Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.167

$184.49

WOWF!

At 58.6% this 20 year old from Islay came from a refill barrel

Flavour profile:  Peated

Outturn:  211 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose brimmed with peat smoke, coal cellars, antiseptic cream, coal-tar soap, salted liquorice, toasted coconut, treacle, sea-shells and a barber’s leather strop. The palate produced at least one ‘Wowf!’ (between a Wow and a Woof, apparently), with its kiln-smouldering peat, roasted coffee beans, figs, honey-flavoured Fisherman’s Friends, and walnuts and lavender in a coal sack – rather unusual, but good. The reduced nose was tamer – brown sugar meringues, banana chips, salted almonds, honeyed lemon and salty olives. The palate found honey cake and dry hay, but still the heavier memories of salty coal and sweet smoke weighed satisfyingly on our manna-receiving tongues."

Drinking tip:  "Would probably work with food - preferably a spread of tapas in the open air"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 7.126

$121.49

IT'S GONE NUTS!

From a 1st fill barrel, this 11 year old Speysider comes in at 57.9%

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  210 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose was rich with honey spiced toddy and lozenges oozing golden syrup. Toasted flaked almonds topped amaretti biscuits and roasted peaches with pistachios. Hints of pear drop and pine planks lingered before an orange explosion: jaffa cake with dark chocolate, tangerines and orange blossom. Nuts popped up again, this time salty and layered between mille-feuille pastry, like baklava with chestnut honey. Water relaxed the heat and delivered sugar roasted almonds, dried cherry and cranberry, raisin and fig. Sweet red pesto, spiced pears and chunky marmalade before a final rumble of brazil, walnut, macadamia and wasabi peanuts. Cracking stuff!"

Drinking tip:  "Let your hair down with this one"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 39.113

$164.99

AN EXPLOSION OF PLAYFULNESS

This 15 year old Speysider came from a refill hogshead and is 57%

Flavour profile:  Young & spritely

Outturn:  300 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose was light and mild – fruity, sweet aromas of 'flying saucers' candies, sherbet, Edinburgh Rock candy, vanilla, limoncello, grapefruit and talc were prevented from wafting away on the breeze by a ballast of pine, tree bark, basketry and cinnamon spice. The palate was youthful and lively; fizzy sherbet and ‘popping candy mixed with gunpowder’ exploded on our tongues – flavours included lemon, orange zest and yellow gummy bears – maybe a hint of perfumed bath bombs. With water, the nose found flowers, wood sap, lipstick and tea. The palate, now more playful than lively, suggested yellow coconut Liquorice Allsorts and cakes in waxed paper."

Drinking tip:  "As a palate cleanser - or in place of sparkling wine at a celebration"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society B3.3

$157.49

TREACLE BUNS IN A SAWMILL

The first Bourbon to be released by the Canadian SMWS branch, this 2 year old hails from Arkansas, is at 54.3% and is from a new charred oak barrel

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  221 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose engulfed us with drifts of molasses and thuds of wood (toasted oak, cinnamon) summarized by one comment – ‘Treacle buns in a sawmill’; brighter colours in the rainbow of sweetness included honey, raspberry pop-tarts and banana loaf. Adding water magically drew out the bakery element (Danish pastries with apricot jam and cherry, croissant with marmalade) and the aromatics (Christmas spice Yankee candles, pot-pourri, pumpkin pie). The palate, unsurprisingly, was hugely sweet (vanilla pod sugar, corn candies, blueberry muffins, pancakes smothered in boysenberry syrup) but all neatly balanced by grape seed and dried cranberry tartness and warming wood-derived spices."

Drinking tip:  "With an all-day breakfast which, of course, must include pancakes

Springbank Green 13 Year Sherry

$112.49

The follow up to 2014's Springbank Green 12 Year Bourbon, is the Springbank Green 13 Year Sherry. Bottled at 46% after maturing in sherry casks, the whisky was made with Oranic Barley. Organic Certification is a bit of a scheme, and very expensive. While this malt is not technically organic, it is as close as you get without jumping through hoops! 

Distiller's Tasting Note

Nose: Sweet cereal notes are accompanied with raisin butter, apple crumble, kiwi fruit and turkish delight.

Palate: The palate is fruity with raisins and orange zest to the fore. Marzipan, vanilla and soft sherry notes are also present.

Finish: A long, medium dry finish with classic Springbank sweet salty notes, along with hints of bung cloth and fig rolls.

Benromach Sassicaia

$102.99

Part of Benromach's Contrasts Range, this single malt was distilled in 2007, matured in First Fill Ex-Bourbon before finishing in Sassicaia wine casks from Bolgheri in Tuscany. It has been bottled at 45%. Just 3,500 bottles released. No more than 180 have come to Canada! 

