Greetings from Tuscany!
In case you are questioning what I’m doing right here, no, they don’t make whisky in Tuscany. At the least not that I do know of, although there’s a single malt distillery in Northern Italy, Puni. I additionally love wine, and it is a vital a part of my enterprise. The final time I used to be in Italy was 1995, and I used to be 17… After 18 years within the trade, and seven and a half as proprietor of Kensington Wine Market, this go to, quick although it could be, is greater than slightly overdue.
My subsequent vacation spot is Paris, for Whisky Stay Paris. I’m solely half-joking once I say that it’s the solely Whisky Stay value going to. I’ll admit I haven’t been to all of the Whisky Lives, however the Paris present is with out query among the best whisky exhibits on the earth. It’s been 3 years since I final attended, and I’m actually trying ahead to it.
After that, I’m off to Scotchland, with one in all my managers, Shawn Younger. We’ve got a jam-packed 5-day itinerary that may take us to Arran, Islay, and Campbeltown; removed from sufficient time to do the areas justice, however sufficient to get a style. Then we’re off to London for The Whisky Change’s “Whisky Present”. A rival with Paris for the perfect whisky competition, IMHO.
As promised final week, we had some information that didn’t appear applicable to share on the time, out of respect for Her Majesty’s passing. For one, the Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952 70 Yr Diamond Jubilee bottling has arrived. It didn’t make sense to proudly proclaim the arrival of a whisky honouring her 70 years on the throne, whereas her household and the British Commonwealth had been in mourning for her passing.
With the Royal funeral behind us, it additionally feels slightly extra applicable to share simply how good our Glenfarclas 1992 KWM thirtieth Anniversary Household Cask. Past good, really; actually, tremendous good! I’ve included my full tasting word and particulars on the best way to purchase a tasting pattern of the whisky. One thing we would begin calling a ‘Drample’.
We even have a variety of sought-after poll bottles to inform you about. The FOMO on these is bound to be nice, so there was no must rush their announcement. I’m nonetheless pondering ‘gradual whisky’ must develop into a factor. Technically there are two ballots: One is for the Ardcore Committee Version, and the opposite is usually Springbank with the Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2022 thrown in as a cherry on prime.
Provides are restricted, so set your expectations accordingly. For the Ardbeg Poll, you should be a Committee Member, which anybody could be with 5 minutes of free time and an internet-connected gadget.
For the opposite poll, you should be an present KWM buyer in our database, with at the least one prior buy of $0.01 or higher because the begin of 2020.
The largest information on this Malt Messenger is that we’re lastly prepared to start out taking orders for the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar. 25 Days of Dram Positive Whisky is again for the ninth yr in a row!
It took us slightly longer than standard to type out all the small print, however, we’re assured that we have now put collectively one other improbable journey of whisky discovery! Our early fowl pricing is in impact till October 5. Pay in full by that date, and you’ll save $60 on the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar!
Evan’s SMWS nook can also be again, with the September Outturn from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. And we’ve highlighted a number of the many actually cool upcoming tastings we have now, each in-store and on-line.
All that and extra on this version of the Malt Messenger.
As all the time, within the occasion of a discrepancy in value, the purpose of sale at KWM might be taken as right. On-line ordering and in-store buying are all the time our preferences.
As they are saying in Tuscany, and most of Italy for that matter… ciao!
Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market
1. Introducing: The Glenfarclas 1992 KWM thirtieth Anniversary Household Cask
2. Saying: The KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar & Early-Chicken Supply
3. Introducing: The Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952 Platinum Jubilee
4. Particular Function: North And South Star Tasting with Ian Croucher on September thirtieth
5. Evan’s Nook: SMWS Canada September 2022 Outturn
6. One other Combined Poll of Hyped-up Stuff
7. Ardbeg Ardcore Committee Poll
8. The Fall Tasting Schedule is Now Up
9. A Quick Checklist of Sale Bottles
INTRODUCING: OUR GLENFARCLAS 1992
KWM 30TH ANNIVERSARY FAMILY CASK!
I do know we talked about this within the final publication, however I assumed we must always give it its correct due…
We got the chance to pattern a couple of Glenfarclas 1992 casks final yr, to pick out one for bottling as a particular Kensington Wine Market thirtieth Anniversary launch. We had the privilege to bottle a 1997 Household Cask in 2011. As demand and costs for Household Casks rose over the past decade, I by no means thought we’d ever bottle one other.
Final summer season we had been proven some samples of Glenfarclas distilled in 1992, and supplied the chance to pick out one to assist us mark our thirtieth Anniversary. 1992 is, in spite of everything, the yr we first opened our doorways, and whisky from the early Nineteen Nineties is getting more and more scarce and costly. I by no means doubted for a second that we might discover a cask we favored, however moderately I fearful concerning the whole value of committing to a full cask of whisky from 1992.
After reviewing the samples, one of many casks clearly stood out; it was gorgeous. I knew at that second that we couldn’t probably move on the chance to bottle one other legacy bottling like this, and I believe that gamble has greater than paid off.
