Maltbarn Caol Ila 2001
$206.99
I was a little taken aback on this KWM exclusive Caol Ila, but it is excellent, one of the best 14 year old whiskies I've ever had. It is really hard to screw up a Caol Ila, it is a consistently excellent whisky, but this one is very good. Distilled in 2001 and bottled at 58.8% from from a single sherry cask, only 194 bottles were produced with just a couple of dozen coming to Canada.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: marshmallow meet wood smoke from a beach fire; white chocolate sauce and heather honey with peaches and dried apricots above a base of salty smoke and a tinge of creosote.
Palate: round, thick and creamy with big juicy malt, firm earthy peat smoke, creosote soaked logs, cloves, anise and dried apricots with peaches in cream; more white chocolate, heathery honey and cigar smoke.
Finish: long, round, creamy, fruity and malty with more firm peat smoke and maritime tones.
Comment:
Glenfarclas Family Cask 1983
$887.99
Balblair 17 Year
$157.99
The Balblair 17 year is usually only available through Duty-Free, but that market's misfortune is our gain it would seem. 87.86pts Whisky Base.
Producer Description
"Matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first fill Spanish oak butts for exceptional depth and charisma. From the first sip, this traveler-exclusive Balblair shows great complexity with a charming, mature aroma and warming richness on the palate. This is a celebratory, confident expression of this elegant spirit."
Maltbarn Bunnahabhain 1987
$409.49
Exclusive to KWM in Calgary, ony 3 bottles available, and at the time of writing just one bottle left. Distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2015 at 28 years of age and just 48.6%. Only 6 bottles were released world-wide.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: fresh, fruity and tropical with soft leather and candied fruits; jujubes and winegums with Jolly Ranchers and fresh bag of assorted Jelly Bellies.
Palate: darker fruits than implied by the nose but the tropical ones catch up with time; a creamy base and more fruit flavoured candies develop before the spices take over; licorice, leather and bacon wrapped figs.
Finish: long, coating and fruity, like letting a jujube disolve in your cheek.
Comment: price is a little high, still it is a shame we only got three of these, and we opened one for a tasting...
G&M PC Ledaig Hermitage 2005
$113.99
The whisky has been finished in first fill Hermitage wine barriques, and is bottled at 45%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: meaty, leathery and fruity; stewed dark fruits, prunes and grilled figs wrapped in proscuitto; there is a savoury briny saltiness with Russian caramel an muddy earth.
Palate: meaty, tarry and sweet; bacon infused chocolate, more prunes, stewed dark fruits and grilled figd wrapped in proscuitto; savoury and briny with a medicinal edge, muddy peat notes and more Russian caramel; smoky barrel aged maple syrup.
Finish: the finish is surprisingly light and malty, that is once the bolder tones slowly fade off.
Comment: this is a big, bold Ledaig, the youthfull spirit has been matched by firm wine cask notes.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose without Water Sweet honey roasted ham aromas mingle with vibrant summer berries and spicy citrus notes. A delicate smoky edge is present. Palate without Water Peppery yet creamy with orange marmalade flavours followed by redcurrant, raspberry, and hints of dark chocolate. Savoury roast peanut develops and leads to bonfire embers on the finish. Nose with Water Rich fruit aromas - blackberry, raspberry, and redcurrant - with citrus undertones. A cocoa powder note leads to lingering smoke. Palate with Water Sweet and smooth initially, smoky notes are brought to the fore. Fruity with chocolate and subtle citrus flavours. A hint of the sea on the finish. Body Medium. Finish Long, smooth, and fruity.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 46.31
$224.99
SNIFFING A BEE'S KNEES
This 22 year old Speysider comes in at 54.2% after maturing in a refill hogshead
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla
Outturn: 253 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose was sweetly seductive – toffee, caramel, fruity marshmallows, and carrot cake, but far from one-dimensional – it also had burlap, coconut, macadamias and insinuations of citrus. The palate offered fantastic, mouth-watering sweet acidity; plus exotic fruits, flowers and strawberry jam tarts – and the finish – teasingly dry with woody tannins, coconut and clove. Floral notes increased on the reduced nose – parma violets, lavender (someone imagined sniffing a bee’s knees) – not to forget pineapple, sherbet and granola. The palate now danced on our tongues – lively as lollipops and cream soda, with lots of interesting back-flavours (cardamom, anise, angostura) – engaging."
G&M Speyside Collection
$19,500.00
KWM 2016 Whisky Advent Calendar
$359.99
We are really excited about our 2016 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. For the third straight year we have designed and built our own exclusive Whisky Advent Calendar, featuring a custom logo Glencairn glass, 24 50ml whiskies and a 100ml Christmas Day bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (The Society). The Society is the world's largest whisky club, and bottles whiskies exclusively for its members. This year's Calendar has a single cask from the Society that has been selected and bottled exclusively for the Calendar and Canadian Society members (750ml bottles will be made available to Society members in 2017!). Since Society whiskies are exclusively available to Society members, this is an opportunity for non-members to get their hands on a Society whisky. Recipients of the KWM Whisky Advent Calendar will be the first people to sample this exciting new whisky!
The Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is more than just a product for us, it is a way for us to share and connect with other whisky lovers in Calgary, Alberta and across Canada. Details on the whiskies released and their distillery will be posted on the KWM Blog each day. Recipients of the Calendar are encouraged to share their thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The KWM Whisky Advent Calendar also comes with a 10% discount card, good for any of the whiskies in the Calendar (excepting the Society whisky), subject to availability.
The Calendars are in store now and ready for purchase.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 1.190
$214.99
SMOKY CHIPOTLE BLOODY MARY
This 21 year old Speysider is from a refill hogshead and comes in at 56.2%
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Outturn: 220 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "This is best described as being eccentric and if you carry on reading you will understand why. Aromas mentioned: sweet herb-seasoned sausages, beef mince curry, Bavarian smoked cheese and crayfish cocktail with a smoky chipotle Bloody Mary. Initially to taste, a tantalizing hot/cold sensation like holding an ice cube in your mouth. More customary flavours of toffee apple, molten toffee pudding and cookies with dark chocolate, mango and coconut followed. Water changed everything; prawn cocktail chips, seaweed and salty liquorice caramels on the nose and the taste, crab cakes with sweet chili sauce and menthol cigarettes in the finish."
Drinking tip: "So you think you've seen/tasted it all"