Whisky Agency Glenrothes 1980

$481.49

Exclusive to KWM in Canada, we've only received just 6 bottles of this 34 year old Glenrothes single cask. Bottled by the Whisky Agency under their Private Stock label, it was filled into a Refill Hogshead in 1980 and bottled in 2014. Only 180 bottles were produced. 

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: floral, fresh, fruity and sugar; baked apple, sliced orange and botanical gardens; growing vanilla, strawberry Twizzlers and Manuka honey.

Palate: soft, creamy and very floral; for its age the delicate floral notes are remarkable, like being immersed in a botanical garden; rich layered spices build: candied ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and powdered cocoa; crisp but round orange notes, and other citrus fruits too, more baked apple with melons and pineapple; the American oak shows no bitterness and adds a velvety creaminess.

Finish: long, coating and smooth with rich floral, citrus and spice notes.

Comment: I'm not known as a lover of Glenrothes, but this one is brilliant and shows the spirit at its best; wish we had more than 6 bottles! 

Whisky Agency House Malt 17 Year

$125.99

The second I saw this one I knew I had to open it and give it a try. This is the Whisky Agency's "House Malt" , it is a cask strength 17 year old Speyside Single Malt from refill sherry wood. Given the fact that their are just 179 bottles at 50.8%, it is safe to say this is a single cask. But the distillery of origin remains a mystery. All we can do is speculate. Distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2012. Sadly just 6 bottles coming into Alberta! 

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: decadent and fruity right from the popping of the cork, dried cherries and mixed berry jam; there are soft earthy tones, gentle polished old leather, chocolate-orange-marzipan and condensed fruits bars; dark spices emerge with a touch of tar and licorice.

Palate: the palate is rich thick and very bold; intense fruit, caramel, treacle sauce and more smooth polished old leather; bags and bags of fruits from the dried cherries and jammy tones, to orange, mango and darker fruits like dates and figs; very Glendronach-like, but alas this is a Speyside malt; the sherry tones and very prominent and layered but not overwhelming.

Finish: long, coating and still bold, a big sherry bomb of a Speyside that doesn't "go quietly into that good night."

Comment: it is excellent, but in retrospect I shouldn't have opened it, we're only getting 6 bottles... well that leaves with 5 to sell! 

The Daily Dram Caperdonich 1994

$161.99

Exclusive to KWM in Canada, only 12 bottles of this 20 year old single malt are coming into Canada. Bottled at a cask strength of 47.6% under The Daily Dram's Classic Car Series, with the Ferrari 250 GTO label.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: creamy, waxy and toasty with almonds, butterscotch ice cream and orange marzipan; green grassy malt, toasty oak sugars and floral notes.

Palate: creamy, honeyed and toasty with candied orange, spice, floral tones and green grassy malt; melons, white chocolate, chili flakes and some juicy oak ; cream soda and cantaloupe with croissants.

Finish: long, coating and fruity and spicy.

Laphroaig 32 Year

$1,399.99

We have only received a handful of these, and may not see many more. This 32 year old is one of just 6,000 bottles released world-wde to celebrate the distillery's 200th Anniversary! The whisky was matured exclusively in Ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, some of them up to 35 years of age, and has been bottled at 46.6%. Be patient, we may get additional bottles! 

Distiller's Tasting Note

Nose - Reminiscent of a Christmas fruit cake, the rich, sherry sweetness and the aroma of caramelised brown sugar is predominant. A drop of water reveals notes of cinnamon spiced red apples, with just a hint of bitter dark chocolate.

Body - Intense and rich.

Taste - The dark, bitter chocolate follows through to the palate, with nutmeg and an intense spicy oakiness. Adding a touch of water allows sweeter, sherry flavours to come through, together with just a hint of salt tang and subtle peat smoke.

Finish - Dry, long and lingering, sherried oak finish.

Arran 2005 Limburg Whisky Fair 50.7%

$107.99

Exclusively available from KWM in Canada, we are getting just 18 bottles of this small batch peated Arran bottled for the Limburg Whisky Fair. The whisky was bottled at a cask strength of 50.7% from a vatting of two peated casks 05/159 and 05/161. The whisky was distilled on December 12 2005 and bottled March 24 2014. 510 total bottles produced. 

