This week Joe Ellis reviews Ardbeg Alligator.

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We have been bitten by the Cocktail bug so we are launching The Whisky Shop Dufftown Speyside Spirit Cocktail competition. £250 whisky voucher for the winner which will be announced at The Whisky Shop Dufftown Autumn Festival. More details on our blog.

Like waiting for a bus nothing arrives then suddenly 2 appear at the same time! So it is with our next release of whiskies for summer 2015.

This is our Cadenhead’s authentic collection range, its is going to be a bumper crop of whiskies for all tastes. We have some rather rare vintages naturally from distilleries on Islay and a lowland demolished distillery bottling to tempt you with and a rather good collection from speyside and the highlands. Before I fill you in with the full list I have to let you know about a few products running out for the summer. Springbank 15 has sold out with the bond completely empty until the new bottling run sometime in August, Longrow is also in short supply all variants and so too is Hazelburn 10 that will be bottled later in the year I hope anyway. The Authentic collection Summer 2015 is listed in full at the end of this newsletter. ~ Stephen

Now onto the new releases listed below.

Unfortuanetly due to overwhelming demand the Ardberg 21 has already sold out but we have

Blair Athol Distillery 1989 26y/o 48.9% – Sherry since May 2008

Nose: Dry, with apricots, runny honey, toffee and a little nutty. Taste: Earthy, then dry sherry notes; ripe bananas with toffee sauce and then a hint of aniseed. Finish: Toffee apples, black cherries, mouth coating sherry and faint earthy notes.

Bowmore Distillery 1989 26y/o 56.5%

Nose: Passion fruit; peat; coal tar soap; soya sauce and quite malty. Kidney beans and green beans.Very sweet.  Taste: Initial peat, then some melted tar with bbq spare ribs and developing toffee notes. Finish: Burnt embers, dry peat with growing honey and almonds.

Bruichladdich Distillery 1992 22y/o 53.3%

Nose: Coconut shavings, macaroon bars and caramel. Un-ripe tomatoes and some chocolate. Taste: Lemony with white currants, millionaires shortbread and treacle with very faint Smoke. Finish: Quite flinty and dry with growing toffee notes.

Clynelish Distillery 1994 20y/o 55.4% – Sherrywood

Nose: Full on rich sherry, cigar boxes, figs, raisins. Cherry chocolates and lots of waxy spices. Taste: Dry and waxy notes battle through the sherry to reveal more herbal notes. peanuts, dry almonds, orange zest and honey. Finish: Good quality sweet vermouth and growing spiciness with lingering herbal notes.

Dalmore Distillery 1990 24y/o 54.9% – Rum since February 2006

Nose: Sweet rum notes with cream, eucalyptus, lime and white chocolate. Taste: Lots of golden rum, vanilla and hints of spice. Some grassier notes before chewier orange notes emerge. Finish: Creamy and fruity, with fruits becoming darker as time goes on.

Dufftown-Glenlivet Distillery 1988 26y/o 51%

Nose: Cured meats, Spanish sausage and baked camembert. Bay leaves and fresh melon. Taste: Initially spicy, then green bananas with pears and pecans. Finish: Fruit cake, marzipan and maple syrup.

Glencadam Distillery 1989 26y/o 55.3%

Nose: Very juicy oranges, barley sugar and pear drops. Fruit gums and some toffee aromas. Taste: Initially dry and then fruit explodes as the nose suggests – oranges, peaches and mangoes Finish: Longer than expected; fruit sweets with sesame seeds and a faint medicinal note.

Highland Park Distillery 1988 27y/o 53.3% – Claret since May 2008

Nose: Sweet oranges; effervescent; very fresh. Whipped cream with raspberry syrup, vanilla pods and cardamom Taste: Rich red fruits. More juicy orange notes and faint distant wood smoke with butterscotch notes. Finish: Growing toffee notes; faint cassis flavours with blood oranges, pink grapefruit and star anise.

Macduff Distillery 1989 26y/o 51%

Nose: Initially oily notes fade to reveal toffee, glacé cherries, cherry brandy and clotted cream. Taste: Chewy and meaty; stem ginger, rhubarb crumble and faint parma violets. Finish: Very mouth puckering with liquorice, dark fruits and more ginger.

