G&M Smith's Glenlivet 1974

$1,249.99

Distilled around the time when Glenlivet and Glenfiddich were just beginning to champion the idea of single malt as a more flavoursome alternative to blended whisky. Rumours are this was a marriage of refill American Oak and Refill Sherry Casks, but knowing how meticulous Gordon & MacPhail are with their wood policy, I would suspect these casks were utterly pristine.

We're coming to the tail end of 1970s whiskies, I think, so this is a real treat to find at this sort of price point. 

43% abv

Producer Tasting Notes

Nose: Fragrant, fresh rose petals and newly cut grass. A lingering subtle sweetness follows.  With water - Fresh with a heavily fragrant nose, freshly cut roses. A burst of vanilla and ripe soft fruits emerge.

Palate: An initial burst of chilli spices, with a sweetness emerging. Soft fruit influences linger and a hint of vanilla comes to the fore.  With water - A peppery edge develops, with a touch of aniseed. Hints of creamy butter develop.

G&M Glen Grant 1965

$1,849.99

This is a legacy bottling of Glen Grant, bottled under the discontinued Rare Vintage line at 40% after maturing 48 years in a Refill Sherry Butt and American hogsheads. Whisky Base Score 91.65%.

Producer’s Tasting Note

Aroma: Delicate Sherry influences with sweet vanilla and stewed fruits. A subtle smokiness with a hint of oak developing. Aroma with Water Delicate floral aromas with stewed apple and a touch of menthol. Hints of marzipan and oak develop.

Taste: Black pepper initially with pear and orange flavours complemented by a creamy milk chocolate edge. Taste with Water Mulled wine flavours, cinnamon and nutmeg. Creamy milk chocolate with citrus fruit flavours, orange and lime. Body Medium.

Finish Long, smooth, and creamy.

G&M Tamdhu 1971

$1,499.99

1971. Apollo 14 lands on the moon just months after the Soviets launch the first ever space station. The Vietnam War rages out of control, still four years from its inevitable end. The Colts beat the Cowboys in only the fifth Superbowl ever to be played. Disney World opened its doors for the first time ever. Louis Armstrong, Duane Allman and Jim Morrison all passed on to the great gig in the sky. And Tamdhu distillery, in the heart of Speyside, was busy distilling some of the greatest malts that have ever crossed these lips.

All hyperbole aside, every...single...one...of the Tamdhu I have tried from the '60s and '70s have been utterly spectacular.    

And the sad, simple reality of it is that whiskies from nearly five decades ago are nearly extinct. This '71 Tamdhu is a buy-before-it's-too-late kind of dram. Whiskies like this don't stick around long. But regret from missing out does. 

43% abv

G&M Strathisla 1949

$8,999.99

!!!Only 2 Bottles are Coming to Canada - Exclusively to KWM!!! - 1 Has Sold...

Bottled in 2006 at 57 years of age, this is the oldest vintage of Strathisla we have ever seen at KWM. Matured in a Sherr Butt and bottled at 40%. You will never see a 1949 vintage whisky for less, again! 

Producer's Tasting Note

Nose: Sweet, floral and perfumed aromas with spices and a slight oily element.

Palate: Peat and smoke initially with a developing fruitiness - grapes and raisins. Sherry wood flavours are also present.

More About Strathisla - Gordon Macphail

"Strathisla Distillery, the oldest continuously operating distillery in Scotland, is a delightful distillery to visit because of its fairy-tale quality with its distinctive double pagodas and old cobbled courtyard. Founded by George Taylor and Alexander Milne, the distillery originally known as Milltown became operational in 1786. The distillery flip-flopped between names (Milltown, Strathisla, Milton) until 1951, Chivas Brothers officially settled on Strathisla as this was the name of the actual whisky produced. Today, much of Strathisla's production is used for blending and the distillery is the home of one of the world’s most famous blends – ‘Chivas Regal’."

G&M Strathisla 1957

$4,209.99

This is a historic or archive release of Gordon Macphail whisky. A 53 year old Strathisla, bottled in 2011 from a Frist Fill Sherry Butt. A sister cask Scored 92pts with Whisky Fun. Although not inexpensive, it is very well priced of its age and vintage. You won't see pricing like this again anytime soon!

Producer's Tasting Note

Without Water

Nose: Sweet with soft fruit aromas - brambles and blackcurrants. Hints of menthol and spearmint with toasted oak.

Palate: Black cracked pepper and rich Sherry influences initially with orange peel and grapefruit flavours. An aniseed and cinnamon edge develops.

