Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• 1999 Ben Nevis 15 Year Old Exclusive Malt Cas Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($139.99)

• Haig Club Scottish Grain Whisky 750ml (due to bottle size this ships like a 1.5) – 6 available ($59.99)

• 1994 Mortlach 20 Year Old Cadenhead’s Small Batch Cask Strength Collection Single Malt 750ml – 5 available ($129.99)
• 1972 Macallan 42 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Speymalt Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($1,099.99) Whisky Advocate: “On more familiar ground with this G&M bottling of one of Speyside’s most iconic single malts, this is Macallan in full-on sherried form. Highly aromatic with powdered clove, hints of incense and fig, behind which is cacao, Bolivar cigar, and molasses. The palate has immediate smoke and surprisingly gentle tannins — the inherent oiliness of the spirit keeping any grip at bay. Very long, leathery, prune-like (think armagnac), and dense. A classic after-dinner mouth-filler. (Vol. 20, #4)” K&L Notes: Aged entirely in first-fill sherry barrels, this is quite possibly the best Macallan I’ve ever tasted. The concentration of sherry is absolutely unreal. It’s almost impossible to tell where the sherry ends and the whisky begins – it all gets lost in a seamless flavor of rich toffee, syrup, and caramel. I have to believe that anyone who is willing to pay the price will get exactly what they expect from this bottle. It tastes expensive, unlike so many pricier malts that get you on rarity or collectibility only. Bottled in 2013.

Scotland – Blended Scotch

• Compass Box Hedonism Grain Scotch Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($94.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Leopold Bros. Maryland Style Rye Whiskey 750ml – 1 available ($46.99)

• Old Forester Bourbon 86 Proof 750ml ($16.99)

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

Single Malt is only 1% of total Scotch whisky production, we have the bottle Jim Murray named the blend of the year, the best of the 99%. Buy Now – $119.99

SOCIETY WINS INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS CHALLENGE 2014

We’re very proud to say we’ve scooped the prestigious top prize at this year’s Independent Bottlers’ Challenge! A big thanks to all involved, to our members for your continued support and to the Panel for only selecting great whisky.

Watch this space for winning bottlings…

SPREAD THE JOY: THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP

SMWS membership is the must-have for the whisky lover.

Will it be the curious, multi-layered membership pack that delights? Or the three unique single casks nestling within? Will it be admission to the Society’s exclusive Members’ Rooms or tastings that makes this the perfect gift? Or the sheer pleasure of exploring the world’s widest selection of single cask whisky?

Gift membership comes with a £10 e-voucher to use against 70cl bottles online – and you receive a £15 e-voucher for recommending a friend!

BUY GIFT MEMBERSHIP >

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #99

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries a lost malt. Sort of. Auchangie was a Highland distillery that operated near Pitlochry from 1812 until 1911. The Lost Distillery Company did a lot of research and, with the help of present days malts, offers a reinterpretation of that long-gone whisky. The result is quite surprising.

http://youtu.be/ajO5mbqKFrg

Christmas Delivery Cut-off Dates 2014

As you may have noticed, Christmas is rapidly approaching. That means that the world’s postal services start groaning at the seams and deliveries start slowing down. To make sure you get your parcel by December 25, make sure you order before the dates listed below:

United Kingdom

Orders to postcodes IV, HS, KA27-28, KW, PA20-49, PA60-78, PH17-26, PH30-44, PH49-50, ZE, BT, IM, TR21-25 must be placed by 2pm on Friday 19 December. Orders using 3-5 working day delivery (offered for some small parcels) must be placed by 2pm on Friday 19 December. All other UK orders must be placed by 2pm Monday 22 December.

Rest of the world

These are our estimates based on years of experience of shipping around the world – if you order after the dates below your parcel may arrive in time, but it’s much less likely.

