Ralfy introduces big peatiness, but not Islay peatiness with Ralfy Review 725 – Ledaig 13yo Amontillado malt @ 59.2%vol:

‘BURNING OF THE BEAR CEREMONY’ IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD WHISKY DAY AND ROYAL WEDDING AT SPIRITUAL HOME OF SCOTCH WHISKY 

The bear set aflame to celebrate the opening of the distillery

There can be no more unique way to celebrate World Whisky Day (19 May) than at the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, witnessing a 100ft high bear carving set aflame on a hillside.

On the hill overlooking our still-house, you will see a bear holding a ragged staff, ploughed into the ground. It is a depiction of the stone statue that was taken from the Abbot’s lodgings at the Abbey during the Reformation. The bear and ragged staff is a device of the Earls of Warwick – Guido, the first Abbot of Lindores, was a younger son of the Warwick family. Each year we light the outline of the bear to remind ourselves of the importance of our past and to toast the coming year’s distillate.

This year’s bear burning event will take place on World Whisky Day, 19 May, between 7pm and midnight.  There will be food, music and dancing; celebratory toasts to the bear and the newly married Harry and Meghan will be made with Lindores Abbey Aqua Vitae cocktails.

Tickets for 1494 Members are free, Preservation Society Members tickets are £10 and General Admission is £12.50 For further information, interviews and images, please contact Poppy McKenzie Smith

E: poppystill@lindoresabbeydistillery.com                T: +44 (0) 7446 074 308

Double cause for celebration as ambassadors are honoured at the launch of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2018

A five-day festival celebrating Scotland’s national drink kicks off in earnest today (Thursday, May 3) but revellers on Speyside – the spiritual home of the country’s whisky industry – have already had plenty cause for celebration.

A gala dinner to officially launch the start of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival took place last night, during which three winners were crowned with prestigious awards recognising those who have a special place in the event’s heart.

Festival goers from all over the globe joined those involved in the region’s whisky production to see industry veteran Ian Urquhart – a former managing director of world-renowned merchants Gordon & MacPhail – presented with the Spirit of Speyside Award.

Last night’s gala dinner at Benromach Distillery in Forres was something of a homecoming for Mr Urquhart, who played a significant role in Gordon & MacPhail’s decision to purchase the distillery. Production restarted there in 1998, and the host venue is celebrating 20 years of distilling under the company’s ownership this year.

Festival chairman James Campbell said: “Ian has played a pivotal role in developing the Scotch whisky industry at home and abroad and is an obvious choice for this very prestigious honour.

“He not only spent 41 years with Gordon & MacPhail, helping to steer it on the path to international growth and to become the multi-million-pound operation that it is today, but he played an integral part in getting Benromach back into production, leading to the creation of some of the finest malt whisky that Speyside has to offer.

“The festival also owes him a debt of gratitude: in his role as company secretary from 2006 to 2011, he played a key role in developing the event into the festival that we know and love today. Without his support, we would not be welcoming visitors from countries from Kazakhstan to El Salvador. We are now a truly international event, and that is in no small part down to Ian’s knowledge, passion and enthusiasm.”

In addition to his work with the whisky industry, Mr Urquhart is director and chairman of another famous Speyside firm – Johnstons of Elgin cashmere mill – and has been a past director of Food and Drink Scotland. He’s a deputy lord lieutenant of Moray and a director of tourism organisation North Coast 500 Ltd.

It was another leading light in the local tourism industry that picked up the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival ambassador award.  Laurie Piper, operations manager for Moray Speyside Tourism, has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the region since joining the organisation two years ago.

Mr Campbell said: “His buzzword in the past two years has been collaboration: he has achieved great things by helping town partnerships and local businesses work together to the same end results, and in doing so has ensured Moray Speyside is recognised far and wide as a great place to visit.”

Laurie, who has worked on several high-profile events over the years – including Edinburgh’s Hogmanay – has been instrumental in raising awareness of the local area with the travel trade, and many have now introduced new itineraries to include the Moray Speyside region. His work also led to BBC Countryfile naming the area as it’s only Scottish finalist in its Holiday Destination of the Year awards.

Germany was the destination for the third accolade of the night – the international ambassador award. It went to Peter Klas, a Cologne-based businessman who opened a Scottish luxury goods store after being inspired by a visit to the festival.

“One of the key events of the festival is the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards – a contest in which members of the public vote for their favourite Speyside whiskies following a blind taste test. The fact that these judging sessions are now held in a number of international destinations as well as here at the Festival is down to Peter,” said Mr Campbell.

“On one of his visits to the festival, we suggested that we could possibly visit Cologne and have a session of the whisky awards judging there. The rest, as they say, is history. We now hold awards in eight international destinations, and more will be added in future.

“Peter comes back to the Festival each year, bringing with him more and more of his friends. He stages two whisky tastings every day in his shop and we are incredibly grateful that he introduces people to our great Speyside whiskies, and recommends that they come to pay us a visit.”

Hundreds of guests attended the gala dinner, which kick-starts the festival. It takes place over the next five days and comprises over 500 events. From exclusive behind the scenes distillery tours and whisky and food pairings, to heritage walks embracing the local landscape and fun, family-friendly events, there is something for everyone on the programme.

The festival has now been running every May Day bank holiday weekend for the past 19 years. This year looks set to be one of the most successful yet, with a record breaking number of tickets sold.

A staggering 116 events sold out within 24 hours of tickets being launched, but revellers who are planning a last-minute trip to Scotland’s malt whisky country will still be able to find events to attend right up until Monday evening.

Details about events with ticket availability can be found at www.spiritofspeyside.com. There are also regular updates on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. Use the hashtag #dram18 to search.

Picture captions

(From left to right) Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival chairman James Campbell with award winners Laurie Piper, Ian Urquhart and Peter Klas.

Malt Messenger No. 86 – The Massive Edition

It has been quite a while since the last full Malt Messenger, and there is unsurprisingly a lot to fill you in on. I am just back from two and a half weeks of whisky and wine touring in Europe. My trip saw me pay visits to drinks events, wineries, distilleries and breweries in seven countries. The fruits of those tough labours will start to appear by the Fall.

Before we get on to the business of new whiskies, I have two events to tell you about. Firstly, tonight, we have an insane Single Grain Scotch Whisky tasting at the shop. We are opening a range of 7 whiskies with a collective range of 291 years… The full range retails for just under $5000, making the tasting a steal at $75. More details below and on the KWM Tasting Schedule page.

Another batch of whiskies from the Elements of Islay have just landed, three of which are exclusive to KWM in Calgary. On the exclusive side there is a Bowmore (Bw7), Laphroaig (Lp8) and a peated Bunnhabhain (Margadale, Ma2). Only 30 each of the Bowmore and Laphroaig, and just 18 of the Margadale are available. We also have exclusivity on the six bottles of North of Scotland 50 Year, which just arrived in-store. This is the first and only Official bottling of North of Scotland ever released. It is going to be tasted tonight at the shop.

The Compass Box Hedonism Muse will be arriving in-store on Wednesday. John Glaser’s latest opus, is a Blended Grain Scotch whisky built around an “exceptional parcel” of casks. We will be sampling the whisky at the Compass Box Hedonism Muse Launch on Monday!