With Water

Nose: Rose petals with almond oil and nutmeg. A crème brûlée and orange peel aroma lingers.

Palate: Sweet with white pepper initially. Green apple and strawberry flavours combine with a touch of charred oak.

Finish: Long and sherried.

92pts Whisky Fun (Review of 2006 Sister Cask Bottling)

"Strathisla 1957/2007 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail) Five stars Colour: deep gold. Nose: oh, this is much less sherry influenced and much more on fruits and honey – in other words, one of these winning exuberantly fruity old Strathislas, or so it seems. Don’t get me wrong, there is some sherry but it’s not the very chocolaty kind of sherry. Figs, quinces, beeswax, orange marmalade and rosewater, then ripe apples, gooseberries and even hints of pomegranate, all that coated with quite some nougat, praline and a mildly vanilled oak. Superb! Also hints of olive oil and mint flying around. Mouth: once again, the oak is louder on the palate but the deep fruitiness and ‘jamminess’ make for a great counterpoint here. Big mouth feel for a 43% malt whisky. Mirabelle jam, apricot cake, tons of sultanas, cane sugar, then quite some cinnamon from the oak, cloves, orange blossom water… Finish: unexpectedly long, all on milk chocolate and blackberry jam. The balance is perfect. Comments: look, I don’t want to insist but this is sold for less than 300 f*****g Euros a bottle, it’s fifty f*****g years old, and it’s f*****g good whisky (while most distilleries sell their 40yos for 1,500 Euros a cruet when not more). Do you get the drift? SGP:551 - 92 points."

More About Strathisla - Gordon Macphail

"Strathisla Distillery, the oldest continuously operating distillery in Scotland, is a delightful distillery to visit because of its fairy-tale quality with its distinctive double pagodas and old cobbled courtyard. Founded by George Taylor and Alexander Milne, the distillery originally known as Milltown became operational in 1786. The distillery flip-flopped between names (Milltown, Strathisla, Milton) until 1951, Chivas Brothers officially settled on Strathisla as this was the name of the actual whisky produced. Today, much of Strathisla's production is used for blending and the distillery is the home of one of the world’s most famous blends – ‘Chivas Regal’."

G&M Strathisla 1960

$3,219.99

Bottled in 2014, this 1960 vintage Strathisla was matured 54 years in Sherry Butts. Only 3 bottles are coming to Canada, exclusively to KWM. 43%. A sister 1960 cask scored 90pts with Serge. Interesting fact, KWM's first ever exclusive single cask was a 1960 Strathila, the whisky, darker than coke, was a stunner.

Producer's Tasting Note

Without Water

Nose: Sweet wine notes with defined rum and raisin influences and a hint of rich brown sugar. Fruity notes linger - prunes.

Palate: Silky and sweet, heavily sherried, well balanced with fruitcake and brown sugar elements.

With Water

Nose: Delicate sweet wine notes, suggestion of rich dark sugar, elements of cigar box wood and heavy fruity notes.

Palate: Silky with a well defined sweetness, and a more subtle sherried edge. Reminiscent of rich fruitcake.

Finish: Long and smooth.

90pts Whisky Fun (2009 bottled Sister Cask)

"Strathisla 1960/2009 (50%, Gordon & MacPhail for LMdW, 1st fill sherry hogshead, cask #2548, 177 bottles) Five stars Colour: deep amber. Nose: very close to the ‘43%’ at first nosing, only bigger and maybe a tad more liquorice. Gets then more and more chocolaty, the sherry influence being bigger than in the ‘general’ version. Old precious wood, thuja wood, bitter oranges, juniper, cloves, cardamom… Quite some rancio too, dried mushrooms, even black truffles… Gets even earthier after a moment. I’m curious about the palate, it can be hit or miss with this kind of nose, let’s see… Mouth: it’s a hit! Sure there’s a lot of oak but it’s much more polished here, and the extra 7% vol. probably do wonders here. Prunes, chocolate, Christmas cake, also that kind of cake that our German friends call ‘Stolle’, marmalade, touches of cumin, thyme tea, cocoa powder… In short, it’s great. Very classic old sherry. Finish: long, all on chocolate and coffee, with just hints of orange liqueur in the aftertaste as well as more oak (strong black tea) and mint. Comments: big, concentrated and very exuberant, but you have to like them heavy! SGP:461 - 90 points."