Australia Wed 10 December

Austria Wed 17 December

Barbados Tues 16 December

Belgium Wed 17 December

Bulgaria Mon 15 December

Cayman Islands Tues 16 December

Channel Islands Thur 18 December

Christmas Island Wed 10 December

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Wed 10 December

Croatia Mon 15 December

Cyprus Mon 15 December

Czech Republic Wed 17 December

Denmark Wed 17 December

Falkland Islands Tues 16 December

Faroe Islands Tues 16 December

Finland Wed 17 December

France Wed 17 December

French Polynesia Wed 10 December

Germany Wed 17 December

Gibraltar Wed 17 December

Greece Mon 15 December

GreenlandMon 15 December

Hong Kong S. A. R Wed 10 December

Hungary Mon 15 December

Iceland Mon 15 December

Ireland Wed 17 December

Italy Wed 17 December

Japan Wed 10 December

LatviaMon 15 December

Liechtenstein Mon 15 December

Lithuaniaon 15 December

Luxembourged 17 December

Macau S.A.R. Wed 10 December

Malta Wed 17 December

Martinique Tues 16 December

Monaco Wed 17 December

Netherlands Thur 18 December

New Caledonia Wed 10 December New Zealand Wed 10 December

Norfolk Island Wed 10 December

Norway Mon 15 December

Poland Mon 15 December

Portugal Wed 17 December

Reunion Wed 10 December

San Marino Mon 15 December

Seychelles Wed 10 December

Singapore Wed 10 December

Slovakia Mon 15 December

Slovenia Mon 15 December

South Africa Wed 10 December

Spain Wed 17 December

Sweden Wed 17 December

Switzerland Mon 15 December

Taiwan Wed 10 December

United States Tues 16 December

Vatican City State Mon 15 December

Virgin Islands (British)Tues 16 December

Asia, Africa and Australasia’s cut-off is 11th, so make sure you get your orders in soon!

Sherry casks part two: what is a sherry cask?

[If you missed it, here’s part one: What was a sherry cask?]

These days, the vast majority of sherry casks used to mature Scotch whisky are specifically built for the whisky industry. They are still usually constructed in the same way as a traditional sherry cask, whether it was used to mature sherry in a solera or transport it around the world. However, not all casks are the same, and there are a number of choices made during their creation.

The first choice is the type of oak to be used. The usual division of oak types in the whisky world is into two camps: American and European. It’s a good simplification, but European oak is a complex mess of different types of wood.

Grain varies a lot between individual planks

In general, the main difference between European and American oak is the grain. American oak has a very wide grain, which leads to it giving a lot of flavour, but focused on the sweeter vanilla/coconut/fresh fruit spectrum. European oak is much tighter grained, which gives darker and more spicy flavours, with bitter tannins, dried fruit and caramelised citrus notes.

While the USA isn’t a small place, the oak there is fairly consistent – nice straight trees with few knots that are perfect for making planks. European oak is quite different – very variable across the continent and famous for being quite gnarly, with lots of knots and inconsistencies. This not only means that each tree will be very different, but there’s also a lot more waste when making casks from European oak – about 40% of the total at the cooperage I recently visited.

Miguel Martin

The cooperage in question is part of Bodegas José y Miguel Martin, a winemaker in Huelva to the north-west of Jerez, near the Portugese border and outside of the Sherry Triangle. They produce sherry-style wines, but also produce a large number of casks for use by the whisky industry – potentially as much as half of their production is connected to whisky production.

The cask-making process starts with seasoning the wood – allowing it to dry out so that it can be worked with. It arrives at the cooperage as planks, which are then stacked and left to rest for a time that can be months or years depending on the type of wood. Generally, European oak needs to season for less time than American, but the variation in the former is considerable.

From the hot and sunny summers of the southern Spanish coast to the cold and dry winters of Ukraine, the climate of Europe is far from consistent. While the USA has a similar variation, in Europe the influence is amplified in the oak that’s grown. The different oak types also appear in far-off places. ‘European oak is not a kind of oak,’ says Miguel Martin, ‘it is a blend that has happened over the years.’ Due to wonders of wild pollenation and deliberate farming, you’ll occasionally find a more Russian style of oak popping up in your forest of French oak, and every tree has to be handled on its own merits. While Spanish oak casks are traditionally good at providing flavour to spirits, others may not work as well – ‘Ukrainian oak is like concrete,’ says Miguel, great for storage, less good for maturing whisky.

Once you have seasoned your oak, it needs to be turned into staves, the lengths of wood that make up the cask. The planks are cut to size and inspected, and staves with too many knots or inconsistencies are discarded. The staves are flat and straight at this point, quite unlike the curved pieces required to build a cask, and the next stage of the process transforms them.

