Ichiro's Malt & Grain
$125.99
Bottled at 46% this Japanese whisky may be somewhat more global than it at first seems. Crafted by Ichiro Akuto, Japan's finest boutique whisky producer. This Blended whisky is the product of Japanese malt and grain, and possibly the product of some more international distilleries. There is certainly some whisky from the Chichibu distillery in the mix, as well as some from the closed Hanyu and Karuizawa distilleries. Rumour has it there is also whisky from other Japanese and world distilleries.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: Graham Wafers and some perfumed floral notes with dusty grain and some chewier malt; something exotic like Kiwi, almond paste and Halls citrus lossenges.
Palate: almost Bourbon like, quite toasty, floral and delicate, very prominent corn (presumably from the grain) and another curious assortment of fruit flavours: more kiwi, bright citrus, banana and some menthol (the Halls like notes from the nose); still floral with more light grains and heavier malt, could there be a trace of rye?
Finish: long, drying, dusty and sweet with more fading grains and floral tones.
Comment: this is a light easy drinking dram with lots of layers, I think Ichiro used a pretty broad palate of flavours in the creation of this one.
Ichiro's Double Distilleries
$170.99
Past meets future in this Blended Malt Japanese whisky by Achiro Akuto. Composed of whiskies from his own Chichibu distillery, and the closed Hanyu distillery built by his grandfather. Bottled at 46%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: my first instinct says aged gouda (the candy of the cheese world); Demerara sugars and spice, licorice root and some emerging honey notes; creamy with melons, soft leather and Starbust candies.
Palate: more waxy Starburst candies, thick and coating, more melon, lots of vanilla and oh the spices... layered and rich with some juicier fruits and soft leather; some minty floral notes and lots of honey with dark Demerara sugars and Licorice Nibbs developing.
Finish: long, layered and rich but still smooth and silky.
Comment: light but layered, rich and refreshing; this one won't last!
Karuizawa 1980 Cask 6476
$872.99
SOLD OUT! - !!Not expected to return to KWM!!
A 34 year old from single cask 6476, an Ex-Bourbon barrel, bottled at 63% and exclusive to KWM in Canada. A very rare whisky from a cult, closed, Japanese distillery.
Bottler’s Note: “Karuizawa 1980 Artifices Serie is an exclusive bottling of the cask #6476, a former Bourbon cask, the famous now closed Karuizawa distillery. With a rather sharp and tangy profile, it reveals subtle notes of malted barley and alfalfa embedded in a farandolle of fruity aromas such as yellow melon, white peach, plum and pear williams. Its powerful and rich texture reveals hints of herbs such as coriander and dill, as well as a gourmet note of lemon pie. Bottled at natural degree of the barrel to keep the nobility of its aromatic power, the whisky will take you into the mythical world of the Karuizawa distillery.”
Kilchoman Original Cask Strength
$112.49
The first batch of the distillery's new Kilchoman Original Cask Strength has been bottled at 59.2% and has been matured solely in Refill Bourbon Casks. Very limited availability, this release is a great new addition to the range.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: wow, butterscotch, honey and Werthers caramels with clean maritime smoke bringing up the rear; soft citrus notes, green Jolly Ranchers wet leaves and floral top notes with soft oak.
Palate: soft honeyed oak, more wet leaves, crisp citrus, more green Jolly Ranchers and buildiing peaty smoke with fragrant smoke and juicy malt; become more medicinal and smoky with some tarry oak and salty licorice.
Finish: classic Islay big, brooding and moody with earthy smoke, more juicy malt and maritime notes.
Carn Mor Ledaig 16 Year
$103.49
This peated whisky from Tobermory is from a pair of hogshead casks bottled at 46%. A total outrun of 609 bottles. On the nose it is a typical Ledaig, quite rubbery, but the palate is lovely, moderately peated and layered.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: nutty, rubbery and leathery with wet clay, damp grains and building salty smoke; some fruit and honey but they are shy.
Palate: sweeter than expected, draws me back to childhood hard licorice candies and other grown up treats, soft eathy peat and lots of barley sugars; still earthy but not as rubbery as expected;
Finish: long, light and surprisingly clean, more barley sugars and clean peaty smoke;
Comment: not a fan of the nose but the palate was interesting.
