Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 186: Ledaig 9 Year Old 2007 for MMM

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, announces the fourth and final release for 2017 in the MMM’s series of single casks. It is a young and dirty peated whisky from the Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull. Mark and Manny selected a Ledaig 2007 as the conclusion of their bespoke Galaxy Series. It is bourbon cask matured and bottled at 52.3% ABV. The release is limited to only 50 bottles.

https://youtu.be/XVeDIeHRVjw

In Their Own Words – Malcolm Waring, distillery manager, Old Pulteney

Malcolm Waring is the distillery manager at Old Pulteney, until recently the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. He tells us how Old Pulteney got its name, his reaction to winning the most coveted award in the whisky world, and his approach to whisky-making.

The distillery is named after Sir William Johnstone Pulteney who was quite a vocal guy. People would go round saying “Did you hear that Old Pulteney was talking about this and that?”’

‘When we won the top award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – well, Jim Murray is a Marmite guy but it really opened things up for us. A lot of people hadn’t heard of Old Pulteney before that. You can take his Bible with a pinch of salt but he’s clearly got a very educated palate because he thinks that Old Pulteney 21 Year Old is the best whisky in the world!’

‘When the 21 Year Old won the Whisky Bible award, if people couldn’t buy it, they’d buy the 17 Year Old. And if they couldn’t buy the 17yo, they’d buy the 12 Year Old! In three days we sold what we would normally sell in three years’

‘Eighty per cent of what you taste you get from the cask’

‘We take from the land. It gives us what we want in spirit and we return it. Everything taken from the land is returned’

‘A longer fermentation gives a more fruity character; shorter ferments bring out the cereal notes’

‘The DNA of Pulteney is coastal, briny and floral with a banana note – but it’s not salty’

‘The coastal note is easy to explain: look out through any window on a stormy day and you’ll see that it’s salted up. It’s salt city round here; we’re only 200 yards away from the North Sea’

‘The story about our [famously shaped] stills? We got our calculations wrong and we couldn’t get the roof back on…’

‘Distilling is all about experience. You make it with your senses, not with a machine’

Click here to see our full range of Old Pulteney whisky.

Ralfy ‘ralfy-recommends’ with Ralfy Review 697 – Glen Garioch 12yo @ 48%vol

 

Why we love Glen Moray Distillery

It’s not a hard answer, because it is easy to get to, the drams are excellent, a good tour – and the people.

Let me start with the people. Graham is friendly and easy going, Iain is a gem and who I would call a friend, known him for years, Emma is a grand lass, the centre staff are all good, the workers are always saying hello! Are you getting the idea? The visitor centre is always clean and tidy – sometimes a wee bit busy, but that explains a lot. A good shopping selection, drams – believe me when I say good value, I certainly mean it, exceptional value and a good range with a few gems to be found, bottle your own fae the cask is always good. They also serve teas/coffee drinks and good food, a newspaper if you wish to wait for someone, the visit is always pleasant.

Select Tasting – A tasting of 4 drams including our Heritage Range – £10, or Exclusive Tasting – A tasting of 4 drams including limited editions and distillery exclusive bottlings – £20, cheaper than a pub, certainly a hotel and fantastic value, I would go for the exclusive every time, it has happened often. In the shop; Glen Moray 25 Year Old Port Cask Finish £150.00 – come on where can you buy superb whisky like this at this price? Individually numbered, each bottle is unique. Finished in authentic Port Casks imported from the best port houses in Portugal.

As Graham says “With a great, long serving team working on the creation of the spirit, I am always delighted with the quality of the new make produced at Glen Moray. It is then up to me to pick the optimal time to remove the matured whisky from the oak to ensure the highest quality Single Malt makes it into the bottle.” – Graham Coull, Master Distiller, and can I tell you, HE KNOWS HIS JOB!

We have taken, oooh hundreds of people here for tours and tastings, has anyone ever been let down? NO. I recall wanting to take our pals from Finland here for the first time, they were reluctant as it was not a big name in Finland, we took them, we had to physically pull and push them out, they liked it so much, and aye, they have returned!

So in summing up, great staff, a friendly place to be, good tours, great drams on offer and the wallet takes a pounding aye, but compared to other distilleries, you are let off lightly. Come and join us on a tour there.

PAUL and LIZ

www.mcleanscotland.com/ www.whiskytours.scot/

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Christmas is fast approaching and with it comes the impending panic of Christmas shopping, but there’s no need for the stress this year, The Whisky Shop has your back! With our range of fantastic gifts from Advent Calendars to 12 Drams of Christmas, we have something for every whisky lover to last from December 1st to January 6th – what more could you wish for?

Next day UK delivery available International Shipping

12 Drams of Christmas Deluxe Edition

Looking for something a little bit extra special for your true love this Christmas? Fresh off the first sleigh from the North Pole, the 12 Drams of Christmas Deluxe Edition has a 3cl bottle of premium whisky for each day of the festive season. Featuring some rare and old whiskies including limited edition Scotch, Japanese whisky and a single cask exclusive to The Whisky Shop, you can find the full list of drams by clicking the link below.

£125 Buy Now

We hope this quarterly newsletter finds you in rude health.  The clocks have turned back, the nights have drawn in and the last ferry of the season has long since departed here in Campbeltown as we batten down the hatches for what will surely be another wet and wild Kintyre winter. We’ve had an industrious few months here at Springbank so grab yourself a healthy measure of something wet and Springbanky and make yourself comfortable while we bring you up to speed.

Distillery News

Our beloved Springbank distillery is currently undergoing an extensive program of refurbishment works, some of which you may have seen on social media.  These works will ensure we can keep producing our whisky in the manner that is unique to Springbank for many more years to come and also enhance our visitors’ experience. For the cynics amongst you, this is not corporate PR talk for overhauling Springbank into a ‘Disney Distillery’ with VR Malting and conveyor belt tours, but rather includes work such as surfacing the car park and installing drainage so we do not need to provide visitors with welly boots and plans to install an onsite shop to save visitors from the ‘Longrow dash’ to pick up their tour tickets and pay for warehouse bottles from the Cadenhead shop. Recent and ongoing works include;

Malt Barns – Local contractors McFadyens have worked tirelessly over 9 weeks to replace and renew the crumbling concrete floors of our malt barns to ensure we can continue with 100% floor malting for many more years. The Malt Barns which were closed during refurbishment are now open again to tours.

