Malt Messenger Bulletin – Only 1 Days Until Christmas, Gift Guide & New Whiskies
It’s has been a very busy fall and we are now into the homestretch of 2015. Christmas is just three days away and we are all looking forward to relaxing and sharing some Christmas Cheer!
While the holidays will soon be but a memory, the new whisky releases are still rolling in, including some exciting new exclusives for Kensington Wine Market. It seems our own excitement last week was infectious as 30 bottles of our beautiful new Berry Brother’s Miltonduff 1995 KWM Cask came in on Wednesday only to be gone by Thursday. Thankfully another 30 bottles are due in store tomorrow and we have a bottle open for sampling!
The Batch 12 releases of both Glendronach and BenRiach have arrived just in time for the holidays. Glendronach Batch 12 features whiskies from 11 to 43 years of age (they won’t last long) and many have already sold. Not to disappoint, we have squirreled away a bottle of each for a tasting in February. Sadly we did not get all 8 of the BenRiach Batch 12 releases, but the 5 we did get look really interesting. Distillery tasting notes on all of these Glendronach and BenRiach whiskies can be found below.
The Glendronach Hielan 8 Year is back in stock tomorrow. It is a feisty new addition to the Glendronach stable and very well priced. The 3rd peated 18 year old released this year by BenRiach has just arrived in store This one, called the BenRiach Latada, has been finished in Madeira wine casks. It’s a lovely compliment to the range that also includes the Albariza and Dunder (sold out).
We have some exciting new Signatory offerings, exclusive to KWM in Alberta, which include sherried 24 year olds from Mortlach and Bruichladdich as well as a very creamy Glentauchers. There are four new peated Edradours too, three of them bottlings from the Ballechin Discovery Series: #6 Bourbon, #7 Bordeaux and #8 Sauternes; each of which is matured in the cask type referenced. The Ballechin 10 Year is also in and a great buy, don’t believe me, we have an open sample bottle so you can decide for yourself.
We were also thrilled to learn that we would be getting the Ardbeg Supernova 2014 and Glenmorangie Companta back. Both were excellent malts and have been sold out for a while. The return of Supernova 2014 makes us feel a little better about Canada being passed over for this year’s release.
Finally, if you missed last Tuesday’s newsletter I have included our 2015 Malt Messenger Christmas Gift Guide. If you are in need of some last minute gifting ideas you’ll find plenty therein. I’ve also listed our 2016 Winter Whisky Tastings that still have room for registration. There are some really exciting events coming in the New Year! Scroll down for more details.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Slainté!
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
In This Edtion
1. Introducing Our New Berry’s Miltonduff 1995
2. New Exclusive Signatory Whiskies
3. Glendronach Batch 12 Vintages Are Here
4. BenRiach Batch 12 Vintages Are Here
5. New Ballechin Expressions
6. The Glendronach 8 Year The Hielan is Back
7. Introducing the BenRiach 18 Year Latada
8. Back to the Future: Ardbeg & Glenmorangie
9. KWM Winter 2016 Tastings
10. 2015 Malt Messenger Gift Guide
11. MS Calgary Whisky Festival
12. And More…
Introducing our New Berry’s Miltonduff 1995 KWM Cask
Less than 200 bottles of this very tropical new malt…
This cask came about serendipitous while analyzing casks for a corporate client. Bottled at 55% from an Ex-Bourbon barrel the whisky is very delicate, tropical and layered. I forgot just how good it was, and why I was so eager to acquire it for our store when I sampled it again for the first time a few weeks back. No one, let alone me wakes up in the morning and says, “I really want to bottle a cask of Miltonduff!” But we’re sure glad we did and you will be too when you sample it!
About Miltonduff Distillery: (Courtesy of Berry Brothers & Rudd): Miltonduff distillery was built to the south of Elgin in 1824 in the Glen of Pluscarden, a short distance from the eponymous Abbey ruins. In 1964 two Lomond stills were added producing a different of whisky which was known as Mostowie
Berry’s Miltonduff 1995 KWM Cask – 55% – Refill Bourbon Barrel – 174 Bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: beeswax and pineapple wedges, hintes of cedar and pine; Madagascar vanilla, canteloupes and not quite fully ripened mangos; decadent, fruity and floral with a hint of white pepper; Palate: frim but delicate and layered, very fruity and creamy; floral and sweet with loads of Madagascar vanilla and floral malt; more hot white pepper, oily oaky tones and fruits, loads of fruits: more mangos, canteloupes, mushy banana with juicy malt; Finish: decadent, layered and complex, lots of sugars, fading fruits and spices; Comment: it has been 5-6 months since I requested this cask and I forgot how good it is… dangerously drinkable! – $169.99
Order the Berry’s Miltonduff 1995 KWM Cask $170
New Exclusive Signatory Whiskies
Bruichalddich, Mortlach and Glentauchers Oh My…
We have had some exceptional single casks from Signatory in over the years. I’d love to claim that it has all been through pre-sampling or exceptional sleuthing on my part. I have had the chance to sample things in Scotland and then place and order, and from time to time I catch wind of an exceptional bottling that I’ll chase down. But the truth is it has been mostly been a combination dumb luck (educated guessing) and relying a high base level of quality on the part of the producer.