Balblair 1990
$179.99
We jumped at the opportunity to take this whisky on as an exclusive, as a historic release. A replacement for the old 1989 vintage, this 1990 is the 2nd release of that vintage, bottled in 2017. It was matured in a mix of American oak ex-Boubon casks and European oak ex-Sherry. The whisky was bottled at 26 years of age. 89pts Serge @WhiskyFun.org.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: dark chocolate shavings with orange peels and dark fruits: figs, dates and prunes; some soft old leather and a touch of tobacco; waxy, and antique-y with assorted Jelly Bellies, melons and mango; a slightly earthy dunnage warehouse note with wood spices.
Palate: rich, round and fruity; more Jelly Bellies, Fruit Source bars, dark fruits: raisins, dates and figs; soft leather with more chocolate, tobacco and earthy dunnage warehouse notes; honey with a base of creamy vanilla; light decadent spices: ginger and cinnamon; fresh and fruity.
Finish: long, elegant and coating with the darker sherry notes leading the charge; more decadent, candied fruit tones with fading spices, leather and tobacco leaf.
Comment: Balblair is one of the forgotten gems of the Highlands; they are currently going through a rebranding, moving towards age statements; this 3rd edition of the 1990 is a beautiful older malt with a lovely sherried profile; we won't have this beauty much longer.
89pts Serge @ Whisky Fun
"Which release is this? Not too sure, but it was launched around September last year. Colour: deep amber. Nose: ah, yes, this is superb Balblair, akin to what they had been distilling in the 1960s. Which means that it is much more tropical, that it’s got mangos, honeydew, aromatic herbs, figs, and high-end raisins that suggest that there was some good sherry involved. Great nose. Mouth: notes of rum, triple-sec, citron liqueur, then rather hay and tobacco, then mangos and papayas. High class, for sure. Finish: medium, excellent. Crystallised oranges, figs, raisins, honeydew, sweeter spices. Cinnamon cake. Hints of peachy Cognac in the aftertaste. Comments: we’re making excellent progress, aren’t we? More proof that with whisky, time does mater. Please don’t believe people who are getting paid to tell you otherwise. SGP:561 - 89 points."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 73.63
$113.39
VANILLA SPICE LATTE
An 11 year old Speysider from a refill butt bottled at 59.8%
Flavour profile: "Juicy, oak & vanilla"
Outturn: 426 bottles
Panel's Tasting Note: "We were greeted by an enticing fruity and sweet aroma of caramelized sugar, apple pie and lemon drizzle cake. There was also the freshness of an Appletiser Mojito with mint leaves over crushed ice which carried on in the taste neat, fizzy and spritely with a kick of chili flakes and Cayenne pepper. With time sweeter; lemon sponge cake, vanilla fudge and dark chocolate. Water added the creaminess of butter frosting on a chocolate cup cake and it turned a bit ‘mulshy’ – wet grass, damp logs and pine needles. The taste is now salty and sweet; salted caramel, green apple Starburst and a vanilla latte."
Drinking Tip: "After a wet walk"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 77.35
$121.49
FRESH, VIBRANT & ATTRACTIVE
This 11 Year Highland whisky was matured in a refill barrel and bottled at 58.4%
Flavour profile: Young & spritely
Outturn: 203 bottles
Panel's tasting notes: "Our panellists were transported from November drizzle to sunny, summer meadows and hay lofts – it was young, fresh, vibrant and attractive (the whisky, not the panel), with oranges and lemons, jam tarts, pears, apples and grapes; hints of bourbon and vanilla. The palate gave us pleasant tingling heat (chili, ginger, cardamom, clove, liquorice) with sapid citric flavours of blood orange and sherbet lemon fizz – not complex, but a good bitter-sweet duality. Water brought more woodiness to the nose, with quinine, quince and orange blossom, while the palate sweetened up nicely – cloudy lemonade, apple sponge and lemon drizzle cake. An ordacious dram."
Drinking tip: "A good session starter or aperitif - served with the Ord-oevres?"
Wilson & Morgan Tobermory 18
$125.99
This 18 year old Tobermory was finished in a single Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt 5046. Distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2013 and bottled at 54.3%, yielding just 609 bottles. Only a small quantity have found their way to Canada!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: spicy with soft leather, honey, round chewy malt, pipe tobacco and marmalade; some Christmas cake, sea salt caramel and subtler floral tones.
Palate: loads of candied fruit, more salty caramel, Christmas cake and soft leather; building spices: licorice, clove and fennel; big brown sugar, musty oak and dark chocolate.
Finish: long, rich, leathery and fruity with loads of lingering spice.
Comment: this is a sherry bomb that hasn't gone over the edge!