New Boiler – Our trusty distillery boiler, designed by Chairman Mr H G Wright and installed in 1962 was finally retired last month and replaced with a brand new Cochran boiler manufactured in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.  The old boiler certainly earned its  retirement having being converted from coal, to heavy oil and latterly light oil.  Rest easy  old friend.  We all held our breath as the old 24 ton boiler was delicately manoeuvred by crane out of the boiler house and over the newly refurbished malt barns, but the transition passed seamlessly and Director of Production Findlay Ross can sleep easy once again.

Below we have a picture of the boiler being carried over the malt barns,

Staff Facilities – A swelling work force (not talking about waistlines) means bigger and better staff accommodation is required.  McFadyens are currently renovating the old stable next to warehouse 7 to create a new canteen, changing rooms and showers.

Distillery Shop – Once the new staff facilities are complete the old staff canteen will be turned into a distillery shop where visitors will be able to buy tour tickets and pay for warehouse purchases without the need to do the Longrow dash down to Cadenhead’s.   The Cadenhead shop and tasting room on Union Street/Bolgam Street will continue to run as our flagship store.

Aesthetic improvements – Flagpoles flying the flags of our three malts have been erected on the corner of the recently surfaced car park, which are visible from the distillery lane ensuring visitors from afar can locate us with ease. Once they disembark they will enjoy a walk across the recently surfaced car park to a decorative Springbank cask feature which provides another photo opportunity to remember their pilgrimage down the A83.  Benches and raised flower beds mean visitors can even choose to sit outside in the driving Campbeltown rain while they wait for their tour to start.

Kilkerran Award

We are delighted to announce that the Kilkerran 12yo was the winner of the gold medal in the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge 2017 Grand Final – under £40 category. The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge has been running since 2000 and receives acclaim for its  independent and unbiased award process. The whiskies are nominated by a group of independent retailers before being blind tasted by an industry panel. Fantastic recognition for one of Campbeltown’s finest!

Society News

Longrow 9yo Fresh Sauternes 

All society members should be aware of the recently released society bottle; Longrow 9yo Fresh Sauternes. Orders have been coming in thick and fast so if you would like a bottle and have not yet ordered please do so immediately. Orders are being taken by email only; society@springbank.scot.

Society Membership Gift Packs

New members will soon start receiving their membership packs in a presentation box which is a step up from the usual jiffy bag and perhaps more appropriate for those of you who want to purchase memberships for friends and family as gifts.  So, struggling to think of the perfect Christmas present for a fellow Springbank lover…hint hint 😉  Drop us an email for more info society@springbank.scot

Upcoming releases

December 2017

Springbank 10yo Local Barley 

The third release in the iconic Local Barley series will be available to purchase from early December.  Keep an eye on social media and for society newsflashes for further info.

Kilkerran 8yo cask strength 

Last year’s popular cask strength whisky from Glengyle is being followed up again with a limited number of bottles from a fresh batch to be released in early December. Again, make sure you follow us on social media for updates and look out for society newsflashes.

February 2018

Springbank 12yo cask strength 

The latest in the biannual 12yo cask strength series is scheduled for release in February.  As always, the maturation recipe is 70% sherry, 30 % bourbon.

Springbank 25yo 

The 5th annual release of the extremely limited Springbank 25yo will be available worldwide in limited quantities.

Longrow Red 11yo

The eagerly awaited annual Longrow Red release which we can exclusively reveal here is partially matured in South African Cabernet Franc casks supplied by De Toren winery, the same supplier of the recent Malbec casks.

Sales team events

As usual, the Sales Team are travelling far and wide earning their airmails to promote Springbank and Kilkerran across the globe.  Here’s where you might be able to track them down over the next few months;

November

4-5th November – Whisky Messe, Villingen, Germany (Ronan)

11th November – Glasgow Whisky Festival, Hamden Park (Grant)

17-18th November – Malta Whisky Festival (Ronan)

18th November – Drambusters Whisky Festival, Dumfries (Ranald and Grant)

25th November – Dublin Whisky Live (Grant)

30th November – 3rd December – Whiskyschiff, Zurich (Melanie & Ronan)

January 2018

12-13th January – Harrow Whisky Festival, The Grim’s Dyke Hotel, London (Grant)

15-21st January – Canada Tasting Tour (Melanie)

15-16th  Edmonton retailer visits and tastings

17th Edmonton Whisky Festival plus MC

18th Calgary Whisky Festival

19th Victoria Whisky Festival plus MC

20th Vancouver Whisky Classique MC

21st Vancouver Whisky Classique

Social Media 

Lastly, a quick reminder that you can follow us online through a variety of websites and social media channels.  This will help you keep up to date with daily goings on at the distillery and where the Sales Team are popping up next.

Facebook

Twitter – @Springbank1828

Instagram – @springbankwhisky1828

WeChat –  You can find us under the name “Springbank Distillers” or by searching for SpringbankWhisky.

And, of course, you can always find us on the Springbank website www.springbank.scot

We hope you’ve enjoyed the latest newsletter.

If you have any questions, queries, concerns or comments please contact society@springbank.scot and we shall do our very best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Slainte,

The Springbank Society.

Please contact society@springbank.scot to join

 

Maker’s Mark 46 “K&L Exclusive – #2” Private Select Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) $69.99 View

Macallan Classic Cut “2017 Limited Edition” Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

Wathen’s Special Release “Barrel Proof” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) $79.99 View

If they aren’t playing them already, then they soon will be… There are just 41 shopping days left until Christmas, and you know what that means, a seemingly endless stream of Christmas music. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not curmudgeons here at KWM, and we get excited about Christmas too. But you have my, solemn promise that KWM will remain a Christmas music free zone (not even Michael Buble’s “Jingle Bells” will be played), at least for the next couple of weeks.

So that means if you swing by the store to take advantage of our great ‘Pre-Christmas’ “Super Sale” deals this weekend, you won’t be subjected to “Frosty the Snowman”, “White Christmas” or anything by Mariah Carey. You will be able to save 10% or more on all in-stock whiskies*, as well as 15% off all in-stock wine and 5% off all in-stock beer. Think of it as Christmas in November, except you give to yourself, and you won’t have to listen to “Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings.

There are a couple of upcoming events to fill you in on. First and foremost, the final performance of “Tasting Scotch” a multi-sensory tasting experience is taking place at Last Best on Friday, November 17. It is a collaborative whisky tasting experience between KWM, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada and Ghost River Theater. Tickets are $125 and a $75 tax receipt will be issued. More details below.

