Cadenhead Small Bt. 12 Aultmore 1997
$152.99
COMING SOON TO KWM - Available for Pre-Order!
Part of Cadenhead's 12th Small Batch release, a range exclusive in Canada to KWM. This whisky was distilled on the 12th of May in 1997. It is the product of a single Hogshead casks 3333 and has been bottled at cask strength, 53.9%. Only 6 bottles coming.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Very light initially, but becoming more complex. Delicate notes of cut hay and a hint of boiled sweets.
Palate: More chewy than the nose suggests - soft toffee that is slightly drying and then subtle aniseed and mint.
Finish: Long and dry, more aniseed and black currant.
Distillery Fact: The distillery was completely rebuilt in the 1970’s, at which point the stills were increased from 2 to 4. This whisky was distilled a year before Bacardi took over the distillery through their ownership of Dewars.
Benromach 35 Year
$1,149.99
This long anticipated release is one of the oldest Benromachs ever bottled. It comes on the heels of the 21, 25, and 30 year olds which were all bottled from the pre-closure stocks laid down in the early 1980s. Matured in First Fill Sherry and bottled at 43% in a bespoke decanter, only 36 bottles are initially coming to Alberta! Scored 91pts by Serge at Whisky Fun.
From the Distillery: Benromach Distillery Manager Keith Cruickshank said: “Benromach 35 Years Old is a very special whisky for everyone at the distillery, as very few casks of Benromach remain from this time period. Benromach today is created respecting the traditional working practices of yesteryear and is lovingly handcrafted by sight, by sound, and by touch, using the finest natural ingredients. The 35 Years Old is the perfect dram to toast the past, present and future of Benromach.”
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: it smells old, molasses, dark fruits, chocolate and candied orange; very rummy the sherry notes and strong but not overpowering; salty caramel with dunnage warehouse floors and dark chocolate; big rich and tangy Manuka honey, soft saddle leather and assorted cracked nuts.
Palate: a big hit of rum, molasses and leather right off the bat; more of the saddle leather with expensive men's leather driving gloves, and salty Dutch licorice; lots of orange: candied, zest and oils, chocolate, more Manuka honey, vegetal notes and spice; old musty oak, sherry wine, more dunnage and nutty notes with building dried dark fruits.
Finish: long, tangy, earthy and vegetal with subtle spices and leather; the finish is old, sherried, elegant and satisfying.
Comment: very different, not what I was expecting, it is showing its age, but far from over the hill; the sherry has made its mark but hasn't drowned the spirit!
Distiller's Tasting Note
"Pour a dram and appreciate the AROMA WITHOUT WATER… the nose offers rich sherry influences with orange marmalade, kiwi and grapefruit aromas, complemented by gorgeous cinnamon spice. Now lift it to your lips and take a sip, enjoying the TASTE WITHOUT WATER. Initially, it is sweet on the palate with honey, fruitcake, ripe banana and melon flavours. Watch out for the smooth white chocolate edge as it develops, combined with a soft menthol note, giving a full body and long and smooth fruity finish. Now add a drop or two of water and notice the AROMA WITH WATER… sherry influences with honey, blackcurrant and beeswax polish aromas, complemented by a subtle hint of cloves. Now it’s time to savour the TASTE WITH WATER… a fabulous combination of white pepper followed by dried tobacco, dewy stewed pear, raisin and zesty orange peel flavours, heightened by a delicate edge of charred oak…the result of lingering for over three decades in oak casks."
Whisky Fun Tasting Note www.whiskyfun.org
"Good, this baby wouldn’t tell its vintage, BUT a leaflet says that it was ‘laid down to mature in the 1980s’. I suppose the vatting was done last year, so that means that it must be some 1980, unless the casks were disgorged in 2016, which means that there could be some 1981 as well. Doesn’t that make sense, Watson? So in theory, it could be the same juice as that of the 30 yo from circa 2011, which wouldn’t be bad news (WF 90). But enough speculation, let’s try this new baby… Colour: deep gold. Nose: instant pleasures. A beehive in the midst of summer, some fresh apple juice, and very discreet touches of mustard, or perhaps horseradish. Let’s go a little further, that would be beeswax, heather honey, pollen, artisan cider, and yes, horseradish (smidgens), then hints of old books, furniture polish, and orange zests. All this is very lovely, both compact and complex. Forgot to mention walnuts. Mouth: starts bitter like old style manzanilla (indeed, again – that’s pasada) and raw cocoa powder, plus walnuts yet again, and bitter oranges. This bitter style is something that I enjoy a lot, this baby could be seen as the most complex form of Jaegermeister. Yes, in a way. Keeps unfolding on various dry herbs (thyme) and even more walnuts, with an ashy smokiness that’s also very ‘Benromach’. The oak tends to come to the front, but it would come with quite a lot of tobacco, Habana-style. And some pepper too. It’s also a case where the 43% are not a problem at all. Finish: long, herbal, with some dry mint, some bitter oranges, and quite a lot of cinnamon. The lovely old oak has got the last word. Comments: very excellent as such, but also singular, and different from any other old malt. That’s clearly a tremendous asset, when many whiskies – unless peated - tend to taste more or less the same. Vanilla? Who mentioned vanilla? SGP:372 - 91 points."
