Kensginton Wine Market’s Whisky E-Newsletter

I hope this finds you well! Before we get to the meat of this article, I hope you won’t mind a heads up about a big transition we are in the midst of.

As you know, there is always a lot going on at KWM. People visiting us for the first time are almost always shocked by how small the store is because our virtual footprint is so much larger than the actual one. To borrow from an advertising campaign lodged somewhere in my brain, I’ve long thought of Kensington Wine Market as being “smallnormous.” Our ambition, ideas, and presence often exceed our limitations.

The month of June has proven to be an exceptional case of this. Even though we currently have more staff than we have ever had, and things have slowed a little, especially compared to last year. It has been more than a little crazy over the last while. While continuing to serve customers and host virtual tastings we are upgrading our phone systems, migrating our email hosting and trying to get a new website ready to launch in July.

We are especially excited about the new website. In addition to being even more secure, and far less likely to crash, it will also be more visually appealing. It will also give us the opportunity to geek out and share more information about our favourite partners and suppliers. It will also be easier to use, especially on your cell phone, with a simplified purchase and checkout process.

Getting it ready to launch though is an enormous undertaking. The text for each product needs to be reformatted, and we have to start from scratch with our pictures, which will be higher resolution. You may be better able to appreciate the scale of this project when you consider we have 3000+ products in-store at any given time, and more than 6000 over the course of the year.

In order to get the new site ready to launch, we will be no longer updating the old one with product information after this week. It will still list all the products we have in stock, and you will still be able to purchase bottles and tastings from it without issue. But photos and descriptions will no longer be updated, so that energy can be directed to getting the new site over the finish line.

As with any transition this monumental, there are bound to be hiccups along the way. So I am preemptively asking for your patience and understanding!

As with many events in the last 15 months, the 10th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival was not able to take place this past January. We wanted to do something to help the MS Society raise a little money, and our good friend Andy Dunn of Gold Medal Marketing suggested we offer a special single cask bottling.

He approached another good friend of ours, Anthony Wills of Kilchoman, who in turn came up with something very special for us. Kilchoman Distillery opened in 2005, with the first spirit flowing from the stills in June. Amongst others, KWM has been fortunate to bottle a pair of 10 year old casks, and in 2020 a 12 year old from Kilchoman. For the fundraiser Anthony Wills offered one of the distillery’s oldest casks, from their first full year of production. The Kilchoman 14 Year MS Society YYC Cask is the oldest whisky from this distillery ever to come to Canada, and it has arrived! $25 from every bottle sold will be going to the MS Society. More details below.

We have also just opened up a slew of new virtual whisky tastings, which will take us through the end of July. We are going to slow things down a little in August, so we can plan for the fall, including our ongoing virtual tastings. More about that in the next full Malt Messenger.

But for now, we have some really cool additions to the virtual tasting schedule, including Kilchoman with Anthony Wills on July 24, which will feature the new 14-Year-old cask. There is also, Highland Park: We’re Not in Scotland Anymore!? on July 15, which will feature a range of whiskies to appeal to the inner Viking in all of us. And then there is Really Rare & Old: Things Andrew Wants to Try, which will feature a 35-year-old Port Ellen, the official Rosebank 30 Year, a 45-year-old Teaninich and the Arran 25 Year amongst others. This tasting isn’t inexpensive, but for what you have the opportunity to try, a range worth more than $13K, it is in another sense priceless.

We also have room in a couple of other upcoming tastings, like Canada D’Eh: Shelter Point, Canada D’Eh: Two Brewers and Introducing: The Whisky Trail with Julie Hamilton & Celine Tetu. Details on these can be found below too.

Lastly, we have also added some more whiskies to our ongoing sale list. As long as certain importers keeping tempting us with deals, we continue to pass them on!

Everything in this newsletter can be purchased online, so please do so if you can! As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or comments. But be patient, I may be head down working on the new site.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

IN THIS EDITION

1. Introducing: The Kilchoman 14 Year MS Society Calgary Cask

2. New Virtual Whisky Tastings

3. Other Up-Coming Virtual Tastings

4. New Additions to the Whisky Bin Ends Sale List!

INTRODUCING:

THE KILCHOMAN 14 YEAR MS SOCIETY YYC CASK

As many of you know, the Kensington Wine Market is the title sponsor of the MS Calgary Whisky Festival. January 2021 would have been our 10th Annual event, but for obvious reasons, we had to pull the plug. Over the last few months, we hatched an idea with our good friend Andy Dunn of Gold Medal Marketing, to select and bottle a cask of whisky, as a fundraiser for the the MS Society of Canada’s Calgary chapter.