That is our eighth KWM unique bottling of Glenfarclas, and our second Glenfarclas Household Cask. The whisky was bottled on the twentieth of January, 2022, at 29 years of age, as a particular thirtieth Anniversary bottling.
Whereas not cheap, it’s, comparatively talking, an excellent deal: $100 lower than the Summer time 2021 Household Cask launch of 1992; and $240 lower than the present pricing for Glenfarclas 30 Yr. With the precise perspective, this whisky is, the truth is, a steal!
We’d wish to thank our mates at Glenfarclas, and their importer Pacific Wine & Spirits, for being such huge supporters of our humble enterprise over the past couple of many years. And likewise for giving us the chance to bottle whiskies like this which set us aside from our competitors!
Glenfarclas 1992 KWM thirtieth Anniversary Household Cask – 52.6% – 29 Yr – First Fill Sherry Butt – My Tasting Observe: “Nostril: huge, wealthy, and nutty with a great deal of candied fruit, chocolate, licorice, and treacle; that is old skool sherry, and really tropical… 5 Alive, mangos, papaya, and nectarines; fancy Italian leather-based; chilly tea dregs and Demerara sugars; a contact of menthol and eucalyptus. Palate: rattling… that is each bit as wonderful because the nostril implied it might be; soooohhhh old skool; a great deal of chocolate, clean leather-based, and fruity tobacco; sticky toffee pudding with heat treacle sauce; dried and candied fruits, cracked nuts and a aspect of Manzanilla sherry; nonetheless tropical, extra mango, papaya, and guava, but additionally some stone fruits too, plums and nectarines; decadent spices, licorice, anise, and candied fennel. End: lengthy, elegant, and wealthy; extra candied fruit, Christmas cake, treacle, and Aussie licorice; chocolate, leather-based and spices as well, that is the total package deal! Remark: I by no means thought we’d ever have a chance to purchase one other single cask of Glenfarclas; however slightly greater than a yr in the past we had been supplied some samples of 1992 Glenfarclas, for consideration as a thirtieth Anniversary bottling, and one in all them was gorgeous, we merely couldn’t flip the chance down; and better of all, the bottled product is pretty much as good or higher than the pattern we tasted in 2021; that is old-school, tropical, sherried whisky; it’s the form of whisky we don’t typically see anymore… and it’s wonderful; better of all, within the time it took to get right here, the whisky is trying like even higher worth than it did a yr in the past; you’ll by no means see one other whisky like this, at something approaching this value ever once more!” – $600
We’re additionally providing 15ml samples of the whisky on the market, to offer folks a chance to strive it before you purchase it… they’re linked to a tasting video. I’m toying with the thought of calling them Dramples!
Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30 Annv 15ml Pattern – $13.99
THE KWM 2022 WHISKY CALENDAR NOW
EARLY BIRD OFFER
Pre-Pay Early Chicken Particular Supply
Choose this feature should you want to save $60 on the common value of $460, by prepaying now in full (please word this can’t be mixed with different affords or reductions). You can be charged $400+gst once we obtain your order.
$400+gst
(no reductions)
EARLY BIRD PRICING OPTION ENDS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER fifth, 2022!
The KWM Whisky Calendar, aka “25 Days of Dram Positive Whisky”, is again for the ninth straight yr. As soon as once more the calendar can have a contemporary new look, which might be revealed in a couple of weeks’ time. This yr’s calendar contains 24 50ml premium whiskies, a customized emblem Glencairn glass, and a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky for Christmas Day. You possibly can observe together with us on the KWM Weblog beginning December 1st or on one in all our numerous social media channels as we introduce and talk about every day’s whisky. And there may be extra…
As a result of they had been such a giant hit the final two years, we are going to as soon as once more be internet hosting the Whisky Calendar Recap Tastings all through the month of December. Purchasers and recipients of the KWM 2022 Whisky Calendar will have the ability to be part of us for any or the entire 5 digital tastings on December 5, 10, 15, 20 and after Christmas on the twenty eighth, at 7 PM MT. Every of them will cowl the 5 earlier day’s whiskies within the Calendar.
We all the time maintain the precise whisky record a secret – there are too few surprises left on this life – however we can inform you this yr’s Calendar contains 3 KWM unique casks, a few whiskies of their 20s, and greater than a dozen distilleries and producers by no means earlier than featured in any of our prior Whisky Calendars. We’re assured that we have now put collectively one other improbable Calendar this yr, and we all know you’re going to adore it!
Better of all, if you choose the pre-pay preorder choice, you’ll save $60! This selection was very talked-about final yr, and fully offered out 2020’s authentic manufacturing in simply 2 weeks!
We anticipate the KWM 2022 Whisky Introduction Calendars ought to be prepared for choose up in early November. That’s, as long as all the things goes as deliberate, which, within the Publish-Covid Period, you’ll be able to by no means be 100% positive of. However we’ve deliberate accordingly, and ordered early from all of our suppliers!
