1984 Benriach 27 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single PX Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($199.99)
BenRiach is located in Scotland’s Speyside region and was owned by Seagrams until 2002, when it was mothballed and later sold to what is now called the BenRiach Group. In the early ’80s, it was a laboratory for Seagrams, which experimented with peated expressions and various cask-aging methods. This is one of those rarities. This is a Pedro Ximenez sherry barrel-aged, peated whisky of 27 year old maturity with the same integration of richness and smoke that one finds in old Islay malts or the legendary peated Brora. In fact, we were so floored by the quality we thought it was better than some of the older Lagavulins and Broras we had tasted. “No one is going to believe us if we talk that way,” we said, but the truth couldn’t be denied. This whisky is phenolic, oily, briny, supple, chewy, rich, raisined and smoky. It hangs with the great aged island malts, but is priced far below them. Destined to become a classic. (David Driscoll, K&L Wine Merch ants)

1993 GlenDronach 19 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($139.99)
Located in an isolated portion of the Aberdeenshire, amid rolling green hills and sinister shadows, GlenDronach is churning out sherry-aged single malt that simply destroys many of its competitors. This 19-year-old selection smells of Armagnac and rich caramel, with roasted fruits and big sherry aromas. The palate is soft, integrated and very smooth, even at full proof. The richness is powerful, but unlike some of their older selections, it is completely in check and balanced by the spice and alcohol in the malt. This is a bigger, more expressive version of Macallan 18. It’s going to be a huge hit!◦1998 Benrinnes 14 Year Old A.D. Rattray Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($89.99)
Here is a great example of funky Benrinnes from a sherry cask. Wonderful, rich and fulfilling, this rare distillery is always interesting to taste.

1993 Glen Keith 19 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($139.99)
Currently out of production, the Glen Keith distillery has been lying dormant since the mid-90s, but the whisky continues to live on in the independent world of single malt barrels. This is a spectacular example of what the distillery can offer – soft fruits, heather and flowers, sweet grains, and a pleasantly rich finish. The low 50s proof makes this quite drinkable right out of the bottle.

1993 GlenDronach 19 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($139.99)
Located in an isolated portion of the Aberdeenshire, amid rolling green hills and sinister shadows, GlenDronach is churning out sherry-aged single malt that simply destroys many of its competitors. This 19-year-old selection smells of Armagnac and rich caramel, with roasted fruits and big sherry aromas. The palate is soft, integrated and very smooth, even at full proof. The richness is powerful, but unlike some of their older selections, it is completely in check and balanced by the spice and alcohol in the malt. This is a bigger, more expressive version of Macallan 18. It’s going to be a huge hit!

1996 Longmorn 16 Year Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($115.99)
Delicious, classic, unsherried Speyside whisky from perhaps the best distillery in the region. This Longmorn is full of sweet malted barley with accents of fruit and flowers, finishing with hints of vanilla and spice. Another reason to love Longmorn, as we continue to mourn and long for it here in the States.

1996 Macallan 15 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($139.99)
Unsherried, but full of round, supple, malty goodness. A nice break from the normally Oloroso-saturated style of the venerated Highland distillery.

Springbank 21 year old 2012 Release Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($449.99)

Johnnie Walker Blue Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml (Previously $180) ($149.99)
95 points Wine Enthusiast: “*Top 50 Spirits of 2011* A honey-colored whisky with a spicy, smoky fragrance. The first sip is surprisingly sweet and honeyed, then the smoke gently creeps in like fog at dawn, softly surrounding the edges of the tongue.” (09/2011) K&L Notes: Johnnie Walker Blue Label is crafted from the finest and rarest casks in the producer’s extensive stocks to exemplify the art of blended whiskies. A whisky of power, smoothness, and signature smokiness is the result. Influences from across Scotland are layered in the profile, with the smokiness of the west and the rich, sweet whiskies of the east. (NOTE: This bottle does not ship automatically with the gift packaging. Shipping the gift box as well requires a separate package on the side for an additional fee. Please indicate in the comment field if you would like the box, or call the store to request a separate shipping container.)

Aberlour 16 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($64.99)
9/10 points Whisky Magazine. Dave Broom writes: “Nose: Gentle, but complex. Sultana cake, baked fruits, wild flowers, melting milk chocolate truffle. Rich, mellow and gorgeous! Palate: Lively and exciting. Complex nose: sweet spices, apple juice. Good depth and mouthfeel. Finish: Macaroon bars and light fruits. Comment: Has the wow fact that separates the very good from the truly great.” 90-95 points and Highly Recommended by Wine Enthusiast: “The bouquet is austere and leathery with curious aromas of beeswax, vegetable oil and oaky resin. Palate entry is focused on the resin; midpalate is splendidly multilayered and offers elements of black pepper, dried orange blossom, honeysuckle, dried fruit, sage, fennel and confetions. Aftertaste is deep and unabashedly sweet and honeyed.” (12/09)