There are two very limited releases of Springbank in the market. The latest batch of Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength is excellent, more sherried and peaty than is often the case. It is also all but sold out. We have less than a dozen bottles left, due in-store tomorrow. We have also recently sampled the 2017 edition of Springbank 21 Year. It too does not disappoint, very delicate and layered, it is less sherried than recent bottlings and more reminiscent of the legendary Springbank 21s from the early 2000s.

We have a dozen new Cadenhead Small Batch Whiskies coming in to store starting this week. There are some very interesting offerings including a 42 year old Glenlossie, a 1997 Mannochmore (we don’t see many independent bottlings anymore), a 1989 Bunnahabhain and a 20 Year old Vatted Islay Malt. We only received between 6 and 18 bottles of each, some of them won’t last long. We also have 7 Cadenhead 175th Anniversary Rums including a pair of rums at the 25 and 26 year old marks. More details on these rums and the Cadenhead whiskies below.

We have loads of Highland Park news in this newsletter, including latest limited annual release, Highland Park The Dark 17 Year. There are also some very old Highland Parks available. The 25 and 30 Year olds, which are increasingly rare, have both returned to market. So has the Highland Park 40 Year, which we haven’t seen in Alberta for more than 8 years… A decade after it was released this whisky is still excellent, and relatively reasonably priced for its age, compared to other distillery bottled 40 year olds. My folks and I visited the distillery a year ago, and I was reminded both how beautiful the distillery is, and how enchanting its old whisky is. We are so excited about the huge range of Highland Park whiskies currently available in Alberta, that it inspired me to write a Distillery in Focus profile. This is the first of its kind in a long while…

We have 4 new whiskies from The Whisky Agency. I met the owners of this indie bottler at the Limburg Whisky Fair in Germany a few weeks back. They are celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year, and they have some really exciting whiskies coming out. We should see them in Canada late summer or early fall.

There is also a reasonably priced Caledonian 40 Year single grain, the first Single Malt in Alberta from the Odd Society in BC, Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 09, and the Thompson Brothers Organic Highland Gin. The Gin comes from the Dornoch Whisky Castle and Distillery, which is one of the best destinations for drinking whisky in the world. The gin is very small batch and exclusive to KWM for the timebeing.

There are also a couple of Special Offers available from KWM right now: The Amrut Peated Port Pipe cask bottled for Western Canada is on Sale for $100. It was $155. We also have a steal of a deal on the anCnoc 22 Year. It was $192, however we were offered a big discount to clear it out and have it pegged at $155. There are not many sherried, 22 year old distillery bottled single malts bottled at 46% available for $200 a bottle, let alone $155! Details below.

We also have some exciting (and tasty) exclusive Whiskey and Tequila from California bottler Savage & Cooke. There is a Bourbon, and an American Whiskey, finished in Red Wine Barrels, and a pair of Tequilas finished in ex-Chardonnay. And last but not least, there is the Macallan Edition 3. The third edition was produced with a Master Perfumer, and is in my opinion, the best in the series.

I hope this Malt Messenger finds you well. If you have any comments, questions or requests don’t hesitate to send me an email.

Slàinte!

Andrew

In This Edition

1. Going with the Grain: Very Old Edition
2. Scotch Malt Whisky Society: Single Cask Spirits Tasting
3. New Whiskies from Elements of Islay
4. Introducing: North of Scotland 50 Year
5. Coming Soon Compass Box Hedonism Muse
6. Two Very Limited Springbank Expressions
7. New Cadenhead Small Batch Releases – Batch 19
8. Introducing Highland Park The Dark 17 Year
9. Older Highland Park Expressions Available
10. Distillery in Focus: Highland Park
11. New Whiskies from The Whisky Agency
12. Xtra Old Particular Caledonian 40 Year
13. Introducing: The Odd Society Single Malt
14. Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Realease 09 – PX Finish
15. Special Offer on the Amrut Peated Port Pipe
16. Special Offer on anCnoc 2000 & 22 Year
17. New Exclusive Bourbon
18. Introducing Macallan Edition 3

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

NEW Whiskies from Elements of Islay 

3 KWM Exclusive Single Malts and a Blended Malt

This is only the second batch of whiskies from the Elements of Islay range to come to Canada. This time around we have Bowmore, Margadale (Peated Bunnahabhain) and Laphroaig. All three are semi-exclusive to KWM, and very limited in availability. Here are the details:

1. Bw7 – 53.2% – Producer Description: “A full-on sherried Bowmore edition, matured in 4 sherry butts from 2001. Dark forest fruits, chocolate and citrus all fight for attention in this Bw7 release.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: An initial hit of guava and kiwi fruit is joined by Arbroath smokies. Dried mango follows, with sultanas and raisins intertwined with lightly aromatic smoke. Palate: Dense and creamy with background notes of seaside rock pools and beach bonfires. Toffee and salted caramel sit on top of layers of mango and blood orange. Finish: Long and juicy with soft hints of woodsmoke and citrus.” – $185 – Only 30 Bottles!
2. Ma2 – 55.2% – Producer Description: “Our second release of Ma2 is a vatting of four first fill bourbon barrels from 2004. Margadale, the peated version from Bunnahabhain, shows a more intense side to the distillery’s sweet and rich notes.” – Producer Description: “Nose: Rich custard with aniseed, stem ginger and a background note of coastal smoke. Thicker notes of banana with toasted vanilla pods emerge. Palate: Thick and oily, accompanied by flavours of orange juice and cigar smoke. Oak sweetness and spice develops, creating tones of sherbetdipped liquorice. Finish: Clean and fresh. Grilled green apples slowly fade.” – $105 – Only 18 Bottles!
3. Lp8 – 53.3% – Producer Description: “A marriage of a trio of ex-Madeira wine casks from 1998, Lp8 promises a beautifully sweet and smoky Laphroaig, giving a slightly softer edge to what is known as the typically medicinal Islay whisky.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Brine and freshly laid tar are followed by prunes and dates. Classic medicinal notes of TCP mix with blood orange. Palate: A cloak of dense, dark fruit and sooty smoke is draped over zesty grapefruit and dry spices. Cardamon and nutmeg mix with darkchocolate-filled lime boiled sweets. Finish: More classic medicinal notes, with smoke and salt-encrusted mackerel skins to follow.” – $280 – Only 30 Bottles!
4. Peat Pure Islay – 45% – Producer Description: “PEAT Pure Islay is the companion to PEAT, trading its feisty full strength for a more approachable and easy-sipping 45% ABV. Packed with Islay smoke, it’s still a go-to whisky for both cocktails and long drinks, as well as being an excellent dram to sit with long into the night. Created using whiskies from a handful of distilleries from across Islay, PEAT Pure Islay is a well-balanced and easy-drinking everyday whisky to keep all smoky dram fans happy.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Orange peel and thick cut bacon with sea shells and smouldering coals. Palate: Hickory smoke and hints of Lapsang Souchong tea with salted caramel and dark chocolate. Finish: Sea spray and baked apple fade, leaving heavy smoke, truffle salt and sweet spice.” – $50

Introducing: North of Scotland 50 Year 

The Only Ever Official Bottling from This Closed Grain Distillery!

