Ralfy shows off some collectable stuff with Ralfy Review 621 – collectable whiskies update 2017

Malt Messenger Bulletin – Year End Inventory Clearance Sale!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and that January hasn’t been too hard on your New Year’s resolutions… The last week has been a whirlwind of events for yours truly, beginning with a very successful MS Calgary Whisky Festival last Thursday. The 6th Annual event held in the foyer of the Jack Singer, was a sellout with 550 participants and more than 265 whiskies featured.

Very early the next morning, I was off to Victoria, for the 12th annual Victoria Whisky Festival. I was honoured to have the opportunity to present one of the Friday night Grand Tastings. The Victoria Whisky Festival is Canada’s best whisky festival, drawing guests from all over North America, and brand ambassadors from all over the world! The event stretches over 4 days beginning with the Canadian Whisky Awards and concluding with a by invite only Distillers Dinner.

After 5 days of whisky tastings and associated shenanigans on the coast, I returned to Calgary on Burns Day, for our Burns Bash Mini Whisky Festival. The sold out event featured a range of nearly 100 KWM exclusive whiskies and was a big hit. No pipes or haggis this year, but plenty of great malts!

There are a couple of exciting new whiskies in to tell you about, before they disappear. Firstly we have a very tasty new anCnoc 24 Year, which is also amazing value at $210+GST. There is also a new Tawny Port cask of BenRiach, which is a bit of a beast. BenRiach 1998 Cask 10300 is a juicy and rich 18 year old single malt that appears to be only available in Alberta and BC. Further details on both whiskies and tasting notes can be found below.

The big news in this Malt Messenger Bulletin, is the announcement of our Year End Inventory Sale: Friday January 27 through Sunday January 29. We are doing a big inventory count on Monday, and frankly it will go a lot more quickly if we could just clear a few things out… All in stock wine is at least 15% off, all in stock whisky (except for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society) is least 10%-30% off, and all in stock Beer, Gin and Rum at least 5% off with some even bigger deals. The sale is in store and online only, just until Sunday. Full details, and all whiskies discounted more than 10% are listed below!

I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well!

Sláinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

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

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/

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

New Shelter Point Cask Strength   

Very Limited!   

A very spicy limited release of Canadian farm to bottle whisky composed of malt and rye. Bottled at cask strength after finishing in French oak.

$110

 More Information 

Glenfarclas 25 Year KWM Cask Strength 25th Anniversary

Just $285  

The first of our 25th Anniversary whiskies is a stunner and we can’t keep it in stock! Soft sherry influences and silky smooth at 52%! More than half have already sold.

$285

More Information 

Arran 1997 KWM Cask 1085 19Yr 

The oldest Arran yet, to come to Canada! 

Our 7th single cask bottling of Arran for KWM is the oldest yet at 19 years of age! Bottled at 51.4% from a Ex-Bourbon Hogshead. Yes we know it says Sherry on the label, but it is not… details! If this is anything like one of our 18 year olds from last winter, don’t expect them to last long, just 258 total bottles, and it is another stunning cask!

 $145

More Information

Introducing anCnoc 24 Year 

Only 30 bottles are initially coming to Alberta!

This new anCnoc is available in only vanishingly small quantities, at least initially. We managed to snag 18 of the paltry 30 bottles which have initially trickled into Alberta. Bottled at 46% and matured in Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry. Some of the sherry casks may have been American oak, to complicate the picture only slightly.

anCnoc 24 Year – 46% – ExBourbon & Ex-Sherry – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: soft and decadent, white chocolate, dried dark fruits, candied nuts and marzipan; building sherry and spices, a touch of Christmas cake and sticky toffee pudding with treacle sauce; loads of citrus, melon and diced pineapple. Palate: big, sherried and spicy right from the word go; lots of layers; more creamy vanilla, pineapple cubes, crisp citrus and honey dew melon; the spices build throughout with some coffee notes and cocoa nibs; late leather and sweet tobacco. Finish: smooth, creamy and fruity with fading spices, leather and chocolate. Comment: the are very few distillery bottled whiskies at or around $200 anymore; this one doesn’t disappoint; if you are not acquainted with anCnoc, you should be, the 18 Year, 22 Year and 1975 are also all excellent!” – $210

Introducing BenRiach 1998 Cask 10300 

A massive Port Finished BenRiach bottled for Western Canada!

A Tawny Port Finished 1998 BenRiach listed only in Alberta and BC. I’ve asked for more information, I have some questions about it. Most importantly, how does it taste? The colour is insanely dark. Cask No.10300, distilled 11/02/1998 and bottled in August of 2016 at 18 years. 54.2%, only 597 hand numbered bottles.