1991 Auchentoshan 21 Year Old A.D. Rattray Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 3 available ($73.99)
One of the better deals on single malt whisky I’ve seen in months (not including our fantastic casks, of course!). Every now and again I feel like my friend Stan Morrison at A.D. Rattray doesn’t know what he’s got in the bottle. I feel like I’m abusing our friendship by purchasing whisky this good for so little! This 21 year old Auchentoshan is absolutely delicious. Bottled from a refill sherry butt, the entry is very woody, but not really tannic or bitter, just rich with wood! It’s different than the standard vanilla note you get from some casks, it’s more like a combination of sweet wood with whisps of hay or straw. It sounds crazy, but it’s utterly spellbinding! The finish brings the vanilla and all the standard malt flavor you expect from a whisky this mature. For $74 it’s a no-brainer. Jump on it. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

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

A message from Scotch Whisky Auctions;

Apologies for the delay, but we have had a record number of entries.

Best wishes from Glasgow

The SWA team

The 22nd Auction

www.ralfy.com discovers a blended scotch which surpasses expectations with Whisky Review 335 – Buchanans 12yo

Gordon & MacPhail Whisky Tasting Friday 1st February 2013

Ok, so it’s a wee bit after Burns Night, but all the same, we’ll be offering our guests haggis, neeps and tatties to help keep out the cold , along with Six fabulous different malts on taste:

Macallan Speymalt 1990 22 Year Old
Bladnoch 1993 20 Year Old
Longmorn 12 Year Old
Benromach 30 Year Old
Highland Park 8 Year Old
Mortlach 21 Year Old

Hosted by Nickolls & Perks and Gordon & MacPhails’ representative on earth, Stan Reid!

In our cellars 7.30pm kick off.

Buy online or phone David on 01384 394518

Sláinte!

£25.00 inc VAT
£20.83 ex VAT
BUY

Springbank Distillery Open Day

 Start it an evening early with an exclusive experience:

 The Kiln Dinner

 Wednesday 22nd May 2013 at 7pm

 Begin the evening by watching whisky being hand drawn from one of our Warehouses which
you will taste later in the evening

 You will then be escorted to our Malt Barns where you will sample Springbank 21 year old and
champagne accompanied by a selection of local produce canapes

 Following your little taster, make the trek up to our Kiln drying floor (flat footwear
recommended) to enjoy a three course meal in a candlelit ambient light with wine to complement
each course

 Afterwards, descend the kiln stairs back to the Malt Barns to enjoy coffee, oatcakes and our
famous Mull of Kintyre cheese board. For your final dram of the evening you will sample our
smoky Longrow whisky, which was drawn earlier in the evening

 To finish, leave with your own exclusive hand drawn bottle to remind you of your unique
evening with us.

 During the course of the evening directors, management and staff of Springbank will be
present to answer any questions or just to chat!

 £350 per person

 Limited to 40 places – book now to avoid disappointment

 Closing date for bookings is Friday 29th March

 To book e-mail mairi@springbankwhisky.com or telephone 01586 55 1710 Ext 1.

 Payment required on booking to secure place

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength

In Brief… Age 12 YO, Casks 70% sherry, 30% bourbon, ABV 53.1%, Availability Worldwide

Colour – fiery red
Nose – Rich and sweet with hints of toffee and fudge. As the whisky breathes sherry, vanilla and chocolate notes are revealed. Toffee pudding in a glass.
Palate – Initially the sherry influence is apparent, followed by vanilla and oak flavours. A lovely smooth and creamy feeling on the palate.
Finish – Dry, smooth and complex with a hint of smoke that lingers in the finish.

For the most part of the 17th and the 18th centuries Campbeltown was a smuggling centre, an occupation that was supported by the area’s geography, topography…. and the local gentry. One famous story tells of an old woman living in the town who was up before the Sheriff for smuggling. She had been found guilty and before passing sentence the Sheriff told her:

Colour: Deep amber Nose: Smoke is easy to identify from the beginning and is soon joined with medicinal notes and subtle burning embers. On returning to nose, sweetness such as toffee apple is more pronounced. Palate: Both peat and smoke are detected yet it is simultaneously sweet, particularly toffee and fudge. This is followed with the taste of liquorice. Rich and oily from its maturation in small casks, it gives an impression of being older than its 11 years. Finish: Long, smooth and sweet. Slow and lingering hint of peat with peat reaching a crescendo with a strong peaty aftertaste.

New Zealand Prime Minister repatriates ‘Shackleton’s whisky’ to Antarctica

Yesterday, (Saturday 20 January 2013) New Zealand Prime Minister John Key returned 3 bottles of more than 100 year-old whisky to the Antarctic Heritage Trust in Antarctica. The 3 bottles are from whisky crates excavated from under explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s only Antarctic expedition base by Trust conservators in 2010.

