Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley 1L
$66.59
This whisky is made from Organic Scottish matured in American Oak From the Distillery: "In Victorian times, when Bruichladdich Distillery was built, all Scottish barley was organically grown. The relationship between distiller, farmer and soil was intimate and enduring. These ties were lost as industrialized farming cut through ancient synergies and an age of super efficient blandness was born.
"In partnership with our organic farmers – Sir William Roberts of Mains of Tullibardine, William Rose at Mid Coull and Neil Scobie at Coulmore – we are rediscovering these synergies. We believe relationships matter. Once again, land and dram united."
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Opens on a light almond note with a twist of candied lemon. Followed by the magical aromatics of toasted barley, floral and fruit notes with a hint of lemon honey intermingling beautifully. Toffee sweetness comes from American oak cask and as the spirit opens little drifts of succulent papaya, melon and kiwi can be found.
Palate: The texture is sensational, the spirit gliding over the palate like warm syrup. The taste buds love the purity and the sensational clarity of flavours being presented. A real sweetness on the front palate, barley sugar, honey almonds, green jelly beans, pear drops all splashed with fresh lemons and balanced by the crispness of malted barley.
Finish: An intensity and definition of flavour that is unparalleled. Incredibly fresh giving an unforgettable palate experience that leaves the taste buds tingling and overwhelmed.
Signatory Glen Keith 1997 46%
$169.99
This 20 Year old Glen Keth from Signatory's Unchillfiltered range, has been bottled at 46% after maturing in "Hogsheads".
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: bright and tangy, honey butter, Wine Gums and Jujubes; some sour melon and clotted cream; warm shortbread with whisky icing.
Palate: still very buttery, creamy and fruity: more Wine Gums and Jujubes; still bright and tangy with sour melon, clotted cream and marmalade; floral, with white chocolate and more warm shortbread with whisky-icing.
Finish: medium in weight, long in length with lovely honey, vanilla and cream tones; ends with a fruity-floral flourish.
Comment: this is a quite typical mature Glen Keith, elegant and layered; very drinkable and excellent value.
Edradour Bourbon Matured Decanter
$131.39
This 2003 Vintage Edradour Bourbon matured release was distilled in February of 2003 and bottled in March of 2015 at 55.6%. 1,979 decanters were filled as part of this release with only a small quantity coming to Alberta.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: very soft, creamy and fruity, melons, fresh lime, creamy oak and even a hint of soft goat cheese; there is a hint of decadent honey and vanilla;
Palate: honeyed, creamy and silky soft for just 12 years and 55.6%; more melon, lime and even a touch of pineapple; there is a toasty base, floral tones and some dried orchard fruit;
Finish: clean, elegant and very soft!
Edradour Fairy Flag 15 Year
$161.99
This Edradour single malt is a special release commemorating the Scottish Feature Film of the same name, Fairy Flag. The whisky was matured in Ex-Bourbon casks for 8 years before finishing of 7 more in Fresh Oloroso Sherry Casks. It has been bottled at 46%. Exclusive to KWM in Calgary.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: fruity nutty and earthy with a touch of leather and clove; creamy underneath with dried dark fruits and licorice; marmalade and chocolate too.
Palate: dark, rich and fruity with lots of spice: cinnamon and nutmeg to start with some clove and licorice developing; more dark fruits raisins and dates, dried orange and a touch of tobacco.
Finish: soft and creamy with fading dark fruits and spices.
About the Fairy Flag Film: The film recounts the romantic legend behind the Fairy Flag, which is displayed in Dunvegan castle on the Isle of Skye. The flag was a gift to the Clan Chief of the MacDonald clan, a young Iain Breac Macleod, from a mysterious woman, Titania, possibly a fairy found on the battle ground. She gives him a flag reputed to have magical powers. You'll have to see the film for more.
Signatory Imperial 1995 19 Year
$157.49
Signatory Glenlivet 1981 33 Year
$346.49
This 1981 vintage Glenlivet was filled into a Hogshead, cask #9452 and bottled after 33 years at 52.1%. Only 173 bottles were produced by the cask, with just 12 of them coming to Calgary exclusively to KWM. Distilled on the 11th of May 1981 it was bottled on the 19 of January 2015.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: butterscotch, caramel and creamed honey with floral tones and subtle fruits: melons, pear and lemon drops; vanilla bean, clotted cream and potpourri.
Palate: toasty, warming and coating with more sugars than the nose let on: barley and Demerara sugars with some licorice; the butterscotch and caramel are still there but the honey is richer, more of a Manuka honey; beeswax emerges with floral tones and vanilla, the fruits are there: white fruits, melon and citrus, but the rich oak and more decadent notes are more dominent.
Finish: big, fruity and coating; loads more sugars, balanced oak, floral tones and fruits.
Comments: the 32 year old, cask 10982 is softer, but this is richer and more decadent.
Signatory Dufftown 1997
$161.99
Exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market in Calgary this bottling is from single cask 19495, a Hogshead filled on 9/12/1997 and bottled on 04/07/2014.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: very Bourbonny, creamy and toasty; orange marzipan, almond paste fill croissants and Moroccan marmalade; some melon and exotic fruits, guava?
Palate: dried honey, chunky oak, crisp spice and Demerara sugar with coffee dregs; very Bourbonny still, but also juicy and fruity, with more melons, marmalade and almondy notes; the palate has nice layers and the alcohol is well balanced.
Finish: long, toasty and honeyed with more almonds, orange and Demerara sugars.
Comments: half way between Bourbon and Scotch, this malt may open doors in either direction!
Signatory Glenlivet 1981 32 Year
$341.99
Bottled at 48.6% from a single Hogshead cask #10982. Only 6 of the 234 bottles from this cask have found their way to Calgary where this whisky is exclusive to KWM. Distilled on December 21 of 1981 and Bottled on August 8 of 2014.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: floral and decandent, melons, sauteed pears, toasted oak and spices (ginger) and bright sugars; a touch of pineapple, raisins and white chocolate.
Palate: very toasty and sugary with coating oak and more delicate fruits: pear, melon and cooked pineapple with dried ginger candies; the whisky is very sweet, sugary and coating with decadent honey and white chocolate notes.
Finish: warming, toasty and spicy with the fruits and sugars lingering longest.
Comments: while it is starting to show its age, this whisky has a lot of life left!
Blackadder Raw Cask Auchentoshan 21 Year
$229.49
This Blackadder 21 year old Auchentoshan was filled into cask on December 9 1992, and has been bottles at 54.5%. From the Raw Cask line, this whisky has been bottled with only the most basic screening and no filtering. There are some chunks of charred oak in each bottle from the cask it matured in, Hogshead 7746. Exclusive to KWM in Calgary, only 6 bottles have come into the shop!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: floral and creamy with heather honey and some bright citrus notes; white chocolate, raisins and some developing melon.
Palate: creamy, floral and toasty with some peppery spice; more heather honey, honeydew melon and white chocolate coated raisins; a faint grassiness devolops late fading into fresh lemon and lime;
Finish: long, soft, floral and spicy; the citrus notes linger long with coating oaky tones.