This is the first ever official bottling of North of Scotlad single grain whisky, bottled after maturing “over 50 years” in Ex-Bourbon barrels. Only 6 bottles are coming to Alberta, exclusively to KWM!

North of Scotland 50 Year – 40.4% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Pecan nuts and Custard Creams with aromas of nectarine and raspberry. Classic notes of sweet grain – toffee, golden syrup and baked apple with a touch of polish and dusty cinnamon giving a hint to the age. Richer notes of crème caramel, blood orange and glacé cherries build. Palate: A thick creamy mouthfeel that becomes juicy after the second sip. Flavours of custard and dry spice – nutmeg and cinnamon – set you salivating. Notes of tarragon and oregano blend with blood orange and toasted hazelnuts. Finish: Walnut and toasted almonds with vanilla fudge linger and slowly fade, leading you on to the next sip. Comment: Well-aged spirit such as this is a rare and incredible treat. The classic sweet notes found in many grain whiskies have been tempered by the time in good wood.” – $1600 – Only 6 Bottles for Alberta! 

About North of Scotland (From the Producer)

“North of Scotland was founded in Cambus, Alloa in 1957 by George P Christie. He bought a brewery and converted it to produce whisky, reopening by 1958. Along with grain whisky, he also produced malt whisky under the name Strathmore. However, the malt didn’t last long due to a huge demand for his grain whisky, and the pot stills were removed in 1959 to make way for a bigger mash tun.

“By the 1970s demand for grain had begun to diminish, and following the deaths of the distillery’s directors, Christie closed the North of Scotland for good in 1980. The site was sold to DCL, a forerunner of Diageo, who transferred the equipment to nearby Cambus distillery and converted the buildings into warehousing. Today, it is used as a bonded warehouse.”

Coming Soon: Compass Box Muse 

Limited Edition “Exceptional Mysterious Grain Scotch Whisky!”

The latest limited release from Compass Box is Hedonism: The Muse, a Blended Grain Scotch Whisky built around an “exceptional” mysterious old grain whisky. The whisky has been bottled at 53.3% with a label designed by Compass Box as a tribute to the roll women play in the industry, especially at Compass Box. Just a dribble over 3,000 bottles were produced with only a tiny fraction of this coming to Canada!

John Glaser’s Description: “When we recently discovered a cask of exceptional aged grain whisky of unknown origin in the spectrum of flavours of a Hedonism whisky, we were inspired once again to go back to where it all started. This time, the label design reimagines the woman portrayed at the centre of all our Hedonism labels – the first woman, as far as we know, ever to feature on a Scotch whisky label. Women now make up the majority of our team here at Compass Box, which is unusual in our industry. This diversity of perspective makes us, I believe, a better business. Hedonism, The Muse combines this single cask with other rare and remarkable grain whiskies of varying ages from four distilleries to create something we believe is utterly compelling; a whisky that has all the flavour hallmarks of our classic Hedonism, with even greater depth and intensity. We invite you to join us, in this, our toast to women in whisky.”

Compass Box Hedonism: The Muse – 53.3% – Producer Tasting Note: “Aromas and flavours reminiscent of vanilla, marzipan and honey. Full on the palate, round and with a very sweet impression. Very long finish that echoes the vanilla and marzipan.” – $375

Two Very Limited Springbank Expressions

 Of 12 and 21 Year Olds…

The semi-annual release of Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength is always in high demand and short supply. It also rarely disappoints. The current release is no exception, peatier and more sherried than recent releases, but still layered and complex. 180 bottles have come to Canada. KWM being the World’s only Springbank Society Embassy, other than Campbletown, got a good quantity of that, but we are down to just 24 bottles remaining, and they won’t last. The 21 Year is the 2017 edition, and it is in my humble opinion the best bottling of 21 year in several years. It is reminiscent of the legendary Springbank 21 Year olds from the early and mid-2000s.

1. Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength– 56.3% – Matured in 70% Sherry & 30% Ex-Bourbon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: A very sweet beginning of glazed cherries, coconut and marzipan combined with soft notes of treacle, cloves and honeycomb. Taste: A beautiful balance between vanilla and black pepper sitting alongside dark chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice with a delightfully delicate touch of smoke. Finish: The classic Springbank style emerges; dunnage warehouse notes and salty maritime flavours, accompanying cream crackers along with caramelised sugar.” – My Tasting Note: “Nose: round sherry notes, chocolate, subtle peat and briny maritime notes; dried cranberry and sea salt caramel; clotted cream and ornage marzipan. Palate: big and firm; big sherry tones bash head-on into a firmer peat-smoke; classic engine-oily / butter-scotchy Springbank peat tones smash head on hold up well against the sherry onslaught: leather, dried cranberries and clove. Finish: long, rich and coating; oily peat and sherry slowly fade away. Comment: bolder and more than other recent releases of the Springbank 12 cask strength…  me thinks they may have burnt the peat a little longer with this batch!” – $100 – Sold out in store, more available!
2. Springbank 21 Year 2017 – 46% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: A creamy delight. Toffee and cereal notes interspersed with bursts of freshly picked strawberries and ripe watermelon. Palate: Robust and steadfast with a dry, creamy oiliness. Sugared almonds are heavily present as well as a dash of cinnamon. Finish: Creamy with an evolving length which coats the mouth and finally gives up its peaty origins.” – My Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy and buttery with orchard and stone fruits; crème brulee and creamed honey; milk chocolate with toffee, sea salt caramel and clean smoke. Palate: creamy, honeyed and buttery; more crème brulee, tarte tatin, and clean ashy smoke and smouldering cigar tobacco; more salted caramel, dried apricots, peaches in cream and creamed honey; savoury, maritime and layered. Finish: long, coating, fruity and creamy; more clean ashy smoke, crème brulee, creamed honey and layers of fruit. Comment: this is one of the most beautiful and complex releases of Springbank 21 year in years; reminiscent of the releases from the mid-2000s.” – $375 – Sold out in store, more available!

New Cadenhead Small Batch Releases 

Batch 19 – 10 Single Malts, 1 Blended Malt & 1 Single Grain

There is a lot of interesting stuff in the 19^th Batch of Cadenhead Small Batch whiskies. We have just 6 -18 bottles of each. Most of the whiskies are in the 20-25 year range, with some very reasonable pricing, when you consider where Whiskyflation is taking us these days. Look for many of these whiskies to open in up-coming KWM whisky tastings. The bottling details and price for each are available below, as is the producer’s tasting note. The whiskies will begin trickling into the store next week.