INTRODUCING: THE GORDON & MACPHAIL
GLEN GRANT 1952 PLATINUM JUBILLE
That is the principle motive we held off placing out a full Malt Messenger final week, and the reasoning ought to be self-evident. Its significance could also be extra poignant in mild of her Majesty’s latest passing.
We had the privilege of launching this whisky’s sister bottling in 2012, the Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952 Diamond Jubilee 60 Yr. That whisky was stuffed into cask just a few days earlier than the Queen’s coronation and bottled at 60 years to the day. The 70 Yr was stuffed earlier in 1952, on January twenty sixth to be particular, which is of no significance, aside from it was precisely 26 years earlier than I used to be born. It was bottled on the anniversary of the coronation, February 6, 2022.
From Gordon & MacPhail
“Honouring the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Gordon & MacPhail Personal Assortment 1952 from Glen Grant Distillery has spent the previous 70 years maturing in a primary fill Sherry cask. It was bottled on sixth February, the date of the Queen’s accession, and serves as a becoming tribute, exemplifying how character, endurance and knowledge can mature over many years to ship an distinctive legacy.”
Gordon & MacPhail M Glen Grant 1952 Platinum Jubilee 70 Yr – 52.3% – First Fill Sherry Butt – Notes of beeswax polish give method to ripe fig aromas, toffee and orange zest. Aged leather-based tempers rum and raisin. Style: Stewed blackberry compote, candy clementine and milk chocolate flavours are adopted by a menthol undertone. End: A protracted end with a contact of smoke and a touch of pepper.” – $35,000.00
SPECIAL FEATURE: NORTH AND SOUTH STAR WHISKY TASTING WITH IAIN CROUCHER ON SEPTEMBER 30TH
Often, we might put this tasting in with the remainder of our Fall Tasting Schedule launch, which you’ll have already perused in final week’s e mail. Nonetheless, we had been late getting the knowledge on this in-store tasting up and it’s occurring in 10 days.
In case you are not but acquainted with North Star Spirits (and South Star), that’s comprehensible. Past being a more moderen unbiased bottler (based in 2016) that has shortly developed a repute for stable releases (together with a couple of very good older grains and spectacularly sherried blended malts), what makes it so attention-grabbing?
Take part on this tasting and ask that query on to North Star Spirits founder Iain Croucher, who’s coming to Kensington Wine Market to guide this tasting. He’ll lead those that attend via a powerful lineup that features a splendidly citric, grassy, and fruity 26-year-old Tobermory, a HEAVILY sherried 13-year-old Glenallachie, and the well-known 7-year-old blended malt that was bottled to help Ukraine.
When you handle to maintain your wits about you throughout the tasting, you can additionally ask Iain about his firm’s plans to construct their very own distillery, and why the heck he thinks placing it in Campbeltown of all locations is a good suggestion.
The tasting is going on on Friday, September thirtieth @ 7 PM at Kensington Wine Market and is proscribed to twenty seats.
Reserve your spot for less than $30
Hopefully, we are going to see you there!
-Evan
EVAN’S CORNER:
SMWS CANADA SEPTEMBER 2022 OUTTURN
Andrew wrote up the August Outturn a couple of Malt Messengers again, however now you’re as soon as extra caught with my ramblings! Beneath are my ideas on the September Outturn.
Placing worm within the title of a whisky bottle appears misplaced – till you understand it could be a touch as to which distillery the whisky comes from. Suppose Worm Tubs – a bit of know-how from a bygone period that just a few Scottish distilleries proceed to make use of.
This bottle was the primary within the lineup and shocked many with its concentrated flavour. It’s no shrinking violet, although there are some great floral notes to be discovered all through.
10.229 – MEXICAN MIXED PEBBLES
That is what I consider as atypical on the subject of Bunnahabhain. Often, indie bottlings of Bunna round this age are both unpeated and closely sherried or closely peated from ex-Bourbon casks. That is a kind of uncommon bare and extra refined Bunnas that’s unpeated and aged in ex-Bourbon. It makes for a salty, floral and fruity deal with with a touch of spice and ozone. You possibly can style the coast on this one, however with out the smoke or sherry mucking all of it up.
105.40 – THE SWEET KISS OF LEATHER SPLINTERS
With a whopping ABV of 66.2% you’d assume this dram would pummel your nostril from the primary sniff and decimate your tongue upon tasting, however even neat you’d be improper. Whereas it is a very concentrated spirit, it is usually remarkably effectively balanced for one thing doubtlessly flamable. The mixture of natural, nutty and fruit notes made this uncommon younger Tormore one in all my favourites of the night time.
36.185 – AN ITALIAN GRAPE CAKE
This 18-year-old Sauternes cask end from Benrinnes managed to take to the dessert cask fairly properly, with notes of spice and nuts and a nostril that hints at Limoncello. A scrumptious dram and the oldest whisky within the Outturn.
Doable relation to Tom Cruise? Nobody can say for positive. What is understood is that it is a 10-Yr-Previous SINGLE MALT Batch bottled at 50% ABV. The batch is created from ex-Bourbon barrels and ex-Ruby Port Pipes. This can be a juicy and wealthy dram for 50%.
