TOP PICKS

• Glenfiddich 18 year, Ancient Reserve Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99)
  96 points Wine Enthusiast: ” *Top 50 Spirits 2013* Luxe and easy-sipping. Look for enticing notes of butterscotch, baked pear, cinnamon and clove on the nose and palate, swathed in just the right amount of smokiness. ” (12/2013) K&L Notes: Special Order Only! Special order items are not in stock and are dependent upon quantity available from distribution. All special orders are final and non-refundable. Will take 3-7 business days to receive this product before it can be shipped. Silver medal 2007 International Wine & Spirit Competition. The Glenfiddich 18 year old has a delightfully rich aroma reminisce of ripe orchard fruit, spiced apples and robust oakiness. The palate is luxurious and warming, with dried fruit, candied zest and dates buoyed by subtle Spanish Oloroso wood notes.
• Macallan “Fine Oak” 17 Year Old Single Malt 750ml ($149.99)
  96-100 points Wine Enthusiast: “The luscious Speyside bouquet offers layers of aromas that include smoke, wood, touches of palm oil, browned butter, vanilla bean and pork rind. The palate entry is rich, bittersweet, caramel-like and creamy; at the wonderful midpalate the taste turns sweeter, nuttier and more fudge-like. Finishes elegantly, yet very focused, and integrated. Delicious. ” (04/2008) 94 points Whisky Advocate: “Another of the Fine Oak series (aged in both bourbon and sherry casks), which will debut in the U.S. in March. Of the five Fine Oak expressions that will be in the U.S. (10, 15, 17, 21, and 30 year old), this is my favorite, slightly besting the 15 year old. Lovely sweet notes (creamy vanilla, light toffee, marshmallow, shortbread, and a kiss of honey) are accompanied by bright fruit (multi-layered citrus) and potpourri of dried spices, along with a hint of nut and wisp of smoke. A very refined and sophisticated whisky. (Vol. 15, #1)” Wine Spectator: “This deep, riveting whisky eschews the delicate qualities for straight-ahead sugar and spice. The nose expresses nougat, graham cracker and butterscotch, while it’s all spice and hard candy in the mouth, with a preponderance of licorice. Finishes long, with more candy notes. Bourbon, American oak and Sherry casks.” (02/2011) K&L Notes: The Macallan has extended its Fine Oak range of single malt Highland Scotch whiskies with the introduction of a 17 year old expression. The whisky continues the success of The Macallan Fine Oak 10, 15 and 21 Years Old, which the distillery introduced in November 2004 and Fine Oak 30 Years Old, just launched in June 2005. Since its introduction, The Macallan Fine Oak, a lighter expression of the traditional Macallan, has expanded the brand’s audience in the U.S. and has received numerous industry accolades. Daniel Goodwin, senior brand manager, said that the 17 Years Old would broaden the appeal of the fine oak range. He added: “The lighter, more modern flavour expressions of the Fine Oak range resonates with whisky connoisseurs and novices alike. Fine Oak 17 expands upon a completely unique line of super-premium single malt Scotches.” 94 points, The Malt Advocate
• Elijah Craig 12 year old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #387 Bourbon 750ml (ships as a 1.5L) ($26.99)
  This cask contained twice as much whiskey as #8446 (20 cases) and as expected it couldn’t be more different. This is definitely going to be very familiar to some readers, but it’s totally outside the flavor range of the other casks. Here we’ve got incredible freshness with aromas of spiced apple, subtle nuttiness, red apple skin, dried herbs, and a hint of maple syrup. Texturally, this is surprisingly rich considering it was the largest cask, which logically means it’s less concentrated, but apparently not. On the palate it’s definitely the feistiest of the three casks in this lot, showing strong oak spice, which dry the maple syrup quality on the front palate nicely. This has the longest finish of the three and moves into the fresh tobacco flavors with a building spice (cinnamon, clove, etc.) character. Crazy contrast between the relatively restrained nose and the powerful attack in the mouth.
• Lost Spirits Distillery Leviathan III Single Malt Whiskey 750ml ($54.99)
  Can you believe we’re already on batch three of the Leviathan series? Made from 100% California barley and peated with 100% Canadian peat, the Leviathan whiskies from Bryan Davis represent his most mainstream work to date. Heaps of smoke and vegetal earth power this bold and brash Pacific Coast single malt. The peat dominates the nose, but the green-planted goodness overwhelms the finish with hints of salt and phenolic action. I think I taste fresh-picked carrots after a few minutes of letting the flavors develop. WARNING: the Lost Spirits whiskies are not for the unadventurous. These are wildly savage single malts with assertive and challenging profiles!

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