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Dufftown 2007 – 56.8% – 10 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Buttered toast, corn syrup then pine nuts. Palate: Orange fruit sweets, barley sugar and pear drops come through. Finish: The nutty flavours from the palate come to the front again and some fresh grassy notes too” – $130 – Only 18 Bottles
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Grant 1992 – 45.9% – 24 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Initial fresh grassy notes, citrus then exotic fruit syrup. Palate: Initial sweet tablet and butterscotch. Grape juice and peardrops also present. Finish: Toffee meringue, vanilla fudge, lemon meringue pie with clotted cream.” – $235 – Only 6 Bottles
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenburgie 2004 – 54.7% – 13 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Initial zestiness with lime juice, fresh apples, freshly cut grass but a slight cajun spice lurks underneath. Palate: Toffee, buttery biscuit base and pear skin. Finish: Quite sweet and dry with Demerara sugar, and banoffee pie.” – $140 – Only 12 Bottles
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Glengoyne 1996 – 52.9% – 20 Year – Hogshead Finished in Chateau Laffite (2009) – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet fudge, raisins, sultanas,  banana fritter. Palate: Rich buttered toast, croissants with  strawberry cream sweets. Finish: Quite meaty.  Beef jerky, bacon fries and  bramble jam.” – $200 – Only 12 Bottles
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Linkwood 1992 – 50.9% – 24 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Mint leaves, pencil shavings, aniseed, light dunnage warehouse. Palate: Coconut, highland toffee, bung cloth and dunnage floor present. Finish: going back to nose with fresher notes and lemon zest.” – $235 – Only 12 Bottles
6. Cadenhead Small Batch Pulteney 2006 – 55.8% – 11 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Toffee popcorn, cereals, barley sugar. Palate: black pepper, haggis crisps, cardamon pod. Finish: hint of red liquorice, banana loaf and marshmallow.” – $130 – Only 18 Bottles
7. Cadenhead Small Batch Strathmill 1993 – 50.3% – 24 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: very fresh, mint choc chip ice cream, lemon juice.  Heather also comes through. Palate: clotted cream, toffee meringues, golden syrup, black cherries. Finish: sweet honey, icing sugar, liquorice with coffee beans.” – $235 – Only 12 Bottles
8. Cadenhead Small Batch Bunnahabhain 1989 – 42.6% – 27 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: light maritime notes, seaweed and caramel. Palate: The nose continues onto the palate with saffron, orange oil and vanilla pods. Finish: Marzipan, brazil nuts, butterscotch angel delight give a nice sweet finish.” – $370 – Only 6 Bottles
9. Cadenhead Small Batch Mannochmore 1997 – 52.7% – 20 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Linseed oil, beeswax, lime cordial, cooking apples. Palate: Gooseberry, barley water, meringue. Finish: poached Pears, candied ginger, salty.” – $195 – Only 6 Bottles
10. Cadenhead Small Batch Strathclyde 1989 – 46.0% – 28 Year – Barrel – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Cinnamon dominates with white chocolate coming through in the background. Palate: Cinnamon continues in the palate followed by brown sugar and caramel. Finish: Chocolate fudge, cardamom the a fresh minty note comes through.”  – $200 – Only 6 Bottles
11. Cadenhead Creation 1997 Vatted Malt – 45.2% – 20 Year – Hogshead – Producer Notes: “A vatting that was put together in 2009 containing Springbank, Longrow and some speyside and highland drams like Glen Moray, Glengarioch for example.” – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: a Nose: Apple crumble, lemon drizzle cake and a cigar box aroma in the background. Palate: Very fresh with Scottish strawberries, kiwi fruit and creme brûlée. Finish: light smoke builds up, oak smoked cheddar and toasted marshmallow.” – $175 – Only 6 Bottles – Strictly 1 per customer!
12. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenlossie 1975 – 44.3% – 42 Year – Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Butterscotch, marmalade, marzipan, coconut oil. Palate: rich Carrot cake, sticky toffee pudding, amaretti biscuits. Finish: Candy floss, Manuka honey and brazil nuts.” – $835 – Only 6 Bottles – !!!3 LEFT!!!

Introducing Highland Park The Dark 17 Year 

The Latest Annual Limited Release – Matured in 1st Fill Sherry Seasoned European Oak 

This new limited edition Highland Park has been bottled at 52.9% after maturing in First Fill Sherry Seasoned European Oak casks.

Highland Park The Dark 17 Year – 52.9% – Matured in First Fill Sherry Seasoned European Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “FLAVOURS: “Dried fruits | Cinnamon | Toasted almonds | Light peat | Cedar wood | Fruitcake | Light smoke”. – $450

Producer Description: “THE DARK is a rich and powerful expression of Highland Park, matured in sherry seasoned European oak casks to deliver a distinctively deep flavour.This special release of 28,000 bottles shares the story of the noble Viking warriors who are our ancestors, of our contrasting island seasons and of the intense balance of our whisky.

“It is a celebration of autumn and winter on Orkney; a time to escape from the wild weather outside and gather together with friends and family, sharing long nights of conversation and laughter around the table, around the fire. Presented in a beautifully embossed black glass bottle, the serpent dragon design takes its inspiration from the great Norse sagas and embraces both the high sun of summer solstice and the low sun of winter solstice – the polar opposites of our island seasons – while the runic writing reflects the ancient carvings of our Viking ancestors, here on Orkney.”

Older Highland Park Expressions Available 

25, 30 and 40 Year Olds, Plus Two Orcadian Vintages…

It has been almost a decade since we last saw the Highland Park 40 Year. It was originally released in 2008 and for a brief shiny period it was a hit. But nothing last forever, especially old whisky. For the last 8 years Highland Park 40 has been available globally, but not in Canada. I had the opportunity to sample it in the last year at the distillery. It is still just as stunning a malt as it was when first released a decade ago. Back then the Highland Park 25 and 30 year olds were almost “everyday” whiskies… Well times have changed, in the era rampant “Whiskyflation”, not only have the prices soared for the 25 and 30 year olds, but they are also only periodically available. The 40 year is available now, but for how long, no-one can say!

There are also two even rarer vintage Highland Parks available. Only one bottle each of Highland Park Vintage 1970 and 1976. Both have good reviews from Serge @WhiskyFun.

1. Highland Park 25 Year – 45.7% – Distiller’s Description: “The remarkable complexity of our 25 Year Old single malt whisky owes a great deal to its maturation in a high proportion of the finest quality first-fill, sherry seasoned European oak casks.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Dark chocolate | Fudge | Heather honey | Nutty toffee | Dried fruits.” – $765
2. Highland Park 30 Year – 45.7% – Distiller’s Description: “Maturation in refill Sherry seasoned casks prevents oak from dominating the flavours of the whisky as it would if first-fill casks were used. This allows our robust and oily new make spirit to gently mature over an extended period of time, delivering a full-on aromatic peat flavour with a surprisingly sweet finish.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nutmeg | Dark chocolate orange | Aromatic peat smoke | Sticky toffee pudding | Sea salt.” – $960
3. Highland Park 40 Year – 48.3% – Distiller’s Description: “First released in April 2008, HIGHLAND PARK 40 Year Old is batched in very small quantities with only 10 casks selected for each bottling – it’s the culmination of years of whisky-making knowledge and experience.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Soft dark fruits | Nutmeg | Sun-dried orange zest |Dark chocolate | Vanilla essence | Aromatic peat smoke.” – $4000
4. Highland Park 1976 – 49.1% – American Oak Sherry Butts & Hogsheads – Distiller’s Description: “The last expression of the Orcadian Vintages, the 1976 debuted in 2011. This single malt whisky was laid down to mature just THREE years before Highland Park released its first proprietary bottling. Bottled at 49.1% ABV., the 1976 Vintage is taken from a total of 13 casks, a mix of sherry butts and hogsheads, to create 893 bottles of a distinctly Highland Park whisky with a softer finish.” – “Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Light, fresh fruit (melon and mango) and freshly cut, resinous wood. A wonderful butter hint arrives late, then the classic heather sweet note. Palate: Very floral to start, reminiscent of the heather fields of Hobbister Moor in bloom, marzipan and coconut, and ending in a honey coated almond. Finish: Lingering notion of balance between wood and cream, neither in the ascendancy, smooth violet softens the finish.”- $5500 – Only 1 Bottle in Alberta!
5. Highland Park 1970 – 48% – Refill Sherry Butts & Hogsheads – Distiller’s Description: “Specifically chosen by Whisky Maker Max McFarlane in 2010, the whisky has been created from seven casks which were laid down with new make spirit in 1970. All were refill casks comprising both butts and hogsheads, producing a total of just 1,800 bottles at natural cask strength of 48% ABV.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: The 1970 Vintage gives the signature honey sweetness you would expect from Highland Park. A burst of caramelized pineapple quickly followed by a citrus kick from lemon peel, oak notes come through followed by the scent of spicy woodsmoke. Palate: An intriguing mix of vanilla and coriander seeds, time in the glass brings hidden toasted peat smoke and cedar wood to the top. Finish: A satisfyingly long, sweet and spicy flavour hangs on the palate before the palate dries, making a long finish with exceptional balance.” – $6500 – Only 1 Bottle in Alberta

