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Auction ends on Tuesday 4 October

Macallanmania

The worldwide demand for Speyside malt Macallan has reached Beatlemania-like levels. Like The Fab Four, Macallan is a clean-cut dram, with honest, fruity flavours and crowd-pleasing sherry-cask influence. This auction we have desirable age-statement and vintage bottlings, Anniversary Malts, 18 Year Olds and pre-war greats 1937 and 1938 from Gordon & MacPhail.

Ain’t Too Proud To Ardbeg

Big, brash and smoky, Ardbeg is more akin to The Rolling Stones – some would think twice about taking a bottle home to their parents. Following the 1997 resurrection, Ardbeg began releasing heavily peated limited editions bottled at cask strength for members of the Ardbeg Committee; look out for Still Young, Almost There and Renaissance, as well as more recent limited editions – Galileo, Airigh Nam Beist and Ardbog – that pay homage to wood policy, peating and Islay folklore. .

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The Olde Mouldy and Federal Wine & Spirits present A heartfelt, happy 200th birthday to Lagavulin!

{a masterclass dreamed up by a trio of peat-freaks with overactive imaginations}

Wednesday, November 2, 6-8pm at Journeyman restaurant 9 Sanborn Court, Somerville, Massachusetts advance tickets required*

Ah, Lagavulin. You probably have a bottle of the smoky, sultry 16-year-old sitting on your shelf right now. It is so beloved that comedian Nick Offerman has recorded a number of brilliant videos that pay homage to the Hebridean giant. But unlike some distilleries that have several expressions at different ages, with Lagavulin, the 16 is all you get … or is it?

Join Joe Howell of Federal Wine, and Tania and Nate of the Olde Mouldy (Nate formerly of Federal too!) as we taste Lagavulins you never knew existed (nor could have afforded had you known) alongside the distillery’s classic offerings in a night of stories, conviviality, history, and no small amount of reverence for a once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of whiskies.

This year, to celebrate its 200th birthday, Lagavulin has released a limited edition 8-year-old expression in a nod to Alfred Barnard, whose 1867 travelogue chronicled his visit to a great many distilleries, including Lagavulin, where he quite enjoyed their 8-year-old single malt. We’ll taste it, and everyone who attends the tasting will receive an entire bottle to enjoy at home (our humblest apologies, we mean the new release, not the 19th century bottling).

We will of course taste Lagavulin’s flagship 16-year-old (a good place to get our bearings), as well as the Distiller’s Edition, which is finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.

Then we’ll disinter some relics of yesteryear in order to fully grok Lagavulin’s potential.

Last year Joe attended Islay’s enormously popular malt and music festival, Feis Ile. He brought home a bottle released exclusively for the event, available only at the distillery, that sold out within hours.

We’ll taste Lagavulin’s two oldest-ever releases, the 30-year-old and the 37-year-old. They were both distilled in 1976 and broke records for price as well as age (also they’re delicious – Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored them each 107).

Quite uncharacteristically, 2007 saw the first ever 21-year-old release that deviated from Lagavulin’s heretofore established norm by being heavily sherried. Some people say sherry can mask a distillate’s subtleties, but most say that this beast is the best whisky they’ve ever tasted.

Lastly, we’ll try something so unspeakably rare that it couldn’t even be called legendary, because legends can’t form around a whisky that never properly existed. Few know that the building currently serving as Lagavulin’s visitor’s center used to be a distillery in its own right – Islay’s other lost distillery, Malt Mill. It was never bottled as a single malt, but the Olde Mouldy has procured a bottle of blended whisky from the 1940s called Mackie’s, rumored to contain roughly 50% Malt Mill, for us to taste. It’s the closest any one of us could hope to come to experiencing this long-closed chapter in Islay’s history.

Upon the conclusion of the tasting, food will be available from Journeyman and the full Olde Mouldy whisky menu will be on offer to celebrate the heartfelt, happy (belated) first birthday of the Olde Mouldy.

