IRELAND

Since 1757, Kilbeggan Distilling Company has crafted a portfolio of beloved Irish whiskeys unlike any other at its two distilleries: Kilbeggan Distillery, the oldest continually licensed distillery in Ireland, and Cooley Distillery, established in 1987 and considered a driving force behind the Irish Single Malt evolution.

• Kilbeggan Original Irish Whiskey (SRP: $24.99) is a classic, boutique Irish Whiskey from the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland. All about bringing people together and fostering community, Kilbeggan honors the people of the town that bears its name, whose unwavering dedication and perseverance has kept the distillery alive for more than 260 years.
• The Tyrconnell 10 Year Madeira Cask, Port Cask and Sherry Cask Finish (SRP: $75 each) are a trio that showcase the versatility of Irish Whiskey. Initially aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, each spirit spends an additional 6-8 months in casks that have been hand-selected for their ability to further enhance the profile of The Tyrconnell.

SCOTLAND

Made at the first distillery on Islay since 1779, Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky is known as one of the most balanced Islay whiskies, which are often thought to be the smokiest Scotch whiskies in the world.

• Released earlier this year, the Bowmore Timeless Series showcases two exceptional masterpieces of whisky beautifully crafted and shaped by time. Bowmore Timeless 27 Year Old (SRP: $2,000, introduced worldwide) and Bowmore Timeless 31 Year Old (SRP: $2,100, exclusive to Global Travel Retail). Housed in a distinctive black box with an hourglass timed to three precious minutes – the time it takes to enjoy and savor the nose of this beautifully balanced masterpiece that has taken decades to perfect.
• With notes of citrus, salt, smoke and vanilla, Bowmore 12 Year Old (SRP: $52) brings out the best in fresh seafood, especially oysters. Together, the Scotch and oysters raise each other’s profile and reveal new flavors on the palate.

JAPAN

For more than three generations, the master blenders at the House of Suntory, the Founding House of Japanese Whisky, have devoted themselves to pursuing the harmony of Japanese nature and craftsmanship to produce the legendary Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki whiskies.

• Yamazaki® 55 Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $60,000) Bottled in 2020, Yamazaki 55 – the House of Suntory’s oldest release in history – celebrates the “Showa” era of the 1960s that represented a major period of change for the House of Suntory. For each of the 100 bottles purchased in the US, Beam Suntory will donate $5,000 to the White Oak Initiative, benefitting the long-term sustainability of American’s white oak forests.
• Yamazaki® 25 Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $2,000), one of the world’s greatest whiskies, newly reformulated this year. Yamazaki 25 Single Malt Whisky is blended from rare whiskies aged over a quarter of a century in American oak, Spanish oak and Japanese Mizunara oak.

K&L Standard-Bearers: Go-To Staples to Stock Up On

At the heart of it, we want to elevate your spirits experience at every level. While many focus on the unparalleled collectibles that are increasingly tough to find, sometimes the most rewarding purchase can be that everyday bourbon that far over-delivers for a modest price. This is exactly what you’ll find in the K&L favorites below, whether it be our pound-for-pound best value Scotch in Faultline and a Couvreur’s unforgettable “Peaty Overaged.”

Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) $24.99 View

For years, we’d dreamed of creating an inexpensive, delicious, value-driven, yet simultaneously interesting expression of blended Scotch whisky that we could feature under our Faultline label. There were many times when we thought we were close, but either the quality of the whisky or the cost of the barrels proved prohibitive. We didn’t want to make a $25 bottle of whisky just for the sake of it. If we were going to do it, then we were going to it right. Finally, after working on and off with the Laings for a year-long blending process, we hammered out a profile we were happy with. Big smoke, Ardbeg-like peat flavors, and a kiss of sweet grain was our goal and we definitely achieved it in this bottle. Unlike most big brand blends, there are no coloring agents in the Faultline Scotch, just a pale straw-colored liquid that bursts with character and, due to the heavy malt content, finishes with richness and weight. We wanted to make sure that, upon launch, there would be absolutely nothing on the market that could match the quality of flavor, price, beauty of design, and bang for the buck. Now after proving that we could do it, we’ve recreated our original blend. Just like the first batch for $25 you get one helluva bottle of Scotch. Smokier than Johnnie Black, more complex than Chivas, and less expensive than either. Plus, at an assertive 100 proof you can try it in a cocktail, pour it over ice, add in soda water and not worry about it. This is the real deal.

