Malt Messenger Bulletin

Whisky Advent Launch Mini Festival

Our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength!

& MS Whisky Festival 2020

It is hard to believe that November is almost behind us. It has been a crazy month. There was Whisky Week, 5 sold out Scotch Malt Whisky Society tastings and a ton of others, not to mention three Festivals (two whisky and one wine). We are nearly at the end of our Fall Tasting Season, but, there is one more event you can still take part in.

Friday, November 29, we will be celebrating the launch of our 6th KWM Whisky Advent Calendar™ (only 5 left of the 2019 edition), with a Mini Whisky Festival in-store: The Whisky Advent Launch Party. For the price of just $25 you can sample from a selection of up to 50 whiskies. We’ve partnered with a handful of agents who have participated in the Calendar this year and/or previously. There are going to be two sessions, one from 6-7:30 and the second from 8-9:30. We will have a few nibbles from Peasant Cheese. There are just 10 spots left for the 6PM session, and 20 for the 8PM. Details below!

Our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength, AKA “Ferg in the Spey”, is here… We hinted about it in the last Malt Messenger. Frustratingly, it was delayed, we’re still not entirely sure how or why, but it is here now, and we couldn’t be happier with it. The whisky is true to the buttery style of the Glenfarclas 21 Year, but with more decadent spice, nutty tones and candied fruit. It is in short a cracker, and at $180+gst it is another fantastic bargain! More details, photos, a tasting note and the story behind the whisky can be found below.

Finally, tickets are on sale for the MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2020, presented by Kensington Wine Market. We have moved the event to the Glenbow Museum to accommodate more Master Classes and Vendors. Early bird pricing is in effect, but only until midnight, Saturday November 30. There are 3 types of ticket available: General Admission, VIP Early Entry, and VIP Early Entry with VIP Master Class. VIP Master Class ticket holders have the opportunity to select from four different VIP Master Classes this year, subject to availability: Bunnahabhain, Compass Box, The Dalmore and The Glenrothes. There will also be scheduled Master Classes during the event which will be announced early next month. The event, which is now in its 9th year, will be bigger and better than ever! More details below.

I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you well. Please let me know if you have any comments, questions or requests. As always, in the event of a discrepancy in price, the Point of Sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

Slàinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/

or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1

KWM Whisky Advent 2019 Launch Party 

A Mini-Festival to Kick Off the Festive Season! 

Twas the night before Whisky Advent and all over the floor, there were tables full of whiskies for sampling throughout the store! We will be raising a glass this Friday, with a Mini Whisky Festival celebrating the launch of our 2019 Whisky Advent Calendar™. There will be up to 50 whiskies open for tasting, and some nibbles from Peasant Cheese. We have broken the event down in to two waves, 6:00-7:30 and 8-9:30. The guests in the early session will be asked to leave by 8PM to make room for those in the second session.

The Whisky Advent Launch Party: Mini-Whisky Festival is just $25, but free for one person with the purchase of a 2019 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar™ . Note at the time of writing there are just 5 Calendars left, and we don’t expect to have any remaining by the night of the event.

Register in-store, by phone 403-283-8000 or register online!

*Most Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies are not on Sale, nor is the KWM 2019 Whisky Advent Calendar™. There are a few other selected, mostly new, items also not on sale.

Our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength is Here! 

Introducing “Ferg in the Spey”! 

It is more than a couple of months late, and there was more than a little confusion surrounding when exactly it was going to arrive, but we are thrilled to announce that our Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength bottling of “Ferg in the Spey”, is actually here. We decided on a 21 year as a follow up to our hugely successful Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask, which sold out very quickly earlier in the year. As much as we would love to bottle a single cask of Glenfarclas, the cost would be at least 3 times that of a cask strength offering such as this. We are suckers for good value, and we know you are too…

This exciting new whisky has a bit of a story, if you’ll indulge me. When we did the label for our first Glenfarclas 15 Year KWM Cask Strength, it became apparent to me that we could have some fun with the label. We didn’t have time for anything bespoke with the 15 year, but after the Glenfarclas label below was brought to my attention I was inspired. In short, a gentleman was visiting Glenfarclas, and somehow ended up driving his Ford rental car in to the Spey. I am not entirely sure how or where that is possible, but he had a special label commissioned to commemorate the incident. They had to say Ferd, and not Ford, out of precaution for avoiding litigation (we do not have access to this 12 Year, it was bottled several years ago).