Tickets are now on sale for the 7th Annual 2018 MS Calgary Whisky Festival, on Thursday January 18 2017. Of note, this year’s VIP Master Class will be an Old Pulteney vertical tasting including the soon to be released Old Pulteney 25 Year and 1983 vintage. Tickets range in price from $120 to $200 and all ticket classes include a glass. The General Admission tickets can be bought at the early bird price of $100 until November 30!

More new whiskies to tell you about, including another new KWM exclusive cask. Our first ever cask of Tomatin has just landed! The PX Sherry finished Tomatin 1999 KWM Cask, is a big sherried fruit bomb. Bottled at 52% after slumbering in Scotland for 18 years and 9 months. More details below!

We have 8 new Islay whiskies hitting the shelves tomorrow, 5 of them are exclusive to KWM. There are the Elements of Islay: Ci8, Lg7, Oc4 and Peat, as well as the Port Askaig 8 Year, 15 Year, 19 Year and 100 Proof. Port Askaig is a mystery malt label, the whiskies likely produced at Caol Ila distillery, which is the net cove over from the port. We will be setting up a tasting soon to introduce these 8 curious new whiskies to the market. Details and tasting notes below.

Speaking of mystery malts, the Lismore 18 Year and 21 Year The Legend are back in-stock. In honour of the occasion, I’ve written up my own tasting notes on the pair. The malts are very good for their age and price. Their origin a tad mysterious, but you’ll have to read more for my thoughts below.

I have also written up my own tasting notes on four other whiskies currently gracing store shelves, and one more that will be here shortly. It is a tough job tasting whiskies, but someone has to do it.

Finally a quick update on the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar. The first calendars should be hitting the store this weekend or Monday, November 20 at the latest. The project was delayed by 4 of the 25 whiskies, which did not arrive on time. Everyone involved has been working hard to rectify the situation, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

If you have yet to order a KWM 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar and would like to do so, I wouldn’t put it off much longer… there are but 40 of 384 which are not yet spoken for!

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Malt Messenger.

Sláinte!

In This Edition

1. Annual Pre-Christmas “Super Sale” This Weekend!
2. Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar Update
3. “Tasting Scotch” The Final Performance
4. MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2017: 2 Weeks Left for Early Bird Tickets
5. NEW KWM Exclusive Tomatin Casks
6. NEW Exclusive Elements of Islay Whiskies
7. NEW Exclusive Port Askaig Whiskies
8. The Lismores Are Back
9. My Tasting Note: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990
10. My Tasting Note: Glenfiddich Winter Storm
11. My Tasting Note: Cadenhead Small Batch Invergordon 1972 43 Year
12. My Tasting Notes: Springbank 21 & 25 Year Current Bottlings

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/

 or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1

Our Annual Pre-Christmas “SUPER SALE” This Weekend! 

SAVE 10-35% on all In-Stock Whisky*: November 17-19!

* Excludes the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar and Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings!

 

 

Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar Update 

Less than 40 of 384 Calendars left! 

Firstly, we are a little behind on building our Whisky Advent Calendar this year… A couple of products were delayed, and are expected to arrive late this week. This should allow us to have the first batch of calendars built and ready for pickup between the 19th and 20th.

There are a lot of exciting details about the 2017 edition, including the fact that we succeeded in bringing the base retail price down by $25, to $375+gst. We also have 25 all new whiskies, never before featured in the KWM Advent Calendar. This includes 5 whiskies bottled exclusively for the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar. While the bulk of the Calendar is still Single Malt Scotch Whisky, there are for the first time single malts from Canada, England and the Netherlands! This is our fourth straight year that we have designed and built our own exclusive Whisky Advent Calendar. It features 24 50ml premium whiskies, a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (The Society) and a custom logo Glencairn glass.

The Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is more than just a product for us – it is a way for us to share and connect with other whisky lovers in Calgary, Alberta and across Canada. Details on the whiskies’ released and their distillery will be posted on the KWM Blog each day of Advent. Recipients of the Calendar are encouraged to share their thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The KWM Whisky Advent Calendar also comes with a 10% discount card, good for any of the whiskies in the Calendar (excepting the Society whisky), subject to availability.

A deposit of $150 will be charged for each calendar requested. This helps KWM with the production costs. The balance of the payment will be taken a few days before delivery to our shop. ETA is mid-November!

Order a Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar!

“Tasting Scotch” the Final Performance 

The final KWM/SMWS/Ghost River Theater Multi-sensory Collaborative Tasting

This is the second and probably final performance of “Tasting Scotch” a multisensory tasting experience put together by Ghost River in collaboration with Kensington Wine Market and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada. Tickets are $125 with a $75 tax receipt.

Tickets can be purchased here!

MS Calgary Whisky Festival Tickets Now On Sale 

Early bird pricing in effect until November 30! 

Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 MS Calgary Whisky Festival! Calgary’s best and biggest whisky festival is now in its 7th year. It will take place on Thursday January 18 at Arts Commons, in the foyer of the Jack Singer Concert Hall.  http://calgarywhiskyfestival.ca/ Early bird tickets are available until November 30. There will be at least 1, possibly 2 VIP Master Classes. Neither will disappoint!

There are three types of tickets for this year’s event:

1. VIP Early Entry (includes a cut crystal Glencairn glass) – $175 – Only 72 Tickets Left
2. VIP / Master Class (includes a cut crystal Glencairn glass) – $200 – Only 42 Tickets Available
3. General Admission (includes a Glencairn glass) – $100 – Price goes up to $120 on December 1

Purchase tickets here!

 

KWM Exclusive Tomatin Cask 

Our Ever Tomatin is a PX Sherry Finished 18 Year! 

Our first ever single cask of Tomatin is here! The whisky was distilled in 1999, matured in Bourbon and finished for five years in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt. 621 bottles were filled at 52%. It was bottled at 18 years and 9 months of age. It is a classic big sherry cask whisky, and it does not disappoint! Think PX Glendronach…

Tomatin 1999 KWM Cask – 52% – 18 Year – Finished in PX Sherry 5 Years – My Tasting Note: “Nose: nutty and woody with soft leather; a touch of tobacco and clotted cream; moist Jujubes and candied fruit tones with a touch of musty oak; ginger and cinnamon in a cedar sauna. Palate: round, oily and thick; the sherry is laid thick over the creamy, honeyed, base; more Jujubes and big candied fruits; leather and tobacco with dark chocolate, candied orange peel and Demerara sugar; my mouth is tingling, watering and desirous of more; the sherry is bold but balanced, coming in big waves, eventually emerging into cloves and Dutch licorice. Finish: very fruity, rich, long and spicy; it continues to evolve in waves; very oily and coating. Comment: it is getting harder and harder to find good value sherry cask whisky, and so this exclusive Tomatin cask is timely; very good value for its age, here you have a very sherried but balanced malt; and for those with a sensitivity to sulphur I dare you to find even a trace herein!”  – $150

NEW KWM Exclusive Elements of Islay Whiskies 

Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Octomore! 

