G&M Cask Strength Ardmore 1998
$224.99
This Gordon & MacPhail Ardmore was distilled in 1998 and bottled 19 and a half years later in 2018 at a cask strength of 53.5% ABV. Matured in refill sherry hogsheads.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: big, stewed dark fruits, treacle, dark chocolate with chilli flakes and firm leather; damp tobacco, Christmas cake, plum pudding and black licorice pipes.
Palate: big, rich and sherried, very sherried, a beast in fact, but a friendly beast; big licorice, more spicy dark chocolate, treacle sauce on sticky toffee pudding, grilled figs, Christmas cake and plum pudding; the leather and tobacco are still there, there is some ashy (cigar) smoke too.
Finish: long and smooth, the beast has been tamed; big sherry, leather, chocolate, tobacco and ashy smoke slowly fade.
Comment: this is a sherry bomb, but a well-integrated sherry bomb; juicy, fruity and complex; no rough edges!
Eau Claire Single Malt Batch 001 50ml
$11.99
There was a lot of fanfare over Eau Claire’s first release of single malt last fall. The whisky was only available from the distillery and didn’t last long. When I approached them last winter about bottling some whisky for the Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar they were very keen to participate. I assumed they would offer me some of Batch 002, but no, they did better than that. They held back stock of their inaugural single malt release to pour at events and over time. They rebottled some of Batch 001 into 50mls, just for our Calendar, and we are very grateful for that. Not everyone was able to try their first release of whisky, but everyone who gets a mini bottle can!
43% - Matured in New European, Ex-OIoroso Sherry and Refill Ex-Bourbon American Oak casks
Andrew’s Tasting Note
Nose: waxy with freshly peeled pears, white chocolate and Strawberry Twizzlers; floral and malty with a touch of wet slate and earth; lemon drops and a building fresh-floral-citrus character.
Palate: malty and fruity with vanilla, honey and caramel and more wet slate; a touch of peanut brittle and more freshly peeled pears; still a touch waxy with some green grasses and more lemon heavy citrus; the spirit is soft, sweet and fruity.
Finish: light with a medium length; the soft silky oils cling on to the palate long after the whisky is gone.
Comment: this is lovely for a 3-year-old, and shows great promise; can’t wait to see what a decade or more will do for it!
Glenfarclas Family Cask 1987
$509.99
Signatory Clynelish 2008 46%
$114.99
A young but lively Clynelish. Bottled at 46% from a 10 year old Bourbon Barrel filled in 2008. Part of Signatory's Unchill-filtered range.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: light, fresh, honeyed and floral with chewy malt; lemon and lime with sea salt and white pepper.
Palate: still fresh, malty and very honeyed, with the signature Clynelish oily-beeswax-y character; still a touch salty, but also sweet and creamy with soft vanilla; bright lemon and lime with crisp spices.
Finish: light but-mid length with a pleasant soft coating character.
Comment: a light fresh summer sipper of a Clynelish; pretty and elegant!
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 37.98
$141.94
A TRIFLE CITRUSY
This 14 year old Speysider is 56.5% after maturing in a refill hogshead.
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow.
Outturn: 246 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Tempted by the familiar aromas of fresh straw and old leather we ventured further to discover a world of citrusy treats. Lemon cheesecake along with lemon drizzle cake were initially dominant but opened the doors to elderflower sorbet and a very boozy trifle with a trickle of golden syrup and lashings of vanilla custard. The palate carried a peppery spice with crystallized ginger before turning to lemon peel and hot apple tart. Water presented sweeter and softer fruits with pineapple, toffee apples and jelly sweets. Floral elements appeared as parma violets and Turkish delight combined before finishing with seasoned wood dusted with muscovado sugar."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 5.59
$134.99
CHILI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
This 16 year old from the Lowlands comes in at 58.2% and after 16 years in a 2nd fill bourbon hogshead it was transferred directly into a 1st fill charred ex-red wine hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.
Flavour profile: Sweet & spicy.
Outturn: 228 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "A soft sweet aroma greeted the Panel at first reminding us of mixed mini jelly fruit slices and marzipan combined with the freshness of crème de menthe Turkish delight. Neat we had a sweet chili peppery heat on the palate like a chili chocolate cupcake with a peppermint frosting. Water added marshmallow fluff, strawberry and vanilla ice cream and orange-spiced cranberry sauce on the nose, whilst to taste, now cinnamon and apple hot cross buns with a marzipan centre. After 16 years in a 2nd fill bourbon hogshead we transferred this whisky directly into a 1st fill charred ex-red wine hogshead for the remainder of its maturation."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 35.196
$155.99
A MOROCCAN 'SNAKE CAKE'
This 14 year old Speysider was matured in a refill Chardonnay barrique and comes in at 58.2%
Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits
Outturn: 255 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The first thing we noticed was the deep shiny auburn colour and as we poured it into the glass, the scent of polished leather and wood immediately filled the room. Then a glass of sumptuous well-aged Shiraz wine was served with plenty of red and black fruits (cherry and mulberry), along with rosehip and an enticing sweet herbal spice in the background. On the palate, spiced plum jam, dark chocolate covered stem ginger and an orange olive oil cake with candied walnuts. Water released a spiced cranberry and marzipan loaf with blueberry and liquorice jam and the mouth-filling flavours of an almond, pistachio and Turkish delight m’hencha – a Moroccan ‘snake cake’."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 107.13
$154.99
ANDALUSIAN GAZPACHO
Bottled for the Speyfest Whisky Festival, this special-label bottling is limited to one per member and is the first release from distillery no. 107 for the Canadian branch of the SMWS
This 9 year old Speysider was matured in a refill Oloroso butt and comes in at 65%
Flavour profile: Spicy & dry
Outturn: 624 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "First we noticed the bright golden autumn reddish/brown leaf colour before the engrossing scent of an Andalusian gazpacho followed by Moroccan beef stew with figs, almonds, dried fruits, olives and plenty of red wine made us all lick our lips to try it. Big, chewy and meaty like a pot-roasted beef with prunes and balsamic vinegar served with basil and pine nuts garnished gnocchi. Water added that ‘Christmassy feel’ of mince pies with orange and almond pastry as well as chocolate covered raisins, whilst the taste was that of rich coffee and date walnut cake and in the finish, orange & honey glazed dry roasted macadamia nuts."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 3.308
$204.99
A MARITIME MEANDER
Bottled for the 2018 Islay Whisky Festival and limited to one bottle per member, this 13 year old comes in at 57.9% after maturing in a 2nd fill hogshead
Flavour profile: Peated
Outturn: 258 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose was a maritime meander – waxed jackets by the seafood shack, beach bonfire burnt sticks and trawlers in the harbour – also coal-tar shampoo and one panellist got tea-tree, eucalyptus and mescal. The palate, notwithstanding Bakewell tarts and blackcurrant sweets, had powerful brush-strokes of smoke, ash and tar, burnt cork and salted liquorice – enough to satisfy the socks off any peat-freak. The reduced nose – oysters on a ferry, lemon bonbons, lavender, putty and Bovril. The palate now rewarded us with moist gingerbread, clove and salted pretzels – a night-cap dram to evoke ‘the tangle o’ the Isles’ and ensure Hebridean dreams."