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Cinco de Mezcal – Mexico’s True Spirit

Posted on June 8, 2018

by Comrade Hunter

In previous years, we here at the Kensington Wine Market have celebrated Cinco de Mayo by hosting a class showcasing Mexico’s inextricable spirit: tequila. But, as those of insatiable mind and palate have hunted for new and exciting spirit experiences, a spirit has emerged in our midst captivating the interest of a small but devout following here in Calgary. This spirit, the spiritual predecessor to tequila, has endowed tequila with many of the methods of production that make tequila the special sort of spirit it is today.

To clear the air of this unnecessary vagueness, the spirit I speak of is mezcal, the beautiful result of mixing terroir and distillation into one. For the uninitiated, like myself as of 2½ years ago, I was under the impression that those characteristics of terroir that defined wine were mutually exclusive from distillation. Each defined by a very unique and distinct process, the worlds of each appeared unreconcilable. Mezcal shows that wrong, bringing a peculiar harmony to each world of expression, offering micro-climate distinctions, varietal variations among the foundational ingredient, i.e., the agave, quirky distilling apparatuses and methods that add to the vast variation, and lastly, but not exhaustively, pure expressions unaffected by barrel ageing, the spirit’s unique character a strict result of the many and varied factors that go into the production of mezcal. If this burdensome wall of text has yet to convince you, really, don’t take my gushing recommendation to try it; but, do yourself a favour and get thee to a mezcal-(ery). I give this recommendation tentatively though, for it isn’t apparent to all exactly what there is to like about mezcal immediately; and perhaps, like most things in life, it isn’t for everyone. That’s okay, do not fret, we can’t all enjoy the best things in life equally. And as they say, we can’t all have good taste, and for those that don’t, there will always be tequila. My warmest regards during these lovely summer days, I hope this finds you with mezcal in hand and on a sunny patio. In the following, I will describe the various mezcals we tried as a congregation of devotees to this magical spirit, and if any of them catch your interest come down to the store to give it a taste. Here is what we tried for Cinco de Mezcal.



Mezcal Union – Joven Espadin & Cirial Marriage
As the name implies, this bottling is procured from a cooperative of Mescaleros and bottled under one label. Particularly, this bottling is their flagship release and serves as an introduction to the Mezcal Union range. What is peculiar about this bottling is that it uses both Espadin and Cirial agave varietals to concoct the spirit. In contrast to most introduction bottlings which generally use the more prominent espadin agave varietal as the sole agave, this Union bot...

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New beers for the first half of May!

Posted on May 22, 2018

Hello thirsty people!
I hope you all made it out to Beerfest this year. I had a blast seeing some friends, old and new. Tried some pretty tasty beers as well I might add! It's a great opportunity for me to get some ideas for new stuff to bring to you fine folks! In this small post, I have most of the fun new beers brought in for the first half of may. Some are limited, so I wouldn't wait if you any of these sound tasty. Enough of my blabbering, take a look at what came in!
New Evil Twin beers!

Coffeenade coffee lemon IPA($7.19, 355mL can)
Rainbownade IPA with a ton of fruit added($7.69, 355mL can)
Kolata Pineapple, coconut, lactose($6.79 for a 473mL tall can)

Nasty Trunks ($6.79 473mL tall can)

The rest!

Collective Arts Dark Fruit Gose Tons of dark fruit, limited quantities ($5.09, 473mL tall can)

Knee Deep Tahoe Deep ($6.59, 473mL tall can)

Knee Deep NE Auburn ($6.59, 473mL tall can)

Muksoka Summerweisse Tropical Wheat ($4.39, 473mL tall can)

Muksoka Cool as Cuke ($4.39, 473mL tall can)



Rogue Kulture Clash (Imperial blonde blended with Kombucha) ($18.29, 750mL bottle)

New Belgium Tartastic Strawberry-Lemon ($21.99, 6-pack bottles)

