Ingvar Ronde on tour with Paul McLean

(Part 1was published on may 1st and Part 2 on May 8th)

It’s that time again for Paul & Ingvar lapping up distilleries – March 2022 saw the pair travel around Scotland, taking in distilleries as usual. Ingvar used this tour to research for the MALT WHISKY YEARBOOK next year’s issue. As per usual we get only the best introductions, with managers hosting the no holds barred visits!

Glen Garioch

This March, Ingvar arrived in the evening into Aberdeen, we had a catch up and of course a drink. It all started next morning; first stop Glengarioch, havn’ee been there in a while, they have some new features now, well worth seeing. Ardmore, was next, in the rain! GlenDronach came next, I like going here, one of my favourites, I love the bar and tasting room, as per usual I was given the drivers share; a pot of tea. Looking forward to going back soon. Final of the day – Knockdhu another favourite of mine, Gordon was just Gordon, one of the nicest people in whisky! The day ended with an overnight stay in Elgin.

Next day we met up with Boa at Glenburgie, never been before although I’ve met himself when he was at Strathisla. Big distillery this, enjoyed it. Benromach followed, sat this one out in the office, been there done that one. Royal Brackla, no the friendliest but a big place in a nice location. We were by now staying in Dornoch, I know Eric at the Eagle hotel he kindly gave us a private tasting of five of his own label bottles, good start as we were here four nights. After breakfast we started again – early! Brora with Jackie Robertson, lovely lady, met her when she was at Talisker. What a great distillery this is now almost functional again, this will become one of my favourites.  Clynelish next, sat out the tour, legs gave up after Brora! The bar and tasting areas were superb as was the new shop, will be back there soon. We drove down to see John at Balblair, I have too many favourites, this being another, we sat in his office, Ingvar with a few drams, John and myself with a green tea!

A big one next Teaninich I have a dyslexia problem with this, cannee pronounce it! Big cold place, been shut down for a good while. Back to Dornoch. The Saturday saw us away to Glenmorangie, again I sat this out, as maybe Ingvar would nee see all if I was there? It worked, he got to see the light house, all the way up to the top, an experimental distillery this, watch this space. What to do the remainder of the day? Nigg Old Church can trace its’ origins back to 1296 and the present structure was built in 1626. It contains the internationally renowned Nigg Pictish Cross-Slab, recently re-displayed. Here John of Dunbretan, swore loyalty to King Edward of England. At the centre of Scotland’s only Pictish Monastic National Monument, the Museum at Tarbat unravels some of the mysteries of the Picts. Lunch was very nice at Portmahomack. Return to Dornoch, we did try a few drams here and there, Ingvar fell in love – with a dug!

Toulvaddie

Sunday saw us drive into the hills to find Sandy at Ardross, money has been spent here and it shows, this will be closed to the public, a shame as it looks very good, an old farm steading type of set up, a million litre capacity, known Sandy from Spey days. He’s no changed! We enjoyed it here, easier to find our way out than in! A phone call alerted us to a new distillery, one we had both heard of years back but now Ingvar was on the trail; Toulvaddie, a wee place not quite up and running yet, wee stills and a target of 50,000 litres, this is set on an old airfield, surrounded by coo’s, sheep and new Glenmorangie warehouse being built, oh aye, and a bottling plant. Near the village of Fearne not far from Nigg. Final night Dornoch.

After breakfast we set out for Dalmore, another one closed to the public for ages. Let Ingvar loose and I stayed and looked at the oil rigs and ducks, saw barrels loaded onto a truck, destined for where? He must have had a few drams, he was away 2.5 hours! A wee drive along to Glen Ord another under refurb just now but still doing tours, even though they moved the shop and reduced size. A nice sunny day, two good visits. Off we went to Inverness, checked in to the hotel, that was funny; arranged to meet in the bar, I was doon first, reception lady came up to me, “are you the friend of the famous whisky author?” I smiled and said aye, “oh do you think he would pose for a photo? One of our barmen has all his books and is a fan!” How could you say no? I told Ingvar and he didnee believe me. Same lady then told me not to pay for car park as it was on the house and she gave me two huge bars of chocolate, we shall go there again! Sure enough Ingvar chatted to the barman Stewart and had pix taken. We then met up with my pal and driver Andy, all away for dinner. In the same restaurant were two guests on tour, Andy driving, they too were pleased to meet Ingvar; Mr Yang and son, avid whisky lovers. A good day and night.

