TOP PICKS, New Arrivals & Back in Stock

• 1999 Benrinnes 12 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($75.99)
One of our favorite experiences when visiting Scotland is the chance to taste whisky from distilleries that don’t bottle their whisky as a single malt. Diageo owns the whisky from more than forty distilleries, many of which are used only for the company’s blended Scotch labels like Johnnie Walker. Benrinnes is one such distillery. Named after the famous Speyside mountain, it is known for its lively character and fruity essence, providing the backbone of expression to many successful blends. Our cask is very much reminiscent of this reputation, beginning with plenty of fresh fruit with barrel spice and a playful palate that reminded us of our Bladnoch selection from last year. With a few drops of water the oils come out, bringing more texture, soft flavors of oak, and plenty of vanilla to balance out all the fruit. The result is a wonderful bottle of Scotch, offering depth, variety, and drinkability. Benrinnes isn’t as widely-known as many of the other distill eries whose whisky we’ll be importing and it is precisely for that reason we’re excited to bring it to our customers. In the great hunt for value in single malt whisky, we must continue to search outside the box. In this case, we’ve found a real winner from a distillery we’d like to see more of. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• 1980 Glenlochy 31 Year Old K&L Signatory Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($449.99)
I’ve maybe glossed over a mention of Glenlochy in the Malt Yearbook or one of Michael Jackson’s books, but it has never had a form or context for me. It has not been on our radar because it is absolutely one of the rarest single malts on the market today. Purchased by DCL (the company that would become Diageo) in 1953, Glenlochy is one of these distilleries that met its demise during the whisky slump of the early ’80s. It had only one wash still and one spirits still. That is to say, they made very little whisky. This is the only bottle of Glenlochy currently available in the US market. It also happens to be the sister cask to the incredibly acclaimed 31 year old Glenlochy that was recently rated 92 points by Serge Valentine of Whiskyfun.com. I cannot express how outrageously complex this whisky is. The range of flavors is unfathomable. This thing is absolutely packed up. It’s like unraveling a giant ball of yarn. We start on the almond, nougat, exotic wood , all savory and powerful. Subtlety shifting into the herbal and fruit aromas, this nose is like a chameleon, at once beautifully exotic and powerfully brooding. On the palate, fabulously rich in texture, the whisky is like a ball of plasma oscillating through multiple states of being. It leaves you smiling and exhausted. Seriously, this is one of a kind. (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• 2002 Longmorn 10 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($55.99)
The Signatory warehouse in Pitlochry is bursting with hidden treasures, many of them at a tremendous price point. While the big names draw even bigger prices, we found ourselves more inspired by some of the lesser-known distilleries – the ones with reputations for great booze without the designer label. Pernod-Ricard’s Longmorn distillery, ensconced deep within the Speyside region, produces one of the most respected single malts in the business, known for its balance and elegant richness. Stateside, we only get the lovely 16 year old, but at a price most people aren’t willing to pay. That makes independent bottles of Longmorn quite the coveted item amongst American collectors who want serious whisky at a bargain price. Our ten year old barrel, from a Bourbon hogshead fitted with new toasted ends, is wonderfully fruity and expressive. The palate is light, fresh, and full of supple vanilla across the backend. The finish is malty with sweet grains dancing long after the whisky has vanished. We strongly felt that whisky tasted better at 46%, which is why we decided not to bottle at full proof. That brought the price down even lower, making this whisky one of the best values from our entire trip – period! (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #6 Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($249.99)

• 1979 Dallas Dhu 33 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($349.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Breuckelen Distillers 77 Whiskey “Local Rye & Corn” Whiskey 750ml – 11 available ($44.99)
• Breuckelen Distillers 77 Whiskey “Wheat” Whiskey 750ml – 11 available ($39.99)
• Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection 19 Year Old “Giant French Oak Barrels” Bourbon Whiskey 375ml – 3 available ($199.99)
• Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection 23 Year Old “Giant French Oak Barrels” Bourbon Whiskey 375ml – 3 available ($199.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA