The last week has been a bit of a blur in the wake of our Burns Supper and Year End Inventory Sale. Our 9th Annual Burns Supper with Peter Currie from Duncan Taylor went off without a hitch. We had a great range of Duncan Taylor whiskies, including the stunning and tropical Black Bull 40 Year ($302.99). We also introduced two new exclusive Duncan Taylor KWM casks due early in the Spring from Mortlach and Deanston, more details below.
We’d also like to thank all of you who checked out our year-end inventory sale this weekend, in store and online. You cleaned us out! We’ll be rebuilding the whisky section over the next few weeks and have a lot of exciting new things on the way, like the Duncan Taylor casks mentioned above.
There are a pair of really exciting events coming up over the next two weeks, beginning with a Compass Box Dinner at Buchanans Chop House on Tuesday February 4 with brand ambassador Chris Maybin. We’ll be sampling a range of 8 Compass Box whiskies including the two new Great King Street Experimental Batches and a very curious new release called, The General. The General $259.99, due this coming Wednesday, is a very old blend made up of whiskies at least 33 years of age (some even older). The dinner includes a three course meal at Buchanans and 8 whiskies for just $90. Frankly it’s a steal.
On Thursday February 13 we have something really exciting in store (no pun intended, it is an offsite event) The Great Macallan Tasting, $225. Two weeks ago a six liter bottle of the Macallan ‘M’ auctioned for charity broke the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold. When the hammer dropped in Hong Kong, the final price was nearly USD$630,000.00. It was a stunning sale, not only because the whisky had no age statement, but also because it can be had in a 700ml bottle for CAD$4,000.00. I was keen on trying the whisky before the auction, now I’m dying to. Curious? You’ll find more details on the Great Macallan Tasting below.
Finally I am gearing up for another year of Ferguson Whisky Tours adventures with a May 11-17 trip to the Speyside and trips to Islay (September) and Kentucky (October) in the works. Send me a note if you’d like some further details. More to come in the next Malt Messenger and shortly on www.fergusonwhiskytours.com.
Hopefully we’ve peaked your curiosity, and we’ll see you at one of these great events. There are some tasting notes below for a few new whiskies as well and some details on a few others. Until next time, I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin.
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 .
Compass Box Dinner with Chris Maybin
Tuesday February 4, 7PM, at Buchanan’s Chop House, $90
Join us at Buchanan’s Chophouse 738 3 Avenue SW, Tuesday February 4, for a whisky dinner/tasting with Chris Maybin, Brand Ambassador for Compass Box Whisky. This boutique blending firm has made a name for itself over the last decade as the first boutique blender of Scotch whisky. Small though they may be, they’ve almost singlehandedly reinvigorated the Blended Scotch whisky category. We’ll be sampling a number of new limited edition releases including the 10th Anniversary Peat Monster special release, two experimental batches of the Great King Street Blend, an exciting new release called “The General”, a blend consisting of whiskies more than 33 years old! In all we’ll sample 8 Compass Box Whiskies while exploring the brand and enjoying a three course meal. 8 whiskies and a three course meal at Buchanans for just $90!
For more information or to register call 403-283-8000 or visit our website: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php.
The Great Macallan Tasting Featuring ‘M’
Your chance to taste the world’s most expensive whisky! February 13, $225
I’d only just seen the news online when a reporter from CBC called me for my thoughts on a bottle of Macallan which had sold at auction for $630,000.00, a new record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold had just been set. I was then and still am a little baffled, because the sale, the proceeds of which went to charity, was a stupendous sum to pay for a whisky with no age statement. The Scotch in question was a 6L version of the Macallan ‘M’ (CAD$3,800.00), the pinnacle whisky of the distillery’s new 1824 Series, all of whose whiskies are without age statements. 1750 of the regular 700-750ml Lalique Crystal Decanters were distributed around the world, including a couple of dozen for Canada. Four six liter Imperial Decanters were also produced, with one going to a private buyer in China, the distillery keeping two for themselves and the fourth put up for auction. The Macallan Brand is the darling of whisky collectors, especially on the super-premium end, but the sale price still caught everyone, including yours truly by surprise.
A little over 5 years ago Kensington Wine Market conducted out first Ancient Malts tasting at KWM with a bottle of the Macallan 50 Year Lalique, the first whisky in a collaborative series of six bottlings with the world famous crystal producer. I opened the whisky on air for the CBC, I was stunned. The following two nights I poured it for 40+ customers at two sold out KWM tastings, it was a hit! The whisky was stunning, and was the oldest and most expensive bottle we had ever opened. So when I heard about the new offering Macallan ‘M’ I knew we had to open one, there would have to be another tasting. I was intrigued by it, sure there was no age statement, but this was clearly rare old whisky. Could it be the successor to the 50 Year?
Kensington Wine Market will be opening the Macallan ‘M’ $3,800.00 (or $630K if you want a large format bottle…) at the Grand Macallan Tasting on Thursday February 13 at the Southern Alberta Pioneers Hall, 3625 4th Street SW. We also be sampling the 1824 Series: Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby as well as a couple of other Macallans to round things out. $225 is a small price to pay for a night of good company, and a chance to taste the world’s most expensive whisky.
Call 403-283-8000 to buy a ticket or do so online at: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php .
