Scotch Malt Whisky Society 4.246
$234.99
RUSTY CLAYMORE WASHED UP ON THE BEACH
This 15 year old Highland Islander was matured in a refill hogshead and comes in at 57.2%.
Flavour profile: Oily & coastal.
Outturn: 262 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Aromas of singed orange peel, Jolly Rancher cinnamon fire hard candy as well as grapefruit and ginger potpourri at first before a rusty iron claymore and a quill bureau made out of reclaimed fir appeared. On the palate it felt like one big aromatherapy treatment inhaling fruity (mango and papaya) as well as floral (heather and lavender) essential oils with a cup of Russian Caravan tea.
Water added maritime characters in the form of sea spray, rock pools and a flinty beach on the nose, whilst to taste now a delicious leftover lamb sandwich seasoned with flaky salt and roasted for twenty minutes in the oven."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.152
$174.99
THE LEVIATHAN WAKES...
This 12 year old from Islay was matured in a refill hogshead and is 58.7%.
Flavour profile: Peated.
Outturn: 261 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "The Panel discovered a big ol’ bag of kippers, wood smoke, peat oils, grilled whelks, smoked mussels in brine, lemon juice, wood ash and fishing nets. Also some herbal touches and a few crushed twiglets. Water gave us wet and burning leaves with a fisherman’s oilskins, Arbroath smokies, salt and vinegar chips and a dollop of mercurochrome. In the background some foaming rock pools and a little star anise.
The palate revealed a peat-fired kiln, liberally poured mezcal, gentian eau de vie, tar liqueur, smoked tea then some heather, burnt toast and a BBQ turkey sandwich. Reduction brought out more mineralic notes such as wet pebbles, lime juice, coal tar soap, sea greens, smoked venison, smouldering heather and ash-rolled goat’s cheese."
Kilchoman Sauternes Cask
$134.99
This is the first ever bottling of Sauternes cask matured Kilchoman, it was bottled at 50% after maturing more than 5 years.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: loads of honey, English marmalade, candied lemon, chewy malt, clean smoke; sea salt caramel, Black Licorice Twizzlers, rich spices and vanilla extract.
Palate: creamy, malty and smoky; loads of salted caramel, ashy smoke, fruity tobacco and firm but smooth leather; more English marmalade and candied lemon; burning brush, Jujubes and barley sugars.
Finish: long, rich, coating and very smooth; loads of candied citrus, clean smoke and creamy oak.
Comment: one of the best full cask wine maturation Kilchomans yet bottled; sadly very little of it is coming.
From the Distillery: "Anthony Wills, Kilchoman founder and Managing Director; “Although only making up a small part of our range, full term wine cask maturation in Port, Madeira and now Sauternes has produced fantastic results. The combination of peat smoke, fragrant Kilchoman spirit and full maturation in fresh Sauternes casks makes for a truly unique single malt.”
Robin Bignall, Kilchoman Production Manager; “Having spent its full maturation period in fresh Sauternes casks the whisky has inevitably taken on the textured white age influence associated with Sauternes casks however it remains balanced with an intriguing mix of maritime peat smoke, sweetness and citrus vibrancy.”
Cadenhead Small Batch Speyburn 2008 46%
$76.99
Just look at that color! Knowing Cadenhead for the purists they are, this is entirely natural barrel influence. Amazing. That is one heck of an active Bourbon Hogshead. And because this one is from their 46% range, the outturn was stretched just a wee bit. 348 bottles.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Buttery, lemongrass, dried raisins.
Palate: Chocolate truffels, Orange sweets, aniseed.
Finish: Cinnamon, wood spice, lime zest.
Cadenhead Small Batch Auchroisk 2006
$83.99
Can you ever have enough Auchroisk? Really? Pronounced "Arthrusk", this Speyside distillery is used primarily to produce huge quantities of malt whisky for Diageo's blends, such as J&B, Bell's and Johnnie Walker. That's a shame considering how unique the whisky is. Fast mash, short ferments and rapid distillation all lead to a single malt that can be bright and bold, but with a lumbering swagger not seen in so many of its regional counterparts which seem to focus more on delicacy and broad appeal. Bah! It's whisky. It's meant to challenge!
534 Bottles from two Bourbon Hogsheads. 55.3% abv
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Lemon sponge cake, slightly floral, hint of mint leaves.
Palate: Milk chocolate, marzipan, coconut shavings.
Finish: Cocktail cherries, orange peel, vanilla.
Cadenhead Small Batch Benrinnes 2004
$144.99
One of the Big Bens, and one of our favorites at that. Benrinnes is finally starting to get its moment in the sun. The distillery has had its eras (much like Bowmore or Macallan or Lagavulin) - alternating between 'heavy and meaty' and 'light and floral' - but through it all there have always been exciting indie bottlings. Cadenhead, in particular, has released over a dozen different expressions. This one is ex-Bourbon, and offered up at 55.4% abv.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Buttered raisin toast, barley water, watermelon.
Palate: Green apples, cucumber water, rhubarb.
Finish: Dried herbs, tinned pineapple, honey and lemon.
Cadenhead Small Batch Glenrothes 2001
$144.99
Bottled at 53.0% after maturing 17 years in Hogsheads. Exclusive to KWM.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Honey, toffee, slight waxiness.
Palate: Orange marmalade, lemon sherbert, green tea.
Finish: Dark chocolate, walnuts, hints of sandlewood.
Cadenhead Small Batch Inchgower 2009
$114.99
This whisky stole the show at the Very Curious Cadenheads tasting on March 13. Bottled at 56.5%, the 9 year old Inchgower was matured in 2 ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in 2 Sherry Hogsheads. Only 12 bottles coming, exclusively to KWM.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Raisins, digestive biscuit, parma ham.
Palate: Blackcurrant syrup, plum jam, stewed fruits.
Finish: Hints of peppermint and green tea. Quite chewy.
Cadenhead Small Batch Laphroaig 1998
$394.99
Limited to 2 per person!
Independent bottlings of Laphroaig have become increasingly rare and pricey. Exclusive to KWM, we are luck to have managed to acquire 24 bottles. Bottled at 54.3% after maturing 20 years in Hogshead casks.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Sea saltiness strikes then zesty orange notes follow.
Palate: Meaty initially then black cherry fruitiness come through.
Finish: Oysters, spiced ham, smoke gradually builds through.