Distillery in Focus: Highland Park 

One of Scotland’s Oldest and Most Remote Distilleries! 

Highland Park has one of the biggest ranges of any distillery in Scotland. In addition to the six whiskies featured above, there are an additional 10 distillery bottlings currently available in Alberta. And this isn’t even touching the Duty Free releases. So it is high time to shed some light on this mysterious northern distillery with proud Viking roots.

There is more than one version of the founding of Highland Park Distillery. The one the distillery clings to is the one built around the colourful Magnus Eunson. Magnus was a Church officer and butcher by day, and apparently a whisky smuggler by night. One story surrounding Magnus involves a close call with the exciseman, in which Magnus hid his barrels of whisky in a church under a dark cloth and coffin. When the government man arrived a crowd of people surrounded the coffin as in mourning. Magnus is said to have whispered “the pox” and that was all the official needed to hear. Eventually the taxman caught up with Magnus and he and the distillery were forced to take out a license to distill.

A more plausible story surrounds an Orcadian businessman named David Robertson who might have founded the distillery in 1798 under the name Rosebank. It was later renamed Kirkwall after the Orkney capital it gazes down onto, and only later Highland Park. In this telling of the story, the distillery is built on the site where Magnus Eunson may have been distilling illicitly in the decades before. In 1816, John Robertson, an Excise Officer, took over the distillery. Curiously, it would be another decade before the distillery was granted a license to distill. Funny how power corrupts.

The Borwick family acquired the distillery and its license in 1826. They would operate it, albeit in a deteriorating state, until 1876 when it was acquired by William Stuart of Stuart & MacKay, owners of Miltonduff Distillery. That same year the distillery’s whisky was exported to Norway and India. In 1885 Stuart went into partnership with James Grant of Glenlivet Distillery. Ten years later Grant acquired the rest of the distillery, and doubled its capacity in 1989. It remained in his hands until acquired by Highland Distillereis in 1937. Highland Distilleries would eventually become part of the Edrington Group in 1999.

In 1979 the distillery’s whisky began being sold as a single malt in earnest, and sales began to take off. In 1986 the distillery opened a visitor’s center, one of the earliest in the industry, and regarded at the time as one of the finest. In the decades that followed the distillery’s fame and range grew. In 2008 they launched a 40 year old expression, one of but a few distilleries with a regularly available whisky of that age!

Highland Park is one of just a handful of distilleries with its own malting floor, and this is very important to the distillery’s flavour profile. All Highland Park expressions are peated, but more delicately so than most other moderate to heavily peated whiskies. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, all of the peat burned for Highland Park is done at the distillery. Every batch of spirit (with a few exceptions), is made from a blend of 80% unpeated malt from the mainland, and 20% peated malt, floor malted at the distillery. Secondly, and most crucially, the peat burned by Highland Park is sourced from Hobbisters Hill on Orkney island. The Orkney islands, unlike the mainland of Scotland, have never had trees, and as such their peat lacks the lignum which makes mainland peated malt smokier. Islay peats are exposed to more marine vegetation and as such produce malt with tarry tones owning to more creosol. Orkney peat is composed almost exclusively from grass, moss and heather, and produces whiskies with more delicate and floral smoke.

The official bottlings of Highland Park are primarily built around whiskies matured in Ex-Sherry casks, a fact the distillery puts great pride in. Sherry seasoned barrels cost 10-15 times as much as Bourbon seasoned ones. The distillery has only filled either American or European oak sherry sherry seasoned casks since 2004, but does also refill casks. I have long been a big fan of the distillery, and its whiskies, especially those in the 18 years of age and up range. The distillery is one of the most beautiful and interesting in Scotland and well worth the trek up to the Orkney islands.

The following Highland Park whiskies are currently available in Alberta, in addition to those in the two sections above:

