SMOS Caol Ila 8 Year KWM Cask
$84.99
This bottle was featured on Day 14 of our 2020 KWM Whisky Calendar. Mini bottles can be found here.
Selected by and bottled exclusively for KWM, this 2011 Sherry Butt (Cask 300161) of Caol Ila was bottled after 8 years at a cask strength of 61.2%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: smoked haddock chowder, rustic bread and farmhouse butter; I'm in the Old Kiln (I know, I know, this isn't Ardbeg but I'm transported); coal dust, chewy malt; crisp smoke, firm leather and a dash of lemon and lime.
Palate: here we go, warm, earthy and smoky with a base of honey, vanilla and crisp spices: more lemon and lime; the sherry elements grow in prominence over time adding Demerara, some dark fruits and loads of spice: clove, fennel seed and Dutch licorice; more smoked haddock and chewy malt (my hearty bread), dark earthy peat and sea weed; thick, oily and warm but without a sharp or rough edge.
Finish: long, thick and coating, the soft peaty oils and spices cling to your palate while crisp smoke, smoked haddock and chewy malt slowly fade away.
Comment: big and bold but balanced for a young malt tipping the scales at well over 60%; lots of layers given its youth, the sherry notes build over time balancing the brash young peat and smoke; the nose transported me to Islay, to one of my favourite places to sit, dine and dram, the Old Kiln Cafe; the palate is layered and satisfying, but also leaves me wanting more; more whisky adventures, more smoked haddock chowder, and a return to my spiritual home!
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Seafood on the barbecue, root beer, chocolate mousse, basil leaves, Vicks Vapour Rub, fruit leather, burning firewood, salty black licorice, murky rock pools and an ocean breeze.
Palate: Smokey and salty with more burnt wood notes, steak sauce, baked dates wrapped in prosciutto, beef jerky, ginger beer, Fisherman's Friend lozenges, molasses ginger snaps, and coarsely ground black pepper.
Finish: Salty, smokey and coastal with a slight dryness and cooling note.
Comment: Bold young Caol Ila rides the waves and crashes right into a big ex-Sherry Butt. Who wins? We do!
SMOS Imperial 29 Year KWM Cask 4561
$399.99
SOLD OUT
Sadly there are just 122 bottles coming from this cask, an absolutely spectacular ex-Bourbon Barrel filled in 1990 and bottled on our owner Andrew's birthday, January 26, 2020, about 4 months shy of it turning 30! Bottled at 45.2%, we are limiting the whisk to 1 per customer, at least for the first couple of weeks, in order to give everyone a chance to buy one. Our last single cask of Imperial sold out in just 10 days!
SMOS Glenburgie 21 Year KWM Cask 900890
$157.49
Selected and bottled exclusively for KWM, this 1999 Glenburgie is a bargain, for it's age and the quality of the juice. Matured in a Hogshead cask (900890) for 21 years, the whisky was bottled at a cask strength of 49.9%. 250 total bottles.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: decadent, honeyed and floral; big citrus tones, mango and cantaloupe; nutty, almond paste filled croissants and polished oak; vanilla extract and rosehips.
Palate: soft, creamy and coating with a burst of bright fruits and floral tones; waxy with more polished oak; still nutty, it is thick with lush creamy vanilla, honey, marzipan and warm almond paste filled croissants; juicy orange, ripe mango and cantaloupe; even a bit of Crema di Melone.
Finish: very long, thick, waxy and coating; it stays fruity, floral and toasty right to the end.
Comment: it's been almost a year since we selected this cask, and while my memory of its selection is hazy, sampling the finished product is proof positive that we have something very special here; at 21 years of age this malt is lush, floral and very fruity; it is a banger at $175, and very more-ish!
SMOS Clynelish 24 Year KWM Cask 10204
$339.99
We are really excited about this one, our first ever KWM exclusive Clynelish Cask. Distilled in 1995 and matured in a Hogshead (cask 10204), the whisky has been bottled after 24 years at 52.2%. Only 185 bottles have been filled, so it seems the agels were greedy. And it is easy to see why, when we tried a sample, we knew we had to have it, and so the hagling over pricing began. 20+ year old Clynelish has become increasingly hard to come by. You won't want to miss this one.
Carn Mor Strictly Glen Elgin 2008
$109.99
This 11 year old Glen Elgin was matured in a trio of PX Sherry Hogsheads before bottling at 47.5%.
Producer Tasting Note
“Great texture with warm crème caramel and stewed fruits drying towards the end.”
Carn Mor Strictly Linkwood 2011
$88.99
This 8 year old Linkwood was matured in First Fill ex-Bourbon before bottling at 47.5%.
Producer Tasting Note
“Delicate and fresh with loads of vanilla, zesty citrus notes and a hint of ginger spice.”
Celebration of the Cask BenRiach 1992
$202.99
Bottled at 41.6% under Morrison MacKay's Celebration of the Cask line, this 26 year old BenRiach was matured in a Hogshead cask.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Honeyed herbs, orange peel and barley sugar, with dusty oak.
Palate: Oily malt and buttery pastry, with waxy orange, cooked pear and a dusting of cinnamon.
Finish: Orchard fruit and warm porridge with a drizzle of honey.
Carn Mor Strictly Glen Moray 2012
$79.99
From Morrison MacKay's "Carn Mor Strictly Limited" line, this 6 year old Glen Moray was matured in ex-Bourbon before bottling at 47.5%.
Producer Tasting Note
“Christmas fruit cake, brown sugar and soft spices with hints of liquorice on the finish. Beautifully balanced.”
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 1.215
$155.99
SOLD OUT
FORMIDABLE CHOCOLATE - E-mail for availability. Calgary Area orders only!
This 15 year old Speysider comes in at 58.7% and after 13 years in a bourbon barrel, we transferred this whisky to an Oloroso hogshead.
Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits.
Outturn: 278 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "A deep and dark nose ventured through dimly lit wine cellars towards wooden crates packed with walnuts, bananas and dried orange skin. Pineapple sizzled on the hot plate of a steam engine as a thin layer of soot coated tea leaves and tobacco. Then truffles and dark chocolate brought an oily weight that grew with ginger and sage towards a punchy crescendo.
Water illuminated wine notes of oily Rieslings and Tokaji dessert wine whilst sweet elements ventured into toffee and candyfloss. A lively and tingly sensation lasted onto a huge finish that combined chocolate and mushrooms with leather, oak and crushed black pepper. After 13 years in a bourbon barrel, we transferred this whisky to an Oloroso hogshead."