Malt Messenger Bulletin – Fall 2016 Tasting Schedule, Whisky Advent 2016 & More – Whisky News
Malt Messenger Bulletin – Fall 2016 Tasting Schedule, Whisky Advent 2016 & More
I hope you all had a wonderful summer! I’m just back from a little break, and it was wonderful. I am feeling rejuvenated and refreshed which is good, because there is a lot coming down the pipe and a lot to do. We have a very full fall tasting schedule, some exciting new exclusives and single casks. There is also our Kensington Wine Market 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar… lots to do and lots to discuss, so lets get to it.
We have had a flurry of orders for the 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar over the last week as our early bird deadline approached. It was Thursday, but in case you missed it we’ve decided to extend it until midnight Sunday. So you have just under 36 hours left, to get in your request and save $35 on the 2016 edition. It is full of all new whiskies, none of the bottlings have been featured in the previous two editions, and there’s a very special Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling this year. You won’t want to miss out. Order before the end of September 18 and save $35 off the $400+GST retail price.
Our Fall 2016 Kensington Wine Market Tasting Schedule has been live for a few weeks! We have lots of exciting new wine, beer, whisky and other spirit tastings. Our Fall Single Malt Festival has sold out, but there are 7 days of whisky Master Classes in November to check out, and also a release party for our exciting new Glenfarclas 25 Year Cask Strength, bottled to mark our 25th Anniversary next year!
Some cool new whiskies came in over the summer, like our Alberta exclusive Shelter Point Inaugural Run Single Malt. It has been a big hit and flying off the shelves. So has the Inaugural release of Wolfburn Single Malt, from the northernmost mainland distillery in Scotland. Most impressive is the new Glengoyne 25 Year, a stunning new sherried single malt from the Highland distillery just north of Glasgow. At $410, it is very well priced for its quality when compared to some other famous 25 year olds on the market. And the staff all love it!
Lots to look forward to in the months ahead as well, including the Glenmorangie Milsean, the distillery’s 2016 Private Collection release. We have an open bottle at the shop if you want to give it a try before placing an order. It is due in store in October. We also have some pre-order details on the Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 3rd Edition, both the standard edition and the Collectors Edition. Details below.
Finally, Kensington Wine Market is the liquor sponsor for the Rocky Mountain Smokeout, Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1 at the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino. We’ll be bringing some fine whisky, rum and port to pair with the cigars on offer. More details below.
Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger Bulletin, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or if you’d like to place an order.
Slainte!
Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market
In this Edition
- Kensington Wine Market 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar
- Fall 2016 Tasting Schedule
- Introducing Shelter Point Inaugural Run Single Malt
- Introducing Wolfburn Single Malt First Release
- Introducing Glengoyne 25 Year
- Ardbeg Coming & Going
- Coming Soon: Glenmorangie Milsean
- Coming Soon: Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar
- Coming Soon: Rum’s Revenge
PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:
twitter.com/scotch_guy, Instagram: instagram.com/kensingtonwm/
and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .
2016 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar
Early bird deadline extended until Sunday, September 18!
For the 3rd year in a row, Kensington Wine Market is producing its own Whisky Advent Calendar. 2014 and 2015’s editions were a huge hit, and sold out well before the start of Advent. Save $35 by pre-ordering your calendar before September 18.
We are really excited about our 2016 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. For the third straight year we have designed and built our own exclusive Whisky Advent Calendar, featuring a custom logo Glencairn glass, 24 50ml whiskies and a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (The Society). The Society is the world’s largest whisky club, and bottles whiskies exclusively for its members. This year’s Calendar has a single cask from the Society that has been selected and bottled exclusively for the Calendar and Canadian Society members (750ml bottles will be made available to Society members in January!). In collaboration with the Society’s Canadian branch, we were even given the opportunity to name the whisky… Since Society whiskies are exclusively available to Society members, this is an opportunity for non-members to get their hands on a Society whisky. Recipients of the KWM Whisky Advent Calendar will be the first people to sample this exciting new whisky!
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. 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.
Save $35 by ordering before September 18. A $150 deposit will be taken per calendar requested starting on August 1st. The balance will be charged when the calendar is ready for pickup!
Pre-Order a Kensington Wine Market 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar $364.99+GST (until September 18).
Fall 2016 Tasting Schedule
Lots of exciting new events, and some are filling quickly, so don’t doddle!
Our 2016 Fall Tasting Schedule went live in late August while I was away. The day I came home my team informed me that our Fall Single Malt Festival had already sold out… not all that surprising as it is always popular. But I know there are some disappointed people out there who wish they could have taken part. I hope you will console yourself in one of our other great tastings this fall. We have our Whisky Week tastings, featuring Master Classes with Brand Ambassadors from: Bruichladdich, Springbank, Gordon MacPhail/Benromach, Kilchoman, Old Pulteney, Balbliar, Glencadam and Tomintoul. There are also some great wine and beer tastings to tempt your palate. All of our spirit tastings are listed below!
