Bruichladdich Octomore 10Yr 2nd Edition
$259.99
Peated to 167ppm, the Octomore 10 Year 2nd Edition was distilled in 2005 and bottled at 57.3%. It was matured in a mixture of 1st Fill Bourbon, Grenache Blanc Casks.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: The Octomore DNA is evident as soon as the cork is popped. The smoke is closely intertwined with the rich and fruity toasted oak of the Grenache casks. Wisps of smoky iodine, leather, polish, Nutella, ginger syrup, walnuts and orange peels compete for your attention before allowing the fruit to come into its own as lemon and green apples are held together in the grip of the typical Octomore smoky, salty rope, marine character.
Palate: The heat from the natural strength is tempered by the wonderful texture in this whisky, not only has 10 years of maturation in fabulous American Bourbon and French Grenache casks allowed the phenol level to calm it has allowed the viscous, oil rich body of the whisky to build a strong confident character. The balance of smoke, oak and fruit is different from other Octomores, as the phenols naturally fade with age the fabulous casks develop a strong hold on the spirit, salted caramel, marzipan vanilla and crusty malty bread.
Finish: Given time eventually the power will fade, though after a couple of sips you may be forgiven for thinking your palate is altered forever as the smoke ligers for fully an hour! As ever the dry peat smoke will be the last flavour to remain reminiscent of pipe tobacco ash and peat tea, an island delicacy of tea brewed over a peat fire while gathering peats on the moss. this whisky is scarce, if you are lucky enough to taste it, treasure it.
Mood: This dram is bright and honest and has depth and backbone. Watching this spirit is develop is a privilege as there is a feeling with Octomore that there will always be a secret to revealed.
Springbank 12 Year Burgundy
$103.49
More bottles coming!
Matured 12 years in a Burgundy wine barrel, this limited edition Springbank was bottled at 53.5%. Only a very limited quantity is coming to Alberta.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: chocolate fudge, Dairy Queen's Peanut Buster Parfait, candied orange slices, salted caramel sauce and rum and raisin pudding; sour buckwheat pancakes with blueberry compote syrup; smoking cigars in a new leather chair.
Palate: big, leathery and very fruity with savoury sea salt; stewed fruits and more blueberry compote syrup on sour milk buckwheat pancakes; clean cigar smoke, more new leather sofa and layers of fruit from bright orange and canned pineapple to dried cranberry and figs in honey; an element of chocolate, vanilla and nuts (my Peanut Buster Parfait).
Finish: big, long and rich; layers of fruits mingle with chocolate, leather and more clean cigar smoke.
Comment: a curious but delightful Springbank, sweet with clean smoke and beautiful Burgundy influence; the wine casks have given it a very pleasant and unique style; still identifiably Springbank, but a different style.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Bold and rich with mineral and dunnage warehouse notes combining with maple syrup, pancetta, cranberry and red currants.
Palate: A soft velvet like texture with buttered brown toast and chocolate shortbread complimenting light herb & oak notes.
Finish: A medium dry finish gives up liquorice and mint accompanied woody tannins.
Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength 56.3%
$82.79
More bottles coming!
The Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength is one of the distillery's most popular releases. This batch is matured in 70% ex-Sherry casks and 30% Bourbon casks and is bottled at a natural cask strength of 56.3%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: dark, oily and foreboding, hard salty licorice, stewed fruits; strawberry rhubard pie, pleasantly nutty, a base of firm gently malt and clean smoke.
Palate: big, rich, oily and nutty... loads of dark fruits, spices and leather; firm smoke and more hard salty licorice candies; espresso bean, big salted caramel and more gently peated earthy malt; some more tropical tones beneath the prominent sherry.
Finish: big at first it tappers off with soothing, refreshing feel; the sherry influence and peat hang on for a long while fading into fruits.
Comment: much firmer than the current batch of Springbank 15 Year (September 2015) but still far from over sherried and no sulphur taint for those paranoid Murray fans out there!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: A wonderful concoction of nuts, toffee and marzipan among softer notes of coconut, creme brûlée and honeycomb.
Palate: A beautiful balanced dram with further notes of honeycomb along with toffee cream, chocolate, dried fruits and raisins.
Finish: Long, big and gentle with traditional dunnage warehouse notes accompanied by sweet salted caramel and maple syrup.
Old Malt Cask Jura 24 Year
$179.99
New & exclusive to KWM in Calgary, great value 24 year old single malt from the Jura Distillery. Bottled at 50% after maturing in a Refill Hogshead (HL Ref 12288), only 30 of 294 bottles are coming to KWM! Distilled: February 1992, Bottled: February 2016.