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: leather, cedar shavings, clean smoke and Demerara sugars; old fashioned whisky cocktails, a base of creamy vanilla and juicy malt with orange and floral tones. 

Palate: creamy, honeyed and chewy with building smoke and salt, breathing in deep in a cedar sauna; loads of juicy malt, grass smoke and orange peels soaked in classic old whisky cocktails; layered, fruity and spicy.

Finish: long, coating, chewy and smoky with more fading orange peel, spices and malt.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society G14.1

$193.49

EAST MEETS WEST

This single grain whisky from a closed distillery is 28 years old and comes in at 47.8% after spending its life in a refill barrel

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  163 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Whilst pouring a sample we were all reminded of opening a bag of crispy fried and salted corn kernels, followed by sweet, fruity aromas of bananas, a jar of pear drops, candy sticks but at the same time crispy baked sweet potato fries. The taste neat started off very sweet; caramel glazed doughnuts and chocolate fudge ice cream but well balanced by a variety of Indian and Thai spices. With water it turned into an ‘Afghan Monkey’ (cocktail using Malibu, banana and melon liqueur, Blue Curacao, whipped cream and pineapple juice) and in the finish a dried fruit mix with sweet and spicy chili flakes."

Drinking tip:  "Beware!  Dangerously drinkable!"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.174

$188.99

SHETLAND PONIES AT THE SEASIDE

From Islay, this 20 year old is from a refill barrel and is 56.7%

Flavour profile:  Peated

Outturn:  186 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Our four legged friends were trotting over mossy grass, their wee hooves kicking up the turf in divots. Over summer, their woollen blankets had been stored in a wooden chest, scented with camphor and lavender.  The adults barbecued prawns, Portuguese sardines and honey-glazed eggplant while snacking on wasabi fresh sushi and frittata. The ponies nuzzled into to the fire - smoke mingling in their hairy coats. Rain came, as predicted, and brought sweetness as the children guzzled candy floss, fudge and chalky rock candy. The afternoon ended with cooling mint and wet ash, the ponies happily munching handfuls of malt."

Drinking tip:  "It will take you back to happy holidays"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 121.88

$164.99

LICKING THE WOODEN SPOON

At 15 years old, this Highland Islander came from a refill hogshead and is 53.8%

Flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

Outturn:  227 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Enticing, inviting, warm, rich and like ‘walking barefoot on hot sand’ were the initial comments nosing neat. Descriptors given; hot crumpets with runny honey, waffles with golden syrup and buttered popcorn. The taste had the rich sweetness of a chocolate éclair sprinkled with nutmeg whilst in the finish, surprisingly dry. Water added aromas of wood and spice, a well-used wooden rolling pin as well as warm hot cross buns with a slightly waxy mouthfeel of a chamois leather cloth. The overall effect is now charming, innocent and very inviting –don’t we all like licking the wooden spoon after making cakes?"

Drinking tip:  "A quickie whenever the opportunity arises"

Millstone 2005 Heavily Peated 46%

$97.99

Price recently droped $88 from $185/bottle.

Only a dozen bottles initially came in to the market, of this heavily peated Dutch single malt. The whisky was awarded Dutch Single Malt of the Year 2016, by Whisky Magazine in their World Whisky Awards. Bottled at 46%.

Whsky Magazine Tasting Note: "The smell of barbecue and medicine cabinet, rolled elasticated bandages and wood smoke, along with lots of blue cheese. A gentle but powerful and muscular whisky – sweet, creamy & delicate, with brawny savoury aromatics in the headspace. Texturally it’s unctuous with wisps of smoke and the memories of a decent cheese board."

While not historically known for their whisky, the Dutch have been distilling as long as anyone in Europe. Most famous for genever and brandy, some of the distilleries there have taken to producing whisky. The Zuidam family began producing genever and other liquors in 1976 in the town of Baarle-Nassau on the Belgian border. Patrick van Zuidam, the second generation, began experimenting with whisky distillation in 1996, and started laying down barrels. The distillery produces both malt and grain whiskies, including a powerful rye. While they have borrowed and been influenced by the whisky makers in other countries, they are making a distinctly Dutch whisky. In one curious aspect, they mill their own barley in traditional windmills.