The trip was almost at an end, fae Schneckie we drove to Tomatin, met up with another really nice whisky man, Graham Eunson, knew him fae Glenglassaugh days, good chat before Ingvar went on a wander with him. Was just about to give Ingvar a reminder to go, where they appeared out of the mist! There are plans afoot here for some changes, more when you come on tour with us! A couple of hours later we were enjoying lunch – at Glenturret, boy! The new restaurant is a 5 star thing of beauty, new owners – Lalique Crystal, the Swiss company, everywhere it shows, from the restaurant, to the Glen Turret bottles. A grand end to the tour, we then drove to Edinburgh, where Ingvar was staying his final night. Bade him farewell, “see you again in May!”

Another totally enjoyable trip with Ingvar, we have been doing these annually for many years now, after meeting in Finland at a whisky festival, where we shared a table! As the saying goes He will be back!

PAUL MCLEAN

WWW.WHISKYTOURS.SCOT

PART 2

PART 1

American Whiskey | An Enduring Fascination  // 13 – 23 May 2022

Now Live: American Whiskey Auction

A warm welcome to American Whiskey | An Enduring Fascination.

Featuring over 800 rare expressions, this auction offers both emerging whiskey collectors and seasoned connoisseurs with an unrivalled opportunity to acquire some of America’s most sought-after whiskeys.

Spotlighting over 70 exclusive barrel picks at its heart, the auction celebrates the enduring fascination among whiskey enthusiasts for private barrel selects.

Private Barrel Selects Magazine: Please browse our latest digital magazine which focuses on some of the world’s most exclusive and sought-after private label whiskeys.

Van Winkle 1975 Special Reserve 19 Year Old for Corti Brothers / Stitzel-Weller

Rare Expressions from Heaven Hill Bardstown

Pappy Van Winkle 1984 Family Reserve 23 Year Old Single Barrel / Kentucky Barrel Society – 2007 Barrel C

Mount Vernon Rye 1903 Macy and Jenkins 1/5 Gallon / Pre-Prohibition

Willett Family Estate 1984 Single Barrel 24 Year Old Bourbon #637 / Bonili

Dougherty’s 11 Year Old Pre-Prohibition Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS Announces First Global
“MASTER OF SCOTCH” Exam in Scotland: Call for Enrollment

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS, the world’s leading education and certification body for expertise in whisk(e)y, has announced the details of its first MASTER OF SCOTCH™ examination, held from September 8th to September 11th, 2022, in the Scottish Highlands.

All details are published at  www.WhiskeyMasters.org, under the MASTER OF SCOTCH section.

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS offers a 4-level certification program, beginning with the “Certified Scotch Professional” or “Certified Bourbon Professional” credential and leading to the “Master of Scotch” designation for candidates who demonstrate mastery of single malt whisky.

Since the launch of the program in 2019, many thousands of candidates, representing 35 countries, have advanced through the study program. The Advisory Board of the Council includes many of the most respected individuals in the world of whiskey today.

Enrollment for the 2022 MASTER OF SCOTCH Examination is now open.

In addition to a rigorous written and oral exam, candidates for the MASTER OF SCOTCH designation must demonstrate skill in recognizing essential qualities of classical Scotch selections in a rigorous blind tasting—including details about their region, aging and finishing. Blind tasting findings are presented orally to a panel of examiners who assess the candidate’s knowledge and communication skills.

     Specifically, the examinations covers 3 segments for all candidates:

1. Written 2-Hour Theory Examination, based on the required readings listed below. This section consists of 6 essay questions, chosen from a menu of 30 topics and themes.
2. Oral 1-Hour Theory Examination: Covering specific, important questions from the required readings. The required readings consist of 10 outstanding books on Scotch whisky. Candidates may field questions directly from the books’ authors.
3. Oral 2-Hour Blind Tasting Examination: A comparative tasting discussion and identification with 8 classical Scotch whisky expressions, examining facets such as production methods, finishing, age, regional styles, complexity and dominant flavors.