Another good friend of KWM, Kilchoman Distillery’s Anthony Wills offered something incredibly special… a 14 year old Kilchoman. This is by 2 years, the oldest Kilchoman ever to come to Canada. The next being our Kilchoman 12 Year KWM Bourbon Cask 338. The Kilchoman 14 Year MS Society YYC Cask has arrived in-store, and is selling for $225+gst, with $25 from every bottle sold going to support the MS Society of Canada.

Kilchoman 14 Year MS Society YYC Cask – 53.4% – Bourbon Cask 78/2006 – Distilled: May 5 2006 – Bottled March 15, 2021 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: soft, doughy and fruity with hints of spruce and beach bonfires; butter poached scallops drizzled in butter and salty lime-mezcalritas; coconut icing on vanilla cupcakes; seaspray on a warm summer day. Palate: big, bold and earthy with a teetering ballance of chewy malt, tarry peat, salty maritime tones and juicy citrus; more lime mezcalritas, lemon drizzled scallops and coconut icing; Dutch licorice, spruce tips and distant beach bonfires to round things out. Finish: long and warming with mildly medicinal tarry peat, loads of citrus, scallops and clean smoke. Comment: compared to our current 12 Year KWM Cask this 14 year old is both bolder with respect to peat and tar, and brighter with respect to its citrus fruits; both are lovely, but completely different animals.” – $225 – $25 per bottle to the MS Society!

NEW VIRTUAL TASTINGS

We have a lot of fun with our virtual tastings, which is partly why they are so successful. We’re a business, and obviously we like to sell things. But we also like trying things we are curious about, and

Highland Park: We’re Not in Scotland Anymore… Are We?!

·     Date: Thursday, July 15

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $65

·     Pick-Up Date: June 21

While looking for tasting ideas we were surprised to discover that a couple of the Highland Park themed whisky pairs were still kicking around. Highland Park went heavy on the Viking themes about a decade ago, the pinnacle of which was Light & Dark, Fire & Ice. We thought it might be fun to revisit these curiosities, along with a couple of friends. Join us for a dissection of Highland Park whiskies including: Ice Edition 17 Year, Fire Edition 15 Year, The Dark 17 Year, The Light 17 Year, Valknut, Valfather, 18 Year and an 18 Year IB single cask. 8x 15ml samples. 8P M, Thursday July 15.

*Samples available for pick-up Monday June 21.

Really Rare & Old: Things Andrew Wants to Try

·     Date: Thursday, July 22

·     Time: 7 PM

·     Cost: $300

·     Pick-Up Date: June 25

If you think Andrew looks excited in the photo above, imagine him with the range below in front of him!

We’re back with another baller range of whiskies the big guy is dying to try. The Covid-19 pandemic hit just days before we were supposed to host our first-ever Rare & Old Whisky Festival. We were gutted to have to pull the plug, but it was the right decision, and it will likely be next winter before we return to sit-down in-store, let alone festival-style tasting… but we’ve still had some fun, and will continue to. There are more than a few old and rare whiskies we want to taste, and we know we are not alone in this. The first “Rare & Old: Things Andrew Wants to Try” tasting was a hit. So we are following it up by taking things to a whole other level, with “Really Rare & Old: Things Andrew Wants to Try”. This time our range includes: XOP Port Ellen 35 Year, XOP Blacks Glenrothes 30 Year, North of Scotland 50 Year & Teaninich 45 Year, as well as the official Rosebank 30 Year, Johnnie Walker Bicentenary Blend & Arran 25 Year. In all nearly 250 years of whisky worth north of $13K+gst, including 2 closed-ish distillery drams. 7 PM Thursday, July 22. Includes 7x15ml samples.

*Samples available for pick-up June 25th (Estimate).

Kilchoman Virtual Tasting with Anthony Wills

·     Date: Saturday, July 24

·     Time: 5 PM

·     Cost: $35

·     Pick-Up Date: June 21

We are usually fortunate to welcome Anthony Wills of Kilchoman at least once a year for a tasting in-store. But due to Covid-19, it’s been a wee while. Since he last visited our shores, we’ve launched a 12 Year Kilchoman KWM Cask, and we’ve just received a Kilchoman 14-Year-old cask, bottled for the MS Society. So we are long overdue for a tasting and thrilled that Anthony has agreed to join us live from Scotland for a virtual Kilchoman tasting. In all, we have set aside a range of 8 Kichoman whiskies for the tasting: Machir Bay, Machir Bay Cask Strength (sold out), Sanaig 2021, Loch Gorm 2021, Fino Sherry Matured (sold out), 100% Islay 2020 (sold out) and the two casks: 12 Year KWM Cask and 14 Year MS Society YYC Cask. 5 PM, Saturday, July 24. 8x 15ml samples.

