Black Gold HIghland Park 1995
$394.99
Ardbeg Dark Cove
$134.99
Ardbeg's 2016 special release, was launched at Ardbeg Night celebrations around the world on May 28th, 2016. It is exclusive to Ardbeg Embassies for the first few weeks and will then be opened to select other stores. It is not expected to last long.
Ardbeg Dark Cove is being billed as the Darkest Ardbeg Ever. Partially matured in rare Dark Sherry Casks and married with whisky matured in American oak.
Distiller's Tasting Note
Colour: The darkest Ardbeg ever.
Nose: At first meaty, earthy and spicy. Bold notes of dark chocolate emerge against orange, rich treacle toffee, coffee and oak. Wafts of a distant, smoky bonfire in the background, along with a mysterious floral note, like flowering blackcurrant bushes. And lashings of linseed oil.
Taste: The mouthfeel is almost tart or zesty lime. Raisins, dates, ginger and pepper spice surge forward, then retreat. Waves of smouldering charcoal, wood polish and huge, tarry creosote notes follow. Finally a more savoury note escapes; cured smoked ham and squid ink noodles.
Finish: Long, spicy and rich with lingering notes of toffee, coffee and tar.
More From the Distillery:
Take this whisky and hide it well. For its heart has been matured in DARK SHERRY CASKS, imparting waves of treacle toffee, coal tar, squid ink noodles and toasted coffee grounds.
THE DARKEST ARDBEG EVER
Its colour is that of copper stills in moonlight. Its nose – dark chocolate, rich treacle toffee and distant bonfires – betrays a secret: a clandestine meeting of Ardbeg matured in ex-Bourbon casks and a heart matured in dark sherry casks. Hints of pepper spice and zesty lime lure you in. Smouldering charcoal and wood polish flit across the palate, with raisins, dates and ginger emerging from shadows of tarry creosote. Echoes of cured smoked ham and squid ink noodles signal the arrival of a long, spicy aftertaste.
“It was a moonless night, with a fierce tide surging landward. The gang, having captured the lighthouse keeper and snuffed out the lamp’s wick, sent signal to the black boats to come ashore. What fearless men these are, that navigate without light the treacherous hidden reefs that extend from the shore like barbed fingers!”
If you stand on the rocky headland behind Ardbeg Distillery today, sunlight dancing on the waves, a soft breeze whispering through the long grass that fringes the shore, listening to the cheerful call of seagulls as they follow the fishing boats that pass this way, it’s hard to believe this idyllic spot has a turbulent and murky past.
For Ardbeg was once a notorious hideout for smugglers, who plied their trade within its hidden caves and secret beaches. Dark tales abound of ill-gotten gains, daring deeds and narrow escapes from the island’s excise men, until finally a raid was made, the dens destroyed and the gang scattered…
Shortly afterwards, John McDougall founded Ardbeg Distillery on the site of their nefarious operations. Thus, from that dark past, creating the greatest legend of all…
Even the greatest distillery on Earth cannot escape the shadows of the past. It is said (though not often, and then in hushed tones) that John McDougall’s own uncles, Allan and Alexander, were once apprehended on charges of distilling whisky without a license in the dark coves along Islay’s rocky coastline.
“They crept through the woods under cover of darkness. Feeling their way to the cliff edge, they clambered down to their secret hideout as they had done a thousand times before. But this time they were not alone. This time they were being watched, and it was the eyes of the law that were upon them.”
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 Glen Elgin 1991
$160.19
This 1991 Small Batch bottling has been bottled at 46% after maturing in a very unusual cask, a Bourbon Butt, for 23 years. Exclusive to KWM in Canada, only 18 bottles are coming into the market.
Cadenhead Small Batch whiskies are bottled either as single casks or from very small batches of no more than 4 or 5 casks. Cadenhead established in 1842, is Scotland's oldest independent bottler. Headquartered in Campbeltown, it is today owned by J.A. Mitchell & Co., Springbank Distillery's parrent company. The Cadenhead Small Batch range is exclusive to KWM in Canada.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Dark chocolate; some meatiness along with a good glug of sherry. Bruised bananas; distant smokiness and some maple syrup.
Palate: More chocolate, although softer than on the nose. Cinnamon buns; strawberry yoghurt and pached pears.
Finish: Some soft oaky notes along with red fruits. Faint dunnage warehouse with raspberries and lychees.