Signatory is a small independent bottler founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington. Symington also acquired the Edradour distillery, for a time Scotland’s smallest, in 2002. The Distillery located in the hills above Scotland’s scenic mountain town of Pitlochry, is also the headquarters for Signatory. The firms casks are all matured here and the company has its own onsite bottling hall. The firm is a labour of love for Symington, who is regularly found in overalls, working the stills, the bottling line or the warehouse.
1. Signatory Glentauchers 1994 – 48.8% – 18 Year – Bourbon Barrel #1398- 185 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: fresh, fruity and floral with beeswax candles and soft toasty oak; mixed berry fruits make way for freshly sliced apples and pears with geraniums and rose petals; Palate: very creamy, lush, beeswax and heather honey; the white and berry fruits are still there but overall this is just a silky-toasty american oak matured whisky with delicate floral top notes; Finish: light but long, creamy and coating with fading fruits, honey and floral malt; Comment: this is a pretty and decadent malt, a breakfast dram, or pre-bunch aperitif!” – $179.99
2. Signatory Mortlach 1990 – 56.5% – Sherry Butt #6079 – 590 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: nutty, leathery and earthy with the promise of rich spices; raisins, chocolates and dates emerge with a touch of licorice, orange peel and French roast coffee; Palate: deep, dark and fruity with lots of dried dark fruits: raisins, dates and figs; maple syrup and nutty chocolate fudge with a hint of chili oil and other hot spices; some leather and tobacco emerge with cold chewy bacon, showing the classic meaty-lightly-sulphury Mortlach style; Finish: medium weight but long in length with fading spices, leather and fruits.” – $289.99
3. Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 – 56.7% – 24 Year – Refill Sherry Butt #160 – 467 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: bakers chocolate and grilled prosciutto wrapped dates; Dutch licorice and firm new leather with a trace of sea salt and cracked pepper; Palate: rich, fruity and spicy; a leather pouch filled with pipe tobacco; raisins, dates and figs with dark chocolate shavings on a cappuccino and a stick chewy Australian licorice; cinnamon hearts and candied ginger with maritime elements and a sultry caramel sauce; Finish: big, rich and very fruity with fading leather and spices; Comment: this is a mature but bold and layered Bruichladdich, not your standard fare!” – $319.99
Glendronach Batch 12 Vintages Are Here!
And they won’t last long…
KWM is still the only store in North America to get at least a case of all of Glendronach’s semi annual vintage releases. Batch 12 has just arrived and you’ll notice the prices are creeping up. While it would be easy to blame this all on Whisky-Inflation, Glendronach is a brand that has been on a tear for a long time, the reality is the dollar is now having a big impact.