We are thrilled to have Hunter Laing's Old Malt Cask range back at KWM! We selected 5 bottlings as exclusives for KWM. More to come!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: dried orange rinds and lemon drops; almond slices, French baked goods, toasty oaky tones and honeycomb; chai creme brule and licorice sticks.
Palate: big, rich and fruity with ore of a sherried character than the nose let on; loads of honey, chocolate and orange marzipan, Chai crem brule and licorice sticks; lots of toasty oak, some salty tones and more creamy French bakery goods and smooh leather.
Finish: long, honeyed, spicy and very fruity; more dark fruits, marzipan and tobacco.
Comment: this is amazing value for a 24 year old whisky and a fresh tasting old Jura!
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: creme brule and marzipan with citrus notes.
Palate: vanilla fudge, dates and prunes, with pepper.
Finish: a medium and slighty spicy finish.
Glenfarclas 25 Year KWM Cask Strength
$284.99
When we approached Glenfarclas about assisting us with a special 25th Anniversary bottling, they offered a cask strength version of their beloved 25 year. We were thrilled at the opportunity, especially when they agreed to include our 25th Anniversary logo and an etched box, but it gets better... Bottled at 52.0%, this is a first in North America, just 600 bottles will be coming to Canada to help us celebrate our big anniversary. Less than 100 remain!
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 3.266
$209.99
SMOKE DRIFTING OVER GARDENS
This 15 year old from Islay was matured in a 1st fill barrel and bottled at 56.3%
Flavour Profile: Peated
Outturn: 228 bottles
Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose suggested light, distant smoke drifting over gardens (orange blossom, sage, lavender), some exotic fruits, sandy beaches, seaweed, barbecued salmon and the sweetness of honey, toffee, syrup and marmalade. The palate exploded smoke bombs of lavender, parma violet and eucalyptus – lots of high class soapy perfumes (might be too much for some, but we loved it); there were other things going on – smoky bacon, bitter chocolate and espresso dregs. The reduced nose found candy floss, cinder toffee, herbs and scented candles. The palate seemed sweeter, but that sweetness was nicely balanced by earthy bonfire notes and tart, bitter, floral perfumes."
Drinking Tip: "A party dram - along with a cigar and/or chocolate - for special indulgence"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 35.142
$209.99
SWEET TREATS AND FORBIDDEN PLEASURES
This 21 year old Speysider is from a 1st fill toasted oak hogshead and comes in at 56.2%
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Outturn: 264 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "On the nose – fudge, pecan pie, crème caramel, marzipan, set honey, rum-soaked raisins; waxed jackets, incense smoke, toasted oak, tobacco pouch, sweet mint. And here are some of our comments – Amazing. Fantastic. Deeply satisfying. Complex. Rewarding. Can’t put it down. Sweet treats. A sniffer’s dram. On the palate – dark Madeira honey cake, Jamaican truffles, Moroccan spice markets, buttered toast, marmalade, treacle, rich caramel, spiced almonds, maple syrup, ginger biscuits. Yet more comments – Forbidden pleasures. Manna from Heaven. A voyage of discovery. Sometimes being on the panel is not so bad!"
Drinking tip: "To impress someone - or simply as a canvas on which to paint the dreams of a good life"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 42.24
$126.99
THE BEE'S KNEES
This 9 year Highland Island malt was bottled at 59.5% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour Profile: Lightly peated
Outturn: 204 bottles
Panel's Tasting Note: "A fascinating combination of aromas ranging from sweet to salt and smoke kept us all very much engaged and interested; sea salt caramels, a salted chocolate tart using smoked sea salt and churros with salty peanut sugar and bitter chocolate. It tastes exactly how it noses. It was big in every sense; sweet, salty, smoky – simply stunning and best described by the following remarks; ‘dog’s bollocks’ and ‘bee’s knees’! Reluctantly we added a drop of water, however we still enjoyed that very unusual combination we experienced neat but now, admittedly, a little tamer but still tantalizing every nook and cranny of our tongue."
Drinking Tip: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society G7.10
$218.69
THE TEXAN TEA PARTY
This 31 year old single grain whisky came from a refill hogshead and is 59.2%
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Outturn: 294 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The hot air was filled with spicy sandalwood aromas from the sawdust on the floor and the sun-bleached fencing around the rodeo stadium on which perched new leather saddles waiting their turn. A delicious smell wafted from the stand selling vanilla ice cream, marzipan and banoffee pie with oodles of caramel sauce, toffee and custard. Beside the homemade spiced plum chutney stall we were surprised to find mulled wine mingling with oak casks containing Rye whisky and vanilla and coconut- infused Bourbon, which after adding a few drops of water became even sweeter and more spicy."
Drinking tip: "Before heading out on the high plains"