The examination will be judged by members of the Council’s Advisory Board, featuring some of the most respected Scotch whisky experts alive today, carrying the honors of Keepers and Masters of the Quaich as well as Masters of Whisky of Diageo legacy. Many candidates from leading positions in the Scotch whisky industry have already registered for the examination.

To learn more about THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS, visit www.WhiskeyMasters.org, or write to Office@WhiskeyMasters.org.

The Advisory Board consists of the following individuals.

Steve Beal, Chairman of the Board 2022-2023, Senior Master of Whisky and Keeper of the Quaich, is an industry-recognized distilled spirits consultant, international wine and spirits judge, and former brand ambassador for some of the world’s most respected brands. He has several decades of dedication to whiskey. Steve is a 2015 inductee to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. He is based in San Francisco, California.

Dave Broom has been writing, teaching and speaking about spirits for over 30 years and is the author of The World Atlas of Whisky. Dave is a Master of the Quaich, a Kentucky Colonel, and was voted 2013 Communicator of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. Dave resides on the south coast of England.

Lew Bryson is the former long-time managing editor of Whisky Advocate and the author of the books Tasting Whiskey, and the forthcoming Whiskey Master Class. Lew is also the Senior Drinks writer for The Daily Beast and regularly contributes to other publications. Lew is a member of The Order of the Writ, as well as Kentucky Colonel. He lives in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Martin Duffy is the North American Brand Representative for Glencairn Crystal and is one of the best-connected professionals in the whiskey industry, with past affiliations at Diageo, Bacardi and LVMH. For 14 years, including two years in Ireland, Martin was one of the original Diageo Sr. Masters of Whisky. Mr. Duffy lives in Illinois, where he teaches classes on Irish/Scotch history & production, and for 8 years was the co-producer of the Chicago Independent Spirits Expo. Martin served as the Chairman of the Council’s Board for 2020-2021.

Rick Edwards, Sr. Master of Scotch, was named “Icon of Whisky” by Whisky Magazine in 2015, and “Highly Commended” Scotch Ambassador of the Year at Icons of Whisky 2019. Rick began his career in 1996 with Johnnie Walker & the Classic Malts, and was recently acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Pernod-Ricard for his work on The Glenlivet & Chivas Regal where he served as Master of Whisky and National Ambassador for the past 12 years. Rick currently represents Stranahan’s American Single Malt as National Ambassador.

Andrew Faulkner has spent many years with the American Distilling Institute, in his most recent role as a Vice President. He was the architect of ADI’s International Judging of Craft Spirits, the oldest and largest judging devoted to craft producers. For six years, Faulkner was Managing Editor of Distiller magazine — a consumer-facing trade publication promoting the art and commerce of distilling. He has edited numerous books on the distilling process.

Serghios Florides is the Editor-in-Chief of Irish Whiskey Magazine which aims to promote Irish whiskey worldwide through collaborations with industry experts and producers. His publication delivers the authentic history and current developments to enthusiasts and those seeking to gain greater insights into the Irish whiskey sector. Serghios is a member of many leading whiskey societies and he currently resides in Dublin, Ireland.

Michael Fraser Milne is a Master of the Quaich, the highest award in the world of Scotch whisky. He has been focused on education through doing over 1200 tastings, consulting globally and started DramFest in 2007, New Zealands premier whisky festival. Michael was born and brought up in Scotland and today lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. He has owned Whisky Galore for 26 years, the premier whisky-specialty importer and distributor of the country.

Sebastien Gavillet is the author of Discovering & Mastering Single Malt Scotch Whisky. He serves as the Head of Tasting Panel at the International Whisky Competition, where he designed and developed the current set of judging standards. As COO for Wine Aromas – Le Nez du Vin/Whisky, he oversees US operations and consults internationally. Sebastien resides in Colorado and Nevada.

Tobias Gorn is a Panel Chair Judge and Spirit Ambassador at the International Wine & Spirits Competition and other international competitions worldwide. He is an award winning drinks and cigar writer and has had a sommelier career for Michelin-carrying establishments. Tobias lives in England.

