News

Arran Sauternes Wood Finish at The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News

Arran Sauternes Wood Finish Description

After initially maturing in traditional oak casks for approximately 8 years, The Arran Single Malt in this bottling has been finished in a selection of Sauternes wine casks sourced from an artisan producer of this iconic Bordeaux sweet white wine. The Master Distiller, James MacTaggart, has carefully monitored this period of secondary maturation to ensure the perfect balance is struck between the Sauternes casks and the intrinsic sweet-fruity character of The Arran Malt. The end result is a Single Malt full of charm, complexity and quality.

Arran Sauternes £46.74 →

Last Call: In-Stock K&L Exclusives – Scotch Whisky News

Last Call: In-Stock K&L Exclusives

For those that don’t want to wait for next year’s container, there are some stunning renditions that are now in stock but will not be long for our shelves. Two brilliant buys are Linkwood’s 18 Year Old and GlenAllachie’s 19 Year Old. They deliver the complexity and age statement of many peers that sell for multiples of the price. We also adore Dailuaine’s 10 Year Old, a sherry cask that delivers the goods at just under $55.

2010 Dailuaine 10 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $54.99 View

This first Scotch container of 2021 sees a trio of exceptional 10-12-year-old sherry aged malts. Sherried Dailuaine has been a fan favorite at K&L for years and we’ve sold 16 different bottlings over the last decade. Given the long-standing relationship many of our customers have with these bottlings, we don’t foresee this being around long. A classic Diageo distillery—Dailuaine has a sizable capacity upwards of 5 million liters a year—yet is rarely seen as an official release. Stylistically it sits somewhere between Clynelish and Blair Athol and shows both a waxy character associated with the former and an inherent sherriness associated with the later. This makes it a perfect candidate to stand up to a big ol’ sherry butt in just a matter of 10 years. The price to quality ratio makes it one of the best deals of the year

2002 Linkwood 18 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

The splendid Linkwood Distillery is truly the unsung hero of the Diageo portfolio. While we wonder desperately why they won’t bother to sell it regularly as a single malt, we’re constantly reminded that the core blends represent the vast majority of their profits and this is such a crucial element in those products that risking their integrity by marketing a single malt version is not good business. We luckily have access to the occasional barrel from our sources in Scotland and we rarely say no to Linkwood. The distillery was founded in 1821, but didn’t start production until 1825. In 1971 a second distillery was built and operated on the same site and dubbed Linkwood “B”. The two distilleries operated concurrently until the late ’80s when one or both were mothballed, but by the early ’90s they were each running again. Both operated via steam heat together and had a capacity of close to 2.5 million gallons per year. It seems that both distilleries continue to operate in tandem, with a total of 6 stills (3 wash and 3 spirit). Expect the classic Linkwood character, full of fruit, pure maltiness and the tiniest tingle of peat. Drops of licorice, heather, honey, citrus are welcome. At full strength it’s great, but could still stand to have a drop or two of nice spring water added to open up the rich inviting aromas of this special malt. An exceptional value and safe bet for that pure Speyside character. *Originally sold incorrectly as “Old Malt Cask.” Same cask, different label*

1995 GlenAllachie 19 Year Old “Hart Brothers Finest Collection” Single American Oak Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $109.99 View

The Hart family have been licensed victuallers and publicans in Paisley on the outskirts of Glasgow since the 18th century, but it was in 1964 that brothers Iain & Donald Hart incorporated the company as Wine & Spirit Wholesalers and Scotch Whisky Blenders. Alistair Hart, who still selects casks for this special line today, came on as Chief Blender in 1975. His charge at the time was to secure and select the finest casks of single malt that were not readily available to the market. Their commitment to excellence is second to none in the industry and they’ve built a reputation for acquiring high quality stocks and bottling exceptional single casks. The wonderful Glenallachie distillery has come into focus after its recent sale to industry veteran Billy Walker. This lovely cask was bottled in 2015 before the change in ownership without chillfilteration or coloring at a cask strength of 56.7%. This is listed as aged for 19 years in American oak, but there are obvious sherry flavors here. A gorgeous chestnut color with a nose of dark cocoa, medium roast arabica, bright stone fruit and mint. A powerful palate of spicy oak, dark red fruit and a slight nuttiness. Definitely on the drier side of sherried ‘allachie, but overtly delightful and an absolutely exceptional price point for the quality and rarity of barrels this age. Only 180 bottles available of this excellent cask.

Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice K&L Exclusive Scapa Cask #1098 – Scotch Whisky News

2000 Scapa 20 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #1098 Single Refill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Orkney Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $179.99 View

Distilled May 2nd, 2000 and bottled on November 30th, 2020 at 56.2% ABV. Scapa is Orkney’s “other distillery,” sitting just half a mile south of its famous neighbor, but it deserves to be recognized in its own right as one of Scotland’s great malts. An unusual still setup, water source, and island environs lend Scapa its unique character. The wash still is a Lomond still—one of only a handful of functional Lomond stills in Scotland. The spirit still is a more traditional onion bulb still. Unpeated and laden with Scapa’s signature honey flavors, this choice cask from Gordon & MacPhail is a treasure to behold. Aged in a refill sherry hogshead the whisky is rich with warm spices, chocolate, cooked fruits and salted nuts. Sweet marzipan, piquant black pepper, citrus peel and cherry compote dance across the palate. A finish of honey, apple pie, and sweet oak round out the whisky.

