Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1

$132.99

The first of two 2015 releases of Octomore is another 5 year old, produced of Islay Barley peated to 208ppm and matured 5 years in American Oak before bottling at 59.6%. This release is very limited in Alberta, KWM is only getting around 30 bottles! 

Distiller's Tasting Note

Nose: Initially the nose is sea spray and caramel, lemon balm and pipe tobacco. Slowly, the peat smoke rises from the glass, gentle but strong lifting vanilla, mint, toffee, golden syrup and almond. Peach follows with pear syrup and buttercup. A symphony, a delight to experience.

Palate: Wow! Smoothness, sweetness and then smoke. A texture like no other, satin soft and devilishly warming. The American oak influence is in perfect tune with the smoke and soft fruits delicately, skilfully coaxed from the still during exceptionally slow distillation. Vanilla, honey, citrus rise up to be met with sea spray and leather, smoked mussels mix with autumn bracken and creÌ€me brûlée.

Finish: As the sweetness from the oak fades the salt comes to the fore one last time while the gentle peat smoke steady and true grows and outlasts all else. 

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 39.98

$206.99

BUTTERFLIES, BATS AND SPIDERS

A 23 year old Speysider from a refill hogshead at 59.1%.

Flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

Outturn:  238 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The early nose brought a shimmering butterfly host of fresh, floral, fruity pleasures (syrupy crumpets, pineapple, plum jam, beeswax) which gradually trans-mutated into darker flying creatures whose wings wafted newspaper print, dark tobacco, leather boots, antique oak, treacle tart and black-jack chews. Brief rays of sun would occasionally return us to exotic fruits, butterscotch, apple strudel and marmalade. The palate had plentiful orchard fruits, good tannic woodiness, toasted coconut, liquorice and blackcurrant; plus honey and raisins spilled and scattered in a spice cupboard – sweet, tasty and mouth-watering – cherry cake, jasmine and sandalwood sensuousness from the distillery that was kind to spiders."

Drinking tip:  "This dram changes in a butterfly's wing-beat from floral, fruity and frivolous to dark and serious - one for contemplation and reflection"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 59.49

$233.99

CELEBRATION IN A GLASS

This 30 year old Highlander comes in at 49.2% and is from a refill hogshead.

Flavour profile:  Old & dignified

Outturn:  196

Panel's tasting note:  "Calming and relaxing were the first comments after a long   silence in the Panel. One could literally hear the deep breathing – aromas of treacle sponge, roasted chestnuts, beeswax, roasted orange slices, and a tropical rum trifle. The taste has depth, layers of flavour which are all subtle and harmonizing creating an experience that is hard to describe; tangy marmalade, prosciutto ham served with melon balls soaked in brandy as well as a well-aged Riesling. With a drop of water now like a Trockenbeerenauslese, rich texture but also juicy, enormous weight and depth and an almost salty tanginess at the finish – you just have to experience that!"

Drinking tip:  "Life in itself is worth one big celebration" 

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 52.20

$137.69

ALL DAY AMERICAN BREAKFAST IN THE GARDEN

This 13 year old Highlander is from a refill barrel at 64.7%.

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  209 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The first impression was of echeveria, aloe vera, warm bark, daisy petals and hedge cuttings. Naturally the panel felt as if they had stepped into the garden for breakfast of the all American kind, bacon and honey on waffles and all cooked outside on a grill. Breakfast was served with apple juice and creamy coconut and lime margarita in a plastic cup. They found it developed more herbal notes with water: sticky Thai rice with shozu, bamboo shoots, angelica and seagrass. It became sweet with banana chips, doughnuts, undercooked meringue and Morello cherry with an agave silky liqueur like finish."

Drinking tip:  "When days and nights merge"

Balblair 1990 50mL

$13.99

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.222

$134.99

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

This 13 year old from Islay is from a refill hogshead and is 58.4%

Flavour profile:  Peated

Outturn:  248 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Once upon a time there were three little pigs. The neat nose found the first one, a delightful hog roast with rosemary and apple sauce. There were toffee apples, smoked mackerels and wet charred wood. The second little pig was barbecued with apricots on the nose but tasted of crackling and maple cured bacon. Then came herbal notes, a sweet peat and burnt marshmallows. Water brought out old cigar smoke and foie gras on melba toast, and then the third little pig - stewed tenderly with honey and hoisin sauce. The smoky palate was both salty and sweet with a wonderful mouthfeel. And the big bad wolf lived happily ever after."

Drinking tip:  "Dare we suggest to try this with pork, perhaps?"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 27.109

$155.69

GUNS ON THE GROUSE MOOR

From Campbeltown, this 16 year old spent its life in a refill gorda and is 58.3%

Flavour profile:  Oily & coastal

Outturn:  738 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The panel imagined themselves on a misty moor cupping a mug of consommé laced with sherry while munching custard filled doughnuts and caramel bars for breakfast. In the distance was a trail of burning heather and a plume of gun smoke. Lunch was a fine spread of mustard crusted gammon, dressed crab, Iberico ham and honey glazed ribs. For dessert, sherry trifle, zabaglione and chewy orange fudge. A shower of rain amplified all the aromas and flavours, increasing the sweetness. The hunt for game ended with damp hairy tweeds scented with eucalyptus and wild boar on the grill." 

Drinking tip:  "After a bracing day on the hill"

Glenfiddich 26 Year Excellence

$759.99

We love the 25 year and the new 30 year old doesn't disappoint either. Only 13 hand selected sherry casks will be married a year for bottling as 30 year. 46.8%. Glengoyne was at one time owned by the same company as Macallan, and it is bottling some of the best old sherry matured whisky in Scotland!

Producer Description

"A rare and aged single malt Scotch whisky that has spent 26 long years carefully maturing in American Oak ex-bourbon casks. This expression was created to honour Glenfiddich's line of continuous family ownership since William Grant founded our distillery in 1887. Doing things our own way means we can create a luxurious single malt that truly lives up to its name. We’ve created a vibrant yet soft and delicate expression, with a deep and complex balance of sweetness and dry oak tannin. Bound to excite the palate and awaken the nose."

Cadenhead Small Batch Glenrothes 1990

$211.49