BenRiach 1998 Tawny Port Finish Cask 10300 – 54.2% – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Eatmore and Snickers candy bars, grapey fruits, leather, prunes and building spices: white pepper, cayenne and fennel; earthy and musty, damp pipe tobacco and wet leaf litter. Palate: big, juicy and very spicy; the earthy-leathery wine tannins slap you across the face (albeit gently), loads of chocolate, more Eatmore and Snickers, big bold spices more hot white pepper, cayenne and cloves; prunes and other dark fruits with a touch of smoky bacon. Finish: big, long, spicy and rich; spices and leather cling to the palate while the chocolate and dark fruits slowly fade out. Comment: this is a bit of a beast, however an interesting one; big flavors, some good complexity and a long robust finish; a cigar malt.” –$240

Year End Inventory Clearance Sale 

All In-Stock Whiskies Discounted 10-30%!

Sale Rules

1. Sale is this weekend only, now through midnight Sunday January 29, 2017,pricing will not be extended.
2. All in stock Whiskies, with a few exceptions (noted below) are at least 10% off. Many other selected whiskies and other sprits are discounted 15 to 30% and are listed below.
3. All in stock Wine is at least 15% off with some much better deals.
4. Scotch Malt Whisky Society Whiskies and Membership Kits are not on sale!
5. Sale is in store and online only. No phone orders please! You may reply to me by email.
6. Payment must be provided at the time of purchase for online and email orders. No layaways.
7. Sale is on in stock items only, with the exception of KWM exclusives, on which we will honour the discount, should we run out. These items are in bold text.
8. The sale prices will not be extended beyond Sunday January 29, 2017, nor will they be applied retroactively.
9. No additional discounts or promotions can be applied to these discounts.
10. In the event of a discrepancy in price the Point of Sale at Kensington Wine Market will be taken as correct.
11. Prices quoted below are regular retail, before discounts, and do not include GST.

All in Stock Bourbon at least 10% off!

All in Stock Canadian Whiskies at least 10% off!

All in Stock Single Malt Whiskies at least 10% off!

All other World Whisky Styles at least 10% off!

Save 15%

1. Arran 2008 KWM Cask 1131 – Regular $105
2. Arran 1997 KWM Cask 1085 – Regular $145
3. Bowmore 23 Year Port Matured – Regular $660
4. Cadenhead 13 Year Irish Single Malt – Regular $130
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Burnside 1989 – Regular $335
6. Cadenhead Small Batch Cambus 1988 – Regular $270
7. Cadenhead Small Batch Dufftown 1978 – Regular $620
8. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Elgin 1991 – Regular $178
9. Cadenhead Small Batch Linkwood 1987 – Regular $340
10. Cadenhead Small Batch Tullibardine 1993 – Regular $215
11. Eiling Lim Glenlossie 23 Year – Regular $475Eiling Lim Older Thank Old – Regular $305
12. G&M Caol Ila 2006 KWM Cask 306200 Sherry – Regular $130G&M Caol Ila 2005 KWM Cask 302022 – Regular $135
13. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Inchgower 2005 – Regular $100
14. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Tomatin 1997 – Regular $180
15. G&M Distillery Label Glenburgie 10 Year – Regular $80
16. G&M Imperial 1996 – Regular $200
17. Glencadam 10 Year – Regular $75
18. Jack Wiebers Invergrordon 1972 – Regular $350
19. Kilchoman 2011 KWM PX Cask 446 – Regular $160
20. Maltbarn Auchentoshan 1992 – Regular $295Maltbarn Glen Garioch 1993 – Regular $290
21. Maltbarn Tullibardine 1989 – Regular $360
22. Old Malt Cask Arran 19 Year – Regular $170
23. Old Malt Cask Fettercairn 18 Year – Regular $147
24. Old Malt Cask Strathmill 21 Year – Regular $169
25. Sansibar Springbank 1993 22 Year – Regular $600
26. Shelter Point Inaugural Run Single Malt – Regular $83
27. Signatory Cambus 1991 52.3% – Regular $195
28. Signatory Cambus 1991 53.9% – Regular $200
29. Signatory Clynelish 1995 Decanter – Regular $190
30. Signatory Glen Keith 1992 – Regular $220
31. Signatory Imperial 1995 – Regular $225
32. Signatory Mortlach 1991 – Regular $340
33. Signatory Port Dundas 1991 – Regular $230
34. Sovereign Cambus 40 Year – Regular $440
35. Springbank Society Longrow 13 Year – Regular $175 (You need to be a member)
36. The Whisky Agency Cambus 1988 – Regular $265
37. Sonoma Rye Whiskey Cask Strength – Regular $100
38. The Whisky Agency Ben Nevis 1996 – Regular $255