Monique Huston is a Keeper of the Quaich, a WSET Spirits instructor, and panel judge at many national and global whiskey competitions. She currently serves as the Vice President of Spirits for Winebow, one of the leading wine & spirits importers. Monique also ran one of the largest whiskey programs in the world open to the public, at the famous Dundee Dell in Omaha, Nebraska. Monique lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Davin de Kergommeaux is the leading voice on Canadian whisky today. He authored the influential book Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert, and the forthcoming Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries. He founded the Canadian Whisky Awards and has been a judge for the Malt Maniacs Awards and the World Whisky Awards for many years. Davin resides in his home country of Canada.

Charles MacLean has been writing about Scotch whisky for 40 years, and has published 17 books on the subject. He was described by The Times as “Scotland’s leading whisky expert” in 2014. In 2009 he was elected Master of the Quaich, in 2012 won the I.W.S.C.’s ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ and in 2016 was inducted into the Whisky Hall of Fame. In 2019 he was named ‘International Ambassador of the Year’ at the Spirit of Speyside Festival. He lives in Edinburgh.

Joseph V. Micallef is a wine and whisky educator and the author of the book Scotch Whisky: Its History, Production and Appreciation. He serves as a judge for various wine and spirit competitions including the IWSC, World Drinks Awards and Irish Whiskey Awards. He is a contributor at Forbes and International Editor of Irish Whiskey Magazine, and has written extensively on wine. Joe lives in Oregon.

Andrew Moldenhauer is a WSET Diploma Student and Master of Wine candidate. Currently working for Remy-Cointreau as a Beverage Development Manager, he is also an Independent Whisky Consultant & Educator, and panelist for the Beverage Testing Institute. Andrew was a former Ambassador for Pernod Ricard and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Peter Mulryan is an author and broadcaster whose most recent book is The Whiskeys of Ireland. He has published and spoken on Irish whiskey extensively around the world, he also blogs on the subject. Peter also serves as the CEO of Blackwater Distillery, which started production of Irish whisky in the year 2019.

Arthur Nägele is a respected spirits expert and demanded trainer and advisor for alcoholic beverages. His Spirituosenakademie is one of the leading learning centers on whiskey in continental Europe. He’s a member of the technical Spirits Judging Committee and Chair Judge at the International Wine & Spirits Competition. Based in Switzerland, covering all German language areas of Europe.

Eddie Nara is a renowned spirits industry leader and Whisky Ambassador lead tutor for HK, Macau and China. He is a Certified Spirits Educator accredited by the Society of Wine Educators, an International Spirits judge for IWSC and HKIWSC and an esteemed cocktail judge. Eddie’s commitment to education is invaluable to the industry and he is a mentor and inspiration to many aspiring professionals across Asia.

Fionnán O’Connor is the author of A Glass Apart: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey. He has served as a consultant and lecturer for distilleries across Ireland and was the recipient of a 2018 research PhD grant to investigate the history of lost Irish mash bills. He lives in Dublin and continues to contribute articles to books and magazines within the trade.

Hans Offringa is the author of more than 20 books about whisky, among which the bestseller A Field Guide to Whisky, and has been contributing editor of Whisky Magazine and American Whiskey for a number of years. He is a Keeper of the Quaich, a Kentucky Colonel, Lifetime International Ambassador of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Founder of International Whisky Day, Honorary Ambassador of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Patron of the Whisky Festival North Netherlands. He resides in The Netherlands and in South Carolina.

Josh Peters is the author of The Whiskey Jug, one of the top websites in the world focusing on whiskey reviews and whiskey commentary. He’s one of the featured narrators in the forthcoming Water Of Life documentary, author of a forthcoming book on American Whiskey and co-organizer for the largest whiskey club in California: the Southern California Whiskey Club.

Liz Rhoades is a technical distiller with over a decade’s experience, working across a variety of spirits, and sites spanning Europe and the Americas. Having spent the majority of her career at Diageo, Liz is now the Principal at Spirit Safe Consulting LLC, specializing in distillery technical process support, innovation, and education. Liz holds her Diploma Distiller through the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and has served in organizations such as the American Malting Barley Association and the Society of Distilling Scientists and Technologists.