*Samples will be ready for pick-up Monday June 21 (Estimate).

NEW WHISKIES FROM CADENHEAD

Introducing: The Whisky Trail with Julie & Celine

·     Date: Friday, June 25

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $45

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

·     Only 7 spots left!

With Canada Day approaching, we thought we’d shine a little extra light on a few of our favourite Canadian Distilleries. We’re teaming up with our friends at Yukon Brewing & Distilling, aka Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt to put on a virtual tasting of some of the finest whisky made in Canada. We’ll be joined by distillery co-founder Bob Baxter for a 7 whisky vertical Two Brewers tasting featuring Releases 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 25, as well as the stunning, recently arrived KWM Cask.

*SAMPLES READY FOR PICK NOW!

Canada D’Eh: Shelter Point Distillery

·     Date: Tuesday, June 29

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $25

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

·     Only 14 spots left!

With Canada Day approaching, we thought we’d shine a little extra light on some of our favourite Canadian Distilleries. We’re teaming up with our friends Jacob and Leon at Shelter Point to put on a virtual tasting of some of the finest whisky made in Canada. Our range will include 7 15ml samples of Shelter Point Whisky: The Collective, Smoke Point Batch 2, Double Barrel Batch 5, and The Forbidden, as well as some soon to arrive releases: Smoke and Oak, Ripple Rock & the 3rd and final KWM Rye (Alberta Distillers) Cask!

*SAMPLES READY FOR PICK NOW!

Canada D’Eh: Two Brewers Whisky

·     Date: Wednesday, June 30

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $25

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

·     Only 6 spots left!

We will be joined by Elixir Distillers Brand Ambassador Julie Hamilton, and International Sales Manager Celine Tetu, as we introduce a new range of independent bottlings with really cool labels, The Whisky Trail. We are starting out with 7 whiskies from the Retro Cars and Video Games labels. Our range will include single cask bottlings of Ben Nevis 1996, Cambus 1990, Glen Elgin 2007, Glenrothes 1989, Invergordon 1987, and a pair of Ardmores’ from 2009 and 1998. Participants in the tasting will not only be the first people in Canada to sample these whiskies, but they will also have the first opportunity to purchase the bottles. Friday, June 25, 5 PM.

*We will be donating $15 per ticket to the Brenda Stafford Center, a local women’s shelter.

**Only 23 spots left, out of 85!!!

***SAMPLES READY FOR PICK-UP NOW!

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE SALE LIST

When we get a deal, we pass it along. The full whisky sale list can be viewed in the PDF below, or by browsing All Sale Items on our website! Here are some of the latest and greatest new deals, to be added to our seemingly permanent “sale” list:

1. Auchentoshan 12 Year – Regular $61.99 – Save 20% – Sale $49.59

2. Auchentoshan Three Wood – Regular $82.99 – Save 20% – Sale $66.39

3. Bowmore 18 Year – Regular $124.99 – Save 20% – Sale $99.99

4. Bruichladdich Laddie Classic – Regular $74.99 – Save 25% – Sale $59.99

5. Bunnahabhain 12 Year – Regular $74.99 – Save 15% – Sale $63.74

6. Craigellachie 13 Year – Regular $75.99 – Save 30% – Sale $53.19

7. Dalmore Port Wood – Regular $129.99 – Save 20% – Sale $103.99

8. Glenfarclas 12 Year – Regular $69.99 – Save 20% – Sale $55.99

9. Jura Seven Wood – Regular $121.99 – Save 35% – Sale $79.29

10.   Mortlach 16 Year – Regular $139.99 – Save 25% – Sale $104.99

11. Port Askaig 100 Proof – Regular $79.99 – Save 20% – Sale $63.99

12.  Port Askaig 8 Year – Regular $67.99 – Save 20% – Sale $54.39

13. Redemption Bourbon – Regular $54.99 – Save 25% – Sale $41.24

14. Redemption Rye – Regular $49.99 – Save 25% – Sale $37.49

15. Teeling Single Malt – Regular $95.99 – Save 25% – Sale $71.99

BROWSE ALL WHISKIES ON SALE!

