanie@thedampub.ca

Jim McEwan is the guest for an evening of tasting and dinner at The Oakville Club, 56 Water Street on the 24th Feb.  Enjoy an evening of mirth, music and 5 malts with Bruichladdich’s Master Distiller plus a three-course dinner & coffee/tea – Members  $80, Guests  $90.

If your local establishment is planning on hosting an event in the month of February please let us know.

Other Whiskies coming soon

Caperdonich
Aultmore
1997 Dailuaine
 
Sláinte

Bill Somerville
Global Operations Director
Claymore Imports Inc.
EMail:     bill@claymoreimports.ca

Dear Client This month we are proposing eight (8) different OLD MALT CASK bottlings as well as three (3) OLD & RAREs, plus one (1) new DIRECTOR’S CUT and one (1) OLD MALT CASK Cigar Malt. The second bottling of our Mortlach/Laphroaig DOUBLE BARREL will also be released. The first bottling sold out very fast through the latter part of 2011.

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK:

OMC 2140 Caol Ila 15 Year Old Nose: BarBQ’d steaks+ sweet smoky bacon + ash/burnt twigs. Palate: Damp earthy + barley juice …… smoky with more ash – now tar. Finish: Sooty, with sweet tar which runs long. So mellow!(F)

OMC 2142 Glenburgie 16 Year Old Nose: Polished wood & sweet spices – like an old style sweetie shop Palate: Smooth & mellow – softly spiced – runs to a butterscotch style Finish: Long – replicating nose & palate + warming sensations (J)

OMC 2134 Strathisla 16 Year Old Nose: Fresh & clean + a spiced fruit quality + a wooden fruit boxes style Palate: Opens sweetly & softly spiced – runs to honey on buttered toast Finish: Long – still buttery – developing to a sweet oily/waxy character (J)

OMC 2143 Glen Grant 18 Year Old Nose: Light & fresh – sweetly fruited – running to a barley sugar style Palate: Sweet & softly spiced – developing to a fruity wine gum quality Finish: Medium long, still sweet – with vanilla and spicy orange pith (J)

OMC 2132 Laphroaig 18 Year Old Nose: Surprisingly sweet & vanilla’d + waves of smoked ham & ashes Palate: Distinctly Islay with honeyed burnt toast + sweet chimney soot Finish: Sweetly smoked with dry wood fire ashes & soft chewy tar (J)

OMC 2113 Glenlossie 18 Year Old Nose: Light & sweet – carrying a vanilla + home baked character Palate: Clean & fresh with barley sugar + attractively sweet spices Finish: Medium long, still sweet + orange zest coated in milk chocolate (J)

OMC 2147 Benriach 21 Year Old Nose: Fragrantly fruity – subtly spiced,lightly barley’d/lightly oaked. Palate: Dessicatingly citric – gristy + light gingery spices and distinct oak. Finish: More spiced now – soft but warming with late barley sugar (F)

OMC 2139 Macduff 21 Year Old Nose: Fresh & fragrant – a Macedonia of fruit + honey & vanilla Palate: Sweetly spiced + candied fruit + lemon & honey cough drops Finish: Sweet + a citric tang – reminiscent of a lemon meringue pie (J)

Tasting Note for OLD MALT CASK CIGAR MALT follows OMC

2145 Laphroaig 10 Year Old Nose: Sweetly smoked – creosoted + bonfire ashes Palate: Distinctly Islay – smoke + ashes + sweet tar Finish: Long + sweet liquorice & a charred fruit style (J)

Tasting Notes follow here for OLD AND RARE

OAR 0164 Glenrothes 21 Year Old Sherry Big – full of dark fruits and lively spices on the nose initially – it mellows as it warms to tobacco smells and a damp whisky warehouse character. On the palate the Sherry cask influences it early with more (now macerated) fruit – then sweet barley, more tobacco, vanilla and mocha flavours alternately appear. The finish is more vanilla’d now plus late cough drop style warming (now menthol!) spices. (F)

OAR 0148 Laphroaig 25 Year Old Spirited and sweet on the initial nosing – it warms to a more phenolic, oily, then barely sugar style, drifting back to peat. Palatewise it is subtly and sweetly peated – running to camphor laden cough drops with late – very late – tar….. then its finish carries a long, now more iodine and old creosoted beach fence character. (F)

OAR 0154 Glencadam 34 Year Old Sherry The nose opens with a complex mix of aromas ranging from sweet leather and nuts to dried orange peel. The palate is rich, mouth coating and carries an interesting tobacco quality which runs to warm oranges and cloves. The long finish is overall spicy with a hazelnut marzipan character lingering on. (J)

The Tasting Note for DIRECTOR’S CUT is:

DIR 0008 Bunnahabhain 20 Year Old Nose: Fresh & fragrant – sweetly gristed + vanilla tablet & orange blossom Palate Has a distinct spiced fruit character + a sweet, softly oaked quality Finish: Long & spicy – carrying an orange pith and liquorice/cloves style (J)

We believe these are great additions to our ranges – exemplifying the best of young and middle aged/old casks with the best of the best (O&R), but that decision rests with you! We hope to be of assistance to you, and send you our ….. Best wishes

Fred H Laing Managing Director

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Arran 10 Year Old Amarone Finish Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($72.99)

Arran 14 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($69.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Breckenridge Distillery Colorado Bourbon 750ml – 9 available ($42.99)

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

Give in to temptation this Valentine’s Day!

