Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990
$824.99
To say this replaces the Quarter Century does both whiskies a disservice. The Grande Vintage Malt 1990 is the first release in the new Bond House No 1 Collection. It is a 25 year old single malt bottled at 43% from a single vintage and harvest, 1990. The whisky has been matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. 92pts Whisky Advocate
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: honeyed, elegant and silky; Earl Grey ice cream, tapioca pudding and creme brule; vanilla bean, just picked California oranges, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg; tarte tatin and tallow candles.
Palate: delicate, waxy, honeyed, creamy and coating; ethereal and silky; the fruits come in waves: cooked apple, fresh orange, melons and kiwi fruit; the spices build, more cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and Earl Grey ice cream; more creme brule and clotted cream; very layered and pretty.
Finish: long, elegant and silky; delicate, almost fragile waves of fruit and cream.
Comment: very elegant and dangerously drinkable; though layered this whisky is also sessionable!
Producer Description: "With a vibrancy that belies its 25 years in casks, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 is an inspiring opening to our exclusive vintage collection, Bond House No 1. The story of this intriguing single malt begins with a small parcel of spirit, created against all odds, from one of the most challenging barley harvests in living memory. Carefully nurtured for a quarter century in the finest ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, this sublime whisky exhibits an extraordinary mellow, rounded character with heady floral and fruity notes."
Distiller's Tasting Note
Aroma: A cornucopia of floral and fruity notes. Pear, honeysuckle and freesia mingle with orange blossom, candied fruits, mandarin, apple, heather honey and a distinctive note of beeswax.
Taste: A silky, creamy mouthfeel brings with it the succulent sweetness of orange syrup, honeycomb and vanilla. Then come zesty top notes of gooseberry and menthol.
Finish: Baked apples and pears abound, leading to brown sugar, biscuit and the gentlest hint of clove.
92Pts Whisky Advocate: "The first release in Glenmorangie’s new Vintage Collection, named Bond House No.1 after the 19th century warehouse that became the distillery’s new stillhouse in 1990. Matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks. Mandarins, honey, and vanilla on the floral nose. Very smooth on the palate, with malt, vanilla, more honey, and milk chocolate orange. Attractive soft oak notes and gentle herbal spice in the medium to long finish."
About the Glenmorangie Bond House No 1 Collection: "The Bond House No 1 collection was conceived to honour the largest of Glenmorangie’s traditional 19th-century bonded warehouses, which for generations served as home to the Highland Distillery’s finest wooden casks of patiently maturing whisky. As demand for the single malt surged, Bonded Warehouse No 1 was transformed in 1990 into the beating heart of the Distillery – a towering new stillhouse – revered today as Glenmorangie’s Highland cathedral.
"Ever since, this majestic building has protected Glenmorangie’s signature copper stills, renowned as the tallest in Scotland. Their height ensures that the vapours travel the long distance to the top, to create Glenmorangie’s smoother, more elegant spirit."
The most challenging harvest: "Inspired by the heritage of its namesake, Bond House No 1 will, on an annual basis, share the story of a prestigious vintage malt with connoisseurs and collectors. And none is more compelling than the story of the collection’s inaugural release, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990, as the Distillery’s acclaimed Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks explains.
“The delicious spirit which became Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 was particularly hard won,” says Dr Bill Lumsden. “As all whisky lovers know, barley is a crucial ingredient in the creation of whisky. But in 1990, the harvest we were presented with varied widely, proving more challenging than any other in living memory. The maltsters were the first to experience difficulties: such was the variation in the grain that they were simply unable to create a malt which would ensure a smooth flow through distilleries. Spirit creation faltered many times as a result, frustrating the efforts of whisky makers across Scotland.
“Glenmorangie had to summon all the mastery and craftsmanship for which our Distillery is renowned, just to create an exceptionally small parcel of spirit. Against all the odds, the new-make spirit of 1990 tasted sublime. Even today, there are few outside our Distillery who understand how such an exquisite spirit could stem from a harvest so challenging.”
A sense of destiny: "Alive to the spirit’s potential, Glenmorangie selected the finest ex-bourbon casks in which to nurture its rare delicacy to maturity, with a small parcel in former sherry casks to bring a robustness of character that would complement the more traditional notes lent by the bourbon. And so, in the Distillery’s peaceful surroundings on the banks of the beautiful Dornoch Firth, the long wait commenced, as wood and whisky began their patient marriage of flavours.
"A quarter century of careful maturation later, Dr Bill Lumsden sensed that these two parcels of whisky had reached their very best. Taking his inspiration from the spirit’s origins, he united their characters to create Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 – a whisky whose rounded, mellow character belies its maturity."
