Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada February 2013 Outturn!
Posted on February 28, 2023
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the World’s largest whisky club, with branches in 16 countries and more than 26,000 members. For more information on the Canadian branch, check out www.smws.ca
SMWS 36.58: Chilli porridge sprinkled with flowers - 54% - 9 Year - Speyside - Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel - Outturn: 256 Bottle - Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose had oodles of fruit (apple, pear, passion-fruit, lemon,raisins) – also marzipan, hazelnut, marshmallows, iced caramels,fudge, sherbet, custard creams and some fragrant floral and woodyelements. Hot and sweet, the palate spoke to us of pencil chewing,Mexican hot chocolate, chilli porridge sprinkled with sweet flowers;then passion-fruit and hay. The reduced nose became more dustyand chalky – popped rice, rainbow drops, hay, plywood andpeaches. With water, the palate developed herbal, medicinal andtobacco notes, as well as gooseberry chews, flower bulbs andchocolate-covered pretzels. The distillery lies between Aberlour andthe mountain it is named after." Drinking Tip: "To accompany a lazy weekend brunch?Needs very little water, if any." - $102.99
SMWS 121.55: Bitter marmalade & boozy prunes - 56.1% - 12 Year - Highland (Island) - Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead - Outturn: 274 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "Initial nose impressions included gym shoes, candles and faintstruck match – soon replaced by treacle toffee, light sherry andslightly over-done fruit cake – then vanilla, rhubarb and gingercrumble, peanut brittle and trifle with strawberry and coconut. Withwater the nose found cough lozenges, scallop shells, Bakelite andbrine. The unreduced palate tasted of fruit cake, hard toffee, bittermarmalade, burnt plums and boozy prunes. Water improved it,taking away the bitter and the burnt elements – now soft toffee,liquorice allsorts, Oddfellows (spicy sweets), chocolate, glazeddonuts, Aberdeen butteries and hints of mint. This Lochranzadistillery was completed in 1995." Drinking Tip: "Would go with food - or a tasty wee dramfor early evening after work. Improveswith water." - $122.99
SMWS 7.77: Elegant ladies taking tea - 54.8% - 22 Year - Speyside - Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel - Outturn: 203 Bottles -Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose was attractive and evocative – lady&Ati...
Kensington Wine Market's Top 25 Selling Whiskies of 2012
Posted on February 21, 2013
The following is a list of the 25 best selling whiskies of 2012 at the Kensington Wine Market in Calgary, Alberta. Listed in reverse order to tantalize you, not all of them made it to the shelf. A few were sold to whisky clubs, corporations or families. If the Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies we all one product, then they would have been a strong contender for #1 spot too. Here is the Top 25 best selling whiskies of 2012!#25 - Evan Williams 2002 KWM Bourbon Cask - This whisky only landed the second week in December, and yet in less than a month we sold more than half of the bottles the cask yielded. - $54.99
#24 - Glendronach Parliament 21 Year - This is a lovely dram, but something of a surprise to be on this list given it's price point. It was however a steady seller all year long, and not much of an up-sell from the 15 or 18 year olds. - $117.99
#23 - Adelphi Liddesdale Batch II - Another big sherried dram, this one from Bunnahabhain distillery. Excellent value for an 18 year old first fill sherry cask matured whisky. We are expecting but 12 bottles in 2013! - $91.99
#22 - Glendronach 1972 KWM Cask 711 39 Year - Possibly the finest cask KWM has ever bottled, contending with the 1960 46 year old Strathisla of old. All 300 bottles of this whisky sold in about 6 months. It was a tropical fruit bomb if ever there was one. This could easily have been Top10 or even 5, but nearly half the bottles sold in December 2011! - SOLD OUT - $439.99
#21 - Nikka Pure Malt White - The highest ranking Japanese whisky in 2012, these cute little bottles pack a lot of flavour and soft tropical fruits. The Pure Malt Black may itself contend for the Top 25 in 2013! - $61.99
#20 - Laphroaig 10 Year - Out of Alberta for some 5 years Laphroaig's 10 year old returned last year with a vengeance. - $58.99
#19 - Calgary Stampede 25 Year 100th Anniversary Whisky - Released to celebrate the 100th Stampede in 2012 this 100% corn Canadian whisky can still technically be called Rye eventhough there is not a drop of rye whisky in the bottle. This was the 2nd highest ranking non-Scotch whisky last year! - $64.49
#18 - Glenrothes Alba Reserve - Very soft and smooth the Alba is only matured in American oak (Quercus Alba) is well priced. It's also Kosher! - $64.99
#17 - Glenmorangie Artein - Scots Gaelic for stone the Artein is a Super Tuscan finished Glenmorangie that is very earthy with some rich dark fruit. - SOLD OUT - $86.99
#16 - Fettercairn Fior - A lightly peated Highland whisky from the town of the same name, it has lovely notes of candied orange. - $71.99
#15 - Ardbeg Corryvreckan - Rumours of this whisky's demise were a little premature, but it is still a limited product, and will at some point no longer be available. It is still my favourite Ardbeg presently availabl...
