Single Malts – Back In Stock/New Arrivals

We’re gearing up for the big Thanksgiving push this week, but we didn’t want to leave you empty-handed without a few last minute selections for your holiday table. While I’ve exhausted our NorCal allocations, David OG grabbed a bit more Caol Ila and Clynelish to satisfy those of you who missed out last time around. We’ve also got a few new things from Macallan and Bunnahabhain to show you:

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Islay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (3 bottle limit) $59.99 A very balanced Islay, with a flowery sweetness on the nose that gives as good as it gets against the insistent peat and salt. The peat increases on the palate, but once again the whisky counters with honey and bread dough to maintain equilibrium. Then come sweet spices that get more vibrant on the finish as they’re joined by smoked salmon. Blend drinkers should note that this is where Johnnie Walker gets much of its peat.

Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Whisky (3 bottle limit) $52.99 A very balanced Islay, with a flowery sweetness on the nose that gives as good as it gets against the insistent peat and salt. The peat increases on the palate, but once again the whisky counters with honey and bread dough to maintain equilibrium. Then come sweet spices that get more vibrant on the finish as they’re joined by smoked salmon. Blend drinkers should note that this is where Johnnie Walker gets much of its peat.

Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old “Marsala Finish” Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $79.99 This surprisingly supple new whisky from Bunnahabhain takes a standard distillery ten year old whisky and sees it another three years in used Marsala casks, the sweet and savory Italian wine from Italy. The result is a perfectly balanced single malt that offers equal parts honeyed, resinous, and fruity Bunnahabhain flavors with subtle accents of red berries, Port-like oxidized wine notes, and a salty finish. This is one of the best new Islay releases we’ve tasted this year for those who shy away from peat smoke.

Macallan “Edition No. 2” Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $99.99 Edition No. is a collaboration between The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgamo, and three cofounders of El Celler de Can Roca (Spain), twice voted best restaurant in the world. Drawn from European and American oak casks, this limited-edition expression combines flavors chosen by these four masters to reflect their distinctive personalities in the resulting whisky. Each of the four co-creators selected four different cask suppliers in Spain to materialize these flavors. By bringing together the art of whisky making with the creative culinary genius of the Roca brothers, this single malt surpasses the conventional norm and challenges expectations. The specific cask types selected are as follows: 1st-fill American oak Vasyma butts, 2nd-fill American oak Vasyma puncheons, 1st-fill European oak Tevasa butts, 1st-fill European oak José Miguel Martin puncheons, 1st-fill European oak Jose Miguel Martin hogsheads, 1st-fill European oak Diego Martin butts, 2nd-fill American oak Diego Martin hogsheads.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! We’ll see you soon after.

David Driscoll
K&L Spirits Buyer
daviddriscoll@klwines.com
650-556-2736
http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com