My solely challenge with it’s self-inflicted: I put this too late within the tasting order. In hindsight, I ought to have had it within the third spot or probably even the second. Stay and study!
44.149 – THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM
Talking of worms and worm tubs, this Oloroso cask end Craigellachie shocked me by not having the hit-you-over-the-head meatiness that appears typical of whisky from this distillery – particularly when it combines with sherry casks. As an alternative, it’s an intriguing mixture of each tropical and dried fruit notes together with nuts and spices. Like THE SWEET KISS OF LEATHER SPLINTERS, it is a great dram that exhibits poise and stability regardless of carrying huge flavour and alcohol degree.
If there may be one draw back to being a member of the Canadian chapter of the SMWS, it needs to be that we don’t get a Ledaig each single Outturn. The identical goes for Loch Lomond and Glen Moray. And Bunnahabhain. Oh, and peated Glenturret. Clynelish. Glen Elgin. Teaninich…
I assume what I’m actually complaining about is that we solely get seven new drams every month. Anyhow, again to this 42. I used to be excited once I noticed this was going to be within the September Outturn and couldn’t wait to style it. It undoubtedly didn’t disappoint (until your title is Curt, who believes Ledaig nearly all the time smells like a tire fireplace filtered via a pair of outdated knickers…when he’s being beneficiant together with his reward, that’s) and comes throughout like a mixture of Caol Ila and Laphroaig. High quality-wise, this bottle is up there with the small quantities of single cask teenage Ledaig we have now seen from The Single Malts Of Scotland, Relaxation & Be Grateful, LMDW, The Whisky Company, and extra. Could the teenage Ledaig by no means cease flowing! Nonetheless, this man is just about offered out.
Cheers,
Evan
ANOTHER MIXED BALLOT
We’re protecting a number of the different poll phrases, situations, and strategies from prior choices:
1. So long as your title is in our buyer database, and also you’ve spent greater than $0.01 at KWM since January 1, 2020 (greater than 2 1/2 years), you’re welcome to enter this poll.
2. You might be welcome to enter your title for just one, or the entire whiskies on the poll, however please word we can not accommodate preferences; please don’t enter the ballots for any bottles you don’t intend to truly buy.
3. We might be making an effort to verify as many individuals as doable get at the least 1 bottle of one thing, accordingly, nobody might be chosen to buy greater than one of many bottles on supply.
4. Don’t be a dick… please don’t enter the poll for any bottles you may have already acquired elsewhere or which you propose to flip for a revenue proper after choosing them up. Discuss with my intro should you want extra context on this.
5. In case your title is drawn you’ll be billed or contacted to your cost information inside 1 week of the poll closing.
6. Don’t name or e mail us asking should you had been chosen for a bottle, please wait till you hear from us!
7. Please don’t submit greater than 1 entry, or enter the poll with an alias, on behalf of your partner, kids, roommate, canine, or teddy bear. We aren’t silly. If we really feel you are attempting to extend your probabilities of successful, you might be disqualified.
8. The poll closes at midnight, Friday, September 30.
*PLEASE DON’T EMAIL ASKING TO BE ENTERED IN THE BALLOT. YOU MUST DO SO YOURSELF. EMAIL REQUESTS WILL BE IGNORED!
On this poll:
1. Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2022 – 46% – Producer Description: “The 2022 Version was matured in oloroso sherry butts for no less than eight years. The 22 casks chosen are a mixture of 20 contemporary and a pair of refill casks. Producer Tasting Observe: “Nostril: Intense candy pipe smoke, adopted by waves of freshly reduce strawberries and candied lemon peel. Lighter notes of Neroli (orange blossoms), comfortable toffee and cloves. Palate: An preliminary word of darkish chocolate and toasted walnuts, mild tobacco smokiness, hints of caramel and dates accompanied by refined warming peat smoke. End: Lengthy and evolving with cinnamon and liquorice wooden, chocolate bitters and lingering earthy smoke.” – $137+gst – Accessible for buy solely by poll!
2. Springbank Hazelburn 15 Yr 2022 – 54.2% – Producer Description: “The yearly launched Hazelburn Sherrywood vary supplies a stark distinction to the absolutely Bourbon matured Hazelburn 10 yr outdated. Matured in 100% Oloroso Sherry casks, this 15-year-old launch is a posh, full-bodied dram.” Restricted launch of solely 9,000 bottles. Producer Tasting Observe: “Nostril: Zesty orange and tangerine notes provoke this dram, opening as much as hints of milk chocolate, wine gums and fruit cake. Palate: The Oloroso maturation presents itself in notes of cinnamon, arduous toffee and milk chocolate. There’s a musty factor paying homage to cigar packing containers and nutmeg. End: The cinnamon word persists, with notes of gingerbread and floor pepper creating within the end.” – $145+gst – Accessible for buy solely by poll!