1. Glendronach 200 Cask 5524 – 57.8% – 11 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich prunes and oak spices combine with a grating of nutmeg and a delicate liquorice note. Palate: Soft treacle toffee and rich raisin juice infused with hints of cinnamon sugar and sweet floral oak spice.- $173.99
2. Glendronach 2003 Cask 934 – 53.7% – 12 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Golden sultanas drizzled in honey complement a rich back note of barley sugar and warm spices. Palate: A crisp citrus twist balances with roasted orchard fruits and sultana syrup. Hints of eucalyptus and gentle barley add to the soft, fruity finish.” – $174.99
3. Glendronach 1995 Cask 4034 – 55.4% – 19 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Demerara sugar and freshly ground barley grist sprinkled over sherry-poached pears. Palate: Vibrant candied peel adds an edge to the sweet apricot syrup. A dusting of cocoa leads to a delicate warmth of floral oak spices.” – $279.99
4. Glendronach 1995 Cask 3806 – 54.5% – 19 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Delicious rich dates and spiced chocolate complement dark cherries and hints of ground almond. Palate: Rich oak and cracked black pepper warm sweet spiced rum raisins. A combination of molten chocolate and cinnamon finishes the palate perfectly.” – $279.99
5. Glendronach 1995 Cask 444 – 52.0% – 20 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Crisp yellow plum compote infused with subtle orange blossom and a dusting of cinnamon. Palate: Torrents of golden syrup and fresh fruits combine in perfect harmony with rich oak spices and a delicate barley character.” – $279.99
6. Glendronach 1994 Cask 3273 – 53.3% – 20 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans combine with sweet dates and warm spices. Palate: A balance of creamy, rich sherry and classic Mediterranean fruit characters complement warm allspice and gentle oak nuances.” – $289.99
7. Glendronach 1994 Cask 3398 – 53.2% – 20 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Waves of rich molasses poured over sour plums and spiced by cracked black pepper. Palate: A sumptuous body of bitter chocolate and dried dark fruits backed by rich orange marmalade. Delicate waves of garden mint and soft clove oil follow in the classically long finish.” – $289.99
8. Glendronach 1990 Cask 1375 – 51.6% – 25 Year – Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Gentle floral notes run through orange bitters, dark fruit syrup and rich espresso. Palate: Dark prunes and dates dusted with vanilla sugar contrast with warming oak spices, developing to a rich, leathery vintage finish.” – $374.99
9. Glendronach 1972 Cask 706 – 51.1% – 43 Year – Pedron Ximenez Sherry Butt – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich sour plums and dark chocolate backed by a nutty tobacco note and a hint of clove oil. Palate: Sherried Christmas cake sweetened with a dusting of Muscovado sugar and mixed candied peel. A cigar box spice note and a classic European oak influence are infused through the robust, traditional palate.” – $2499.99
BenRiach Batch 12 Vintages Are Here!
And like Glendronach Batch 12 they won’t last long…
BenRiach has been a rising star for over a decade beginning in 2004 when it was acquired by Billy Walker and his team. Once or twice a year we eagerly await the release of their vintage single casks, and Batch 12 is about to arrive, sadly only 5 of the vintages were offered to our market!
1. BenRiach 1999 Cask 8687 – 56.1% – 15 Year – Oloroso Puncheon Finish – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Apricot jam and hints of chocolate toffee combine with crisp oak and a twist of lime. Palate: Chocolate-coated rum raisins and roasted coffee beans hold delicate hints of ground almonds and subtle orange bitters.” – $177.99
2. BenRiach 1998 Cask 6394 – 57.5% – 17 Year – Triple Distilled PX Finish / Pedro Ximenez Finish – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rich sultanas and orchard fruits drizzled with wildflower honey and warmed by red chilli spices. Palate: White pepper and crisp citrus notes soften to plum juice, followed by apple sponge dusted with fresh ground barley.” – $179.99
3. BenRiach 1987 Cask 3823 – 52.9% – 17 Year – Tawny Port Finish – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Crisp, freshly-cut ginger and wild red berries balance with nutty oak spices and sweet ground barley. Palate: Juicy cranberries infused with crisp citrus mellow to roasted red apples dusted with cinnamon and a touch of ground almond.” – $309.99
4. BenRiach 1979 Cask 517 – 52.9% – 27 Year – Peated Bourbon Barrel – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: White pepper, pineapple and mango chutney surrounded by the most delicate drift of campfire peat smoke. Palate: Floods of stem ginger syrup and vanilla combine with touches of papaya and ripe melon. A glimmer of herbal bog myrtle arises with the distant peat.” – $649.99
5. BenRiach 1976 Cask 541 – 46.9% – 35 Year – Peated Bourbon Barrel – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Soft waves of burning heather linger over golden apples, apricot syrup and hints of pineapple. Palate: Baked apples spiced with vanilla and cinnamon combine with gentle, sweet peat reek to create a long barley sugar finish.”- $849.99
New Ballechin Expressions!