The cask production line – a very hands-on process

Firstly, the cooper forms a tent-like ‘almost-cask’, with the staves held together by metal bands. The cask is then positioned over a flame pit, fuelled by the rejected staves, and toasted. From time to time, water is thrown around inside the cask to create steam and soften the wood. A pair of cables are attached around the base of the cask and when the wood is soft enough, winches are turned on, tightening the loop of cable, drawing the staves together, and bending them into the correct shape. More metal bands are hammered on, heads are fitted, and the cask is left to rest before being used.

How are they used? Find out in our next post…

This week Joe Ellis reviews Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 (Jim Murray Whisky Of The Year). 

http://youtu.be/Vz5WgNjH8aQ 

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

www.ralfy.com has some mixed-emotions about Whisky Review 506 – Dewars 12yo Legacy Scotch

December is here with just 17 shopping days left until Christmas. Christmas can certainly be a stressful time, something I know all too well having worked in retail as long as I have. For the past decade I’ve been putting together a Christmas gift guide to help our customers simplify their decision making process. Finding the right gift can be daunting, especially if you’ve not been indoctrinated into the world of whisky.

Our 2014 Christmas Gift Guide starts with unique gift packs, accessories and miniatures, all perfect for stocking stuffers. The meat of the gift guide though is my whisky recommendations. I’ve given both peated and unpeated offerings in 9 different price ranges from under $70 to well over $2000 per bottle. I hope it gives you a little inspiration and helps make your shopping experience that much more relaxed! Most of the whiskies on the list are available for sampling, just in case you want to try them yourself. So print this off and, with paper in hand, pop by to pay us a visit.

Our Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule is also out and open for registration. I’ve highlighted all the whisky and spirits tastings below. The full tasting schedule can be viewed on our website. Highlights include Scots Wae Hae! our annual celebration of Robert Burns and Whisky, the Islay Mini Festival (our own little Feis Isles!) and The Bourbon Trail which will feature slides from my recent whisky pilgrimage to Kentucky.

Finally the the MS Calgary Whisky Festival is coming early in January. Tickets are $99, are for a great cause and make an excellent gift. Don’t hesitate, see the side pannel. Buy your tickets by December 15th and you’ll be entered to win the early bird draw.

I hope you enjoy the Malt Messsenger Christmas Gift Guide.

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

In This Issue
1. Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule is Now Online
2. December KWM Winetime is Online and in the Mail
3. 2015 Malt Messenger Christmas Gift Guide
4. MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .  www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

2015 MS Calgary Whisky Festival

Thursday January 15 2015
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. Buy your tickets before December 15th and you’ll be entered in the draw to win the gift basket pictured above which is a $400 value and includes a sold out Silver Seal Glendronach 22 Year! $99

Buy Tickets Now

Winter 2015 KWM Tasting Schedule

A Range of Exciting Tastings Including a Mini Festival Dedicated to Islay!

You can view the full KWM Winter 2015 Tasting Schedule Online including all or our wine, whisky, beer and other spirit tastings. Here is a breakdown of our winter spirits tastings:

 1. Hello Darkness – Tuesday January 13 2015, 7PM – Good old sherried whisky is increasingly hard to come by, as demand for sherry is plummeting while that for Scotch whisky is soaring. We’ll sample six heavily sherried whiskies to tease out the darkness within. – $60
2. MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2015 – Thursday January 15, 7PM – The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies from over 30 presenters and a capacity of 500 participants.Tickets are going fast and are available exclusively from the MS Society. – $95
3. Lost in Translation – Thursday January 22 2015, 7PM – For nearly 100 years the Japanese have been making whisky in the Scottish style, albeit with their own twist. Their reputation is soaring, as some of their whiskies are among the finest in the world. – $75
4. Scots Wha Hae – Sunday January 25 2015 7PM – Caledonians Unite! It’s time to celebrate all things Scottish. Glendronach and BenRiach are the distilleries we’ll be focusing on for this our 9th annual Robbie Burns Supper. We’ll have bagpipes, poetry, haggis with neeps and tatties and six amazing single malts all from Glendronach and BenRiach distilleries, including some new exclusives to KWM! No previous whisky experience required. Location: Fort Calgary 750 9 Avenue, SE – $99
5. Bob Kyle’s Rare Drams – Thursday January 29 2015, 7PM – Don’t let the fact that Bob cheers for Dundee United get in the way of the fact that he puts on a good tasting, besides, he has the accent! We’ll sample whiskies from Glencadam, Tomintoul and Carn Mor. -$50
6. Classic Single Malts – Thursday February 5 2015, 7PM – This is our “classic” introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made and sample six distinct styles. – $35
7. The Bourbon Trail – Tuesday February 10 2015, 7PM – Follow our whisky expert Andrew Ferguson on a virtual tour of Kentucky’s Bourbon country while sampling a range of carefully selected Kentucky whiskies. – $35
8. Rare Malts – Thursday February 19 2015, 7PM – Only the rarest whiskies, those more than 20 years of age or from closed distilleries are considered for this very special tasting. – $80
9. Islay Mini Festival – Thursday February 26 2015, 7PM – Islay’s annual Islay Festival, or ‘Feis Isle’, usually takes place in Scotland in May, but with so many peaty Islay malts available, why wait till May! Surely a cold February night will work just fine. – $40
10. The Whisky Isles – Tuesday March 10 2015, 7PM – Islay’s not the only island whisky made in Scotland. Join us as we journey to all the other whisky isles starting with Arran and ending on Orkney’s mainland. Tue Mar 10 – $50
11. The Irish are Coming! – Tuesday March 17 2015, 7PM – The Irish Are Coming! $35 Will you be celebrating Saint Paddy’s Day with us? Ah, it’s sure to be a right Irish treat. Irish beer and Irish whisky. Is there a better way to be putting on the green? – $35
15. Master Malts – Thursday March 26, 2015, 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! – $99