Malt Messenger Bulletin – The KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar Early Bird Pricing Ends in 48 Hours! – Whisky News

Malt Messenger Bulletin

We have been taking pre-orders for the KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar for a little over a week, and it is already more than 3/5 sold out… It might help that we are offering our most generous early bird offer ever. If you purchase the Pre-Pay Early Bird option, by end of day September 22nd, you will save $60 on the KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar. On September 23 the price will increase to $435+gst.

We will be revealing the design of our 2021 Whisky Calendar in a week or so.

We also have a new Glenfarclas Family Cask offer, including 18 new single casks. We weren’t expecting a release this year, so this is a pleasant surprise. And there is another Glenfarclas expected soon, the Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary bottling!

I also have included info on some up-coming virtual tastings, and there are also another half dozen tasting notes I’ve managed to write up over the last few days.

As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, comments, or requests.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

 

GLENFARCLAS FAMILY CASK OFFER 2021

At long last we have a new Glenfarclas Family Cask offer, and it includes 18 new “Summer 2021” bottlings. Vintages 2005 and 2006 have been bottled for the first time as Family Casks. I’ve done a little digging on them and the vintages I’m most curious about are 2004, 2001, 1996, 1992 and 1991…

Please see the PDF linked below for pricing.

ETA is Winter/Spring 2022.

Dowload the Glenfarclas Family Cask List

If you would like to order any of the vintages please advise me by email, by Friday, September 24.

COMING SOON:

GLENFARCLAS 185th ANNIVERSARY

To celebrate their 185th Anniversary, the Glenfarclas Distillery has created a special multi-vintage bottling, just as they did for their 175th Anniversary. Only 6000 bottles have been released globally, bottled at 46%. It has an 88.8pt score on Whisky Base!

Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary – 46% – Producer Description: “To mark the occasion, Callum Fraser (Distillery Manager) and Douglas Belford (Managing Director) were given the enviable task of going out in to the warehouses to hunt for casks from across the decades that they felt best represented our 185 year history. This was a long process, but after almost 2 years of adding a few casks at a time, they are more than delighted with the final result. This well layered dram with a phenomenal finish showcases the true Glenfarclas character. It was bottled at 46% and will be available soon from specialist whisky shops via our network of international distributors.” – $170 – Limit 1 Per Customer!

Early Bird Pricing on the KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar Ends in 48 Hours!

“25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky”, aka the KWM Whisky Calendar is back for the 8th straight year. Once again the calendar will have a fresh new look, which we will be revealing in late September. This year’s calendar includes 24 50ml premium whiskies, a custom logo Glencairn glass, and a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky for Christmas Day. You can follow along on the KWM Blog starting December 1, or one of our various social media channels, as we introduce and discuss each day’s whisky. And there is more…

Last year, inspired by Covid and the rise of Zoom events, we held 5 Whisky Calendar Recap Tastings throughout the month of December. They were such a big hit that we knew we’d have to bring them back again this year. Accordingly, we will hold tastings for participants in this year’s Calendar on December 5, 10, 15, 20, and after Christmas on 29th. Each of them will cover the 5 prior day’s whiskies in the Calendar.

The whiskies this year include 3 KWM exclusive casks, a number of whiskies in their 20s, and more than a dozen distilleries and producers never before featured in any of our prior Whisky Calendars. We also worked hard to keep the pricing as reasonable as we possibly could this year, which wasn’t easy. Prices have been rising across the board, and supply chain issues have affected everything from the availability of glass and cardboard to delays in shipping and bottling. Never the less we are confident that we have put together another amazing product this year, and we know you are going to love it!

Best of all, if you select the pre-pay pre-order option, you will save $60. This option was very popular last year, and completely sold out 2020’s original production in just 2 weeks!

We anticipate the KWM 2021 Whisky Advent Calendars should be ready for pick up in early November. That is, as long as everything goes as planned (which, in the Covid Era, you can never be 100% sure of). But we’ve planned accordingly, and ordered early from all of our suppliers!

Two Options to Order the KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar

  1. Pre-Pay Early Bird Special Offer– Select this option if you wish to save $60 on the regular price of $435, by prepaying now in full (please note this cannot be combined with other offers or discounts). You will be charged $375+gst when we receive your order. This offer will expire at 11:59:59PM on September 22nd.
  2. Pay Later Pre-Order– If you want to reserve a KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar and pay thefull price of $435+gst later, please select this option to submit your order, and you will not be charged until a few days before it is ready for pick-up.

UP-COMING VIRTUAL WHISKY TASTINGS


Adelphi & Ardnamurchan with Connal Mackenzie

·     Date: Friday, September 24

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $55

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

·     Only 12 spots left!