3. Springbank Hazelburn 21 Yr 2022 – 46% – Producer Description: “This Hazelburn 21-year-old was launched in June 2022, with 3600 bottles obtainable. Sturdy but delicate, there’s a complexity to this triple distilled providing.” Cask make-up: 70% Sherry, 30% Bourbon. Restricted launch of solely 3,600 bottles. Producer Tasting Observe: “Nostril: A daring introduction to this dram, there are notes of caramel, treacle and sticky toffee pudding. Creamy chocolate liqueur and hints of ginger add to the punchy nostril. Palate: A triple distilled dram with a strong palate, there are notes of creamy marzipan, prunes and choux pastry, balanced with a bitterness paying homage to darkish chocolate. End: A creamy mouthfeel with hints of sandalwood and liquorice spherical off this dram. – $490+gst – Accessible for buy solely by poll!
4. Springbank Longrow 23 Yr 2022 – 58.1% – Sadly, there aren’t lots of particulars floating round for this one. That’s typically the case for single cask bottlings. What we do know is that this was bottled in 2022 after maturing in a Refill Sherry Butt for 23 years. So…a 1998 or ’99 classic we’d guess? Restricted launch of solely 546 bottles. Whiskybase rating of 90.43/100 – $620+gst – Accessible for buy solely by poll!
5. Springbank 30 Yr 2022 – 46% – Producer Description: “This restricted launch is an ideal encapsulation of Springbank’s character; candy and syrupy with a waxy mouthfeel, this 30-year-old is definitely worth the wait.” A wedding of Bourbon/Sherry. Restricted launch of solely 1,400 bottles. Producer Tasting Observe: “Nostril: Characteristically Springbank on the nostril, tropical fruits dominate with notes of pineapple, tangerine and peach, and a vanilla word creating over time. Palate: Candy, citrusy notes of lemon and tangerine are distinguished on the palate, complemented by the fragile peat smoke affect. There are notes of opal fruits, sherbet sweets and turkish delight, together with hints of coconut. End: The tropical fruit notes carry via to the end, together with a waxy factor and notes of mint leaf to spherical off this dram.” – $2000+gst – Accessible for buy solely by poll!
Enter The Combined Poll Right here
ARDBEG ARDCORE COMMITTEE BALLOT
*PLEASE DON’T EMAIL ASKING TO BE ENTERED IN THE BALLOT. YOU MUST DO SO YOURSELF. EMAIL REQUESTS WILL BE!
As with all restricted version Ardbegs nowadays, this whisky is just obtainable by poll.
Producer Description
“From a Distillery with extra ups and downs than a pogoing punk comes Ardcore. Created with roasted black malt, roasted to the acute, this spirit is all about what occurs up entrance – centre stage. The malt is what defines its distinctive profile. Described as tasting like ‘biting on a spiky ball’, Ardcore is a dram that wears its coronary heart on its sleeve… its black coronary heart! Notes of charcoal and candy smoke make for an in-your-face nostril, whereas potent notes of aniseed and darkish chocolate stamp this bottle out as one match just for probably the most Ardcore of followers.”
Ardbeg Ardcore Committee – 50.1% – Producer Tasting Observe: “Nostril: Spicy and savoury, Ardcore grips the senses with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused espresso grounds making for a mosh pit within the glass. Like a security pin via the septum, a basic Ardbeg natural prime word is current, whereas swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage. Style: A jaw-dropping spicy and fiery mouthfeel results in an explosion of wealthy, smoky flavours – cocoa powder, darkish chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers all pogo in unison on the palate. Amped up aniseed and malty biscuit elbow their method to the fore, punkturing style buds. End: In an altogether sweeter end, lengthy, lingering notes of treacle toffee, soot and smoke make for an anarchic, however scrumptious, aftertaste.” – $185+gst – Accessible for buy solely by poll!
Enter The Ardbeg Ardcore Committee Poll Right here
UPCOMING TASTINGS
Our Fall Tasting Schedule is coming quickly, however within the meantime, listed here are a couple of occasions to entertain and delight you!
North & South Star Whisky with Iain Croucher
· Date: Friday, September 30
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $30
· That is an in-person tasting!
Iain Croucher, the person behind North Star and South Star whiskies, in addition to the approaching new Dál Riata Distillery in Campbeltown, is coming to city for the primary time, so we’re rolling out a tremendous vary of malts. We’ll pattern 8 expressions of North & South Star whisky, together with the Blended Malt for Ukraine, a 13-year-old moderately sherried GlenAllachie, and a 26-year-old Tobermory. A steal for $30.
Friday, September 30 @ 7PM.
SMWS October 2022 Digital Outturn
· Date: Wednesday, October 5
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $55
· This can be a VIRTUAL TASTING!
Log in, pour your drams, and be part of us from residence, the seashore, or the woods for the October 2022 Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada Digital Outturn Tasting. The KWM workforce might be your information as you pattern via an thrilling vary of seven new, never-before-sampled SMWS whiskies. Wednesday, October 5, 7 PM.