Taking Pre-Orders: New KWM Duncan Taylor Casks
Mortlach 1995 18 Year & Deanston 1994 19 Year
Duncan Taylor has one of the largest privately held collections of Scotch whisky casks in the world. A couple of years ago they launched their innovative and trademarked Octave Program which finishes whiskies in 1/8th size custom sherry casks. These small casks kick the maturation process into overdrive as there a great ratio of surface are to liquid giving more opportunity for interaction. Kensington Wine Market has selected two Octaves to be bottled exclusively for our store, launching them at our Robbie Burns Supper on January 25th in Calgary with brand ambassador Peter Currie. The whiskies will be available from the store in May or June. We are accepting pre-orders on these small casks.
1. Duncan Taylor Mortlach 1995 KWM Octave – 18 Year – 55.4% – My Tasting Note: Nose: meaty like a good Mortlach should be right off the bat; dark fruits, earthy leather and tobacco over a backbone of honey and vanilla; notes of coffee bean and cinnamon stick and cardamom emerge later; Palate: round, fruity, spicy and syrupy; classic Christmas cake and candied fruit notes right off the bat with treacle sauce and maple syrup; layers of chocolate, tobacco and leather develop with dark spices like anise, clove and fennel; Finish: long, fruity and sweet with more Christmas cake and maple syrup and a final flourish of candied fennel. – $169.99 Estimated Retail Price
2. Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 KWM Octave – 19 Year – 54.7% – My Tasting Note: Nose: “fresh, creamy and fruity with malt and round oak; some nice weight with notes of melons, Creme Anglaise, candied fruits, orange rind and some growing hints of spice; Palate: rich, creamy and layered with lots of tingling spice; the fruits and creamy oak come rapidly to the fore with the malt and spices coming in the second wave; lots of different fruits from soft melons to orange rinds and candied cherries; candied ginger and Cinnamon hearts add a layer of decadent spice; Finish: long, lingering and coating with toasty oak spices and clean earthy oak lingering long while the fruits and cream fade. – $174.99 Estimated Retail Price
A few new drams to tickle your taste buds!
We have four exciting new whiskies from Compass Box in stock or due this coming Wednesday and a trio of new whiskies from a new independent bottler: First Editions. I’ve also included a tasting note on the new Talisker 57 North and Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3 is flying out the door just as its predecessors did. It is a great whisky at a great price, but not for long… The price on this whisky will be going up by about $20 to reflect international demand for it and the reality of a falling Canadian dollar. It will still be a great buy at around $105, but it is a steal while it lasts at $83.99!
1. Compass Box Great King Street Experimental Batch 1 – 43% – The Sherried Blend consisting of 28% Lowland Grain and 72% Malt mainly from the Highlands and Speyside with a trace amount from Islay. – Only 120 bottles have come to Canada! – $39.99
2. Compass Box Great King Street Experimental Batch 2 – 43% – The Peaty Blend consisting of 33% Lowland Grain Whisky and 67% Islay Malt – Only 120 bottles have come to Canada! – $39.99
3. Compass Box Peat Monster 10th Anniversary – 48.9% – The limited edition release exclusive to KWM consists of a blend of malts from Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Clynelish and a few other distilleries, mainly matured in new American oak with about 2% finished in new French oak. – $99.99
4. Compass Box The General – 53.4% – Exclusive to KWM in Calgary – Only 48 Bottles Available with nearly half spoken for. – The General is a blend of two whiskies which were long ago independently blended, married and forgotten in the cask. The youngest whiskies in the blend are 33 years of age! – $259.99
5. First Edition Glen Scotia 1991 – 59.6% – 22 Year – Refill Barrel – My Tasting Note: Nose: creamy and fruity, with soft caramel and a hint of salt; vanilla pods and Demerara sugars; Palate: big and spicy with loads of rich toasty oak, white peachy fruits, a hint of clean smoke and salty caramel; there is a hint of something vaguely tarry which along with spices gives some edge to the otherwise very creamy malt; Finish: lots of layers, toasty oak and more clean salty smoke with caramel.” – $141.49
6. First Edition Littlemill 1988 – 55.8% – 24 Year – Refill Hogshead – Exclusive to KWM – My Tasting Note: Nose: “floral and creamy, peaches and apricots with white grapes; the white fruit really starts to come out with apples and pear; Palate: floral and decadent with lots of sugars and some firm toasty oak; French style crepes with powdered sugar and lemon juice; melon, pineapple and some other tropical notes; Finish: long and creamy with lots of soft vanilla, more trop fruits and long lingering floral tones.” – $189.99
7. First Edition Miltonduff 1995 – 58.3% – 18 Year – Refill Hogshead – My Tasting Note: Nose: “raisins and coconut shavings and Scottish cranachan; mango and papaya with some toffee cake and chewy malt; Palate: round and malty with some lovely American oak notes: vanilla, coconut and toasty honey; both white and light tropical fruit notes with some grassy malt; Finish: long, malty and honeyed with some drying toasted oak and more coconut.” – $141.99
8. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3 – 54.9% – No Age Statement – Oloroso & PX Sherry – My Tasting Note: “Nose: firm leather, chocolate orange, candied fruits and treacle sauce; Palate: rich, fruity and layered with some late spices; it gently warms the palate with notes of candied fruits, leather and some earthy spices; Finish: long, rich, fruity and sweet with tingling-drying spice.” – $83.99
9. Talisker 57 North – 57% – Originally Duty Free Only – Only 168 bottles came to Alberta – My Tasting Note: “Nose: lovely layers of oily peat, clean salty smoke and hot peppery spices; waxed citrus fruits and floral heather honey; Palate: round and fruity with more oily peat oils, citrussy fruits and a backbone of floral honey; white chocolate sauce, decadent hot spice and some growing dark salty smoke; Finish: long, coating and rich with the soft peat oils, floral honey and spices going the distance.” – $159.99
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, 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