Tickets: $355 per person, includes a tasting of 8 whiskies and a bottle of the limited-edition 8-year-old (bottle must be picked up at Federal Wine & Spirits). To reserve a seat, email yesplease@oldemouldy.com with your name, phone number and the number of tickets you would like, and we will contact you for payment information.

*Space is extremely limited due to the greed of a couple of angels who thought it was OK to keep drinking after the damn whisky was bottled.

Joe Howell

Federal Wine & Spirits

Email: info@federalwine.com

Phone: (617) 367-8605

Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Whisky Wednesday explores the beauty of blending bourbon.  

https://youtu.be/MgV9HS2U0dE

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY INTRODUCES O.F.C. RANGE OF VERY RARE AND COLLECTABLE VINTAGE-DATED BOURBONS 

First Offering Only Available to Non Profits for Fundraising Efforts 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (September 21, 2016) This fall, Buffalo Trace Distillery will release three unique vintage-dated bourbons honoring the National Historic Landmark’s original name – the O.F.C. Distillery. During Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr’s tenure, the O.F.C. Distillery was renowned for producing top class whiskey. The first vintages of O.F.C. Bourbon Whiskey coming in November are sure to be collector’s items and will be offered exclusively to non-profit organizations at no charge to raise money for their causes.  Although these rare whiskeys will not be available in stores or bars and restaurants, later vintages will be released to the overall market starting in the Spring of 2017.

All of the O.F.C. collection releases will be vintage dated according to the specific year in which the bourbon was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each hand-cut crystal bottle will feature the vintage year on the label.

The first release is comprised of only 200 bottles; 100 bottles from the year 1980, 50 bottles from 1982, and 50 bottles from 1983.  Future releases will unveil whiskeys from the 1990s, including a 1993 vintage and several consecutive vintage years thereafter. Subsequent O.F.C. releases will follow year after year as vintages are produced and reach maturity.

Straight Bourbon whiskey must be aged in oak for at least two years, but these O.F.C. releases matured much longer. Recipe and age will vary by vintage, but many are expected to mature for twenty years or more. Barrels are evaluated regularly and some whiskey will be removed from the barrels as taste reaches the peak of flavor.

The packaging for O.F.C. matches the splendor of the whiskey itself, in lead free crystal bottles with detailed fluting engraved into the mold. Glass artisans cut the shoulder facets using equipment created exclusively for Buffalo Trace Distillery.  Each bottle then is manually polished to achieve maximum glass brilliance before in-laying cut copper lettering to spell out “O.F.C.” on the front.  A paper label is then hand applied below with the vintage prominently noted, along with a label on the back of the bottle noting the milestones for the vintage year of the bottle.  For example, the 1980 label memorializes the U.S. Ice Hockey team’s stunning victory over the Soviet Union, along with pop culture happenings and Ronald Reagan’s presidential election.  The bottle is then given one last polish for the ultimate premium presentation, while a cork stopper with a copper top adorns the top of the bottle to finish out this stunning bottle.

This bottle is a replica of an O.F.C. decanter dating back to the early 1900s found in the Buffalo Trace Distillery archives.  Equally as impressive as the bottle is the display box in which the bourbon is presented. The dark wooden box prominently bears the O.F.C. name in copper, along with a copper plaque depicting the year the bourbon was distilled. Upon opening the revolving door on the wooden case, the bottle is proudly displayed on a small riser, commanding attention as its prized possession is revealed. A provenance card is inside each display box, containing the same information found on the back label. Finally, each box is then packaged in a tasteful cream colored bag to protect it from any damage before placing it into the shipping boxes.

Non-profit organizations located in the United States who are interested in obtaining a bottle to use as a fundraiser for their charity should visit http://ofcvintages.com/ to fill out an application.  To be considered, organizations must submit an official U.S. non-profit tax ID number and use the bottle for fundraising purposes only. Applications will be taken online only and recipients of the bottles shall be notified by email by November 1^st, 2016, at which time bottles will be shipped free of charge. Charities will have until March 1^st, 2017 to auction their bottle and report back to Buffalo Trace Distillery how much money was raised.