- Canadian Single Malt Whisky – Tuesday September 20 – 7PM – With the explosion in micro distilling in Canada, it’s time to have another look at Canadian single malt whisky. We’ll showcase expressions from Glen Breton, Stalk & Barrel, Yukon Brewing & Distilling and Shelter Point, including the oldest Canadian single malt ever bottled at 25 years! – $40
- Lagavulin @ 200 – Thursday September 22 – 7PM – 200 years is quite a milestone, so we’re celebrating everything Lagavulin. We’ll sample four distillery expressions including the 200th Anniversary bottling and some other “probably Lagavulins” to mark the occasion! – SOLD OUT
- Rare Malts – Thursday October 13 – 7PM – Only the rarest whiskies, those 20+ years of age, those from closed distilleries and/or the exceptionally rare qualify for this tasting. – $85
- Spirit of the Speyside – Tuesday October 18 – 7PM – The heart of Scotland’s whisky industry is home to more than half of the country’s distilleries. We will journey from Elgin, through Rothes, Aberlour, Dufftown and Keith on a tasting of discovery. – $40
- Bruichladdich Progressive Hebridean Distillers – Sunday October 30 – 2 Sessions: 2-4PM (NEW) & 5-7PM (1 spot left) – Brand Ambassador Lynn McEwan (Jim’s daughter) will walk us through a range of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore, including a trio of new 10 year olds! – $25
- Spooky Springbank – Monday October 31 – 7PM – Ok, so there is nothing spooky about Springbank, but I can’t think of a more fitting distillery to mark All Hallow’s Eve than Springbank. Brand Ambassador Melanie Stranger will take us through a range of whiskies from Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery, including the new Kilkerran 12 Year from their sister distillery Glengyle! – $35
- Glorious Gordon & MacPhail – Tuesday November 1 – 7PM – We’ll sample our two new Kensington Wine Market Caol Ila single casks along with some other G&M and Benromach expressions with Brand Ambassador Richard Urquhart. – $50
- anCnoc, Balblair, Old Pulteney & Speyburn – Thursday November 3 – 7PM – We’ll sample selected whiskies from these 4 Highland & Speyside distilleries, with Brand Ambassador Lukasz Dynowiak. Expect more than a few gems! – $40
- Kilchoman 100% Islay – Friday November 4 – 7PM – Distillery founder Anthony Wills will be on hand for a Kilchoman Master Class featuring a new KWM exclusive cask, the new Sanaig release and a range of other very peaty malts! – $30
- Glencadam & Tomintoul Distilleries – Saturday November 5 – 1PM – Iain Fortheath of Angus Dundee Distillers will be presenting whiskies from the Glencadam and Tomintoul Distilleries. Iain is self-described: “Raconteur, International man of mystery, World Cheese Eating Champion.” – $20
- Fall Single Malt Festival – Thursday November 10 – 7PM – Our famous biannual whisky festival featuring over 100 single malt whiskies. Space is limited to the first 100 to sign up, and tickets go fast. Pre-Christmas sale prices will be in effect. – SOLD OUT
- Master Malt – Thursday November 24 – 7PM – Only the rarest and very special whiskies are showcased at this tasting which always highlights some of the most exciting new whiskies in the world! – $125
- Glenfarclas 25 Year Cask Strength Launch – Tuesday November 29 – 7PM – Kensington Wine Market is turning 25 years old in 2017 and to help us celebrate Glenfarclas is bottling a special cask strength version of their 25 year old. – $25
View our full KWM Fall Tasting Schedule and Register Online, or call 403-283-8000.
Introducing: Shelter Point Inaugural Run Single Malt
The first ever release from the Vancouver Island distillery is exclusive to KWM in Alberta!
The first ever release from the Shelter Point distillery on Vancouver island is exclusive in Alberta to KWM. Bottled at 46%, the whisky is made from two row barley, grown on the distillery’s farm, doubled distilled in copper pot stills and matured in American oak.
Originally this first ever release of single malt whisky from a new Canadian distillery was not supposed to come to Alberta or the rest of Canada at all! But we weren’t prepared to let that be the final word, especially after sampling it. So we begged and pleaded and the distillery agreed to give us exclusivity on the whisky in Alberta!
Shelter Point Inaugural Run Single Malt – 46% – American Oak – Andrew’s Tasting Note:
“Nose: fresh, floral and fruity, honey and loads of malt; very doughy, dried orange cubes, very sugary and baked apples with cinnamon. Palate: thick, honeyed and malty with prominent licorice and loads of sugars including white, brown sugar and darker Demerara; still floral and vegetal with crisp toasty oak. Finish: long, coating and malty with touches of spice, oak, white fruit, sugars and spice. Comment: if this is a hint of things to come, then Shelter Point is on the right track, young but balanced and complex.” – $80
Pre-order Shelter Point Inaugural Run Single Malt – $80+GST
Introducing The Wolfburn Single Malt First Release
The first ever whisky release from the new northern-most distillery in Scotland, is coming first to the Kensington Wine Market!
Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to be the first store in Canada to launch the new Wolfburn single malt. It has been bottled at 46% after just three years in Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry quarter casks which previously held Islay whiskies. The early reviews are pretty good, considering the spirit is still young, just 3 years old. $85
In May of 2011 a team went in search of the long lost distillery of Wolfburn, which closed for ever some 150 years ago. Nothing of the original distillery survived except the cold clean water they used to produce their spirit. The following year, again in May, work began to rebuild what would supplant Old Pulteney as the northernmost mainland distillery. Construction was completed with impressive speed in just 7 months, and on Robbie Burns Day 2013 (January 25th) spirit began to flow off the stills for the first time.
Although the original Wolfburn was in its heyday one of the largest distilleries in the Highlands, all of the whisky it produced would have been consumed in the surrounding area, and there are no surviving bottles or traces of its whisky. The owners of the new Wolfburn distillery have a blank slate from which to craft the new whisky. At the moment they are primarily producing unpeated malt.
Tasting Note by Serge at whiskyfun.org 85pts: “The very first official whisky by Thurso’s Wolfburn Distillery! Some trustworthy sources say they’ve bottled no less than 62.000 bottles of this new baby, that’ll be out a little later this month. It’s a 3 years old, obviously. We already tried a 20 month old last year, and found it good. Colour: white wine. Nose: Very fresh, with white asparagus and green apples (not the other way ’round), then a welcome touch of ink, ‘new magazine’, a smidgen of curry and caraway, and damp chalk. That’s all very nice, it seems that there’s some texture. That was the case with the 20 mo, but that one was ex-Islay cask. No roughness in this genuine whisky. Mouth: there’s an unexpected smokiness in the arrival, some branches and grass, a touch of blond tobacco, a little pepper, traces of soot, and again, maybe, some sweet white asparagus (which I simply adore). At the fruit department, rather plums than pears. Ripe greengages, I’d say. Very nice texture, slightly oily. Finish: medium, fresh, with fresh almonds and more greengages. Rather pink grapefruits in the aftertaste. Comments: thank you Alexander aus Aarau in der Schweiz! I find this little baby extremely good, and am so pleased that they didn’t decide to bury it under various heavy oaks and wines. The natural ones will win! Worth a very high score in my book, despite its very young age. SGP:551 – 85 points.”
Whisky Advocate Tasting Note 83pts: “The first release from Wolfburn distillery is 3 years old. Matured in a mix of Spanish and American oak quarter casks previously used by an Islay distillery. The nose is soft and belies its youth, offering vanilla, lemon, ginger, and light smoke. The early palate is grassy. Sweeter fruit notes soon develop with more vanilla and ginger, plus white pepper. The finish is quite long and slightly smoky. Much to look forward to as this ages!” (Summer 2016) Reviewed by: Gavin Smith
Pre-Order Wolfburn Single Malt First Release – $85+GST
Introducing Glengoyne 25 Year
The best new 25 year old on the market, and amazing value!
From the Distillery: “Matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry casks for a quarter of a century, this unique malt is an important addition to the Glengoyne collection. This bright amber beauty has red fruits, leather and brown sugar on the nose and soft oak, cinnamon, stewed fruits and a Seville marmalade tang on the palate.The finish is very long with spicy liquorice.
“The malt is presented in a new heavy bespoke bottle and outer box. The bottle features a fine metal stopper, crafted cartouche and delicately branded neck tag and is attractively displayed in an oak box interior which includes an engraved plinth. The elegant exterior has a refined feather pattern subtly varnished on the pack.”