Which brings us to our Kensington Wine Market exclusive Glenfarclas label. I like to strike a balance between relaxed and professional when I’m touring around Scotland visiting distilleries. I usually wear a dress shirt and shorts, often with flip flops. A man likes to be comfortable. A couple of year back during Feis Isle, I decided to make an impromptu visit to Bowmore, while everyone else was elsewhere on the island. It was my first in a few years. As I entered the door, I was greeted: “Hello Mr. Ferguson. Welcone back to Bowmore!” I was completely taken aback, how did the woman know my name? So I asked and she answered: “Oh, you’re the nice gentleman from Canada who’s always walking around in shorts and a dress shirt.” Seems I have a recognizable image… So, knowing that we could be a little more creative with our second cask strength bottling of Glenfarclas, I decided to have a little fun with the label, inspired by the “Ferd in the Spey”, I’d like to introduce you to “Ferg in the Spey”!

Glenfarclas 21 Year KWM Cask Strength Ferg in the Spey  – 53.5% – Matured in Sherry & Traditional Casks – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: round, rich and fruity; very nutty: beer nuts, maple coated walnuts and marcona almonds; soft leather, brandy infused chocolate and white fruit cake; loads of fruit: candied and citric; creamy, warm pie crust from the oven; perhaps some tart lemon meringue. Palate: big, rich and very fruity with building earthy spices; loads of caramel, candied orange, orange peel and other candied fruits; still creamy with more buttery pie crust and tart fruit cake; the spices slowly build: fresh sliced ginger, as well as cardamom and cinnamon sticks; moves towards fennel and anise; very nutty too, loads of candied nuts and more oily marcona almonds. Finish: long, drying, spicy and elegant; fading candied fruits and nuts with more buttery pie crust and soft leather. Comment: another cracking cask strength Glenfarclas at an awesome price point; we can’t take any credit for the selection of this whisky; once again we put our faith in George and his team at Glenfarclas, and once again they have delivered; just in time for Christmas this bottle is oozing candied fruits, nuts and spices… how festive!” – $180+GST

MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2020! 

Bigger & Better Than Ever in a Cool New Venue!

The 9th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival, Thursday January 16, 2020, will be here before you know it, and the early bird deadline, to save on tickets, is fast approaching. We are excited to be moving to a new venue this year, one block west of the old one on Stephen Avenue. Moving to the Glenbow Museum not only affords us more space for exhibitors, while retaining the “cool venue” aesthetic of the Jack Singer, but it also gives us loads more space for Master Classes.

As part of the event we will have 4 different VIP Master Classes: Bunnahabhain with Mike Brisebois, Compass Box with Phil Keene, The Dalmore with Louis-Jérôme Doise and The Glenrothes with Jeff Meyers. Tickets for all four are limited, and I expect the Compass Box and Bunnahabhain ones to sell out first. There will also be six other Master Classes running during the show, which we will be announcing in the next few weeks.

Roam the room while sampling from over 300 whiskies from more than 40 different vendors! There are nibbles to snack on and a diverse silent auction to peruse between vendor booths and the spectacular exhibits at the museum. As part of our ‘Master Class Series’, ticket holders can also take advantage of these classes to learn more about whisky from those who make it. The classes are designed to dive further into the whisky making process, from mashing to fermentation to distilling and of course drinking. Stay tuned for this year’s classes. You won’t want to miss out on these experiences!

There are two types of ticket, General Admission and VIP, both of which include a Glencairn Glass. VIP ticket holders will receive a special cut crystal glass. General Admission is from 7-10PM. VIP ticket holders get to take advantage of the VIP hour, from 6-7PM, which will have a few special bottlings, and the opportunity to have more one on one interaction with the presenters and brand ambassadors. VIP ticket holders can also take part in, for an additional fee, one of the 4 VIP Master Classes mentioned above, all of which will feature special bottles.

