Nikka From the Barrel Evolution Gift Set
$89.99
This gift set includes a bottle of Nikka From The Barrel plus two small glasses and a pour spout.
Nikka's venerated from the Barrel has been a staple of our whisky shelves for years and will hopefully remain so. This creation from Nikka is a blend of grain and malt from multiple distilleries owned by the company. It is always bottled at 51.4% ABV after the components are married in refill casks for up to half a year to marry together and become a cohesive whole.
Nikka From the Barrel Flask Gift Set
$89.99
This gift set contains a bottle of Nikka From The Barrel plus a hip flask.
Nikka's venerated from the Barrel has been a staple of our whisky shelves for years and will hopefully remain so. This creation from Nikka is a blend of grain and malt from multiple distilleries owned by the company. It is always bottled at 51.4% ABV after the components are married in refill casks for up to half a year to marry together and become a cohesive whole.
Compass Box The Double Single 2017
$249.99
A marriage of not many but just two whiskies, one single malt and one single grain. The whisky consists of 72% Glen Elgin single malt (20 years) and 28% Girvan single grain (19 years). The whisky is bottled at 46%. Both components were matured in re-charred hogsheads.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: so elegant, decadent, pretty, refined; the fruits are juicy on the nose, somewhat reminiscent of said gum; cooked apple, poached pear, melons and apricots; waxy, thin filaments of silky grain notes and toasted oak; very buttery and creamy.
Palate: this is dangerously drinkable (crushable as Bryan would say); still Juicy, the malt is round, fruity and soft; the grain adds thin silky oils; creamy and toasty the whisky shows just the right amount of wood; more cooked apple, poached pear, dried apricots and Midori melon; vanilla and toasted coconut; it is light, soft and refreshing but yet there are so many layers.
Finish: decadent, warming, elegant and beautiful; more vanilla, buttery cream and soft fruits.
Comment: Compass Box never disappoints with its limited editions, and this one is no exception; it is so drinkable, you will want a backup!
Producer Tasting Note
"The blending of the two component whiskies in The Double Single allows the sweet caramel flavours of the grain whisky to complement the fruity and herbal flavours of the malt, giving the final blend a creamy vanilla character overlaying a delicate ethereal malt whisky character."
Producer Description
"How many components are required to create true complexity in a Blended Scotch Whisky? For Double Single, instead of using many tens of component whiskies we have used just two – one single grain whisky and one single malt whisky (hence the name). Both are beautiful liquids in their own right but we believe they are elevated above the sum of their parts when combined in the correct proportions."
"Such thinking runs strongly counter to the blending strategies evident in the larger, commercial Blended Scotch releases that dominate the whisky market worldwide, where many dozens of components can often be found within a single blend. So why do things differently?
"We believe that when using components of the highest quality, less is often more. That the interaction between a single grain and a single malt can be every bit as good – better even – than either a more complex blend or the component tasted on its own. Above all, share & enjoy."
Compass Box KWM 25th Annv. Blend
$143.99
Five years of discussions went into the creation of this product, the first collaboration between Compass Box and Kensington Wine Market. Inspired by Flaming Heart and some of Compass Box's elegant old blends the Compass Box KWM 25th Anniversary Blend is a very special creation! Bottled at 45% the whisky is from a mixture of old grains and both spicy and smoky malts. The components were matured in First-Fill American Oak, Sherry Butts and French Oak.
What John Glaser had to say about the whisky:
“We have been fortunate to work with Andrew Ferguson of Kensington Wine Market for many years, bringing our Compass Box whiskies to the Scotch enthusiasts of Canada.
"For years we’ve been talking with Andrew about creating a bespoke whisky for him. We originally wanted to name it “Fort Whoop-Up”, after the notorious 19th century Alberta trading post, allegedly a centre for whisky smuggling and all sorts of illegal activities, near what is now Lethbridge.
"But with the 25th anniversary of Kensington Wine Market upon us, we’ve decided to name it in honour of the anniversary, so Andrew can showcase the whisky throughout his year of celebrations.
"Developed from an original brief by Andrew, this blend is a showpiece for the deep complexity that well-aged malt and grain whiskies from exceptional oak casks can deliver. It is composed of one-third decadent old grain whiskies aged in American oak; and spicy, smoky malt whiskies aged in both American oak and sherry casks. The combination is rich and complex, with the soft cushion of the old grain whisky providing an indulgent base on top of which the bold, smoky and dark fruit notes of the malt whiskies are placed.