Peated expressions of Edradour…
Ballechin is the name given to heavily peated Edradour single malt. It is named for a now closed distillery in the Southern Highlands near Pitlochry. Peated to 50ppm the whiskies generally have a clean ashy smoke character:
1. Ballechin 10 Year – 46% – Matured in ExBourbon & Sherry – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: a big surge of malt, Demerara sugars, leather and muddy peat; clean ashy smoke over pears and dried apricots; Palate: soft, creamy and malty with honeyed ashy smoke; more peaches and dried apricots with elements of both sherry and bourbon on the palate; buttery with a touch of chewy bacon with traces of maple syrup; Finish: long, tingling and smoky with fading peat oils, creamy oak and fruits; Comment: a very balanced and nuanced peaty malt!” – $116.99
2. Ballechin Discovery Series #6 – 46% – A very limited release matured in Ex-Bourbon barrels. – $149.99
3. Ballechin Discovery Series #7 – 46% – A very limited release matured in Bordeaux wine hogsheads. – $149.99
4. Ballechin Discovery Series #8 – 46% – A very limited release matured in Sauternes wine barriques. – $149.99
Glendronach 8 Year The Hielan
Young but feisty…
The Hielan’, Highland in the local Doric dialect, is an exceptional 8 years old single malt. This remarkable whisky has been matured and married in a combination of the -finest bourbon and sherry casks. Non chill fi-ltered, natural colour and bottled at 46%, the 8 Years Old The Hielan’ portrays all the traditional Highland characteristics associated with GlenDronach single malts.
Glendronach 8 Year The Hielan – 46% – American & European Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Rounded waves of orange blossom and a citrus twist flow over buttery, golden sultanas, sundried raisins and ripe yellow plums; all dusted with a touch of vanilla. Palate: Crisp, vibrant oak spices warm soaked sultanas, apricot jam and gingerbread; all rounded by delicate hints of butterscotch, cocoa and toasted almonds. Conclusions: Classic sherry overtones with a contrasting crisp dimension demonstrates the complexity of the traditional Highland character.” – $64
Introducing the BenRiach 18 Year Latada
Madeira Finished Peated Speyside Whisky…
Bottled at 46% after maturing in American Oak casks and finishing in Madeira casks. The whisky is named for the Latada, or traditional: “trellised vine system on the island of Madeira where the vines are laid out horizontally above the ground on low trellises.” Only 4001 bottles released world-wide with just 120 coming to Alberta!
BenRiach 18 Year Latada – 46% – Peated Madeira Finish – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Torrents of campfire peat smoke infuse heather honey and ripe pear. Hints of cantaloupe and candied citrus add to a luscious, crisp balance. Taste: A mouth-watering sweet peat character floods through delicious ripe fruit syrup. Dried apricots combine with warm oak spices and gentle citrus zest, giving a contrasting depth to the long finish.” – $146+GST
Back to the Future
The Glenmorangie Companta & Ardbeg Supernova 2014, exclusively from KWM…
They say you never look a gift horse in the mouth, and so when we were exclusivity offered stock of two very popular malts we’d sold out of over a year ago, who were we to question the opportunity. Back for a very limited engagement, Glenmorangie’s Private Collection Companta and the Ardbeg Supernova 2014.
1. Glenmorangie Companta – 46% – My Tasting Note: Nose: “Immediately a massive hit of butterscotch, leather, candied nuts, dark fruits, tobacco and chocolate; a little like a Negroni, with a very creamy and fruity base; Palate: dark and fruity, loads more candied nuts, dark spices like clove, anise and fennel, leathery and chocolaty with more tobacco and some tart Negroni-like notes; a big hit of Cherry Halls over some creamy honey and vanilla; Finish: long and a bit Halls like; more fading cherries, tart fruits and spices. – $114.99
2. Ardbeg Supernova 2014 – 55% – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Aroma: Intense zestiness of smoked lemons and pears, lemongrass and pine needles, embedded in a deep, resinuous, sticky waxy base. Taste: Distinctively peppery, spicy and electric. Powerful peppermint, antiseptic lozenges and other familiar, medicinal tones. Dark, dark birch tar intermingles with spicy-sweet chilli flavoured chocolate, while the entire mouth and palate are coated in luscious linseed oil. Finish: Rich flavours of tar, creosote, briar wood, spicy tobacco and liquorice root.” – $194.99
KWM Winter 2016 Tastings
Still a few spots in some exceptional Winter Whisky Tastings…
We’ve had to reinvent the wheel a little this winter, and on short notice too. Seems we, as with many other Alberta liquor stores, were not correctly interpreting the rules governing tastings. Our Burns Supper for example has had to be turned into a Free in store tasting… disappointing, but I’m sure many of you won’t be disappointed by a free event! Many of our tastings, like the first session of Classic Malt, Rare Malts and a few others have sold out, but there is still room in many others.
Some highlights in my opinion: Great Grains, a tasting featuring old and rare grain whiskies including a 52 year old, of which just 12 bottles are coming to Canada. The Glendronach Batch 12 Tasting (originally conceived of as a dinner) will feature 9 whiskies from 11 to 43 years of age! We are doing a Closed Distilleries Tasting, which will feature some increasingly rare whiskies and then there is also our first Speyside Whisky Festival, focussing on whiskies from the Speyside region. Lots to look forward to this winter! The following tastings all have spots remaining.
