Old Pulteney 1989
$339.99
The follow up to the very succssful 1990 "accidentally peated" release has also been bottled at 46%, after maturing in American Oak Ex-Bourbon. Just landed in Canada, it won "World's Best Single Malt" Whisky Magazine's World Whisky Awards!
Andrew's Tasting Note
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Palate:
Finish:
Comment:
Distiller’s Tasting Note
Nose:Spices of the Orient and tangy green apples are wrapped in a veil of warm wood smoke. Honey and vanilla cut through the middle with a lemony top note and a faint floral accent.
Palate: It starts dark and peaty with a heavy, spicy underpinning. The sweeter and lighter notes soon follow, bringing to mind vanilla custard laced with runny toffee, a touch of coconut, worn leather and a generous helping of bitter orange marmalade. The peat smoke flickers and changes, revealing a very mature, spicy and tannic side of this suberb Vintage. Long lasting and satisfying.
Adelphi Glenborrodale Batch 1
$83.69
The Adelphi Glenborrodale Blended Malt Batch 1 is a small batch release of only 1226 bottles aged 8 years old. Amongst the malt in this whisky are reported to be some Macallan, Highland Park, Bunnahabhain, and Glenrothes. There also might be some Glengoyne in there.
According to Adelphi this whisky is rich and sherried in style with some smoke and peat in the mix as well.
Coopers Choice Highland Park 20 Year
$224.99
This Madeira finished Highland Park was distilled in 1995 by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company, under the Coopers Choice label. 288 bottles were filled at 46%, of which just 60 are coming to Alberta, exclusively to KWM!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: honeyed, fruity and decadent; Wine Gums, jujubes and heathery floral tones; peaches in cream, dried apricots and clean ashy smoke; salty with chocolate, decadent spices, melons and dried orange cubes.
Palate: very creamy, honeyed, floral and fruity with clean ashy smoke and more soft candies; the peaches in cream and dried apricots are still here with melon and so much more; the fruits keep coming with mango, kiwi and pineapple; the oak becomes bigger and toastier while the spices develop more slowly.
Finish: very long, warming and spicy, the oak oils cling to the palate while the clean smoke and waves of fruit waltz into the sunset.
Comment: this is a beautiful Highland Park, true to the distillery's house style but with a very soft, deep and fruity profile; this exclusive was a gamble which has far exceeded my expectations. Chalk one up for the good guys!
Coopers Choice Glen Esk 30 Year
$449.99
Coopers Choice Garnheath 1986
$269.99
Exclusive to KWM, the only ever release of Garnheath we've ever seen... This 28 year old Bourbon cask matured Single Grain Scotch Whisky is from a single Bourbon Barrel cask 22156, and bottled at 48.5%. 410 bottles produced, 60 of which are coming to Alberta!
The closed Garnheath grain distillery opperated near Airdrie, Scotland, east of Glasgow in the town of Moffat! The distillery was established as part of a complex that included the Glen Fladger distillery.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: honey warming in a pan with granola and butter; Mandarin orange, rose petals and silky vanillans; white pepper and melon with cooked pineapple.
Palate: silky, honeyed, creamy and very floral; round and fruity with Dulce leche and loads of fruits, sugars and floral tones; more melons, pineapple and juicy Mandarin oranges with Demerara sugars, white chocolate sauce and more floral tones: roses and geraniums.
Finish: long, creamy, coating and toasty; the juicy fruits, honey and floral notes slowly fade out.
Comment: this is a stunning single grain, dangerously drinkable, lots of character and no trace of the bitter old oak that holds some grains back!
Coopers Choice Lochside 48 Year
$418.49
This very rare single grain is exclusive to KWM, with just 30 bottles coming into Alberta. It is a stunner and in just a few short days the first 1/3 has already sold! Bottled at a cask strength of 41.2%, 540 bottles were produced from a sherry butt cask 6799.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: silky oils, floral vanilla, jujubes, creme brule, caramel corn and soft earthy leather; chocolate and orange marzipan, English marmalade and clotted cream on day old scones.
Palate:very soft, silky, seductive and fruity; more jujubes, molten brown sugar, creme brule and double caramel corn; soft leather and gentle earthy notes, more marzipan, chocolate and orange; the whisky is layered, old and complex, some developing spices, but nothing over the top.
Finish: long, fruity and smooth; soft leather, fading sherry notes and spices.
Comment: this is a dangerously tasty whisky, and way to easy drinking; it won't last long on our shelf or in your bottle; it is also far from over the hill, surprisingly lithe and lively for its age.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 3.221
$161.09
STARRY, STARRY NIGHT
This 19 year old from Islay comes in at 54.2% and is from a refill sherry butt
Flavour profile: Oily & coastal
Outturn: 538 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "Childhood memories of airfix paint, Scalextric tires, linseed oil and caramel bars. Smoked duck breast and grilled oyster on the barbecue. To taste the panel found red licorice laces and burnt marshmallows. A big puff of peat, tarry rope and chorizo on the tongue. With water, we found it became fresher with aromas of menthol and English lavender. A crisp mineralic quality smoothed out the peat. It reminded one of ‘sooking spoots’ (sucking razor clams) from the shell. A clean and spritely finish of black pepper and sparkling water make this a perfect nightcap."
Drinking tip: "For a romantic liaison by the seaside"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 121.77
$177.29
DUNNAGE WAREHOUSE ORANGE BOXES
From a refill hogshead, this 19 year old Islander is 53.4%
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Outturn: 276 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "The nose had elements of oiled wood, linoleum, balsa wood and orange boxes, plus various sweet treats (brown sugar, toffee, sweet fig, chocolate and crunchy-nut cornflakes). The unreduced palate had spicy samosa heat to liven up the mouth; flavours included nutty (toasted pistachio, almond croissant) and sweet (bonbons, marshmallows, dark chocolate orange, sweet pastry). With water, the nose found syrup sponge and sugared almonds, with some new complications joining in to draw out a broader character – dunnage warehouses, burnt sticks, tobacco and ham. The palate was now a sweet and juicy pear flan with burnt edges – pleasant and nicely balanced."
Drinking tip: "Sunday afternoon - listening to your favourite music"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 41.68
$125.99
LIQUIFIED BOUNTY BARS
This 11 year old Speysider comes in at 61.6% after spending its life in a 1st fill barrel
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla
Outturn: 215 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "This opened with calming vanilla notes, unctuous pineapple and coconut shavings. Then, coconut oil was drizzled on fresh oak shavings, whilst lemon bonbons were shuffled in a white paper bag. Over time, rich and heady incense smouldered on a well polished desk as mixed fruits (cranberry, dark cherries, oranges) sat nobly in a fruit bowl. Bursting with mouth-watering juicy fruits, balanced with wood spice, the palate continued to delight with crème anglaise, rhubarb, a touch of lime basil and ginger and chili oomph! Water brought "liquified Bounty bars", dark chocolate and dried heather notes. An incredibly juicy experience culminated in tropical desserts served on a freshly charred oak stave."
Drinking tip: "Try with Thai food"