Bridge It's Wit ($9.59, 650mL bottle)

The Bruery The Wanderer For fans of Russian River Consecration ($17.69, 375mL bottle)

The Bruery Frucht: Raspberry ($12.29, 375mL bottle)

Ribstone Creek Roggenbier ($10.79, 650mL bottle)

Moody Sublime Pineapple Heffe ($9.19, 650mL bottle)

These have been some of the most colourfull beers I've seen in a while, so the shelves are super attractive right now. That's about all I have to give at the moment, except for maybe a tease of what may come. In the near future, we'll be seeing some interesting and amazing beers from Toronto's own Burdock, as well as 2 Crows from the east coast. Finally, this week and next will see a few cases of American cult beer Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout! This is the first time it'll be available in Alberta, and you better believe it won't last. Feel free to send me a request for a bottle or two beerguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com

Ok, that's all I'm going to say for this week. I'll finish off May's new beers in the near future! Cheers!

 

Shawn

Twitter: @ShawnsBrewsCGY...

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Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada Spirits Release

Posted on May 10, 2018

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has been on our shelves and in Canada for over 6 years now. Earlier this month was the 79th monthly Outturn and the Canadian chapter of the SMWS has brought in around 500 single cask releases over that time.

Since its inception 35 years ago in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has primarily bottled Single Malt Scotch from single casks, at cask strength and un-chill filtered with no colouring added. They have bottled Single Grain Scotch from distilleries all over Scotland as well. Over the years this singular focus has expanded to include bottlings from numerous distilleries outside of Scotland such as Ireland, Japan, India, and the USA. Nothing has been bottled from Canada yet though...

They have also expanded into bottling other barrel-aged spirits such as Rum, Cognac, and Armagnac. The Society also recently released its first Blended Malt.

And now we have before us its first Spirits release. Five bottles have come to Canada for this special release, and only one of them is a Scotch. Even more curious: one of them, of all things, is a Gin.

Before leaving you with the tasting notes I want to thank everybody who attended these special SMWS tastings as well as Peasant Cheese for providing the small bite compliments for us to nibble on during.

Cheers,
Evan



GN1.1: Gee wiz
The Society's very first gin from a distillery in Glasgow and coming in at 50.1% after spending a few months in a 2nd fill barrel
Outturn: 255 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The very clean, green and fresh aroma of juniper was soon followed by lime juice with a dash of eucalyptus syrup and a hint of sweetness from sugar coated lemon flavoured candy. Plenty of sweet perfumed flavours greeted us on the palate neat gently balanced with green peppercorns preserved in brine and a sprinkling of Herbs de Provence. Diluted, we got transported into a pine forest by the sea with Dover sole being prepared using chopped fresh herbs, fleur de sel and grated lemon zest, whilst in the finish it reminded us of a sweet/salty fresh lemon soda." $102

A2.1: Amarena amaretti
This 6 year old Armagnac is 57.5% after maturing in an Armagnac barrel
Outturn: 573 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose draws you in with enticing sweetness and fragrant fruits – stewed plums, ripe figs, Amarena cherries, dark chocolate, marzipan and plum jam. It later develops toffee, cola cubes and Liquorice Allsorts, with an intriguing background of leather, tobacco, resinous wood and Persian rug shops. The palate is complex and satisfying, with a lively tongue tingle of orange soda and woody spice (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, anise, toasted oak). The fruits are earthier now – prunes, syrup of figs, orange oil and dark cherries in syrup, with an interesting undertow of black tea ...