Kensington Wine Market 2016 Winter Whisky Tastings
1. MS Calgary Whisky Festival – Heading into its 5th year the 2016 MS Calgary Whisky Festival is slated to be the biggest and best yet with a variety of ticket packages and over 200 whiskies. Tickets are available through: www.calgarywhiskyfestival.com . Art Commons, 205 8 Ave SE. – $99
2. Gin Glorious Gin – Is gin your secret weakness? Don’t worry you aren’t alone! Gin is going through a “Ginnaissance” on an international scale. Join us for a taste test of the best. Tue Jan 19 – $25
3. Great Grains – We’ll sample a wide range of grain whiskies, some of them very old to see what all the fuss is about in this fast growing category. This tasting will include at least 1 40 year old and a 52 year old very rare Lochside single grain! – $60
4. Scots Wha Hae! – Arran Cask Release – Caledonians lament! On the cusp of our 10th Anniversary Burns Supper the event tragically has to change. I wonder if the Bard would be aghast to learn that bureaucrats have gotten in the way of a night of whisky, song and friendship. In compliance with AGLC regulations we have had to take the supper out of the Burns Supper. Robbie might be turning in his grave, but perhaps it will put him at ease to know we can still serve the whisky! The one not so insignificant change in detail, which Burns would almost certainly approve of, is that the event is now free. Join our special guest Miss Louisa Young of the Isle of Arran Distillery for a toast to Robert Burns and the launch of two new KWM casks. Mon Jan 25 – $FREE
5. Glendronach Batch 12 Tasting – Glendronach’s semi-annual releases of single casks have been getting more and more popular every year. We’ve saved one bottle each of the Batch 12 releases, the full range including the 1972, from 11 – 43 years of age! – $200
6.
Classic Cocktails: Gin – Join us for a deconstruction of gin based cocktails. We’ll teach you the basics of the spirit and how to make some flashy gin based drinks to impress your friends. Tue Feb 16 – $15
7. Closed Distilleries of Scotland – The whiskies are getting older, rarer and more expensive with every passing year. We’re not saying this is the last hurrah… just that as time runs out supplies dwindle and prices goes up. Thr Feb 18 – $200
8. Speyside Whisky Festival – Most of Scotland’s distilleries are found in the watershed of the River Spey. This whisky festival will highlight these drams and the distilleries they come from. Thr Mar 10 – $50
9. Asian Whisky Icons – We’ll highlight some world renowned whiskies from Japan, Taiwan and India and try to taste what all the fuss is about. Thr Mar 17 – $60
10. Master Malt – We pull out all the stops featuring whiskies that are very old, very rare and very pricey. This is a tasting that will never be repeated again. – $130
11. Classic Cocktails: Whisky – Join us for a deconstruction of whisky based cocktails. We’ll teach you the basics of the spirit and how to make some classic whisky cocktails to impress your most sophisticated friends. Thr Mar 29 – $25
12. Classic Malts – This is our “classic” introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made and sample six distinct styles. Fri Apr 1 – $40
To register, drop in, call us 403-283-8000 or register online!
KWM 2015 Christmas Gift Guide
Great gifts at all price points…
Kensington has one of if not the best whisky selection in Canada. To help you wade through the all the whiskies on our shelf and website we’ve distilled things down to some of our top pics.
Books Glasses and Other Accessories
1. Ardbeg 10 Year 50ml – Minis of one of Islay’s most beloved whiskies. – $8.49
2. Glencairn Glass – Easily “the” whisky glass, every whisky drinker needs one or better yet a set of these durable and elegant glasses. – $15.99
3. Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert by Davin de Kergommeaux – Paper back study on Canadian whisky by the world’s leading authority! – $23.99
4. Whisky: The Manual by Dave Broom – A great book about enjoying whisky, covering all styles and debunking some whisky myths. – $24.99
5. Malt Whisky Yearbook 2016 – Our favourite annual tome on whisky. – $33.99
6. Glenfarclas an Independent Distillery – The history of one of Scotland’s oldest family owned distilleries. – $49.99
7. World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom – Explores more than 200 distilleries and 400 expressions. – $49.99
8. Glencairn Cut Crystal Glass – A weightier and more beautiful cut crystal version of the world’s most popular whisky glass. – $49.99
9. Glencairn 2 Glass Gift Box – Two of the best whisky glass in the world in a beautiful gift box. – $54.99
10. Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom by Alfred Barnard – One of the most important books on distilleries in Scotland, and Ireland, written in the late 1800s. – $64.99