Save 20%

1. Ardbeg Perpetuum – Regular $135
2. Ballechin Discovery Series #6 Bourbon – Regular $150
3. Ballechin Discovery Series #7 Bordeaux – Regular $150
4. Ballechin Discovery Series #8 Sauternes – Regular $150
5. Berry’s Own Blue Hanger 11^th Release – Regular $165
6. Berry’s Own Caol Ila 1997 – Regular $190
7. Berry’s Own Deanston 1997 – Regular $170
8. Berry’s Own Glen Grant 1995 – Regular $150
9. Berry’s Own Glengoyne 2000 – Regular $150
10. Canadian Club 100% Rye Old Fashioned Kit – Regular $40
11. Cadenhead Small Batch BenRiach 1986 – Regular $350
12. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenallachie 1992 – Regular $190
13. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenburgie 1992 – Regular $220
14. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenlivet 1972 – Regular $800
15. Cadenhead Small Batch Miltonduff 1978 – Regular $620
16. Cadenhead Small Batch Strathmill 1992 – Regular $235
17. Cooper’s Choice Highland Park 20 Year Madeira Finish – Regular $275
18. First Edition BenRiach 1989 – Regular $275
19. Heads & Tails Glen Garioch 1992 – Regular $315
20. Old Malt Cask Miltonduff 20 Year – Regular $220
21. Old Malt Cask Jura 24 Year – Regular $200
22. Signatory Fettercairn 1988 – Regular $270
23. Signatory Glen Keith 1995 – Regular $120
24. Wilson & Morgan Invergordon 30 Year- Regular $315

Save 25%

1. BenRiach 1996 KWM Cask 189
2. Bernheim Kentucky Wheat KWM Cask – Regular $69.99
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Cameronbridge 1989 – Regular $235
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Cragganmore 1993 – Regular $195
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Moray 1998 – Regular $148
6. Cadenhead Small Batch North British 1985 – Regular $220
7. Cadenhead Small Batch Royal Brackla 1976 – Regular $620
8. Cadenhead Small Batch Tomintoul 1985 – Regular $445
9. Dalwhinnie 25 Year – Regular $680
10. First Edition Highland Park 1997 – Regular $280
11. G&M Glenrothes Quaich Cask 8720 – $185
12. Glen Breton Jardine Reserve 25 Year – Regular $825
13. Johnny Walker Odyssey – Regular $2100
14. KWM 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar – Regular $400
15. Strathmill 25 Year – Regular $520
16. The Whisky Agency Glen Keith 1996 – Regular $240
17. The Whisky Agency Speyside Region 1998 – Regular $200
18. Xtra Old Particular Port Ellen 32 Year – Regular $2050

Save 30%

1. Wilson & Morgan Glenrothes 25 Year – Regular $50

All 50ml Bottles of Scotch 15%

1. A.D. Rattrary Cask Islay 50ml – Regular $11
2. Ardbeg Uigeadail 50ml – Regular $15
3. Arran 12 Year Cask Strength 50ml – Regular $7
4. Balblair 2005 50ml – Regular $14
5. BenRiach 10 Year Curiositas 50ml – Regular $10
6. BenRiach 12 Year Sherry Wood Matured 50ml – Regular $10
7. Compass Box Great King Street 50ml 50ml – Regular $6
8. G&M Conn Choice Tomatin 1997 50ml – Regular $18
9. G&M Conn Choice Inchgower 2005 50ml – Regular $13
10. G&M Glenburgie 10 Year 50ml – Regular $11
11. G&M Miltonduff 10 Year 50ml – Regular $11
12. Glendronach 8 Year The Hielan 50ml – Regular $10
13. Glengoyne 18 Year 50ml – Regular $12
14. Glenfarclas 40 Year 50ml – Regular $55
15. Glenmorangie Original 10 Year 50ml – Regular $7.50
16. Hyde 10 Year Sherry Finish 50ml – Regular $12
17. Kavalan Bourbon 46% 50ml – Regular $15
18. Kilchoman 2010 KWM PX Cask 446 50ml – Regular $15
19. Kilchoman Sanaig 50ml – Regular $18
20. Macallan 1824 Gold 50ml – Regular $9
21. Teeling Single Grain 50ml – Regular $8
22. Tomatin Cask Strength 50ml – Regular $9

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

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

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

2017 is the 175th Anniversary of Cadenhead’s – Scotland’s oldest independent bottler established 1842 by William Cadenhead.

