Scotch Malt Whisky Society 42.29
$127.99
MARVELOUS MARITIME MARGARITAS
This 9 year old Highland Islander comes in at 57.3% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour profile: Oily & coastal
Outturn: 228 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "Next to the seaside smokehouse and amongst the tarry ropes and old fishermen's nets was an odd place to sip margaritas whilst snacking on sweet pickled herring, smoked bacon in grainy bread rolls with brown sauce and oysters with balsamic vinegar. But that’s just the way we rolled. From the smell in the air it seemed they were smoking duck today, perhaps with some sort of marmite glaze. As the margaritas evaporated we looked forward to our dessert of salted caramel ice cream with lime sauce and a spoonful of thick cut marmalade."
Drinking tip: "Alone with a pencil and a drawing pad prepared to be amazed at the outcome"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 48.84
$83.99
SEIZE THE MOMENT
This 12 year old Speysider was matured in a 1st fill barrel and comes in at 57.7%.
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla.
Outturn: 216 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "We felt like before the first time meeting the girlfriend’s parents, a bouquet of white oriental lilies and roses in one hand and a bottle of Gewürztraminer in the other – we had a couple of glasses from a second bottle before we got as far as the door and knocked. The door opened and we were greeted with open arms, got offered crumpets with slightly burned edges with butter and strawberry jam and pretty strong espresso which packed a punch. Water brought out bonfire toffee and fruity strawberry fudge before we all relaxed with a Mai Tai in the conservatory."
Drinking tip: "Before a big moment or at any moment"
Cadenhead Small Batch Knockdhu 2006
$114.99
Independent bottlings of Knockdhu are extremely rare, this 10 year old Cadenhead Small Batch bottling is from 2006, matured in 3 Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads bottled at 56.5%. Only 12 bottles for Canada, exclusively to KWM.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Honeycomb, banana, geraniums and custard creams.
Palate: Herbal with vanilla, salted butter, frankfurters and Battenburg cake.
Finish: Pebble beaches, white chocolate and coconut.
Cadenhead Small Batch Macduff 2006
$76.99
We don't often see Macduff bottled as a single malt. Independent bottlings are rare. Distillery bottlings are available under the "The Deveron" label. This 2006 distilled bottling is from 2 Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads, bottled at 10 years of age and 46%. Exclusive to KWM.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Eucalyptus, floral, raisins, strong vanilla and fresh basil.
Palate: White chocolate, pink peppercorns, banana leaves. Very fresh.
Finish: Long herbal finish, wild garlic and more white chocolate.
Glen Grant Collection 1950 - 1955
$20,500.00
Ardbeg 23 Year
$874.99
Limit 1 Per Customer - Must be an Ardbeg Committee Member (It is easy to sign up)
Canada missed out on last year's Ardbeg 21 Year, a limited amount is coming exclusively to Alberta Ardbeg Embassies in mid-November. Bottles at 46.3% from a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks. We are dying to learn more.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: buttery, waxy and tropical; more soft peat oils and White chocolate Hersheys Kisses; doughy, chocolatey and a touch piney with some dried appricot and a touch of juicy orange.
Palate: buttery, waxy, very oily and fruity; more dried appricot, juicy orange and honeydew melon; a touch of tarry peat, and fruity cigar tobacco; more white chocolate and piney tones; beeswax candles and damp cedar logs on the fire.
Finish: long, oily, coating and buttery; more damp burning cedar, tobacco and delicate fruits smothered in fresh vanilla bean and beeswax candles;
Comment: lovely, a classic old Ardbeg, much better than the 21 year (which didn't come to Alberta) released last year; shades of some legendary old Ardbegs like the Lord of the Isles here!
Producer's Tasting Note
Colour: Rustic Bronze
Nose: Initial bursts of Vanilla cream, sweet wood smoke and bubble gum mingle with burning pine cones and chocolate. On the second nose, fresh tropical fruits are infused with deeper chocolate and sherry led notes. A splash of water intensifies the smoke flavours, creosote and coal tar followed by medicinal notes mixed with ripe mango.
Taste: At first there is a rich chocolate flavour with a silky mouthfeel. The second sip begins with more chocolate and something deeper, vanilla pods and dried fruits, but then there are pine needles and pine smoke, herbal notes and then more chocolate, this time chocolate covered raisins.
Finish: A long finish with herbal notes and a hint of spice which falls away.
Benromach 1977 Heritage
$2,999.99
Only 3 bottles are coming to Alberta of this 39 year old whisky! Distilled in 1977 the whisky was matured in a single cask, 1268, a Refill American Oak Hogshead. It maintained an impressive 56% abv! Only 1 is believed to be left!
Adelphi Breath of Speyside 2006
$134.99
This 10 year old mystery Speyside single malt, possibly Glenfarclas, was matured in a pair of "active", Refill Spanish Ex-Sherry Oak Hogsheads, bottled at 58.5%. KWM is getting just 6 of the 536 bottles!
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Turkish Delight with a dusting of coffee powder, saddle soap, Highland Toffee, crème caramel and a hint of dried mango.
Palate: Burnt toffee to taste with Werther’s Originals, Chocolate Eclairs, and pencil shavings.
Finish: Drying in the finish with notes of fresh tobacco.
Adelphi Bowmore 1997
$279.99
Only about 18 bottles of this Bowmore single cask are due to come to KWM. Mature Islay whiskies are becoming increasingly rare and expensive on the independent bottling side. Rumour has it neither distillery is selling casks anymore! This one was matured in a Sherry Butt and bottled at 57.2%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: polished oak and new Italian leather shoes; treacle sauce on warm sticky toffee pudding and Werther's Orginal; some subtle smoke, candied orange and hints of lavender.
Palate: big, round, fruity and smoky... surprisingly smoky; more polished oak and new leather notes; the lavender picks up with some cold Earl Grey tea and Demerara sugar; dark chocolate covered espresso beans, liquorice and treacle sauce.
Finish: round, fruity and smoky; the fine leather, liquorice and chocolate tones linger long with floral lavender and cold tea.
Comment: a surprising dram, at once more smoky than I would expect for a 19 year old Bowmore, and less sherried than the colour let on; a lovely older Bowmore, and a fine Cigar malt!
Producer Description: “Drawn from a wonderful ex-Sherry butt, this is amber, almost chestnut in colour with good beading. An immediate scent of jam enriched suet pudding, salted Curly Wurly and Snickers chocolate bars, soon overcome by Bowmore characteristics - lint bandages, antiseptic cream, talcum powder, and a little oily tar – on a base of Highland toffee with a whiff of smoke.
Producer Tasting Note: “Smooth texture, sweet taste, trace of salt – big smoky finish. With a drop of water, the aroma moves towards buttered burnt toast; the taste remains sweet and smoky. Classic Bowmore.”