Waterford Single Farm Ballykilcavan 1.1
$101.99
Limit 1 bottle per customer!
Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to have been selected for the privilege of introducing Waterford Whisky to the Canadian market. The whiskies will be exclusive to KWM in Alberta for the first month. The initial release is limited, and accordingly we are restricting pre-sales to one bottle per person.
The Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1 was distilled in 2016 from Taberna barley grown in 2015 on Ballykilcavan Farm. It was matured in a mix of first fill ex-Bourbon, French oak & Vin Doux Naturel casks. The whisky was taken from cask at 72.33%, before dilution to a bottling strength of 50%. 88pts Whisky Fun!
Producer Description
"Distilled in 2016 from Taberna barley grown by David Walsh-Kemmis west of the River Barrow in Co. Laois in the barley heartlands, where his fertile fields are sheltered by ancient woodland. David is the thirteenth generation since 1639 to farm at Ballykilcavan. And here, in his ancient farmhouse, sits our inaugural Barley of the Year trophy awarded for this 2015 harvest.."
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: caramelized and nutty with juicy malt; tall green grasses after the rain, tart citrus and then French vanilla; earthy and subtly musty with sour cherries and glazed root vegetables.
Palate: sweet, malty and toasty with a late surge of bright fruits; more grasses, glazed root veg, sour cherries and tart citrus: Wine Gums; oily with velvety French vanilla and Billy Bee Honey; building spices, chocolate coated espresso beans and dare I say a gravelly minerality.
Finish: long, coating and oily with a drying spicy kick; more Wine Gums and root veg.
Comment: I think what I’m most impressed about regarding Waterford is the quality of their spirit; warm but not hot, they have their distillate finely dialed in!
Producer Tasting Note
Apparence: Light hay to honey, very oily.
Nose: Berries with fresh foliage, redcurrants, grapes, barnyard. Vibrant and again freshly cut grass.
Taste: Cooked bananas with brown sugar, and plenty of heat. Mulled wine and cinnamon. A dry, oily lasting finish.
88pts @WhiskyFun
"The grower was David Walsh-Kemmis in Lagis. The barley was Taberna harvested in 2015, the A.BV. a hefty 72.33% prior to reduction, and no virgin American oak was harmed this time (45% American, 37% French, 18% VDN). Colour: straw. Nose: a little ‘darker’ as far as aromas are concerned, bitterer, so rather more on stout than lager, or wholegrain bread than baguette. See what I mean? Having said that it’s becoming both softer and thicker then, with an oiliness that wasn’t this obvious in the others. Rapeseed oil, pencil lead, brake fluid… This is most interesting, really. Taberna, you say? Mouth: oh, just perfect. Touches of fermentation (nowhere to be seen in the others) and sourdough, croissants, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon, perhaps a little banana, but no pears and no wine gums. That’s an achievement too. Gets a tad drying after a wee while, but that’s nothing. Finish: long, extremely good, bready and oily, bordering ‘good’ rubber. Dough and bitter ale in the aftertaste. Comments: this would be my favourite (of 4 tasted), but we’re really splitting babies’ hairs and the score will remain the same. Who needs scores anyway. SGP:462 - 88 points."
Waterford Single Farm Bannow Island 1.1
$101.99
Limit 1 bottle per customer!
Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to have been selected for the privilege of introducing Waterford Whisky to the Canadian market. The whiskies will be exclusive to KWM in Alberta for the first month. The initial release is limited, and accordingly we are restricting pre-sales to one bottle per person.
The Bannow Island Edition 1.1 was distilled in 2016 from Overture barley grown in 2015 on Bannow Island Farm. It was matured in a mix of first fill ex-Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, French Oak & Vin Doux Naturel Casks. The whisky was taken from cask at 72.01%, before dilution to a bottling strength of 50%. 88pts Whisky Fun!
Producer Description
"Distilled in 2016 from Overture barley grown by Ed Harpur on the extreme southern coast of Co. Wexford, where salt-laden Atlantic winds and sandy soils create a unique, if somewhat challenging, terroir. It was here that the Normans took their first conquering steps in 1169. Sandbanks and wind-blown dunes rise up over a lost town long faded from the map."
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: freshly harvested hay bales, damp rundle rock, vanilla bean and tarte tatin with Chantilly cream; tallow wax candles, perppery spices and new sofa leather.
Palate: a surge of sweet chewy malt is met with firm toasted oak, juicy fruits and spices; more vanilla bean and tarte tatin with Chantilly cream; in addition to the baked apples there are cherries, plums and dried cranberries; very gristy with a firm minerality (more damp rundle rock); still waxy (oily) with subtle floral notes and not so subtle spices: hot ginger, cinnamon and even a touch a cayenne; salted caramel ice-cream at the end.