Adelphi Distillery Sales Director Connal Mackenzie will be our guest as we sample a range of whiskies from Adelphi Distillery Ltd. We have five independent bottlings from their Adelphi range, including bottlings of BenRiach, Breath of Speyside, Caol Ila, Glenborrodale, and Springbank. We also have a pair of single malts, from Adelphi’s Ardnamurchan Distillery to sample, including a peated single cask. We held back stock of all of these releases, so participants will get first crack at the bottles! 5 PM, Friday, September 24.

Independent’s Day: Boutique-y Whisky with Dave Worthington Round 1

·     Date: Saturday, September 25

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $80

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

·     Only 6 spots left!

We’ve just received a boatload of exciting new whiskies from the That Boutique-y Whisky Company, so we’ve cajoled our friend and Boutique-y Global Brand Ambassador Dave Worthington into joining us for a couple of tastings. Dave always puts on a good show, and just might be joined by Sam Simmons, aka Dr. Whisky… we never can be sure! Round I will include a mature range of malts including a closed distillery bottling. Specifically: Ben Nevis 22 Year, Caperdonich 22 Year, Glengoyne 19 Year, Inchgower 14 Year, Inchmurrin 20 Year, Irish Single Malt #1 14 Year and Tobermory 24 Year. 5 PM, Saturday, September 25


Bourbon: Learning About New Riff

·     Date: Tuesday, September 28

·     Time: 6 PM

·     Cost: $30

·     Pick-Up Date: Target September 17

New Riff is coming to Kensington Wine Market (virtually)! We can finally showcase this Newport, Kentucky Distillery that has a big focus on Bottled in Bond and Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye Whiskey. Join Evan and special guest Jay Erisman – Distiller at New Riff – for an online guided tour through 6 samples of New Riff Bourbon and Rye Whiskey.

*Please note that this stating starts at 6 PM Calgary Time instead of our usual tasting time to accommodate our special guest, who will be joining us virtually from Kentucky.*

Independent’s Day: Feis Ile Take 2

·     Date: Thursday, September 30

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $100

·     Pick-Up Date: Available now!

Our last virtual Feis Ile tasting in the Spring/Summer was a bit of a fiasco… we had to postpone it for months due to global shipping problems. And in the end, we were never able to feature a couple of the whiskies we had hoped to showcase. So we’re doing it again, but we’re taking our range up a notch. On the tasting docket this time: Boutique-y Bunnahabhain 14 Year, Boutique-y Bruichladdich 27 Year, Grace Ile 25 Year, Peat’s Beast PX, Peat’s Beast 27 Year, Signatory Caol Ila 2010 & Signatory Unnamed 1992 Islay Single Malt. 8 PM, Thursday, September 30.

SMWS October 2021 Virtual Outturn – 10th Anniversary Edition

  • Date: Wednesday, October 6
  • Time:8 PM
  • Cost: $40
  • Pick-Up Date:Available September 20

It is hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since we helped launch the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Canada. Over the last decade, the Society has released over 800 whiskies to its Canadian members, and we’ve hosted well over 200 Outturn tastings at KWM. It has been quite a ride, to say the least… We hope you’ll join us for the Society’s 10th Anniversary Outturn tasting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 8 PM. As always your purchase limit is 2.We will sample 7 new releases, including a special bottling. *Tasting samples will be available for pick-up on Monday, September 20.


Independent’s Day: Boutique-y Whisky with Dave Worthington Round 2

·     Date: Friday, October 15

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $65

·     Pick-Up Date: Available now!

·     Only 8 spots left!

We’ve just received a boatload of exciting new whiskies from the That Boutique-y Whisky Company, so we’ve cajoled our friend and Boutique-y Global Brand Ambassador Dave Worthington into joining us for a couple of tastings. Dave always puts on a good show, and just might be joined by Sam Simmons, aka Dr. Whisky… we never can be sure! Round 2 will include a pair of teaspooned “Blended Malts” believed to be 25-year-old Balvenie and 24-year-old Glen Scotia. In addition to that we’ll sample Bunnahabhain 10 Year, Glen Elgin 22 Year, Glen Garioch 29 Year, Tobermory 12 Year and an unnamed 10 Year Islay Single Malt. 5 PM, Friday, October 15


Wine vs Whisky with Abi & Evan

·     Date: Friday, October 22

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $55

·     Pick-Up Date: Day of the tasting! Friday, October 22

Abi knows Wine.

Evan knows Whisky.

What would happen if they switched roles?

For this tasting, Evan will select and talk about samples of wine while Abi will take charge on the whisky side, choosing three samples as well. Worlds will collide on this wine and whisky tasting. Which choices will come on top?

Included in the tasting kit:

– 3x 1.7 oz / 50 ml samples of wine

– 3x 0.5 oz / 15 ml samples of whisky

– A few small Halloween-themed snacks for pairing.

This offers enough of a sample size for all the singles out there. Those of you making a date night out of it might want to purchase two kits.