We have been trying to get the Elements of Islay range into Canada for a couple of years now. We have only just succeeded in doing so. We have three exclusive single malt offerings and there is a 4th generally available Blended Malt.

About the Range: “The medicinal, almost ‘elemental’ character of Islay malt whiskies was the inspiration for the laboratory-style bottle and element symbol/number naming system used across the Elements range (Lp1, Ar2, and so on). Coincidentally, even the 50cl bottle used throughout the Elements range is called ‘pharmacy’. Every Elements bottle also bears the signature of a whisky authority, so you can be confident of the quality of the liquid inside.”

1.  Elements of Islay Ci8 – 55.2% – 5 Bourbon from the Mid-2000s – Producer Description: “Our eighth bottling from Caol Ila is a marriage of five bourbon barrels. Caol Ila is renowned for its light, flinty style, which adds elegance to the layers of smoke and strong coastal notes that are its trademark.” Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Classic coastal sea spray with an undercurrent of caramel and buttered popcorn. A background note of aniseed marries nicely with lime oil and thyme. Palate: The texture is creamy and full with flavours of baked lemon and rock salt. The distillery’s flinty edge is on show and balances nicely with the flavour of delicate custard. Finish: Juicy and long, with lemon oil and cloves coming through.” – $88
2. Elements of Islay Lg7– 56.8% – 4 Bourbon Barrels from the mid-2000s – Producer Description: “Lagavulin whiskies are known for their meaty style, balanced by touch of sweet fruit. Lg7 is matured in refill bourbon barrels, and is everything we have come to expect from Lagavulin: Islay in a bottle.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: CInitially, maple-cured bacon and orange sponge cake give a great balance of sweet and savoury. Delicate honeysuckle is offset by barbecue char and toasted marshmallows. The smoke is full and aromatic, like Chinese tea. Palate: thick and creamy with the classic iodine character and some sweeter notes coming through. There is a thick and meaty note, almost like caramelised beef fat blended with cockles and burnt honeycomb. Finish: Warm spice with toasted caraway seeds and salty dryness.” – $132
3.  Elements of Islay Oc4 – 59.1% – 3 2010 Bourbon Barrels – Producer Description: “The most heavily peated of all the spirits on Islay, Octomore showcases maritime and fruity notes among a dense and smoky character. Oc4 is a marriage of three bourbon barrels from 2010, showing sweet malty notes intertwined with powerful smoke.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Clean, with pine smoke and lemongrass. Juniper and fennel seeds make for an intense aromatic experience, with the distillate clearly in the foreground and wood in the background. Of course there is medicinal peatiness, and lots of it. Palate: White pepper and intense peat reek sit up front. The texture is rich and oily, and while there is heat from the strength, it is all in the background. There is something almost mezcal like about this whisky, run through with smoked juniper and iodine. Finish: Warm and tangy with flavours of well-cooked meat.” – $190

Also available, but not exclusive to KWM, Elements of Islay Peat. “PEAT is the perfect expression of smoky whisky, with all the full-on coastal character you would expect from an island whisky, as well as balanced sweetness. On its own or in a cocktail, it is the go-to peaty whisky for all, balancing serious smoky flavour with a sense of fun.”

1. Elements of Islay Peat – 59.3% – Around 60 casks from the North and South of Islay – Producer Description: “We have used whisky from a handful of distilleries across the island to create an Islay blended malt, taking the distinct character of each and bringing them together, focusing on Islay’s most famous flavour – peat.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose:  Fresh, sprightly barley entwined with peat smoke and bonfire embers. Bracing aromas of salty seaweed and seashells. Plenty of clean fruit – lemon, lime and grapefruit, while hiding underneath are notes of rich earth and liquorice. Palate: Warm and leathery with thick-cut bacon, seashore campfires and roasted fruit: sweet apple and lime with a sprinkle of caster sugar. Layers of smoke and dark-chocolate limes envelope the palate and are intertwined with softer lemon oil and barbecue sauce, with hints of roasted spices and barrel char, complementing the peat and smoke. Finish: Sea spray and baked apple fade leaving heavier smoke, truffle salt and sweet spice.” – $55

New KWM Exclusive Port Askaig Whiskies 

And two others to boot! 

We have two interesting new KWM exclusive Islay whiskies. They are from the Port Askaig range, which is new to Canada.

Producer Description: “Nestled into the north coast of the island, Port Askaig has been the gateway to Islay for hundreds of years. For many it is the start of a journey that will stay with them for a lifetime.

“Port Askaig is a range of Islay single malt whiskies that embodies the unique spirit of Islay and its people. Its character brings together the robust smokiness and soft fruitiness found in this beguiling island. The range has been developed to appeal to the most discerning of whisky connoisseurs while also appealing to the novice whisky drinker. We have selected exceptional casks of Islay single malt and created a range that we believe will become recognised as an Islay classic.

“Each expression within the range is bottled in limited batches. While recognising that each bottling will vary, the aim is to achieve a consistency of quality and character over time. To ensure each whisky maintains its original flavour and character, the whiskies are not chill-filtered and no colouring is added. In a world of change, we believe there is still a place for tradition. However, one that embraces evolution and new ideas required to make it ever better. We believe that the expert cask selection and traditional yet contemporary look of the packaging will ensure Port Askaig stands shoulder to shoulder with Islay’s more established brands for many years to come.”