Dominic Roskrow has been a professional whisky writer since 1982, and has been editing drinks magazines for nearly 30 years. He has written 16 books, the majority about whisky. He is a Fortnum & Mason Drinks Writer of  The Year, and has received awards from The Press Gazette, The  Beerwriters’ Guild, and Gourmand. He specializes in whiskies from non-traditional regions, and he holds his own ‘New World’ whisky awards to promote them. He is a Keeper of the Quaich and a Kentucky Colonel.

Marcy Rudershausen, one of the original Diageo Sr. Masters of Whisky, Marcy was inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich in Scotland in 2010. Active in whiskey judging and conducting educational whisky seminars, Marcy has worked around the world as the principal of her whiskey-specialized consulting firm. She lives in South Florida.

Bernhard Schäfer, Master of the Quaich, is a whiskey journalist, industry consultant, and panel member of various whiskey competitions across Europe as well as the United States, including the International Wine & Spirits Competition and the World Whisky Awards. He is a co-founder of the European Network of Spirit Experts and resides in his native Germany, where he also lectures on spirits extensively.

Jack W. Smith, Jr., Keeper of the Quaich, is the founding President of the Metro Atlanta Scotch Club. He is an experienced seminar leader on whiskey and holds the Certified Spirits Specialist designation. Jack leads aficionado groups on full-immersion tours to Scotland annually.

Michael Veach is the foremost authority on bourbon history today. Michael was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2006.  He has written and contributed to five books, including the widely acclaimed Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage. His career’s achievements have been featured in publications such as The Bourbon Review and The Louisville Encyclopedia.

Monica Wolf is the Founder and CEO of The Spirits Group, a distilled spirits consulting firm, focused on whiskey related business strategy and operations, quality control and distillery engineering. Monica serves as a whiskey judge at the American Distilling Institute and American Craft Spirits Association and is a board member for Bourbon Women and Historic Locust Grove where she lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Butchertown Grocery Bakery

Added as a Top Level Sponsor of the 

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Tour

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hungry (and thirsty) Bourbon tourists rejoice! The Butchertown Grocery Bakery in Louisville is the newest Official Sponsor of the world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association announced today.

Located at 743 E Main Street, the BG Bakery is Butchertown’s first European style bakery and proudly offers freshly made breads and pastries, salads, sandwiches and more. It also features a retail wine & spirits shop with its own exclusive private barrel select bottles of Bourbon.

“The Butchertown Grocery name is storied within Bourbon circles for its culinary and cocktail prowess, and the Bakery is a great extension of that,” said Mandy Ryan, director of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experiences.

“Bourbon Trail™ visitors are always looking for the best food, drink and shopping locales to round out their trips to Kentucky,” Ryan said. “We are proud to promote them as a warm and welcome addition to the ranks of our select KBT® sponsors.”

As an official sponsor, the BG Bakery receives prominent placement on the KBT® website and marketing materials, including recommended itineraries, signage and more. The bakery joins the Campbell House Hotel, Independent Stave Co., Marriott Louisville East, Mint Julep Experiences, Pegasus Distillery Experiences, Seelbach Hotel and VisitLex as Barrel level sponsors.

The BG Bakery has called the trendy neighborhood home since 2015 and is surrounded by fun offerings for tourists including the bustling Butchertown Market, the Lynn Family Stadium, home field for the LouFC Soccer Team, and other popular eateries, shops and watering holes.

There are eight KBT® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries in Louisville including, Angel’s Envy, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Michter’s at Fort Nelson, Old Forester. Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Kentucky Peerless, and Copper & Kings Distillery.

Louisville is an official Gateway of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and is home to the Frazier Museum at 829 West Main Street on historic Whiskey Row, which also serves as the KDA’s official Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center®.

BG Bakery Executive Pastry Chef Amanda Johnson said they are the state’s only bakery with a retail license to sell Bourbon by the bottle. “It’s our great pleasure to bring locally roasted coffee, artisanal breads and pastries, organic wines, and barrel select Kentucky Bourbons to the neighborhood we love,” she said.

