Collective Arts Jam Up The Mash Single
$4.22
Collective Arts dry-hopped sour is now part of their regular lineup. Vic Secret, Mosaic and Citra hops layer tropical fruit, white grapes and citrus overtop a lactic strong sour, light in the body with a crisp crisp finish.
Spirit Hills Dande Honey Mead
$34.99
Dandelion mead from Alberta! (It's made near Millarville!) "Many of us had a family member who made Dandelion wine. It was the settler's wine in a grape-less province and speaks to the resourcefulness of those who built this country. But make no mistake, it was not an inferior product, our ancestors valued quality and good taste. Dandelion wine is exquisite and unique in taste. It is a medium-dry wine, best served chilled. It smells of pastures full of wildflowers, the fresh morning dew, and the delicate texture of its golden flower petals. It arrives on your tongue, fresh like the awakening foothills, warms you up like the sunshine and leaves you with an earthy sensation of embrace. It is mysterious, grounding and lingers in the mouth with a taste for more. It is the ultimate white wine adventure. So seducing and mysterious that even beer drinkers become fans," according to the Spirit Hills team.
Kura Pure Malt Whisky
$93.59
Kura Pure Malt is made by Helios Distillery in Okinawa, Japan. It is finished in Japanese Rum Barrels and bottled at 40% ABV.
From the Producer: "Made in the southernmost region of Japan, the exceptional "Kura The Whisky" is the result of careful aging in American White Oak. Finished in Japanese rum casks, its remarkable sweet aroma is accompanied by its distinctive mellow taste."
Pittnauer Pinot Noir
$37.99
One of the stars of Austria's winemaking scene, Gerhard Pittnauer makes modern, powerful reds that showcase the quality of Austria’s indigenous grape varieties. He's located in Burgenland, famous for the amount of sun it gets every year. Their wines are certified biodynamic and organic.
It displays a velvety texture, with abundant cherry/strawberry fruit. It's a vibrant Pinot Noir with great acidity and a surprising amount of depth. It’s one of the lighter styles of red wine that goes perfectly well with fish.
Moon Curser Syrah
$35.69
"A staple of the South Okanagan vineyard scene, this peppery, fruit driven, elegant wine is well worth trying," says the winemaker, and we agree! This fine red is dry and medium-bodied, with pleasant notes of black cherry, black pepper and a subtle floral hint. Pair with anything meaty: slow-roasted lamb, steak or roast beef.
Protea Chenin Blanc
$17.84
A crisp, classy Chenin Blanc from a well-respected producer — and what a brilliant price. Don't miss the mouthwatering notes of pear, melon and flowers; serve chilled and share with good friends.
Millstone Oloroso Sherry Single Malt 46%
$76.49
This Millstone NAS single malt was featured on Day 7 of the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar. It is bottled at 46%.
Andrew’s Tasting Note
Nose: thick with chocolate, Kahlua and caramel flavoured Baileys; big notes of liquorice Jujubes, polished new leather and brand new rubber boots.
Palate: big, nutty, leathery and earthy; syrupy, juicy dates and more Kahlua; caramel sauce and more cream liqueur tones; the leather and spices build but also some waxy Strawberry Twizzlers; young but layered and rich.
Finish: milk chocolate coats the palate along with caramel Baileys and liquorice Jujubes.
Comment: this is a malt for those looking to get their sherry on… it is big, proud and unapologetic; very Dutch!
Millstone PX Peated Single Malt 46%
$76.49
Produced by the Zuidam family distillery in Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands, this peated Millstone single malt whisky was aged entirely in PX Solera Sherry Casks. Bottled in small batches at 46% ABV.
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Rich Sherry notes along with wood and spice notes. Cloves, juniper, star anise, gingerbread, trail mix with raisins and walnuts, maple syrup, and an underlying potpourri and wood smoke.
Palate: The peat comes out more on the palate, with sweet notes from the PX Sherry and a lot of nuttiness. Toasted almonds, walnuts, dates, maple syrup again, earthy tobacco, fruit leather, amaretto, Frangelico, black licorice and Montreal steak spice.
Finish: The earthy smoke from the peat and nutty notes from the sherry linger together nicely.
Comment: This is big sherry with a decent amount of smoke, but very approachable. The spice notes and the smoke keep the PX Sherry influence from going overly sweet and decadent, which is surprising. This could have been over the top, but it finds a nice balance.
Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo
$41.99
One of the best-kept secrets out of Piedmont is the winery G.D. Vajra. Located at 1300ft in elevation and being the highest winery in Barolo they are fortunate enough to have some of the latest ripening grapes in Barolo and also providing smaller berries with thicker skins. A lot of the vineyards were planted in 1947, but the winery itself was not started until 1972 and the first vintage was released in 1978.
"Aldo and Milena Vajra are among the quietest and most introspective of Piedmont’s top echelon growers. It is the wines that do the talking here, and they do that ever so eloquently," according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. And from the winemaker: "Ruby red, delicate and at times, transparent. Intense expressive aromas of violets and dried roses are layered over small red berry notes. Silky tannins envelop the palate with personality and vivacious energy."