Glenfiddich 18 Year 50ml
$12.99
This is a 50mL mini bottle of the popular Glenfiddich 18 year old Ancient Reserve.
Bottled at 40% ABV – aged in a combination of Oloroso Sherry & Ex-Bourbon casks. Featured on Day 22 of KWM's 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar.
Andrew’s Tasting Note
Nose: creamy and tropical, treacle sauce and maple butter; melons, mango and papaya; chocolate shavings and cinnamon dusted on top of a foamy cappuccino.
Palate: still creamy, tropical and fruity with maple syrup and more subtle treacle notes; more mango, papaya and flambéed banana; more dark chocolate shavings and cinnamon, soft leather and some salted caramel. Finish: long, coating and fruity.
Comment: it is nice to revisit the old standbys and remind yourself how pleasant they can be.”
Lending its name to the largest selling single malt in the world, Glenfiddich is said to have paved the way after WWII by bucking the trend and not supplying to blenders owned by larger conglomerates. Vision and persistence paid off, and as luck would have it, its style is very easily drinkable and appeals to a wide range. Traditionally light, smooth, with a hint of fruitiness.
2017 Advent Calendar B14CC
$8.99
Arran 14 Year 50ml
$9.99
This is a 50mL mini bottle of the regular-sized Arran 14 year old.
Bottled at 46% after maturing in Sherry and Bourbon Casks this whisky retains the soft fresh citric character of the 10 year but with added layers and depth. Featured on Day 19 of Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent.
Distillery Tasting Notes
Nose: Dried fruits, vanilla and toffee up front. With a little water a salty tang appears, with caramelised fruits indicating a depth of flavour to come.
Palate: An initial burst of brine leads onto warming toffee apples and hazelnuts. This is followed by dates, chocolate orange and spiced tea cake.
Finish: Cinnamon spices leading back to a classic island-style salty wave balancing the sweet fruit of the palate.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.117 100ml
$32.99
This 100mL SMWS bottle originally appeared in our sold-out 2017 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar. You must be a member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society to purchase this bottle.
10.117 - SMOKY, SALTY, SWEET PORRIDGE
This 9-year-old from Islay comes in at 61.2% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour profile: Peated
Outturn: 150 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "Plenty of peat smoke, chimney soot and tar right at the beginning, but it did not stop there as we discovered an underlying sweetness which needed to be unearthed. In time we discovered aromas of brown sugar glazed parsnips, honey roasted chocolate peanuts and black currant wine gums. The taste was like a sweet golden syrup, but at the same time, smoky salty austere, steaming hot creamy porridge – most unusual. Water calmed tempers somewhat, on the nose now sweet potatoes and honey glazed carrots whilst on the palate grilled hot dogs with mango chutney and red onion relish."
Drinking tip: "Experience the difference between neat and diluted"
Andrew’s Tasting Note
Nose: peanut brittle and chicken satay on egg noodle; glazed pork, grilled bbq unagi, dried orange and mango salsa; sugary and floral with willow branches.
Palate: more bbq unagi, chicken satay and glazed pork belly; fatty, oily and smoky; fresh orange and lime citrus; a shade of dark chocolate and sooty-oil-soaked mechanics rags; becomes tarry and more medicinal with each passing sip, but also more tropical and fruity.
Finish: warming, smoky and fruity; the engine-oils coat the mouth with flashes of citrus and more tropical fruits; long, very long.
Comment: this is going to be a very popular malt… Society members will be clambering for a bottle; thankfully we have the whole cask!
Evan’s Tasting Note
Nose: Oily smoke, earthy peat. Salt, brine, and iodine. Light citrus, bell pepper, laundry fresh out of the dryer, lavender and the slight hint of parma violet. Butter on toast. Chocolate fudge, fennel, sunflower seeds, malted barley, and a squeeze of lemon.
Palate: Salt, black pepper and smoke. Spicy up front before it settles in and switches to creamy. Starchy plantains dipped in chocolate, fresh roasted peanuts, oatmeal with blackberries and cinnamon, lemon pepper seasoning, vanilla yogurt plus a dash of honey.
Finish: Warming. Smoky and creamy with a dash of salt and a light touch of sweetness all the way down.