To mark this great event we in London have decided to start the year with a raffle to raise fund’s for the Samaritans who offer vital support to people of all ages who feel under pressure with life in general. We all know things can and do happen that challenge us in various aspects of life, for some the events can lead to devastating consequences.

The idea for this event came about a few months ago after a young person stepped in-front of a train I was traveling on coming back to London.

A number of things happened after the tragedy, firstly some people who had little or no sympathy called the victim selfish and a coward! This shocked me deeply as they and indeed I had no knowledge of this person or what they went through. To offer an ill judged opinion was, I felt, disgusting and deeply wrong. Thankfully most felt concern for the family who must now cope with the consequences of the afternoons events

Talking to one mother who was having to deal with her children, she talked about her own younger sister who also decided to end her life.

As we chatted I recalled my own cousin who tried so many times to take his life, eventually doing so. We all felt confused and guilty because we kept thinking why did we not do more, what else could we or should we have done? The more I talked to others the more I discovered the terrible tole of so many young lives lost in much the same way, friends and family left confused or feeling a deep guilt because they felt they let the person down.

The pressure people feel can at times be overwhelming, especially if you are under economic pressure or struggling to cope with life in general, there is also the new problems around social media and the young. How many times have we seen the wholesale dismissal of young people in the media ignoring the fact that most young people today are far more advanced than in my youth or the youth of the reporters and political class who ignore their plight or dismiss concerns taking away hope they will be listened to!
Lets not forget the pressure young people face from education, endless exams and testing as well as the issue of debt if they want to go to university, or if they choose to look for work then its another issue with housing costs!

Of course the issues we all face, young or old, need to be addressed, anyone of us could find we are feeling desperate, lonely or finding it hard to cope. So many things can and will happen of course but we just don’t know if one of those events is enough for us to feel the need to end things.

So what can we do?

1. Ignore it or as some say forget it as it’s too difficult a subject to deal with! Or assume it will never happen to us or our loved ones.
2. Try in some small way to help give as many people as possible the road to the valuable support they might need via people like the Samaritans who never judge they just help.

Why are we doing this fundraiser?

Sometimes we can surrounded by friends and family but we might also feel isolated in some way, a kind of disconnect if you like. The fear that those we are closest to will feel hurt or be less than understanding. The voice of someone not connected to us can do far more to help us move forward with some hope.

Over 590 young people between 10 & 24 years old took their lives in the UK in 2014 alone, can we simply ignore this or should we do our small part to help the Samaritans? Without the work and support of the Samaritans the situation would be far worse.

The Draw

We have a series of bottles in the raffle ranging in prices from £50 to several £100’s, the prize is growing so much so we will be drawing a bottle and then the winner for that vintage. It will be done using prizes numbered from 1 to say 10, we wont know what prize is in each carton as these will be packed and numbered by customers not staff members weeks before the draw in mid March 2017.

Tickets will be available online from today until March 15th. The draw will take place on Tuesday 21st of March 2017 at around 5:45PM until the last prize is drawn we hope by 7:00PM. The winning order/raffle number’s will be drawn by an independent person/s. We will call or email the winners as soon as the draw is done.

Price for each ticket is £5.50 with all profits going to the Samaritans.

BUY YOUR RAFFLE TICKET HERE

A huge thanks to all those who have supported us in setting this vent up.

• Cadenhead’s
• Springbank Distillery
• Gordon & Macphails
• Paul John
• And some pretty amazing customers who have also given some gems to the cause.

Stephen

The Samaritans is a registered charity. Registration Number 268293

The Milroys Insider.

Patricks Picks. Vol. 1

~Weekly insight into the best of the best~

STAGG JUNIOR RETURNS TO MILROYS.
Looking for a bottle of Stagg Junior? Can’t find it anywhere else? Not to worry, we have stock!
Order direct from our website or call the shop on 0207 734 2277.

Stagg Jr shares many characteristics with its older brother George T Stagg. It’s big, it’s bold and it’s high strength! The first batch has been aged for between 8 and 9 years with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavours. Bold, brave and burley. The younger brother of the Stagg senior, this bittersweet dram is something to be witnessed and drunk with caution at 66.05%, it’s a bourbon fans dream without breaking your wallet.

BUY NOW

Ralfy sails into the Atlantic off the coast of Africa with Whisky Review 620 – Glenfiddich 19yo Madeira cask finish.