Distiller's Tasting Note: "Pour yourself a good dram and notice the stunning deep ruby red colour, imparted by the former Sassicaia wine casks from Bolgheri. Now take a few small inhalations and take in the AROMA WITHOUT WATER… the nose is brimming with luscious red berries and hints of ginger and cinnamon, complemented by a subtle sense of smoke. Now sip and enjoy the TASTE WITHOUT WATER. The initial peppery palate gives way to a ripe fruit bowl of flavours… strawberries, raspberries, orange zest… and you can detect gorgeous milk chocolate drops, too. Add a little water for the AROMA WITH WATER, noticing the nose opening out… it’s fresh as a breeze with subtle herbs and summer fruits. Now sip it, roll the whisky around your palate and enjoy the full TASTE WITH WATER, peppery with a sweet toffee note followed by a slight saltiness and a subtle smoky edge."

Springbank Society 18 Year ReChar Sherry

$179.99

Please note you have to be a Springbank Society Member to purchase this product! - Strictly 1 per customer!!! No discounts.

This 18 year old single cask of Springbank was selected by the distillery and bottled exclusively for members of the Springbank Society. Because the distillery can't ship directly to Canada, the Kensington Wine Market has partnered with Springbank Distillery to sell Society bottlings to Canadian members. Matured in a Recharred Sherry Butt and bottled at 58.9%. Distilled May 1997, bottled September 2015. 

YOU HAVE TO BE A SPRINGBANK SOCIETY MEMBER TO PURCHASE A BOTTLE: But we can help with that. Membership is a ontime fee of £50. 

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: creamy, baked goods, dried diced apple and cooked pineapple; some fleshy plums, cinnamon butter and sea breeze with a whiff of distant smoke.

Palate: very fruity, more dried apple, but also baked apple crumble with cinnamon and brown sugar, cooked pineapple and fresh sliced pears; still buttery, creamy and increasingly rich with each sip, the smoke and salt build with time; a touch of bacon and dark chocolate pop up with darker spices.

Finish: long, rich and fruity with coating salty oils and clean peat smoke; over time it becomes oilier, and more buttery with silky peat and phenols.

Comment: this is a lovely malt, a great single cask and a fantastic selection for Society members to enjoy!

Distiller's Tasting Note

Nose:  Aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa powder and brandy butter underlined by a soft caramelization.

Palate:  An oily and mouth coating dram with rich chocolate, liquorice and sherbet notes coming to the fore followed by wood char and nutmeg. 

Finish:  A long, dry finish with notes of fennel and espresso with tobacco smoke in the background. 

Benromach 100 Proof 10 Year

$105.99

THIS EXCELLENT WHISKY HAS BEEN SADLY BEEN DISCONTIUNED. GRAB A BOTTLE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

The first 10 year old cask strength bottling produced, matured and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail since they took over the distillery in 1993. Bottled at a  57%, British 100 Proof, the whisky is excellent value for its age and strength. 

Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Pour yourself a dram of this beautiful golden amber single malt whisky and take a few small inhalations to start to enjoy the AROMA WITHOUT WATER. It has an intense Sherry nose with heaps  of stewed apple, pear and delightful vanilla pod aromas... delicious toasted malt aromas develop and complement an underlying menthol edge. Now take a sip and savour the TASTE WITHOUT WATER... there’s cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry... hints of orange peel and milk chocolate combine with a delicate smoky edge. Add a smidge of water to release your dram of 100 ÌŠ Proof and enjoy the AROMA WITH WATER... it’s fabulous, with initial hints of beeswax polish and peat smoke... followed by sweeter aromas developing with ripe banana and kiwi bound together by honey. Now for the TASTE WITH WATER. Roll it around your palate and enjoy the sweet and salty effect with ripe banana and blackcurrant flavours. Notice the emerging creamy milk chocolate edge with a long rich finish of lingering subtle smokiness and bonfire embers."

G&M MacPhail's Glenturret 2001

$103.49

Exclusive to KWM, just 10 cases coming into the market of this MacPhail's Glenturret 2001 bottled at 43%.

Producer's Tasting Note:" Nose without water: Sweet Sherry influences with hints of toffee apple, custard powder, and beeswax polish aromas enhanced by a lime citrus note. Taste without water: Initially peppery followed by green apple, ripe banana, and zesty orange flavours complemented by smooth milk chocolate. Subtle hints of liquorice mingle with charred oak on the tongue. Aroma with water: Sweet vanilla aromas with delicate hints of toasted malt and cocoa powder. Waxy citrus fruits mingles with beeswax polish notes. Taste with water: Creamy with ripe banana, tangerine, and milk chocolate flavours complemented by subtle hints of cinnamon spice."