Miniatures
1. Auchentoshan 12 Year 50ml – Auchentoshan’s flagship bottling in all its glory. $3.99
2. Big Peat 50ml – Same Big Peat blended Islay malt whisky with a dash or Port Ellen in it, much smaller bottle! – $10.99
3. Bowmore 12 Year 50ml – The distillery feels it is best paired with oysters, probably best not to put those in the stocking too! – $3.99
4. Glendronach 21 Year 50ml – If you think the full size bottle is bargain priced, check out the miniatures. Very low stock! – $7.99
5. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength 50ml – The only cask strength miniature in the market. – $10.99
6. Glenfarclas 40 Year 50ml – At this price it is almost the same price per ml as the full size bottle! A great whisky and a top notch stocking stuffer. – $55
7. Jura Superstition 50ml – Jura’s moderately peated expression is a perfect stocking stuffer. – $4.99

Gift Packs
1. KWM’s Wee Whisky Gift Box – We’ve taken four 50ml miniatures (Auchentoshan 12 Year, Bowmore 12 Year, Jura Superstition and Glendronach 21 Year Parliament) and tucked them into a Christmassy box, that you won’t event need to wrap. It’s all ready to go! – $29.99
2. Auchentoshan Collection – Three 50ml single malts from this Lowland distillery in a compact gift pack. – $25.99
3. Bowmore Collection – Three 50ml single malts from Islay’s oldest distillery. Bowmore 12, 15 and 18 year olds. – $25.99
4. Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength, 12 & 15 Year – Glenfarclas’ entry level gift pack includes the world’s first cask strength whisky, the 105 and the 12 and 15 year olds. – $35.99
5. Glenfarclas 15, 21 & 25 Year – It’s not often you see gift packs featuring older whiskies like these, and the price is great! – $49.99
6. Kilchoman Gift Pack – Includes a full size bottle of Machir Bay and two Glencairn glasses, for about $5 more than the bottle alone! – $79.99
7. Tomatin Gift Pack – 12, 15 and 18 year olds in a compact stocking stuffer. – $22.99
8. Tomintoul Tri-Pack – This pack like the Glenfarclas has some mature malts in it, 10, 16 and 33 year olds! – $32.99
9. Scotch Malt Whisky Society New Members Kit – Much more than just a gift pack, this is your portal to membership in the World’s largest whisky club. The Society bottles single cask cask strength whiskies exclusively for its members and launches 7 new ones every month in Canada. For more info visit: www.smws.ca – $230.00

Accessories
1. Glencairn Glass – The classic glass for drinking whisky, specifically single malt Scotch whisky. – $15.99
2. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2015 – The most comprehensive list of tasting notes on world whisky updated annually. We will remove the dust jacket for you at no added cost. – $21.99
3. Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015 – The best annual reference on the world of Malt Whisky, highlighting all Scottish, Irish and Japanese malt whisky distilleries, as well as many of those in the world beyond. My favourite annual whisky book. – $29.99
4. Glencairn Cut Crystal Glass – Take the classic Glencairn glass and make it fancy. This elegant glass is a must for the connoisseur. If only it were available in Ron Burgundy’s day, he would certainly have swapped a tumbler for it. – $49.99
5. Glenfarclas an Independent Distillery – A wonderful book on Scotland second oldest family owned distillery. – $49.99

