• Lagavulin 12 Year Old 2014 Edition Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($105.99) Lagavulin’s string of 12 year old releases has always begged the question from consumers: why is the 12 year old forty dollars more than the older 16 year expression? Good question! For one, the Lagavulin 16 is made in gigantic quantities and sold in every liquor store from San Francisco to Shanghai, making it a competitively-priced product. On top of that, the 12 year old is bottled at cask strength and not produced in nearly as high of a volume. Fans of the distillery have long lusted for a higher-proofed version of their beloved Islay legend, and Diageo has sought to pacify that demand with the lovely 12 year expression. The 2014 release is bottled at 54.4% and is a golden straw color. The nose is simply perfect: smoke, salted caramel, vanilla, and the sea. The palate lives up to the aromas and explodes with campfire smoke, nougat, white pepper, and medicinal peat notes that linger for minutes after you’ve coated your stomach with warmth. Tasting t he 12 next to the 16, there’s no doubt as to why one is more expensive than the other. Yet more proof that age can be incredibly deceiving.

• Oban Little Bay Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($72.99) It’s not often we see the classic malts of Diageo expand into new releases of their iconic whiskies, but the Oban Little Bay marks that very occasion. Aged in smaller casks to increase the ratio of wood to whisky, the influence is perceptable in the weight of the Little Bay and not so much the flavor (which is a welcome relief!). There is no toasty quarter cask flavor, but rather a soft and supple nose of stonefruit and a rounded, mellow mouthful of dried apricots with just a bit of phenolics on the finish. Those looking for bold flavor should look towards Lagavulin or the other Diageo classic malts because this is yet another gentle dram from Oban; as it should be.

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

The Best Canadian Whisky of 2014

VICTORIA, Jan. 16, 2015 – The verdict is in. A whisky distilled more than two decades ago, then tucked away and forgotten, is the best Canadian whisky of 2014.  A jury of nine independent whisky experts named Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye the Canadian Whisky of the Year at the fifth annual Canadian Whisky Awards. They announced the results of this annual blind tasting competition Thursday evening, January 15, at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, B.C.

 Chairman of the judges, Davin de Kergommeaux, described Collingwood Rye as: “A Canadian whisky connoisseur’s dream come true.” Only fifty barrels of Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye were distilled at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood, Ontario. Canadian stocks are almost gone, though limited quantities are still available from select U.S. liquor stores.

Other top winners include Lot No. 40, Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye, Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve, Masterson’s 10-Year-Old Rye, and Crown Royal Monarch. Forty Creek distillery’s John Hall received a lifetime achievement award.

“Interest in Canadian whisky continues to grow and Canada’s whisky makers have responded with a wealth of new high-end whiskies,” said de Kergommeaux as he revealed the winners. “For the first time a major legacy brand, Canadian Club, has released 100% rye grain whisky as a core offering. Canada’s best-selling whisky, Crown Royal, became the first major brand to release high-proof single barrel whisky, and Collingwood bottled long-aged rye whisky. Overall, distillers have released more small batch and top-end deluxe whiskies than ever before.”

Sales of flavored whisky also remain strong with Forty Creek, Centennial, and Sortilège making strong gains.

The list of all the winners is now available at http://www.canadianwhisky.org/

Notes:

About the Canadian Whisky Awards

The Canadian Whisky Awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies and encourage distillers to maintain the highest standards for making whisky. To qualify, the whisky must be distilled and matured in Canada. An independent panel of whisky writers, bloggers, and journalists selects the winners after tasting each whisky blind. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the Canadian Whisky Awards are fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry.

Dare to be honest and fear no labour.  The spirit behind these words – taken from the pen of Scottish bard and renowned whisky lover Robert Burns – has been at the heart of our business since we started making whisky nearly fifteen years ago.  

Like the great poet himself, we have always aimed to learn from the past without being enslaved by it.  And there is surely no better example of this than our Great King Street Glasgow Blend – a whisky inspired by the artisan recipes of 19th century blending houses but reinvigorated with the technical expertise of a 21st century whiskymaker.

Glasgow Blend harks back to a golden age of whiskymaking that Burns himself would recognise to create a style of whisky that nobody else is even trying to create today.  You will find full-blooded flavour, complex character and a rich, indulgent body – perfect for enjoying neat, with your Burns’ Night feast or in a celebratory cocktail.

Twice the Spice

Sometimes the most straightforward combinations are the best. And in our estimation, it’s hard to beat the warm-reeking’ spice of haggis alongside the rich pepper, clove and ginger notes of Spice Tree this Burns Night.  You can read more about how we create the distinctively complex Spice Tree character here but as for the haggis, let’s just say some mysteries are perhaps best left unsolved.

Win a signed copy of The Manual

We love to explore progressive approaches to enjoying whisky.  So this Burns Night, we’re asking for your help to find new ways to enjoy our range.  Simply visit our facebook page, tell us how you’ll be using your favourite Compass Box whisky in your Burns Night celebrations and we’ll send a signed copy of Dave Broom’s inspirational Whisky: The Manual to whoever comes up with the most imaginative suggestion.

Springbank 18 Year Old Burns Malt

Every Burns Supper has its own special form and flavor. Why not make one of our very own Burns Malts yours on Sunday 25th January. Freedom and whisky gang thegither!