Early Bird ticket pricing is in effect until November 30th, after which all ticket classes will go up in price by $20. Available ticket packages:

1. Early Bird- General Admission – $100
2. Early Bird- VIP Admission – $155
3. Early Bird- VIP with Master Class – $180
   1. Bunnahabhain – 40 Tickets Available
   2. Compass Box – 36 Tickets Available
   3. Dalmore – 30 Tickets Available
   4. Glenrothes – 24 Tickets Available

Purchase Tickets Now for the MS Calgary Whisky Festival 2020!

The KWM 2019 Whisky Advent Calendar™ Is In-Stock and Ready for Pickup and Purchase! 

Only 5 Remain Available for Sale! 

We are all about value at KWM, and we have managed to drop the price on this year’s Calendar $15 over the 2018 edition. Our  Kensington Wine Market 2019 Whisky Advent Calendar™ makes a great gift and is a great way to get into the Holiday spirit. The 2019 edition consists of 25 premium whiskies, including 24 50ml (One is actually 40ml) bottles and a special 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottling. This year’s Society whisky is a true one-off, it will only be available in the KWM Whisky Advent Calendar, never to be see again. The KWM Whisky Advent Calendar also includes a custom logo Glencairn Scotch Whisky Glass and a Discount Card.

You can follow along each day of Advent (or at your own pace), as we introduce you to each whisky on our blog and through our social media channels. We are really excited about this year’s edition, and we hope you are too. As in past years, we are taking a $150 deposit for each Calendar ordered, at the time it is ordered. The balance of payment will be due a few days before the Calendars are ready for pickup, which we estimate to be around the beginning of November. If you would like to order one or more Calendars, please be prepared to provide a credit card for payment of the deposit. The same card will be used to bill the remainder of the balance closer to the date it is ready for pickup.

Order a Kensington Wine Market 2019 Whisky Advent Calendar™!

*The Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is produced under license from Secret Spirits, Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar™ 

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger! 

Contact & Disclaimers 

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change and don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Owner & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Scotch Galore Whiskies the Alternative to Auctions

Join us this Friday 29^th November as we have our first Black Friday Sale.

Don’t miss out!

Grab yourself a Bargain!

No Commission

No Vat on any Bottles

Grab YOUR bottle NOW and don’t miss out on YOUR discount………!

And remember if you want to sell your Whisky and get paid before Christmas you have NOW missed out on online Auctions and we offer YOU the only chance to sell and get paid before Christmas!

Visit www.scotchgalore.com

Glenglassaugh 7 Year Old – 2012 | AW Exclusive

We’ve been excitedly anticipating the arrival of this single cask Glenglassaugh for some time and it’s certainly been worth the wait. 7 years maturation in an Oloroso sherry hogshead, 323 bottles have been filled from cask, exclusively for Abbey Whisky. Great complexity, exhibiting all the character you’d expect from this fine coastal distillery. We’re big fans of single cask Glenglassaugh, we hope you enjoy this dram as much as we do.

BUY NOW

Monday, December 2nd, 3-6PM

 Irish Whiskey Tasting: Jameson

Experience the legendary Jameson Irish Whiskey at this holiday tasting! Our pourlist is presented by whisky experts and distillery ambassadors and features the newly released Black Barrel Jameson expression. Come by from 3-6PM to try this triple distilled, twice-charred barrel whisky, plus other surprises from Jameson distillery.

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

MACALLAN MILLENNIUM DECANTER-50 YEAR OLD LEADS BONHAMS CHRISTMAS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

The Macallan Millennium Decanter-50 year old-1949. Estimate: £23,000-25,000.

The Macallan Millennium Decanter-50 year old-1949 is regularly voted one of the world’s most sought-after and desirable whiskies. Not surprising then that the bottle to be offered at Bonhams Christmas Whisky Sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 10 December carries a pre-sale estimate of £23,000-25,000.

The whisky was distilled in January 1949, and released in an edition of 900 to celebrate the millennium. It comes in a classic Caithness glass decanter, and is packaged in its own wooden case.

The sale also features:

·         A bottle of Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Queen of Hearts, from the famous Card Series. Estimate £10,000-12,000.  Distilled in 1990, and bottled in 2006, this bottle is number 44 of a limited edition of 324. Bonhams holds the world record of HK$7,192,000 (£725,000) for the sale at auction of the Full Card Series, consisting of 54 bottles. This was set at Bonhams Hong Kong in August 2019.

