Macallan Edition No. 4

$174.99

The 4th release in the Macallan Edition series... No. 4, is a testament to the distillery's weighty house spirit style and a tribute to the architectural marvel which is their new distillery. The whisky is bottled at 48.4%, and is crafted from a mix of American and European oak casks; 7 different types to be specific. It is the most heavily sherried whisky in the Macallan Edition series to date!

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: big syrupy sherry notes with dark chocolate, piles of dried dark fruits: raisins, dates, figs and prunes; bright orange and sweet spices; Panda brand licorice and building leather and tobacco.

Palate: a big, classic heavily sherried profile, but with balance; thick, round and smooth; loads of dark chocolate, Christmas cake and dried fruits; maple syrup, treacle toffee and soft musty-earthy-oaky tones; a touch of tobacco and leather too. 

Finish: medium-long and coating; more sherry, treacle, chocolate and dried fruits.

Comment: if you are looking for a sherry-bomb of a Macallan, then this will make you very happy; it is to my recollection the most heavily sherried of all 4 whiskies in the Edition series; the whisky isn't overcooked, but the use of a high proportion of first fill sherry, which gives it it's big sherried profile, also means there is a lack of the subtlety and nuance that I personally look for; don't get me wrong, this is a lovely whisky, I just prefer the elegance of Edition No.3.. 

Producer's Tasting Note

Nose: Bold and rounded honey with a sweet apple note. Orange zest follows a background of ginger and nutmeg. Robust, polished matured oak comes at the end in contrast to the subtle green wood and floral undertones.

Palate: Nutmeg with wood spices and green cloves open up immediately, with a calm following the intense beginnings, leaving a sweet and vanilla viscous mouth coating.

Finish: Fruity with oaky sweetness, long and lasting.

Producer Description

"Like preceding releases, transparency prevails in Edition No.4 as it continues to explore our approach to whisky making, showcasing the skills of our whisky makers and revealing the specific role of oak casks in the creation of the Macallan. With each cask bringing different dimensions and imparting its own influence, this single malt delivers surprising aromas and character. Crafted from a combination of European and American oak casks, Edition No.4 presents a zesty, vibrant and invigorating single malt of rounded honey, sweet toffee and citrus fruits. This is a distinctive whisky that pushes the boundaries of our innovation, reflecting the passion, traditions and craftsmanship that goes into the art of the perfect cask selection."

Lagavulin 8 Year 200th Anniversary

$104.99

It's not every year that an iconic distillery turns 200 years old. Last year we celebrated Ardbeg and Laphroaig, this year it is Lagavulin's turn! The distillery has been congratulated for its transperency, putting an age statement under 10 years on the label. Some early reviews are very favourable. The whisky is in part a tribute to the most famous whisky writer of the Victorian age, Alfred Barnard, who visited the distillery in the 1880s:

"In the late 1880s, Alfred Barnard, the first ever whisky journalist and traveller, sampled an 8 Year Old Lagavulin during a visit to Islay, describing it as “exceptionally fine” and ‘held in high repute’. He went on the declare Lagavulin to be “one of the most prominent” of the few Scotch Distillers that can turn our spirit for use as single [Malt] Whiskies."

Great Review from Serge at whiskyfun.org 90pts! "I think it’s very smart that whilst the whisky’s quite young, they have decided to disclose its age, and to go ‘transparent’. That’s true modern luxury if you ask me (relation plus story plus DETAILS), while other, ach, erm, brands are issuing innumerable new NAS bottlings with only stories these days, and are really starting to blur their image and reputation (which are tomorrow’s sales, remember). As always, my humble opinion, and after all, we’re here for the whisky. So… Colour: white wine. Nose: precision, that’s the first word that springs to mind. Bandages, cane juice, hay, and marzipan, then seaweed, oysters, and diesel oil, then ink, mezcal, grist, and wet wool. Plus one blueberry. Mouth: this is where it kills the IB. This is much better chiselled, purer, better focused, much more distillate-driven, and sharp. And it’s very ashy, sooty, smoky, you’d almost believe you just ate the ashtray. It surprises me a bit that they didn’t decide on a rounder and sweeter style, but for obvious reasons, I won’t complain. Love this style! It’s actually very dry. Also fresh walnuts. Salted fresh walnuts. Strength and body are perfect. Finish: long and austere, on pretty much the same flavours, but drops of orange juice are playing it a little sexier in the aftertaste. Perhaps a little ginger tonic? Comments: it’s really the words purity and precision that rule here, there’s no make-up, no Botox, no dye, and no silicone. Some pure, totally crystalline Lagavulinity (what?) that makes you want to take the next flight(s) to Islay and to go kiss the Distillery Manager on both cheeks. Huge quality/age ratio. Happy 200th, Lagavulin! SGP:358 - 90 points."

Distiller's Tasting Note

Nose: Immediately quite soft with clean, fresh notes, faint hints of milk chocolate and lemon and then developing fragrant tea-scented smoke alongside nose-drying, maritime aromas, with subtle cereal. A prickliness seen earlier now develops, while the trademark Lagavulin dryness emerges as fresh newsprint. Softly sooty. Softer, fuller and more rounded with water: it’s not hugely fruity but there’s just a trace of red berry preserve, perhaps, beneath the smokiness, which comes sharply into focus.

Body: Light, growing pleasantly oily.

