Kavalan Solist Rum Cask Chapter 2

$244.99

Bottled from a single ex-Rum barrel after 7 Years & 6 Months at 57.1%. This is the first every rum cask matured Kavalan we have ever seen, and I don't think we'll see another anytime soon. It is worth noting that this is one of the oldest Kavalans we've ever seen. Part of Truth Malters (Kavalan's Canadian importer) Chapter Series, Chapter 2.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: soft, decadent and honeyed; delicate spices and fruits; subtle, almost a little on the shy side of things; almost no heat, at 57.1%; with a little patience it opens up; powdered sugar and lemon juice on French crepes; maple butter and subtle tropical fruits.

Palate: sweeter and richer than expected; very decadent: creme brule, Scottish tablet and treacle sauce; warming with decadent spice: candied ginger, cinnamon sticks and licorice; creamy with more powdered sugar and lemon on French crepes; ripe mango and papaya.

Finish: light, fresh, decadent and fruity; medium in length, but very elegant.

Comment: I used to think Rum casks were a gimmick (I think finishing in rum still is), until I understood the magic of lengthy maturation in tired old wood; its not so much the rum notes you are after, but rather the more delicate and subtle flavours that develop over time in a well used barrel; even though this Kavalan is on the young side, given Taiwan's climate its 7 1/2 years is equivalent to a Scotch whisky matured 20-30 years; fruity and decadent, a lovely one off from Kavalan.

Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask Chapter 3

$244.99

Bottled from a single ex-Peated Single Malt Barrel (presumably Laphroaig), this is one of the last such barrels in Kavalan's possesion, and at 9 Years & 4 Months one of the oldes. Bottled at 57.8%. Part of Truth Malters (Kavalan's Canadian importer) Chapter Series.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: the aroma is reminiscent of walking in to a cigar lounge filled with plush leather sofas while everyone in the room is enjoying big tumblers of Armagnac; perhaps some dark chocolate on the side; caramel and fruits trying to push their way through the smoke; I get a little tarry-creosote thing too, but it is interesting.

Palate: big, no, massive, but elegant and refined; the smoke is surprisingly bold, but not rough, its elegant; more leather, chocolate and tobacco with Russian caramel and yes... tropical fruits; a touch waxy and steely, but the fruits, my God, the fruits...; its juicy, lush and layered; and the smoke, and gentle peat... I can't believe how prominent they are! 

Finish: lightens on the finish, but lingers long; creamy with fading tropical fruits and cigar smoke.

Comment: wow, I'm pretty sure this is the oldest Kavalan I've ever had; the Solist Peaty was always my favourite release from the distillery; essentially it is unpeated malt, matured in an ex-peated-Scotch whisky cask; this one is on the verge of being over-oaked, 9.5 years in the Taiwanese climate can do that; but there is no bitterness; the tropical fruits are there, but the peat and smoke have held up remarkably well; brilliant! 

Karuizawa 1984 Artifices Series W. Khong

$14,484.00

Bottled in 2015 at 30 years of age and 61.6% after maturing in a single ex-Sherry cask #8838.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 112.33

$151.49

PURE COZINESS

This 17 year old Highlander was matured in a 2nd fill hogshead and is 55.8%.

Flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla.

Outturn:  291 bottles.

Panel's tasting note:  "On the nose neat like toasted rye bread with plenty of salted butter, coarse cut bitter orange peel and a hot mug of vanilla spiced herbal tea – pure coziness. Warm, sweet and spicy on the palate; patchouli pure essential oil, juicy orange gummy bears and with a very unusual finish of bitter Arbutus honey (strawberry tree).

With water, a creamy sweet aroma of pineapple chunks in fruit juice as well as vanilla poached pears. To taste, now well balanced; fruity, floral and herbal combined with mellow vanilla notes which tone down the warm and spicy wood flavours and this made it a truly relaxing treat."

Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. Don selected Hoegaarden Whitbier to pair with this release, stating: "The original Belgian whitbier is viewed by many as liquid bread. Light malt, gentle citrus notes and a hint of clove will compliment this dram beautifully."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 12.18

$134.09

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

This 8 year old Speysider comes in at 54.8% after maturing in a refill barrel.

Flavour profile:  Young & spritely.

Outturn:  174 bottles.

Panel's tasting note:  "A sweet fruity aroma of ripe apples or grapes was soon followed by a warm apricot-cranberry sauce, as well as quince and rosewater jelly. Lively, sparkly and fizzy neat with plenty of freshly grated ginger spice, balanced by the sweetness of a Belgium dark chocolate almond praline.