Gift Packs
1. Tomatin Gift Pack – 3x50ml – 12 Year, 15 Year & 18 Year – $24.99
2. Auchentoshan Classic Gift Pack – 3x50ml – American Oak, 12 Year & Three Wood – $25.99
3. Bowmore Collection – 3x50ml – 12 Year, 15 Year & 18 Year – $25.99
4. Bowmore 3x200ml Gift Pack – 12 Year, 15 Year & 18 Year – $64.99
5. Bruichladdich Wee Laddie Pack – 3x200ml – Laddie Classic, Islay Barley & Port Charlotte Scottish Barley – $74.99
6. Wee Whisky Gift Box – 7x50ml assorted premium whiskies, a great cross section of single malts and a Glencarin glass.
Produced in shop here at KWM! – $79.99
7. Benromach 10 Year with 2 Glasses – 2x Glencairn & Benromach 10 Year – $82.99
8. Benromach Tri-Pack – 3x50ml – Organic, Peat Smoke & 10 Year – $92.99
9. Glenmorangie 18 Year Golf Kit – Glenmorangie 18 in Golf Theme w/ 2 Glasses – $137.99
10. Tomatin Contrast – Two multi-vintage whiskies one American Oak one European Oak to compare and contrast! – $204.99
11. Scotch Malt Whisky Society Membership – So much more than a gift pack, it is the portal into the World’s Largest Whisky Club! – $220
Under $75
1. Forty Creek Confederation Oak – A perenial favourite Canadian whisky in our shop, creamy and spicy! – $65.99
2. Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt – A tropically fruity beast of a whisky, that is one of the best value buys in store! – $66.99
3. Benrheim Kentucky Wheat KWM Cask – Our exclusive cask of wheat whisky from Kentucky, think of it as Bourbon-light! – $69.99
4. Teeling Single Malt – A very well priced Irish single malt, from one of our favourite producers. – $69.99
5. Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve – One of our best selling whiskies and an Alberta exclusive, it is heavily sherried but elegant. – $74.99
Under $100
1. Glendronach 12 Year – A great entry level sherried whisky from our best selling distillery! – $75.99
2. Kilchoman Machir Bay – Big, creamy and peaty with lots of citrus, an amazing malt for it’s age! – $75.99
3. Arran 14 Year – Excellent value and great depth for a whisky of it’s age! – $79.99
4. EH Taylor Small Batch – We only see this Bourbon once a year, and we only get a tiny amount! – $94.99
5. G&M Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 2003 – A great smoky independent bottling at 46% from Islay’s most consistent distillery! – $99.99
Under $125
1. Hibiki Harmony – The first Suntory whisky in Canada in about 3 years has been a hit, A light but layered Japanese Blended Whisky. $105.99
2. G&M Glenturret 2000 – A sleeper hit this malt is a sherry bomb, and exclusive in Canada to KWM! – $109.99
3. Cadenhead Glengoyne 2001 – You don’t see too many independent bottlings of Glengoyne, but this one is a gem! – $109.99
4. Glenmorangie Companta – Yes, it is back and exclusive to KWM this time… One final flourish before it disappears forever! – $114.99
5. Amrut Bangalor Tiger Canadian Single Cask – Bottled exclusively for Canada this sherry forward Amrut blew us away! – $115.99
Under $150
1. Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1 – One of the most heavily peated whiskies in Scotland, this edition produced from Islay barley. $129.99
2. Kilchoman 2010 KWM Cask 440 – Our 4th exclusive single cask from Kilchoman is more classically Islay than the last one with a brash smoky style. – $139.99
3. Glendronach 2003 KWM Virgin Oak Cask 1750 – Our 6th cask of Glendronach is sherried like all the others, with a lovely silky backbone! – $139.99
4. Balblair 1999 – We weren’t sure what to expect from this one until it showed up in shop. Lots of candied fruit and malt! – $144.99
5. Cadenhead BenRich 1996 – Cadenhead Small Batch whiskies never seem to disappoint but this one was a real surprise, fruity and delicate! – $149.99
Under $250
1. Creative Whisky Company Glenturret 1994 – Talk about not seeing this one coming, the Clynelish was a hit and disappeared immediately. This one is just as good and a great price for a 21 year. – $159.99
2. G&M Glenrothes 1997 Quaich Cask – A lovely single cask bottled for a Calgary whisky club, this one will make you rethink Glenrothes! – $184.99
3. Ardbeg Supernova 2014 – Another surprise return, some other Province’s government didn’t want it… so it is all coming to KWM! – $194.99
4. First Editions Glen Garioch 1990 – A big bold whisky from Old Meldrum, lightly peated and sherry cask. A KWM Calgary exclusive. – $204.99
5. MacKinlay’s the Journey – The second edition of the very popular Shackelton range is back in stock. – $204.99
Under $500
1. Macallan 1824 Ruby – Rumour has it this whisky has been too popular, it might start getting rare. It is easily our favourite in the new range. – $269.999
