Collector’s loft: new additions 

Connoisseur’s Choice Whiskies

We’re extremely excited to introduce six new Connoisseur’s Choice whiskies to our Collector’s Loft! The individual bottles have been sought out from the world’s very best private collections; dating from between 1938 and 1953, these extremely rare and old whiskies date from pre-WWII to the 1950s, so are about as collectable as they come!  Each one has been expertly assessed, taste tested and carbon dated to ensure its authenticity. Please allow up to one week for delivery.

Linkwood 1939 37 Year Old

This Linkwood 1939 37 Year Old dates from the brink of WWII, giving you a unique opportunity to taste Speyside whisky that straddles the pre-war and wartime whisky eras. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is soft and sweet with distinctive sherry notes, red berry fruits and some black coffee on the nose. The palate is very light and fluffy with some delicate citrus fruit. Balanced and very accessible, its finish is medium and sweet with light citrus.  Only one bottle available!

£2,300 Click to Buy

Talisker 1951 21 Year Old

A rare chance to enjoy a mid-century Talisker, dating from 1951. This 21 year old was bottled in 1972 at 43% ABV.  Matured for 21 years in oak casks, it has a lovely dark gold colour. The nose is complex, with coal smoke and dried tangerines, honey, leather and plum jam. Sharp and savoury on the palate with notes of apple pip, it boasts a medium-long finish with charcoal, green fruit and wood shavings. Only one bottle available!

£2,750 Click to Buy

Talisker 1952 21 Year Old

This Talisker expression hails from a time when Winston Churchill was Prime Minister! Bottled in 1973 at 43% ABV, the Isle of Skye whisky was matured for 21 years in oak casks. Rounded aromas with big notes of orange develop into mint and cough syrup. Bright on the palate, with Talisker’s recognisable pepper and lemon giving way to oak and sherry notes, this whisky builds up to a captivating finish.  Only one bottle available!

£2,500 Click to Buy

Talisker 1953 24 Year Old

A wonderful Talisker, distilled in the Coronation year! This 24 year old whisky was bottled in 1977 at 43% ABV. An amber-toned Skye single malt, it was aged for 24 years in oak casks.  Reminiscent of winter on the Island’s shores with seaweed, pepper and some saltiness on the nose, the palate persists with maritime pepperiness, salt, phenol and chili spice. Its medium-long finish echoes the salt and pepper aspects.  Only one bottle available!

£3,000 Click to Buy

Avonside Glenlivet 1938 33 Year Old

An extremely rare 1970s bottling of the Avonside Glenlivet, created in 1938 before the distillery was mothballed at the outbreak of WWII. Matured for 33 years in oak casks, this highly sought-after whisky has been bottled at 43% ABV.  Clean and fresh with hints of fruit pastilles, orange jelly and polished oak on the nose, the palate is similarly crisp with marmalade, tropical fruits and peppery spice. Long and warming on the finish, with lingering fruit jelly notes.  Only two bottles available!

£2,500 Click to Buy

Avonside Glenlivet 1938 35 Year Old

Distilled the year before WWII was declared, this rare 1973 Avonside Glenlivet whisky has been matured in oak casks for 35 years.  Not many opportunities arise to add a pre-war Speyside single malt to your collection – especially from the mothballed Avonside Glenlivet Distillery! This expression, distilled in 1938, was bottled at 43% ABV.  On the nose, this whisky is rich and plump with hints of buttery burnt toast, marmalade and grapes. Apricot and peach give way to orange and melon on the palate, with oak and some astringency following. The finish is balanced with notes of fruit, oak and spice. Only two bottles available!

£2,600 Click to Buy

Mortlach 1936 35 Year Old

Hailing from Dufftown’s legendary Mortlach Distillery, this pre-war whisky harks from 1936, and was bottled at 43% ABV.  Created in directly fired stills, using old-styled sherry and smoke, this perfectly harmonised 35 Year Old whisky was originally created for the Italian export market.  A fantastic find for collectors, it also makes for great drinking: notes of Belgian toffee and sweet smokiness on the nose are followed by flavours including wax, sultanas, mint, red fruit gums and turkish delights. The finish is long and dry with smoke and soft resin.Only one bottle available!

