Boutique-y Clynelish 20 Year KWM Cask
$219.99
It is finally here... we have been teasing and talking about this whisky for months, and it was worth the wait. We are thrilled to introduce you to our first ever KWM exlcusive single cask from That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Although the bottle doesn't explicitly tell you which "Highland" distillery the whisky is from, there are clues on the label... 578 bottles have been filled exclusively for Kensington Wine Market at 51%. But we have nothing holding us back from telling you that Boutique-y Highland #2 is Clynelish... That's right, this is 20 year old Clynelish!
Andrew's Note on the Whisky & Label
Could that be a cat in the clouds, a Wild Highland Cat perhaps? Is it not strange to see a waxy candle-powered balloon? Incidentally, it is lifting the KWM whisky team aloft. And what of the monument? If we told you it was a controversial monument near the town of Golspie dedicated to the infamous Duke of Sutherland, would that give you all the information you need to know? What Highland Distillery has a Wild Highland Cat as its symbol, a waxy profile, and an infamous Duke as its founder?
This label is a cheeky take on a shared memory, with embellishments, embedded details, and Easter eggs, in the tradition of the best Boutique-y Whisky Company Labels. More importantly, it tells a story, which is personally important to my family. My mother was born into the Clann Gunn in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Her ancestors roamed swaths of what is now Caithness and Sutherland in northern Scotland. That is until they were compelled to leave Scotland in the late 18th century, cruelly and rudely displaced to make way for sheep during the early days of the Highland Clearances.
On the label there is a ship at sea, heading to Canada presumably, as hinted at by the flags (the Canadian flag as it is today was only introduced in 1965). On the flat coastal plain at the base of the mountains sheep can be seen grazing. In front of the monument stand a pair of Canadians stand in hockey jerseys. Sam Simmons, Head of Whisky at Atom Brands, and a native Torontonian, stands closest to the monument in what appears to be a hockey jersey. Further back, a native Calgarian, yours truly can be seen waving a white hat, an iconic symbol of "Cowtown", whilst sporting a local hockey team jersey of his own. In the balloon Keith, Evan, Shawn & Curt can be seen waving at Andrew & Sam below. Speaking of those two, what are they doing atop Ben Bhraggie? Funny story that.
When TBWC offered us this cask of Highland Malt, they asked us what we wanted on the label, and I had a cheeky idea. In 2006 I made my first trip to Scotland, and on that trip, I hiked up Ben Bhraggie, a small mountain (really a foothill by Canadian standards) to see the monument of the infamous Duke. Someone had spraypainted the word "Monster" in neon green at the base. When I was sure no one was looking I dropped trow and relieved myself on it. I sent Sam an email of this tale, my connection to the area and my idea for the label. I was sure it was just a little too edgy...
Minutes later my phone was ringing... it was 3 AM in the UK, but Sam wanted to make sure I had seen his reply. He too had hiked Ben Bhraggie in 2005, and he had also paid his own respects to the infamous Duke of Sutherland...
One last little nugget, Keith, who is a personal trainer and headed to Beijing as a Team Canada Skeleton coach, felt his arm didn't look appropriately burly, in an early draft of the label. So we had the artist, Emily Chappell, 'bugs bunny' his arm... In case it isn't already apparent, nothing is sacred (especially when it comes to The Duke of Sutherland and Keith's pipes)!
And the rest as they say is history. On the back of every bottle, That Boutique-y Whisky Company includes the following text: "We are passionate about great whisky, we don't take ourselves too seriously and we LOVE a good story." No wonder these chaps are such a great fit to work with!
Waterford Biodynamic Luna 1.1
$114.99
This 3 year old Waterford Single Malt is billed as the world's first Biodynamic whisky. The barley was grown on a number of farms and the spirit was matured in a mix of First Fill Ex-Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, Bordeaux, and Vin Doux Naturel casks.
From the Producer
"Eccentric to some, regenerative to others, biodynamic agriculture goes beyond the ordinary ecological mindset. Drawing upon ancient lore of lunar cycles & exotic preparations, it seeks to charge soils with vitality & barley with vibrancy. Practised by the most visionary & curious, we too are intrigued about the most natural flavours we can capture in spirit. For this landmark whisky, distilled from Ireland’s only biodynamic barley, we invoke the goddess of the moon for our most esoteric & evocative bottling."
