Kensington Wine Market

Well, it would seem I can't embed a URL in the text, nor can I edit my posts.

Here's the URL for the Kensington Wine Market: www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

And here's the same for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada :www.smws.ca

BTW, this post is meant specifically for folks in western Canada (where Calgary is). I suspect that forum members from, say, Australia, might not find the information very useful...

I was impressed, though, that even on a Sunday afternoon, I could just stroll into the shop and end up tasting several different whiskies, and discuss my wants with a somewhat knowledgable salesperson.

KWM is a fantastic place. Far more depth and breadth to their selection of single malts than is available at the LCBO, but the prices aren't necessarily better (I did a price comparison before heading out that way, but for what they have that might be more expensive than it is here, they have so much more in the way of variety that we don't...).

Last time I was in Calgary I picked up a bottle of English Whisky Co. Chapter 6, which isn't available in Ontario. I might be out there again in January, so I'll have to make another visit and find something else that I can't get here.

So, massive thumbs up for KWM - if you're from Ontario or Quebec, and find yourself in Calgary, I hearily second @Spitfire's recommendation to check the place out!

Yeah, definitely a much better selection than what I'd find in a local BC LDB store, especially the ones out in my rural area. But I also found the KWM pricing to be better--at least, on my one point of direct comparison, the Aberlour A'Bunadh was nearly 10% less (we have high liquor prices here in BC).

And it's unlikely I'd ever find a knowledgeable salesperson at a BCLDB store--plus, there's no way I'd ever get a chance to actually taste before I buy (are you kidding?) and on a Sunday, no less! Yeah, I'll make it a point to visit the KWM any time I'm in Calgary from now on, and I'd recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in the area.

BTW, I forgot to mention the other two whiskies I bought that day, strictly on recommendation. One was the Four Roses single cask bourbon, and the other was Lot 40 Canadian Rye 2012 reserve. The Four Roses is definitely not a scotch...but as an introduction to bourbon, it's definitely piqued my interest. I find it a much more "in-your-face" flavour profile, much less subtle, but still very drinkable. Haven't opened the Lot 40 yet.

I have had a couple of interactions with them. I was able to locate a couple of Amrut intermediate Sherry there and they let me pay over the phone, and held them for my brother in law. They have great selection, and I have 2 bottles waiting for me (that my brother in law picked up) when I go this winter, Bowmore Laimrig and Glendronach CS batch 2.

They put out an e-newsletter, and they get in enough of their featured items so that you don't arrive the next morning and find they're sold out.

Online they were extremely supportive when I was looking for a special batch of A'Bunadh.

I can't say if their prices are competitive, but aside from the 2-3 dollars more for the 4 roses single barrel, they beat the heck out of the LCBO...

Andrew Ferguson, manager/whisky guy at KWM, is a mate of mine. He is the one responsible for KWM's placement in the whisky world. I can't stress this enough: KWM is so much more than just whisky sales. It is the hub of tons of local (and many abroad) events. Andrew is the president of the Calgary Companions of the Quaich, founder and operator of Ferguson Whisky Tours, member of pretty much anything whisky related and almost unrivaled in whisky knowledge. He's also a damn decent guy.

Having said all of that...you can only imagine what KWM is capable of, and what it is like to have a shop like this in our back yard. I absolutely recommend a visit when y'all come check out my home town.

@antihero

I have every intention of making a visit this time round. We're in town for about 8 days so I should be able to make the trek with my brother in law. He's been there before, and the two bottles he has waiting for me used to live there...

"I can't stress this enough: KWM is so much more than just whisky sales. It is the hub of tons of local (and many abroad) events."

--Yeah, so it would seem. I signed up for their "Malt Messenger" newsletter, and it is full of events. If I lived closer, I might even try to attend one or two.

The biggest thing for me, though, was the service--as stated above.