£2,800 Click to buy

United States – Kentucky

Maker’s Mark “American Pharoah” Limited Edition Bourbon (1L)  $79.99 

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

This weekend the Kensington Wine Market is marking its 24th Anniversary. We are now almost old enough to rent a car! Every year on our birthday weekend we throw a sale for our customers to help us celebrate, and this year is no different. Today, Friday May 13 through Sunday May 15 most of our inventory is on sale! Save 15% or more on all in stock wines. Save 10% or more on all in stock Whiskies, excluding SMWS whiskies and a few exceptions (see below). And save 5% on instock beer, gin and rum! Our birthday sale weekend is one of the busiest of the year, so the sale is only in store and online only. No phone orders please!

The sale rules and terms are below. I have also highlighted the whiskies and other spirits discounted more than 10%. There are some amazing deals for 15, 20, 25 and 30% off. Some of the items are in short supply and won’t last long. Best of all, if you pop into the shop, there is a very good chance you can try a sample of one of our exciting sale whiskies before you buy!

We have a special visitor tomorrow, George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery will be popping into KWM for a visit between 11AM and 12:30PM, Saturday May 14. George Farclas will be in store and on hand to talk about Glenfarclas, share some drams and sign bottles. George is a larger than life whisky personality and a great ambassador for his family owned distillery; the second oldest family owned distillery in Scotland. If you’ve never met him, this is your chance, and if you have, you know you won’t want to miss this opportunity to catch up.

Ardbeg Day is fast approaching, and details on the Ardbeg Night festivities should be out soon. We will be holding three Ardbeg Day Master Class tastings at Kensington Wine Market, Saturday May 28: 1-2PM, 3-4PM and 5-6PM. The tastings are just $25 and feature six different Ardbegs including the new Ardbeg Dark Cove release. We have also squirreled away bottles of the Ardbeg Supernova 2014 and Ardbeg Perpetuum just for the occasion.

Finally, if you didn’t see last night’s announcement, KWM has made a contribution to the Red Cross for the Fort McMurray disaster relief. We have two further opportunities coming up in June which will help contribute to the relief efforts. We are partnering with Compass Box Whisky, Authentic Wine & Spirits and Peasant Cheese to put on special tasting with Chris Maybin on June 2nd. And we are just ironing out the details for a special Macallan event with Dan Volway on June 8. Details will be finalized and announced early next week!

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and look forward to greeting you in store with a dram!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

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

twitter.com/scotch_guy, Instagram: instagram.com/kensingtonwm/

 and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

Sale Rules

1. Sale is this weekend only, now through midnight Sunday May 15 2016.
2.  All in stock Whiskies, with a few exceptions (noted below) are at least 10% off. 88 selected whiskies are other sprits are discounted 15 to 30% and are listed below.
3.  All in stock Wine are at least 15% off with some much better deals.
4.  Scotch Malt Whisky Society Whiskies and Membership Kits are not on sale!
5. Sale is in store and online only. No phone orders please! You may reply by email.
6. Payment must be provided at the time of purchase for online and email orders. No layaways.
7. Sale is on in stock items only, with the exception of KWM exclusives, on which we will honour the discount, should we run out. These items have been bolded.
8. The sale prices will not be extended beyond Sunday May 15, nor will they be applied retroactively.
9. In the event of a discrepancy in price the Point of Sale at Kensington Wine Market will be taken as correct.
10. Prices quoted below are regular retail, before discounts, and do not include GST.