Distillery Fact: The distillery closed in 1992 for refurbishment and was re-opened again in 1995, making this some of the first spirit produced post-refurbishment.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 Bunnahabhain 1994
$157.49
This 20 year was bottled in 2015, with 354 bottles produced. There is an oily character on the nose and palate with herbal notes coming through and a moderate smokiness as well.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 Burnside 1989
$334.99
So it is technically a Blended Malt whisky, but it is 99.9% or more single malt, from Balvenie... Distilled in 1989 and bottled at 48.8% from a pair of Bourbon Barrels at 26 Years.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Marshmallow; lemon meringue pie with runny toffee and hints of blueberries.
Palate: custard creams; almonds; slightly salty with growing citrus fruits.
Finish: creamy, hints of coffee beans with honey and dried apricots.
Whisky Fact: The Burnside trademark for bottled whisky is owned by J&A Mitchell & Co Ltd the parent company of WM Cadenhead Ltd, so no one else should be able to bottle the whisky under this name. The trademark for the whisky in bulk form is owned by William Grant & Sons.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 Caol Ila 2000
$123.29
This 2000 Small Batch bottling has been bottled at 46% after maturing in two Bourbon Hogsheads for 10 years. Exclusive to KWM in Canada, only 12 bottles are coming into the market, and half have sold.
Cadenhead Small Batch whiskies are bottled either as single casks or from very small batches of no more than 4 or 5 casks. Cadenhead established in 1842, is Scotland's oldest independent bottler. Headquartered in Campbeltown, it is today owned by J.A. Mitchell & Co., Springbank Distillery's parrent company. The Cadenhead Small Batch range is exclusive to KWM in Canada.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Classic Caol Ila. Sweet and creamy with dry ashy smoke in perfect balance. You can feel the coastal breeze blowing in with this dram.'
Palate: Ashier than the nose suggests. Smoky limoncello? Lots of thick creamy notes and a touch of honey give this dram a nice layered effect of flavours.
Finish: Smoke; vanilla; lemon; lime and melted white chocolate intertwine long after you have finished drinking this great Islay dram.
Distillery Fact: Caol Ila can now produce 6.5 million litres of alcohol in its three pairs of stills, the majority of which ends up in blended whisky. Caol Ila distillery produces one of the most consistently good whiskies. It is very rare indeed to try a bad Caol Ila and this bottling is no exception.
!!!I agree entirely with the above sentiment!!!
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 Cragganmore 1993
$175.49
The Cadenhead range is exclusive to KWM in Canada, and offers great value compared even to other independent bottlers. This 22 year old Cragganmore is no exception, we're in love with it. Bottled at 56.3% from Bourbon Hogsheads, only 492 bottles released world-wide with just a dozen coming to Canada.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Dried apples; white chocolate and hints of aniseed offer up a rich aromatic nose with this Speyside malt.
Palate: Quite herbal notes are the first thing you will notice then some sage and lemon thyme with hints of spices coat the middle palate. This dram is a great accompaniment to any evening dinner.
Finish: Lingering melted white chocolate; quite floral and then some mandarin notes add a sweetness to the finish.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 Glenburgie 1992
$219.99
A marriage of two ex-Bourbon hogsheads filled in 1992 and bottled at 54.7% after 23 years.456 bottles produced, only 12 coming to Alberta, exclusively to KWM!
Exclusive to KWM in Calgary the small batch line from Cadenhead is released in batches of single casks and as the name implies small batch bottlings. The quality is consistently very high, one of the reasons we love working with the product!
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: Sweet and grassy; very fresh. Melon; fresh mint leaves; clementines and limeleaves.
Palate: Gooseberries; kiwi fruits; whole limes and dried bananas. Some celery salt andthen some soft brown sugar.
Finish: A soft but long finish. Very floral with light zesty fruits. A fresh and vibrant whisky.
Cadenhead Small Bt. 11 BenRiach 1986
$349.99
Part of Cadenhead's 11th Small Batch release, a range exclusive in Canada to KWM. This rare 1986 vintage BenRiach has come from a single Bourbon barrel, and has been bottled at 50.1% after 29 years. Only 6 of 360 bottles came to Canada.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Some soft oaky notes along with red fruits. Faint dunnage warehouses with raspberries and lychees. With this amazing nose the palate is now expected to deliver an amazing taste.
Palate: Slightly nutty with strong orange oil notes coming through with hints of lime and kiwi fruits. The palate has delivered rather well.
Finish: The finish is superb as expected it's Very creamy with soft spice, orange bitters and strawberries.
Distillery Fact: This whisky was distilled in 1986 one year after the distillery had increased from 2 to the current 4 stills. At the time of this distillation the distillery still had its own florr maltings.