Cadenhead Small Bt. 12 Dufftown 1978
$557.99
Part of Cadenhead's 12th Small Batch release, a range excluisve in Canada to KWM. This whisky was distilled on the 31st of March 1978 and was matured in a single Hogshead cask and bottled at 47.6%. Only 6 total bottles.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Time has been kind to this one - lots of vanilla, creme brûlée with lot’s of juicy fruits on the nose.
Palate: The nose doesn’t lie, more vanilla and caramel but not overly sweet, edging towards a spicy nutmeg note.
Finish: Mandarin segments and cream, before the soft spicy notes coming to the fore.
Distillery Fact: Produces spirit via small still volumes, which allow for high levels of copper contact and subsequently a green and grassy spirit.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 12 Tomintoul 1985
$400.49
Part of Cadenhead's 12th Small Batch release, a range exclusive in Canada to KWM. This whisky was distilled on the 20th of November 1985 and was bottled after 30 years at 50.7% after maturing in a single Ex-Bourbon barrel cask 5674.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Freshly mown grass, bruised green apples and rhubarb Apple strudel - fruit, spice and pastry notes working together well.
Palate: Very refreshing and with a slight dryness.
Finish: Long but with a slight tartness of stewed fruit that demands another taste.
Distillery Fact: Situated in the hills below highest village in the Highlands, Tomintoul distillery is built at 268m above sea level.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 12 Glen Elgin 1995
$174.99
COMING SOON TO KWM - Available for Pre-Order!
Part of Cadenhead's 12th Small Batch release, a range exclusive in Canada to KWM. This whisky was distilled on the 8th of November in 1995. It is a 20 year old marriage of two hogshead casks 1655 and 1656 and bottled at cask strength of 55.6%. 18 bottles coming!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Initially grassy giving way to white pepper, hints of soft leather and hints of orange zest.
Palate: Toasted oats and raspberries with white chocolate. Lemon cheesecake with soft golden syrup.
Finish: Pistachio nuts, distant lime and soft spice and slightly drying.
Distilley Fact: The distillery closed in 1992 for refurbishment and was re-opened again in 1995, making this some of the first spirit produced post-refurbishment.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 12 Strathmill 1992
$211.49
Part of Cadenhead's 12th Small Batch release, a range exclusive in Canada to KWM. This whisky was distilled on the 27th of April in 1989. It is a marriage of two barrels, casks 53991 and 53992, bottled at 58.1% after 26 years. Only 12 bottles coming to KWM!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Classic aged grain - treacle and honeycomb.
Palate: The honeycomb really takes charge, backed up with notes of gingerbread and hard toffee - sweet but not sickly so!
Finish: Sweet initially but then warming -Gingerbread and cinnamon develop in a long finish.
Distillery Fact: A phenomenal 40 million litres of pure alcohol are produced at Strathclyde distillery every year, but very little is bottled as single grain.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 12 Tullibardine 1993
$161.24
Part of Cadenhead's 12th Small Batch release, a range exclusive in Canada to KWM. This whisky was distilled on the 11th of May in 1993. It is a marriage of two hogsheads, casks 1530 and 1531, bottled at 47.3% after 22 years. 18 bottles are coming to Canada.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: A meaty note initially like beef stock, fading quickly to cut grass and wild flowers.
Palate: An unexpected all spice note hits first, growing into something sweeter and creamier, like shortbread and clotted cream.
Finish: A mouth coating and extended finish, very oily and with a little bit of cedar wood.
Distillery Fact: This whisky was distilled one year before the distillery closed for 9 years in 1994. The distillery was bought by a consortium in 2003 who in turn sold the distillery to the Picard family in 2008.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 3.228
$219.59
A DEEP, BROODING MASTERPIECE
This 26 year old from Islay lived its life in a 2nd fill sherry butt and came out at 46%
Flavour profile: Old & dignified
Outturn: 206 bottles
Panel's tasting note: At first there were blackberries, then salted caramel sweets and freshly baked gingerbread men. Light, measured peat, rich Soreen Malt Loaf and beautiful amoroso sweetness combined. Then, a fizz on the tongue with Love Hearts, Seville oranges and redcurrants. Hints of Pears soap, sweet charcoal dust and eucalyptus sung softly, whilst the understated smoke provided a steady bass-line. Some were taken to a fireside in a log cabin, while others walked on a beach in the rain. We enjoyed spare ribs with a sticky soy glaze followed by a handful of Edinburgh Rock candy. Bakewell tarts, smoke and lavender to finish. Harmonious: Everything in its right place."
Drinking tip: "Enjoy under doom laden skies"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.216
$192.59
BBQ IN PINE-CLAD DUNES
From Islay, this 21 year old is 60.6% and is from a refill sherry butt
Flavour profile: Lightly peated
Outturn: 597
Panel's tasting note: "After the bonfire in the hospital parking lot we went to the pine-clad dunes and started the barbecue for our dinner consisting of honey-glazed smoked ham, gammon steak, whole mackerel with lemon, oregano, olives and Ayrshire new potatoes with sour cream and parsley. The taste neat therefore no surprise, sweet cured ham, pork sausages and a lingering mild sweet peat smoke. With water the food turned into steamed mussels and cockles, Arbroath Smokies and herring salad in a sour cream sauce. The taste now sweet and juicy like a grilled gammon steak with caramelized pineapple slices."
Drinking tip: "For your evening barbecue by the sea"