*Because the wine is a bit more perishable than the whisky, we will not be pouring it into sample bottles until the day of the tasting. Samples will not be ready for pickup until the day of the tasting*

Cooper’s Choice Curiosities

Date: Tuesday, October 26

Time:8 PM

Cost: $40

Pick-Up Date:Available September 14

Having recently received a curious parcel of bottlings from Cooper’s Choice, we knew we’d have to build a tasting around them. For one, there are a pair of Secret bottlings, one each from the Lowlands and Islay, and the Ileach is believed to come from a distillery that rhymes with Lardbeg! Also from the Lowlands, a region we rarely talk about, there is the first bottling we’ve ever seen from the new (established 2015) InchDairnie Distillery… and adding to the intrigue it is a peated Lowland single malt! We’ll also be sampling a 25 year old Old Rhosdhu, an intriguing Blended Malt, a Caol Ila and a late teens Ardmore. Expectations are high for this rag tag bag of drams! 8PM Tuesday October, 26.

Rare Malts: Single Casks & Small Batch Bottlings

Date: Tuesday, November 2

Time:8 PM

Cost: $60

Pick-Up Date: September 15

The allure of this tasting should be almost self-explanatory… It is a range of Rare and Limited Edition malts, that we are dying to share with you. We will be sampling the Daftmill 2009, Ardnamurchan Paul Lanois, Compass Box Menagerie, and Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak as well as three brand spanking new KWM exclusive casks from Berry Bros. & Rudd: Orkney 2003 (Highland Park), Blended Malt 1999 (who knows what this is… and who cares? it’s awesome!), and Tormore 1995. None of the whiskies in this range have ever appeared in a prior KWM tasting, save perhaps the Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak, and I’d wager it’s been at least 10-12 years since we’ve cracked a bottle of that! 8PM Tuesday, November 2.

The Ultimate Bunnahabhain Tasting 271 Years

Date: Thursday, November 25

Time:8 PM

Cost: $300

Pick-Up Date:Available September 24

A few of our team here, independently noted that we have a lot of old Bunnahabhains right now, and I mean a lot. There are the 43 and 44-year-old Director’s Special bottlings, 40 and 42-year-old Signatory Vintage bottlings and the Port Askaig 45 Year (also a Bunna) is returning this Fall. Add to that a Boutique-y Bunnahabhain 27 Year and a Bunnahabhain 30 Year OB I tucked away for a tasting, because there wasn’t enough to sell, and we had 271 years of Bunnahabhain just begging to be tasted… we couldn’t let this opportunity slip by without having an Ultimate Bunnahabhain Tasting! 8 PM, Thursday, November 25.

The Kinship Collection 2020 – 178 Years

Date: Tuesday, November 30

Time:8 PM

Cost: $200

Pick-Up Date:Available September 30

It is likely someone will eventually purchase a full set of the Kinship Collection 2020 from us… but we won’t be selling two! That’s because one of those sets is going to get cracked for a tasting. How can it not?! The set is comprised of a 28-year-old Ardbeg and 30-year-old whiskies from Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Highland Park and Laphroaig. In all, it is 178 years of Islay malts & Highland Park. Reviews of the range are not so shabby either, averaging 90+pts on Whisky Base.

MY TASTING NOTES:

ON SOME RECENT NEW ARRIVALS

A lot of the old and rare whiskies we get in need a bit of extra love, and deserve bespoke tasting notes written by what I hope is seen as a trusted source… me! Here are my own thoughts on a half dozen recent arrivals, all of them lovely in their own unique ways!

Compass Box Menagerie – 46% – Predominantly Mortlach (42.7%) with Deanston, Glen Elgin, Laphroaig & Highland Malt Blended Malt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, fruity and spicy with a hint of smoke; perfumed floral top notes; a faint meatiness with leather and waxy tones; baked apple, poached pear, and over-ripe banana. Palate: soft and fruity with chewy malt that melts into silky oak tones; a touch of subtle ashy peat upfront before the fruits take over; more baked white fruits, uber ripe banana, apricot jam, and marmalade; the oak adds waxy-honey, soft leather, and decadent spices; late earthy tones, chocolate, and darker fruits. Finish: soft, elegant and complex; cream, fruits, and clean smoke… then more fruits. Comment: a very pretty dram from start to finish, this is another fine example of Compass Box’s mastery of Whisky Making! – $155 

Grace Ile 25 Year – 48% – American Oak – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, fruity and floral with clean smoke; clotted cream, salted caramel, and seaweed wafers; ashy peat, seaweed crisps, langoustines dipped in butter and seared scallops; moving into melons, apricot jam, and Strawberry Twizzlers. Palate: soft, creamy and floral with ashy smoke; lush with more clotted cream and salted caramel, but also creme brule and dulce de leche; chewy malt, toasted almonds, and toasted oak; a burst of citrus with melons and apricot jam; faintly medicinal with more seaweed crisps, langoustines, and scallops. Finish: long, coating, creamy and medicinal with soft fruits, toasted oak, and spice; warming and lush with layers. Comment: this is a lovely older Ileach with fading medicinal peat, soft fruits, and chewy malt; based on the profile, I’d guess Laphroaig.” – $550