Scenes from the 2nd Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival
Posted on January 31, 2013
Thank you to all of those who attended the 2nd Annual MS Whisky Festival. The event is building year on year and last night's event was an improvement on last year's! A huge thanks to all of the firms who took part in the event, donated product and their time and passion; Thursday January 17th 2013:
Authentich Wine & Spirits
Big Rock Brewery
Charton Hobbs
Corby/Pernod Ricard
Crush
Diageo Canada
Edrington Group/Beam Global
Free House
Gold Medal Marketing
Harvest Vintage Imports
Highwood Distillers
Kensington Wine Market
Kirkwood Group
Noseworthy
Pacific Wine & Spirits
PMA Canada
Purple Valley
Schiralli/Lifford
Thirsty Cellar
United Distributors
Vintage International
A special note of thanks to all of the brand ambassadors who traveled to support the event:
Alex Bruce – Adelphi
Ruaridh McIntyre - Ardbeg
Michael Urquhart – Benromach/Gordon & MacPhail
Craig Johnston - Bruichladdich
Peter Curry – Duncan Taylor
Dan Volway – Highland Park
Sadhbh Marron - Jameson
Anthony Wills – Kilchoman
Ian MacCallum – Morrison Bowmore
Ranald Watson – Springbank
Stephen Bremner – Tomatin
James Robertson – Tullibardine
[gallery orderby="rand"]...
2nd Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival - Thursday January 17th 2012 6-9PM
Posted on January 16, 2013
The second annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival is just days away, and there are still some tickets available. This year's event has attracted the whiskies of more than 58 distilleries and independent bottlers, as well as more than a dozen Brand Ambassadors. More than 160 whiskies will be available for sampling during the 3 hour festival including some very old and rare. All of the proceeds from the event will be going to the MS Society of Calgary  http://mssociety.ca/chapters/calgary/default.htm .Tickets for the event can be purchased through the EPCOR Center Box Office by following this link: http://www.epcorcentre.org/WhatsOn/ShowDetails.aspx?show_id=90A8C36F-658E-42A0-A891-ECD0B929F9A8 .
The three Master Classes on offer will feature whiskies not offered in the festival tasting. The Master Classes are $39 and can be booked by calling the EPCOR box office at 403-294-9494 . Please note you need to have a festival ticket to attend a Master Class. Some tickets for the Master Classes may be available at the door. The Master Classes:
1) Benromach vs. Tullibardine vs. Springbank vs. Kilchoman - The first Master Class features four brand ambassadors (Michael Urquhart, Ranald Watson, James Robertson and Peter Wills) going head to head in a game of oneupsmanship, featurings whiskies from their firms: Gordon & MacPhail, Springbank, Tullibardine, and Kilchoman!
2) Scotch Malt Whisky Society w/ Andrew Ferguson - The second Master Class is an initiation into the world of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the world's largest whisky club, and will feature a range of their whiskies, some never before sampled in Canada!
3) Morrison Bowmore with Ian MacCallum Last but not least Ian MacCallum of Morrison Bowmore will lead a tasting including the new 1985 vintage (of which fewer than 40 bottles have come to Alberta!).
Brand Ambassadors Participating:
Michael Urquhart – Benromach/Gordon & MacPhail
Ranald Watson - Springbank
Peter Wills - Kilchoman
James Robertson - Tullibardine
Ian MacCallum – Morrison Bowmore
Alex Bruce - Adelphi
Dan Volway – Highland Park/Macallan
Joanne Brown- Bruichladdich
Stephen Bremner - Tomatin
Peter Curry – Duncan Taylor
Sadhbh Marron - Jameson
Whisky List: (& 3 beers List)
Benromach Traditional
Benromach Peat Smoke
Benromach Organic
Benromach 10 Year
G & M Linkwood 15 Year
Atholl Brose
Springbank 10 Year
Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength
Springbank 15
Springbank 15
Hazelburn 12
Longrow Red
Longrow NV
Kilchoman ...
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada January 2013 Outturn
Posted on February 28, 2023
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the World's largest whisky club, with branches in 16 countries and more than 26,000 members. For more information on the Canadian branch, check out www.smws.ca .
Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada's January Outturn is as follows:
37.52: Bottled essence of gardens and orchards - 58.9% - 9 Year - Speyside - Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead - Outturn: 286 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose suggested dewy autumn pear orchards, earthy rhubarb and washingflapping on a line; also beeswax candles, aromatherapy base oil, light honey,apricot brandy and lemon and ozone freshness. The palate was sweet and appetizing, but with the salty spiciness of Bombay mix and a dry aftertaste; wewere nodding approval and smacking our lips. The reduced nose evoked gentleweeding in a sunny garden, or building sandcastles at the beach, while thepalate balanced beautiful warm honey sweetness against a wee nip of gentleginger spice – everlasting playful tingles followed after. The distillery is very nearBallindalloch Castle." Drinking Tip: "A dram for the potting shed, thebarbeque hut or the beach." - $102.99
5.35: Laundry in the bakery - 54.7% - 12 Year - Lowland - Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead - Outturn: 195 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "Initial nose is fresh and light, elderflower cordial, green apples and lemon puffs.Deeper and sweeter notes develop quickly, giving homely and warm feeling, likebaking bread or jam doughnuts. Quite hot and lively to taste, strawberries withblack pepper, turning fruity and fizzy like strawberry Creamola foam, also creamy similar to a raspberry milk shake or Macchiato coffee. That creaminess carrieson when adding water and aromas of apple toffee, rice pudding, butter icing,strawberry jam and doughy bread emerge. The taste is that of dark hotchocolate, brown sugar, cinnamon and blackberry jam. And to finish, from thisdistillery known for distilling three times, cold peppermint tea and fresh slightlysoapy laundry." Drinking Tip: "Whilst baking bread and doing the laundry." - $116.99
44.35: Lip-smacking, chewy & chunky - 51.5% - 22 Year - Speyside - Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead - Outturn: 279 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose had many facets – sweet (chocolate chip cookies, crêpes withNutella) savoury (maple-cured bacon, h...
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