2. Signatory Mortlach 1990 – Great buy for its age and strength, a quarter the price of the distillery bottling. – $289.99
3. Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 – Older Bruichladdichs are getting increasingly rare and hard to come by. Signatory seems to have found a vein with a few good older ones. – $319.99
4. Cadenhead Royal Brackla 1984 – Very floral, creamy and rich. You don’t see many older bottlings of Royal Brackla, let alone at 30 years and cask strength. – $434.99
5. Cadenhead Teaninich 1983 – Another rarity, this old Teaninich, which is a malt used almost exclusively for blends. – $439.99
Under $1000
1. G&M Rosebank 1991 – This was a hit at our tasting with Richard Urquhart a month ago. Rosebank bottlings are increasingly rare, and this one is lovely! – $649.99
2. Bowmore 23 Year Port Matured – Port finishes can be tricky, this Port Matured bottling is a winner and a really unique one off! – $659.99
3. Glenfarclas 1985 Family Cask – We sampled this recently and were blown away. Family Cask bottlings are getting more rare and expensive with every passing year. – $699.99
4. BenRiach 35 Year – One of a number of releases put our in BenRiach’s 10th year as an independent firm, and this is a gem with a lovely sherried component. Less than a dozen bottles in Alberta! – $909.99
5. Glenfarclas 1976 Family Cask – Another in Glenfarclas Family Cask line, know anyone born in 1976? Better to grab it now before the price goes up! – $999.99
Under $5000
1. Benromach 1976 – Pre-closure (1983) Benromach is getting rare, expensive and hard to come by. Fortunately the quality is holding up its end of the bargain! – $1099.99
2. G&M Glenlochy 1979 – Only the second Glenlochy we’ve ever had in store, very light, delicate and tropical. Glenlochy is one of the most seldom seen closed distilleries being bottled these days. – $1149.99
3. Glenfarclas 1966 Fino – The first in a range of six family cask bottlings, one for each of the Johns and Georges to own the distillery. – $1649.99
4. Blackadder Glen Esk 1983 30 Year – Even rarer still than the Glenlochy is Glen Esk and this one from Blackadder is a big sherried malt exclusive to KWM. – $1919.99
5. Bunnahabhain 40 Year – A beautiful malt and one of the highlights of our fall tasting schedule. We may just have the last bottle coming to Alberta! – $2899.99
Sky’s the Limit
1. G&M Glen Grant 1952 60 Year Diamond Jubilee – Only 2 bottles of this rare gem have come to Alberta, out of just 85 produced. Launched to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year as monarch, it is a 60 year old Glen Grant filled into cask days before her coronation. – $13,999.99
Please note in the event of a discrepancy in price the point of sale at Kensington Wine Market will be taken as correct.
**Inventory is available on a first come first serve basis.
MS Calgary Whisky Festival Tickets Now On Sale
Get em while their hot…
Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival. The event takes place at the Arts Commons (formerly Epcor Center) in the foyer of the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Thursday January 14, 2016. Last year’s event was a sell out with 500 tickets sold and excellent feedback from suppliers and participants alike. This year’s event is expected to grow to 600 participants, where we will be capping it moving forward. It is very important that we continue to offer the best possible quality of experience for our guests.
This 2016 event is expected to feature more than 200 whiskies from more than 70 distilleries around the world, mostly Scotland. Like the last two years events there will be three Master Classes (details to be announced in December) held during the evening as well as an early entry VIP Master Class with Dan Volway which will feature the full Highland Park Valhalla range: Thor, Loki, Freya and Odin. Participants with the VIP Master Class ticket will also get an extra 50 minutes in the festival room, after the tasting, before the rest of the participants arrive. As the VIP Master Class is limited to 40 participants we have also opened 60 VIP Early Admission Tickets which will give participants a full hour before the rest of the participants arrive. General admission will begin at 6:30PM and the event will run through 9:30PM. Tickets are now on sale on the www.calgarywhiskyfestival.com website, with the following available:
1. 40x VIP Ticket with Highland Park Valhalla Masterclass – $150 The Master Class Starts at 5PM and will run for 40min)
2. 60X VIP Ticket with 5:30 Entry – $125
3. 475x General Admission Ticket – $99
Three 40 minute Master Classes running from 6:00-9:30PM will be announced in early December!