"We believe this whisky is a fitting tribute to Kensington Wine Market and also to Alberta’s long history of enjoying, exploring and indeed smuggling fine whisky! But with partners as committed and knowledgeable as Kensington Wine Market in place there will be no need to smuggle this bottle into the province – and for that we are all grateful!
"However you source this whisky, wherever you drink it, whoever you share it with, above all, please share and enjoy.
John Glaser
Founder & Whiskymaker”
Compass Box Phenomenology
$229.99
The firm is keeping pretty tight-lipped on this one until December. This limited edition blended malt has been bottled at 46%, and judging by the profile, it isn't young... our owner Andrew had a chance to sample it in September in London!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: big white fruits, honey, freshly picked cherries and banana chips; a touch woody with a musty edge; floral and malty; hints of smoke, some soft coffee tones, raisin danishes and dried apricots .
Palate: big, round, coating and juicy; more white fruits, creamed honey and toasted oak, and then the smoke sneaks up on you; the smoke is elegant and delicate and leads to a soft but firm peat.
Finish: big, chewy and coating; dries out late with smooth smoke.
Comment: the smoke creeps up on you; this is lovely; very drinkable.
Producer Description
"Phenomenolog y is a way of thinking about ourselves and the very personal, subjective nature of experience. It’s a school of thought in psychology that focuses on phenomena, or, the experiences that we get from our senses – what we see, taste, smell, etc. Somehow we saw a link between phenomenology and whisky."
"We’d long been working on a blend of single malts that combines seemingly dissonant flavour profiles, but together creates something compelling. We landed on a recipe that elicited a surprising range of reactions and descriptions, each person taking away something different from the whisky.
Rather than try to settle on whose perceptions were ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, we were inspired by the phenomenological school of thought to consider how
different people experience the same phenomenon. In celebration of the subjectivity of whisky tasting, we released this whisky in September 2017
without any tasting notes or flavour descriptors to invite people to first experience the whisky without preconception. As you explore this whisky
for yourself, we invite you to describe the ‘phenomena’ in your own words and ideas. Your experience is your own, personal and subjective. And, so, you have…Phenomenolog y, a limited edition Compass Box whisky.
"Above all, share & enjoy.
"John Glaser, Whiskymaker"
The Blend
- 24.5% Tamdhu 2001 – 15 year - 1st fill Bourbon barrel
- 72.0% Glenlossie 1996 - 21 year - Rechar Hogshead
- 2.0% Highland Park 1997 – 20 - Rechar Hogshead
- 1.0% Talisker 1996 – 21 year - Refill Butt
- 0.5% Caol Ila 2006 - 11 year - Hogshead
-
Cadenhead Creations 1998 Batch 3 Light
$124.99
Part of the Cadenhead Creations series of higher-end Blended Scotch - This is the 3rd batch of Light Creamy Vanilla, distilled in 1998 bottled in 2017 for Cadenhead's 175th Anniversary. It is a marriage of two butts of blended whisky, blended together. It is a blend. Did I say that already?
18 Years Old - 44.6% ABV
Producer’s Tasting Note
Nose: Vanilla, granulated sugar, shortbread, grassy and fresh.
Palate: Satsuma peel, milk chocolate, icing sugar and strawberries.
Finish: Butterscotch, sweet, long and fruity with vanilla icing.
Johnnie Walker Blue Ghost & Rare Brora
$559.99
This is a limited edition blend bottled at 46% built around malt whisky from the closed Brora distillery? Is Johnnie Walker trying to be cool again? We hope so!
We don’t normally get excited about Johnny Walker releases, but the Blue Label Ghost & Rare has us intrigued. For starters, the firm is unusually transparent about the components, and we are thrilled to see it bottled at 46%. The heart of this limited edition release is whisky from the closed (though soon to be reopened) Highland Distillery Brora. Brora has become a cult whisky over the last decade, its whiskies becoming increasingly older and rare with every passing year. The whiskies from two other closed distilleries have been incorporated into the blend, Pittyvaich and Cambus (grain). These Ghost distillery whiskies have been complimented with single malts from Clynelish, Royal Lochnagar, Glenkinchie and Glenlossie as well as grain whisky from Cameronbridge.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: silky, creamy and tropical on the nose; buttercream icing, cinnamon butter, Manuka honey and tendrils of soft grains; melon, oranges plucked from the vine and mango salsa; leave it in the glass a while and bright berry fruits emerge.
Palate: still silky, almost ethereal, a deft marriage of malt and grain; layer upon layer of delicate flavours, silky honey, subtle floral notes and waves of fruit: melon, kiwi, mango, papaya, berry fruits and citrus; still buttery and waxy (the Brora and Clynelish showing through); the grains feel like an accent rather than the base; some subtle savoury salty tones late on the palate.
Finish: delicate but long and layered; creamy, more subtle salt and honeyed with the waves of fruit slowly fading out.
Comment: this is not Brora... but it is a beautiful blend in the vein of something we are more accustomed to seeing from Compass Box. Is Johnnie Walker cool again? this is a step in the right direction!
Producer’s Tasting Note
Nose: On the initial nose, you get a sweet vanilla aroma with hints of demerara sugar and salted caramel but this soon fades into delicate fresh fruit citrus notes with just a trace of hazelnuts and spice. Finally, the richness of berry fruits comes to the fore with a touch of oak and toffee.
Palate: From the beginning the flavor gives you the impression of richness and elegance –smooth and creamy. On the palate like the aroma the brown sugar sweetness slowly dissipates revealing dried apricots, woody spice and fragrant smoke. The finish is lingering and warming with a sweet chocolate orange aftertaste with a subtle hint of waxy apples.
Producer Description: “Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare is a rich, velvety smooth blend of eight treasured Scotch Whiskies including three "ghost" whiskies from the silent distilleries of Cambus, Pittyvaich and the Highland Single Malt, Brora, which lies at the heart of this special release bringing a deliciously light peatiness and sophisticated subtle sweetness. Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Dr. Jim Beveridge, has long been fascinated by how whiskies from a small number of iconic distilleries that closed many years ago can bring the extraordinary richness for which Johnnie Walker Blue Label luxury Scotch is known. In crafting Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare, Jim blended the three ghost whiskies with five rare expressions of malt and grains from the existing distilleries of Royal Lochnagar, Clynelish, Glenkinchie, Glenlossie and Cameronbridge. The result is a wonderfully smooth Scotch, with the fruity sweetness of pineapple, rich notes of hazelnut and dark chocolate and a subtle smoky finish.”
.jpg)
Nirasaki Blended Japanese Whisky
$29.99
Nirasaki is a blended Japanese Whisky. 40% ABV.
Compass Box Delilah's XXV 25th Annv
$169.99
This is the second Blend that John Glaser has created for Delilah's, Chicago's legendary punk rock bar. The first edition was released in 2013, this second bottling has been released to commemorate their 25th Anniversary. Curiously, the whisky has been built around a remaining parcel of whisky, from the original bottling (29%). Bottled at 46%, the whisky was also created with whisky from Cameronbridge, Miltonduff, Teaninich, Craigellachie and Linkwood.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: creamy, enticing and floral with loads of chewy malt; doughy, savoury and quite woody: cedar sauna and singed oak; building leather, dark spices and dried fruits: raisin, apricot and prunes.
Palate: very soft, doughy, savoury, malty and woody (but pleasantly so); notes of High School woodshop and musty old wood; licorice and fennel, oak spices and French roast coffee beans; the raisins, apricots and prunes are there with some dried cranberry and cherries; soft leather, Jujubes and a touch of chocolate to round things out.
Finish: coating, creamy and fruity; long, with the leather, fruits, oak and spices slowly fading out.
Comment: the wood is driving the flavour in this blend, and beautifully so; it is very well balanced and elegant, dangerously drinkable; the sort of malt you'd want for a punk rock show!
Producer Tasting Note
An effusive aroma of dried fruits (like dried apricots and figs), baking spices and light Sherry wine character. On the palate it’s soft and rich, with a complex sweetness in the form of vanilla and spice notes that enhance the dried fruit and Sherry character. A beautiful hybrid of American oak and Sherry oak maturation, in perfect balance, supple on the palate and delicious.
Producer Description: "To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the legendary Chicago punk rock whisky bar, Delilah's, we have once again created a limited edition Scotch whisky in collaboration with owner and whisky enthusiast, Mike Miller.
""The recipe for our second homage to Delilah’s was built around a small parcel of the original Compass Box Delilah’s blend released in 2013 - a luscious, American oak-aged whisky that we aged in cask for a further five years - with the addition of malt whisky aged in Spanish Sherry casks, also made of American oak.
"The result is a delicious Scotch whisky with notes of vanilla and spice, and rich Sherry character."