The Prime Minister handed the whisky over to Antarctic Heritage Trust Trustee Rob Fenwick. The bottles will then be entrusted to Lizzie Meek, Antarctic Heritage Trust’s Programme Manager – Artefacts. The Trust cares for the whisky, as well as thousands of objects left in the expedition bases by the early Antarctic explorers.

The handover marks part of the final stage in a remarkable journey. After excavating the whisky one crate was flown to Canterbury Museum, New Zealand under permit from the New Zealand Government and thawed by Programme Manager Lizzie Meek, revealing eleven bottles of Mackinlay’s whisky.

Three bottles were then sent to Scotland for scientific analysis by Whyte & Mackay, (owner of the Mackinlay’s brand) and The Scotch Whisky Institute. The whisky provided a unique opportunity to apply modern sensory and chemical analytical methods to establish the flavour and composition of a product manufactured more than one hundred years ago.

Whyte & Mackay’s Master Blender, Richard Paterson, then used his unique nosing and tasting skills to create an exact replica of the whisky.  This whisky, which has been sold around the world, has gone on to raise over £250,000 to fund various Antarctic Heritage Trust projects, including the preservation of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition base.

Repatriating the whisky back to Antarctica fulfils the permit conditions issued by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs to remove, analyse and return the whisky.

The whisky travelled to Antarctica on Thursday 17 January 2013. The handover took place in the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s conservation lab at New Zealand’s Scott Base where the Trust’s team of conservators work over winter, conserving the explorers’ clothing, equipment, tinned goods and personal items.

Once conservation is complete at Scott Base the 3 crates will be returned to Ernest Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1910 base at Cape Royds, Antarctica.

Richard Paterson, Whyte & Mackay Master Blender said “Having the chance to analyse and taste a whisky that is over 100 years old has undoubtedly been the highlight of my career. The whole process – from discovery to excavation to recreation and now repatriation – has taken 5 years but it’s been well worth it!

And as we come full circle in the original whisky’s journey, I’m pleased that the pioneering spirit of Shackleton will live on through the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s research, books, stories and of course the whisky!  It is indeed an enduring spirit.”

F: www.facebook.com/theshackletonwhisky

T: @shack_whisky

MASTER CLASS TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Guests of the ‘Nth 2013 Show’ will have the opportunity to purchase and attend from a choice of  Master classes. Each class will be conducted by world-renowned brand ambassadors and include discussions and tasting flights of some of the rarest and finest premium whiskies.

Please make sure that each Master Class is purchased in the correct group, with no purchase of duplicate classes in the same group.

Attendees will have the opportunity to do maximum of 4 Master Classes.

Please purchase Master Classes early to avoid disappointment!!!

CLICK HERE

Nth 2013 Master Classes

Whisky Dinner: Uptown Oakland

Monday, Jan 28, 2013 6pm

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland , California 94612
$80 all inclusive click here.

Whisky Dinner at Hopscotch (Oakland) with Steve Beal

Our next WoW whisky dinner is set for Monday Jan. 28 at Hopscotch in Oakland’s Uptown Neighborhood.  Hopscotch is an upscale diner serving seasonally inspired cocktails and regional American food with Japanese sensibility. Chef Kyle Itani, a second generation Japanese American was inspired to share his Japanese influence in cooking and love for spirits, especially Scotch, with his friends. Thus was conceived Hopscotch. Already packed every evening, Kyle and his partner Jenny have agreed to open their doors for us on their night off, Monday.

Whiskies will be presented to us by our beloved Keeper of the Quaich, Senior Master of Whisky, Chef, Writer, Minister, Spirits Judge, mixologist,  and best of all, one of the best people to enjoy a Scotch with, Steve Beal.

MENU

1st Course – Smoked Kanpachi Crudo with black spanish radish and citrus soy

2nd Course – Duck Confit Terrine with house made Asahi Black beer mustard

3rd Course – Braised Veal Breast with soba and swiss chard ravioli

4th Course – Pair of Sliders

First Base Burger, house ground chuck with braised and griddled beef tongue, sesame aioli

Chicken Melt with house smoked bacon, sauteed peppers and onions

Dessert – Bites: Carrot Cake and Chocolate Torte

WHISKIES

Light and Floral – Glenkinchie 12yr

Fruity and Spicy – Clynelish 14yr

Rich and Rounded – Oban DE

Smokey Full-Bodied – Talisker 10yr

Royal Lochnagar DE (Only 18 bottles in Northern California and Steve secured one for us)

Caol Ila 12yr

To reserve your space at this epicurean whisky adventure click here.

Hopscotch

1915 San Pablo Ave. @ 19th St. Oakland, CA 94612  –   2 Blocks from the 19th St. Bart Station 510.788.6217

Sláinte,

Douglas Smith

Event Director