Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.50

$138.59

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

HOT EMBERS AT THE GATES OF HELL

Bottled at 58.6% after 20 years in a Refill Hoggy. 

Panel's Tasting Note: "Grubby, vegetal and animalistic notes discouraged some Panelists but dark cherries, liquorice, old bike chains, black pudding & barbecued pork made for a really interesting (albeit unusual) first impression. Huge taste - blackened pork belly, schnapps & burnt meat – one was chewing hot embers covered in meat grease at the gates of hell (volcanic sulphur). Water released scorched tablecloths and burnt pig hair but with the sweetness of molten fudge and barley sugar; on the palate it was long and luxurious (but still scorched) with black pudding, tattie scones and strong sweet black tea. This Campbeltown distillery was built in 1832."

Drinking Tip: "Not for the faint hearted."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 71.34

$109.79

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

RABBIT, GINGER & TREACLE TART

Matured 13 years in a First Fill Sherry Butt and bottled at 56.8%. 

Panel's Tasting Note: "Big rich sweet aromas accosted the Panel – ginger cake, strawberry Chewits, treacle tart, cinnamon, malt loaf but also earthy mushrooms, Marigolds (the gloves not the flowers), leather and musky horses; this was when one Panellist pictured herself riding a spice-bag-laden Andalusian horse through orchards wearing leather chaps. Warm, sweet, savoury on the palate, hot and tannic with rosemary & sage, saddle polish, rabbit paella, warm chocolate sponge, dried cranberries and hazelnuts. Diluted, aromas of olive groves, red apples, hay and grilled rabbit with smooth, creamy tastes of oranges, prunes, strawberries, apricots and more rabbit. Founded as Kinflat distillery in 1810."

Drinking Tip: "While riding through the orchard on hot summer days."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 121.51

$98.09

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

AMAZING WAVES OF SWEETNESS

A highland whisky, 9 years in a refill sherry butt and bottled at 61.3%.

Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose flooded us with waves of sweetness – dark chocolate millionaire's shortbread, light molasses, thick-cut marmalade, spiced fruit cake with plump sultanas and raisins, toffee, barley sugars. Water brought out some leather and nutty aromas (almond, marzipan, walnut, hazelnut) and Nutella crêpes flambéed in Cointreau. The unreduced palate was big but enjoyable – an iron fist in a velvet glove – Green & Black's Maya Gold (spicy orange chocolate), liquorice, almonds and oak shavings drizzled in maple syrup. With water, the palate had chocolate pralines, Crunchie bars, cane sugar and rose-water – absolutely amazing. The only distillery on this Firth of Clyde island."

Drinking Tip: "For any special occasion."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.108

$104.39

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

ANGEL IN A SAUNA WEARING WELLIES

An Islay whisky at 56.8% after 10 years in a Refill Hogshead cask. 

Panel's Tasting Note: "On the one hand, the nose had orchard fruits, sweet barley and lemon bonbons – but on the other; burnt heather, ash, carbolic, coal-dust, barbecued ribs, salt-cooked prawns and a freshly laid tarmac road by the sea. The palate was angelically sweet, with citric notes (lemon zest, chocolate limes rolled in ash) and a cedar wood sauna. With water, the nose shifted to honey and sweet cereal bars counterpointing bitumen, wellington boots, wax and smoke. The reduced palate discovered tobacco, menthol, vanilla, macadamia and pistachio, along with cheesy footballs by a swimming pool. The distillery was founded by the Johnston brothers."

Drinking Tip: "A reward after taking a dip - whether in the sea or in a sauna plunge pool."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 72.22

$145.79

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

SPICE INFUSED

A Speysider 9 years old and 53.7% after maturing in a Refill Hogshead.

Panel's Tasting Note: "With aromas of bath bombs, Murray Mints, rosemary, vinegar, and a musty perfumed scent (likened by one Panellist to a sweaty farmworker) this evoked considerable discussion. The palate was hot, sweet, juicy, with damson jam, orange-oiled oak, but left a dry, tannic, musty aftertaste. Water (much needed) brought out baked apples, wine gums, black jam, orange shortbread, and mulled wine spice. To taste it was still juicy, hot and tannic but floral notes and peaches, nectarines and strawberries (with the bitterness of apple skins) and a light spiced-infused-milk made it very pleasant. This distillery lies in the Glen of Pluscarden."

Drinking Tip: "One to take to a country manor Christmas."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 27.96

$109.79

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

CHARACTER AND CONTRADICTIONS

Matured in an unusual Refill Sherry Gourda for 13 years; 57.2%.

Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose was sweet, nutty and buttery, with heather, fig and honey, but the salt, Swarfega, hair grease, garage and harbour aromas suggested a Campbeltown fisherman going out on the town. A splash of water made it even more aromatic – sweet barley, walnuts, pepper, oven chip trays and brown sugar-glazed, clove-studded ham. The unreduced palate was big, intense, woody and sweet, with tobacco and manuka honey in hessian bags. With water, we found Madeira cake (bolo de mel), clove, ginger, pistachios in honey (baklava) and salt – a dram of distinctive character and some happy contradictions from the independent Campbeltown distillery."

Drinking Tip: "A campfire dram - or after sailing."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 64.33

$105.29

SOLD OUT! - Not expected to return to KWM! 

ANTICS OF A PRANKSTER

Matured in a First Fill Bourbon barrel 8 Years and 62.3% it packs a punch.

Panel's Tasting Note: "This dynamic nose started out with pears, fabric cleaner and swimming pools – then opened up genially – ginger and cinnamon cake, tablet, toffee, fudge, Battenberg cake and a bower of roses – eventually tobacco and oily rags appeared. The palate was enjoyably big and complex – sweet barley, green apple and sherbet stood beside dry sawdust and menthol and tobacco heat. With water the nose turned more citric, also uncovering vanilla, unripe bananas and tarry ropes – very interesting! The reduced palate seemed very tasty for its age – its youthfulness suggesting a teenage prankster's forgivable antics. Bottlings from this 1971 distillery are very uncommon."

Drinking Tip: "For frivolous moments - like going out to a fancy dress party."

Kilchoman 100% Islay Cask Strength Ltd

$396.89

Only 6 bottles of this very rare release ever came to Canada! Bottled at 3 years of age and 61.3% from a very small parcel of casks, 100-103 and 108. The 100% Islay line is made from estate grown Islay barley, malted, distilled, matured and bottled on site. 

Kilchoman 2006 Vintage Release

$72.44

My Tasting Note: Nose: oily, peaty and salty with grassy aloe notes; the nose is fishy with poached pears, blue cheese and honey; Palate: creamy, soft and coating with salty fish, white chocolate and grassy smoke; the palate is very fruity, even more so than the nose with peaches, more poached pears and even cooked green apple with baked blue cheese; Finish: the vanilla lingers long, with oily peat and salted smoke; some dark spices but the white chocolate-vanilla and traces of white fruit fade last!