1.  Highland Park 10 Year “Viking Scars” – 40% – Producer Description: “VIKING SCARS pays tribute to our ancestors’ enduring influence on Orkney and the value they placed on skilled craftsmanship and a steadfast work ethic.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Citrus fruits | Vanilla | Peppery spices | Heather peat | Light smoke” – $63
2.  Highland Park 12 Year “Viking Honour” – 43% – Producer Description: “The heart and soul of Highland Park, VIKING HONOUR is a perfect harmony of aromatic smoky peat, sweet heather honey and rich fruit cake.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Heather honey | Rich fruitcake | Winter spices | Seville oranges | Aromatic smoky peat” – $70
3.  Highland Park 18 Year “Viking Pride” – 43% – Producer Description: “A perfect expression of harmony, complexity and refinement, VIKING PRIDE combines honey sweetness with delicious hints of cherries wrapped in chocolate, and subtle top notes of aromatic peat smoke.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Cherries | Dark chocolate | Toffee | Marzipan | Heather honey | Aromatic peat smoke” – $195
4.  Highland Park 21 Year – 47.5% – This was originally a duty free release. In 2009 it was named “Best Single Malt of the Year” by Whisky Magazine’s “World Whisky Awards” – 88pts Serge @ WhiskyFun (2015): “This is well the most recent 21 that had been reissued at a proper strength. Sadly and unless I’m mistaken, this expression is no more. An earlier 21 at 40% had been very good but a little weak (WF 86) while the previous version at 47.5% (circa 2007) had more power (WF 88). Colour: gold. Nose: rather wonderful, aromatic, orange-y, blossomy, and appropriately honeyed. Some hay, the faintest smoke, a wonderful slightly mentholated sherriness, a touch of fudge, and above everything, quite some tobacco. Entering a cigar shop where they’re pouring Assam tea. Also a lovely beeswax. Doesn’t quite feel like 47.5%, though, it’s a tad milder than that. Mouth: perfect creamy honey and soft spices, you’d think this some much earlier HP (early 1960s). Baked apples, oranges, dried apples, then it’s black tea galore, earl grey, quite some cinnamon, a feeling of cedar wood, cloves, more cinnamon… There’s some old oak at play here but we’re extremely far from any dull plankiness. Pu-erh tea. Finish: rather long, a notch bitter in a good way, then more and more honeyed with a layer of strong black honey. The oak’s back in the aftertaste, also black raisins. Good news, some say black raisins purify your blood, is that true? Comments: a rather tense HP, while indeed, some sides remind me of older official bottlings, such as the dumpies with black round ‘LP’ labels. SGP:651 – 88 points.”- $330
5.  Highland Park Magnus 2017 – 40% – Producer Description: “A whisky crafted in the old way by a new generation of Vikings, MAGNUS bears the soul of our Viking ancestors and the name of just one – our founder, Magnus Eunson.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Lemon | Vanilla sponge cake | Caramelised pineapple | Aromatic peat smoke | Sweet violets” – $45
6. Highland Park Dark Origins – % – Producer Description: “Rich mahogany in colour, this latest addition uses twice as many first fill casks than in the HP12 resulting in richer flavour.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Sherried spice and ripe bananas with tasted hazelnuts and baked apple combine with a well balanced, dry peat mellowing out to maraschino cherries and finally warm dark chocolate on the palate.The finish is enduring sweet smoke.” – $100
7.  Highland Park Valkyrie – 45.9% – Producer Description: “According to the old Norse sagas, for Viking warriors, death was not an end but a glorious beginning. And it began with the Valkyries…” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Green apples | Sun-ripened lemons | Oriental spices | Vanilla | Preserved ginger | Dark chocolate | Salty liquorice | Warm aromatic smoke” – $105
8.  Highland Park Full Volume – 47.2% – Producer Description: “FULL VOLUME is a perfect illustration of the fine skills of our Master Whisky Maker, ensuring that every individual wave of flavour finds its perfect place in the beautifully harmonised final spirit.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Vanilla | Coconut | Mango | Pineapple | Cedar Wood | Lemon peel | Vanilla pods | Light smoke” – $135
9.  Highland Park Ice – 53.9% – Producer Description: “ICE EDITION represents a very special two-part bottling, celebrating the Viking sagas recorded in the oldest recorded Norse poems, the Poetic Edda.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Fresh pineapple | Mango sorbet | Root ginger | Peat smoke | Vanilla | Aromatic spices” – $435
10.  Highland Park Fire – 45.2% – Producer Description: “FIRE EDITION represents one half of a special two-part bottling, celebrating the great sagas of the Viking age recorded in the oldest Norse poems, the Poetic Edda.” – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Red fruits | Vanilla custard | Cinnamon bark | Chocolate | Light smoke | Dried citrus peel | Damsons” – $440

New Whiskies from The Whisky Agency 

Four New Whiskies, All of Them Excellent!

There are four new Whisky Agency whiskies bottled for Canada. Here are the details along with my tasting notes. The glasses on the Bunnahabhain label are an inside joke between Heads & Tails and The Whisky Agency:

1. The Whisky Agency Ben Nevis 1996 – 47.2% – 21 Year – Hogshead – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: very creamy, English Breakfast tea with honey, scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam; minty, loads of berry fruit, marmalade and marzipan. Palate: creamy and toasty; more English Breakfast tea with honey, marmalade on toast and berry fruits; caramel, vanilla bean, Demerara sugars and decadent spices. Finish: coating and creamy with late malt; the clotted cream on scones returns with floral tea notes, honey and berry fruits. Comment: this is a pretty and elegant whisky; sweet and fruity; lots of character and no rough edges. – $260
2. The Whisky Agency Blended Malt XO – 44.2% – Matured in a Sherry Butt – Extra Old, but No Age Statement – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: rich, sherried and leathery; jammy with loads of fruits: Sunrype Fruit Bars, strawberry and raspberry jam; bacon dipped in dark chocolate with a hint of sea salt. Palate: dark chocolate sea salt caramel tarts, and chewy bacon dipped in chocolate; sweet pedro ximenez sherry and a touch of nuttier oloroso; subtle peat, Christmas cake, old leather and loose leaf tobacco. Finish: rich, fruity and spicy; fading Christmas cake, gentle peat, sherry and sea salt infused chocolate. Comment: another probably ex-Edrington stock blended malt; dangerously drinkable.” – $200
3. The Whisky Agency Bunnahabhain 1989 – 40.4% – 28 Year – Hogshead – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: wow, this is my jam; creamy, old, antique-y, loads of tropical fruits; floral with a hint of the sea and sandy beached on a sunny day; white chocolate Hershey’s Kisses, cranachan and Earl Grey tea crème brulee; Palate: waxy, creamy and floral; loads of tropical fruits: melons, flambéed banana, sliced mango, ripe papaya and even some kiwi fruit; loads of honey and beeswax and more cranachan; more vanilla and creamed heather honey; silky, so many layers, even some savoury salty tones and possibly a whiff of smoke?  Finish: creamy, floral and toasty; sweet, more honey, vanilla and tropical fruits; silky, elegant and sublime. Comment: this is a beautiful older malt, with the profile of a much older whisky; it would be dangerous to leave me alone with a bottle like this!” – $365
4. The Whisky Agency Orkney 2002 – 51.7% – 15 Year – Hogshead (Probably Sherry) – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, honeyed and floral; a surge of Old English Butterscotch and Werther’s Original; some soft oily peat and Manuka honey; very floral, sliced ginger, clean smoke and maritime coastal notes. Palate: creamy, lush and floral; firm maritime tones and crisp clean smoke; bags of honey, dried apricots, cantaloupe and mandarin orange; tarry with Dutch licorice, fennel seeds and cigar ash; leathery with burnt orange marmalade and firm sherry; more Old English Butterscotch and Werther’s caramels. Finish: firm, coating and leathery; more honey, Dutch licorice and ashy cigar smoke. Comment: this is an enigma, elements of both American oak and sherry; another clue that it is ex-Edrington stock? Highland Park matured in ex-American oak sherry seasoned wood!” – $210

Xtra Old Particular Caledonian 40 Year 

Very Well Priced 40 Year old Scotch Whisky! 

It is not that we don’t like Douglas Laing whiskies, far from it, we just don’t like dealing with the old importer. We have been pushing for a change in Alberta for a number of years, and on a positive note a number of Douglas Laing brands are now coming through a different agency. Hopefully in time that will also be the case for Old Particular, Big Peat and more relevant to this email Xtra Old Particular. Having said that a deal is a deal, and we couldn’t resist the price on the Old Particular Caledonian 40 Year.

Xtra Old Particular Caledonian 40 Year – 55.1% – Distilled April 1976 – Bottled June 2016 – Refill Hogshead – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: maple syrup, sweet and distinctly spiced: ginger style – plus late citrus. Palate: think mature Americana, incredibly sugary with corn, oil and vanilla. Finish: with a surprising length for a grain – all those flavours create a medley.” – $550

About Caledonian Distillery: (ScotchWhisky.com)

Caledonian was, for several decades, the largest distillery in Scotland. It initially housed one Coffey still, which James Grant described as ‘the greatest still in Scotland’ in Old and New Edinburgh, Vol. 2 in 1882. The distillery also produced an Irish-style grain whisky distilled in two large pot stills, a style revered among blenders at the time for its consistency. Some old parcels of Caledonian have been bottled as a single grain by indie bottlers in recent years. It has never been bottled as a single grain, save for a commemorative bottling for the 1986 Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh, while Diageo released a 40-year-old, 1974 vintage under ‘The Cally’ label, as part of its 2015 Special Releases.

