Arran 1996 KWM Cask 2003
$121.49
One of two 18 year olds distilled in 1996 selected by and bottled exclusively for for KWM in 2015. At the time these bottlings were the two oldest single casks ever bottled by the distillery which was only established in 1995. Only 232 bottles filled at 53.7%. Matured in a sherry hogshead cask this is the big, richer, fruitier of the two whiskies.
Arran 1996 Private Cask
$122.39
Bottled for a private client. SOLD OUT!
Arran 1996 KWM Cask 2017
$125.99
One of two Arran casks exclusively bottled for KWM, both 18 year olds distilled in 1996. They were filled into cask and bottled on the same day, selected by and bottled exclusively for our shop. At the time of bottling, these casks were the two oldest bottlings ever from the distillery, which was only established in 1995. There are just 87 bottles filled at 53.2%, as we split the cask with a client. Matured in a Sherry Hogshead, this is the lighter fruitier one!
Arran Smugglers Series The Ilicit Stills
$130.49
The Arran Smugglers' Series Vol. 1 'The Illicit Stills' is the eagerly anticipated 1st bottling in a new trilogy highlighting the Isle of Arran's history as a center of illegal whisky making and smuggling. The whisky has a prominent peatiness, uncharacteristic of most Arran bottlings. The peated whisky was matured in Ex-Bourbon American Oak and the unpeated Arran matured full term in Port Pipes. Only 8,700 bottles were released World Wide, and in the time it has taken the release to make it to Canada, it has already sold out in the UK! Bottled at 56.4%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: juicy, floral and tropical with big toasty oak and a hint of smoke; layers open up with dark fruits, chocolate, leather and tobacco; melons, apricots and chocolate covered almonds.
Palate: more juicy fruits, crisp layered spices, clean elegant smoke and dark fruits; chocolate covered almonds, leather, tobacco and Dutch licorice; malty with marmalade, big candied ginger and cinnamon hearts; the port component adds a grapey chocolate character.
Finish: long coating, toasty and smoky; layered with loads of fruits.
Comment: this is not your typical Arran, at one point I thought this was like a peated version of the wonderful Millenium casks bottling from years ago. That does both a disservice. This is a great standalone whisky, but on further reflexion not quite the Millenium casks...
Distiller's Tasting Note:
Nose: Subtle peat reek rising from a distant fire hints at a robust character to come. Floral notes bring elegance, sweetness is shown in the form of fresh madeira cake with a maritime oiliness promising rich mouthfeel.
Palate: Juicy plums, spiced with white pepper. Wood smoke of freshly sawn pine. The palate develops with gripping tannin as white grapes begin to show. Pink wafer biscuits and a blast of spicy ginger appear before the finish.
Finish: The flavour of dried apricots fades before salty, maritime notes take over – the dying embers of smugglers’ signal fires on windswept beaches. An Arran dram of true unbridled character, reminiscent of the illicit makes which gave rise to the illustrious reputation of “the Arran water”.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.227
$169.19
SWEET, SALTY AND SMOKY
This 18 year old from Islay spent its life in a refill hogshead and is 56.8%.
Flavour profile: Peated
Outturn: 248 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "On the nose neat a lot of foodie aromas made us all very hungry indeed; spicy sausage casserole, honeyed pork loin with plum and lavender relish but also simple old fashioned mincemeat pie and chips wrapped in newspaper served with salt and vinegar. It tasted as it smelled – fabulous! Sweet, salty, smoky like a broiled tuna steak (centre has remained pink) with a zingy herb sauce. Water turned it into a grilled pork cutlet with a maple chipotle glaze as well as dried seaweed and Japanese sweet omelette. The never-ending finish was peat smoke entwined with fresh salty sea air."
Drinking tip: "Whenever, wherever"
Adelphi Fascadale Batch 9
$98.99
Batch 9 of Adelphi's Fascadale is the first in the series from the Ardmore distillery. Matured 14 years in three Ex-Bourbon and three Ex-Shery casks, with 1342 bottles produced. This batch of the product is nearly sold out in Alberta!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: honeyed, woody and a touch earthy; walking through a damp Aspen forest on an early fall morning; almond paste and clean wood smoke.
Palate: very honeyed, malty and lightly earthy with building smoke and wet leaf litter; creamy and coating with soft leather, raisins and a touch of musty American oak.
Finish: honeyed, clean smoke and more earthy tones; leathery and spicy with more toasty, but juicy oak.
Comment: A touch spicier and smokier than past releases.
Adelphi Liddesdale Batch 9
$133.19
Bottled at 46% this Batch 9 bottling of Adelphi's Liddesdale is like the others from the Bunnahabhain distillery. Only 42 bottles of this batch found their way to Alberta. Liddesdale is named for a feature on the Ardnamurcan peninsula where Adelphi has built its first distillery of the same name.
Andrew’s Tasting Note
Nose: newly polished leather shoes, dried dark fruits and fresh apricots; creamy with honeyed toasty oak and marmalade; very pretty, decadent Demerara sugars and loose leaf tobacco.
Palate: very candied, lots of Christmas cake notes, still pretty, dried dark fruits, licorice and chocolate infused with cayenne spice; licorice root, dried ginger candies and soft new leather.
Finish: long, big, smooth and leathery with decadent spices with late tobacco.
Comment: very pretty, elegant and rich; a fine example of this label.
"Liddesdale rising gently from the southern shore of Loch Sunart, Liddesdale Brae is steeped in folklore. Some speak of the 'Devil's Acre' where the old widow 'sell'd her coo to the De'il'; nothing grows there. Others whisper of the "Fairie Knoll', protected for all time by the 'Deaf Shepherd' looking down from the skyline."
Adelphi Caol Ila 2003
$129.59
A single cask of Caol Ila bottled at 581% from a Refill Sherry Hogshead. Cask No. 301266. Only 12 bottles came to Alberta, and only 6 of them to Calgary, exclusively to KWM.
Andrew’s Tasting Note
Nose: thick, honeyed, firm smoke and smoked fish; creamy with white fruits and fresh scallops cooked in butter; white pepper and chewy malt.
Palate: big chewy malt, thick honey and big smoked fish notes; salty maritime smoke, apple sauce, and poached pears with a touch of orange peels.
Finish: creamy, malty and cleanly smoked with fading fishy tones.
Comment: a big, bold and pleasant Caol Ila; not overly complex but an excellent malt.
Adelphi Clynelish 1997
$152.99