Celebration of Cask Glen Spey 1991
$204.99
Kavalan Solist Vinho Canada Blow Out
$194.99
This is a single cas of Kavalan Vinho bottled exclusively for Canada. The Kavalan Vinho "Celebrating Canada" cask W130111055 yielded but 234 bottles. KWM will not likely see more than a couple of dozen bottles.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: big, rich and spicy; loads of dark and candied fruit; a balsemic vinegar reduction, Demerara sugars, peanut brittle and with patience some soft, delicate fruits: dried apricots, melon and peaches.
Palate: big, creamy and decadent with loads of fruit: more dried apricots, and diced pineapple with cooked apple and poached pear; more Demerara sugar, French roast coffee dregs, peanut brittle and more balsemic vinegar reduction notes.
Finish: fruity, spicy and nutty; very silky and smooth.
Comment: more balanced and less over the top than most of the other single casks I've sample; this is a lovely single cask!
About the Kavalan Vinho: "This cask strength Taiwanese single malt is "World Whisky of the Year!: World Drinks Awards 2015." We've known what a gem this is for years, having sold it exclusively in Calgary. A very limited quantity of the whisky has just come back in stock, and at a much lower price! Matured in American ex-Wine Barriques."
World Whisky Awards Tasting Note: "Lots of stewed fruits on the nose. There’s also aged Bourbon notes. Water brings out custard creams. Surprisingly smooth on the palate. The alcohol is very present. It’s like Bourbon infused milk chocolate. Another nutty, meaty, savoury nose, with sweet notes in the backdrop. Very sweet pruney flavours initially on the palate, with fruit cake and big clove, chilli and dry cinnamon. Walnut and hazelnut on the very dry finish. Immediately and subtly liquor rich. Tiny bit of incense, a thread of spice and smoke. Caramel, marzipan, coffee-vanilla, fudge, rich, creamy, dried black fruits. Integrated and surprisingly light. Element of sandalwood. Starts creamy, waters out, almost disappears before rubbing hot brown sugar into the oesophagus. Tiny bitter trace."
Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 4 51.7%
$584.99
The Balvenie Tun 1509 series is a series of limited editions highlighting a marriage of hand picked special casks. The whiskies are blended together and spend several months marrying in Tun 1509, in warehouse 24. Batch 4 is bottled at 51.7% ABV from a marriage of 23 casks: 14 American Oak barrels and 10 European Oak Sherry Butts.
Producer Tasting Note: “NOSE Rich and malty, sweet toffee vanilla fudge, layers of honeycomb and citrus. TASTE Luscious malty notes and concentrated honey gradually developing into deeper richer oak with some dried fruits and a cinnamon and ginger spiciness. FINISH Luxurious and honeyed with delicate spices and oak.”
Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 5 52.6%
$526.49
The 5th release of Balvenie Tuyn 1509, the 2018 Edition, is bottled at 52.6% after maturing in 10 Ex-Bourbon Barrels, 8 Ex-Sherry Hogsheads, 3 Refill American Oak Casks, and 8 Ex-Sherry Butts.
Producer Tasting Note: “Rich and intensely fruity on the nose. A spicy outburst on the palate, then sweetened with a deep sherry character. Lingering and luscious with dried fruit and elegant oaky notes on the finish.”
Glenfarclas Family Cask 1999
$394.99
Springbank Hazelburn 13 Year Sherry Wood
$124.99
The Hazelburn 13 Year Sherry Wood is a limited annual release of 12,000 bottles. Only about 180 are coming to Alberta. Bottled at 47.4% the whisky was matured in Oloroso sherry.
Distiller’s Tasting Note
Nose: Full bodied; creamy and rich with dark chocolate. Rose petals and ginger biscuit snaps with freshly brewed espresso coffee.
Palate: Bursting with fresh cream and strawberries, all developing due to the maturation in Oloroso Sherry; Turkish delight, clotted cream, strawberry jam followed by marzipan and walnuts.
Finish: Brown sugar, dates and toffee; sticky toffee pudding! Cream coffee liqueur, red apple peels, banana chips, vanilla and black pepper.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 4.233
$124.49
ASIAN-STYLE BARBECUE
This 11 year old from the Highland Islands, comes in at 64.2% after maturing in a refill hogshead.
Flavour profile: Lightly peated.
Outturn: 300 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "This seemed to be a dram for all sorts of situations: someone opened a first aid kit on a tractor, another installed a new inner tube in a bicycle tire whilst yet another dug deep into a peat bog searching for buried bog-wood to make an artistic sculpture. Thankfully we all agreed on the palate; chewy, crispy yummy like Chinese style barbecued pork known as Char Siu, braised with a mixture of oyster sauce, soy sauce, red onions, garlic and red fermented tofu. Water added the smoky/fishy aroma of char-grilled Thai-spiced tuna which was also apparent on the taste with the addition of Jasmine flavoured rice."
G&M Glen Grant 1952
$6,499.99
A 60 year old Glen Grant, distilled in 1952 and bottled in 2012 from a 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead and a Refill Sherry Hogshead. 40%.