Glengoyne 25 Year – 48% – Matured in Ex-Sherry – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: muscular but restrained sherry tones, Christmas cake, baker’s chocolate, dark fruits and spices with soft leather and tobacco; as you settle into it some hints of more tropical fruits emerge with cloves, a faint whiff of smoke and Dutch licorice. Palate: big, round and fruity, loads more Christmas cake and dark fruits, bakers chocolate and dark-chocolate caramel sea salt tarts (the kind Rebecca of the old Nectar Desert bar in Inglewood used to make); layers of fruit flavoured Jelly Bellies and Jujubes, soft new leather tobacco pouches, cedar shavings and firm toaste oak; bright Seville oranges and Pedro Ximenez sherry. Finish: medium-long, rich, fruity and coating with caramels and chocolate; the leather, tobacco and spices linger longest. Comment: wow, best whisky I’ve tasted this week, can’t wait to get more (ETA October), this does not disappoint! – $409.99
91pts Serge at whiskyfun.org : “All ex-sherry, so we may expect something bold. Colour: deep amber. Nose: old style, old quality, this is good oldness. It is a rather smoky sherry, with some burnt matches and quite some used gunpowder, and I firmly believe those noses are assets to this style. Then our famous Christmas cakes, dried figs and raisins, the slightest touch of ginger and caraway, certainly cloves and oranges, tobacco, some black nougat, some chocolate, whiffs of mint… So yes, this is super-classic sherried malt whisky. Some Macallans of old spring to my mind. Mouth: 48% is a strength that works very well. It’s less smooth and rounded than expected – but I wouldn’t say it’s brutal of course – and rather on dark chocolate, coffee, and bitter oranges. A touch of Schweppes as well, quinine, then not-too-sweet black raisins and our beloved Christmas cake yet again. The ginger and nutmeg in the background hint at some pretty active oak. Finish: long and very chocolaty. More spicy marmalade in the aftertaste. Comments: a rich yet balanced baby, impeccable. Not many distilleries are still making this style in relatively large batches (I’m looking at you, M.!) SGP:562 – 91 points.”
Order Glengoyne 25 Year – $409.99
Ardbeg Coming & Going
As Dark Cove sells out, Perpetuum makes a surprising but limited return!
We are down to just a handful of bottles the new Ardbeg Dark Cove, but we’ve also just received some Ardbeg Perpetuum… Last year’s 200th Anniversary bottling. Get em while you can!
- Ardbeg Dark Cove – 46.5% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: At first meaty, earthy and spicy. Bold notes of dark chocolate emerge against orange, rich treacle toffee, coffee and oak. Wafts of a distant, smoky bonfire in the background, along with a mysterious floral note, like flowering blackcurrant bushes. And lashings of linseed oil. Taste: The mouthfeel is almost tart, or zesty lime. Raisins, dates, ginger and pepper spice surge forward, then retreat. Waves of smouldering charcoal, wood polish and huge, tarry creosote notes follow. Finally a more savoury note escapes; cured smoked ham and squid ink noodles. Finish: Long, spicy and rich with lingering notes of toffee, coffee and tar.” – $134.99
- Ardbeg Perpetuum 200th Anniversary – 47.4% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: decadent and creamy, floral peat, slightly burnt bacon and saline solution with creme brule and tangerines; a curious balance of vanilla, licorice and smoldering cedar shavings. Palate: very honeyed and creamy, some gentle oily-earthy peat, bacon dipped in maple syrup, barley sugars and more creme brule; the licorice note is still there with some darker fruits and spices; I still find the tangerine but with Five Alive fruit punch and a building salty maritime tarryness. Finish: long, coating and very soft for such a peaty maritime dram; the final flourish is oily and sweet with heathery floral overtones.” – $134.99
COMING SOON: Glenmorangie Milsean
The 2016 Private Collection Release!
This is the 2016 Private Collection release from Glenmorangie, in sharp packaging reminiscent of a candy striper! Milsean is Scots Gaelic for “sweet things” and is pronounced “meel-shawn”, and is composed of single malt matured in ex-Bourbon casks before extra maturing in re-toasted wine casks. This is the 7th annual release! ETA early October!
Glenmorangie Milsean – 46% – Matured Ex-Bourbon / Extra Matures in re-toasted wine casks – Evan & Hunter’s Tasting Note: “Nose: wine gums, , sultanas, butter tarts, sweet spices, ginger and cinnamon. Palate: sweet, creamy, and mouth coating. Red and black Nibs, juicy dark cherries, shortbread, gingerbread cookies, salt water taffy, sponge toffee, nectarines and buttered raisin toast. Finish: long, creamy, and sweet with spice and charred oak coming into prominence after a fashion.” – $114.99
COMING SOON: Scotch Whisky Advent 2016
Both regular and Collector’s Editions order now!
Ours is not the only spirited Advent calendar on the market, there are also a pair from Secret Spirits… a regular edition and a collector’s edition. I am only bringing in 10 of the regular edition and the Collector’s Edition by request. Please place a pre-order if you are interested in either!
- The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 3rd Edition – Includes 25 new 50ml Scotch whiskies from 10 independent bottlers, many of them single casks. Also in the mix a Tasting Glass, Lapel Pin, Embosed Brochure and Tasting Note Journal. – $439.99
- The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar Collector’s 3rd Edition – This calendar comes in a solid rosewood box with brass fittings and 25 unique 50ml Scotch whiskies. It includes a whisky Tasting Glass, Collectible Lapel Pin, Embossed Brochure and Tasting Notes Journal and a Special Gift. Only 100 produced globally. – $959.99
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
Owner & Operator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com
403-283-8000