Palate: A soothing light texture, with a magnificently full on Lagavulin taste that’s somehow even bigger than you expect; sweet, smoky and warming, with a growing, smoky pungency, then dry, with more smoke. Charred, with minty, dark chocolate. Beautifully balanced midpalate then salty, oven-charred baked potato skins and smoke. Water rounds things, the taste still mighty yet more succulent, sweeter, spicier and now tongue-tingling, mint-fresh and warming.

Finish: Lovely; clean, very long and smoky. Smoothly, subtle minted smoke surrounds chocolate tannins, leaving a late drying note to emerge in time. It’s warming, soft and still smoky with water, not as long or intense now, yet still leaving the palate dry as sweet smoke lingers on the breath.

Tomatin 21 Year Bourbon Barrel Aged

$314.99

This new limited edition release of Tomatin 21 Year was matured in exclusively 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels for the full term of maturation. Only 2000 bottles have been released globally, with fewer than 100 coming to Alberta. Bottled at 46%.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: Marcona almonds, fresh croissants right from the oven and French butter; doughy, waxy and floral: rose petals and geraniums; lemons, limes and apple crumble.

Palate: doughy, waxy, creamy and floral with sweet vanilla; Manuka honey, agave cirup and more baked aple crumble; soft, silky and coating with an elegant mouthfeel; crisp sweet citrus, more French butter and croissants right from the oven; late melons and tropical fruits.

Finish: light, but long, sweet, elegant, fruity, floral and buttery; heavenly.

Comment: if you like old Bourbon cask matured whiskies, then this is the malt for you; sweet, elegant creamy and fruity; eventually becoming tropical, it is not perfect, but it is without flaws.

Producer Tasting Note

"Warm flavours of ginger bread, vanilla and honey balance perfectly with aromas of soft tropical fruits, resulting in a buttery, creamy finish."

Arran Marsala Cask Finish

$81.99

Bottled at 50%, the Marsala Finish is a limited edition released late in 2018. The whisky began its life in more tradition oak before finishing in casks sourced from an artisan Sicilian wine producer.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: doughy, decadent and floral; cinnamon hearts and candied ginger; malty and honeyed with dried orange peel.

Palate: sweet, creamy and honeyed; cinnamon sticks and candied ginger, but also licorice and angelica roots; a touch leathery and peppery with more honey, orange and malt.

Finish: malty, honeyed, fresh, floral and spicy; both decadent and peppery spices; coating but light with medium length.

Comment: if you are looking for a spicy single malt at a great price, this is the dram for you.

Producer Description: "After initially maturing in traditional oak casks over a number of years The Arran Single Malt in this bottling was ‘finished’ in a selection of Marsala wine casks sourced from an artisan producer of this iconic Sicilian wine. Our Master Distiller, James MacTaggart, has carefully monitored this period of secondary maturation to ensure the perfect balance is struck between the Marsala casks and the intrinsic sweet-fruity character of The Arran Malt. The end result is a Single Malt with a decadently fruity, gourmet character, full of complexity and quality."

Producer's Tasting Note

Nose: A rich, sweet spiciness that carries hints of pear and candied orange peels, beautifully complimenting the signature citrus flavor of the Arran Single Malt.

Palate: A delicate fruitiness that develops into a deep caramel and vanilla, followed with roasted chestnuts. 

Finish: The Marsala expression leaves memory of a sweet oak and toffee apples, under toned by notes of fresh ginger and pine nuts. A complex yet well-balanced dram which demonstrates perfectly the balance between the rich Marsala cask and the fruity Arran Single Malt.

Glenfarclas Family Cask 1990

$584.99

Glenfarclas Family Cask 2000

$412.99

Glenfarclas Family Cask 1979

$1,289.99

A deader-than-dead cask (4th Fill Hogshead, people! FOURTH FILL!) has worked an absolute miracle on this whisky. We opened a bottle of this 1979 as the apex malt in a spectacular tasting with our friend George Grant of Glenfarclas and then simply sat back and watched as the room fell silent. What can we say? Glenfarclas at 40 years or so is pretty incredible stuff. Even if you're not looking to mark a 1979 milestone, this is an absolute steal of a price for single cask bottlings from these bygone decades. Only a couple bottles left and, sadly, we only expect the prices to climb in future releases. 

49.4% abv

Tasting Note (Angus MacRaild, Whiskyfun)

Nose: a rather concentrated and syrupy fruitiness, like molten boiled sweets, juicy fruit chewing gum, pineapple jelly and some excellent aged mead. Opens up further with cornflakes, milk bottle sweets, a dusting of icing sugar and lemon infused olive oil. Also some earthy mushroom notes, old wine cellar and things like chamomile and bergamot. A rather more complex example that’s ably supported by a perfect natural strength. You can add plums, sultanas, apple crumble and chocolate limes. Really excellent!

Palate: superb texture and concentration - very syrupy and gently oily. Hints of pear eau de vie, creme de menthe, rum n raisin ice cream, raspberry jam and soft waxes. There’s also herbs, mulled wine and chocolate covered marzipan. Lots of glazed and crystallised fruits everywhere, along with some nibbling peppery notes.

Finish: long, rather orangey and abundantly fruity. Citrus pith, olive oil, mint, apricot jam and dried thyme. Comments: A notch higher still. There’s a level of complexity here that really sings alongside a perfect natural ABV. A great and humble wee cask.
91 points.

Glenfarclas Family Cask 1986 Summer 2018

$1,099.99

This Glenfarclas Family Cask was distilled in 1986 and put into a refill butt. It was bottled in the summer of 2018 at 32 years old and a cask strength of 47.7% ABV. 91.81pts Whisky Base

Glenfarclas Family Cask 1988

$779.99