Millstone 7 Year Pajarete Cask
$101.99
This curious Dutch single malt was matured 7 years in Pajarete wine casks, before bottling at 46%. There is a connection between Pajarete wine, and the legendary (though also infamous) Paxarette casks used by the Scotch industry until they were banned in the early 1990s. Millstone's whisky was matured in proper Pajarete wine casks.
Paxarette casks were created by Scottish cooperages who would inject new or tired old casks with a sweet wine made from a concentrated Pedro Ximenez sherry wine (including the grape must) at high pressure. The whiskies matured in these casks took on a deep colour, with an intense, sweet, and fruity profile. The casks were banned by the Scotch whisky association in the 1990s, though laws in Spain preventing the export of un-bottled sherry also played a part.
Producer Description
"This malt whisky is dark, rich, and luscious. The whisky expresses those typical notes that you would expect from a full maturation in a Pajarete wine cask. In spite of the full maturation in Pajarete casks the first impression is fresh more than sweet. When you give the whisky a little time in your glass, the whisky shines with its warm and complex character. The unique qualities of this whisky come from the use of a crystal clear wort that is slowly fermented for 7 days, and the slow distillation method with the relatively early cut point. After distillation the whisky had a full maturation in Pajarete casks that give the whisky its beautiful colour and adds to the elegant sweetness and rich leathery notes."
Decadent Drams Ardnamurchan 7 Year
$229.99
Bottled at 53%, this 7 year old Ardnamurchan is the product of whisky from 2017 and 2018, including 2 peated malts matured in refill Oloroso (2017) and an unpeated malt matured in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry (2018).
Producer Description
"This is a sort of sequel to Whisky Sponge Edition No.100. We took a similar approach but on a smaller scale and with a slightly lower targeted bottling strength of 53%. The objective being to achieve immediate and maximum quaffability, while once again drilling into this rich profile of peat, small cask influence and sherry. We took three octaves of Ardnamurchan to make this bottling: two sibling v.17 peated refill oloroso octaves were marred for around four months in a refill barrel with a v.18 unpeated first fill oloroso octave. The result, we are confident, is lip-smackingly delicious!"
Decadent Drams Bowmore 14 Year
$419.99
Bottled at 53%, this 2011 Bowmore was bottled after 14 years in a Refill Cask. 88.22pts Whiskybase
Producer Description
"This is Bowmore in its purest form: an 14-year-old (distilled in 2011) that puts the distillery’s character front and centre. Matured in refill wood and bottled at 53% after a touch of reduction, it’s all about clarity and precision rather than oak influence. Expect smoke and seawater, elegant dry peat, and a citrus-edged fruit profile that keeps things lifted and bright. Originally destined for full cask strength, it showed its best self with just a few degrees brought down – a decision that lets the spirit’s elegance truly sing. A Bowmore for those who want distillery character unfiltered, uncompromised, and utterly compelling."
Whiskyland Ch.16 Highland Park 20 Year
$759.99
This is a curious Highland Park, a marriage of a First Fill Sherry Hogshead from 2005, with a Refill Sherry Hogshead from 1997, bottled after 20 years (the age of the younger component) and 55.5%. 89.47pts Whiskybase
Producer Description
"There are many ways to Whiskyland - but, like these two befuddled Vikings, most people have to first get lost in order to find their way here. Whiskyland Chapter Sixteen is a marriage of a 2005 1st fill sherry hogshead of Highland Park, with a 1997 refill hogshead of Highland Park. The resulting 20 year old grog, bottled at natural marrying strength, is a magnificent, multi-vintage take on classical, mature Highland Park distillery character, with a subtle drenching of sherry. So, lash up your sails for a storm, christen all your weapons with names like 'Bone Squelcher', 'Skull Mangler' and 'Thighroid Dispruptor', grab a few nosing horns and pray to your preferred assortment of imaginary Gods that you wash ashore on one of the stretches of Whiskyland coastline that is well-served by hostelry and at least three star accommodation."
Berry's Exception Cask Chichibu 2015
$849.99
This Chichibu single cask was fully matured in a Kusuda Pinot Noir cask, from Martinborough, New Zealand. Initially filled in 2015, the whisky was bottled under Berry Bros. Exceptional Cask range after 9 years at 65.2%. Only 6 bottles coming to Canada, exclusively to KWM! 88.82pts Whiskybase
Whisky Trail Glen Keith 20 Year KWM Cask
$259.99
This 1996 vintage Glen Keith was matured 20 years in a Sherry Butt before bottling at 46.6%. Only 24 bottles have come to Canada, exclusively for Kensington Wine Market. But while our logo is on the label, there are just 24 bottles, meaning this isn't your typical KWM cask... so what's the story?!
More than a year ago, while looking at some casks with Elixir Distillers, we were offered 24 bottles of a 1996 Glen Keith, bottled at 20 years of age, presumably in 2016 or 2017. We assumed it was a single cask, bottled for another of Elixir Distillers' clients. In any case, the whisky was good, and the price was fair so we decided to take it.
On arrival, we did a little digging, and came upon an interesting coincidence. We don't know this for sure, but we can only find two other 20 year old 1996 vintage Glen Keiths bottled at 46.6%, and they were both done for the Whisky Exchange, which was owned by Elixir Distillers at the time. One of them appears to have been bottled for the 20th Anniversary of the Whisky Exchange in 2019, and the other, presumably the same year, as a Staff Christmas bottle, also marking the 20th Anniversary.
The most likely explanation, is that ours is the same whisky. In any case it is excellent, and we aren't getting very much of it!
Living Souls Ledaig 18 Year
$194.99
This 18 year old Ledaig (peated Tobermory) was bottled at 41% after maturing in Refill Butts & Hogsheads.
Producer Description
"This release is a wonderfully rare combination of 18yo Ledaig and Tobermory single malts. Take a sip and find yourself standing outside a cottage in the Scottish countryside surrounded by mountains. Smoke billowing from the chimney, you take a bite of an apple and notice the sunlight dancing in a puddle in front of you. Each breath carries a blend of fresh apple and smoky tones, harmoniously merging with the rustic outdoors, enveloping you in a peaceful, pastoral scene."
G&M CC Clynelish 2008 WOTWC Cask
$249.99
This 2008 vintage Clynelish was matured 17 years in a Refill Sherry Hogshead before bottling at 57.3%. The cask was selected by Matt at Whisky on the West Coast as a Western Canada exclusive bottling.
May Clynelish's waxiness never wane!
OMC Mortlach 14 Year Canasta Sherry
$216.99
This Mortlach comes from a single cask care of Hunter Laing's Old Malt Cask whisky range. The Mortlach single malt was originally distilled in July 2010. It was then matured for 14 years in a Canasta Sherry Butt at 50%.