Strathisla-Glenlivet Distillery 1989 25y/o 42.7%

Nose: Heavy fruits, blackcurrant jam, maple syrup and créme caramel. Taste: Dried apricots, soft woodiness, dried spices, marzipan, toffee and sweet vermouth. Finish: Honeycomb, strawberry sauce and butterscotch. Cherries and blood oranges.

Tamdhu-Glenlivet Distillery 1989 25y/o 53.3%

Nose: Minty, floral, heather and quite buttery. Some light pickle notes with melted white chocolate. Taste: More buttery notes come through along with limes, dried oranges and some waxiness. Finish: Soft woody, mossy notes and then citrus notes come through.

Tobermory Distillery 1994 20y/o 57.8% – Sherrywood

Nose: Cacao; plums; a touch of iodine and very meaty with lots of blackcurrant notes. Taste: Slightly salty. Pastrami with liquorice and cracked black pepper. Finish: Natural yoghurt with coffee beans, dark chocolate and fresh rhubarb

Dumbarton (Inverleven Stills) 1987 27y/o 53.9% Demolished Distillery Bottling

Nose: Sweet honey and vanilla. Pineapple and coconut with growing creamy cereal aromas. Taste: Slightly drying then becoming sweet and creamy. Nougat,strawberries and some malty notes. Finish: Very moreish! Grassy, limey and velvety smooth.

New Signatory TWE exclusive whiskies – a sherried trio

Over the past few years we’ve been working closely with some of the world’s best independent bottlers to release whiskies exclusive to The Whisky Exchange. We’ve produced a range of great bottlings, but we’ve returned to one producer more than the rest – Signatory Vintage.

Casks and casks and casks and casks and…

Andrew Symington and his team have an incredible range of casks in their warehouses at Edradour, and despite having seen inside a few years ago, I’m still impressed by the whiskies that they’ve given us the opportunity to have as exclusives.

This time we have three exclusive single casks: Clynelish 1996, Laphroaig 1998 and Glenlivet 1981.

GLENLIVET 1981, 33 YEARS OLD. REFILL SHERRY HOGSHEAD #9464. 175 BOTTLES. 51% ABV

It was the Glenlivet that started it all. Last year, we chose an excellent 1981 vintage from the distillery and decided that we wanted another. Fortunately they had a sister cask – #9464 compared to last year’s #9460 – and with a bit of cajoling they let us have it as an exclusive release.

Nose: Barley sugar, light fruit cake, salted caramel, poached apples and pears, Demerara sugar, flapjacks and hints of honeysuckle.

Palate: Lots of cream and grain to start, with orchard fruit bursting through the middle after a few moments. Darker notes develop and sit around the sides of the palate – sweet liquorice and stewed fruit – with cinnamon spice and crunchy apples building down the centre.

Finish: Apple and spice to start, fading to creamy apple sauce and a lingering hint of anise.

Comment: A sweet and fruity dram which has a well-balanced spiciness. Perfectly aged, with the cask allowing the orchard-fruit character of Glenlivet to shine through.

Clynelish 1996, 18 years old. Refill sherry butt #6509. 606 bottles. 55.5% ABV

At the same time as asking about the Glenlivet, we decided not to waste the opportunity and requested a few more samples. First on our list, as it often is, was Clynelish. Last time we bottled a Clynelish with Signatory, a 1995 vintage, we were blown away by the quality of the whiskies they had to choose from. Asking for a similar cask was not a difficult decision.

While they were both matured in refill-sherry casks, the first was a classic Clynelish with sherry notes that grew the longer you left it in the glass, whereas this new one is quite the opposite:

Nose: It starts dark and rich, with layers of polished leather, warm raisins, rich earth, bark, damp wax jackets and spiced baked apples. However, behind that are softer, sweeter notes, with honeysuckle, apple blossom and sweet fruit.

Palate: After the heaviness of the nose, the palate starts surprisingly soft and rounded, with sponge-cake batter and sweet raisins accompanying spicy ground cinnamon. Apples and aniseed balls come in behind that, with fruity dark chocolate and vanilla cream icing softening the spicy heat. As the fruity core fades, rich earthy notes develop with soft nutmeg and stewed fruit.

Finish: Long and lingering, starting with caraway-spiced shortbread and apple crisps, before fading to rose water and dried fruit.

Comment: An intense, rich and mouth-watering dram, which opens up to reveal the traditional Clynelish fruitiness after a little time in the glass. One to savour as it develops.

LAPHROAIG 1998, 16 YEARS OLD. REFILL SHERRY BUTT #700389. 585 BOTTLES. 59.9%

For our final choice we wanted something smoky, and remembering the range of casks in the warehouses from Laphroaig, we asked for one.

They sent over a selection of samples, and while there were stunningly fruity ex-bourbon casks, it was a refill sherry butt that we liked the best. Similar to the last cask of Laphroaig that Signatory bottled for us – a whisky that went on to win Whisky Advocate magazine’s Islay Single Malt of the Year 2014 award – it was just what we were looking for.

Nose: Rich and earthy to start, with damp soil, mulchy leaves and Laphroaig’s classic coastal notes – rock pools and sea spray. Leather jackets and raisins sit behind that, with medicinal notes bringing up the rear – TCP and menthol – along with bacon-tinged smoke. With time in the glass, sweet fruity notes step out from behind the smoke – candied lime, apple and star fruit.

Palate: Mineral-led, with slates and damp limestone joined by spiced apples and pears at the front of the palate. The flavours grow more intense, with Fisherman’s Friends, liquorice, dark chocolate and leather spreading across the palate. Despite the dark flavours and weightiness of the dram, it is still remarkably fresh, with the darker notes balanced by sweet fruit and a touch of salty caramel.

Finish: Sweet and spicy, with chocolate raisins, burnt fruit cake and cinnamon fireballs. The finish fades though fruit cake to fresh apple and lingering peat smoke.

Comment: A densely flavoured whisky which successfully balances pungently peaty Laphroaig with sherry cask spice and sweet fruity notes. A dram that rewards a long examination – give it some time in the glass to reveal its secrets and you won’t be disappointed.

All three whiskies are available online and in our shop now.

They say time flies when you’re having fun and the last few months have certainly flown by so clearly I’m having a great time. It’s been a busy year thus far and the last three months have been especially so since purchasing the store. For starters we launched a new website and I spent two and a half weeks crisscrossing Scotland looking for new whiskies. A few weeks after returning from Scotland Hunter and I hit the Bourbon Trail looking for new Bourbons. You be happy to know we have a couple coming!

I am in the process of putting the final touches on a full edition Malt Messenger, scheduled for next week. It is full of exciting news, tasting notes and new tastings. But it’s been a while since you last heard from the Malt Messenger, and I do have news which just can’t wait.

Our most exciting news is that we have started taking orders for the 2015 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. This is our 3rd year in the calendar game and our 2nd producing our own in-house edition. Last year’s calendar was a huge success and sold out before it even hit the shelves. We feel this year’s calendar is even better and we expect it won’t last long either.

We are also just two weeks away from our Whiskies of Summer Mini Festival. This Mini Festival will feature over 90 whiskies focusing primarily on lighter style Single Malts, Blends, Bourbons and other whiskies. But, there will be some heavier malt too, to keep some of you anoraks keen! The festival is already half sold out and will take place Thursday July 30th at KWM. The price is $50.

The next Malt Messenger will fill you in on a lot of the new whiskies we’ve seen over the last few months with details and tasting notes. For those who can’t wait a week, you will find a summary of highlights below. I also want to  remind you that the Ardbeg Perpetuum is here.

I hope this wee Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well and I look forward to welcoming you at the shop sometime soon.

Sláinte!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Edition

1. TAKING PRE-ORDERS: 2015 KWM WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR
2. WHISKIES OF SUMMER FESTIVAL – JULY 30th
3. ARDBEG PERPETUUM IS HERE!
4. SUMMARY OF NEW WHISKIES

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: scotch_guy, Facebook: scotch.guy.1 and Instagram: kensingtonwm.

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

TAKING PRE-ORDERS FOR THE 2015 KENSINGTON WINE MARKET WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR! 

25 More Days of Dram Fine Whisky...   

Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Advent Calendar is back! Last year’s calendar, our second and the first one we produced entirely in house, was a huge hit. It sold out  before it hit the shelves. This year’s is even better.  It still includes 24 x 50ml whiskies and a custom Glencarin whisky glass. But, that is not all! We are offering an even wider range of whiskies and we are also including an extra 25th bottle. As a special treat for Christmas morning, there will be a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottling. This is a rare treat indeed, and usually only available to Society members. All of this year’s whiskies are different from 2014 and we are really excited about the range. There are 23 single malts from Scotland, Ireland, India and Taiwan, as well as a boutique blend and a boutique blended malt. Whether it is for yourself or to give as a gift, we know it won’t disappoint. Don’t hesitate! This one is sure to sell out fast, and the price goes up September 15! 