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888-283-9004

Store Hours

Sunday: 11am – 6pm

Mon – Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thu – Fri: 10am – 9pm

Sat: 10am – 8pm

*All Prices Quoted here are subject to change and do not include GST. In the case of pricing discrepancies, the price at our point of sale will be taken as correct.*

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Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml)

$79.99 View

The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the ’60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of Pinot Noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself, selecting his own sherry butts to ensure the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, use a wine opener to go through it).

ralfy review 881 – Ben Nevis 10yo @ 46%vol: (Signatory)

SPIRIT OF YORKSHIRE DISTILLERY RELEASES FILEY BAY PEATED FINISH

The light and subtly smoky whisky comes after the success of the ambitious distillery’s ‘finished’ releases last year

Filey Bay, Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky, made by the ambitious Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, is releasing a brand new expression – Filey Bay Peated Finish. After the success of its ‘finished’ releases in 2020, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery decided to go one step further and finish its light and fruity house style whisky in peated casks to deliver a subtle note of peat smoke. Balanced and delicate, Filey Bay Peated Finish is soft and sweet with a gentle twist of smoke making this release perfect for any whisky fan whatever their preference.

This exciting new cask type not only adds dimension to the distinctive, creamy and light whisky, but also brings together the forward thinking distillery’s ethos of respecting tradition with a progressive approach. Filey Bay Peated Finish uses a combination of two of the distillery’s distillate styles from a small selection of stunning bourbon casks laid down in the spring and summer of 2017, which undergoes a secondary maturation in peated casks. Light, sweet and coastal, expect flavours of soft vanilla, caramel, subtle peat smoke and bright citrus.

Co-founded by Tom Mellor and David Thompson, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery began making whisky in 2016. The distillery is located a stone’s throw from co-founder Tom Mellor’s working arable farm in Hunmanby on the Yorkshire coast, which has been in Mellor’s family since World War II.

“After the success of our ‘finished’ releases last year, we’re really excited to announce our next step, Filey Bay Peated Finish. This bottling is a much anticipated first, as we give our light and fruity signature whisky a subtle sweet smokiness by finishing in peated casks.” said Spirit of Yorkshire Director and Co-Founder, David Thompson.

The distillery’s Whisky Director, Joe Clark added: “Opinions can sometimes be divided on peated whisky, and this release strikes very much at the middle ground for those who love peated whisky and those who are not so sure. Our Peated Finish is all about balance – it’s the perfect dram for any whisky fan.”

The distillery’s traditional yet progressive approach results in a distinctive whisky which is creamy, light and fruity with flavours of citrus, honey, caramel and vanilla, whilst it gets its complex and refined character from maturation in a range of ex-bourbon and sherry barrels. Named after the pristine beach in North Yorkshire visible from the distillery, the gannets that gather on nearby Bempton Cliffs have become an emblem of the brand and appear on its vibrant label.

Alongside Filey Bay Peated Finish, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery’s initial ‘finished’ range includes the Filey Bay STR Finish, aged partly in former red wine barriques; the Filey Bay Moscatel Finish, aged in Spanish Moscatel wine barrels; and various other limited-run releases using a range of maturation techniques. Filey Bay Flagship is the distillery’s first widely available bottling, following the limited-run First Release and Second Release.

Filey Bay Peated Finish will be available to purchase from June from the distillery’s website here, RRP £60.

Notes 

Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery Hunmanby Industrial Estate, The Distillery, Unit 1, Hunmanby, Filey, YO14 0PH. www.spiritofyorkshire.com @SpiritOfYorkshire

About Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery

Spirit of Yorkshire distillery was set up in 2016 by Tom Mellor and David Thompson in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, UK. A sister operation to the Wold Top Brewery, it is located close to the owners’ arable farm, which specialises in growing malting barley, and uses progressive, sustainable farming practices and unique distillation methods in its range of single malt whiskies.

The distillery’s operations are underpinned by a long-standing passion for sustainable agriculture and careful environmental stewardship: all of the barley used in its production is grown on the farm, making it one of the only genuinely field to bottle distilleries in the UK, while chalk aquifers directly underneath the farm provide a consistent water supply that’s ideal for whisky distilling.

