Whisky oriented bar in Alberta

Good question, @Peatpete! Unfortunately, I never found a good whisky bar in Calgary or in Lethbridge, but there are some Albertan members of Connosr that should be able to help you. However, one good thing about Alberta is that the better liquor stores will often have bottles open to sample from. Try the Kensington Wine Market for a start.

Thanks for that, I shall continue to live in hope! Kensington Wine Market I have discovered... I went in to buy a bottle of Ardbeg Corryvrekan, and walked out with a Kilchoman and a Longrow CV instead, thanks to their open bottles! @dbk

Was that the KWM single barrel Kilchoman, @Peatpete? That's a good 'un. And if you like the Longrow CV, you should try the KWM 1996 Springbank single barrel. It's beeeeeeautiful!

PS @Youngupstart works at KWM, so you can meet a fellow Connosr member in person.

@dbk Yes, thats the one. Not sure where that sits with the way they normaly classify there summer/winter releases, but it is a very good way of getting my peat dose. The KWM Springbank is similar to the Longrow CV? I am never gonna re-establish my Ardbeg collection if people keep on giving me other things to try! Youngupstart has already let me know that he works there (lucky sod) and I am looking forward to getting to meet him next time I go south.

Longrow is heavily peated, twice-distilled Springbank, and they share many characteristics. If I recall correctly, the Longrow CV will express more peatiness (duh!) and show more sherry cask influence than the KWM Springbank, but the KWM Springbank is at cask strength and has a spectacularly rich profile to it. Next time you're in town, do ask for a taste.

Hey, all. I'm also an Alberta boy (by relocation, not birth). There are a few bars are around the city taking more notice of a potential market, but Buchanans CHop House and Whisky Bar (www.buchanans.ca) is the place to go for the best run at it. Quite an extensive malt selection, and youcan see the malt menu on their site.

Regarding KWM...Andrew and the staff there are great. Not sure there is anyone local who is more knowledgable about whiskies than Andrew. KWM released two '96 Springbanks...an Oloroso and a Manzanilla. Sadly, I found the Olorososa little lacking and missed out on the Manzanilla. This was supposed to be the winner from what I understand. That being said...do you ever really go wrong with Springbank? (Hint hint...if in town and sporting deep pockets...KWM has a SEXY Signatory Springbank 1969).

@antihero Thanks for that. having a browse of the site now. As for the '69 springbank... It will take a lottery win for my pockets to be deep enough for a $1200 dollar a bottle scotch! I will have to find out which of the KWM staff it is that uses this site as Youngupstart.

@antihero Well, I know where I am taking my wife for dinner next time we go thru Calgary... Exactly what I was looking for, thanks mate.

@dbk That does sound like a good one, thanks. Way to many that I need to have a taste of! One of the disadvantages of being isolated, is that I just keep building up lists of what I want to buy, or taste.

@antihero @dbk @Peatpete Thanks everyone, I am looking forward to meeting you all! To answer your question Peatpete, my name is Hunter, the newest addition to the team. Currently I am handling the whisk(e)y section for Andrew while he is away in Las Vegas, which makes quite the happy camper. Antihero, good call on Buchanans, I recently met James, the owners son who dropped by to pick up a few whiskies, a very good place for some exemplary and unique whisk(e)y. Quite a long shot from your standard watering hole. dbk, the springbank manzanilla was an exclusive I had just missed, all I have heard about it though were stunning reviews from customers that have had the opportunity to try it (Lucky you if you had a chance to try it). Also on a side note, we just received our two new single cask Arrans, one bourbon and one sherry which are both superb choices (I am personally partial to the sherry cask). If anyone here would like, I could keep a posted section for new arrivals as Andrew doesn't have time to get out a newsletter too often. Cheers!