You can pre-order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Advent Calendar online, by phone 403-283-8000 or in store. A $150 deposit will be taken for each calendar requested at the beginning of August. The calendars will be available at the “early bird price” of $375+GST. until September 15th. After September 15th the Calendar’s price will go up to $400+GST. The calendars should be ready for pickup before the end of October. 

The image shown is a sample of what the final product may look like! 

Pre-Order Your 2015 Whisky Advent Calendar Here! Please note some customer have been experiencing error messages ordering on line. If this is the case for you please send me an email. In all cases so far we have received the order. We are in the process of trying to work out the bug on our new site.

WHISKIES OF SUMMER FESTIVAL – JULY 30th

There is more than one way to stay cool this summer…

Our first summer whisky festival with touch on the lighter side of whisky. We’ve rounded up some lighter style single malts, Bourbons, Blends and Japanese whiskies for a mini-Festival style tasting. 80+ Whiskies will be on offer with a lot of new releases, one offs and rarities. So gather the friends and kick off your August Long Weekend in style…

Thursday July 30th – 7-9PM – $50

Register on line, by phone 403-283-8000 or in store!

THE ARDBEG PERPETUUM IS HERE!

Celebrating Ardbeg Day 2015 & 200 Years in the Life of the Distillery…

Ardbeg’s 2015 Ardbeg Day Bottling has been created by Dr. Bill Lumsden from a mix of stock. In celebrating the distillery’s 200th year they have decided to dip into a wide range of stock. Some have compared this whisky to the Roller Coaster, in terms of its creation. It has been 47.4%. The whisky has flown off our shelves with just a little over a dozen bottles left in store and only a small top up order still to come. This one will be sold out by the end of July!

Ardbeg Perpetuum – 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.” – $130

Pre-Order the Perpetuum for $129.99 +GST

SUMMARY OF NEW WHISKIES AT KWM!

More details to come…

There are a lot of new and exciting whiskies that have come into KWM over the last three months. Over the next couple of Malt Messengers I’ll fill you in with more details on them. For the time being, here’s a partial list to drool over:

1. anCnoc Peat Cutter – $82+GST
2. anCnoc 2000 Vintage – A great value malt! – $98+GST
3. anCnoc 1975 – Only 2 left! – $690+GST
4. Ardbeg Perpetuum – $130+GST
5. Arran 18 Year – The oldest Arran bottled to date and a limited release! – $120+GST
6. Arran Cask Stregth 12 Year – 53.2% – $80+GST
7. Auchentoshan American Oak – $57+GST
8. BenRiach 15 Year Sauternes – $88+GST
9. BenRiach Albariza 18 Year – $135+GST
10. Blackadder Glen Esk 1983 30 Year – Extremely rare, only 4 bottles for Canada from this obscure closed distillery! – $1920+GST
11. Blackadder Black Snake Vat 6 First Venom – $135+GST
12. Blackadder Raw Cask Auchentoshan 21 Year – $255+GST
13. Blackadder Raw Cask Auchentoshan 23 Year – $290+GST
14. Blackadder Raw Cask Lochranza 18 Year – Yes this is an 18 year old Arran! – $222+GST
15. Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley – $150+GST
16. Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley 1L – $74+GST
17. Compass Box Hedonism Quindecimus – The only thin more beautiful than the bottle is the whisky! – $201+GST
18. Compass Box Peat Monster 15th Annv Magnum – $166+GST
19. Edradour Fairy Flag 15 Year – $180+GST
20. Glendronach 12 Year Sauternes Finish – $90+GST
21. Glendronach 18 Year Marsala Finish – 135+GST
22. Glendronach 18 Year Tawny Port Finish – $140+GST
23. Glenfarclas 1996 Fino Cask – I have one signed bottle left! – $1650+GST
24. Glenfarclas Family Cask 1976 – $1000+GST
25. Glenfarclas Family Cask 1977 – $770+GST
26. Glenrothes Sherry Reserve – Our top whisky pick for summer sipping whisky whether at the lake, on the patio or in the woods… it is very refreshing! – $75+GST
27. Laphroaig 25 Year 2013 Cask Strength – $640+GST
28. Laphroaig 25 Year 2014 Cask Strength – $640+GST
29. Mars 2011 The Revival – $195+GST
30. Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year – $1160+GST
31. Nikka Taketsuru 40 Year – SOLD OUT, BUT WE MAY GET ANOTHER – $6000+GST
32. Nikka Yoichi 12 Year – $130+GST
33. Signatory Bunnahabhain 1988 26 Year – $290+GST
34. Signatory Dufftown 1997 16 Year – $180+GST
35. Signatory Glen Keith 1995 19 Year – $120+GST
36. Signatory Glenlivet 1981 32 Year – $380+GST
37. Signatory Glenlivet 1981 33 Year – $385+GST
38. Signatory Imperial 1995 19 Year – $175+GST
39. Sovereign Invergordon 1964 50 Year – Best priced 50 Year Old around! – $590+GST
40. Tomatin Cask Strength – Incredible value! – $70
41. Tomatin CuBocan Virgin Oak – $82
Descriptions and tasting notes for some of these whiskies can be found on our website. The others will be updated over the week’s ahead.