Signatory Caol Ila 2010 – 58.9% – 10 Year – Refill Sherry Butt #316650 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: thick, oily and peaty with chewy malt, earthy dunnage tones and beef jerky; figs, dates and stewed prunes; dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco. Palate: big and oily, woof… it starts big and only gets bigger; maple syrup, treacle sauce and Dutch licorice; chewy malt, dark bakers chocolate firm leather and fruity tobacco; more dried dark fruits and teriyaki beef jerky; coal smoke and a touch of gunpowder; medicinal with bacon-wrapped scallops. Finish: long, coating, and fruity with loads of dried fruits and Dutch licorice; oily and medicinal. Comment: classic sherried Caol Ila, this is a muscular dram loaded with chocolate, leather, spice and medicinal tones.” – $215

Signatory Caperdonich 2000 – 56.4% – 20 Year – Hogshead #29481 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: fruity and nutty with soft toasted oak; coconut icing, creme brule, and marzipan; bright citrus fruits and peaches n’ cream. Palate: nutty and toasty with decadent spices and soft fruit; the oak is dominating the palate, but in the best possible way; more creme brule, coconut icing, and marzipan; silky with Demerara sugars, candied nuts, and decadent spices; pecan pie; on the fruit side of things more citrus, apricot jam and canned peaches. Finish: warming and spicy with more creamy oak tones, decadent deserts and bright fruits; the finish is on the short side of things, but leaves you wanting more. Comment: decadent and very drinkable with a nice complexity; this is without question the best priced Caperdonich we have at the moment; an increasingly rare whisky, from a closed distillery! – $535

Signatory 30th Annv Glenlivet 1973 43.1% – 45 Year – a Sherry Hogshead & a Sherry Butt – My Tasting Note: “Nose: hot damn… this is something; antique-y; swirling old Armagnac in a brandy sifter while sitting in a leather armchair in an oak-paneled cigar lounge; fruity pipe tobacco, strawberries dipped in dark chocolate and maraschino cherries; syrupy and then into the tropical fruits: mango, papaya, and guava; rosewater. Palate: big, rich and deep… oh boy this is good; super old-school, more Armagnac, leather, tobacco, and polished oak; maple syrup, chocolate fudge, and quince paste; then we step into the tropical fruits again mango, papaya, and guava… a bit of Kiwi too; the spices build along with a waft of cool mint and something reminiscent of old Jamaican rum; sweet funk and more rosewater. Finish: long, layered and elegant; waves of Armagnac, fruit, chocolate, tobacco, and more. Comment: surprisingly balanced at 45 years of age, with a good synergy between the nose and palate; while I’m not suggesting this is the General or the Black Bowmore, it is trending in that direction… superb stuff!” – $2400

Signatory Jura 1992 – 52.2% – 29 Year – Bourbon Barrel (#2495) – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeyed and floral with a waxy tone and dried fruits; honeydew melons, dried apricot, and dehydrated apple slices; dunnage warehouse notes; a touch cheesy, powdered sugar, and French bakery aromas. Palate: silky delivery into more French bakery tones, dried fruits, and dunnage warehouse notes; aged cheddar on oatcakes with chutney; more dried apricot and dehydrated apple slices with barley sugars and building decadent spice; floral and waxy with powdered sugar on pain au chocolate. Finish: floral, toasty, and fruity with firm decadent spices; long and warming. Comment: this is a lush, floral and fruity Jura with a pleasant cheesy funk; thinking long ferms before a long oxidative maturation; good recipe for success that! – $515

CURBSIDE PICKUP

Physical distancing is made easy with curbside pickup. Order online or by phone, wait for confirmation your order is ready then call us when you are out front.

FREE DELIVERY

We are proud to offer Free City Wide Delivery on all orders over $100 Monday-Friday! Orders under $100 are subject to a flat rate $10 deliver fee. We are expecting high demand for delivery after the sale so please be patient!

403-283-8000

Store Hours

Mon – Wed 10AM – 8PM

Thurs & Fri 10AM – 9PM

Sat 10AM – 8 PM

Sun 11PM to 6PM

*All Prices Quoted here are subject to change and do not include GST. In the case of pricing discrepancies, the price at our point of sale will be taken as correct.*

An Embarrassment of Riches: The State of American Whiskey – K&L California Exclusives – American Whiskey News

An Embarrassment of Riches: The State of American Whiskey

The American whiskey renaissance is still hurtling forward at full steam and shows no signs of slowing down. Just a few short years ago, there were three distinct categories in American Whiskey. The big boys (stalwart producers who were pumping out large quantities of excellent quality hooch), the outsourcers (those who were sourcing well-aged but often overlooked stocks), and the upstarts (young distilleries trying to shake up the game by making their own awesome whiskeys). The upstarts of a few years back are beginning to enter their teenage years, and those who have made it through the long hard slog of starting a whiskey distillery are really starting to shine and strut their stuff with interesting and respectably aged whiskeys that are every bit as good or better than what you find from the big guys. We’re fortunate enough to have secured a number of choice barrels from luminaries that you’ll see below.