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Classic Malts: Spring 2018 Edition

Posted on May 8, 2018

By Whisky Comrade Hunter
Why is the term classic useful? Spoiler, it isn’t.
As I have voiced in previous versions of this blog, each discussing the recurrent “Classic Malts” class we teach here at the Kensington Wine Market, I don’t feel the least affection to the term “classic.” As a term, it is obtusely gimmick driven. This is a by-product of the, ahem, how to put this sensitively, capital driven market? In plain words, large companies employ such terms to invoke a feeling of assurance in the consumer. One can rest easy knowing that their purchase of a “classic” single malt is certified, pedigreed by years of distinction, or, maybe by a crack team of specialists who have worked out the perfect expression of Scotland’s naturally designated regions. This very real team of highly trained professionals work tirelessly so you don’t have to. A sample of our very real interaction with said team:
What malt beverage should you be putting in your mouth? Well novice (that’s you, sport), as we assume you are if you endeavour to train yourself on the classics and work up a sturdy foundation of knowledge on matters of whisky, take your pick of our premium range. What other authority ought you put stock in but our own? Leave the free-thinking to us, we know what is best.
I am comforted knowing that such people have the highest regards for my well-being and ease of enjoyment. These “facts” of the matter are not mere recommendations, and if you don’t think they are portrayed as such you might ponder the way in which the term “classic” is employed by those implied. But, if you are one of those fickle “free-thinkers” that won’t settle for “the facts,” we might make some interesting headway. What makes certain scotch “classic” for us? What I mean by this is, for example, when one has a friend over, what whisky is to be served; for, let’s be serious, if they are not drinking whisky you aren’t going to have them over in the first place. I, for one, have a small variety of my own “classic” malts that I offer to all unacquainted, a sampling of fares that I feel adequately give the right idea of what to expect when drinking whisky. But where does this leave us? You might cry out “But what right idea? The right idea of scotch as a whole? That is ludicrous to even intimate there could be such an esoteric spirit that could capture the whole of Scotland’s national spirit. And it cannot be indicative of a region, Comrade Hunter, for you have long since denounced and exiled such regional designations. So what right idea are you to offer?” You have snared me, I am in a bind. And I concede, but I do not do so without also winning something in return. This matter is truly the trifle of a relativist. What does this mean? Only that the matter of identifying the â...

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Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada Outturn for May 2018

Posted on February 28, 2023

Well, it looks like we have finally shaken off the cold and snowy grasp of winter. Our brief respite of road construction and pollen and mould fueled allergies can now be enjoyed.

May seems to a blockbuster month: A new Star Wars film and a new Avengers film hitting theatres makes it so you have to look hard to find something entertaining not yet owned by Disney. Luckily for us, they have not yet bought the Scotch Malt Whisky Society!

This month we find ourselves enjoying a distillery rarely seen in SMWS bottles - especially within Canada. Also joining the party are three cask finishes, and two peated malts but no Islay in sight; one of the peated bottles hails from the Highlands, the other from the Orkneys.

This Outturn follows on the heels of Kensington Wine Market's first ever SMWS bottle sale which was very well received in late April. If you are looking for an older release it might still be available though. 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

Without further ado, here is your SMWS Canada May 2018 Lineup:



 

30.98 - Bring on the dancers
This 25 year old Speysider is 46% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla
Outturn: 168 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose evokes a Moulin Rouge dressing room or the set of Cabaret – perfumed dancing girls, silk scarves, a wooden fruit bowl, tobacco, apple strudel and paint. The palate is a delicate, dainty thing – subtle perfumed sweetness, pineapple and new wood – sweet and juicy as a Pink Lady apple, but more drying on the finish. With water, the nose really finds its voice and sings a sweet madrigal of tropical fruits, cranachan, Caribbean punch and picnic baskets in apple orchards. The palate is now fresher and juicier – peach and apricot flans, caramel apple granny cake and hints of barley and putty." $267.99

44.86 - Four seasons in one glass
This 10 year old Speysider was matured in a refill barrel and comes in at 60.8%
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow
Outturn: 196 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "Our journey began with the smell of fresh and green foliage after a rain shower, which then dried into dusty flowerbeds of sweet scented petals. Lavender, rose and jasmine combined with wisteria, elderflower and apple blossom, hot from the sun’s rays. Apple blossom turned to apple juice and then ci...

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