“We look forward to being a place for Bourbon visitors to relax and refuel between tours while having the opportunity to show them what the team can do. We are excited to be an Official Sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour.”

BG Bakery Principal owner John Moore said, “We are honored to receive the designation for the BG Bakery as an Official Sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour. This will enhance our presence in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail attraction in collaboration with our local distilleries and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.”

“We are so proud of what we’ve built and we’re excited to share it with the world,” BG Bakery investor Chad Welch said. “We are proud to be an Official Sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience.”

For more information about the Butchertown Grocery Bakery, go to https://www.facebook.com/butchertowngrocery.

Kentucky Bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic and treasured industries, a thriving $9 billion economic engine that sustains more than 22,500 jobs. Bourbon-related tourism and hospitality jobs are vital to Kentucky’s economy.

Bourbon visitors took 1.5 million distillery tours in 2021 – down only 14% from the pre-pandemic record in 2019 of 1.72 million tours. Total attendance would have aset a new record in 2021 if not for distillery closure and tour limits due to Covid.

The KBT Craft Tour® set their own record in 2021 clocking in over 600,000 distillery stops – that’s a 35% increase from the previous 2019 record.

Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

Glenburgie 31 Years

1990 vintage single sherry butt for Connoisseurs Choice.

Glenburgie 31 Year Old 1990 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single first fill sherry butt #12524 bottled December 2021 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. 482 bottles.

Nose: Dark forest fruit notes complement clove spice and treacle. Toasted hazelnuts give way to rich stewed apples and charred oak.

Taste: Smooth morello cherry flavours interwine with dark chocolate and black pepper. A hint of liquorice develops alongside toasted almonds.

Finish: Full and long with mature oak and bitter marmalade.

Buy Glenburgie 31 YO »

£929.40

Glenburgie Distillery was originally established west of Forres in Scotland’s Speyside whisky region as Kilnflat Distillery by John Paul in 1829. Equipped with two pot stills until 1958 when two Lomond stills were installed and two differing malt whiskies were produced, Glenburgie from the pot stills and Glencraig from the Lomond stills. The Lomond stills were removed in 1981 and replaced with two pot stills. Glenburgie is now producing malt whisky from six pot stills primarily for Chivas blends. Whilst very little is released in official bottlings it is available from some independent bottlers including Gordon & MacPhail.

The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5

Matured in a stunning combo of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, and red wine casks before being bottled at 52% abv – this dram from the glorious Lake District is some real tasty stuff and putting English whisky right on the map!

🔥 Free delivery over £75 🔥

Nose: dark choc, red apples, shortbread, walnuts

Palate: papaya, brown sugar, coffee

Finish: smooth, sweet

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at the releases to date in the Seven Seals Zodiac range.

https://youtu.be/wcAdQbLtqxY

Ready, Set, Save…

This Sunday is a milestone for KWM, as it is Kensington Wine Market’s 30th Birthday. Our doors opened on Friday, May 15, 1992, two-and-a-half years before the provincial government fully privatized the sale of alcohol. We were founded by Nancy Carten, with the help of some investors, as a wine-only boutique, which operated independent from the government liquor stores.

$10 went a lot further in 1992 than it does today…

Over the years the business transitioned from a small neighbourhood shop to a world-renowned destination for wine, whisky and beer lovers. While it has grown and evolved, and our founder has retired, the shop is in good hands. We are still dedicated to our craft with a focus on service, selection and expertise, and we remain rooted in the community we call home.

As we do every year, we are celebrating another trip around the sun with our annual Birthday Sale. The sale starts at 10 AM today (Friday May 13) in-store, and is already live online. There are hundreds of wines discounted by 25% or more, and almost everything in stock is on sale!

Thank you for 30 great years!

Happy Hunting!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

The Deets!

The sale is online and in-store only. No phone orders, please.

You can save:

10-50% on most in-stock Whisky

To make your browsing a little easier, we have linked PDF files below highlighting Wines Discounted 25%-45%, and another for Whiskies & Spirits Discounted 15%-50%. The CSPC in the left-hand column on both lists can be used in addition to the product name to search for and order products on our website.