Finish: oily, coating and dry with lingering hot spices and a flinty minerality; the thick juicy malt and sweet toasted oak notes dominate the long finish.
Comment: if Waterford’s aim is to highlight the barley and terroir, then mission accomplished; I may be consciously looking for it, but I don’t have to look too hard; as an added bonus, its lovely… for a three year old it is superb; Waterford is a distillery to keep a close eye on!”
Producer Tasting Note
Appearance: Light to medium honey colour; the glass is well-coated with very slow legs.
Nose: Malty, red roses, very fresh. Milk chocolate. Warm vanilla custard. Dried fruit, sweet, a perfumed elegance. Bread-and-butter pudding and custard. Walking through a freshly-cut hay field.
Taste: Vibrant, exuberant: white pepper, spicy, cloves, mouth coating with a dried sweetness of salted caramel. Malted biscuits, sherry. Oily and dry finish – mouth puckering.
88pts @WhiskyFun
"Piles of data are available, such as the fact that it was Overture 2015 barley, that the actual age is ‘1322 days’, so 3,62 years, that the A.B.V. was 72.01% before reducing, that the grower was a gentleman named Ed Harpur in Wexford, and that his first car was a blue Morris Marina. I’m joking now. Colour: gold. Nose: there’s 25% French oak here, and I would say it feels a bit, imparting a slightly spicier breadiness than what’s usual with some high-end craft whiskies (I know the word craft is very pre-Covid, but there). Basically, there’s rather a lot of mashed potatoes – with nutmeg of course – then ‘opening a new pack of shortbread’ and a pretty earthy barleyness. Probably a touch of wormwood too, moss, and butterscotch. I find this lovely, and much less an oak-bomb than I had feared. The barley’s clearly audible. Mouth: perhaps more VDN impact, so perhaps a few raisins. Other than that, it’s really a spicy bread that’s paying first fiddle, pumpernickel, with more nutmeg and a few mustard seeds. Oh and some aniseed too. Finish: rather long, fresh, with a little caraway on top of the nutmeg. I’ll add a few drops of Meursault, I also know this will please the owners. Comments: I’m a sucker for these young ‘vibrant’ and bready whiskies. Only little problem, I knew this was going to be good, so no big surprise. SGP:551 - 88 points."
Old Particular Bowmore 12 Year 48.4%
$131.99
Distilled in December 2001, the whisky was matured in a Refill Hogshead (DL Ref 10284) for 12 years before bottling at 48.4% in 2014. Good Whisky Base average of 88.13. Only 24 bottles have come to KWM,
Nose: savoury mezcal notes hit at first; salt, lime and smoke; creamy vanilla icing sugar emerges with clean smoke and a touch of lavender; soft grasy malt, honey and green apples.
Palate: big, rich, creamy, coating and smoky; tarry, earthy and salty; more mezcal, lime, bags of salt and vanilla icing sugars; underneath white fruits, citrus and a touch of lavender.
Finish: medium long, coating, fresh and flavourful; more Mezcal, lime, salt and smoke.
Comment: tasty stuff... a smoky malt for the summer; mezcalritas anyone?
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Wondefully peated and sweet - softening to smoked barley and dried hay.
Palate: Mouthcoatingly sweet & syruppy before the smokey spices/smoked barley.
Finish: Sweetly tarry in style - showing crunched sugar - more smoke & soft ash.
Archives Speyside 1995
$279.99
This 23 Year old single Hogshead cask from the Speyside Distillery was bottled at 51.4% under the "Fishes of Samoa" label.
Archives Ardmore 1999
$269.99
This 19 year old Ardmore was matured in a single ex-Bourbon barrel and bottled after 19 years at 55.8%.
Bruichladdich RareCask 1985 Hidden Glory
$1,229.99
This 32 year old single malt was produced from the distillery's last 22 barrels of 1985 vintage whisky. Bottled at 48.7% after maturing in 3rd Fill Ex-Bourbon barrels, the whisky was transfered into fresh Bourbon barrels by Jim McEwan in 2012.
Producer Description: "32 years. A long journey with a few crossroads, a few considered and inspired decisions down the line. This dram comes from the final 22 casks of the legacy stock distilled back in 1985 by a previous generation of Bruichladdich stillmen. This whisky was originally filled into gentle third fill Bourbon casks and lay untouched in warehouse 14 until 2012. Our then master distiller Jim McEwan discovered this forgotten parcel and re-casked it into fresh bourbon adding depth and complexity."
Distiller's Tasting Note
Aroma: An amazing array of notes. Blood orange, nectarines, banana bread, desiccated coconut, vanilla custard, then more floral and nutty tones, geranium, marzipan, walnut, heather honey.
