New Arrivals, Pre Arrivals & Back in Stock 

• Mackinlay’s “The Journey” Rare Old Highland Blended Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($172.99)
(NOTE: bottle ships with all packaging, but cannot be consolidated with orders) Whyte & Mackay’s first attempt to recreate the frozen Antarctic whisky of explorer Ernest Shackleton was so successful, they’re back with a second batch to feed the frenzy. Unlike most attempts to capitalize on successful momentum, however, the Scottish producer has upped both the packaging and the quality this time around. Each bottle is wrapped in heavy straw and tagged with a label faithfully replicated from the excavated relics. Whyte & Mackay are also revealing the contents of the whiskey this time, to the extreme delight of whisky geeks everywhere: 1980 Glen Mhor (one of the rarest whiskies in the world), Glenfarclas, Mannachmore, Tamnavulin, Ben Nevis, Aultmore, Fettercairn, Pulteney, heavily-peated Dalmore, and Jura aged in Limousin oak casks. The result is wonderfully balanced blended single malt whisky without any grain component.. The smoky, peaty component play s center stage this time around, much more dominant than last year’s version, but balanced by rich vanilla and a soft fruited palate. The Journey is like a far-tastier version of Johnnie Walker Blue, but made only with single malt whisky and designed specifically for Islay fans. If you’re looking for a gift for the whisky lover who has everything, this is as fun, cheeky, delicious, and serious as it gets. I couldn’t have been more surprised by utter drinkability of this whisky. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

 • 2000 Aberlour 12 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Exclusive Malts” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($59.99)
After the success of last year’s 21 year Aberlour, we weren’t planning to buy a repeat from this lovely little distillery. That all changed in David Stirk’s little warehouse south of Glasgow. This lovely hogshead was just singing to us. Its rich and warming style will delight any lover of Speyside whisky. On the nose we get powerful toasted grains, biscuits, honey (some exotic type, tilleul?) and pears. The palate is super soft and rich, which more of the oak spice evident than on the nose, but the similar blend of sweet floral and grainy flavors. On the end those spices come back with a heavy dose of that biscuit (I’m thinking Walkers). Maybe this is not the most exciting whisky on paper, but it will certainly be several peoples’ favorite this year. (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• 2006 Island Distillery 7 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Exclusive Malts” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($54.99)
This little mystery malt was a favorite of ours from the moment the bung popped out of the cask. Both David and I are huge fans of young, smoky whisky, and this is one of the best under-10 year olds that we’ve found. It’s vibrant, salty, supple, with all the intense that you’d want out of the best young peaters, but beautifully restrained as well. Now this whisky was distilled on one of Scotland’s numerous Isles, that’s about all I can tell you regarding the specifics of the distillery. I can tell you that it is not from the Island of Islay, I can tell you that this blows the young Caol Ila that we loved out of the water and I can tell you that our price for this whisky is well below what we’d expected to pay, not to mention well below the cost of that Caol Ila. One thing that struck us about this cask was how different it was from others that we’d seen from this distillery. This whisky is powerful, but with a great deal of nuance at this age. A subtle fresh rubber quality transitions to subtle fruit (maybe light red berries). Altogether a wonderfully idiosyncratic whisky and the first of what we hope to be several young peaty mystery malts to come. (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Tomatin 30 Year Highland Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($229.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old Bourbon 750ml – 2 available ($52.99)

• Tuthilltown Hudson Baby Bourbon (375ml) – 12 available ($42.99)

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