Browse Whiskies Discounted15-50%

Shop in-store or online at: 

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/ 

In-store pickup will be available throughout the sale and we will also offer Free Delivery for orders over $100. Customers wanting to pay by cash or debit are encouraged to shop in-store.

 The Sale Fine Print

·     No additional discounts or promotions can be applied to the sale price.

·     Prices do not include GST.

·     In the event of a discrepancy in price, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct.

·     Sale pricing will not be applied retroactively or carried forward past the end of our Anniversary Sale at midnight (11:59 PM), Sunday, May 15, 2022.

·     The sale is in-store and online only.

·     No phone orders, please!

·     If you order online, please wait for confirmation that your order is ready before heading down to the shop.

30th Anniversary Whisky Festival Night 1

(Night 2 is Sold Out!)

·     May 19, 2022

·     7 PM

·     $80.00

·     Only 10 Spots Left!

Our Fall and Spring Single Malt Festivals pre-Covid were – to say the least – a hot ticket. Often they would sell out so quickly that we felt compelled to offer a second night. And given that Covid isn’t completely behind us yet, it doesn’t feel right cramming 100 of our whisky friends into the shop just yet. Accordingly, we are offering two more or less identical 30th Anniversary Whisky Festivals, one week apart, for a smaller crowd than usual, to give as many of our whisky friends as possible a chance to attend. As always our neighbour Peasant cheese will be lining your stomachs with delicious cheese, charcuterie, sausage rolls, and other treats! Both Festivals are limited to 70 participants and are asking people to only register for one date or the other, and not both, out of respect for other customers. Thursday, May 19, 7 PM – 9 PM.

Archives Whisky with the Whiskybase Crew & Igor

How is this tasting not sold out? It includes 25 year old Balvenie!

·     May 20, 2022

·     5 PM

·     $75.00

·     Only 10 Spots Left!

Our Fall and Spring Single Malt Festivals pre-Covid were – to say the least – a hot ticket. Often they would sell out so quickly that we felt compelled to offer a second night. And given that Covid isn’t completely behind us yet, it doesn’t feel right cramming 100 of our whisky friends into the shop just yet. Accordingly, we are offering two more or less identical 30th Anniversary Whisky Festivals, one week apart, for a smaller crowd than usual, to give as many of our whisky friends as possible a chance to attend. As always our neighbour Peasant cheese will be lining your stomachs with delicious cheese, charcuterie, sausage rolls, and other treats! Both Festivals are limited to 70 participants and are asking people to only register for one date or the other, and not both, out of respect for other customers. Thursday, May 19, 7 PM – 9 PM.

FREE DELIVERY

We are proud to offer Free City Wide Delivery on all orders over $100 Monday-Friday!

Orders under $100 are subject to a flat rate $10 delivery fee.

We are expecting high demand for delivery after the sale so please be patient!

403-283-8000

Store Hours

Mon – Wed 10AM – 8PM

Thurs & Fri 10AM – 9PM

Sat 10AM – 8 PM

Sun 11PM to 6PM

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

Edinburgh Whisky Academy Takes Flagship Single Malt Diploma to New York 

Whisky enthusiasts and industry professionals in North America are set to benefit from in-person access to one of the most extensive whisky learning experiences available when Scotland’s Edinburgh Whisky Academy takes its flagship Diploma in Single Malt Whisky to Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn this September (Saturday 10 & Sunday 11).

The Scottish Qualifications Authority-certified diploma is the only one of its kind and is the Academy’s highest award.

Previously offered only in a two-day, face-to-face teaching setting near Edinburgh, the Academy launched the online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky in 2021 to increase access for brand ambassadors, sales staff, distillery staff and whisky enthusiasts across the globe.

While the online option is still available and popular, this New York date will offer a one-of-a-kind classroom environment for modules ranging from raw materials, batch distillation, maturation and world whiskies to a session on sensory skills. Two modules are delivered online upon purchase for self-study (the history of whisky and distillation and the business of whisky).

To achieve their SQA certificate, candidates take a final assessment that includes nosing and tasting nine different whiskies. A maximum of 25 people will be allowed on the course, taught by Edinburgh Whisky Academy lecturer, Vic Cameron, an experienced industry and teaching professional.