Item Name Retail Link
Old Pepper K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Barrel Proof Straight Indiana Rye Whiskey (750ml) $49.99 View
Stellum “Lyra A6” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $54.99 View
Heaven’s Door 6 Year Old K&L Exclusive Barrel #75 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View
Deadwood “Tumbling Dice” K&L Exclusive 5 Year Old Cask #58A Cask Strength MGP Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View
Wyoming Whiskey “Private Stock” K&L Exclusive Barrel Strength Single Barrel #6113 Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View
Sonoma Distilling Co. “K&L Exclusive” Barrel #16-3022 Straight Cherrywood Smoked Cask Strength Bourbon (750ml) $59.99 View
LAWS Whisky House “Barrel Select” K&L Exclusive Barrel #504 Cask Strength Single Barrel San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $74.99 View
Balcones K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #16584 Texas Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View
Westward ” K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #277 Cask Strength Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $99.99 View
Hillrock Estate Solera Aged Single Barrel K&L Exclusive Shea Vineyards “Homer Vineyard” Oregon Pinot Noir Finished Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $139.99 View

Japanese whisky maker Komasa Kanosuke Distillery announces investment by Diageo through Distill Ventures – Japanese Whisky News

Japanese whisky maker Komasa Kanosuke Distillery announces investment by Diageo through Distill Ventures

8 September 2021, (Kagoshima, Japan) – Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, a producer of ultra-premium single-malt whiskies based in Kagoshima, Japan, today announces that Diageo has made a minority investment in the company, through Distill Ventures, the independently operated and Diageo- backed drinks accelerator. The investment will support the next stage of the company’s growth by enabling increased production of whisky, the development of new products, and the expansion of its international sales and marketing teams.

Established in 2017 by Komasa Jyozo, a 138-year-old producer of shochu, a Japanese white spirit, Komasa Kanosuke Distillery launched its first single malt whisky in June this year. The release of this three-year old whisky will be followed by further limited cask-strength releases before the expected launch of its flagship single malt brand in 2022. The distillery has already won awards from the World Whisky Awards (Best Japanese New Make in 2019 and 2020) and the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (2019 and 2021).

Kanosuke Distillery single malt whisky is distilled, matured and bottled in Kyushu, the most southerly of Japan’s four main islands. The Komasa family were pioneers in barrel-ageing shochus and bring this expertise in maturation to the production of Kanosuke Distillery’s whiskies. Situated on Japan’s longest sand beach, the distillery features a stunning tasting room called The Mellow Bar, orientated to allow visitors to appreciate the sun setting into the East China Sea as they enjoy the distillery’s whiskies.

Yoshitsugu Komasa, founder and CEO of Kanosuke Distillery said: “We are proud of our accomplishments to date, including the barrel-ageing and other production techniques developed during Komasa Jyozo’s long history of shochu production and the awards we have won in both domestic and international competitions. Now, with the strong and strategic support from global alcoholic beverages leader Diageo and Distill Ventures through this partnership, we are very happy that we will be able to pursue growing our business further and provide more whisky drinkers in Japan and worldwide with Japanese craft whiskies from Kanosuke Distillery.”

Frank Lampen, founder and CEO of Distill Ventures, said: “It’s a proud moment for us to have entered into this partnership with this exciting new distillery. Yoshitsugu Komasa and his team are producing wonderful whiskies in a stunning distillery with one of the most beautiful tasting rooms anywhere in the world, and we’re excited to assist him and the team in introducing Kanosuke Distillery to whisky drinkers around the world.”

Sam Fischer, Diageo’s President Asia Pacific and Global Travel said: “We are honoured that Kanosuke Distillery has joined the Distill Ventures portfolio. Diageo has long heritage and expertise in whisky with many of our brands reflecting the work of generations of the same family. We are excited to be supporting this high-quality brand in the fast-growing Japanese whisky category, with the next stage of its growth and development.”

As with all brands within the Distill Ventures portfolio, the founders, Komasa Jyozo Co., Ltd, will retain majority ownership and control of the Kanosuke Distillery and continue to be responsible for all production, marketing and sales. The investment agreement envisages a transition to a 50:50 joint-venture ownership structure with Diageo subject to future performance. Until that point, Kanosuke Distillery will benefit from the support and global expertise of Diageo and the Distill Ventures team, joining Denmark’s Stauning Whisky, Australia’s Starward Whisky and Oregon’s Westward American Single Malt Whiskey in Distill Ventures’ portfolio of outstanding new world whisky brands.

Komasa Kanosuke Distillery Co Ltd

Kanosuke Distillery was founded by Komasa Jyozo Co., Ltd in 2017. A corporate split in August 2021 separated the distillery and all whisky assets into the Komasa Kanosuke Distillery Co., Ltd, and Diageo have taken a minority interest in this new company. The distillery benefits from the 138 years of tradition of the parent company in distilling shochu from rice and sweet potatoes. It pioneered the barrel-ageing of shochus, with its Mellow Kozuru brand receiving numerous awards in Japan and internationally.

The distillery was built on land acquired by Kanosuke Komasa, the second President of Komasa Jyozo Co., Ltd. Yoshitsugu Komasa, the fourth president, developed the whisky project and built the distillery, with distillation commencing in 2017. It houses three pot stills with variations in neck shapes and lyne arms, allowing for the creation of different flavours in the distillation process. The custom-designed bottle mirrors the shape of the principal spirit still.