St. George “Baller” Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $70) $49.99 View

Whisky Advocate

 Hugely floral and perfumed on the nose, with rose petals, violet candies, and dried orange peel. This is the Gewürztraminer of American single malts—sweet lychee, laced with sachet aromas that explode as if opening Grandma’s dresser drawer. The palate is more tropical; dried pineapple, canned peach syrup, and spice. This could be polarizing, but it’s utterly captivating and worth a try. (JL, Fall 2017) 

K&L Notes

St. George’s new single malt release is described by Master Distiller Lance Winters as a California take on Japanese Malt. Initially aged in used bourbon and French oak barrels for 3-4 years, then finished in St. George Ume plum liqueur barrels. The result is an absolutely unique twist on the American single malt, namely that is was designed specifically to be drunk in highballs—Tokyo style. Of course it is ultra-limited, so grab it while you can.

Doc Swinson’s “Alter Ego” Triple Cask Sherry & Cognac Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

The Doc Swinson Alter Ego is the result of many years of experimentation with cask finishing at the Doc Swinson facility in Washington state. They’ve found the winning recipe with this exceptional product. Using a blend of two straight bourbons distilled at MGPI in Indiana, Doc’s has crafted this deftly balanced bourbon to revival any of the new bourbon brands on the market today. The two bourbons (one a high 21% rye and the other a very high 36% rye masbill) are each aged 5-6 years in new charred American oak before being blended and finished in three specially selected casks types. Using two distinct types of Sherry Butts (PX & Oloroso) and fresh Cognac Puncheons the bourbons are rested for an additional 3 months before being blended and married for another month in Cognac foeders. The Sherry Butts come from Montilla-Moriles Spain where their Sherry Solera Pyramids date back to the 1920’s, on a dry oxidized style Oloroso, the other a rich tangy sweet Pedro Ximinez style. Bottled at an invigorating 94.4 proof this lovely whisky is one of the most drinkable on the shelf today.

Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” Blended Japanese Whisky (750ml) $74.99 View

91 points Wine Enthusiast

 The newest blended whisky offering from Hibiki is burnished gold in the glass and has a bold aroma that mixes vanilla, fresh pear and a hint of smoke. The smokiness comes forward at the first sip, wrapping around a core of oak and vanilla custard and finishing long, with a mouthwatering bitter chocolate note. *Best of 2016* (KN)  (3/2016)

90 points Whisky Advocate

 Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015)  (12/2015)

Wine & Spirits

 You can’t be a Japanese whisky enthusiast without having noticed that there’s a shortage of the stuff. What once was readily available is now hard to find. What once was affordable now costs various bodily limbs. It is due to more than a fad. The best Japanese whisky is remarkable stuff, and none are better than the top single malts from Suntory, Yamazaki, Hakushu and the blended whisky Hibiki. Hibiki comes in 12-, 17- and 21-year-old expressions, but even the youngest of these is now allocated. Harmony, the newest release, carries no age statement, indicating that it contains younger whiskies than other bottlings. Nevertheless, this is a welcome concession, with Suntory’s classic sense of balance, nuance and delicacy. *Best of 2015* (JM)  (11/2015)

K&L Notes

*96 points, Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 of 2020* The newest incarnation of Suntory’s hugely popular Hibiki series, this time without an age statement attached. The same soft, mellow, vanilla-laden flavor is still here, however. It’s a true harmony of pure Hibiki flavor.

Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the ’60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of Pinot Noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself, selecting his own sherry butts to ensure the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, use a wine opener to go through it).

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.

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

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

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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