Taste: Tremendous presence on the palate, the texture is wondrously sof and syrupy. The short ACE in the wine casks has given a warm, nutmeg hint and a layer of fruity notes, raspberry, blackcurrant jam and ripe plum, all perfectly balanced by years in American oak – cinder toffee, lemon meringue and coconut – bounty bar sweet. It opens continually to reveal layer upon layer of complexity.
Finish: Long and gentle, the oak influence is strong with waves of soft vanilla wafer, toffee and sandalwood. Then lemon barley sugars, a hint of salted caramel and apricot syrup.
Character: Attempting to describe the feeling and style of this whisky will fall woefully short of doing it justice. This is a vintage that will not be forgotten and it is my pleasure to be able to release it to the world.
More on the Rare Cask Series from Adam Hannet
“These rare, old single malt whiskies are a direct link to our past, to the men who made truly special spirit here while facing very different circumstances to those which we enjoy today. Testament to their skill and hard work it was laid down to mature by the shores of Loch Indaal, unaware of what the future might bring.
“Three generations of distillers have watched over it, each of us helping to shape the final concept. It has been my privilege to decide that the treasures we have nurtured are now ready to be brought to the world.
“These whiskies when tasted leave me speechless. They are in their prime, the last of their kind and can never be repeated, never recreated. Nothing quite like them will ever be seen again.
“They are some of the most symbolic whiskies I have worked with and they are profoundly important to me. They are as old as I am. They refect my life and experience, those moments that mean so much to us all. The moments that defne us; when we marry, when we become parents and when we achieve our dreams and are recognised for our achievements.
“These are the moments that deserve to be celebrated with something extraordinary. I hope you will be able to join me.”
Kilchoman STR Alberta Cask 9 Year
$145.99
Limit 1 per customer!
First filled into an ex-Bourbon cask in 2011, the whisky was bottled on its 9th birthday, after finishing 9 months in an STR cask. Bottled at 53% this is a balanced, mature and enticing cask of Kilchoman. Bottled exclusively for Gold Medal Marketing, Kilchoman's importer in Alberta.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: enticing; Russian coffee dregs, ashy peat smoke and bright citrus tones; honey dew melons, tinned pineapple and vanilla icing sugars with a hint of cayenne spice; burnt caramel and dark milk chocolate with nuts and dried fruits.
Palate: sweet, malty and shay with loads of honey, vanilla, spices and fruit; on the sweet side more icing sugar, Demerara sugar and licorice chews; the peat is oily and ashy, but neither rough or medicinal; melons, bitter orange and dried apricots fight their way through the building smoke and spice.
Finish: long, coating and spicy with fading sugars, fruits and oily-ashy-peat smoke.
Comment: this is a balanced, mature and enticing Kilchoman cask from start to finish; I’m always a little skeptical of finishes, but this works nicely; the ex-Bourbon cask laid down layers of creamy vanilla while the STR finishing kicked up the spice and add a darker element to the decadence.”
Cut Point Tullibardine 2006 Bourbon Cask
$119.99
Andy Dunn had a pair of Tullibardine casks filled more than a decade ago, and this is one of them! A single ex-Bourbon barrel, filled in 2006, the whisky has been bottled after 13 years at 56.7%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: thick, honeyed and creamy; juicy orange, English marmalade, grapefruit pith; very, very honeyed: Baklava and creamed heather honey; silky with soft toasted oak and delicate spices.
Palate: still sweet, creamy and toasty with building spices; chewy malt, more juicy orange, grapefruit and marmalade; toasted almonds, fresh ginger and cardamom; marshmallows, graham wafers and loads more honey.
Finish: long, drying, coating and toasty; fading honey, citrus and spices.
Comment: this is a lush fresh Bourbon cask matured single malt; sweet, fruity and silky without any rough edges; a lovely cask!
Cut Point Tullibardine 2008 Sherry Cask
$125.99
Andy Dunn had a pair of Tullibardine casks filled in the 2000s, and this 2008 single cask, a sherry Hogshead, has been bottled after 11 years at a punchy (but note sharp) cask strength of 60.3%. And it is a lovely sherry cask!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: stewed, dumpy and syrupy; soft leather, dark chocolate and tobacco; maple syrup, licorice and bread n butter pudding.
Palate: rich, spicy and very sherried; Demerara sugars, cold English tea, fennel seeds and licorice; dried dark fruits: raisins, dates, figs and prunes; more soft leather, dark chocolate (with nuts) and damp tobacco.
Finish: warm, spicy and rich; more dark fruits, chocolate, spices and tobacco; long and lovely.
Comment: at north of 60% this is flawless sherry; young but layered and complex; not quite a sherry bomb, but closer to than not!