      This is the second time Buffalo Trace Distillery has partnered with non-profit organizations to raise money. In 2011, the Distillery gave away 174 bottles of its Millennium Barrel, the last bourbon barrel filled on the last day of the last century. In total more than $150,000 was raised for various charities across the United States, with the top organization raising more than $7,000 for their cause.

      “These vintages are certainly unique and special whiskeys. We hope this O.F.C. collection can pay tribute to the many years gone by here at the Distillery. Each vintage has a story to tell indeed,” stated Kris Comstock from Buffalo Trace Distillery.  “To offer this first release to charitable organizations for their fundraising efforts makes this even more rewarding. We expect bottles to raise upwards of $10,000 each for worthy causes.”

Collectors interested in a chance to participate in a fundraiser can start checking the website in November http://ofcvintages.com/ for a list of non-profit organizations who will receive bottles for fundraisers.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/.

Glenrothes – golden years

Speyside distillery Glenrothes bucks the trend by releasing its whiskies by vintage rather than with an age statement. Since 2010 it has been under the sole ownership of wine merchant (and independent bottler) Berry Brothers & Rudd. We welcomed brand heritage director Ronnie Cox to host our latest TWE tasting.

Ronnie Cox, brand heritage director of BB&R Spirits

In their own words – Ronnie Cox

‘If you don’t like the whisky, keep adding water to it. I have a colleague who loves drinking whiskies at 50%+ ABV – I think he has a tongue like a Highland cow, a very clever Highland cow’

‘Someone told me they were getting Guatemalan bananas when tasting. I think he was showing off, so I asked him “do you mean in a bunch or singular!”. With tasting notes you can get people who disappear up their own backsides’

‘Richard Paterson has this habit of launching whisky into the air. I was on the stand next to him once and I kept getting drenched. The next time he was about to do it, I got everyone on the stand to fill their glasses with water and launch it back – he didn’t do it again! I still think he’s a wonderful guy, though’

‘You should have light whiskies before dinner and heavier whiskies after. If you had vintage port before the meal and Champagne after, it’d be like having dinner in your suit and going clubbing after pudding‘

‘One of the investors in building the distillery was the Scottish Presbyterian Church of Knockando. The irony is, every Sunday parishioners had been told “thou shalt not drink – it’s the devil’s brew!”‘

‘I only ever knew John Ramsay [retired master blender] as a bolt-upright pillar of society. But I found out he used to play the hind legs of a donkey in children’s panto in Glasgow – to add spice he used to take a squeezy bottle of water, lift his legs up and drench the front row during the show.’

‘We offer a service to authenticate old bottles of our whisky. You can send a bottle, we’ll verify it and send it back with a certificate. It’s it’s fake though, we’ll destroy it. We haven’t received any bottles in the past few years.

‘Until dramming stopped in the 1970s, workers would have up to five doubles a day. The local postman used to turn up every day at 11am as he knew he’d get some whisky’

‘I can guide people around the distillery and the complexity of the whisky, but what I cannot and will never do is teach you how to enjoy whisky. Only you can do that, and practice makes perfect‘

We tasted

The tasting line-up

• Bourbon Cask Reserve – formerly known as Alba Reserve, this is Glenrothes’ kosher-certified release aged entirely in American oak – full of coconut and vanilla flavours
• Sherry Cask Reserve – classic sherried Speyside whisky with notes of dried fruit, ginger, orange peel, crème brûlée and wood spice
• Vintage Reserve – a marriage of 10 vintages ranging from 1989 to 2007, this is an easy-drinking and creamy introduction to Glenrothes with notes of red berries and nuts
• Vintage 2001 (bottled 2014)– a classic Speyside whisky with notes of fruit cake, vanilla, cream and nutmeg
• Vintage 1995 (bottled 2014)– partly matured in first-fill sherry casks, this is the sweetest Glenrothes currently available with notes of honeyed butterscotch, rich fruit and exotic spice
• Vintage 1988 (bottled 2011)– aged for more than two decades in a combination of American and Spanish oak, this is rich and full bodied with candied orange peel and fruit compote flavours
• Sample Room 1973 (bottled 2000) – Ronnie brought this along from his personal collection. Rich, complex and mouthwatering with lots of fruit: pineapple, peach, mango and orange.

