SMWS Canada November 2018 Outturn
Posted on November 6, 2018
by EvanAfter some crazy snow in early October, we had a relatively mild rest of the month by Calgary standards. As I write this in the beginning of November, it looks like mother nature is trying to once again set things right by dropping the temperature to below freezing and making that white stuff fall once more. Looking outside reminds one that it might be a good idea to stay warm indoors and keep some good company on hand, along with a new favourite green bottle or two...
And boy, do we have some warming and welcoming tinted bottles to choose from this month. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada once again has put together a very interesting group of seven to taste our way through. This time around sees a battle between the fleshy, fruit forward and easy drinking malts and the more tightly wound, mineral-driven drams. As always there are a few stats worth noting:
The November of 2018 Outturn includes:
Only one bottle priced over $200. That bottle is understandable price-wise, as it does contain a 24 year old single malt.
One bottle from the rarely-seen distillery number nine. This is only the second time it has made its way to Canada in SMWS form.
A RUM - for the first time in a long, long while - and by SMWS standards this Rum is incredibly drinkable. The 57.5% ABV seems low-strength compared to past SMWS rum offerings... It is also quite complex.
Two peated malts, but no Islay to be seen. What we received are a very interesting and quirky 66 and a wonderful smoky, oily and citrusy concoction from one of my personal favourite distillery numbers which is 42.
And last but not least: this is the second month in a row with now 35s to be found in the lineup. When will the Glen Moray drought end? Your guess is as good as mine!
Tired of my preamble and looking specifics? Read on below! If you are looking for other bottles from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society you can check out what we have in stock here. If any SMWS bottles show as being out of stock on our website please contact us – we might be able to get more.
As always we would like to give a big thank-you to our awesome neighbour’s Peasant Cheese for supplying the small bites for the tastings.
Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool
Instagram: one part of @kwmwhisky
9.142 - GENTLE AND SOPHISTICATED
This 24 year old Speysider comes in at 49.2% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow
Outturn: 150 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "A delicate, sweet, fruity and floral earthy aroma filled the air when we poured this sample. Descriptions of a bed of roses, cherry blossom orchard, herb garden and the sandy clay floor inside a sherry bodega made us all very much look forward to...
Champagne Days
Posted on October 26, 2018
by DaveI was fortunate enough to go and visit some of Kensington Wine Market's exclusive wine producers on during my trip to Europe in August. This was my first time heading across the Atlantic and travel to some of the old world wine countries. It has been a dream of mine to do so for quite a while, having researched so much about it and read so many different things. It was absolutely amazing to be able to put a face, not only to some of the wines that we carry but also get a better idea of what the country looks like. To get a feeling for what is "terroir". To see first hand the differences in the soil, different preferences for making wine, and hear different opinions about everything from wine to politics.
The main reason I am so proud to be part of Kensington Wine Market not only has to do with the people who work there but it is also a big part of the people who we represent through their wines.
The first 2 producers that I met were from Champagne and we have been fortunate enough to carry their wines for quite a few years. I respected and loved their wines even before I met the winemakers but now after meeting them that has gone to a whole other level! The other reason I am so happy that everyone who met me could, is because I happened to be arriving in Champagne right in the middle of harvest and everyone I met was unbelievably busy. However, they generously allowed me to be a fly on the wall and see exactly how production is done.
Marie Courtin
The first winemaker I met was Dominique and we carry her Marie Courtin Champagnes. They have always been some of my favourites and after meeting Dominique I think she is one of the most interesting, honest and amazing people I have met. Dominique only has 2.5 hectares to produce all of the wines from her Marie Courtin line. They are from different plots within that 2.5 hectares and they are all named after how she feels that the wine speaks to her when she first started making them. She uses biodynamic methods for producing all the Marie Courtin wines and focuses on minimal influence. If you are looking for a natural wine this should be one of the tops on your list!