Whiskies Under $70
1. Bowmore Small Batch – Naked Bowmore, malty, grassy and briny; youth is its asset! – $54.99
2. Glenglassaugh Torfa – The first peated whisky to come out of Glenglassaugh may be young, but it is sweet, lightly peate and citric with white fruits. – $64.99
3. Compass Box Great King Street – This is an easy drinking crowd pleasing blend at a great price. – $49.99
4. Tomatin 12 Year French Oak – Sweet and creamy with lots of spice, this limited edition will not last long, especially at the price. – $66.99
5. Breuckelen 77 Rye & Corn Whiskey – A curiosity to be sure, 85% rye and 15% corn mash, matured in small batches. – $67.49

Whiskies Under $100
1. Tomatin Cu Bocan Sherry Ltd. Ed. – Big sherry meets big smoke and they live happily ever after. Nice addition. – $80.99
2. BenRiach 15 Year Madeira Finish – We used to stock this years ago as an exclusive, and it has come back, once again exclusively from KWM. Sweet spicy and very smooth! – $87.99
3. BenRiach 15 Year PX Finish – Also exclusive to KWM, this BenRiach is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry and is syruppy and fruity, but still soft and smooth. – $87.99
4. Hepburn’s Choice Braeval 12 Year – You don’t see Braeval, AKA Braes of Glenlivet bottled very often but this sherry matured independent bottlings stands tall. Rich, nutty and creamy with spices and dark fruits. – $87.99
5. Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Edition – Both classic Islay and Kilchoman with both the sweet Bourbon notes and the medicinal, salty peat shining through! – $99.99

Whiskies Under $150
1. Glendronach 2003 – Our latest cask, and 5th from Glendronach landed only 3 weeks after the 1993. Matured in PX Sherry it is a sweetly sherried malt and flying off the shelves. – $114.99
2. G&M Glentauchers 1994 – A malt you almost never see bottled, this stunner from Gordon & MacPhail caught our attention, as well as that of the 2014 Whisky Bible, 96.5pts. – $114.99
3. Whistle Pig 100/100 Straight Rye – Canadian rye whisky from right here in Alberta matured 5 years in new American oak and finished in Ex-Bourbon. Sweet, dark, decadent and spicy with layers of spice. – $119.99
4. Arran 1996 KWM Cask 526 – One of the oldest Arrans ever bottled, this KWM exclusive sherry cask is a delight with candied fruits, spices and a very smooth finish. – $129.99
5. Berry’s Aberlour 1994 KWM Cask – A very unusual Aberlour, in that there is no trace of sherry, with prominent Bourbon notes: honey, toasted oak and nutty tones. Bottled exclusively for KWM. – $139.99

Whiskies Under $200
1. Yoichi 15 Year – Our best selling Japanese whisky is one of our best drams under $200. Tropical with subtle smoke and lots of spice. – $144.99
2. Springbank Society Madeira 15 Year – You have to be a member to buy Springnbank Society bottlings, but membership is just a onetime fee away. This Madeira finish is Springbank at its finest. – $159.99
3. Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 – Finished in 80L Octave sherry casks this malt is more delicately sherried than its sister Mortlach bottling. Only six of 71 bottles left! – $179.99
4. Cadenhead Glen Garioch 1990 24 Year – Juicy and toasty the palate is surprisingly peated with lots of clean, crisp smoke – $195.99
5. Glendronach 1993 KWM – This 20 year old stunner from the hills north of Huntly has been bottled exclusively for KWM. It is deep and very fruity with lots of spice. – $199.99

Whiskies Under $300
1. Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 – Aged Bruichladdich is getting hard to come by these day, this 23 year old from a Refill Sherry Butt is an anomaly and an exceptional dram. Exclusive to KWM. – $234.99
2. Tasliker 25 Year 2011 – When this started to fly last week when we announced the price pending increase we snapped up a couple extra cases. Tropical fruits, clean salty smoke and classic Talisker cayenne spice. – $249.99
3. Signatory Bunnahabhain 1988 – This 25 year old was matured in a Refill Sherry Butt and have been very popular with our customers. Exclusive to KWM. – $274.99
4. Cadenhead Linkwood 1987 – This 26 year old Linkwood is the product of two Sherry butts, though the sherry influence is very subtle. Lush, coating and toasty with French baked goods, candied orange and melons; becomes more floral, with white chocolate and juicy oak. – $284.99
5. Highland Park Freya – The 3rd release in the Valhalla series is matured in American oak and is a big departure from the earlier two bottlings. Very limited and selling quickly! – $299.99

Whiskies Under $600
1. Yoichi 20 Year – More than just the big brother to the 15, this is the oldest core expression in the distillery’s range. Only 24 bottles came to Alberta, all to KWM, and just 3 remain. – $329.99
2. Signatory Caol Ila 1983 30 Year – A different single cask than the one we just sold out of, this one was matured in a Hogshead and bottled at 51.6%. Only 187 bottles, with just 6 coming to Canada exclusively to KWM. – $399.99
3. Black Gold Bunnahabhain 1995 – Mahogany in colour the whisky is 18 years old and a sherry monster. We only received 6 bottles and have just 2 left! – $399.99
4. Highland Park 30 Year – I remember when I could order this for the shop anytime I wanted. Now it’s not so easy to come by, we have just one bottle coming. Big fruit, balanced sherry, honey and peat. – $549.99
5. Glendronach Grandeur 24 Year – Batch 5 is yet a stunner, 48.9% from a small parcel of sherry casks. It was a hit at Ancient Malts. Notes of maple syrup, treacle, chocolate and classic sherry cask notes. Only a handful left! – $519.99

 Whiskies Under $750
1. Glencadam 1982 32 Year – Like drinking silk this very limited single cask of Glencadam showed very well at Ancient Malts. Lots of melon, white chocolate and toasty oak. – $629.99
2. BenRiach 1977 Cask 7114 – Only 12 bottles of this 37 Year Batch 11 release have come to Canada, exclusively to KWM. Matured in Sherry and Finished in Bourbon. Well received at Ancient Malts. – $574.99
3. BenRiach 1977 Cask 1891 – A 37 Year old Dark Rum finish, only 6 bottles have come to Canada, all to KWM. Notes of Demerara, boiled sweets, toffee and vanilla with berry fruits. – $574.99
4. BenRiach 1978 Cask 5469 – A 36 year old release from Batch 11 matured exclusively in ex-sherry, and bottled at 41.7%. Only 12 bottles for Canada, all from KWM. Fairground candy apple, cinnamon and delicate ground black pepper mellow to touches of fig, sultanas and stewed sweet barley. – $524.99
5. Glenglassaugh 1972 KWM – If you haven’t sampled our 39 year old single sherry cask of Glenglassaugh, make your way down to KWM for a sample. of the 150 bottles we had filled of the very tropical, lightly sherried whisky, only about two dozen reamain! – $699.99

Whiskies Under $2000
1. Glenfarclas 40 Year – This used to be $500 a bottle, and if you’re taken aback by the new price, $720, consider this, the price is going up again and will be over $1000 next year. They could sell everything they make to Taiwan, and are struggling to keep up with demand. At $720, this is still excellent value and a beuatiful Speyside malt. – $719.99
2. Brora 35 Year – Available by request this bottling of Brora is one of the finest ever from the distillery which closed in 1983. A fine expression and available by special order. – $949.99
3. Benromach 1969 42 Year – Sampled with Michael Urquhart at his farewell tasting in November, this is the last of the bottles we brought in exclusively this fall. Big Christmas Cake, spices, chocolate and some deep tropical fruits. – $1,299.99
4. G&M Port Ellen 1979 34 Year – I thought this was the last sub $2000 Port Ellen, but I’ve bee proven wrong, see below. Regardless this is a stunner at 34 years of age, from an unusual vintage, 1979. – $1,449.99
5. Executive Decisions Port Ellen 30 Year – Just when I thought we’d seen the last of the Laing family’s Port Ellen casks, and state as much in my newsletter, this pops up! – $1,649.99