More About Strathisla - Gordon Macphail

"Strathisla Distillery, the oldest continuously operating distillery in Scotland, is a delightful distillery to visit because of its fairy-tale quality with its distinctive double pagodas and old cobbled courtyard. Founded by George Taylor and Alexander Milne, the distillery originally known as Milltown became operational in 1786. The distillery flip-flopped between names (Milltown, Strathisla, Milton) until 1951, Chivas Brothers officially settled on Strathisla as this was the name of the actual whisky produced. Today, much of Strathisla's production is used for blending and the distillery is the home of one of the world’s most famous blends – ‘Chivas Regal’."

G&M Strathisla 1953

$6,899.99

Filled into cask on the 19th of December in 1953, it was bottled on the 21st of November in 2012 at 43% from a single Sherry Butt.

85pts Whisk Fun

" I can’t wait, let’s try it… Colour: amber. Nose: we’re visiting an antique shop, with these whiffs of furniture polish, precious woods (rose, teak, snakewood – yes made that one up), old curtains, turpentine, linseed oil, carbolinium, opening an old wardrobe that had remained closed for decades… Oops, almost forgot to mention the obligatory fruitcake. A little parsley too, marrow soup… The whole remains quite dry all along. Mouth: I think it was bottled at the right time, just before the oak would have taken over. It’s rather chocolate-dominated, with really a lot of cinnamon and black tea, but a few fruits keep singing high and clear, especially oranges and plums. I’m also finding quite a lot of herbal teas, rosehip, thyme… Finish: medium, dry, and a little drying. As when you left the teabag in the teapot for a little too long. Comments: I think I liked this rare old glory almost just the same. SGP:471 - 85 points."

Signatory Bruichladdich 1990 55.5%

$434.99

Old Bruichladdichs are starting to get rare and expensive, This 27 year old is still a good buy though, matured in a Refill Sherry Butt (#166) and bottled at 55.5%. Distilled: 09/26/1990. Bottled: 03/09/2018. Only 18 bottles in Alberta, exclusive to KWM.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose:  brandy soaked cherries, polished leather shoes, cracked walnuts and peanut brittle; chocolate fudge and salted caramel; a touch vegetal: sauteed carrots and turnips with a touch of wood varnish.

Palate: big, round and sweet; the salted caramel hits first, followed by the brandy soaked cherries and chocolate fudge; soft and smooth with almost no heat at 55.5%; polished leather shoes, rum soaked Christmas cake and a touch of sauteed root vegetables; still nutty but also showing a sweet-maple syrup character too.

Finish: long and coating with candied fruit, Christmas cake, leather and dark chocolate; it dries leaving nutty tones and a touch of dark spice.

Comment: if you are a fan of old sherried malts, complex pre-closure Bruichladdich or simply good whisky, you find a lot to love here; this is a beauty!

Signatory Glenturret 1989 42.4%

$309.99

Another cracker from Signatory. Man, these guys have their stuff together. It's quite obvious that the folks behind Signatory still have warehouses full of great barrels slumbering away, waiting for their chance to shine. We've seen some other independent bottlers struggling to bring well-matured malts to the market, but Signatory continues to wow us.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: apricots, nectarines and raisins; very creamy, sour cream with herbs and juicy Wine Gums; apple strudel, cantaloupe and poached pear; soft, floral and elegant.

Palate: stay creamy, very creamy with loads of vanilla and more sour cream (in a herbal crema); fresh peaches, apricots and nectarines; juicy Wine Gums and raisins, with a touch of sweet & sour sauce (without the pork); more apple strudel and poached pear, melons too.

Finish: light, fresh, fruity and balanced with a surprisingly long length given its delicacy.

Comment:  this doesn’t quite stray in to tropical fruit, but it is very, very fruity; a bit of sweet, sour and even savoury here; lots of layers, and definitely my kind of dram; these 1989 Signatory Glenturrets are not disappointing!

This Glenturret is a brilliant example of what Signatory does best: give us truly singular examples of what these distilleries are capable of. 29 years in a single hogshead have given us a Glenturret of distinction and subtlety far beyond what the distillery bottlings offer. And jeez...what a squeaker. 42.4% abv? After only 29 years? If this had managed to sleep much longer (one more tap of the snooze button, perhaps) it likely would have dropped below that 40% threshold. Thankfully that wasn't allowed to happen. 

Beautifully oily and rich, even at this low abv. Natural colour and not chill filtered. 

The future of Glenturret is uncertain under new owners Lalique, but it's very probable that it's now in more loving care than it was in the past. We look forward to finding out. 

700ml