Comment: Your kids may have gotten up far too early on Christmas morning but feel free to forgo the coffee – this is a delicious way to wake up. Let the kids open their gifts. For you perhaps the presence of this is present enough.
100mL
Glenglassaugh Torfa 50ml
$9.99
Bottled at 50% without an age statement this youthful peated expression of Glenglassaugh matured in Ex-Bourbon. This was just the third official release of Glenglassaugh distilled and bottled since it reopened. It was featured on Day 15 of KWM Whisky Advent 2017.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: big, malty and savoury; a big hit of salted caramel, candied apply and brown sugar melting on warm homemade oatmeal; a touch of decadent spice and marmalade.
Palate: still big, brash and malty; there is a surge of tarry-oily-peat on the palate; Dutch licorice and salted caramel with dried orange peel and cloves; more decadent spice and marmalade; still sugary with more melting brown sugar.
Finish: clean, smoky and malty with more salted caramel.
Comment: I swear the recipe for this whisky is evolving as the maturing spirit at the distillery ages; it is richer, more complex and peatier than I recall; it also tastes a lot peatier than 20ppm!
Distillery's Tasting Note
Nose: Vivid, sweet, sooty campfire smoke and sea air infuse zest of lime, apricot jam and ripe soft fruits, all gently warmed by hints of stem ginger and cracked black pepper.
Palate: An eloquent, sweet coastal peat smoke engulfs candied peel over melon, pineapple and roasted red apples. Oat biscuits, hints of heather honey and a gentle cigar box spice all combine to give a terrific balance to the expressive smoky character.
Finish: A heady, yet elegant harmony of distinct coastal peat and striking spiced fruit flavours.
Torfa is a new single malt from Glenglassaugh to be treasured and savoured in quiet moments.
Kilchoman 2007 KWM 10 Year 50ml
$20.99
The 50ml version of Our first exclusive 10-year-old single cask of Kilchoman whisky. It is also the first 10 Year Old Kilchoman to be sold in Canada! Bottled at 56.6% after maturing in an Ex-Bourbon barrel. This is our 6th exclusive cask from Kilchoman, selected by the whisky team at KWM and bottled to mark our 25th Anniversary!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: creamy, decadent and briny with a whiff of smoke from the coals of a smouldering beach fire; classic Kilchoman fresh lemon, goat cheese and Old English Butterscotch; smoked mussels and pan seared scallops.
Palate: big, sweet, oily and malty; sweet vanilla and butterscotch morph into tendrils of vanilla, chewy malt and tarry-medicinal-peat; more lemon and goat cheese, firm toasted oak, fennel and Dutch licorice; underneath it all a thick layer of ripe orchard fruits.
Finish: bold, long and rich yet smooth and so so salty: more Dutch licorice, juicy malt and tarry-peat; the smouldering beach fire returns with some sweet vanilla, lemon and orchard fruit.
Comment: we are honoured that Anthony Wills was willing to share one of these precious early vintage Kilchomans will us; bottled just days past its 10th birthday!
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Like you decided to hang a bunch of Bounce (TM) dryer sheets from the rafters of your barn, just to freshen the air and get rid of those still lingering notes of hay, leather, and horse hair. When that didn't entirely work so instead of cleaning it all up you set the whole thing on fire. Smoke, peat and dryer sheets. Barbecued prawns, hay, new leather, lime zest, elderflowers honeydew melon and coffee/cappuccino notes.
Palate: Sweet with salt and lemon, Fisherman's Friend lozenges, oatcakes with honey, baked apples, mocha mousse, dark chocolate and light roast coffee.
Finish: Smokey and earthy with more honeydew as well as toasted almonds. Becomes creamy on the finish.
Comment: A big and bold Kilchoman with lots of complexity. It is great to see the distillery's whisky hit the decade-old milestone!
Cadenhead Dailuaine KWM 50ml
$11.24
SOLD OUT
A 50ml of our 1st ever KWM exclusive single cask of Dailuaine, and our 2nd cask from WM Cadenhead. The whisky has been bottled at 55.9% after maturing 12 years in a very active Refill Hogshead. This whisky was featured on Day 1 of our 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: soft fruity and cream; waxy with loads of white chocolate, fresh cut flowers and glazed croissants; notes of melon and apricot with Marcona almonds and a touch of white pepper.