Save 15%

1. Adelphi Glen Garioch 1993 22 Year – Regular $255
2. Balblair 1999 – Regular $145
3. BenRiach 15 Year PX – Regular $100
4. BenRiach 1976 Cask 541 – Regular $850 – Only 2 left!
5. BenRiach 1998 Cask 6394 – Regular $180
6. BenRiach 1999 Cask 8687 – Regular $178
7. Benromach 1976 – Regular $1100
8. Black Gold Highland Park 1995 – Regular $395
9. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon – Regular $41
10. Celebration of the Cask Caol Ila 1998 – Regular $420
11. Coopers Choice Garnheath 28 Year – Regular $270
12.  Coopers Choice Higland Park 20 Year – Regular $250
13. Coopers Choice Ledaig 17 Year – Regular $180
14.  Coopers Choice Lochside 48 Year – Regular $465
15. First Edition Glen Garioch 1990 – Regular $205
16. First Edition Tormore 26 Year – Regular $250
17. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Inchgower 2000 – Regular $108
18. Glendronach 1972 Cask 706 42 Year – Regular $2500 – Only 1 left!
19. Glendronach 1994 Cask 3273 – Regular $290
20. Glendronach 1995 Cask Cask 3806 – Regular $280
21. Glendronach 1995 Cask 4034 – Regular $280
22. Glendronach 2004 Cask 5524 – Regular $174
23. Glendronach 8 Year The Hielan – Regular $64
24. Old Pulteney 1997 KWM Cask 1636 – Regular $200
25. Prichard’s Double Chocolate Bourbon – Regular $135
26. Sazerac Rye 6 Year – Regular $65

 Save 20%

1. Bernheim Kentucky Wheat KWM Cask – Regular $80
2. BenRiach 1996 KWM Cask 189 – Regular $220
3. Berry’s Miltonduff 1995 KWM Cask – Regular $170
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Keith 1973 – Regular $710 – Only 3 left!
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Miltonduff 1978 – Regular $620 – Only 3 left!
6. Creative Whisky Company Exclusive Blend 1991 – Regular $113
7. Creative Whisky Company Glen Garioch 1994 – Regular $160
8. Creative Whisky Company Glenturret 1994 – Regular $160
9. Creative Whisky Company Tobermory 1994 – Regular $145
10. Dalwhinnie 25 Year 48.8% – Regular $680
11. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Auchroisk 1996 – Regular $140
12. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Ledaig 1999 – Regular $120
13. Glenmorangie Companta – Regular $120
14. Great King Street Glasgow 50ml – Regular $7
15. Hudson New York Corn Spirit- Regular $52
16. Master of Malt Braes of Glenlivet B2 – Regular $150
17. Signatory Dufftown 1997 – Regular $180
18. Signatory Glen Keith 1995 – Regular $120
19. Signatory Glentauchers 1996 – Regular $180
20. Sovereign Cambus 40 Year – Regular $440
21. Sovereign Lochside 52 Year – Regular $1260 – Only 1 left!
22. Sovereign Girvan 26 Year – Regular $184
23. Writer’s Tears Cask Strength – Regular $170

 Save 25%

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Auchentoshan 1992 – Regular $210
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Cragganmore 1999 – Regular $115
3. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Garioch 1991 – Regular $210
4. Cadenhead Small Batch Glen Spey 1995 – Regular $154
5. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenallachie 1992 – Regular $190
6. Cadenhead Small Batch Glenlivet 1972 – Regular $800
7. Celebration of the Cask Mortlach 1995 – Regular $220
8. G&M Glenrothes 1997 Quaich Cask – Regular $185
9. Glendalough 4 Year Double – Regular $62
10. Glendalough Sherry Cask Poitin – Regular $60
11. Glenrothes Sherry Reserve – Regular $75
12. Jura 1995 Boutique Barrels Sauternes – Regular $160
13. Mortlach 25 Year – Regular $1100
14. Saint Vivant Armagnac 1934 – Regular $985
15. Saint Vivant Armagnac 1955 – Regular $750
16. Wilson & Morgan Glenrothes 25 Year – Regular $500
17. Wilson & Morgan Invergordon 30 Year – Regular $315

Save 30%

1. Cadenhead Small Batch Glendullan 1992 – Regular $150 – Only 1 left!
2. Cadenhead Small Batch Teaninich 1973 – Regular $435 – Only 1 left!
3. Darkness Dailuaine 15 Year Pedero Ximenez – Regular $185
4. Darkness Tomintoul 18 Year Oloroso – Regular $185
5. Samaroli Sherry 22 Year Single Malt – Regular $250 – Just 3 left!
6. Secret Spirits Scotch Whisky Advent – Regular $425 – Just 2 left!
7. Strathmill 25 Year – Regular $520
8. Sweet Wee Scallywag Blended Malt – Regular $82
9. Wee Whisky Gift Box 2015 – Regular $80 – Just 1 left!

All sale items can be browsed online: https://kensingtonwinemarket.com/products/on-sale/

INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL AWARD FOR THREE SHIPS WHISKY 

The proudly South African Three Ships Whisky beat international competition to be awarded with the Best User Experience at the annual Webby Awards for the live online sale of its limited edition Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask PX Finish.

The Webby Awards, now in its 20^th year, is judged by leading internet experts who reviewed over 13 000 entries from 65 countries and Three Ships was awarded for “offering the best user experience through innovative design and useful functionality.” – swopped with below

The online live sale, a first of its kind for South Africa, was the creative genius of digital agency Quirk in collaboration with 140BBDO.

 Using live streaming and innovative technology to augment the online shopping experience, the live store enabled consumers to interact in real time as they select the hand-numbered bottle of their choice. Consumers saw in real-time their selected bottle being collected off the shelf and watched as master distiller Andy Watts signed their name on a certificate and prepared it for delivery.

Using SnapScan as purchase method the 400 bottles sold out in just under four hours equating to a bottle every 45 seconds.

Three Ships’ Marketing Manager, Liezl Dippenaar, was delighted to hear the news. She said that the innovative approach to the campaign was one that certainly complemented the limited edition nature of the whisky launched.

 “This unique online shopping experience mirrored the pioneering spirit of the Three Ships brand which has created many firsts for the South African whisky industry. We wanted to create excitement and offer our consumers an authentic and meaningful engagement. This award we can now add to the many international accolades our whiskies have achieved over the years, marking excellence and innovation in our campaigns too.”

On the win, Quirk’s Executive Creative Director Andrew Bloom says “It’s an honour to be competing against top tier international creative houses and in a category against international power brands like Nike, Cheap Monday, Subaru and Google’s Made with Code initiative – all having created work that we respect and admire. Importantly, it sets the future for Quirk. Not for the benchmark, I believe there is more to come, but for what is possible.”

You can watch the 20^th annual Webby Awards ceremony online at webbyawards.com on 17 May.

GLENFARCLAS NAMED “BEST DISTILLERS’ SINGLE MALT”

AT SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

Glenfarclas whiskies win six top medals, including two Double Gold

            NEW ORLEANS, lA.  (April 27, 2016) – Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch was distinguished as “Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch –No Age Statement” at the 16th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition where a record-breaking 1,899 entries were submitted for a blind tasting.

Thirty-nine of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry before ultimately awarding Glenfarclas whiskies a total of six top medals, including two Double Gold Medals and the designation of “Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch.”

Medal winners:

Double Gold

• Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
• Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years

Gold

• Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
• Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 17 Years

Silver

• Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
• Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 25 Years

“It is an honor to be recognized among the best of this competition,” Associate Brand Manager Jana Ritter said. “We feel very humbled and couldn’t be any more pleased with these results.”

Complete results for the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Lewiston, Maine; Londonderry, New Hampshire; and Montreal, Canada.  For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com/.

Shelter Point Distillery releases premiere Single Malt Whisky

Oyster River, BC – Shelter Point Distillery has confirmed that it will release its premiere single malt whisky on May 13, 2016. Aged on-site for over five years in white oak barrels at Shelter Point’s oceanfront distillery, the Shelter Point Single Malt Whisky will be the distillery’s second spirit, and the first major release of a Vancouver Island made single malt whisky. Grown, fermented, and pot distilled in traditional Scottish copper pot stills, the Shelter Point Single Malt Whisky was produced from field to flask entirely in BC.

The inaugural batch of Shelter Point Single Malt Whisky will launch as a limited release at 12pm on May 13, 2016, at the Shelter Point Distillery storefront. The Shelter Point Single Malt Whisky will then be delivered to independently owned liquor stores across Vancouver Island and the Vancouver mainland over the following weeks. A restored 1929 Ford will be on display at some locations, including Shelter Point Distillery, at launch.

“Trucks like these were the original rum-runners, smuggling from Canada into the US during the prohibition,” says Shelter Point owner Patrick Evans. “There’s something about Canadian heritage that just makes us want to share, and we want to share our whisky with the world.” 