All production at Kanosuke Distillery is of single malt whisky using non-peated and peated malted barley imported from the UK. Maturation includes the use of barrels previously used to age the parent company’s Mellow Kozuru rice shochu, alongside ex-bourbon barrels and a range of different wine barrels. The whisky benefits from the warm climate to develop great character in a short space of time, and the range of flavours from distillation and maturation enable Kanosuke to create rich, drinkable whiskies true to its philosophy of “Mellow Land, Mellow Whisky.” For more information: kanosuke.com

Distill Ventures

Established in 2013, Distill Ventures is the drinks industry’s first accelerator for new and growing brands. Its aim is to support entrepreneurs to develop, scale and sell the drinks brands of the future. Through a combination of cash investment, mentoring support, and access to a network of experts, Distill Ventures works with founders to help brands go further, faster. Distill Ventures operates across many drinks categories and invests at all stages, from pre-launch (or “seed” businesses) through to those requiring significant expansion capital. It is operated independently and has a partnership with Diageo, who provide the investment funding, as well as access to their global network of experts.

To date, Distill Ventures has invested more than $100 million in 15+ drinks brands including: Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcoholic distilled spirits brand; Denmark’s Stauning, one of Europe’s standout new whiskies; Starward, a distinctive Australian whisky, exclusively matured in Australian wine barrels; and Westward Whiskey, a pioneer in American Single Malt. Further information on Distill Ventures and details on how acceleration works for drinks brands is available at distillventures.com.

Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company whose products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Suleni Pather, Malts Global Senior Brand Manager tells us about her role at Diageo – Scotch Whisky News

Suleni Pather, Malts Global Senior Brand Manager tells us about her role at Diageo.

Hear from Suleni as she discusses launching the new Talisker 43-Year-Old Xpedition Oak and The Singleton of Dufftown 54-Year-Old.

Suleni joined Diageo in 2016 as a Marketing Manager in South Africa, and today she is our Malts Global Senior Brand Manager, based in the UK. Her role involves launching new and exciting global innovations in the whisky category.

Tell us about your experience in your current role?

My experience in this role has been somewhat of a rollercoaster, in the best way. I’ve now spent more time working from home during this pandemic than I ever did at the office as I only moved to the UK 8 months before it all unraveled. It has been challenging working on multiple complex projects remotely, but I’m very fortunate to work with great colleagues and agencies who have made it easier to approach each day feeling motivated and excited about the work I do. Fortunately, Diageo has also provided a plethora of tools and support to ensure that I can perform at my best from wherever I am situated.

Tell us more about your current role as Malts Global Senior Brand Manager?

In my current role, I work across all of Diageo’s renowned single malts brands on various global innovation and renovation projects, predominantly in the luxury space. It is a very dynamic role as the luxury single malt scotch category continues to grow exponentially as does consumer demand for rare, high-aged, luxury whiskies.

My role is to lead a variety of projects that deliver on our long-term ambition of being the leading luxury spirits company in the world. I work across iconic brands that have been built over centuries and have rich legacies – Singleton, Talisker and Lagavulin to name a few. Excitingly, there are also the mysterious ones, some of which were new to me before taking on this role, that are steeped in intrigue and mysticism like the Pittyvaich ghost distillery or the celebrated Royal Lochnagar. No two days in this job are ever the same and that is the most fun part about it.

Talisker has recently announced the new 43-Year-Old Xpedition Oak: The Atlantic Challenge. What has it been like behind the scenes to get this to launch and into the hands of consumers?

I was lucky enough to have started on this project right from its inception as I was on the team that ideated this extraordinary whisky. Talisker 43-Year-Old Xpedition Oak: The Atlantic Challenge is a single malt scotch whisky that is the ultimate expression of Talisker. We set out to create a luxury whisky that epitomised the brands ruggedly elemental character and celebrated its rich heritage. As a whisky Made By The Sea, we knew we needed to add a nautical spirit of adventure and so we sent staves from casks across the ocean on a 3264 mile journey and then transported them back to Scotland where they were used in the whisky’s final finishing.

The work behind the scenes was a mammoth task ensuring that the precious cargo, the staves, made it across the Atlantic and back to Scotland safely. It took many different teams, agencies and one solo sailor to make it happen but when we finally launched in April, it was the proudest and most rewarding point in my Diageo career to date. This whisky is the culmination of creativity, innovation, adventure, luxury and heritage and I’m so lucky to have played my part in it.

The Singleton of Dufftown 54-Year-Old has also just been announced – tell us more about this release.

The Singleton of Dufftown 54-Year-Old is the second and final bottling in the Paragon of Time collection (the first was a 53-Year-Old released in 2019). This project was a true privilege to work on as it is the oldest single malt ever released from Diageo and The Singleton. Not only is it a prestigious release, only 235 bottles globally and a feather in the Diageo cap, it was an absolute honour to work alongside our esteemed whisky specialists in Scotland to understand the history of this last remaining cask from 1966 and bring the story to life for consumers. From a design point of view, the product itself is nothing short of spectacular – the whisky is in a Baccarat crystal decanter housed in a wooden leather-lined display cabinet, a masterpiece in craftsmanship with a fitting price tag of almost £30,000.

What are the most exciting and challenging aspects of launching innovation?