Universal Whisky Experience, 1621 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose Springbank.

Hello everyone!

I hope 2017 is treating you well so far. I’m sure it is. We are all back at work, some of our sales team have even been away to whisky shows already. Life in Campbeltown plows on as usual, largely unaffected by the outside world. It has not been that cold though (relatively speaking) considering it is January in Scotland. I’m sure winter will come.

And when it does we have whisky to keep us warm and on that note…

I am pleased to be writing to you all to talk about 2 Springbank releases.

Springbank 25yo

Yes, it’s finally ready. After unfortunate delays, I am pleased to say the new Springbank 25yo (46% abv) is bottled and ready to go.

Tasting notes

Nose: Lots of fruit with a mixture of grapefruit peel, dried tropical fruits, wine gums and a touch of cassis

Palette: Orange peel, honeycomb, brandy snaps, black pepper and tobacco leaf

Finish: Mineral notes combining with fennel, tea leaf and leather against a background of soft burning embers

It is available in our Campbeltown Cadenhead shop now and elsewhere in the UK from the end of this week. Releases in other countries/markets will vary throughout the weeks ahead. Please contact your local retailers and stockists for more information, details of whom can be found by visiting shop@wmcadenhead.com .

If you would like to buy it directly from us you can contact our Campbeltown Cadenhead shop by calling +44 (0)1586 551710 or email shop@wmcadenhead.com. I will not be taking orders for this as I am not aware of our shop’s stock or allocation. There will be approximately 900 bottles available worldwide.

Need to know:

• The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling the Springbank 25yo for £350.00
• This is not a Society exclusive bottle
• This is not considered a core product so there will be no Society discount on this bottling.

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength

The second bottling I am happy to tell you all about is the Springbank 12yo CS, matured in 70% Sherry casks, 30% Bourbon casks and bottled at 54.2%.

Tasting notes

Nose: Forest full of pine and chestnut trees with iodine and a hint of peat

Palette: rich citrus marmalade on toast and toasted marshmallows, hint of vanilla and pepper. Meaty.

Finish: Viscous, with salty edge. Ham join marinated in a honey sauce.

It is available in our Campbeltown Cadenhead shop now and elsewhere in the UK from the end of this week. Releases in other countries/markets will vary throughout the weeks ahead. Please contact your local retailers and stockists for more information, details of whom can be found by visiting http://www.springbankwhisky.com/distributors/.If you would like to buy it directly from us you can contact our Campbeltown Cadenhead shop by calling +44 (0)1586 551710 or email shop@wmcadenhead.com. I will not be taking orders for this as I am not aware of our shop’s stock or allocation.

Need to know:

• The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling the Springbank 12yo Cask Strength for £47.00
• This is not a Society exclusive bottle
• This is a core product so the Society discount does apply on this bottling!

As you should all see below, there are some product sheets attached to this email which has tasting notes and other product information on them in a bit more detail than I included above. I am sure we shall all speak soon.

Slainte,

Nathan

For the Springbank Society

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/officialspringbankwhisky/

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/Springbank1828

Instagram –  Search Springbank Whisky (@springbankwhisky1828)

(I hope enough of you got the Trainspotting reference at the start of the newsletter)

Please contact Nathan if you wish to join the Springbank Society

Hi folks. We are making a change to our terms and conditions. From the 71st auction there will be a new insert fee of £15 for non-alcohol items. Cask ends, paintings, prints, magazines, books, glasses, toys, water jugs etc will have the higher charge levied. These items are very bulky or awkward to handle and pack and therefore take up more time than bottles of whisky.

Regards from Glasgow

The SWA Team

Morning, everyone! Old Islay whiskies are something to be thoroughly enjoyed by all. There’s something very distinctive about having that smoke element die down and allowing those big, exotic, oak driven fruit flavours to shin through. This one specifically has that in bucket loads.  

Caol Ila may be the largest distillery in Islay, and a lot of it’s stock gets used for blending, but what is bottled is always fantastic! When it’s above the age of 18 years old, it’s something to be put on a plinth and celebrated in as many ways as possible. Enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/eejnsTyCWR8

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 151: Smoking Buffalo 8th Edition (Caol Ila)

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a special peated whisky. Smoking Buffalo is a label from a Belgian bottler under which they release peated whisky to honor the local football club AA Gent. For this 8th edition, they bottled a feisty Caol Ila 2010 at cask strength, a whopping 60,5% ABV. It turns out this is the ideal winter dram. The video was shot at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

https://youtu.be/JQcEsYcQhBQ