Whiskies $2000 And Up
1. Bunnahabhain 40 Year – The star of our Ancient Malts tasting late last month, this rare whisky is all about finesse. Tropical with some faint maritime notes, it is a study in subtlety. – $2,899.99
2. Macallan ‘M’ – The pinnacle bottling of the 1824 Series now has company, see below. We’ve sampled this in store and it is a stunning dram, available by special order. The palate opens rich in wood spices, slowly showing all their viscosity. Wood smoke flits in and out. – $3,799.99
3. Macallan No. 6 – Is a celebration of the collaboration between Macallan and it sherry producers matured in first fill casks. Heavy and sumptuous. Like a rich fruit cake with raisin, dates and figs, apples, sultanas, orange; then ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and hints of clove. – $3,899.99
4. G&M Glen Grant 1952 60 Year – Just 2 of 85 decanters have found their way to Alberta of this Diamond Jubilee bottling. Matured in a single 1st fill sherry cask laid down just days before Elizabeth’s coronation, the whisky is very well balanced and soft for its advanced age, showing no signs of exhaustion. It scored 92pts from Whisky Advocate: “Superb mature nose with subtle whisky rancio, mixing fragrant mango with a little mint, rosewater, and waxiness; there’s even some custard and a whiff of woodsmoke before sandalwood brings back the exotic edge. The palate is delicate with an amazingly fresh acidity that becomes herbal (basil and tarragon).” and 92.5pts from the Whisky Bible. – $13,999.99

MS Calgary Whisky Festival Update

Thursday, January 15, 2015 w/ 2 Ticket Options

The Macallan Reflexion
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS
Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. New this year we are offering a VIP package, which will include a Macallan Master Class featuring a very rare and special bottling. The VIP Ticket is $149 (SOLD OUT) and the regular ticket $99. Only 40 VIP tickets are available!

Get your tickets now, they won’t last long.

Order tickets through the MS Society by clicking here!

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

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

Paul is chatting to Merry Beth Tomaszewski, Co-Founder/VP. MB Roland Distillery. 

http://www.mbrdistillery.com/

MB ROLAND DISTILLERY 137 BARKERS MILL RD PEMBROKE, KY 42266

Merry Beth, can you give me a brief rundown on the distillery.

A; MB Roland Distillery is a completely “grain to glass” craft distillery in Pembroke, Christian Co. KY, using local white corn to hand make a very unique “distillation & barrel proof” Kentucky Bourbon. The distillery was founded by myself (“MB”) and Paul Tomaszewski in 2009 as Kentucky’s first completely “grain to glass” craft distillery. Paul is a native of south eastern Louisiana and arrived to the area via nearby Ft Campbell, while MB is a local native. An Amish dairy farm came up for sale and proved to be a wonderful foundation for a Kentucky craft distillery.

Why at this location?

A; One of the major benefits of the location is the proximity to a local grain supplier, Christian County Grain, located in nearby Pembroke. The operation started out with Paul as the one and only full-time distiller in 2009. Since then our team has grown to more than 14 total employees, including myself coming over full time. The one constant with us with both our production process and our location is that we love what we do and strive to make that come through in our products, the distillery, and our onsite events.

How do you make your whiskey?

A; There is no minimum aging time for whiskey, but for certain whiskies (like bourbon or rye) to be designated as “straight,” they must be aged in the barrel for at least two years. However, there is one whiskey that, by law, does not need to be aged; corn whiskey. In fact, IF corn whiskey is aged, it can only be aged in used, charred oak, or toasted oak barrels. Unlike most other grain whiskies, corn whiskey also needs to be at least 80% corn, while bourbon, rye, and other whiskies need only to be at least 51% of their respective major grains. There are some specifics for the type of barrels that must be used (new vs. used charred, toasted, etc.) for certain whiskies, and that’s where it starts to get confusing. Bourbon is a whiskey that must be produced in America, distilled from at least 51% corn, and aged in new, charred oak barrels. There are some other specifics, but the main idea is that it’s American, corn-based and aged in new, charred oak. There is no requirement for bourbon to be made in Kentucky. However, 95% of all bourbon is made in Kentucky. At MB Roland Distillery, in addition to our bourbon we take pride in making other unique whiskies made a typical Kentucky distillery. We’ve made everything from our “Black Patch Whiskey” to a wheat-based whiskey. There’s no end to the variations and we’ll be trying out new things anytime we get a chance or an excuse to do so.

