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Classic Single Malts with Hunter - Tuesday April 29

Posted on May 2, 2014

Hunter ably guided our guests through and introductory single malt tasting at Kensington Wine Market, which included some exciting new whiskies, including a couple of KWM exclusive casks.



Hepburn's Choice Auchentoshan 11 Year - 46% - KWM Exclusive - A splash of summer, floral, grassy & perfumed, reminiscient of frolicking in a field in bloom. - $84.99
Hepburn's Choice Braeval 12 Year - 46% - KWM Exclusive - A nose rich with nuttiness, hazelnuts, brazil and cashews galore. To taste brings rum raisins and coffee cake, invokes thoughts of port. - $87.99
Aberlour 18 - 43% - A showcase of sherry. Dark fruits scattered atop a helping of good old christmas cake. The standard sherry affair, this one was very well rounded. - $103.99
Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 KWM Octave - 54.7% - 19 Year - KWM Exclusive - Starting with a profound baking spice nose, it draws you in to show off a decadent display of cinnamon, chewy toffee, and molasses cookies. - $189.99
Duncan Taylor Mortlach 1995 KWM Octave - 55.4% - 18 Year - KWM Exclusive - An earthy nose, wet oak and mud mixing together; once tasted a new face emerges of dense gingerbread, jube jubes and sticky toffee pudding. Definitely a dessert whisky. - $174.99
Glen Scotia 21 Year - 46% - A brine laden coastal delight, showing off sea salt, a soft ashen smoke followed up by tinned peaches and slivers of tropical fruit. Don't let the package fool you, this is a treasure in disguise. - $145.99
Kilchoman KWM Cask 326 - 60.1% - For the peat lovers out there, this is the typhoon out of Islay. Big smoke and brine roiling in a peat bog bath all exploding in an awe inspiring display. Akin to brimstone surfacing from the depths of earth, only in a more appealing sense. - $119.99

The evening's Top 3 Whiskies as Selected by Our Guest:

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Beer & Cheese - April 22nd 2014

Posted on April 23, 2014

One of our most popular tastings, we pair beer with its true soul mate, cheese! We sample six tasty beers each carefully paired with Cheese from Janice Beaton. On this occasion, Janice was herself on hand to talk cheese with our guests.



Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils The first lager produced with the 20 bbl brewhouse at Oskar Blues. This pilsner is a clear golden colour. Four additions of Saaz hops lend a spicy-floral hop component. - $18.69/6 pack
Grimbergen Cuvée Ambrée/Dubbel With the phoenix as its symbol, Grimbergen Abbey rose up from the ashes century after century to offer a unique beer whose unexpected flavours reveal themselves with each sip. Produced from the double fermentation of several malts and hops, Grimbergen Double Ambrée is a dark-colored abbey beer with ruby overtones. Its taste is deep and has a very full bitter-sweet flavour with hints of caramel, dried plums and malt. - $18.99/6 pack
Parallel 49 Robo Ruby This strong Red Ale will excite Gypsy Tears fans as they enjoy all the favourite qualities but with an extra edge. Brewed with Centennial, Cascade and Columbus hops and Pale, Crystal and Victoria malts along with roasted wheat to give that exceptional melody of malt and hop balance but with the strength of an imperial. - $6.49/650ml
Rogue Rogue New Crustacean Barleywineish IPA Not quite a barley wine and not quite a double or imperial IPA. Just drink it and enjoy! Brewed with Weyermann & Bohemian Malts; Bravo, Amarillo, Falconer's Flight & Horizon Hops; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast. - $14.69/750ml
Moylan’s Dragoons Dry Irish Stout Dry, roasty and incredibly rich in flavour, Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout is made with a unique blend of imported hops and malted barley from the United Kingdom. This award winning stout is brewed in the Irish tradition. - $9.59/650ml
Brasseris Dunham, Imperial Black IPA The imperial version of Dunham's Black IPA. Heavily hopped to 117 IBU’s with Centennial, Colombus, Nugget and Cascade hops. Aromas of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee and resinous hops. The palate hits you with a big bitter note followed by dark chocolate and piney hops. - $18.69/6 pack









The Evening's Two Most Popular Beers

1. Grimbergen Cuvée Ambrée/Dubbel

2. Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils

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Kensington Wine Market's Owner Nancy Carten at The Glencoe Icebreaker 10K

Posted on April 22, 2014

Full disclosure: she didn't run, but once upon a time she used to walk it. She did however turn up to enjoy the breakfast and hand out prizes to some of the participants. Kensington Wine Market has been a sponsor of the  Glencoe Icebreaker 10 K Roadrace for as long as we can remember! Rumour has it the Scotchguy, Andrew Ferguson, is already in training to eat the breakfast next year. No word on whether he'll run!



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Brunello, Barolo & Amarone - Tuesday April 15

Posted on April 17, 2014

What is it about the red wines of Montalcino, Barolo and Valpolicella?  It seems like we can't run this tasting enough, as Albertans just can't get enough of the premium reds from these three famous regions.

Eric's Lineup and Tasting Notes:



La Velona Brunello di Montalcino 2007 - Located in the warmest area of Montalcino, La Velona produces a forward, lush, and delicious style of Brunello.  This wine was fully mature, and offering notes of juicy red cherry, leather, and spicy dry oak.  A really solid glass of vino that should drink well over the next three years, or so - don't wait too long, though! - $61.99

Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2007 - Just a baby when compared to the La Velona.  Tightly-wound and shy, this wine was a little closed down.  You could tell it has great potential, and all the elements of a great wine are here in abundance and balance, but the wine wasn't singing.  Faint notes of sour red cherry were all that this wine was giving off on the nose, but the palate impressed with its richness and length.  Let's revisit this wine in 3-5 years, shall we? - $84.99

Serradenari Barolo 2009 - Pretty, pretty, pretty... In terms of elevation, Serradenari possesses the highest vineyards in all of Barolo.  Because of that, the wines of Serradenari all share a certain delicacy, finesse, and attractive lightness.  The wine is pale in colour, but the wine's floral aromatics were jumping!  Just an amazing value for Barolo lovers that should drink well for the next 5-10 years. - $45.99

Azelia Barolo 2009 - My wine of the night.  This isn't your daddy's young Barolo, who's tannin will rip the enamel off your teeth!  This is rich, juicy, and with a structure that is integrated within the wine, instead sticking out.  Seamless.  If you love Barolo, I'd buy 3-6 of these, and enjoy seeing how it evolves of the nest decade.  Luigi Scavino: great effort! - $57.99

Sartori Amarone della Valpolicella Classico "Reius" 2007 - Really good Amarone here.  This wasn't a blockbuster style of Amarone, as it clocked in at 14.% abv.  Balanced and mature, this wine was fully open.  I really like the balanced between the dried fruit (date and fig) and dried herb (oregano and thyme) flavours.  Good, but not great length.  Just a really delicious, balanced bottle of vino.  Well done. - $61.99

Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella 2009 - A monster.  A inky black hole of a wine.  Did I mention this wine was full-bodied?!  Coming in at a hefty 16% abv, if you want to join the purple-teeth club, then this wine is for you.  This wine offers mounds of cassis and dried blackberries, without a hint of sourness, or bitterness.  A g...

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Anam Cara Cellars Winemker Dinner ar Brasserie Kensington

Posted on April 28, 2014

Join Owner & Winemaker Nick Nicholas of Anam Cara Cellars for an experience of warmth and hospitality that is Oregon.

Wednesday May 21st, 2014

(1131 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, AB)

Reception at 6:30pm
7:00pm Family Style 5 course wine paired dinner - $95 plus GST
Register on our website: Tastings Schedule or call us at 403-283-8000



In 2001, the family came to Oregon, purchasing a rundown walnut, plum and filbert orchard which was to become the home of Nicholas Vineyard and Anam Cara Cellars wines.

The words Anam Cara are Celtic for "friend of my soul" To the Nicholas family it symbolizes the long journey they have taken to craft their wines.

Anam Cara Cellars Winemker Dinner ar Brasserie Kensington...

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