Whisky of the night

The 1973 was a special treat and a completely different beast from the whiskies distilled in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. There is one whisky that shone for me from the current range though: the sweeter 1995. The vintage was historically important, too, as it was the first laid down by Berry Brothers with the intention of being bottled as a single-vintage whisky.

Glenrothes 1995, bottled 2014, 43%

Nose: Sweet nose of butterscotch, toffee and orange with a hint of black pepper.

Palate: Rich, sweet and creamy with notes of butterscotch, cinnamon, vanilla, lemon meringue, treacle and hazelnuts.

Finish: Long with sweet toffee and tangy lemon.

Comment: This is a whisky that was made for those with a sweet tooth, but the sweetness is balanced by the creamy texture and it isn’t cloying. A dram that works as a palate cleanser between starter and main, but will also hold its own after dinner.

Ronnie referred to the range in terms of enjoying them with food. From the lighter Bourbon Cask Reserve to the rich 1988, Glenrothes bottlings differ from easy-drinking to big and complex, while keeping to the distillery’s elegant and fruity house style – of course they are just as enjoyable on their own, too.

One whisky we didn’t taste on the night is a new innovation for Glenrothes: Peated Cask Reserve. Finished in Islay-whisky casks, this is a rare chance to enjoy a 20-year-old-plus whisky for under £50 and great value for money.

You can see all the Glenrothes whiskies available at The Whisky Exchange here.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – Glenrothes – golden years

Hello and welcome to the newsletter for our 66th Auction,

This month’s auction is bursting at the seems with a dazzling array of drams from across the world and back through time as well.

Big Peatrie’s vLog once again gives us all a preview of the beautiful bottles here.

Starting us off this month is the distillery that launched the single malt revolution, Glenfiddich. In particular we have a wonderful 1939 50 year old. One of the world’s most sought-after whiskies, this outstanding bottle leads a parade of older vintages including ones from 1964, 1968, 1976 – the Concorde Exclusive, and two from 1978.

Glenfiddich’s sister distillery Balvenie offers us a wonderful 1967 40 year old single cask that was bottled exclusively for Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and is one of only 109 bottles.

Karuizawa makes a sizeable contribution to the top table this month with several cracking bottles. First up is 45 year old which is rumoured to have been the last of the 1967 casks left when it was bottled in 2012.

There is also a wonderful but delicate Karuizawa from 1965. This 21 year old was bottled by Mercian for its Ocean brand. We also have a bottle of the Uniting Nations 40 year old Essence of Karuizawa, a wonderful blend of 45 year old Karuizawa and 40 year old single malt from an unnamed Scottish distillery.

Blended whisky offers us more wonderful examples this month and in a league of its own stands the Directors Blends from Johnnie Walker. This complete collection of rare and wonderful whiskies represents the pinnacle of the blender’s art.

There is also a bounty of blended beauties in the shape of a Black & White from 1928, a rare old Vat 99, a Sandy MacDonald Spring Cap, a Thomson’s Deer-Stalker and an Antiquary 1977.

Next up is a wonderful old Glendronach which hails from the 1930s and proclaims itself as, “Most suitable for medicinal purposes”. Also from the 1930s is a wonderful Linkwood 1939 bottled by Gordon & Macphail.

Gordon & Macphail once again brings us some venerable Mortlachs, two that are 50 years old, one is from 1938 and the other is a mini distilled in 1936. This auction also sees a 20cl bottle of Gordon & Macphail’s 70 year old.

Dalmore shines brightly again this month with Constellation 19 year old, a 10cl sample of its magnificent 50 year old and an 40 year old Astrum.