*Lively SMWS Members will Save $10 on one set of samples for the tasting. For the $10 low cost, particular person SMWS members should register independently. The worth won’t present on-line while you submit however might be adjusted once we overview and course of the order.
Wednesday, October fifth @ 7 PM
SMWS October 2022 In-Particular person Outturn 6 PM
· Date: Thursday, October 6
· Time: 6 PM
· Value: $60
· That is an in-person tasting!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada’s October Outturn tasting will characteristic new, never-before-featured whiskies. The vary would be the similar because the digital tasting the night time earlier than however may also embody nibbles from our mates at Peasant Cheese, and the comradery that may solely come from 20 SMWS Members in our tasting room. Please word we won’t be holding again inventory of the Outturn bottles particularly to buy for this in-person tasting, although there’ll seemingly be bottles of most whiskies nonetheless obtainable.
Thursday, October 6 @ 6 PM.
Amrut Whisky with Ashok Chokalingam
· Date: Friday, October 7
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $55
· That is an in-person tasting!
Our buddy Ashok is returning to Calgary for the primary time in a lot of years and we’re thrilled to have him in retailer for an in-person tasting. Rather a lot has modified since we final noticed Ashok, he’s now Amrut’s Distillery Supervisor. We are going to pattern 7 Amrut expressions, together with, if the celebs align, a particular deal with.
Friday, October seventh @ 7 PM
OLD first MALT version CASKs
· Date: Tuesday, October 11
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $50
· Digital Tasting
Now that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Excuse the cheek, however we really feel that is going to be an superior tasting! We’ve lately acquired a curious new vary of Previous Malt Cask and First Version whiskies from our mates at Hunter Laing. The tasting will embody 7 single cask whiskies from Ben Nevis, Glenburgie, Highland Park, Jura, Linkwood, Miltonduff, and Royal Lochnagar. All in all, we are going to dabble in 141 years of single malt Scotch whisky.
Tuesday, October eleventh @ 7 PM
KWM Casks Bruichladdich Cask Launch – In-Retailer Tasting
· Date: Thursday, October 13
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $50
· That is an in-person tasting!
We’ve in some way managed to maintain a lid on the truth that we have now had a brand new KWM unique Bruichladdich cask quietly slumbering up at our warehouse for months. Because of our favorite Bogyman – “Provide Chain Points” – we have now acquired no fewer than a dozen single casks within the final 3 months; a typical yr’s value. One of many final of the dozen casks to reach, we made the choice to carry the Laddie again for a Fall launch to offer a few of our different casks an opportunity to shine. Along with being the primary customers to pattern our new Bruichladdich cask, tasting contributors may also have the chance to pattern our prior Bruichladdich cask and a choice of 5 different latest KWM single cask bottlings. If historical past is any information, this Bruichladdich cask gained’t final lengthy. So the icing on the cake for many who attend our digital or in-person tasting is that they may have a chance to buy a bottle every week earlier than another customers!
Thursday, October thirteenth @ 7 PM
KWM Casks Bruichladdich Cask Launch – Digital Tasting
· Date: Friday, October 14
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $40
· Digital Tasting
Similar as above, however Digital. From the consolation of your personal residence!
Friday, October 14th @ 7 PM
Shelter Level Returns with Chris Learn
· Date: Tuesday, October 18
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $20
· That is an in-person tasting!
Considered one of our favorite Canadian Distilleries, Shelter Level, has been on a little bit of a hiatus from Alberta in latest months. Now they’re coming again, and in tremendous type too, with new whiskies, a brand new model ambassador, and a brand new importer. Model Ambassador Chris Learn might be our information as we pattern via 7 Shelter Level whiskies, together with the soon-to-be-released Evans Household Reserve, and Shelter Level 10 Yr.
Tuesday, October 18th @ 7 PM
Rye Not Rye? Digital Tasting
· Date: Tuesday, October 20
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $40
· Digital Tasting
If all you understand of Rye is Crown Royal, we’re sorry (largely as a result of we imagine Rye Whisky ought to really comprise…effectively…rye; absurd, proper?). Rye is making a comeback and as a metropolis that’s residence to among the best Rye producers on the earth, we aren’t strangers to good old school (not the cocktail) near-100% Rye whiskies. Fortunately an increasing number of persons are leaping on the rye practice and the flavours are vastly totally different even when the mash payments are the identical. Canada has very loosey-goosey guidelines on the subject of what makes Canadian Rye Whisky, different nations have extra agency guidelines on how Rye Whisky could be made and we wish to share these with you. Concord and Evan are proud to current a lineup of near-100% Rye-based whiskies which are positive to knock your boots off.
Tuesday, October twentieth @ 7 PM
Glenfarclas KWM thirtieth Anniversary Tasting with Deborah Stewart – 6 PM & 8 PM
· Date: Tuesday, October 25
· First Seating Time: 6 PM
· Second Seating Time: 8 PM
· Value: $40
· These are each in-person tastings!
