Glendronach 1995 Cask 444 Batch 12
$252.89
This Glendronach Batch 12 single cask 444 from 1995, is bottled at 52.0%, from a single Pedro Ximenez Puncheon. More than 12 of the bottles KWM is getting have sold at the time of writing.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: cedar planks, black pepper, clove and blue cheese stuffed cooked bacon wrapped figs; Demerara sugar and cold Earl Grey tea.
Palate: big, fruity and rich; more bacon wrapped dates, dark black spices and cold tea with heaps of Demerara sugar; becomes darker and spices with more sugars and licorice root.
Finish: medium long, the spices play the biggest role here with a bit of bacon oils and dried dark fruits.
Comment: seems we are only getting spicier here...
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Demerara sugar and freshly ground barley grist sprinkled over sherry-poached pears.
Palate: Vibrant candied peel adds an edge to the sweet apricot syrup. A dusting of cocoa leads to a delicate warmth of floral oak spices.
Glendronach 1995 Cask 3806 Batch 12
$251.99
This Batch 12 release of Glendronach distilled in 1995, is 54.5% after 19 years maturing in a Pedro Ximenez Puncheon. KWM is receiving 18 bottles, of which nearly half are sold! 701 total bottles released world wide.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: big dark fruits, lots of leather, tobacco and dark chocolate; maple syrup with some chili oil and candied ginger.
Palate: big, sweet, syrupy and spicy with layers of dark fruits, chocolate and marmalade; flowerless cayenne spice dark chocolate cake. mejoul dates drizzledin honey and chili oil.
Finish: warming with candied ginger, dark chocolate, rich dried fruits and spices.
Comment: the spiciest of the range thus far, a sweet and fruity beast!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Delicious rich dates and spiced chocolate complement dark cherries and hints of ground almond.
Palate: Rich oak and cracked black pepper warm sweet spiced rum raisins. A combination of molten chocolate and cinnamon finishes the palate perfectly.
Glendronach 1995 Cask 4034 Batch 12
$251.99
This Glendronach Batch 12 1995 single cask is from a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon bottled at 55.4%. Only 12 bottles are coming to KWM, half of which are sold. 19 years of age!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: orange peel, Demerara sugars, clove and firm leather with the not so distant whiff of French press coffee; lots of treacle, caramel and cooked figs.
Palate: sweet, fruity and soft with a firm spicy edge and some smooth leather; there is a light nuttiness, more Demerara sugars and dark fruits; orange rind oils finishing off an Sazerac cocktail.
Finish: medium long, fruity and subtlety leathery.
Comment: more classically PX sherry than the 2003 or 2004, delicate but well layered.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Demerara sugar and freshly ground barley grist sprinkled over sherry-poached pears.
Palate: Vibrant candied peel adds an edge to the sweet apricot syrup. A dusting of cocoa leads to a delicate warmth of floral oak spices.
Glendronach 2003 Cask 934 Batch 12
$157.49
12 years old from a single PX Sherry Puncheon, this Batch 12 Glendronach single cask was bottled at 53.7%. Only 12 bottles have come to KWM, 7 of which have sold at the time of writing.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: mincemeat pie, blood orange and Fruit & Nut Chocolate bars; Licorice Nibbs, raisins and dates with some crisp oak and spices.
Palate: very toasty with some bourbonny notes slowly yielding to dark fruits and spices; becomes more chocolaty with some nice honey notes and building juicy blood orange and spices; the Fruit & Nut bar is still there with Licorice Nibbs.
Finish: light, honeyed and toasty with delicate spices and chocolate.
Comment: like the 2004, a trace of American oak, so likely a finish, but another very good one!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Golden sultanas drizzled in honey complement a rich back note of barley sugar and warm spices.
Palate: A crisp citrus twist balances with roasted orchard fruits and sultana syrup. Hints of eucalyptus and gentle barley add to the soft, fruity finish.
Glendronach 2004 Cask 5524 Batch 12
$156.59
One of the 9 Glendronach Batch 12 vintage single casks. Bottled at 11 years of age and 57.8% after maturing in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: very honeyed, toasty American oak (this must be a finish), soft leather, dark fruits and chocolate shavings.
Palate: very fruity, leathery, creamy and spicy; while the sherry notes are quite dominant the American oak base is quite prominent; orange peel, Demerara sugars and hot spices (ginger and cinnamon).
Finish: long, coating, toasty and spicy, with fading creamy honey and vanilla.
Comment: heavily sherried, and youthful, but with layers and complexity.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Rich prunes and oak spices combine with a grating of nutmeg and a delicate liquorice note.
Palate: Soft treacle toffee and rich raisin juice infused with hints of cinnamon sugar and sweet floral oak spice.
BenRiach 1999 Cask 8687 Batch 12
$160.19
Glendronach 1994 Cask 3398 Batch 12
$260.99
This Batch 12 single cask of Glendronach was bottled from a single Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask, 3398, at 53.2% after 20 years. KWM is getting just 12 bottles most of which are sold!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: Pecan pie, bread and butter pudding, plum and cranberry compote; classic Christmas cake, and big sherry: leather, tobacco and chocolate.
Palate: big sherry with more Classic Christmas cake notes and big spices; the leather, tobacco and chocolate (unsweetened dark baker's chocolate) are still there; the spices are earthy and clovey.
Finish: fruity and leathery with fading tobacco and spices.
Comments: this is your classic sherry cask whisky, not too bold, not too sweet, nice balance.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Waves of rich molasses poured over sour plums and spiced by cracked black pepper.
Palate: A sumptuous body of bitter chocolate and dried dark fruits backed by rich orange marmalade. Delicate waves of garden mint and soft clove oil follow in the classically long finish.
Bruichladdich Black Art 2
$256.49
!!!NOT SOLD OUT!!! - COMING SOON! Another surprise return from Bruichladdich, we sold out of this more years ago than I can recall!
Crafted by Jim McEwan from pre-closure stock distilled in 1989, the whisky was bottled after 21 years at 49.7%. Only a dozen bottles coming back!
From the Distiller: "Even we don’t know how Jim McEwan has conjured-up this bewitching dram – this is something he alone has crafted (in dead of night?) in the stygian darkness of Warehouse No. 12. A dark, sensuous spirit, very fine, incredibly elegant, decadently-hued, perplexingly complex, mishievously-prepared and subtly provocative. Beguiling, other-worldly, sublime, inspired.
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before...”
Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven"
Distiller's Tasting Note - Jim McEwan
Nose: An opening bouquet of cherry blossom and deep red rose gives way to a rainbow of soft ripe red fruits; redcurrant, loganberry, damson, apricot and blackberry crystallised with soft brown sugar. A sensational opening for the toasted oak and sweet malted barley, which give structure and strength.
Palate: As the spirit aerates a wave of delectable red fruits rise and pass through the oak like a summer breeze, lifting the taste experience to a level of pleasure beyond belief. The harmony of flavours merge both on the nose and the palate and deliver a totally unique malt experience like no other.
Finish: A manifestation of single malt joy!
Mood: Totally selfish. Decadent, late night, brooding dram. This one is not for sharing. Pure, physical pleasure, indulge yourself!
Liquid Sun Longmorn 1992
$175.49
Distilled in 1992 and bottled at a cask strength of 52.9% from a Refill Hogshead cask in 2014 at 22 years of age. Exclusive to KWM in Canada, only 2 bottles have come into the market. Liquid Sun was bottled by the Whisky Agency.
Sadly we won't be opening a bottle, so no tasting note... sorry!