What is your description of moonshine? A; My description? Paul; sorry, US Moonshine – my cousins in Ireland make their own! A; Unlike whiskey, moonshine has no legal requirements. In fact, when you really get down to it, moonshine is simply ILLEGAL distilled alcohol. Over here in Kentucky, we take our moonshine seriously, so if you do a little looking into the “art of moonshine,” you’ll find our “True Kentucky Shine” is just like the real deal. First of all, it’s made with what we consider a true moonshine recipe, 50% corn and 50% cane sugar, hence the name “True Kentucky Shine.” Due to us using some sugar in the mash, it can’t be called whiskey. We don’t distil our shine to a pure alcohol (there’s an ethanol plant 5 miles away producing grain alcohol at 200 proof for your gas tank if you’re looking for proof as a sign of quality), we want some flavour to come through in the spirit itself. The flavour of our shine has influences from both the corn and the sugar, so it’s really in it’s own league when compared to an all-grain recipe. Furthermore, we only use white, food-grade corn.

Can you tell me about the equipment?

A; We opened 5 years ago with a 100 gallon pot still. That tiny still worked night/day until February of 2014. We now have a 600 gallon stripping still & a 300 gallon finishing still. The original 100 gallon still is now a water fountain gracing the front lawn of the gift shop. We also use a basic boiler system and have a 600 gallon mash tun. We double distil our product, stripping the whiskey on the 600 gallon still using a unique method for our secondary distillation, incorporating previous batch low wines to attain a lower proof finished spirit for a very full flavour.

Technical time; where did you get the stills from and the other equipment?

A; The stills & mash tun came from Trident Stills.

What made you select them?

A; We’ve known Jesse, the owner & maker for a number of years and knew he would make a product that would be reliable and that he would stand behind.

What will be the annual total litres distilled?

A; We currently distil approximately 40,000 litres per year, but we have the capacity to grow into 80,000 litres annually.

Where do you source your casks?

A; Kelvin Cooperage

Can you try and explain the state laws on alcohol? A; I’d certainly try, but those laws depend on what type of alcohol you’re selling and in what capacity. Beer, wine or spirits, liquor store, restaurant, distillery, brewery, winery or distributor. So you can see, that’s a long conversation needed over a nice pour…or two.

You offer tours I believe?

A; Certainly! We are open 10 AM – 6 PM Monday through Saturday Central Time and give tours on the hour.

Have you any favourite Scottish whisky? Or any whisky from around the world?

A; My husband and I enjoy quite a few Scotch whiskies, most notably Laphroaig.

How many different whiskies do you think you have tasted during your life?

A; That’s a tough one. I developed a palate for whiskies late in the game, so I can’t say I’ve tasted hundreds like many I know. But I’ve tasted enough to know good whiskies. I think that’s probably the best answer.

What Kentucky whiskey/bourbon would you recommend to someone who is a novice?

A; As a member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, I can (and will) recommend many quality bourbons from various producers. However, I think Makers Mark is a good entry level Kentucky Bourbon.

What’s your most memorable experience in the industry?

A; Having our bourbon become so popular that it sells out within 30 minutes of release at the gift shop. While we are infinitesimal in the whiskey world, our bourbon has garnered an ardent local following. It is so exciting and personally satisfying to know that you’ve helped to create a spirit and demand for that spirit keeps growing. We’re making certain to grow as well.

Is there a best mixer for your drinks?

A;  Personally, I love Ginger Ale for our non-bourbon spirits! But if it’s bourbon, give it to me neat; meaning straight with no ice or water, just pour it in a glass and put it in front of me. At room temperature, please.

Merry Beth, many thanks for the time today, as mentioned previously, we are aiming to arrange a Kentucky/Tennessee whiskey tour in the future, would you be open to one of our tours dropping by? A; We would be honoured to have you at MB Roland Distillery.

Paul, I’ve answered all the questions to the best of my ability. Hopefully you will be able to come by the distillery one day soon! While I would love to send some of our Kentucky Bourbon all the way to Scotland, Kentucky doesn’t allow us to ship out of state! (see above) Regretfully, it is going to have to wait until you are able to make that trip in person, or Kentucky changes its law to let us ship our spirits (which I certainly hope happens!).

In the meantime, I hope we keep you entertained via Facebook. We also are on Twitter & Instagram if you care to follow us (@mbrdistillery).

Take care & cheers!

Merry Beth Tomaszewski

Co-Founder/VP

MB Roland Distillery

Paul McLean; http://www.mcleanscotland.com/  & http://www.angelswhiskyclub.com/