Adelphi Bunnahabhain 2009 58.8%
$152.99
There's no such thing as an underdog from Islay anymore, but if there was to be one, it would definitely be Bunnahabhain. With the distillery splitting its time between both peated and unpeated runs, you never really know what you're going to get. Fortunately, however, it's easy to become enamoured with any and all of it! And then you have something like this one come down the pipelines from Adelphi. A first fill ex-Sherry Butt, bottled at natural cask strength, and utterly MASSIVE.
58.8% abv and a steal of a price.
Producer Tasting Note
Huge European oak impact with Oxo cubes, molasses, Bovril and meat pie (Scottish football speciality), scrambled eggs, burnt toffee and espresso crema. Fig and date chutney followed by burnt buttered toast, old furniture polish, Camp coffee and bitter chocolate. Dry, viscous and long lasting.
Adelphi Ben Nevis 1996
$294.99
A new cask strength belter from Ben Nevis is always an exciting affair for we whisky folk, aye? The sad reality is that much of the distillery's output is bundled off to Japan to be used as the backbone of Nikka's Pure Malt Black. For that reason, any opportunity we get to try special new releases from this dinosaur of a distillery. Only a small portion of the outturn from this single ex-Bourbon Hogshead made it our way, and as you'd expect...at this price they won't last long.
55% abv
Producer Tasting Note
Trebor Extra Strong Mints with wafts of dunnage warehouse (traditional earthen floor) and a healthy Scottish breakfast of marmalade on square sausage. Old fashioned: thyme, oregano, menthol and a surprising dose of coal smoke.
Arran 12 Year Master James 12th Annv
$109.99
Wrong Sku
Jack Wiebers Classic of Islay #3 55.7%
$112.99
There are plenty of undisclosed Islay malts on the market these days, but some clearly outshine the others. Jack Wieber's Classic of Islay is an expression we've been fortunate enough to see in a few different iterations. The latest (and one of, if not, the greatest) is this 2018 single cask release that has only just hit the shelves here at KWM. If rumours are to be believed - and in this case, I think it's a safe bet they're true - this is a young sherried Lagavulin. Imagine the ferocity of Lagavulin 12 meeting the savoury sweetness of Lagavulin 16 and you'll be in the ballpark as to what to expect from this one.
55.7% abv
Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 15
$99.99
Two Brewers hit another mileston with Release 15 of their Single Malt Whisky. This release was finished in PX Sherry casks for five months before being bottled at 43% ABV. The whisky is between six and eight years old. 1285 bottles of this batch were released.
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: vanilla, banana peel, golden raisins, apple-cinnamon oatmeal, toffee drizzle, Juicy Fruit chewing gum, light oak spices and a dash of salt
Palate: oily with some salt and spice notes up front leading to sweet notes of peanut brittle, marshmallows, Crunchie Bar, salted caramel,
Finish: short and sweet with spice on the back end to cleanse the palate and get you ready for another sip.
Comments: A spicier style than I remember noticing on previous Two Brewers releases, but it still hits the typical distillery style of with notes of bananas, peanuts and sponge toffee leading the way.
Producer Blending Notes
"1/3 of blend from specialty mashes; Short sherry finish, 5 mos after marrying, added more to flavour complexity than colour development; 66% 5 yr + 4% 6 yr +22% 8yr + 8% 9 yr."
Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 14
$99.99
Single Minded Bunnahabhain 10 Year
$84.99
Following hard on the heels of last year's 8 year old, Douglas Laing offers us a 10 year old Bunnahabhain from its Single Minded range. This particular expression is a single cask bottling from one refill hogshead. The outturn may have been low, but the quality is high.
43% abv
Producer Tasting Note
The nose bursts with salty rock pools, gentle smoke and sweet cereal. The palate brings buttered wholemeal bread with charcoal cured bacon. The long finish is full of brown sugar, peat smoke, charred oak and vanilla cream.
Berry's Mystery Speyside 1995 KWM Cask
$127.49
Our latest and greatest Kensington Wine Market exclusive single cask is our Berry's "Mystery Speyside" 1995 KWM Cask, bottled at 48.9%. The whisky was matured 23 years in a sherry cask, which I suspect it was a Refill sherry seasoned American Oak Hogshead;but who knows... yet more mystery! 246 total bottles sourced from Glenrothes... oh and it comes with a tube!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: brandy soaked cherries, ripe plums and fig jam; loads of creamy floral vanilla, bright tangy Manuka honey and juicy orange pith; decadent and velvety.
Palate: sweet, creamy and coating with great body; the whisky starts slow and rapidly ballons on the palate like a soft, plush, velvety sponge; loads of orchard fruits: brandy soaked cherries, dried apricots, ripe plums and more fig jam; the floral vanilla, tangy Manuka honey and juicy oranges are still there with some decadent spice and soft earthy leather.
Finish: fresh, fruity, floral and creamy; the orchards fruits linger long with floral vanilla and more decadent spices.
Comment: it takes a lot to get me excited about Glenrothes, especially sherried Glenrothes, but this is excellent; the distillery's signature floral-citrus character shines through, buttressed by juicy orchard fruits, rich honey and vevety vanilla; I hope BBR never turns the taps off, they keep offering us amazing casks; no frills, no fancy bottles, just great tasting and amazing value whisky!
Benromach Peat Smoke Sherry Matured
$114.99
Peated Benromach distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2019 at 59.9% after maturing in sherry casks. Limited availability.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: Caramilk, candied fruits and Christmas cake; as it opens winter spices, apple cider vinegar and balsemic vinegar; a firm earthy smoke is there but struggling beneath the sherry; orange peel and salted airline prezzels.
Palate: soft to start with the elegant earthy smoke slowly building; juicy orange and chewy malt; the palate is drier than expected with more vanilla and less sherry than expected; more winter spices, balsemic vinegar and building tarry notes; medicinal with Dutch liquorice and cloves.
Finish: still dry, but also oily and coating; firm but clean earthy smoke never really seems to let go of its grip; more salty Dutch liquorice and cloves.
Comment: curiously I find this whisky both less sherried and less peaty than the Benromach Cask Strength Batch 01; but it is more in the Islay style with firmer smoke and a medicinal edge; slight disconect between the nose and palate, but if you are a fan of iodine-y Ileachs, you're likely to love this!
Producer's Tasting Note
"Pour your dram of this seriously smoky single malt whisky and prepare to relish an experience as rare as this unique Benromach Speyside whisky produced in very small batches. First, lift your glass to the light and appreciate the beautiful dark amber hue created by lingering for many years in First Fill Sherry Hogsheads as the whisky grew and matured in character. Take a short inhalation, appreciating the wonderful aromas without water… enjoy the hints of honey cured meats mingling with zingy orange marmalade. Creamy vanilla develops with traces of chocolate, spiced dried fruit and a subtle note of dried tobacco. Take a sip. Deliciously sweet top notes and a hint of warming white pepper appear, followed by touches of rich stewed prunes, sultanas and raisins complemented by sherry undertones. Delicate hints of ginger develop on the tongue with a lingering edge of bonfire embers on the finish. Add a few drops of water and take time to savour the nose as it develops. Lemon, honey and vanilla aromas perfectly balance the distinctive smokiness. Now lift it to your lips and enjoy a slow sip… a sumptuous medley of rich fruits, tangy citrus and delicate hint of spice and sherry give way to rich smooth chocolate and a lingering edge of seriously gorgeous smokiness.Superb!"