Tickets are available exclusively through www.calgarywhiskyfestival.com.
Introducing our BenRiach 1996 KWM Cask 189
A big bold new Amercian oak matured BenRiach… exclusive to KWM!
We take great pride in selecting single casks to be bottled for our store, and this one is no exception. Our 5th exclusive cask of BenRiach it was distilled in 1996 and bottled this year at 54.8% after 19 years in a Bourbon Barrel. Only 189 bottles exclusively available from KWM! There is
BenRiach 1996 KWM Cask 189 – 54.8% – Bourbon Barrel – 189 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: creamy, toasty and very honeyed with bright citrus notes of lemon and orange; marzipan and melons, hot spices and barley sugars; thick and oily, though not enough to overshadow its more delicate nuances; Palate: bright citrus notes burst on the tongue with melons, creamed honey, toasted oak and wildflowers on a hot spring day; the decadence of the barley and oak is still there with the heat of hot spices: white pepper, cinnamon hearts and candied ginger; Finish: long, juicy and coating with more creamy, coating sugars, spices and citrus fruits; Comment: Bourbon meets Malt in this exceptional chewy Speyside dram. – $219.99
Order the BenRiach 1996 KWM Cask 189 $219.99+GST
Glendronach 2003 KWM Virgin Oak Cask 1750
A new twist on Glendronach…
We sell more Glendronach in our shop by a factor of two or three than our next best selling whisky, and it is no wonder why the whiskies are excellent quality and good value. The prices have been creeping up on Glendronach in recent years, but we still find them great deals. The virgin oak finished Glendronach is the 6th cask we have bottled from the distillery since the BenRiach Distillery Co. took it over in 2007. This is not your typical Glendronach, the virgin oak has given it a silkyness. We know you are going to love it… drop in for a sample!
Glendronach 2003 KWM Virgin Oak Cask 1750 – 54.5% – 12 Year – Sherry Matured Virgin Oak Finish – 228 Bottles (more than half sold) –
My Tasting Note: Nose: cola cubes and coconut icing start things off, with Dulce de Leche, silky caramel and Demerara sugars; the is orange, melon and chocolate strawberries there too; Palate: silky and warming with building spices, more Dulce de Leche, Highland Tablet, Demerara sugars and eventually the soft caramel; more cola cubes, chocolate strawberries and orange rind; the melons and more exotic tropical fruits are there but buried by the weight of the sherry and virgin oak notes; Finish: long, coating, creamy, fruity and decadent with sugars, spice and everything nice; Comment: this is not your typical Glendronach, while the sherry notes are there the virgin oak has lent a wonderful silkiness to the nose and palate; if you are looking for a sherry monster, keep looking, if you’re looking for a slightly different twist on Glendronach, look no further! – $139.99
Order the Glendronach 2003 KWM Virgin Oak Cask 1750 – $140
OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW KILCHOMAN SINGLE CASK
The best new peaty whisky in the shop…
In the 10 years since the distillery opened Kilchoman has made quite a name for itself. The distillery’s nearly flawless spirit and rigorous oak policy have ensured that their young whiskies can compete with the best in the world. Our previous three casks of whisky from this maverick Islay Distillery were all big hits and our 4th has just arrived. Distilled in 2010 and matured in an American Ex-Bourbon Barrel at 5 years of age it is another cracker! Only 221 hand numbered bottles are available at a cask strength of 60.4%.
Kilchoman 2010 KWM Bourbon Cask 440- 60.4% – 5 Year – ExBourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: fresh with big notes of marzipan, orange pith, toasty oak and sea salt caramel; underneath briny coastal notes begin mingling with tar and earthy smoke begin to develop; the are soft fruits too, Asian pear, honey dew melon and mango salsa; Palate: juicy, smoky and fruity there is immediately a lot going on: chewy malt, barley sugars; sea salt caramel, candied salmon and building earthy peat and dark spices; more Asian pear, mango salsa and a touch of melon, bright orange notes all atop a creamy base; the smoke is clean and firm but soft; sticky soft Panda brand licorice comes to the fore; Finish: refreshing, almost minty, with fading fruits, sugars, malt and smoke maritime flourishes; Comment: if you love peat, you are going to adore this one! – $140
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
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com
Owner & Operator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000