Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year
$1,043.99
This is a bloody rare whisky, only 120 bottles have been exported from Japan to the west and KWM has been able to put our hands on a dozen of them, with just 2 left for sale! The whisky is bottled at 43% and is exceptionally floral and tropical! Made from malt whiskies aged at least 25 years, this new flagship offers floral aromas with soft sherry notes and a touch of sweetness from its long oak maturation. A hint of peat comes through on the complex finish.
First introduced in Japan on May 29th 2012, the limited release Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year, like the rest of the Taketsuru range, is a Pure of Blended Malt. The range also includes 12, 17 and 21 year olds which are increasingly rare and hard to find. The whisky hails from the two Nikka distilleries in the north of Japan: Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Created as a tribute to their founder Masataka Taketsuru, the Taketsuru whisky range is subtle, elegant and refined.
Distiller's Tasting Note (Suspect this is translated from Japanese, something may have been lost a little in translation!)
Nose: Refined aroma. A flamboyant and floral fragrance is tempered by a moderate sherry scent and sweet barrel-aged aroma. Add to this an accent of peat, with further delicate notes of citrus, raisins, and cookies.
Palate: Graceful taste. A rich, all-prevailing mellow barrel sweeteness is balanced by a touch of bitter acridity of peat. Sit back and savour the haunting bitter after taste that follows the initial elegant sweetness.
Glenfarclas £511.19s. Family Reserve
$150.99
More coming next week!
From the Distillery: "Family Reserve to celebrate the 150th anniversary of family ownership of the Glenfarclas distillery. On the 8th of June 1865, John Grant, 1st generation of the Grant family, bought the distillery for £511.19s.0d. His grandsons, John and George, later formed the company J. & G. Grant and to this day it remains an independent business and firmly in the hands of the family’s 5th & 6th generation.
"The £511.19s.0d Family Reserve, a non-chill filtered bottling at 43%, is a vatting of predominantly first fill sherry butts which proudly embodies the distillery’s sherry profile, bringing together all the character of this great spirit across the generations. Sweet and rich sherry, like a toffee syrup over a freshly toasted French baguette, the nose promises fresh fruit smothered in heather honey, ending almost like a sweet port. Then a dry yet sweet taste, a lovely balance of fruit, light nuttiness and milk chocolate develop, followed by a very palatable long and easy finish. A copy of the original bill of sale is included with each bottle along with a note from George Grant explaining the significance of the £511.19s.0d Family Reserve to the Grant family tradition."
BenRiach 35 Year
$818.99
Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 4
$103.49
The 4th batch of this insanely popular whisky has been bottled at 54.7% from Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. It is a limited release bottled at cask strength without colouring or chill-filtering. Like the previous batches it won't last long!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Delicious molten toffee and wild honey poured over ripe figs and dates. Subtle hints of tangerine, coffee grounds and a dusting of cinnamon add a perfect balance to the nose.
Palate: Vibrant oak spices and warming stem ginger complement the rich sherry and dark fruit characteristics. Waves of sour plums and subtle gingerbread combine with stewed barley and roasted coffee beans, softened by a gentle hint of walnut.
Conclusions: A perfect harmony of the finest sherry casks and traditional Highland characteristics.
BenRiach Dunder 18 Year
$133.19
This is a very limited one off bottling of just 1888 bottles released world-wide. KWM may see as few as 12 bottles of this whisky. It is made from peated malt, matured initially in American oak and bottled at 46% after finishing in Dark Rum. The name Dunder comes from the residue of cane juice left in a still after distilling a batch of rum. The dunder is used as a yeast source for the fermentation of Jamaican rum, giving it a unique flavour.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Crisp candied peel holds waves of soft peach and ripe banana dusted with Demerara sugar. Delicate rounded peat smoke combines with gentle sweet oak spices.
Taste: Dramatic peat smoke and barley complement crisp citrus zest, white pepper and fresh ginger. Caramelised orchard fruits and dried apricots develop to a rich grassy wood smoke finish.
Glenfiddich 1963 Original
$124.99
This new release is inspired by Glenfiddich's first official bottling, Glenfiddich Straight Malt, which was launched in 1963. With all the hype around single malts today, it may be surprising that prior to 1963, they were almost non-existent. While independent bottlers like WM Cadenhead and Gordon & MacPhail had already been selling single malts for over 100 years, distilleries exclusive distilled malt whisky for blending.
Producer Description
"Inspired by the original 1963 Glenfiddich 'Straight Malt', the expression with which Glenfiddich brought single malt to the world, this special edition is an exclusive addition to our Collection of single malt Scotch whiskies.
"It was faithfully recreated by our Malt Master Brian Kinsman using our extensive archives and exclusive whisky sample collection."
Bowmore 23 Year Port Matured
$659.99
This very limited edition 23 year old Bowmore was bottled at 50.8% after maturing exclusively in Port casks for 23 years. We have been patiently awaiting this one for years. It was one of the highlights of Andrew's 2015 Feis Isle (Islay Festival) experience!
From the Distillery: "A delicious feast of smoke-infused blood orange, winter spices, black truffles and walnut oil. A whisky to warm the coldest Islay night, this limited edition Bowmore Single Malt has been matured exclusively in port casks for 23 years, giving it a deliciously dark colour and remarkably rich flavour."
Distiller's Tasting Note
Breathe in rich, smoky and very complex plum skins, black cherries and dark chocolate are interwoven with wood smoke and sea-salt, seductive sandalwood and walnuts thrown into a roaring fire.
Sip a swathe of rich smoky velvet, which brings luscious layered autumn fruits, tingly winter spices, blood orange and sensual winter black truffles.
Savour long and rich smoke infused blood orange, truffle and walnut oil.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 66.38
$90.89
AN ORIENTAL BARBECUE
This 8 year old Highlander is from a refill barrel at 59.2%
Flavour profile: Lightly peated
Outturn: 93 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "First impressions are of smoked bacon, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce crisps and charred coal. Then a soldering iron and a remote control car kit are found in the ‘everything else’ drawer. The palate has crispy bacon and whole wheat noodles with black bean and dark soy sauce. Also teriyaki beef and a warm barbecue smoke. The reduced nose is slightly sweeter with hints of aniseed and lemon meringue pie with a burnt crust. Later cigar boxes and an engineer’s freshly cleaned overalls. From a Thai village kitchen to a Chinese laundry the palate is laced with Eastern flavours and a subdued sweet smoke. This Aberdeenshire distillery has ‘big height’."
Drinking tip: "When dreaming of Eastern travels."
Glenfarclas Family Cask 1976
$899.99