Dominique and I met at her winery, which is more like a medium sized Quonset and then downstairs is another decent sized area where they have their holding tanks for ageing and fermenting the different wines. Her winery is about an hour southeast from Troyes, a very classic historical city with architecture that harkens back in style (and much of the time, the time it was built) to the middle ages. Classical buildings and cobblestone roads which are now filled with restaurants and shopping stores. It also used to be the capital of the Champagne region but that distinction has since passed on to Epernay. Marie Courtin is located in the most southerly region of Champagne. Distance-wise, it is actually closer to parts of Northern...
Spanish Love!
Posted on October 11, 2018
by DaveOne of my favourite places to be in our store is within our Spanish section. Over the years we have managed to get a fantastic selection of exclusive wines from all over Spain and develop strong relationships with the producers'. Just recently I was able to travel to Europe and Spain to discover and meet some of the amazing winemakers who make the wine that we love! I always knew that I loved the wines and have been fascinated with the idea of Spain but after having visited and seen what it is all about my mind has been blown and I can't believe how lucky we are to have the wines that we do.
During my trip, I was able to visit quite a few different wineries and try lots of different wines. One of the things that amazed me the most is that we do indeed work with some of the best winemakers in Spain. I'm not just saying that: there are two main producers that we work with that have been voted top winemakers in their respective regions. Toni Coca i Fito was named top winemaker from Catalunya this year. He produces many of the wines we feature from the region and also consults with some of the other wineries that we carry as well. The other winemaker is Basilio Izquierdo from the Rioja region. After spending about 30 years as head winemaker with CVNE, he now enjoys being a mad scientist winemaker; producing only the style of wine that he wants to. Basilio is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. He is a whirlwind of energy and emotion and an absolute blast to be around.
My first main stop within Spain was Barcelona. After absorbing my fair share of cava, paella and the city nightlife I managed to stroll away from the city to the Priorat and Monstant region. I had read about this region before but I don't think I was completely ready for what I saw. We started in Monstant. We went to check out Coca I Fito winery and their newest project; where they have purchased new lands and are working on planting vines and putting in a winery. Honestly, I don't know where Miquel and Toni, the brothers behind Coca I Fito get the energy for everything that they are doing because after just 1 day running around with Miquel I was exhausted. We started the day by tasting white wine and their award-winning rose from Catalunya, enjoying both the wine itself and the view from the top of their property which is an amazing lookout where you can see all of Montsant with its glorious clay and red soils, scattered by old vines everywhere. The wines were fantastic and helped quench the thirst brought on by the blaring sun and +30-degree weather.
From there we headed to where they currently have their winery to taste some of their red wines in their cellar. The top of their winery is a bit more industrial looking with a smaller space. Stainless steel vats line both sides of the walls, wine bottles are piled high in the back patiently waiting to be filled and ma...
SMWS Canada Outturn for October 2018
Posted on October 6, 2018
by EvanHappy 7th Birthday to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada!
October marks the 84th Outturn for the SMWS Canada and its 7th year of operation by the dynamic duo of Rob and Kelly Carpenter. During that time it has grown from having Kensington Wine Market as the flagship store to including Branches at Keg & Cork in Edmonton, Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver and The Strath in Victoria. Information on other these other fine retail establishments can be found here.
This Outturn had quite a few tricks up its sleeve, including:
Not one, but TWO bottles from distilleries never seen before at our Canada chapter in SMWS bottle form!
One of the above bottles is from a distillery in Northern Ireland that is notoriously difficult to obtain casks from. This was the first SMWS cask from distillery number 51 in 25 years!
The other is from a Highland distillery with the SMWS number (lucky) 13.
Only one cask finish in the lineup this time around, but it is a wild one from distillery number 5. One person at our tastings commented that this is not a sit back and relax dram - this whisky forces you to pay attention to what is happening in the glass.
There is also one very unctuous and sherried Milestone Cask from distillery number 30. Some found it sulfered and tangy - others didn't care and asked for more.
To cap the night off, two Islay bottles were featured, both showing divergent style from one another.
What this adds up to is one impressive seventh birthday!