Exclusive to KWM:

1. Port Askaig 100 Proof – 57.1% (100 British Proof) –  Producer Description: “A cask-strength Islay single malt with notes of sweet fruit, peat smoke and minerality, this is a benchmark Islay whisky and a great everyday peaty dram at this price.” – My Tasting Note: “Nose: fresh, herbaceous, medicinal and malty; seaweed, vanilla and honey; orange bitters, cedar shavings and dried cherries. Palate: starting light, fresh and herbaceous it quickly builds into something more malty, briny and peaty; still medicinal, earthy peat and tarry ropes; a touch of honey with vanilla, orange bitters and lemon clices on goat cheese. Finish: long, malty and medicinal with fading smoke; fresh citrus tones and more goat cheese. Comment: this is a firm, medicinal Ileach, though even at a young age and strength the alcohol has very little bite.” – $87
2. Port Askaig 19 Year – 50.4% –  Producer Description: “This 19 year old cask-strength edition bursts with fabulously flinty, lemony, seashells-on-the-seashore flavours. This is a truly elemental whisky, perfect for sipping from hip flasks during cold winter walks.” – My Tasting Note: “Nose: doughy, buttery and fuity, silky peat oils and beeswaxy-honeycomb tones; delicate elegant smoke, bright berry fruits (raspberry), chantilly cream and more delicate tropical fruits: mango and papaya. Palate: round, delicate and doughy; a touch of maritime character, more buttery notes and silky peat oils; more beeswax, bright berry fruits and tropical fruits towards the finish; chantilly cream and clotted cream on dry Brittish scones. Finish: long, coating and creamy with fading tropical fruits, chantilly cream and silky peat oils. Comment: this is a whisky with the delicate finesse of a Ileach many years its senior; very elegant and delicate with a firm peaty base.” $195

Port Askaig 19 Year – 88pts Serge @WhiskyFun.org: “The first version in 2013 was absolutely excellent (WF 88). Colour: white wine. Nose: some linguist may have invented the word ‘vibrant’ just for this. It is pure briny and smoky Caol Ila, polished by time and not by wood, with fresh apples, fresh almonds, and a discreet mentholy side. Then a little antiseptic/TCP/iodine, and a good dollop of seawater. With water: your old jacket after a walk on Islay. Should I add ‘after the rain’? Mouth (neat): once again, it’s the purity that’s impressive. A smoked blend of seawater and lemon juice, with a few essential oils thrown in for good measure. Mint, camphor… With water: gets a notch fruitier (citrus) and, as often, a little earthy. Mud under your shoes (after that famous walk on Islay). Finish: long, zesty, chiselled, blade-y. I had noticed some sweetness in the first batch, but not quite in this one. Comments: as Ayrton Senna used to say, “If you take away Caol Ila, you take away (one of) the reasons why I do this.” Just put Eau Rouge instead of Caol Ila. SGP:447 – 88 points.” – $195

Also available from Port Askaig:

1.  Port Askaig 8 Year – 45.8% – Producer Tasting Note: “Elegant, soft, sweet, classy,minerally, medium-peated style perfect for novices to discover Islay and connoisseurs to enjoy as their regular dram.” – $70
2. Port Askaig 15 Year Sherry – 45.8% – 90pts Whisky Advocate: “Matured in first-fill oloroso sherry casks, this is 20% peated whisky from 1997 and 80% fruitier whisky distilled in 2001. Earthy on the early nose, with bonfire smoke, vanilla, raisins, and prunes. The palate opens with sweet fruit notes and medium-dry sherry, giving way to nutmeg, brine, and peat. The finish features plain chocolate, bitter lemons, and a hint of smoky chili.” – $142

 

The Lismores are Back!

Well Priced 18 and 21 Year Old Possibly Glenfarclas! 

A mystery malt from the owners of Glenfarclas, possibly a second label for the distillery?! Both are excellent value for whiskies of their respective ages!

1. Lismore 18 Year – 43% –  My Tasting Note: “Nose: very fruity, fresh and floral; as though someone has just sprayed a room with a fruity floral mist; jujubes, wine gums and jelly bellies; so fruity and decadent; creamy, velvety and smooth. Palate: soft, honeyed and creamy; still velvety, clotted cream and honey butter; then the wine gums, jujubes and jelly bellies with Demerara sugar and soft leather; the crisp decadent spice emerges late with a broad stroke of juicy orange. Finish: medium in length, creamy, coating and smooth; still velvety, the oak spices and fruit candy notes slowly dissipate. Comment: very good for a $100 18 year old single malt; eminently quaffable; wish it was at 43%; only wish it was 46%!” – $100
2. Lismore 21 Year: The Legend – 43% – Definitely some sherry influence. – My Tasting Note: Nose: stewed fruits, chocolate covered espresso beans, soft leather and plum pudding; cooked medjool dates with prune and grapefruit juices; some musty earthy tones and classic Christmas cake sherry tones. Palate: round, fruity and chocolaty with building earthy sherry notes and spices; more milk-chocolate covered espresso beans, soft leather and musty old dunnage warehouse tones; nutty and a touch grassy; raisins, dates, figs and prunes with crisp spices: licorice, fennel and clove. Finish: medium length with big coating sherry notes and drying fruity tannins. Comment: quite sherried, but not a sherry bomb; a lovely malt at a good price for its age; possibly from the Ballindalloch Estate!” – $150

My Tasting Note: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1990 

The replacement for the Quarter Century Does Not Disappoint! 

To say this replaces the Quarter Century does both whiskies a disservice. The Grande Vintage Malt 1990 is the first release in the new Bond House No 1 Collection. It is a 25 year old single malt bottled at 43% from a single vintage and harvest, 1990. The whisky has been matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. 92pts Whisky Advocate

I have written up my own tasting notes on it. Overall, it is very elegant and decadent. The best word to summarize it, ethereal!

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 – 43% – Bourbon & Sherry – My Tasting Note: “Nose: honeyed, elegant and silky; Earl Grey ice cream, tapioca pudding and creme brule; vanilla bean, just picked California oranges, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg; tarte tatin and tallow candles. Palate: delicate, waxy, honeyed, creamy and coating; ethereal and silky; the fruits come in waves: cooked apple, fresh orange, melons and kiwi fruit; the spices build, more cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and Earl Grey ice cream; more creme brule and clotted cream; very layered and pretty. Finish: long, elegant and silky; delicate, almost fragile waves of fruit and cream. Comment: very elegant and dangerously drinkable; though layered this whisky is also sessionable!” – $785

92Pts Whisky Advocate: “The first release in Glenmorangie’s new Vintage Collection, named Bond House No.1 after the 19th century warehouse that became the distillery’s new stillhouse in 1990. Matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks. Mandarins, honey, and vanilla on the floral nose. Very smooth on the palate, with malt, vanilla, more honey, and milk chocolate orange. Attractive soft oak notes and gentle herbal spice in the medium to long finish.”

My Tasting Note: Glenfiddich Winter Storm  

Coming Soon to KWM! 

This limited edition 21 year old Glenfiddich was finished for 6 months in Ex-Peller Estate Icewine casks. A clever idea and far from a gimmick. The icewine casks have added a lovely, decadent touch. Only 36ish bottles coming to KWM, ETA December!

Glenfiddich Winter Storm – 43% – Finished 6 Months in Peller Estate Icewine Casks – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, honeyed and grapey; lots of sugars, creamed heather honey, icewine and a touch of soft leather; Scottish tablet and molten brown sugar; exotic fruits: honeydew melon, pineapple and guava; waxy oranges and beeswax candles. Palate: sweet, rich and fruity; much more spicy and earthy than the nose let on; though the earthy tones and soft and delicate, as are the spices; more exotic fruits: melon, pineapple and guava are joined by some mango and kiwi; still thick with creamed honey, beeswax candles and grapey-icewine tones; the palate is big, but round, smooth and very layered. Finish: medium-long, waxy and coating with lots of fruit, honey and cream; very layered even the delicate spices and earthy tones make a reappearance. Comment: this whisky is no gimmick; it is pretty, fruity, honeyed and layered!” – $300

Producer’s Description: “Brian Kinsman, our Malt Master, is constantly on the lookout for ingenious innovations in Scotch whisky. So when he travelled to Canada, he made a point of visiting a winemaker at a renowned winery in Niagara. Despite the freezing January weather, Brian braved the tour of the vineyards, where he learned how the grapes had to be picked by moonlight at -10˚C when they were as hard as pebbles. These stories about extreme conditions and the unique production process of the intensely sweet Icewine were inspirational.”

My Tasting Note: Cadenhead Small Batch Invergordon 1972 43 Year 

One of the Standouts from Thursday’s Fall Single Malt Festival! 

This was one of the highlights of this past week’s Fall Single Malt Festival at Kensington Wine Market. A 43 year old 1972 vintage single grain from Invergordon Distillery. We were very luck to receive 30 bottles of this very old grain, because it is excellent.  Matured in 2 Ex-Bourbon Barrels and bottled at a cask strength of 48.3%.

Cadenhead Invergordon 1972 43 Year – 48.3% – Ex-Bourbon Matured – My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, rich, floral and oily; vanilla extract, corn syrup, premium olive oil, caramel sauce and candied apple; orange-chocolate-marzipan; toasty and woody, it is starting to show its age, but far from bitter; Marcona almonds quince paste. Palate: silky, sinful, sweet and fruity; wow this is big and sticky… so sweet; loaded with sugar, vanilla extract, honey butter and tangerines; cooked raisins, more candied apple with caramel corn and peach crumble warm from the oven; the wood is present and toasty, without a hint of bitterness. Finish: light but with a good length; coating, it stays sweet and fruity as it slowly vanishes. Comment: this is what good old grain whisky should be… silky, layered and dangerously drinkable!” – $385

 

 

My Tasting Notes: Springbank 21 & 25 Years Current Batches 

Hint, they are lovely! 

We opened both of these for our tasting with Melanie Stanger a couple of weeks back. They were a hit, so I have written them up. I compared them to each other and older bottlings of the same age statements for the same distillery. The batches we are currently sitting on are superior to the past releases, IMHO, and I have a slight preference for the 25 over the 21. That being said, the former is nearly double the price of the latter!

Both are buys in my opinion. The 21 year is the closest batch we’ve seen in terms of style, to the old Springbank 21s of a decade ago.

1. Springbank 21 Year – 46% – Batch 15/52 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, savoury and comforting; vanilla, clotted cream and salted caramel envelop you in a warm embrace; dried apricots, peaches and cream; wood smoke from a beach bonfire and steamed mussels. Palate: round, creamy, salty and still very savoury; vanilla bean, clotted cream, silky honey and salted caramel; the beach bonfire wood smoke is still there, but clean, without a sharp edge; more peaches and cream, dried apricot and cantaloupe. Finish: medium in length, it is creamy, coating and fruity with savoury salted caramel tones and clean smoke. Comment: lovely; I compared it to Batch 12/18 and this is heads and shoulders a better whisky; more akin to the legendary Springbank 21s of more than a decade ago!” – $386
2. Springbank 25 Year – 46% – Batch 16/513 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: l ots of dried fruits: apricot, apples and pineapple chunks; caramel chews, salt water taffy and candied fruits; jujubes and touches of moist, light Christmas cake; a touch of clean smoke and salt. Palate: sweet, silky, fruity and honeyed; vanilla bean with jujubes and lots of fruit: both fresh and dried, leaning towards stone and orchard varietals; there is a touch of sherry-influenced Christmas cake; the smoke and salty maritime tones are subtle and elegant; bergamot earl grey tea, caramel chews and Panda brand licorice. Finish: long with loads of fruits, cream and spices; more gentle elegant smoke and maritime tones. Comment: brilliant, I have a slight preference for this over the 21 year Batch 15/52; I also compared it to an older 2014 edition of the 25 year: while the older bottling  is lovely, this current release is more tropical, fruity and elegant.” – $688
   

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger!

Contact & Disclaimers 

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change and don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

Owner & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Russell’s Reserve K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #089 Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($64.99)

The Wild Turkey does things a bit different than most of the other industrial distillers in Kentucky. They’ve committed to certain quality standards that other distillers have deemed inefficient to continue in the modern whiskey era. Even with the newly constructed distillery, where the Russell’s (Jimmy, Eddie, and Bruce) produce the most efficient and consistent whiskey they possible can, they refuse to give up certain practices that they believe to be crucial to the character and quality of the special Wild Turkey legacy. That’s why they put their name right on the bottle – this is the very best whiskey that nearly 100 combined years of whiskey making experience can deliver. But how exactly? First, they insist on a proper souring step, where lactobacillus bacteria is harnessed to adjust the pH of the original mash. Next, they insist on drawing the spirit of the still at lower proof to retain the inherent flavor of the grain, providing texture and depth to the spirit. Finally, they fill there casks at lower proof than the rest, usually 110 proof, to provide for the perfect environment for their whiskey to mature. That’s why we ALWAYS find exceptional casks at Wild Turkey, they simply make some of finest whiskey available. No excuses, no gimmicks, just old fashion sour mash Bourbon at it’s very best. This spectacular cask is the driest and most herbal of our current single barrel offerings. It was aged in warehouse B on the fifth floor and drawn from the cask at 110.7

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 04, 2017

Barrel 89 is easily the funkiest and most herbaceous of this new batch of wonderful Russell’s Reserve single barrels. While it doesn’t enter the full on barnyard funk that sometimes exists in these barrels, it definitely has a bigger spice than the others. Big notes of varnish and antique wood, savory herbs, subtle notes of hay, and fresh roasted coffee. A Melted brown sugar tone rounds out those drier flavors on the nose. The palate continues the orchestra of herbaceous dark flavors. A bit of sweet maple notes on the mid palate keep it from being totally overpowering, but the pepper and spice build again on the finish. For those who like the big, bold, dry-rye driven style WT this is definitely the move.