The Edinburgh Whisky Academy was founded in 2015 by Managing Director, Kirsty McKerrow, who has worked as a brand ambassador for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg and whose family is steeped in whisky heritage with her forefathers starting Mackinlay’s whisky in 1815. The Academy was created to fill what she felt was a significant gap in the Scotch Whisky education market and has since provided training for some of Scotland’s top distilleries and brand owners including The Macallan, Whyte & Mackay, Brown Forman and Diageo.

Kirsty McKerrow said: “We’re thrilled to be travelling to New York this September to teach the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky. Open to all, our first in-person stateside course will host up to 25 candidates at the Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn.   

North America is a key market for us. Over the past year, more than 1,000 candidates have accessed our courses from the region, with the vast majority studying online. To be able to travel and teach our flagship course in-person really complements our hugely accessible online offer and further strengthens our position as the go-to Scotch whisky educator.   

With the travel and hospitality industries finally opening again at scale, it seemed like the perfect time to take EWA across the Atlantic where we’ll hopefully meet with candidates – past, present and future – to share a dram and talk all things Scotch whisky.” 

Booking for the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (New York, 10 & 11 September 2022), which costs £1,100, is now available.

www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com

https://www.kingscountydistillery.com/

AUDL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH STILLHOUSE

DESIGNATED AS OFFICIAL WHISKEY OF THE AUDL   

Los Gatos, CA (May 9, 2022) – The American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) is proud to announce its new partnership with Stillhouse, America’s Finest Whiskey, made in the heartland of the USA. With its unique stainless-steel packaging, Stillhouse Whiskey chills quickly and reflects the unbreakable spirit, where good times go where glass can’t follow.

“We are very pleased to introduce our fans and followers to Stillhouse products and welcome them to the unbreakable nation” said Steven Hall, CEO and Commissioner of the AUDL. “As the Official Whiskey of the AUDL, we know that the unbreakable spirit of the Stillhouse community aligns well with the fun, inclusive and responsible values of Ultimate.”

“Stillhouse is so excited to be partnering with the AUDL,” said Ludlow Dawes, Stillhouse Senior Brand Manager. “The league’s growing fanbase will be an incredible addition to the unbreakable nation, and we can’t wait for fans to cheer on their favorite teams with our award-winning spirits.”

As a “Supporting Sponsor of the AUDL Game of the Week,” which can be viewed on FOX Sports 2 Saturday evenings this year, fans can look forward to enjoying Stillhouse products at select games throughout the season, including the 11th AUDL Championship Weekend, August 26 and 27 in Madison, WI.

About AUDL and Professional Ultimate

The American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) was founded in 2012 to introduce and showcase our talented athletes and precision play to a global audience.  The league will have 25 teams playing in the US and Canada in 2022. Each team competes in a 12-game regular season schedule, with top teams entering a playoff round and divisional winners advancing to a final four style Championship Weekend. Our audience enjoys our exciting, affordable, family-friendly events, devour our highlights and video features on social media and watch our full-length games on TV or streamed online on AUDL.tv. www.theaudl.com.

About Stillhouse 

Stillhouse® is an award-winning American-made spirits portfolio encased in one-of-a-kind, unbreakable 100% stainless steel cans that go where glass can’t. Forging a path that goes against the grain, Stillhouse® Spirits Co. was founded in 2016. From its inception, Stillhouse® has created a unique and differentiated platform in the spirits industry – from liquid to package – by defying industry norms, breaking through the monotony and all in a metal can that stands for the unbreakable spirit of America’s finest. Stillhouse® Whiskey is distilled in traditional copper stills then charcoal filtered for superior quality and taste, allowing the natural sweetness of the corn to shine throughout the mellow flavor and smooth finish that make this a truly versatile spirit. Stillhouse® whiskey is also available in Apple Crisp, Peach Tea and Spiced Cherry. All flavors are natural and gluten free. In 2018, Stillhouse® introduced Stillhouse® Black Bourbon and in 2019, the brand took the biggest spirits category head on with the debut of Stillhouse® Classic Vodka. Join the Unbreakable Nation by visiting www.Stillhouse.com.