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, 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
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d

Limited edition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of family ownership of the Glenfarclas distillery since 8th June 1865

Buy – $104.23

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Johnnie Walker “Blue King George V” 750ml – 3 available ($599.99)

• Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml (Previously $45) ($34.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• 1995 Imperial 18 Year Old Signatory Un-Chillfiltered Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($79.99)

• Old Pulteney 17 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($105.99)

• The Singleton of Glendullan 12 year old Single Malt Whisky 1L (ships as 1.5L) (Elsewhere $50) ($39.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Angel’s Envy 100 Proof Rye Whiskey 750ml (one bottle limit) – 2 available ($67.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Hibiki Harmony – a blend apart

Hibiki Harmony includes whiskies from Yamazaki (left) and Hakushu (right) distilleries

Japanese whisky is enjoying its moment in the sun, but its new-found popularity is putting a strain on stock levels, and as such, non-age-statement whiskies are the inevitable consequence. Hibiki’s answer is Harmony, a blend of more than 10 malt and grain whiskies.

The whiskies are from Suntory’s Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, and also the Chita grain distillery, which acts as the dashi (‘broth’) of the blend, says the company. A number of different types of cask are used, too, including mizunara, American white oak and sherry casks.

We’re big fans of Japanese whisky here at TWE, and if you’ve never tried one, you’re missing out. Generally speaking, they have an exceptional poise and purity of flavour, typically characterised by a perfumed fruitiness, smooth mouthfeel and clean finish. This new whisky from Hibiki is packaged in the same beautiful decanter-style bottle that is well worth keeping after you’ve finished the contents.

This is what we think of Hibiki Harmony (by the way, the whisky is named after the English translation of the word ‘hibiki’, trivia fans):

HIBIKI HARMONY, 43%

Nose: Beguiling aromas of apricots, orange blossom and marmalade, bolstered by subtle spiciness, too – cinnamon and clove. Elegant and seductive.

Palate: The generous fruit continues on to the palate, with oranges and apricots in abundance. There’s a little peppery spice, but the soft, succulent fruit takes hold. Nice balance, and nicely crafted.

Finish: The spiciness takes over from the fruit and lingers, along with a little barrel char.

Comment: Something of a baby compared with much older Hibiki bottlings, this retains the classic soft, elegant orange-blossom character and generous fruitiness, with a little spice to help things along.

You’re getting a lot of whisky for the money, so forget any preconceptions you might have about NAS bottlings. This is a lovely dram and we think well worth it. Hibiki Japanese Harmony is available to buy from The Whisky Exchange website right now!

Clynelish 17 Year Old 1997

Single cask refill hogshead featuring the new Hunter Laing & Co. Old Malt Cask labels.

Buy – $127.32

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #113

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries antoher Irish whiskey. Bushmills is one of the world’s oldest distilleries, found in Northern Island, a stone’s throw away from the Giant’s Causeway. The distillery attracts more than 100.000 visitors per year. Today I will try their 16 Year Old, which is a marriage of single malt whiskey that matured on three different casks: bourbon barrels, oloroso sherry butts and port pipes.

http://youtu.be/6uAn6MOA4MY