Springbank 18 Year Old $116.92

Ireland – Irish

• John L. Sullivan 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey 750ml ($36.99)

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Black Bottle Blended Islay Scotch Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($19.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Cardhu 12 year old Distillery Bottling 750ml ($49.99)

• Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($49.99)

• Dalwhinnie Distiller’s Edition Oloroso Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($84.99)

• Longrow 18 year old, Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Previously $200) – 6 available ($179.99)

• Talisker 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($549.99)

• 1985 Talisker 28 Year Old Maritime Edition Isle of Skye Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($599.99)

• Talisker 30 year old Isle of Skye Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($749.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• 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

THIS IS A SPECIAL YEAR IN OUR LONDON STORE 2015 Marks the 20th anniversary of Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop in London.

When we opened in Covent Garden 20 years ago nobody expected whisky to become the world wide success that we have seen it become today. It’s strange to see how the whiskies we sold 20 years ago become so collectable and expensive today on some collectors sites & auctions, what we offer as ordinary has become extraordinary. So lets have a look at some new iconic vintages due out very soon…

DEMOLISHED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

After a long wait the much wanted St. Magdalene is finally due out by the end of this month, I am told along with a few others under the Authentic range. This 32 Year old vintage from the long dismantled lowland distillery is going to be gone very fast, we can only allow 1 bottle per customer due to the already high demand. St. Magdalene distillery was opened in the late 1800s on the site of a former leper colony that dated back to the 1100s, the distillery was one of the first to have a licence to distil, sadly like so many others it was closed during the 1980s. When the distillery closed in 1983 the site was soon snapped up by developers who converted most of the distillery into housing but using the structure of the distillery rather than demolish and build again, mainly due to the historic significance of the site and protection of the buildings.

Imperial Distillery 1977 37 Year Old – 70cl / 53.5% Small Batch

Next on the list is Imperial 1977 vintage 37 years old, this is a dram that’s lost no power given its age. Founded in 1897 during the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, I think we can safely guess its name was in no small part down to the jubilee. The distillery has closed several times but finally closed this century 2000 the site was fully cleared by 2012/13 with plans for a new distillery to be built on the site but it can’t be Imperial.

JAMESON UNVEILS NEW ANNUAL PACKAGING RELEASE

Jameson, the world’s favourite Irish whiskey, has unveiled the Good Workers, Great Whiskey limited edition carton; a new, annual series of packaging innovations celebrating the rich heritage of Jameson to help ensure maximum stand-out shelf appeal for the brand.

The Good Workers, Great Whiskey carton celebrates the craftspeople at the Midleton Distillery and the key elements of the Jameson production process through an eye-catching, illustrated style with the use of textured paper. The depiction of the Jameson Barrel Man, which appears on every bottle of Jameson and portrays the distillery’s workers, sits alongside iconography representing Jameson’s use of locally sourced barley, triple distillation method and maturation processes, which have come together to craft Jameson’s world-renowned, smooth taste profile since 1780.

Each addition to the collection will tell a different story inspired by Jameson’s centuries old whiskey making process and the people that make it possible, “the Barrelmen”, offering a unique in-hand, storytelling experience for consumers. The series is the latest piece of innovative marketing from Jameson as it aims to appeal to adventurous spirits drinkers, who are increasingly thirsty for knowledge about the craftsmanship, heritage and provenance of premium spirits.

POS collateral has also been developed to create theatre in store, including decoration for gondola ends and pallet displays, depicting graphic barrels and a distillery worker carrying a barrel inscribed with the slogan ‘Not a drop is sold until its liquid gold’.

Daniel Lundberg, Global Brand Director for Jameson Irish Whiskey, comments: “Jameson represents the benchmark for quality and consistency in the Irish Whiskey category; a vision that was laid down by John Jameson and realised to this day by the hard work, dedication and passion of the generations of workers at Jameson’s Bow St and Midleton Distilleries.

“Innovation remains at the core of all Jameson’s award-winning marketing activity and the Good Workers, Great Whiskey limited edition carton follows suit by marrying together the stories of our distillery workers and  production techniques through a modern, contemporary design.

The Good Workers, Great Whiskey limited edition bottle is available now in a number of markets worldwide. 

Notes

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the company decided to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork. Irish Distillers was bought by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 and today, Jameson is the No.1 Irish whiskey in the world, selling over 4 million 9L cases worldwide and contributing more than any other Irish whiskey brand to the phenomenal global growth of the category. Irish Distillers is committed to driving continued, sustainable growth of the Irish whiskey category.

Irish Distillers’ portfolio of whiskeys is comprised of Jameson, the world’s no.1 Irish whiskey; Irish favourite Paddy; Powers, the robust super premium whiskey for discerning drinkers; and the much-acclaimed brands that comprise the Irish Distillers’ Prestige Collection – the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton which includes the Spot range (Green Spot, Yellow Spot) and Redbreast, Ireland’s most awarded single pot still whiskey brand – and the pinnacle of the Prestige Collection, Midleton Very Rare.

http://www.irishdistillers.ie/

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €7,945 million in 2013/14. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector and employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people, operating through a decentralized organization with 6 ‘Brand Companies’ and 80 ‘Market Companies’ established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

http://www.pernod-ricard.com/

Speyside’s Finest 100th Anniversary

50 year old 1964 vintage distilled at Glenfarclas Distillery. Single cask bottled on 18th December 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of Fred Douglas Laing – founder of Douglas Laing & Co.

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old $453.37

This week Joe Ellis carries on his vertical tasting of the Springbank whiskies and reviews Hazelburn CV

http://youtu.be/Kh5I-iT2PIA

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