Glenfarclas’s Deborah Stewart might be our particular visitor as we have fun the launch of our Glenfarclas 1992 KWM thirtieth Anniversary Household Cask with an unbelievable vertical tasting. We are going to pattern the Glenfarclas 15, 21, 25, 30, and 40-year-olds, in addition to the KWM Cask Power 21 Yr and our new 1992 Household Cask. In all, 181 years of liquid historical past for simply $40!!!
Tuesday, October twenty fifth @ 6 PM andTuesday, October twenty fifth @ 8 PM
Kinda Uncommon & Previous Whiskies: 20 is the brand new 30
· Date: Wednesday, October 26
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $150
· Digital Tasting
It’s best to know the drill by now: the massive man has recognized a variety of whiskies he needs to style, and the vary is unlikely to disappoint. This time round we have now a variety of 8 whiskies: 6 of their twenties and a pair of of their early thirties. We’ve got a trio of outdated Edradours, a pair of Millstones distilled within the Nineteen Nineties, a Gordon & MacPhail Miltonduff from 1989, and OB single casks of BenRiach (1997) and GlenDronach (1990). In whole, you’ll get pleasure from simply shy of 200 years value of single malt whisky!
Wednesday, October twenty sixth @ 7 PM
Lavatory v. Bodega: Peat Monsters & Sherry Bombs
· Date: Thursday, October 27
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $80
· That is an in-person tasting!
Peat and sherry are unquestionably the massive weapons within the whisky world. Whereas these are arguably probably the most polarizing types of whisky on the market, they’re additionally far and away probably the most in demand. The theme for this tasting is elegantly easy: dark-sherried beauties meet daring smoky beasts. From the bodegas of Jerez to the peat banks of Scotland, we’ll work our method via a number of the most intense flavours on the spectrum. Although not a tasting for the faint of coronary heart, Curt has pulled collectively some particular bottles for this vary!
Thursday, October twenty seventh @ 7 PM
Boutique-y North-West Euro Specific w/ Dave Worthington
· Date: Saturday, October 29
· Time: 5 PM
· Value: $50
· Digital Tasting
Are you able to consider a greater method to spend an early Saturday night in October than geeking out on whisky with Boutique-y Dave and the KWM crew? We’ve got chosen 8 whiskies for the tasting, launched as part of Boutique-y’s North-West Euro Specific. The vary highlights single malts, ryes, and a buckwheat spirit (that may’t legally be referred to as whisky) from North West European Distilleries. We’ll be sampling drams from Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Saturday, October twenty ninth @ 5 PM
Glenfarclas Household Casks 2021 – The Nineteen Nineties
· Date: Tuesday, November 1
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $100
· Digital Tasting
On the one hand, this tasting was an excellent alternative for us to characteristic our new Glenfarclas 1992 KWM thirtieth Anniversary Household Cask… But it surely additionally has the additional benefit of permitting us to pattern a number of the wonderful Summer time 2021 Glenfarclas Household Casks we acquired within the Spring. There have been too many to suit into one tasting, so we broke them down into the 1990 and the 2000s. This tasting will characteristic the next S21 vintages: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998; in addition to our personal unique 1992 cask.
Tuesday, November 1st @ 7 PM
Elixir Distillers Single Casks w/ Celine Tetu
· Date: Friday, November 4
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $50
· That is an in-person tasting!
Elixir Distillers has develop into one in all our greatest companions lately, and so they maintain feeding us some completely wonderful single casks. The newest batch was chosen within the Winter or Spring of 2021, however attributable to all of the challenges round logistics nowadays, they solely simply arrived within the late Spring! We did a model of this tasting in the summertime with Elixir Distiller’s Celine Tetu, and now she’s coming to city, so we’ll characteristic the identical vary in-store. Visitors will pattern 7 Single Malts of Scotland bottlings, with 6 of them being cask energy, single cask whiskies. Individuals will strive the 4 most up-to-date KWM casks: Ardmore 11 Yr, Glenburgie 22 Yr, Imperial 22 Yr, and Mannochmore 13 Yr, and three others: Ben Nevis 1997, Linkwood 11 Yr, and Reserve Casks Glencadam 10 Yr.
Friday, November 4th @ 7 PM
…By Any Different Title: Secret Whiskies from Not So Secret Distilleries
· Date: Tuesday, November 8
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $40
· Digital Tasting
“What’s in a reputation? That which we name a rose by another title would odor as candy.”
Slightly little bit of Romeo and Juliet for you, of us. However what’s in a reputation? We sorta assume that’s a subject for group dialogue. And a dialogue is sort of all the time extra pleasing over a couple of drams (that is incontrovertible reality). There are a couple of distilleries in Scotland which are very protecting of their model. There are others that merely produce a handful of in-house types beneath totally different names. In each instances, we regularly discover labels that make us second-guess our distillery data. For this occasion, we’ll be tasting a couple of very well-known distilleries bottled beneath some very totally different names. We’ll inform some tales and possibly even speculate a bit in some instances. Be part of us for a night of sipping, sleuthing, and secret revealing. Curt was actually enthusiastic about this vary, and we will guarantee you it gained’t disappoint.