Palate: round, creamy and fruity with a hint of salt and building spice; very lush and rich for a refill Hogshead at this age; juicy malt, more melon and apricots, glazed croissants and poached pear with a dab of blue cheese; loads of white chocolate, almonds, honey and toasted oak.
Finish: long, fruity and floral with loads of white chocolate, toasted oak spice, fading soft fruits and salt.
Comment: this is a rare example of a cask we bottled from a single sample… I think the lads at Cadenhead knew we were going to love it; they were not wrong!
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Floral and fruity with mangos and pears, light salt, vanilla pod, white peppercorn, chamomile, blanched almonds, white chocolate, fennel, wood shavings and a hint of aloe.
Palate: Porridge with peaches, pears and creamy vanilla yogurt topped with a sprig of mint and a dash of cinnamon. Peppery spice, salted macadamia nuts, pineapple, papaya and light passionfruit notes.
Finish: The salt and spice give way to a light sweetness.
Comments: Not too overwhelming but also not too simple - this is one balanced dram.
Want a full-size bottle of this single cask? Check it out here!
Tullibardine Sovereign 50ml
$6.29
The mini, or 50mL version of the full-sized Tullibardine Sovereign
It is bottled at 43% from 1st Fill Bourbon casks. Tullibardine Distillery was the first new distillery to open after WWII. Located in the town of Blackford, famous for its pure clean water. In 1488, King James IV, then 14, visited the town to purchase some of the best beer in Scotland for his coronation.
Distiller's Tasting Note: "It exhibits barley, pear drops and creamy chocolate notes, which develop on the palate with a lingering finish."
Ardbeg Corryvreckan 50ml
$14.99
This is a mini bottle or 50mL version of the Ardbeg Corryvreckan.
The Corryvreckan started out as a replacement for the Airigh Nam Beist but has become a legend in its own right. The whisky has a unique sweet and spicy twist which blends well with the whisky's peaty maritime backbone. Bottled at 57.1% this whisky is often amongst the highest scoring with whisky critics and reviewers. It gets its sweet and spicy characteristics from the French oak in which some of the vatting is matured. The whisky was featured on Day 18 of KWM Whisky Advent.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: thick with honey and cream, Irish soda bread, dried fruits and salted caramel; a touch of powdered sugar, juicy malt, apricot and ashy smoke; sweet marmalade, candied ginger, cardamom and ginger.
Palate: big, rich, spicy, sweet and fruity; decadent, earthy and peated; massive spices: fennel, hot ginger, cinnamon and cardamom; juicy malt, firm earthy-oily peat and tar; sea salt, clean beach smoke and layers of fruit: oranges, melon and apricot.
Finish: long, savoury, oily and coating; tarry peat and juicy malt linger long with sugars, spice and everything nice.
Comment: this is a big peaty, maritime malt; a fine winter warmer, and still my favourite core Ardbeg.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: With the first sniff, encounter the deep and turbulent force of Corryvreckan as it pulls you inwards. Swirl the glass and dip your nose into the torrents of tarry ropes, creosote and linseed oil rising from deep within the vortex. As you succumb to its power, a collision of waxy dark chocolate, warm blackcurrants and muscovado sugar pulls you under its spell with a burst of plump cherries and earthy pine needles leaping from its depths.
Palate: Plunge into the whirlpool and taste the mysterious depths of Corryvreckan. Torrents of taste well up on the palate; deep, peppery and chewy, bombarding the tongue with its intense tastes and textures. The first plunge brings forth chewy peppered steak soaked in pepper sauce with the tang of crispy seaweed. As you descend deeper, encounter a mouthful of black tarry espresso coffee that coats the palate with rich melted dark fruits (blackcurrants, blueberries and cherries) and bitter almonds. As the taste soaks in deeper, star anise and hickory dry out the palate before a surprise of chalky effervescent violets fizz to the surface.
Finish: Long, deep and remaining powerful into the finish with black tarry coffee, chocolate coated cherries and hot pepper sauce, the lingering memories of your mysterious and daring journey into Corryvreckan.