Russell’s Reserve K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #550 Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($64.99)

The Wild Turkey Distillery is on the short list of my absolute favorite places to visit in Kentucky. It’s not only the picturesque rolling hills and beautiful views over the Kentucky River, but also the familiar faces of the Russell family who have been in charge of the plant near Tyrone for decades. Now that the 3rd generation of Russell is coming into the fold we can see a clear continuity for this special brand long into the future. Bruce Russell, son of Eddie, is at the distillery learning the ropes from Grandpa Jimmy. Bruce is as passionate, entertaining and kindhearted as any Russell and will be fine steward for the brand. In 2011, they opened the new distillery, gleaming and efficient, but never sacrificing key quality elements that set the Kickin’ Chicken apart from the bourbon flock. That’s what the Russell’s really bring to the table, a stubborn refusal to compromise quality. This special whiskey was distilled at the original facility on the banks of the Kentucky down by the river. The first distillery was erected by Thomas Ripy in 1891. Old, wooden and warn down it was one of the most interesting stops on the bourbon trail, but has since been demolished. Jimmy’s not sentimental. His only concern is to make the best whiskey possible and not dwell on the past. Luckily, we’re still getting great old bourbon distilled at that original site. This single cask, selected from the D warehouse and aged at least 10 years was reduced from an original strength of 111.6.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 04, 2017

Barrel #550 is easily the crowd pleaser in this recent batch of excellent Wild Turkey barrels. The nose is 100% baked Red Delicious, sweet wild honey, woodsy spice. Unctuous and mouth coating with a strong sense of brown sugar and none of the pepper we usually get on these Russell’s Casks. Full-bodied and full-steam it sticks with you for quite a while after the glass is empty. A true treat and easily what some might term a honey barrel.

Russell’s Reserve K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #545 Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($64.99)

We know that Wild Turkey is producing some of the best stuff out there because we’ve tasted it. The brand itself has a long history of producing super high quality bourbon. The origins of the brand starts with an executive at the prominent spirits company Austin Nichols. He had pulled samples from the Old Hickory distillery, built originally in 1891, for a Turkey hunting trip and when his f starting requesting “that Wild Turkey” whiskey – he knew he’d got something special. They bottled bourbons from multiple Kentucky distillers, but most of the stocks came out of that original distillery and Austin Nichols eventually purchase the facility and renamed it the Wild Turkey Distillery. The brand garnered a reputation for quality and was one of the highest end offerings until the bourbon crash and sale to Pernod Ricard. While they moved away from the high-end offerings over the next two decades, the continued to offer some exceptional quality and old bottles from this period remain some of the best stuff out there. With the sale of the brand to Campari in 2009, a renewed commitment to the old history of bottling stupendously special bourbon is clear. They’ve built the Russell’s brand in that image and continue to offer us some of the finest single cask bourbon on the market. This whiskey was aged right next to barrel #550 in warehouse D and highlights the incredible differences two whiskies with very similar aging environments can exhibit. It was drawn from the barrel 114.9 proof.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 04, 2017

This barrel #545 fits perfectly in between the other two barrels in terms of style. Not as austere and intense as #89, but not as sweet and soft as #550. The nose has wonderful pop of evergreen, roasted herbs, flambéed orange peel, and sweet oak. On the palate we’ve got tons of fruit up front, braised orchard fruits and dark cherry build into a strong pepper and spice finish. The mid-palate is textured and bursting with roasted woods and exotic vanilla. This whisky isn’t restrained by any means, but does need some teasing to really open up, maybe 15-20 min in the glass to really unleash the full potential.

Old Forester K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #3511 (5th Floor, Warehouse G) Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whisky (750ml) ($39.99)

This wild little cask was the most controversial during the distillery tasting after walking through the historic distillery. In the dark corridors of the warehouse with the magnanimous Jackie Zykan, Brown-Forman’s Master Taster, we thiefed samples direct from the cask. This barrel was an extreme outlier in terms of character and I could tell it bothered Jackie. When I dove into this special whiskey I immediately tagged it as being a winner. I was in love! The nose alone was enough to win me over. We’d stumbled on something special and I wasn’t going to let it go. After seeing the incredible consistency that the Old Forester warehouses were producing, the dry concrete aging and steam heat tended to produce I was excited to have something a bit different. Typically we expect big spicy nose and sweet soft finish on the OFs. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why the flavors at Old Forester layer that way, but it’s seems to be ubiquitous across their offerings. As it turns out this cask was a leaker, which accounts for much of the unique profile. These low yielding barrels see significantly more oxidation and as long as they don’t go bitter, we tend to love what happens to the bourbon. Here you’ve got a nose of dense black cherry, lacquer, sweet oak, sweet tarts, roasted coffee beans and maple. The sweet cherry fruit is upfront with a vanilla cola note taking hold in the middle. The oak spice builds on the finish, taking hold from overt sweetness up front. An outlier for sure.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 01, 2017

When I was tasting this cask with Brown-Forman’s Master Taster and Bourbon Specialist Jackie Zykan, this barrel stood out like a sore thumb… dipped in cherry cola! I was enamored, but she seemed concerned that it fell distinctly outside of the standard OF profile. Turns out this cask had been leaking, likely the reason for the out-of-the-norm aromatics. Despite her concern, I was totally taken by this one. It had this wonderful nose of wood varnish and vanilla that reminded me of some of the old bourbons I’ve been lucky enough to taste. It’s perhaps the old bottle effect being replicated in barrel as the massive loss means massive oxidation. But this stuff drinks like sweet tea and cherry cola and only reminds you it’s bourbon on the way down where it grabs hold of you for a bit before softening up a few moments later. Only 108 bottles in this miniature, bizarre little cask of Old Forester.