·         A bottle of Black Bowmore-1964, from the Final Edition, bottled in 1995. Distilled and bottled by Morrison’s Bowmore Distillery. Estimate: £15,000-16,000.

·         A bottle of Macallan Pure Highland Malt. Estimate £10,000-15,000. 

Bonhams Whisky Specialist in Edinburgh, Martin Green, said, “As usual our Christmas sale is the most varied of the year and it’s packed full of good things with something for everyone. The highlights, though, have to be the Macallan Millennium Decanter-50 year old-1949 that is always much in demand, and the Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Queen of Hearts, which is very rarely seen at auction.”

Link to the sale online here: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25375/

Sale: Whisky Location: 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2Date: Tuesday 10 December at 11.00 a.m.

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. bonhams.com

The Party Source Bourbon Harvest almost here and we couldn’t be more excited. Thank you to everyone who signed up for the Old Rip Van Winkle and Buffalo Trace Antique Collection raffle. Even though we’ve had to move the date of the actual raffle back, we appreciate everyone’s understanding. Once we receive our allocation and delivery information, we will begin notifying the initial winners regarding the date and time slots of the in-store raffle. Bourbon Harvest will have something for everyone and we hope to see you there.

Cheers,
-The Party Source Liquor Department

Bourbon Harvest

The Bourbon Harvest will begin at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 30^th. Everyone is invited to take part in the day’s activities as we celebrate all things Bourbon. There will be plenty of opportunities to go home with something special, as we will be releasing rare and sought after Bourbons throughout the day, in addition, we’ll have some amazing samples of Bourbons, Bourbon barrel-aged wines, and Bourbon barrel-aged beers. on hand. Come down and make a day of it.

Custom Barrel Heads

Just in time for Christmas, we’ll be taking orders for Custom Barrel Heads. These make perfect presents for birthdays, weddings and, don’t you know, Christmas. If you have Bourbon enthusiasts on your list, these are a must. There are many ways to customize your Barrel Head to make sure that you have a one-of-a-kind piece.

Private Barrel Selection

For over a decade we have scoured the rickhouses of our favorite distilleries, home and abroad, for single barrels that we think best represent those distilleries. We currently have a selection of over 20 unique expressions from all over the world that include Bourbon, Rye, Single Malt Scotch, Tequila, Brandy, and Rum. These unique expressions are hand-selected with care and each selection is unique to the barrel it was selected from.  Each Private Barrel has a fitting place on your bar.

The Party Source Private Barrel Selection

As you head out to friends’ and families’ this season, don’t forget to take something special to show your appreciation for the season and hospitality. One great way to show your appreciation is to bring a special Spirit Gift Set, which are beautifully packaged and often include a little something extra that makes these gifts even more appreciated. We currently have 70 available gift sets that are great for the host with the most, secret Santa, or a reward to yourself for getting through the holidays.

Click here for a full list of our holiday hours throughout the season.

Three Spectacular Bourbons You’ll Only Find at K&L
“The three barrels we ended up taking represent everything we love about the Russell’s barrel program.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

We are back with three more outstanding K&L exclusive casks from one of our favorite bourbon brands: Russell’s Reserve. As our SoCal spirits buyer notes in a recent Spirits Journal post, “They represent some of the final stocks from the Old Ripy/Gould distillery.” This historic distillery produced more than a few inspired bottlings over the years, and the trio featured here is certainly no exception. In the past, notice of Russell’s Reserve was muted, but a groundswell of interest is fast emerging, and with good reason as dollar for dollar they are among the best bourbon buys you’ll find anywhere. Dynamic, expressive, and with all the potency one expects from a powerhouse like Wild Turkey, they deliver precisely the kind of profile whiskey collectors adore. We urge you to scroll down and learn what makes each of these casks so unique. They are easily among the best we’ve had, further buttressing our belief that Russell’s Reserve delivers some of the top values in the realm of collectible bourbon. Our stocks are already disappearing fast, so don’t wait too long to secure your bottles.