Tuesday, November eighth @ 7 PM
Fall Single Malt Pageant – Night time 1 & Night time 2
· Date 1: Tuesday, November 10
· Date 2: Tuesday, November 24
· Time: 7 PM to 9 PM
· Value: $75
· That is an in-person competition tasting!
As we did within the Spring for our thirtieth Anniversary, we’re providing two more-or-less an identical Fall Single Malt Festivals, two weeks aside, each for a reasonably smaller crowd than standard, to offer as a lot of our whisky mates as doable an opportunity to attend. There might be as much as 100 whiskies to pattern, and the value features a thirtieth Anniversary KWM emblem glass. As all the time, our neighbour Peasant cheese might be lining your stomachs with scrumptious cheese, charcuterie, sausage rolls, and different treats! Each Festivals are restricted to 80 contributors and we’re asking folks to solely register for one date or the opposite, not each, out of respect for different clients.
Thursday, November 10, 7 PM – 9 PM & Thursday, November 24, 7 PM – 9 PM.
Boutique-y Cool & Uncommon Whisky w/ Dave Worthington
· Date: Saturday, November 12
· Time: 5 PM
· Value: $70
· Digital Tasting
This can certainly be some of the enjoyable ranges we pattern with Boutique-y Dave. It contains 4 lately launch That Boutique-y Whisky Co. Blends at 22, 32, 42 and 52 years of age! The final one is an actual curiosity, as having fallen under 40% it isn’t legally whisky… however it will likely be attention-grabbing to strive! To spherical out the lineup we’re including Ledaig 21 Yr, Allt-A-Bhaine 23 Yr, and a teaspooned presumably Glen Scotia 24 Yr. 216 years of liquid historical past, with one of many trade’s most entertaining hosts!
Saturday, November twelfth @ 5 PM
Glenfarclas Household Casks 2021 – The 2000s
· Date: Tuesday, November 15
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $65
· Digital Tasting
No, we gained’t be sampling the KWM thirtieth Anniversary Household Cask on this session, however we nonetheless have an unbelievable lineup of Glenfarclas single casks. We held again a bottle every of a number of the highlights from the Summer time 2021 Glenfarclas Household Cask releases. On this session, we’ll pattern bottlings from 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Tuesday, November fifteenth @ 7 PM
Kinship Assortment 2021 +1
· Date: Tuesday, December 6
· Time: 7 PM
· Value: $225
· Digital Tasting
Who doesn’t love outdated Islay malts? We purchased a few units of the 2021 Kinship Assortment from Hunter Laing as a result of we knew we had been going to wish to open one for a tasting. The set consists of:
Ardbeg 19 Yr, Bowmore 33 Yr, Bruichladdich 29 Yr, Bunnahabhain 31 Yr, Caol Ila 40 Yr, and Laphroaig 23 Yr. However that’s solely 6 whiskies, and we wish to have at the least 7 at our tastings, so we’re tossing in a beautiful sherried First Version Laphroaig 14 Yr to spherical out our vary. Be part of the KWM workforce as we sip our method via 189 years of Islay glory!
Tuesday, December sixth @ 7 PM
A SHORT LIST OF BOTTLES ON SALE
Even when we aren’t within the midst of a store-wide sale, we regularly nonetheless have a bottle or three discounted. This may be attributable to us carrying an excessive amount of inventory or an importer’s limited-time supply the place we move the financial savings onto our clients.
Beneath is a choice of bottles at the moment on sale.
You possibly can browse all of our on-sale gadgets right here.
La Maison Du Whisky Artist 4.5 Royal Brackla 13 Yr
A part of the Artist Collective Sequence 4 from La Masion Du Whisky, this 13 yr outdated Royal Brackla was matured in 2 Refill Sherry Butts stuffed in 2007 and bottled at 48%.
$169.99 $127.49
25% OFF
Maltbarn Highland Malt 1993
Distilled in 1993 and bottled at 48.3% in 2019. Solely 141 bottles from a Bourbon Cask.
There’s a wee little bit of rumblin’ that this may increasingly, maybe, simply may, may probably be, Glenmorangie. However then once more, even the importer hasn’t had affirmation, so who is aware of? Generally which may seem to be of venture. With Maltbarn, nonetheless, you’ll be able to often wager on it being a great bottle, regardless of the who, what, why, the place, and when.
$349.99 $262.49
25% OFF
Benromach 10 Yr Previous
Bottled at 43% after maturing in a mixture of ex-Bourbon & Sherry casks, the flippantly peated 10-year-old is without doubt one of the greatest 10s round and has been bottled within the distillery’s new livery!
$73.99 $55.49
25% OFF
Cooper’s Selection Previous Rhosdhu 1994
Previous Rhosdhu is a fruit pushed single malt produced by the Loch Lomond Distillery. It’s a fashion that we haden’t seen for almost a decade, till a handful of bottlings began to seem lately. This explicit bottling was distilled in 1994 and bottled after 27 years at 47%.
$324.99 $259.99
20% OFF
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