Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.266
$169.99
SALT 'N' VINEGAR KELP
From Islay, this 10 year old comes in at 60.8% after maturing in a refill hogshead.
Flavour profile: Peated.
Outturn: 272 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Notes of twiglets and marmite-smothered toast greeted the Panel at first nosing. Along with vinegar-soaked fish and chips, salted crab meat, mercurochrome, nettles, elastoplast and burnt caramel. With a little water we also found a rusted shipwreck, pin-sharp lemon juice, lime cordial, dense heathery smoke, silage, smoked tea and burning kelp.
The mouth was pure mezcal with peated olive oil, camphor, liquorice chews and smoked lavender. Water added salted toffee, peanuts, tobasco, bacon lardons, menthol cigarette ash and grilled scallops."
Part of the SMWS August of 2019 'Hauf & Hauf' theme, this bottling was paired with a beer that was selected by Calgary SMWS member and beer writer Don Tse. Don paired this Islay malt with Dageraad Burnabarian, stating "Lightly must with notes of honey and Grand Marnier and a sparkling effervescence, this beer will serve as a contrast against this beautiful whisky"
Glenmorangie Private Edition Allta
$124.99
The 10th Private Edition release from Glenmorangie is the Allta, Scots Gaelic for "Wild". Potentially the most unique Glenmorangie ever released, the whisky was fermented with a strain of yeast isolated from a strain of barley on the Cadbol estate near the distillery. The whisky was matured in 1st and 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon barrels, before bottling at 51.2%.
Producer Description
"Marking the tenth anniversary of our acclaimed Private Edition series, Glenmorangie Allta is the first Glenmorangie created from the yeast which grows wild on our own Cadboll barley. This rich, fruity single malt was inspired as Dr Bill Lumsden walked the fields near the Distillery, gathering precious samples of grain. Discovering that the barley nurtured a species of wild yeast unidentified before then, he set out to bring the two together in the making of a creamy and aromatic whisky. Aged in bourbon barrels, including many second-fill casks to showcase the spirit’s fruity character, Glenmorangie Allta (Scots Gaelic for ‘wild’ and pronounced ‘al-ta’) reveals the importance of yeast to the myriad flavours found in Scotch whisky and opens up compelling possibilities for the future."
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Rounded, with biscuit tones, light, floral notes and scents of baking bread emerging alongside vanilla, raisins and mandarin orange.
Palate: A crisp, citrus texture brings tastes of butter candy, more creamy vanilla and orange syrup with a little yeast in the background. Then gentle mint and a suggestion of sweet chilli.
Finish: Long and earthy, with hints of bitter-sweet orange and peppermint.
TWA Sherry Style Blended Malt 2001
$134.39
Only 6 bottles coming to KWM, and we don't know much about it, bottled at 46.6% from a "Shery cask".
Maltbarn Bruichladdich 2010
$181.99
Only 12 bottles of this curious Bruichladdich single cask are coming to KWM. Distilled in 2010 and matured 8 years in a Bourbon cask before bottling at 55.0%. Only 155 bottles released world-wide by German independent bottler Maltbarn.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: honeyed and decadent, baklava; malty with a firm minerality; ozone; very malty, apple crumble with crisp cinnamon; fresh maritime air.
Palate: creamy, doughy and fruity; very sweet and malty; loads of honey, baklava and apple crumble with loads of cinnamon; oily with a good minerality and quite salty; chili-lime tortilla chips.
Finish: fresh, fruity and creamy with more decadent honey, baklava, spices and lime.
Comment: this feisty young lady didn't impress me on first tasting it, but having opened the bottle almost 24 hours ago the whisky has opened up nicely!
Maltbarn Granville Highland Malt 1996
$364.99
Reputedly from Clynelish Distillery, this 22 year old mystery single Highland malt was bottled at 51.9% after maturing in a "Sherry Cask." A portion of the cask has been bottled by Maltbarn for its Canadian importer Heads & Tails, for their 3rd Anniversary. It is lovely. Only 12 bottles coming to KWM!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: dark, rich, nuty and chocolate-y, with cooked raisins, demerara sugar and dark chocolate; soft, waxy floral tones peek out from underneath bold sherry; tea leaves and tobacco and to the mix along with some brighter fruit notes.
Palate: big, rich and nutty with firm leather and tobacco; some mouth watering tropical fruit notes emerge along wtih some salty Dutch licorice, espresso bean, dark bakers chocolate and more tea leaves; more cooked raisin, prunes and grilled figs; very spicy and decadent with more demerara sugar, underlying fruits and floral tones; the body is waxy and tingling with oak spices.
Finish: long, coating, waxy, spicy and warming; layered and complex like the palate.
Comment: it is supposedly from Clynelish Distillery, and while it does have some of that beeswax-honeyed character Clynelish is famous for, the sherry is masking it well; whether it is or isn't Clynelish is really rather irellevant in the grand scheme of things, this is quite simply a very elegant, drinkable and lovely single cask of sherried "Highland" Scotch whisky!
Signatory Fettercairn 1988 54.5%
$236.24
A very small batch bottling, just two casks, of Fettercairn single malt whisky, distilled December 7 1988 and bottled February 11 of 2019. 54.5%. Rocking a very respectable 90pts Score on Whisky Base!
Signatory Cambus 1991 55.3%
$229.99
Rochester Mills 12 Days Milkshake Stout
$75.99
Bruichladdich Black Art 5.1 200ml HOLD
$86.99