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel “#18-439” (Rickhouse CN A, Floor 4) K&L Exclusive Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) ($64.99)

This delicious cask of Russell’s Reserve is another stunning example of why the Wild Turkey distillery is simply the most underrated distillery in Kentucky. Distilled on December 21st of 2009 at the now-demolished wooden distillery that sat below the current facility. This cask spent nine long years on the fourth floor of Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson Warehouse A. These warehouses, about an hour’s drive south from the distillery in Tyrone, are well known for putting out some of the distillery’s best casks over the last couple of years. These warehouses were acquired sometime in the last few decades as Wild Turkey’s production has expanded. Camp Nelson tends to have a slightly different character than the Tyrone warehouses, but not nearly as different as the stone warehouses in Frankfurt produced. This excellent cask, one of two distilled and aged identically in this year’s batch, each has an extremely distinct character. Both have a little bit more honey and less spice compared with the Tyrone stocks. Interestingly, this cask was meant to be released in 2018, but someone reneged on the commitment, so it’s spent the last year in Tyrone. We took the opportunity to snatch this top notch barrel. This is one of the most obvious and open Russell’s we’ve ever bottled. The style here is opulent. Expect big sweet and savory wood tones, vanilla bean, pure raw honey and a velvety texture. A perfect example of the heights this special distillery can achieve.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2019

I think people might finally be catching on to these Russell’s. We’ve struggled previously to get people excited about them, but for the first time our customers are getting out ahead of these and picking them off with little to no suggestion on our part. The three barrels we selected this year are truly some of their finest yet and represent probably some of the best bourbon we’ll sell all year, including the old and rare offerings. This awesome cask spent a year aging at the Tyrone warehouses compared to its sister 19-0345 which was distilled on the same day and aged on the same floor at Camp Nelson. The nose is a hedonist’s delight. Sweet muscovado sugar, rich dark cocoa, fine tobacco leaf, expensive spices. On the palate moving toward the baked apple and tingly cinnamon heat without going full on red hots. This is the real stuff right here. The chewy rich texture is what gets me most with this one, borderline syrupy. An absolute bomb by any measure.

Illya Haase | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 23, 2019

Russell’s is one of the best bourbons you probably don’t purchase! That my friend is a shame. Just from the first whiff of the Single Barrel 18 439, it pops with the aroma of blood orange, cinnamon and caramel, to name a few good sniffs. The taste is warm, inviting and coats your mouth with fresh mint, tobacco and butterscotch! This is the perfect cigar bourbon. Sitting outside by a crackling fire, just taking in the slowing down time, finally enjoying the moment in this breakneck pace that we all live in. That is what a great bourbon does.

Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

Another season sees another round of exceptional barrels from the wealth of Wild Turkey’s reserve stocks. In this case, my first impressions conjured cornflower, cherry and tobacco – an altogether pleasant, if straightforward nose. The depths therein, however, are anything but simple. Nutmeg, stewed apple, baking chocolate and a hefty dose of cinnamon take center stage backed up by dark sugar and prominent oak. There’s a lot going on here, and I was glad to revisit it several times throughout the day. This is definitely not one to sleep on.

Shelby Griffiths | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

Out of all of our Russel’s Reserve barrel picks this one stood out to me as the most baking spice driven. The aroma is incredibly warm & inviting with notes of cinnamon, orange peels, fennel fronds, with a touch of anise. I felt like the bourbon was enveloping my palate like it was cozying up in a warm fuzzy blanket on a cold night. Letting the those warm baking spices really come through and giving you the impression of a perfect Autumn night.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 15, 2019

I’ve enjoyed all our Russell’s Reserves private barrel picks but this one in particular was such a fun bourbon to pour into a glass; so many interesting things going on and one of the more, tropical bourbons I’ve come across. On the nose I got cola and sarsaparilla, fennel seed, and then a strong whiff of coconut, vanilla, cherry, and chocolate came through unexpectedly. This is a nose you could contemplate for quite a while as things tended to move around and change. The palate expressed a lot of the cherry that was evident on the nose but added flavors of Hawaiian fruit punch, oak spice, candy coated fennel seed and demerara sugar. The finish was long and left me with a numbness in the center of my tongue, reminding me of how I’ll sometimes feel coming out of the dentists office. Along with the fun tactile ride, cherry notes and baking spices left their footprint on the finish.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 12, 2019

In a few words this barrel is expressive, direct and classic. The nose has vanilla, spice, and caramel aromas. In the mouth it is concentrated, and has a lot of depth and complexity in addition to some honey flavors. With a splash of water, vanilla notes come out in the nose. In the mouth, it is a little lighter bodied and comes across as slightly sweeter, but is still rich, juicy, complex, and classic.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 11, 2019

The nose on this guy immediately comes across to me as sticky toffee pudding. The butterscotch, date, and vanilla characters are front and center and it feels warming and immediately comforting. The spice notes carry over to the palate, and are punchy and bold in the flavors. This would make for the ultimate after dinner bourbon heading into the cooler weather months as the flavors just scream the holidays to me.