Introducing: The Odd Society Single Malt 

New Craft Canadian Single Malt Bottled for Alberta

This is the first release of Odd Society Single Malt to come to Alberta, from the Powell Street distillery in East Vancouver. The distillery’s aim is to mesh old world distilling techniques with new world ingredients. (They get a tax break if they use BC grains…) This single malt has been bottled at 43%, made from Prince George BC Barley, and was matured in an American Oak ex bourbon Octave cask. Only 96 bottles for Alberta!

Odd Society Canadian Single Malt Alberta Release – 46% – My Tasting Note: “Nose: thick caramel, spicy-dill-rye-like tones, baked apple and freshly mowed green grass; vanilla icing sugar and peanut brittle. Palate: sweet, nutty and very toasty; a touch punchy, big spices and decadent toasted oak notes: creamed honey and vanilla icing sugar; more baked apple and orange. Finish: long, warm and spicy, more peanut brittle, baked apple and vanilla icing. Comment: it shows its youth in the heat it packs at 43%, still it isn’t sharp and the flavours are good; more reminiscent of a high-rye Bourbon than a single malt.” – $83

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 09 

PX Sherry Finish

The 9th release of Yukon Single Malt from Two Brewers is a return to their “Special Finishes” program. We are very happy to see it bottled at 46%. Two Brewers was the Canadian Micro Distillery of the Year in the “2018 Canadian Whisky Awards”. Release 02 was also a PX Finish, but a different mash and in the distillery’s opinion a completely different whisky. It is a blend of whiskies from 4-8 years of age, with 40% 6 and 20% 8 years of age. The whisky was finished in PX Sherry for 7 months before bottling.

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 09 – 46%- 4 Year – Finished 7 Months in PX Sherry – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “The tawny colour and vibrant malt & oak aromas predict a complex sherry heart. The entry is crisp while a creamy core coats the palate, stone and tropical fruit emerge throughout. Plum, mango and kiwi are wrapped in sweetness for the gentle, lingering finish.” – $100 

Special Offer: Amrut Peated Port Pipe 

Was $155 – Now $100 – Only 16 Left!

The importer for Amrut has dropped their pricing on the Amrut Peated Port Pipe to clear it out. So we stocked up. This bottle typically sells for ~$155 – HOWEVER – we were able to grab a few cases of this awesome Malt at a special price! This pricing is only available for a limited time. Bottled from a single port pipe at 59% the entirety of this peated Indian single malt cask, is coming to Canada. Cask 2712 is a monster, made of peated malt and matured a little over 5 years, but in Bangalore India, so it drinks much older! Distilled in January 2011 and bottled in February 2016, 660 Bottles.

Amrut Peated Port Pipe Single Cask – 59% – Bottled Exclusively for Western Canada – My Tasting Note: “Nose: smoky bbq sauce and salsa; Dutch licorice, sea salt, cayenne infused dark chocolate, lightly burnt bacon, grilled prosciutto wrapped dates and figs; musty old wood, Late Bottle Vintage port wine and black tarry smoke. Palate: a pleasant but powerful assault of smoke, sea salt, malt, Dutch licorice and burnt bacon; leather and sharp tobacco make way for pineapple, melon and mango; more smoky bbq sauce and salsa; bacon infused dark chocolate, grilled figs and dates and firm wine tannins. Finish: long drying, coating and anesthetizing with a mild numbing sensation; the bbq notes, salt, fruit, smoke and leather linger long. Comment: this is the biggest, badest Amrut I’ve ever had, a monster; fans of Islay single malts like Supernova and Octomore will love this!” – Was $155 – !!!Now $100 While They Last!!!

Special Offer on anCnoc 2000 & 22 Year  

22 Year Old Single Malt at 46% is Almost Unheard Of… 

You gotta love it when the deals come to you… Just before Christmas it was the Mackinlay’s Shackleton, now it is a pair of anCnocs. We were given a $10 break on the anCnoc 2000 and close to $40 on the anCnoc 22 Year. Here are the details: 

anCnoc 2000 – 46% – Matured in a mix of Oloroso Sherry & Ex-Bourbon – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet and fruity with a mix of strawberry and black licorice Twizzlers; the whisky is delicate and floral, there are jujubes, some chewy malt and citrus notes. Palate: creamy with licorice, soft leather, spices and earthy notes; some honey with nutty sherried tones and more strawberry and black licorice Twizzlers; a touch of malt, candied citrus, more jujubes and dark spices: fennel, clove and anise. Finish: long, coating, leathery and spicy with more licorice and candied fruits. Comments: excellent value middle aged vintage whisky.” – Regular $100 – SAVE $10 – Special Price $90+gst

–          Producer Description: “Matured predominately in American oak, ex-bourbon casks as well as Spanish oak, ex-sherry butts, anCnoc 22 Years Old displays complexity and a wealth of character but its long lasting rich, smoky finish sets this dram apart from the younger offerings.” 

anCnoc 22 Year – 46% – Matured Ex-Bourbon & Ex-Sherry – Andrew’s Tasting Notes: “Nose: soft damp tobacco in an old leather patch, chocolate shavings on a piping cappuccino; some candied fruits, lemon drops and wine gums; some delicate malty-floral top notes emerge with some soft toasty oak. Palate: rich, fruity and very soft, wow this is really something; lots of chocolate with more soft leather and tobacco; more candied fruit and wine gums with some emerging mango, papaya and honey dew melon. Finish: an absolutely beautiful balance of both sherry and bourbon notes, the finish is long rich and spicy; finishes fruity and floral. Comment: I’m really caught off guard by this, wow it’s good!” – Regular $192 – SAVE $37 – Special Price $155+gst

–          Producer Description: “anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither chill-filtered nor coloured.  As a result this dram may develop a light haze with the addition of water or if kept at a cold temperature. This haze is a natural characteristic of whisky that is non-chill filtered.”

–          Silver Medal Whisky Magazine – 87 Martin Nouet & 86 Rob Allanson

Introducing Macallan Edition 3 

Whisky Blended with a Master Perfumer

Macallan Edition 2 was good, I think Edition 3 is a step up, and the best yet in the series!

Macallan Edition No.3 – 48.3% – A collaboration with Master Perfumer Roja Dove. Roja and Bob Dalgarno crafted the whisky from a combination of European and American oak casks. – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: nutty, toasty and leathery with notes of firm oloroso; coffey beans and tobacco leaf; candied orange and ginger, cooked dates and figs wrapped in proscuitto; Manuka honey. Palate: soft and fruity; very decadent and sugary balanced by earthy dunnage warehouse notes; Panda brand licorice, molten brown sugar, nutty sherry tones and loads of dark dried fruits: raisins, grilled proscuitto wrapped dates and figs; dark milk chocolate and Jujubes; more candied ginger and orange. Finish: rich, fruity and quite lovely; sherried but far from over the top; nice balance. Comment: its good, very good; excellent structure, lots of layers and very well balanced; the higher proof does it justice!” – $172 

Casks used in the creation:

1. 1st Fill American Oak Hudosa Sherry Butts
2. 2nd Fill European & American Oak Sherry Butts
3. 1st Fill European Oak Tevasa Sherry Butts & Puncheons
4. 1st Fill American Oak Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads
5. 1st Fill European Oak Tevasa Hogsheads
6. 1st Fill American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrels

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

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

The Good Dram Show – Episode 262 ‘Claxton’s Whisky’ and features some new releases from Claxton’s single cask range.