When we added a little water, the scent was more like pieces of cherry soaked in Kirsch whilst on the palate it had turned into a completely different experience. Now thick and creamy like vanilla custard sauce and strawberry blancmange, and in the finish a ‘brioche à tête’ with a rosewater glaze and a sprinkling of crispy freeze-dried raspberries."

Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. Don selected St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, saying "Hints of chocolate are perfect to accompany all these subtle fruits."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 24.132

$344.99

ENGAGING WARMTH

This 16 year old Speysider was matured in a 1st fill barrel and is 58.4%.

Flavour profile:  Sweet & spicy.

Outturn:  227 bottles.

Panel's tasting note:  "Sweetness hits the nose first – honeyed Baklava, sponge toffee and rainbow drops; then comes tangerine, red apple, raspberry and cloudy lemonade, followed by spring flowers, laurel hedge and hints of pepper. The palate is also sweet (jellybeans, Battenberg cake), with some tangy orange zest and kiwi and a really spicy finish (pepper, chili chocolate, aniseed gobstoppers).

The reduced nose presents an even more attractive perfumed sweetness (petits fours, mango, melon balls), while the reduced palate has engaging sweet and spicy warmth – pastries and cakes straight from the oven; clove rock, ginger snaps and sugary espresso dregs."

Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. Don chose the New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale to pair with this single cask, writing "The perfect balance of roasted malts and fruity hops will serve as a foundation to the diverse tapestry of flavours in this dram."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 4.249

$191.99

THE MERMAID'S MARMALADE

This 13 year old from the Highland Islands was matured in a refill Oloroso butt and is 64.6%.

Flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits.

Outturn:  592 bottles.

Panel's tasting note:  "The smell of burning driftwood combined with salted toffee and liquorice before taking on the charred character of barbecued orange and sausages. Salty seaweed created an interesting interplay with peanut brittle before taking on a suggestion of fruit with cherry chocolates.

Ginger cake and rum introduced spicy notes that formed into aniseed and rye bread. Thick cut marmalade brought rich fruit that echoed fine warm Cognac and developed a singed note like burnt raisins in a fruitcake. Charred spice rounded out the palate with hint of cinder toffee rolled in ash and fresh ginger."

Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. This Orkney Malt was paired with a smoked porter, or Rauchbier. Don said "Reach through the smoke in this beer to enjoy what lies beneath. Light malt sweetness and notes of toast will complement this dram."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 13.64

$123.99

HAPPY IN THE POTTING SHED

This 10 year old Highlander comes in at 59.9% after maturing in a 2nd fill barrel.

Flavour profile:  Spicy & dry.

Outturn:  225 bottles.

Panel's tasting note:  "The air was dry and dusty and tickled the nose like white pepper. Old leather gardening gloves sat on a bench beside dried flowers and a bundle of heather. There was a box of potatoes, freshly dug up and still attached to clumps of clean earth.

Sweet notes came from tins of lemon bonbons and chalky fruit sweets with squidgy marshmallows whilst a gentle spice came in the form of ginger and creamed horseradish sauce. Fruity flavours drew from tomato plants and apricots with rye bread before the finish delivered pine cones and dried mushrooms dusted with cocoa powder and sitting on a bed of wood chips."

Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. HAPPY IN THE POTTING SHED was paired with Steam Whistle Pilsner. As per Don: "Crisp, effervescent and lightly hopped, pilsner will contrast this dram and refresh the palate for another sip."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.266

$169.99

SALT 'N' VINEGAR KELP

From Islay, this 10 year old comes in at 60.8% after maturing in a refill hogshead.

Flavour profile:  Peated.

Outturn:  272 bottles.

Panel's tasting note:  "Notes of twiglets and marmite-smothered toast greeted the Panel at first nosing. Along with vinegar-soaked fish and chips, salted crab meat, mercurochrome, nettles, elastoplast and burnt caramel. With a little water we also found a rusted shipwreck, pin-sharp lemon juice, lime cordial, dense heathery smoke, silage, smoked tea and burning kelp.

The mouth was pure mezcal with peated olive oil, camphor, liquorice chews and smoked lavender. Water added salted toffee, peanuts, tobasco, bacon lardons, menthol cigarette ash and grilled scallops."

Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. Don paired this Islay malt with Dageraad Burnabarian, stating "Lightly must with notes of honey and Grand Marnier and a sparkling effervescence, this beer will serve as a contrast against this beautiful whisky"