Composition
35% First Fill ex-Bourbon
17% Virgin American Oak
26% French Wine Barriques
22% Vin Doux Naturel
G&M Archive Release Glenburgie 1967
$2,849.99
Distilled in 1967, and filled into a Refill Sherry Hogshead, cask 3709, this 53 year old Glenburgie has been bottled at a cask strength of 48.8%.
Rosebank `The Roses` 21 Year Unity
$1,999.99
The 6th release from "The Roses" range by Elixir Distillers, Unity is also the second last ever release of these Rosebanks expected to come to Canada. Unity is a 21 year old matured in a mix of ex-Bourbon & Madeira casks before bottling at 52.7%. Limit 1 Per Customer / 91.4pts Whiskybase!
This whisky is sold out in Europe, and already selling at a premium on auction sites... for whatever that is worth!
Arran Signature Ed.2 Barrel Bonfire
$134.99
The 2nd Edition in The Signature Series from Arran, which is planned to span four releases in total. Barrel Bonfire showcases and embraces the Lochranza Distillery's batches of peated spirit. The 42ppm malt was distilled in and filled into ex-Bourbon Barrels in 2012. It was transferred into ex-Koval Distillery quarter casks that previously matured Bourbon in September of 2018. The result was bottled in early 2024 at 50% ABV.
Producer Description
"Over the course of the secondary maturation, the intensity of the heavily peated whisky has taken on an even more complex and full-bodied character. The smaller the size of cask, the greater the surface contact area between the wood and the spirit, effectively creating an environment for ‘express’ maturation. The resulting whisky has the benefit of more intense flavours which add depth and greater nuance to the final dram. Smokier notes mingle with the well-loved charred citrus and sweet vanilla spices of Arran Single Malt, evoking a bonfire made from barrel staves."
Benromach 2002 KWM Cask 969
$334.99
This is our 6th KWM exclusive cask of Benromach, and the 4th since the move to the new packaging. More precisely, it is our 3rd from the early 2000s, and it is yet another Brora-esque twenty-something Benromach with creamy smoke and tropical fruits. Matured in a First Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel for 21 years before bottling at 57.9%. Only 179 bottles!
G&M Recollection Rosebank 1991
$3,799.99
This 1991 vintage Rosebank has been bottled as a part of the Recollection Series 3 at 51.2% after 32 years in a First Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel.
Producer Description
"The history of Rosebank Distillery has been directly linked with the Forth & Clyde canal which sits in its shadow. The waterway linked Scotland’s west and east coasts, and therefore its two main cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. A distillery called Rosebank was operating as early as 1817. From 1840, under the ownership of the Rankine family, Rosebank prospered. The canal, however, became neglected and the distillery eventually closed its doors in 1993. It was reopened under new ownership to great fanfare in 2024. This release, a lost work of art, is one of the oldest and rarest Rosebank single malts ever released."
Laphroaig Elements 2.0
$204.99
This limited edition Laphroaig was made from spirit fermented for 115 hours, rather than the usual 55 hours. It was matured in ex-Bourbon casks before bottling at 59.6%. 87pts Whisky Fun / Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year 2024
Producer Description
"Elements 2.0 is a bold, non-chill filtered whisky showing the flavour impact of an extended fermentation process. The result is fruity and smoky, with notes of stewed green apples, zesty orange peel and smoky peat. Awarded Whisky of the Year 2024, by the Whisky Advocate.
“Laphroaig Elements 2.0 is an unexpected fruitier whisky with the same peaty character you’ve come to know and love – made possible by over double the typical fermentation period."
Waterford Arcadian Sr. Organic Gaia 2.1
$109.99
This is the 3rd release we've seen of the Arcadian Series, Organic Gaia. Bottled at 50% after maturing 4 years in a mix of First Fill Ex-Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, Bordeaux, and Vin Doux Naturel casks.
Composition
39% First Fill ex-Bourbon
17% Virgin American Oak
19% ex-Bordeaux
25% Vin Doux Naturel