All of this information, plus the information on previous releases that are still available can be found on our website here. If any SMWS bottles show as being out of stock on our website please contact us – we might still be able to get more. As always we would like to give a big thank-you to our awesome neighbour’s Peasant Cheese for supplying the small bites for the tastings. Also a big thanks to Rob and Kelly for the birthday mini-cupcakes!
Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool
Instagram: one part of @kwmwhisky
51.12 - PASTRIES AND SWEET TREATS
This 15 year old Irish whiskey was matured in a 1st fill barrel and comes in at 58.9%
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla
Outturn:
Panel's tasting note: "A first sniff promises much - milk chocolate caramel shortbread, indulgent apple and apricot pastries, turning malty with dried flowers and gentle herbs (chamomile). Sweet and spicy (ginger and white pepper heat) to taste, then pineapple, vanilla, butterscotch and milk chocolate. Add a drop of water and the aromas are crème brulee, icing sugar, vanilla, a hint of lemon and then dried fruits (apricot, mango). It becomes slightly winey, bitter and savoury. The taste is of sweet tea (not tannic), spicy...
TOP 21 NEW BEERS TO ARRIVE AT KWM IN SEPTEMBER!!!(YOU WON'T BELIEVE #3,7,13,14 OR 20)
Posted on October 2, 2018
By ShawnGreetings and welcome to our weird fall/winter hybrid season! Although if we’re paying attention (and when it comes to the weather, I rarely am), I don’t think there’s anything hybrid about it! My head has been all over the place today, and thanks to inappropriate tires, so was my car. It’s early afternoon as of writing this, so that’s an acceptable time to crack something and just try to forget about whatever is happening outside right? I don’t know what I’m going to open yet, but it’s likely one of the following, which also happen to be all the fun new beers that have come in over the past few weeks. I apologize for my absence in September, I took some well deserved time off, and as usual, it takes another week or two to catch up after that, so here I am! More or less caught up, excited to share some ridiculously exciting beers, along with all the fall and seasonal offerings trickling into the store.
Before I give you my Buzzfeed-like TOP 10 NEW BEERS ON THE KENSINGTON WINE MARKET SHELVES (You won’t BELIEVE #6), I want to let you all know that if you haven’t seen my Brews News newsletter I sent out last week, I mentioned this year’s Craft Beer Advent Calendar. This year’s Calendar consists of 12 of our favourite brewers from the Craft Beer Importers portfolio, each making 2 beers. 1 beer of their choice, and one they then collaborate with a different (and new to us) brewer for a second beer! This year the calendar will run roughly $160 (with some wiggle room), and if you want to commit to one before October 10th, I’ll give you a 5% discount! Feel free to give the shop a call (403-283-8000) or email me at Beerguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com with a name, phone number, email address and a method of payment.
Ok, now that that is out of the way, let’s get into all these new brews. Check out these tasty suds (I hate that name).
Central City Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Ale $6.49 for a 650mL bottle
Fernie Ghostrider Pumpkin Brown $7.49 for a 650mL bottle
Les Trois Mousquetaires Oktoberfest $11.69 for a 750mL bottle
Yukon Pumpkin Spice Ale $3.99 for a 473mL tall can
Epic Imperial Pumpkin Porter $16.29 for a 650mL bottle
Evil Twin Soul Made IPA $9.79 for a 473mL tall can
Evil Twin Rhubarb Compote Sour $9.79 for a 473mL tall can
Evil Twin Hot Toddy-ish $9.99 for a 473mL tall can
Evil Twin Everyday Once a Day Give Yourself an IPA $7.39 for a 473mL tall can
Evil Twin Breaking the Waves IIPA $9.99 for a 473mL tall can
Jester King Funk Metal Sour Stout $32.99 for a 750mL bottle
Jester King Queen’s Order $26.99 for a 750mL bottle
Jester King Demitone $32.99 for a 75-mL bottle
Jester King Le ...
Recent Posts
- Day 25 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 24 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 23 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 22 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 21 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 20 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 19 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 18 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 17 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar
- Day 16 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar