Scotch Malt Whisky Society 73.69
$193.49
DARK SIDE ECLIPSED BY SWEET JOYS
This 22 year old Speysider comes in at 52.9% after maturing in a refill sherry butt
Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits
Outturn: 620 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose delivered savoury notes, evoking tapas bars (fino, amontillado, tortilla, old polished wood, etc.) but the dessert menu was even stronger (crème caramel, rum and raisin ice-cream, apple granny cake). More complex with water – sugared seaweed, Japanese sweet omelette, earthy hazelnut and plastic toys in the sun. The taste was essentially sweet – vanilla, amaretto, caramel, carrot cake, figs – but with a slight metallic, gamey, bittersweet edge of burnt cake and walnut. With water, its darker side (hoisin duck patrolling the farmyard in wellies) was happily dominated by the joyful sweetness of toffee, toasted marshmallows, Nutella, Dr Pepper syrup and panna cotta."
Drinking tip: "Could accompany food (Spanish, oriental, e.g.) - or maybe better after a meal, with coffee"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 123.14
$121.99
PLAYFUL SPICES BUZZ THE MOUTH
From the Southern Highlands, this 12 year old is 57.4% and was matured in a 1st fill barrel
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Outturn: 225 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "Sweet but slightly assertive woody spices pervaded the nose – pepper, humbugs, ginger, cinnamon apple pie and Liquorice Allsorts; also some leather, dead leaves and furniture polish. The neat palate also had exotic spices (clove, liquorice, anise) and oriental wood; however; curious notes of After Eights, gin and fermented honey kept it from being one-dimensional. On the reduced nose, cinnamon glazed donuts and ginger snaps represented continuity, while spearmint, wet stones and very light coal-tar soap brought fresh suggestions into play. On the reduced palate chocolate, blackcurrant and toasty flavours appeared – while the spices still buzzed our mouths like playful hornets."
Drinking tip: "A dram to perk you up - maybe with coffee and chocolate mints after a meal"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 127.43
$134.99
KISSING A SMOKER
This 12 year old from Islay is 65% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour profile: Heavily peated
Outturn: 228 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "A damp shed containing oil paints, turpentine and rabbit skin glue soon developed into meaty and peaty notes. There was roast pork, turkey and pheasant on the menu and a Twix to wash it all down. The palate had lots of peat and a caramelized meatiness then lasting cigarette smoke on the finish. It was described as ashy and epic, "Like kissing a smoker" one panellist said. The nose with water took us back to the shed in oily overalls for some putty and linseed oil. Then the meaty notes returned - Chinese suckling pig and duck in hoisin sauce. Honey glazed ham with rosemary and thyme on the palate and plenty of smoke to finish."
Drinking tip: "For chilling out with a Simon and Garfunkel CD"
Kilkerran Work in Progress 7 Bourbon
$76.49
The Kilkerran single malt from Glengyle distillery is nearly 12 years of age, and we are on the final releases of the Work in Progress Series, batch 7. There are Bourbon and Sherry cask matured releases, both 11 years of age. The Bourbon cask is also cask stength, a first! Very small quantities, these will not last long!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: Immediate hit of lush green apples mixed with marzipan and hot baked vanilla buns. A gentle smoke hugs the fruit notes throughout. Let it breathe in the glass for a quarter of an hour and you are greeted by immense Madagascan vanilla pod seeds in warm full fat milk.
Palate: Puff of smoke mixed with tangy apple, yet elegant and mature - fantastically well rounded dram.
Finish: Long, smooth and luxurious.
Cadenhead Small Batch Alt a Bhaine 1992
$166.49
G&M CC Inchgower 2000
$97.19
Inchgower is a distillery you don't often see bottled as a single malt. This Gordon & MacPhail bottling under the Connoisseurs Choice label was matured in Refill Sherry and bottled at 46% without colouring or chillfltering. It is exclusive to KWM in Canada and the Day 20 bottling in the KWM Whisky Advent Calendar 2015.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: leathery and nutty, subtle sherry notes and orangey fruits; there is a soft woodiness to it with, pine resin and cedar, also a note of Earl Grey Tea.
Palate: big, rich and very nutty, the, sherry notes are much more prominent and pleasant than expected; Fruit Roll Ups with brandy soaked cherries, vanilla and honey; as it settles down some notes of candied orange and Earl Grey Tea
Finish: medium long and sherried, a cascade of tingling spices and more Earl Grey Tea.
Comment: this is not a book to judge by its cover, the palate and finish are much better than the nose!
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Delicate Sherry influences with fresh pineapple, orange zest and peach aromas. Complimented by a delicate hint of pine needles.
Palate: Mouth warming with ripe banana, grapefruit and orange flavours. The finish is creamy with a milk chocolate edge.