1792 FULL PROOF BOURBON NAMED WORLD’S BEST BOURBON

Three Sazerac-Owned Distilleries Home to World’s Best Bourbons

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (May 3, 2018) – Barton 1792 Distillery’s 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named the World’s Best Bourbon by Whisky Magazine at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards. This latest award denotes a trifecta of recent world’s best whiskey awards received by Buffalo Trace Distillery, A. Smith Bowman Distillery and Barton 1792 Distillery – each of which are owned by the Sazerac Company.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery received the honor of Whiskey Magazine’s World’s Best Bourbon two years in a row, for its John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon in 2017, and for its Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon in 2016. This fall, Buffalo Trace Distillery received top recognition in “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018,” where it received the top prize of World Whisky of the Year for its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon. “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” also honored Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskies as Bourbon of the Year, Rye of the Year, Best American Whisky No Age Statement, Best American Whisky 9 Years and Under, Best American Whisky 10 Years and Over, Best Rye No Age Statement, and Best Rye 11 Years and Over.

            1792 Full Proof was first released in the summer of 2016 by Barton 1792 Distillery as one of its limited edition expressions, and is now released once a year.

            Full Proof is bottled at its original 125 barrel entry proof and has a strong, full flavor that is balanced with sweet vanilla and notes of caramel.

            The World Whiskies Awards were announced at the Whisky Magazine Awards presentation held in London on March 22.

            Whiskies in each category were subject to rigorous blind taste testing to determine the very best.  For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com. 

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2017 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

Welcome to the second 2018 quarterly newsletter. We are all very busy here in Campbeltown, as usual, with the up coming Campbeltown Malts Festival and a host of new releases coming your way very shortly.

Below, we have a summary of events and news we feel you guys should know about and if you have any questions or queries then you know where to find us.

Distillery News

A short update on the continued improvement works that are being carried out at the distillery. The distillery shop is still being worked on, thanks to the hard work and dedication from the distillery staff, we hope this will be up and running by the time we welcome you in Campbeltown in May for the malts festival. A new car park is being worked on at the distillery, sitting just beside the malt barns on Well Close and along Glebe Street to provide more space for visitors to the distillery.

Springbank Whisky School 2018 has begun and we are welcoming the pupils into the distillery on the 4th week of the Whisky School 2018. Pupils will be working hard as always our website and Facebook will be updated regularly with their progress.

Up and Coming Releases

Keep a close eye out for some new releases coming out soon! You will, of course, receive your Society Newsflash before these three releases go on sale.

We are launching the Springbank 21yo 46%, Longrow 18yo 46% and the second launch of the Hazelburn Sherry wood series – a Hazelburn 13yo 47.4%.

As Society Members you will always receive advanced notice that these will be launched via email. We will, as always, notify you that we do not control how shops sell their stock or if they take pre-orders so please be prepared for this. The Cadenhead shops are out-with our control so if you have any enquires or comments about individual shops please contact them directly. Remember to look at the ‘Where to buy’ section of our website to find your local UK stockist : http://www.springbank.scot/distributors/

Staff Profiles 

Hope everyone enjoyed the glimpse into the life at Springbank for John Wareham. Please keep a close eye on our website and social media platforms, future staff interviews regarding their experiences of working for Springbank and an insiders look at what it is like to be involved within the whisky making process – a new profile will soon be uploaded.

As Society members you will always get first access to these profiles first as they will be posted on the society section of the Springbank website before they appear anywhere else. So keep a close eye out on the website!

Please don’t forget, any questions you would like to be answered, then email us and let us ask your questions to the staff.

For those who have yet to sign in to the Society Section of the website please follow the instructions below.

: Go to www.springbank.scot

: Click on the ‘Society’ tab along the top of the page

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Sales Teams Events

In the first few months of the year we have been busy travelling around the world sharing our love of all things Springbank, Glengyle and Campbeltown. We are all back in Campbeltown now, on the build up to the most highly anticipated whisky festival of the year.

So far this year we have been to the ends of the earth to spread our love and make new friends all in the names of Springbank and Glengyle Distillery. We’ve done 58 tastings in 12 countries in just 5 months ranging from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, France and Germany.

Ronan recently ventured in the Arctic Circle to The Arctic Whisky Festival in Tromso, Norway; David and Ranald have been ‘back-packing’ all the way south in Queenstown, New Zealand representing Springbank and Kilkerran. And Grant has been to Dundee.

We really do get about don’t we!

In the upcoming months we will, again, be venturing around the world.

May: 

Ranald will be in Whizita, Itzehoe Germany for a special Springbank and Kilkerran Charity Tasting on the 4th and then onto Kiel for the Kieler Whisky Messe.

June:

Grant will be in Ayr for the Whisky An’A’That festival with great Springbank and Kilkerran Whiskies on the 2nd.

Grant will also be down in London on Sunday 17th for The Whisky Event at the Grosvenor Hotel for Springbank and Kilkerran.

July: 

From the 23rd – 27th Ronan will be flying out to Malaysia for a tasting tour around the country with Springbank and Kilkerran.

For more info please visit http://www.springbank.scot/events/ to check out the most up to date list of where our Sales Teams will be!

Campbeltown Malts Festival 22nd – 25th May

The Campbeltown Malts Festival! Not far away now and we are looking forward to welcoming as many of you to Campbeltown as possible. We should have enough whisky!

Tickets have been on sale since February and after the initial rush and chaos we hope everyone has got the tickets for the masterclasses they wanted.

We understand that demand is high for the tastings, but please don’t fret! There are a very limited number of tickets remaining and also tastings/masterclasses that are ONLY bookable on the day of the tasting! So plenty of opportunity to pick up some last minute tickets for some delightful tastings!

Don’t forget we also have some great whisky bars available on both days! The Springbank Warehouse bar on Thursday and The World Famous Cadenhead Lucky Dip Bar and Pop-Up Kilkerran Cocktail Bar on Friday!

Social Media: 

For all you Facebookers, Instagramers and Tweeters! Please use the hashtags’ #CampbeltownMaltsFestival and #Springbank on all platforms and keep us inundated with your Campbeltown Malts Festival Snaps! We will look to repost and share as many as possible and see how everyone is enjoying their time in Campbeltown!

That’s all from us here at Springbank.

Everyone stay on your toes for the next Society NewsFlash!!

Slainte!

Please contact the Society HERE to join!

Just arrived: Highland Park The Light

Saturday, June 2, 2:30 – 5:30PM 

Bourbon Tasting: Balcones 

From humble beginnings an old welding shop under a bridge in Waco, Texas, Balcones distillery is now recognized worldwide for their bold and intense flavors. From blue corn grown in New Mexico to the first Texas-grown malted barley, they’ve taken pains to create a truly Texas spirit – which is then distilled in magnificent copper pot whisky stills designed by Forsyths of Scotland. The result is a decadent and densely flavorful whiskey.

Click Here to RSVP