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel “#19-1108” (Rickhouse CN A, Floor 4) K&L Exclusive Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) ($64.99)

We picked another set of excellent Russell’s Reserve barrels with the wonderful Bruce Russell back in April of 2019. Of the 20 casks we tasted that day, we selected three barrels that stood out as being some of the finest we’d ever experienced from the venerable distillery in Tyrone, KY. That’s saying a lot considering the incredible casks we’ve previously sold, but the bourbon world is starting to wake up to WT and especially these old casks which were distilled at the old demolished distillery down the hill from the current facility. Barrel #19-1108 was distilled on the exact same day as the excellent cask 18-439. It was filled into the same Camp Nelson rickhouse A and the same floor as its sister cask. The only difference in their maturation is cask #18-439 was pulled to Tyrone a year earlier and left there after being selected by someone else, but never bottled. We snatched that up the second we got a snort, but bought this barrel because of its obvious merits as well. It was only after that we realized they’ve been distilled on the very same day and aged in similar places. This cask is probably what most traditional Wild Turkey drinkers are looking for. An immediate rush of cola, big clove, dark vanilla bean, burnt citrus peel, hints of licorice, maple syrup, dried herbs and leaves. The palate is surprisingly supple with classic Red Hots, roasting coffee beans, citrus oil and a sweet caramelized oak. Big, bold and spicy—this is why they call her the Kickin’ Chicken.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2019

It’s always interesting to taste two casks that were distilled on the same day and lived in the same warehouse, but somehow taste wildly different. Whereas the 18-439 seems to have moved into what might be described as a bit of an outlier profile, this is right where I imagine a great barrel of WT at Camp Nelson for 10 years would be. The nose is that great contrast between the sweet cola, singing citrus peel and the dark earthy spice that we know and love from Turkey. The palate is rich and textured with less cinnamon than its sister and more roasted spices, sweet bark and earthy pepper. The palate is driven and long with the dark green herbs and menthol taking over. A really serious bottle best for an expert palate.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2019

The WT Russell’s line may be some of my favorite consistent single barrels we’re able to get. This barrel hit a lot of high tones for me. The nose was a bit tight under the proof but I got strong herbal hints of sassafras, fennel bulb contrasted by sweeter notes of brown sugar, maraschino cherry, and green apple skin. The palate was bright and very sweet, with baking spices, caramelized yellow peaches and brown sugar ginger cookies. The textural component was nice as well, it was soft with a light kick and the finish was long and just a touch waxy. A beautiful dram of bourbon I’d be happy to work on through the holidays.

Shelby Griffiths | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

This barrel stood out to me with its friendly, charming quality. Golden apples, dried citrus peels, fresh caramel, sarsaparilla, with a touch of anise. The palate was very approachable, with an endearing sweetness. Uplifting, warm, and cheerful, this bourbon is like that friend that can always cheer you up when you’re having a bad day.

Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

I was first struck by the sweet and sticky nose, which caused me initially to interpret this bottle as the brown sugar beast among the lot. Upon further investigation, though, it unveils an impressive and nuanced array of flavors. The dark syrup is merely an adornment for apricot, sultana, orange zest and crunchy graham cracker. And atop all that, somehow, white pepper and rosemary float effortlessly, providing a compelling counterpoint without creating strife. With exceptional balance and a fascinating finish, it keeps me coming back for more.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 12, 2019

For me this was the barrel that was the most like a good piece of candy. The nose has floral and vanilla aromas, and in the mouth it was sweet, with butterscotch and caramel flavors. A touch of water continues this flavor profile, but opens the bourbon up a little. Although sweet and pretty, this barrel has a certain amount of elegance to it to help make it a delicious treat.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 11, 2019

The herbs and anise notes jump off the nose as soon as this hits your glass. The aromatics are insanely lively and unique. Tea, pepper, and orange rind come across on the palate, but there is sweetness in the form of toffee and vanilla to give some balance. Any opportunity we get, K&L likes to get our selected barrels bottled at cask strength so the customer can decide how they want to enjoy them. While you do get some heat on the tongue, this one isn’t overwhelming, but has just a high enough proof to make the finish go on and on.

