Malt Messenger Bulletin – The Ardbeg Tractour & KWM’s Summer Tasting Schedule
Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,
Summer is here, the days are long, and as the song says, the living is easy. Take advantage of those longer days to check out some of our new summer tastings, just posted online today! The theme is “Quickies and Afternoon Delights”, and these fun 1 hour tastings (starting at 6PM) will get you in and out in enough time for dinner or drinks on the patio. Pop in on your way home from work or before heading out on the town. We have a wide range of wine, whisky, beer and cocktail classes with which to delight you. More details below and on our tasting registration page.
One of the most exciting events coming up in the next few months is the visit of the Ardbeg Tractour to Calgary. The Gateway to the Rockies is the only stop in Canada for this marvel of farming machinery, and it will be parked out in front of Kensington Wine Market on Friday July 11 while two back to back Ardbeg Master Classes hosted by Ruaraidh McIntyre take place in side. The tastings are a bargain at just $20, and will take place from 5-7 and 7-8PM. More details below and on our tasting registration page.
One of the most exciting new whiskies to come into KWM recently is the Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1994. Very few bottlings are seen from this elusive Speyside distillery, and this one caught our attention when it scored 96.5pts in the Whisky Bible. It is a KWM exclusive and sells for the very reasonable $115. More details on the Glentauchers can be found below, drop in for a sample!
Finally, Glenfarclas’ long awaited 60 Year Old whisky is to be launched in Canada this fall, and is available for special order. It is expected to retail at $22,000.00. Details on the whisky can be found below. Anyone looking for a bottle before Christmas needs to special order it by Thursday July 3rd, 2014. Pricing in Alberta is very competitive with the Global list.
I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and I hope we’ll see you in store at one of our exciting new tastings.
Slainte!
Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market
PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
Our Summer Tasting Schedule is Open for Registraion!
Tantalize Your Taste Buds!
Drop in to the store, call 403-283-8000, or better yet register online for our summer tastings!
The Ardbeg Tractour is Coming!
And Calgary is its only stop in Canada!
Just in time for the Calgary Stampede, the Ardbeg Tractor is coming to Calgary, and specifically to the Kensington Wine Market, North America’s first Ardbeg Embassy. The Ardbeg Tractor will be parked out in front of Kensington Wine Market on Friday July 11 to give our customers a chance to see it and sample some whisky. We have two back to back Ardbeg Master Classes (5-6 and 7-8PM), to be hosted by Ruaraidh McIntyre. These tastings will feature 5 Ardbeg expressions including Galileo and the new Auriverdes for the bargain price of just $20. Call the store to register, or Register Online.
On Saturday July 12 the Ardbeg Tractor is rolling into the National on 10th Ave (341 10th Avenue SW) for an event from 3 to 7PM. The complimentary event (RSVP to katy@bondpr.ca) will give guest the opportunity to sample Ardbeg-inspired appetizers and complimentary Ardbeg cocktails created by National’s mixologists Stephen Phipps and Alex Newman.
Whisky of the Summer? Drop in and sample Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1994 and decide for yourself!
Exclusive to KWM, 96.5pts Whisky Bible!
Glentauchers distillery was built in 1898 at the height of what became known as a the Pattison Whisky Crash, the devasting bursting of a late 19th century industry bubble. Unlike many of the distilleries founded around that time it survived and has been in production for the most part ever since. From the bottler: ” The Glentauchers Distillery Company started as a joint venture between James Buchanan, the creator of the “Black & White” and “Buchanan” blends and WP Lowrie. The distillery was designed by local architect John Alcock.”
The distillery is currently owned by Pernod Ricard, and there are virtually no official bottlings. The closest thing available are those released by Gordon & MacPhail, such as this 1994 vintage which scored 96.5pts in the last edition of the Whisky Bible. On a recent visit to Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin, Scotland, I had a chance to sample it. My tasting note from that visit is below. The whisky is available exclusively from KWM in Alberta, and is a lovely summer dram!
G&M Glentauchers 1994 – 43% – Refill Sherry Butts & Recharred American Oak Hogsheads – My Tasting Note: “Nose: melons, pinapple and kiwi fruit; lots of honey, beeswax and citrus, subtle honey and soft floral tones; Palate: creamy, honeyed and still floral with smooth decadent oak and gentle spices; more melon and pineapple with a building creamy oakyness; Finish: long, clean and sweet, still fruity, soft and decadent.” - $114.99
Glenfarclas 60 Year 1954
Pre-Order by Thursday July 3rd
If the price of the whisky has caught you off guard, you can console yourself in the knowledge it could have been much higher. Demand for this highly collectible whisky was such that one Asian market apparently tried to buy it all and was prepared to pay to do so. Glenfarclas is a global brand, and they weren’t prepared to see it all go to one jurisdiction. Of the 360 bottles produced, 13 are slated to come to Canada. KWM is offering the whisky at pre-order price of $22,000.00, which is quite competitive considering the distillery is projecting a Global list price of more than $26,000.00 (£14,500.00).
Please find below the distillery’s press release. If you would like to order a bottle please contact us ASAP! From the Distillery:
“Ballindalloch, 6th of May 2014
J & G Grant launch 60 Year Old Glenfarclas
J & G Grant are delighted to announce the launch of a new 60 Year Old Glenfarclas. Only 360 bottles of this incredibly desira ble, rare single malt whisky will be produced offering a unique opportunity to acquire one of the oldest bottles ever released by this iconic family owned distillery.
Officially launched on the 3rd of April 2014 at the Nth Whisky Show in Las Vegas by George Grant, Glenfarclas’ Sales Director and 6th generation of the family, it will be rolled out across other key markets over the coming months.
George Grant says, ‘At a time when more and more distilleries are going down the no age statement route for their super premium products, we are delighted to be able to release this magnificent 60 year old Glenfarclas. My grandfather started laying down stocks for the future way back in the 50s, so it is thanks to his incredible foresight that we are able to bottle this today. I’m sure he would have been as impressed by it as I am.
Matured in a first fill sherry butt, it has an incredibly dark, rich mahogany colour. It is surprisingly vibrant with lots of dried fruits, demerara sugar and spice coming through on the nose as well as the rich, oaky tannins that one would expect from a whisky of this venerable age. The sherry influence really comes through on the palate, with rich treacle, bitter coffee and espresso notes all making an appearance. The finish is the longest I have ever experienced – 20 minutes later you will still be able to taste the subtle nuances of this incredible dram.’
The long family history and heritage is reflected in the packaging; a bespoke cut crystal decanter mirrors the shape of the classic Glenfarclas bottle while each side of the hexagonal presentation box represents one of the 6 generations of the Grant family to own and manage the distillery since 1865.
This is a truly exceptional bottle that will be sure to delight whisky aficionados around the globe. It is expected to retail for around £14,500.00.”
To pre-order a bottle send reply to this email or order it through our website!
Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger!
Contact & Disclaimers
If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.
All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change, don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.
Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.
Slainte!
Andrew Ferguson
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com
Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com