Scotch Malt Whisky Society 5.42
$130.49
BATHED IN A BAKER'S SHOP
This 13 year old Lowlander is 59.5% and from a refill hogshead
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla
Outturn: 274 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "One panel member came over all broody, reminded of bubble bathed babies wrapped in fresh towels. Others found it very juicy, bouncing with green grape, apple chews and lemonade lollies. Ginger gave a lively spritziness to taste, baby was then soothed by vanilla Jell-O pudding, and peanut butter on bagels. The addition of water opened spearmint, elderflower soap and brioche on waxed paper. Mother hen found her baby swaddled in a newly laundered crochet blanket, while the rest found sweetly iced christening cake decorated with white liies, lychee and pea shoots. A bonny, blooming bairn!"
Drinking tip: "A christening perhaps?"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 3.237
$161.99
CANDLE TAKING ITS LAST BREATH
This 17 year old from Islay is 57.2% spent its life in a refill sherry butt
Flavour profile: Oily & coastal
Outturn: 537 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "A fairly robust nose, this one doesn’t hold back; oily smoky mackerels, treacle toffee, sherry soaked sultanas, banana bread, dark-fired tobacco, sticky barbecue ribs and salty pork scratching were just a few of the many descriptors given. Big on the palate –‘this is a butcher’s barbecue’, fresh meat from the local butcher; pork sausages, beef burger, chicken drumsticks all with a tasty homemade marinade. Adding water turns it into a Christmas cake trifle or a boozy crème brulee as both having received a very liberal amount of sherry! In the taste, deep dark chocolate loaf with a sweet strong espresso at the finish."
Drinking tip: "Late last night and the night before"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 48.58
$125.99
MEDIEVAL JOUSTING DRAM
At 63% this 11 year old Speysider came from a 1st fill barrel
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Outturn: 221 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose was many-faceted – waxy flowers and tree bark soon developed a fruity layer (apple, raspberry, fruit salad) eventually deepening into chocolate-coated toffee, cherry gateau and millionaires’ shortbread. The palate was a jousting contest between Sir Sweet (iced caramels, honeycomb, drinking chocolate, puff candy) and Sir Heat (dragon’s breath blast of chili and ginger). The nose turned even more attractive with a drop of water – coconut macaroons, meringues and iced gems, with tiny hints of salsa and wood. The palate was sweet and peppery – sugar-coated rose petals, malted milk-shake and jammy custard with a teasingly light dusting of pepper."
Drinking tip: "To relax with after the daily jousting tournament (aka work)"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 42.15
$194.99
OSCILLATIONS OF LIGHT AND SHADE
Matured in a refill hogshead, this 19 year old Islander comes in at 58.6%.
Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits
Outturn: 206 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose oscillated from light to shade – the light side including washing drying in the sun, pineapple, mango, banana split and golden syrup – the dark side had dried dates, coffee dregs, chili chocolate, black pepper, ginger, dark marmalade and feeding a Christmas cake with booze. The palate, even at natural strength, was very tasty, warming and pleasant – caramelized pineapple, Christmas pudding, dark cherries in syrup, toffee, caramel, dried fruits, some chili heat and woody dryness. The sweetness intensified with water (golden syrup, caster sugar, brandy snaps), but hints of bitter exotic fruits, ginger jam and treacle toffee balanced the sweetness perfectly."
Drinking tip: "While hanging out the washing or making a Christmas cake"
Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Edition
$108.89
The 4th edition of the Kilchoman 100% Islay has been matured 5 years in First Fill Ex-Bourbon barrels. 100% Islay releases from Kilchoman are produced from estate grown barley, malted, distilled, matured and bottled on site.
Kilchoman 100% Islay 10th Edition
$129.99
Bottled as always at 50%, the 10th edition of the Kilchoman 100% Islay is a 9 Year produced by the mariage of 39 Bourbon Barrels and 2 Oloroso Sherry Butts. The Kilchoman 100% Islay is a more lightly peated expression than the standard Kilchoman with one other notable difference. The whisky is made from barley grown on Kilchomans own farm, which they malt on site. It is Scotland's only single farm origin whisky.
Producer Description
"The 100% Islay 10th Edition was distilled from our 2007, 2009 and 2010 barley harvests before being matured in 39 bourbon barrels and 2 oloroso sherry butts for a minimum of 9 years."
Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique
$284.99
This is Kavalan's landmark Jim Swan bottling, matured in STR (Shaved Toasted and Recharred) ex-wine casks before bottling at 57.1%.
Bowmore Mizunara Wood
$1,169.99
Sovereign Cambus 40 Year
$395.99
Distilled in 1975 and bottled in 2015 at 57.7%. Only 12 bottles have comein to Calgary exclusively to KWM. The whisky was matured in a Refill Hogshead cask. The distillery closed in 1993.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: Old English Butterscotch ice cream, apple crumble, brown sugar and creme brule; this is soft, decadent and fruity with firm toasted oak.
Palate: more OEB ice cream, but also vanilla ice cream melting over warm apple crumble thick with brown sugar; Panda brand licorice, candied fennel and hints of espresso; earthy, oaky and spicy with lots of white fruit.
Finish: long toasty and spicy with loads of creamy oak and baked white fruits.
Comment: this is starting to show its age but is still far from over the edge, it is lovely!