About Shelter Point Farm and Distillery

Located along the banks and delta of the Oyster River (halfway between the Comox Valley and Campbell River) on northern Vancouver Island, Shelter Point Farm and Distillery sits on rich bottomland facing a long expanse of the Strait of Georgia. Ample moisture and fresh water is collected and filtered by the surrounding mountains and rich rain forests, fed by pure Pacific Ocean winds making landfall after a 10,000-mile journey. The moderating effect of the ocean and sea level location allows for extended growing seasons, and bountiful and varied crops. Shelter Point farm is one of the few remaining original ‘oceanfront’ farms on the west coast of Canada.

Shelter Point Distillery is privately owned and funded.

Kensington Wine Market
Donates $3000
Red Cross Fort McMurray Relief Fund

The Kensington Wine Market is pleased to donate $3000 to the Red Cross Fort McMurray Relief Fund. The monies for our donation were generated from the ticket sales for our annual Spring Wine Festival held this evening. Calgarians are no stranger to the devastation wrought by the forces of Mother Nature. The 2013 Calgary flood displaced so many of our family, friends and customers and while the Wine Market did not suffer any flood damage, our business was closed for several days as the city’s first responders struggled to get us back up and running. Fort McMurray has suffered terrible losses, both commercial and personal, and at a time when our province is already under tremendous stress. It is for this reason we are reaching out to our northern neighbours.

We want to thank all our customers for their patronage and for helping us make this contribution the Red Cross Relief Fund possible. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 24th birthday!

STORE HOURS

10:00 to 8:00 Monday to Wednesday
10:00 to 9:00 Thursday and Friday
10:00 to 8:00 Saturday
12:00 to 6:00 Sunday

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Ardbeg: ‘Dark Cove’  has arrived.

One of the year’s most highly anticipated single malt releases has hit our shelves.

The buzz has circled around Ardbeg ‘Dark Cove’ for awhile. Though our tiny allocation of committee bottles has come and gone – we did receive a (albeit small) delivery of non-committee bottles this week.  It is currently on our shelves but we know that not everyone can make into the store –  Here’s how the good people at Ardbeg describe ‘Dark Cove’.  “Take this whisky and hide it well. For its heart has been matured in DARK SHERRY CASKS, imparting waves of treacle toffee, coal tar, squid ink, noodles and toasted coffee grounds.  Inspired by our turbulent past, this whisky is a clandestine meeting of Ardbeg matured in ex-bourbon casks and a heart matured in dark sherry casks. The darkest Ardbeg ever.”

ARDBEG: Dark Cove = $135/btl

If you want a bottle please, please, please contact the store as it has not yet uploaded to our site!

Cheers!

Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212-685-2442
jonathan@parkaveliquor.com
eric@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor.com

Three of our favourite Laphroaig drams at an unbeatable price, make sure to snap them up while they are still available! 

Laphroaig Select takes its name from the special selection of American and European casks, chosen for their unique character that they give during maturation. Our Inspiration for our new Global expression has been take from history – 70-80 years ago, the time of the last family member owner of the distillery, Ian Hunter. Ian was one of the biggest influences in the history of Laphroaig indeed he was one of the first distillers to travel to bourbon county in the USA to identify new sources of casks that would give him greater consistency as well as new flavours. He later married this ‘new’ style of Laphroaig with his traditionally matured (European cask) Laphroaig.

£33.99 incl. VAT

Buy now

Laphroaig Quarter Cask offers an irresistible doubling of flavour, due to the double maturation in two barrels made of American oak. Still-maturing whisky from our standard ex-bourbon barrels is transferred to quarter casks and left to rest in our warehouse just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic shore.

This process represents Laphroaig breathing new life into a once-defunct tradition: the use of the smaller cask size, which ensures increased contact with the oak, creating a soft and velvety edge to complement Laphroaig’s distinctive peatiness.

£38.00 incl. VAT

Buy now

This expression of our famous whisky, from the remote island of Islay in the Western Isles of Scotland, has enjoyed a triple maturation in 3 types of cask. Just as with our standard Quarter Cask expression, the first maturation is in American oak, ex-Bourbon Barrels. We then select the most suitable of these barrels, containing a range of different aged spirit and transfer into small 19th Century style Quarter Casks for a second maturation. The final maturation is in specially selected, large European oak, Oloroso Sherry Casks.
It is bottled at 48% ABV and is non-chill filtered for a depth of taste and texture.

£47.50 incl. VAT

Buy now