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel “#19-345” (Rickhouse CN F, Floor 6) K&L Exclusive Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) ($64.99)

This barrel is the outlier among this year’s selection of Russell’s Reserve. Unlike the other two, which were both distilled in December of 2009 and aged in Camp Nelson Warehouse A, this cask was distilled on November 13th of 2009 and spent nine years on the 6th floor of Warehouse F on the Camp Nelson campus. Like cask 439, this one was was bottled on June 29th of 2019. For whatever reason, it shows more of the earthy aromatics than the other casks. Still it remains very balanced, but is neither as sweet as 439 nor a spicy as 1108. Instead, the aromatic profile is very roasty, showing the Turkey’s dark meat a bit here. Expect strong aromas of roasted vanilla and coffee bean, forest floor, sweet charred oak, leather and dried herbs. The palate is long and sweetens up enough to keep it from feeling harsh or austere. Some might argue that this is the best cask of the three, but it is simply a different side of Turkey that we happen to absolutely adore. We don’t see that many casks that show this profile and when we do we snatch them up immediately.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2019

This gorgeous barrel, aged for slightly longer than the other two, is what I like to call the dark meat. This is that earthy, herbal Turkey that lacks the overt spicy heat of its siblings, but makes up for it in complexity and aromatic depth. The nose of roasted coffee, candied citrus, birch and old leather. On the palate a black tea, more roasting herbs, sweet wild honey and dried plums. Weirdly the easiest of the three to consume despite the slightly more restrained flavor profile. Really damn good hooch here.

Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

This expression proved the most difficult for me to classify, and that might make it the most interesting. Savory and unique, an indelible herbal note sets the tone. A persistent nose of yeast, like fine lees in wine, keeps my face glued to the edge of my glass as I try to discern the secret blend of herbs and spices that causes my mouth to water like this. Banana and its leaves, subtle paraffin, and Brazil nut pair seamlessly with sweet cereal and gentle chamomile. It’s mind-boggling, but an exciting and intriguing challenge. Is that teak wood I smell? Walnut? Just when I think I’ve settled on something, it’s gone, replaced by something equally enticing. I implore you to solve these mysteries for yourself.

Shelby Griffiths | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

I felt like each time I revisted this barrel it kept revealing something new, a deeper layer to me. At first on the nose I found notes of mocha & milk chocolate, that then evolved into a more herbaceous eucalyptus & tea tree character, all while having a subtle note of nuttiness, like Brazil nuts, lingering in the background. The palate was focused and attention grabbing with a sweet peppermint quality that enhanced this already complex experience. Definitely a whisky I would like have at home to have more time with, and share with friends.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 17, 2019

Another wonderful offering from WT. Similar yet different from the other private Russell’s barrels 19-345 hits with purple plums, chocolate covered raisins, vanilla, and sarsaparilla on the nose. The palate starts off a sweet demerara sugar note, with a velvety texture and moves into cherry punch, plums, and purple NERDS candy. The finish presented more of a maraschino cherry note mixed with sweet herbs and lingered for quite a while. Solid bourbon for the price!

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 13, 2019

Creamy vanilla, sponge cake, and candied fruit shine on the nose here. This is rich and luscious, but not heavy, as it has higher tones and brighter notes to it. This would make the ultimate pre-dinner bourbon either alone or mixed with its punchy and fresh flavors.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 12, 2019

Another interesting and delicious selection. I tasted this single barrel bourbon with and without water. Without water the nose has caramel notes that lead to an expressive, round, juicy, and concentrated sprite. There are beautiful spice notes that help round out this bourbon. With a drop or two of water, the nose is deep, complex, and interesting. In the mouth, barrel #345 is still concentrated, and the honey and caramel sweetness are expressed more fully. The spice notes are still there, but are a little more subtle.

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