Coopers Choice Lochside 48 Year

$418.49

This very rare single grain is exclusive to KWM, with just 30 bottles coming into Alberta. It is a stunner and in just a few short days the first 1/3 has already sold! Bottled at a cask strength of 41.2%, 540 bottles were produced from a sherry butt cask 6799. 

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: silky oils, floral vanilla, jujubes, creme brule, caramel corn and soft earthy leather; chocolate and orange marzipan, English marmalade and clotted cream on day old scones.

Palate:very soft, silky, seductive and fruity; more jujubes, molten brown sugar, creme brule and double caramel corn; soft leather and gentle earthy notes, more marzipan, chocolate and orange; the whisky is layered, old and complex, some developing spices, but nothing over the top.

Finish: long, fruity and smooth; soft leather, fading sherry notes and spices.

Comment: this is a dangerously tasty whisky, and way to easy drinking; it won't last long on our shelf or in your bottle; it is also far from over the hill, surprisingly lithe and lively for its age.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 3.221

$161.09

STARRY, STARRY NIGHT

This 19 year old from Islay comes in at 54.2% and is from a refill sherry butt

Flavour profile:  Oily & coastal

Outturn:  538 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Childhood memories of airfix paint, Scalextric tires, linseed oil and caramel bars. Smoked duck breast and grilled oyster on the barbecue. To taste the panel found red licorice laces and burnt marshmallows. A big puff of peat, tarry rope and chorizo on the tongue. With water, we found it became fresher with aromas of menthol and English lavender. A crisp mineralic quality smoothed out the peat. It reminded one of ‘sooking spoots’ (sucking razor clams) from the shell. A clean and spritely finish of black pepper and sparkling water make this a perfect nightcap."

Drinking tip:  "For a romantic liaison by the seaside"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 121.77

$177.29

DUNNAGE WAREHOUSE ORANGE BOXES

From a refill hogshead, this 19 year old Islander is 53.4%

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  276 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose had elements of oiled wood, linoleum, balsa wood and orange boxes, plus various sweet treats (brown sugar, toffee, sweet fig, chocolate and crunchy-nut cornflakes). The unreduced palate had spicy samosa heat to liven up the mouth; flavours included nutty (toasted pistachio, almond croissant) and sweet (bonbons, marshmallows, dark chocolate orange, sweet pastry). With water, the nose found syrup sponge and sugared almonds, with some new complications joining in to draw out a broader character – dunnage warehouses, burnt sticks, tobacco and ham. The palate was now a sweet and juicy pear flan with burnt edges – pleasant and nicely balanced."

Drinking tip:  "Sunday afternoon - listening to your favourite music"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 41.68

$125.99

LIQUIFIED BOUNTY BARS

This 11 year old Speysider comes in at 61.6% after spending its life in a 1st fill barrel

Flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

Outturn:  215 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "This opened with calming vanilla notes, unctuous pineapple and coconut shavings. Then, coconut oil was drizzled on fresh oak shavings, whilst lemon bonbons were shuffled in a white paper bag. Over time, rich and heady incense smouldered on a well polished desk as mixed fruits (cranberry, dark cherries, oranges) sat nobly in a fruit bowl. Bursting with mouth-watering juicy fruits, balanced with wood spice, the palate continued to delight with crème anglaise, rhubarb, a touch of lime basil and ginger and chili oomph! Water brought "liquified Bounty bars", dark chocolate and dried heather notes. An incredibly juicy experience culminated in tropical desserts served on a freshly charred oak stave."

Drinking tip:  "Try with Thai food"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 50.66

$209.69

RETRO SWEET HAMPER

At 24 years old, this Lowlander came from a refill barrel and is 59.5%

Flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

Outturn:  122 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "We all had images of aromas from a variety of sweets all long gone by.  Green apple chewing gum, strawberry foam mushrooms, pink and white sugar mice, fruit pastilles, ice lollies as well as fig roll biscuits. The taste neat was lively, hot and spicy but sweet at the same time like sour plum brown butter upside down cake or a Ferrero Rocher chocolate dipped in sweet chili sauce. Water released initially freshly painted drain pipes soon transformed into sweet popcorn, wine gums and sweet grape juice and the flavours of Jaffa cake, candied angelica with a refreshing bitter lemon finish."