Both Mellor and Thompson have worked in farming and agriculture in the local area for decades. Passionate about low-impact farming techniques being used wherever possible, issues like soil health and biodiversity are also front-of-mind when it comes to the farm’s operations. The distillery will continue its regular tours for locals and visitors looking to find out more about the distilling process from 21st June, while the resident Pot Still Café will continue to offer speciality coffee alongside breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menus made from produce sourced from local artisans

After many long months, we are thrilled to be preparing to welcome visitors back to Glenfarclas.

The doors to our Visitor Centre and shop will open at 10am on Monday the 5^th of July and we can’t wait to show people around our beautiful distillery once again.

We have done a lot of work to ensure the safety of visitors and of our distillery team which remains our number one priority.

The Centre will be open from Monday to Saturday. Tours will be running four times a day – 10:30, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30 (10:30, 12:00, 13:15 and 14:30 on Saturdays).

We have had to make some changes to the tour route to ensure that social distancing can be maintained, but you will still get to see the stillhouse, the warehouse and enjoy a dram or two in the famous Ships Room. While these changes are in place, the tour and tasting will be free of charge.

At present, only the Classic Tour is available, but we hope to start offering more in-depth tour and tasting experiences as Covid restrictions ease later in the year.

Spaces on tours are limited, so pre-booking is essential to avoid missing out. Email our Visitor Centre to secure your place.

The Visitor Centre shop is open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 4pm on Saturday.  No booking is needed if you wish to drop in.

All social distancing rules will be observed.  If you (or anyone you have been in contact with) have reason to believe you have Covid 19, please postpone your visit for the time being.  We ask that visitors wear face coverings while inside buildings, unless exempt.  A member of staff will advise where this is not required.

Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” Blended Japanese Whisky (750ml) $74.99 View 

91 points Wine Enthusiast

 The newest blended whisky offering from Hibiki is burnished gold in the glass and has a bold aroma that mixes vanilla, fresh pear and a hint of smoke. The smokiness comes forward at the first sip, wrapping around a core of oak and vanilla custard and finishing long, with a mouthwatering bitter chocolate note. *Best of 2016* (KN)  (3/2016)

90 points Whisky Advocate

 Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015)  (12/2015)

Wine & Spirits

 You can’t be a Japanese whisky enthusiast without having noticed that there’s a shortage of the stuff. What once was readily available is now hard to find. What once was affordable now costs various bodily limbs. It is due to more than a fad. The best Japanese whisky is remarkable stuff, and none are better than the top single malts from Suntory, Yamazaki, Hakushu and the blended whisky Hibiki. Hibiki comes in 12-, 17- and 21-year-old expressions, but even the youngest of these is now allocated. Harmony, the newest release, carries no age statement, indicating that it contains younger whiskies than other bottlings. Nevertheless, this is a welcome concession, with Suntory’s classic sense of balance, nuance and delicacy. *Best of 2015* (JM)  (11/2015)

K&L Notes

*96 points, Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 of 2020* The newest incarnation of Suntory’s hugely popular Hibiki series, this time without an age statement attached. The same soft, mellow, vanilla-laden flavor is still here, however. It’s a true harmony of pure Hibiki flavor.

GlenDronach

Friday, June 18th, 4-6PM

Saturday, June 19th, 12-4PM

Join us this Friday, June 18th from 4-6PM and Saturday, June 19th from 12-4PM for our GlenDronach scotch tastings, presented by whisky expert and ambassador Rory Glasgow. We’ll have a variety of award-winning whiskies to try, with Rory and our whisky experts present for all your whisky questions.

Established in 1826, Highland distillery GlenDronach was one of the very first licensed distilleries in Scotland. The award-winning GlenDronach range marries the best of Highland and Spanish skill and heritage to offer whiskies of elegant, complex character and tremendous depth of taste. Masters of Sherry Maturation, GlenDronach scotches are recognized for their deep color and rich flavor profiles, ranging from sweet fruity Pedro Ximenez sourced single malts, to the dry and nutty Olorosso expressions.

RSVPs are appreciated! Click below to RSVP through facebook.

Friday, June 18th, 4-6PM

Saturday, June 19th, 12-4PM

Current Store Hours at The Whisky Shop:

Open 10AM – 6PM, every day

We respect and enforce California’s Covid Lockdown guidelines, including reduced capacity, mask-wearing, and social distancing.

 

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This Father’s Day treat yourself or someone special to a Whisky Magazine subscription and enjoy the next 3 issues for £3. Plus, you’ll receive this definitive Whisky Tastings poster –with 5 years of the very best tastings, all absolutely FREE.

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Whisky Wednesday Reviews Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.