Send a Valentine to yourself and fall in love with some of our dreamy drams.

The February 2012 Outturn is now available at http://www.smws.ca/ (please note:  it is produced as a booklet, so if you’re printing single-sided, it will appear out of order, but the pages are numbered).  And this month sees the release of something entirely new and different from SMWS Canada!

As you know, The Society bottles only single casks, which makes the bottlings limited and rare, so when deciding on what to purchase, it’s always good to have a second choice in mind if you miss out on your first choice. Take heart, though, there are always plenty more terrific bottlings to come!

As for this month, here’s just a sample of what awaits you, so don’t delay – have a love-affair with a great single cask whisky, or if you’re feeling particularly devilish, two…

Cask No 123.07  Unusual and highly enjoyable

10 years old; refill port pipe; 59.6%  $107.99

We encountered a totally magnificent nose – plum jam, toffee crisp, fudge and port wine.  Adding water transformed the palate into a complete joy.

29.104  Not for wee boys

20 years old; refill sherry butt; 58.2%  $154.99

A big nose with lots going on.  Carbolic soap, hot smoked salmon and woody spiciness. The palate was massive with concentrated flavours.
 
It’s never our intention to send unwanted mail. If you’re receiving duplicates or would prefer not to receive Society news, simply let us know.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
104-1240 Kensington Road NW, Suite 160
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3P7
Email – curious@smws.ca

GLEN GRANT 60 YEARS OLD QUEEN ELIZABETH II DIAMOND JUBILEE (1952-2012)

 
A 60 year old malt Single Malt Whisky has been launched today (6th February 2012) in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubillee by one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialist.

Gordon & MacPhail – the Elgin based and family-run Single Malt Whisky specialist – has released only 85 bottles of Glen Grant 60 years old.

On the 6th February 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and became Head of the Commonwealth. Four days earlier on the 2nd February 1952, on the instruction of George Urquhart, two First Fill Sherry Hogsheads – cask numbers 465 and 466 – were filled at Glen Grant and left to quietly mature at the distillery.

Cask 465 was transferred to the Bonded Warehouses of Gordon & MacPhail on 26th March 1968. On the 2nd February 2012, exactly sixty years after the whisky was distilled, the instruction was given to carefully empty cask number 465 and bottle the precious contents at cask strength.

In honour and celebration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, the Directors at Gordon & MacPhail have released just 85 decanters of Glen Grant 60 Years Old.

The single Malt is presented in a pyramid shaped crystal decanter adorned with a diamond shaped stopper. Each decanter is expertly engraved – the script in-filled with silver – and uniquely numbered.

The decanter carries an engraved crown with a sparkling Swarovski crystal, set at the meeting point of the crowns two arches. A silver collar, placed around the neck of the decanter completes the presentation.

The decanter is packaged in a hand-crafted box made of Scottish Elm, felled a short distance from Holyrood House, the Queen’s official Scottish residence. The decanter nestles in the box with luxurious, purple Harris Tweed and a dust jacket made from the same material protects the box an the precious contents.

£7,999.99 inc VAT

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

ARCHIVES First Release Now available at http://shop.whiskybase.com/

GLEN GRANT 1975 Arc 46.6%, 36-year-old , Hogshead #5476, 81 bottles This Glen Grant is the oldest one of the ARCHIVES First Release. There were only 81 bottles left is this hogshead. Maybe the warehouse keepers liked it too? Nose: grand old whisky full of fruit: raspberries, strawberries, prunes, flowers, oak, nutmeg and some cardamom Taste: raspberry cream, ripe banana, honey, bay leaf, liquorice, grapes, lemon grass Finish: red fruit, oak, macarons and a little pepper.

DAILUAINE 1983 Arc 47.3%, 28-year-old , Hogshead #865, 265 bottles Dailuaine is one of main components of Johnnie Walker blends. Sometimes a good cask goes to an independent bottler… Nose: soft citrus with vanilla, caramel, toffee and butter. A bit later fruits like strawberry, apple, cider, plum blossom and mangoes Taste: a sweet mix of buckthorn, grapefruit, marzipan and again the strawberries together with fresh cake Finish: a lingering finish with lemon zest, honey, vanilla with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.

GLEN GARIOCH 1990 Arc 54.0%, 21-year-old , Hogshead #252, 267 bottles A clean and green whisky from a little known distillery in the Eastern Highlands. Nose: green tea, mineral, caramel, fudge, lilly, mead, apricots, cherries Taste: chocolate, sweets, apple, honey, heather, peaches Finish: long, oranges, heather and camphor.

LEDAIG 2004 Arc 61.9%, 7-year-old , Hogshead #900009, 302 bottles This young but powerful whisky comes from the Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull. Nose: flinty, zesty, peaty, very clean, honey, sweet, BBQ smoke Taste: smoky, lemony, grain, wool, ginger, cardamom, butterfudge and salt, easy drinkable for such a strong whisky even without water Finish: peaty, zesty, minty, fresh sea breeze, marmelade.