Woodford Master’s Collection “Cherry Wood Smoked Barley” Kentucky Staight Bourbon (750ml) ($99.99)

The experimental Master’s Collection is one of the most interesting special releases of the year. Most people don’t realize that Woodford Reserve is actually a blend of the pot-stilled bourbon from Labrot & Graham distillery near Frankfort and the Early Times distillery in Louisville. The great thing about the small batch nature of their pot-stills is that they can experiment. Now in its 12th year, Master’s Collection is one of the most exciting and controvesial releases of the year. Previous bottling have been met with a great praise although the unorthodox nature of many of their releases has garnered champions and critics alike. What’s certain is that these won’t be around for long and once they’re gone they’ll never be recreated. The 2017 they’ve turned to messing with part of the mash bill to create a bourbon influenced by cherry wood smoking. The malt content hear is around 30% and that malt was dried with Cherry Wood smoke in a proprietary kilning process. It’s likely the highest malt bourbon ever created in Kentucky. Big rich complex and it’s perfectly balance between sweet toasty oak and smoldering cherry smoke.

Maker’s Mark 46 “K&L Exclusive – #2” Private Select Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($69.99)

When Maker’s Mark invited me out to do a custom K&L barrel of Maker’s 46 (their enhanced Bourbon that sees additional aging with seasoned oak staves), I was practically itching to go; especially because I knew they were going to let us bottle the whiskey at full proof. If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of at K&L these days, it’s high octane wheated Bourbon, especially since the Van Winkle craze of the past decade has gutted most of the available supply. Because wheated Bourbons substitute wheat for rye as the flavor grain in the mash bill, the result is a creamier and sweeter whiskey that really pops on the palate at cask strength. The really cool part about the Maker’s 46 custom barrel program is that they allow you to choose between a number of different staves, three of which are exotic french oak flavors. Barrel #2 used 8 Maker’s 46 staves with 2 French oak staves to create a sweet and baking spice-laden Bourbon that accentuates everything we love about high proof wheaters! It’s bursting with cinnamon, clove, sweet vanilla, and it coats the palate with a creamy texture. Barrel #1 is the drier, cocoa-packed, rich and robust creation, but Barrel #2 is classic wheated Kentucky Bourbon turned up to 11 on the volume. You’ll have to control your impulses with this bottle; it’s almost too delicious.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2017

If you’re a fan of wheated whiskies, not because you just happen to think Pappy Van Winkle tastes better, but because you honestly enjoy the sweeter and creamier Bourbon profile, then this is a bottle you won’t want to miss. This new 55% ABV cuvee we put together is a mouthful of creamy vanilla goodness and baking spices galore with tons of power on the finish. There’s only about 200 bottles of it and once it’s gone, that’s it. By the time you realize how much you like it, you’ll be crying about not having enough. I wish we could have made ten of these barrels, but allocations are tight in Kentucky. Just enjoy it while we have it!

Lost whisky distilleries of Scotland: our picks

While there are hundreds of lost distilleries dotting the countryside north of the border, it’s rare to find whisky from any that closed before the 1980s. And if you do, it’s often more a collector’s item than something you’d open and drink. Here are some of the most popular closed distilleries whose whiskies you can still get your hands on:

Port Ellen

The Port Ellen warehouses: pretty much all that remains of the distillery today

The biggest name in the world of lost distillers. It closed in 1983 without much fanfare, its buildings demolished or repurposed as part of the large maltings that now fills the site. However, it has exploded in popularity over the past 10 years. Much of Port Ellen’s spirit from the last few years of its life seems to have been filled into inactive casks, allowing it to mature slowly over decades, revealing sides to its character that were only hinted at while the distillery was still in production. Plans are in place to rebuild the distillery, with new buildings joining the few that remain from before its closure. It should be up and running by 2020.

Find whiskies from Port Ellen >

Brora

Brora distillery a few years ago. It was fairly intact then, and Diageo have been sprucing it up in the intervening years

More of a cult distillery than Port Ellen, Brora closed at the same time as part of the mass closures of 1983. It was the original Clynelish, closed when the current distillery opened in the late 1960s. A few years later it was renamed Brora – after the town it sits on the edge of – and reopened to make smoky whisky. The levels of smoke dropped over the years until it closed for good. As with Port Ellen, long maturation in less active casks has created excellent whiskies, combining Clynelish’s classic waxy character with smoky farmyard notes. It is also being rebuilt, although as most of the distillery is still in place, the project looks to be less challenging than Port Ellen. We will hopefully be able to try new Brora by the early 2030s.

Find whiskies from Port Ellen >

Rosebank

Rosebank back in 1980. While these two buildings remain (and are visible on Google Streetview), most of the rest of the distillery was converted to flats and offices

The third distillery which will shortly be reopened. Closed in 1993 as part of a later market downturn than Brora or Port Ellen, Rosebank’s loss was more mourned at the time, thanks to a reputation for producing incredible Lowland whisky. Unfortunately, lack of room to expand and lack of easy transport links for tourists combined with mounting maintenance costs meant it was selected for closure ahead of fellow Lowlander Glenkinchie. While there hasn’t been as much of a frenzy for its whiskies as there has for Port Ellen and Brora, the increasingly rare releases from both previous owner Diageo and independents are increasingly getting attention. Ian Macleod, owner of Glengoyne and Tamdhu, has now acquired the name and the original site, and will be rebuilding the distillery, with an opening date of 2019 planned. Much of the original distillery was turned into offices and flats, so we’re intrigued to see what happens.

Find whiskies from Rosebank >

Littlemill

First partially demolished and then burnt to the ground, nothing remains of Littlemill today. All that remains is apartments on a newly laid road: Littlemill Place

A history-laden site, with alleged roots going back to the 1750s, making it maybe Scotland’s oldest distillery. Unfortunately, the 1990s’ downturn led to its closure in 1992 and by 2004 it had not only been deliberately demolished but also ravaged by fire, leaving very little of it left. For years after there were unremarkable (and occasionally awful) releases of whisky from the distillery, but since 2010 that has changed. Stocks of great, well-aged whisky has appeared and the distillery’s reputation has been revived. Owner Loch Lomond Group releases occasional official bottlings, and independents still have some stock – it’s definitely a whisky to seek out, but stick to more recent releases.

Find whiskies from Littlemill >

Imperial

Imperial as it once was and Dalmunach, which now occupies the site

A distillery which opened and closed several times during its life, Imperial finally shut its doors for good in 1998. Known for producing a light and floral style of whisky in the heart of Speyside, surrounded by more heavyweight distilleries, it didn’t pick up the same sort of following as Brora, Port Ellen and Rosebank, despite the whiskies having some similarities to the latter. In 2013, despite a booming whisky market and rumours that it might be reopened, owner Chivas Brothers demolished Imperial and built ultra-modern Dalmunach distillery on the site. Bottles of Imperial are still being released and are incredibly reasonably priced for whisky from a closed distillery – a great place to start your exploration of lost distillers.

Find whiskies from Imperial >