What I love most is that the calibre of projects I work on at a global level inspire me to want to be the best and deliver tangible results. For someone as results oriented as me, it has been an incredible opportunity. I get to work with the best, most experienced and intelligent minds on some of the most iconic whisky brands in the world. There are days that are challenging; working long hours across different time zones, back-to-back zoom calls and looming deadlines, pandemic notwithstanding. However, these pale in comparison to the overwhelming sense of accomplishment I feel in getting these beautiful luxurious products in the hands of consumers through impactful marketing campaigns and experiences.

How do innovations have a personal impact as well as affect business performance?

Working on luxury innovation projects has motivated me to continuously behave and think outside my comfort zone. Because the consumer landscape is so dynamic, it drives me to be adaptable, make bold choices, stay curious and always be well informed. My role requires high levels of accountability, an entrepreneurial mindset and great interpersonal skills with multiple global stakeholders, all of which have reinforced my leadership skills and experience.

From a business performance perspective, innovation is critical to driving growth and cementing Diageo’s position as an industry leader. To be the leaders in luxury is tantamount to continuing to deliver world class, highly desirable, buzzworthy innovation and I am extremely excited to be part of the team that delivers on that goal.

Scotch: from Scotland to the World – Scotch Whisky News

Our History

Our scotch is steeped in a rich history, from John Walker’s genius for blending whisky to Elizabeth Cummings’ determination to bring Cardhu single malt to the world. Today, we produce over 100 individual scotch brands with the same care, skill and entrepreneurial spirit as these giants of our industry.

Our leading brand is Johnnie Walker, the world’s best-selling scotch. We also produce other high-quality blended brands such as J&B and Bell’s, along with a range of single malts, including Lagavulin, Talisker, Mortlach and The Singleton.

Investing in our Scotch Distilleries

Since 2012 we have invested around £1bn expanding and enhancing our Scotch distilleries and facilities. We are also investing heavily in scotch tourism and have committed £150 million to upgrade 15 distillery visitor centres across Scotland and create a major new visitor experience in Edinburgh.

Scotch exports

  • Diageo is Scotland’s largest exporter of Scotch whisky and other spirits.
  • The Scotch Whisky industry contributed £5.5bn to the UK economy in 2018.*
  • The Scotch Whisky industry employs over 40,000 people across the UK.*
  • In 2018 Scotch Whisky was exported to around 180 countries.*

*SWA Scotch Whisky 2018 economic impact report

Read more about our ambition to become one of the most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world by playing a positive role in society.

Stellum “Lyra A6” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey – American Whiskey News

Stellum “Lyra A6” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $54.99 View

The Lyra A6 is the MGP 21% Rye distilled in April 2016. From the MGP website “Operating in Atchison, Kansas, and Lawrenceburg, Indiana, MGP began as a humble grainbelt distillery in 1941 and has since grown into a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits, and specialty wheat proteins and starches. We partner with small startups and global brands alike to innovate in the food science industry and create some of the finest whiskeys, ryes, bourbons, gins and vodkas in the world. Our founder, Cloud L. Cray, Sr., set out to create a company of makers and innovators that felt more like a family than a corporation. Three generations of the Cray family later, we’ve certainly grown, but we still have those same family values. Whether we’re collaborating with each other or with our customers, we take pride in our craft and refuse to settle for anything less than exceptional.”

Sullivans Cove *UPCOMING RELEASE* Two American Oak Second Fill Single Cask Whiskies – Tasmanian Whisky News

Two American Oak Second Fill
Single Cask Whiskies
TD0059 & TD0198

Our next release will be a pair of American oak second fill single cask whiskies, TD0059 & TD0198. Admired for their softer cask presence, second fill casks allow more of the spirit and character of the distillery to shine. For Sullivans Cove, it’s the tropical fruits and biscuity malt flavours that come to the fore, creating balanced, complex and moreish whiskies.

Both whiskies will be available to purchase via ballot on Tuesday 7th of September.  A further note will be sent on Tuesday 11:00am Hobart time with a link to enter the ballot (Visit our website to be added to our email list!).

American Oak Second Fill TD0059

“This is an absolute CRACKER. Just delightful. It glides through the nose and across the palate effortlessly (channeling some strong Tao Te Ching vibes in its effortless living). It’s full, present in itself (doesn’t come and go), delicious and good for the soul.”
– Heather Tillott, Distillery Manager

TD0059 was matured for 15 years and 5 months in a single, 300L American oak cask previously used to mature one of our American Oak whisky releases. It yielded just 414 bottles.

American Oak Second Fill TD0198

“Excellent complexity and narrative. Transitions are spot on. A lovely chocolaty expression of malt!”
– Heather Tillott, Distillery Manager

TD0198 was matured for 13 years and 8 months in a single, 300L American oak cask, yielding only 424 bottles. The cask had previously been used to mature one of our American Oak ex-Tawny releases.

 Full tasting notes and cask details can be found on the product page via this link.

A note on our ballot system. Our policy is one entry per person, per household. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter once only. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com  Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballot closes. The ballot will open for 24 hours from 11:00am Hobart time on Tuesday 7th of September, 2021.


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