Drinking tip:  "During a hot air balloon ride"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 66.73

$119.69

MIDNIGHT FEAST AT PONY CLUB CAMP

This 10 year old highlander came from a 1st fill white wine hogshead and is 61.1%

Flavour profile:  Lightly peated

Outturn:  268

Panel's tasting note:  "Imagine the excitement, staying up late at night with your chums. The aroma of ponies in a stable mingled with damp hay bales. Snuggled in camphor scented blankets they munched on bacon flavoured chips, chocolate salted caramel, Bourbon biscuits, butterscotch toffee and dried cranberries. They guzzled warm waffles thick with melting hazelnut and chocolate spread with lashings of ginger beer. One panelist explained it was like ‘licking a creosote fence’ and another found linseed hoof oil. Then a feast of beef Wellington (they were posh), nut loaf, date pudding and prunes, topped off with smoky grilled pork chop and hummus."

Drinking tip:  "A late nighter"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 63.33

$112.49

RICH, TREACLY AND SUMPTUOUS

This 9 year old Speysider came from a 2nd fill sherry butt and is 61.6%

Flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

Outturn:  661 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "We found a nose that was rich and treacly, with brandy snaps, cinder toffee, Stroop waffles, dates, black tea, HP sauce, balsamic reduction, lavender perfume and unlit cigars. The unreduced palate was substantial and mouth-filling – flavours of sherry, leather, burnt sticks, creosote, marmite, ‘fly cemeteries’ and pain au chocolat, with some smoky bacon and dry-rub ribs as well. The reduced nose found rum baba, honeyed figs, aromatic duck, gingerbread, hibiscus tea and dark cherries in chocolate. The palate was now toasted coconut flapjacks, liquorice and prunes – dark and sumptuous, with good chewy textures; brown sugar sweetness nicely balancing the dry oak."

Drinking tip:  "Your favourite armchair, by the fire, wind howling - nothing can touch you"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.165

$184.49

CIGAR-SMOKING, PERFUMED NURSE

From Islay, this 20 year old is at 57.4% and is from a refill barrel

Flavour profile:  Peated

Outturn:  214

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose wafted enticing tendrils of complex smoke, saddle soap, leather, straw, green olives, lemon bonbons, root beer, raspberry jam and a nurse in starched uniform giving out malt extract and vitamin c. The unreduced palate teased us with  perfumed, fruity smoke, beach bonfire ash, sweet pears, walnuts and peppery, aniseed flavours. The reduced nose was wonderfully complex and balanced, with pot-pourri, wood shavings, antiseptic lotion, oil paint, vanilla slices and burnt heather, all woven around delightfully unobtrusive smoke. The palate was now fresh and tangy; pineapple, lemon, strawberry, mint and Edinburgh Rock candy, but also teasingly seductive, like a Sobranie-smoking, perfumed lady."

Drinking tip:  "A dram to celebrate falling in love"

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 2

$95.99

This came as a bit of a surprise to us, we've long enjoyed Yukon Brewing's beers, but I had no idea they were making whisky. The whisky, Batch 2, is a single malt, aged between 6 and 7 years and finished in sherry casks before bottling at 46%. The release is very limited!

From the Distillery: " Two Brewers Release 02, a Special Finish expression, will be the first Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Whisky to be released in Alberta, after their Charter Release sold out in less than six hours at their Whitehorse retail location. "We are extremely appreciative of the support we have received from our fellow Yukoners on releasing our Yukon Single Malt Whisky," quipped Alan Hansen. "We knew there was great interest in our product, but I was thrilled by the many smiling patrons I had the pleasure to meet at our launch event -¬ most of whom were still smiling after waiting in line for an hour!" .

Distiller's Tasting Note: "The nose is warming and vibrant, rich aromas with a heart of peaches and stone fruit. Ripe nectar--ines, round and creamy on the palate, are wrapped at once in resins of sherried oak and bright touches of nutmeg and white pepper. The lightly lingering finish of sweet honey and spice is wispy clean."