Finish: Medium with a fruity and spicy edge.
Distillery Fact (Courtesy Gordon & MacPhail): "Inchgower Disitllery lies near the mouth of the River Spey, by the coastal town of Buckie. The majority of production goes into Bell's, Johnny Walker and White Horse blends."
G&M CC Auchroisk 1996
$125.99
Exclusive to KWM in Canada this independent bottling from Gordon & MacPhail is also our Day 10 whisky in the KWM 2015 Whisky Advent Calendar! Bottled at 46% without colouring or chill-filtering after maturing 18 years in Refill Sherry Hogsheads. Auchroisk is a whisky you seldom see bottled except from independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: butterscotch, flowers and freshly cut green grass; honey with dried cherries and cranberry, soft leather and spices.
Palate: soft, honeyed and fruity with more dried cherries and cranberry but also some honey dew melon and orange slices; there is a lot of spice that builds towards anise and fennel, some soft leather and more floral-grassy malt.
Finish: peppery and drying the fruits are still vibrant with fading leather and spices.
Comment: this is a classic Auchroisk, lacking some of the hard rough edges of some bottlings; flavourful and good value.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Fresh and fruity with ripe plum and kiwi aromas. Toasted malt and subtle herbal notes with hints of old leather and aniseed.
Palate: The palate is peppery initially with stewed plums and lemon flavours. A lingering milk chocolate edge develops.
About Auchroisk (Courtersy of Gordon & MacPhail)
"A relatively young distillery, built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks, Auchroisk (pronounced "oth-rusk") is located deep in the Speyside countryside, midway between Rothes and Keith. The distinctive collection of white washed buildings of Auchroisk has won many architectural awards for its design. Good water is a pre-requisite of distillation and this is found in abundance from nearby Dories Well. The stills at Auchroisk are high-necked, producing a light elegant spirit."
G&M CC Ledaig 1999
$107.99
Exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market in Alberta, this whisky was our Day 4 selection in the 2015 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. It was distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2015 at 46% after maturing in a Refill Re-made Hogshead. Ledaig is the name given to peated whisky from the Tobermory distillery, established in 1798 on the Island of Mull. Point of interest for Calgarians, our fair city takes its name from a remote white sand beach of the same name on the Island of Mull.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: maple crusted walnuts and thick sliced unburnt bacon; at first I found the whisky doughy with banana and apples before the maritime and delicate smoke elements take over.
Palate: fresh, malty, creamy and very smoky; there is honey, flambeyed banana, creamy oak and more apple (green); the smoke builds along with some juicy orange and decadent spices; chewy malt, sea salt and barley sugars with late building peat and clove.
Finish: the clean crisp smoke dominates the finish overpowering the fruits and oaky tones; it is long, warming and coating.
Comments: not as medicinal as some Ledaigs I've drank before, it is a bit more balanced on the palate, but the finish is all about the smoke.
Bottler's Tasting Note
Nose: Sweet cured meat aromas initially with stewed apple, lemon and lime citrus.
Palate: A delicate menthol note develops. Peppery with ripe banana, orange and mango flavours complemented by a milk chocolate edge.
About the Distillery (Courtesy Gordon & MacPhail)
The distillery was in the past known as Ledaig, changing its name to Tobermory Distillery in the 1970s. The distillery occupies the ground beside the Ledaig Burn on the foreshore of the picturesque 18th century harbour of Tobermory. Tobermory Distillery has enjoyed mixed fortunes since it was first established in 1823. It has been closed several times, most recently in the 1980s. Having reopened in 1989, Tobermory is now back in production.
G&M CC Caol Ila 2003
$89.99
This Caol Ila, bottled at 46%, is exclusive in Canada to Kensington Wine Market, where it was the Day 18 whisky in the 2015 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar. It has been bottled at 46% after matuing in First Fill Bourbon Barrels.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: bacon grease, pancakes with butter, Aunt Jemima, honey, vanilla, melons and cream; white fruits and banana cream pie; there is a hint of the maritime elements to come with clean smoke and pan seared scallops.
Palate: very buttery, pan seared scallops in butter, more bacon grease, more bananas, white fruits and melons, pancakes thick with butter and more Aunt Jemima's syrup; the smoke and briny oily peat build with chewy malt.
Finish: oily, coating and still buttery; thick with peat, fruits and honey.
Comments: sublime for just 12 years of age, this is a stupendously good malt!
Bottler's Tasting Note
Nose: Cured bacon aromas with hints of vanilla, green apple and ripe banana complemented by peat smoke.
Palate: Sweet and smoky with ripe banana, pear and orange zest flavours. Cocoa powder enhances the underlying bonfire ember edge.
Finish: Long and smooth with lingering bonfire embers.