Bowmore brings us one of its legendary bottlings in a bottle of its Black distilled in 1964 and bottled at 42 year old. We also have 30 year old bottled from a hogshead filled on the day of the Queen’s visit in 1980.

There are many magnificent Macallans in this month. This long list starts with a 1946 52 Year old, we then have a 1949 40 year old from Signatory, a series of Sixties distillations; 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966 and a lovely little Fine & Rare mini from 1972.

Springbank, Strathisla, Ord, Glen Moray, Longmorn and Laphroaig all bring us some wonderful examples of whisky distilled in the 1960s.

There is a wonderful Van Winkle Hand Made 16 year old, a Yamazaki 1993 which was bottled for Maison du Whisky, a Midleton 1984 Very Old and a Richard Hennessy cognac which contains spirit that is nearly 200 years old!

There are, as always, plenty of delicious drinking drams and many more exciting whiskies from all over the globe in this month’s auction so please take time to get in and have a look around. And remember, Don’t Lose Your Bottle!

All the best from us here at SWA HQ!

Kilchoman Tasting and Bottle Signing
Special Tour Bottling and T-Shirt announced
Wednesday, September 28th.  2:30 P.M.  –  3:45 P.M.

We’re excited and honored to have the whole Wills family, owners of the Kilchoman distillery on Islay, stop by Federal on their East Coast tour on Wednesday afternoon. Anthony Wills and his sons Peter and James have taken a short break away from the pot-stills (don’t worry, someone’s still there making whisky while the Wills are away) to come meet the people who know and enjoy their great products and to make some new fans as well.

They’re bringing with them a special tour bottling only available that day that’s at cask strength and very reasonably priced and you receive a t-shirt with the purchase of the tour-bottling (and only with the purchase of the tour-bottling).

These folks are coming all the way from Islay to see you and taste you on their great single malt whisky, so please come and say hello and make them feel welcome. Bring your friend, co-worker, your boss. Signed bottles make great gifts. It’ll be a wonderful afternoon — almost like being on Islay.

Machir Bay 46%    Regularly: $64.99  –  At the event: $58.99

Sanaig  46%          Regularly: $74.99  –  At the event: $67.99

100% Islay 6th edition        Regularly: $119.99  –  At the event: $107.99

Loch Gorm ( Sherry) Regularly: $94.99  –  At the event: $89.99

Cask Evolution       $140.00 (Net)

PLOWED Casks          Regularly: $142.99  –  At the event: $134.99

 Tour Bottling 58.9% Should be: $79.99 –  Sale price: $74.99

Please pass this on to any friends who are whisky enthusiasts!

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits
Email: info@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605

Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Ralfy compares costs of aged blends and an aged single malt with Whisky Review 599 – Cutty Sark 12yo Scotch

WHY WE TRUST CORK TO BOTTLE UP ANGEL’S ENVY® BOURBON

Hamilton, Bermuda, September 20, 2016 — While the heart of ANGEL’S ENVY® is rooted in Kentucky bourbon, its taste is a bit more international. Specifically, Portugal. Portugal is the source of the port casks that give its whiskey its subtle and distinctive flavors. But ANGEL’S ENVY, a Bacardi-owned brand, as well as many other wines and spirits in the Bacardi portfolio including its line of single malts and blended Scotch whiskies, D’USSE® and BARON OTARD® cognacs, and MARTINI® sparkling wines, owe Portugal a debt of gratitude for another surprisingly important contribution: cork.

Roughly half of the world’s cork comes from Portugal, and it’s one of the more sustainable materials on the planet. The trees, a subspecies of oak, live up to 300 years, and cork can be harvested from each tree every nine years once it reaches the age of 25. Harvesting occurs between the months of May and August when the cork can be removed from the trunk of the tree without permanently harming it. Cork forests provide a unique biodiversity to their regions, and many animals (and people) rely upon them for their survival.

Cork has many other uses: building material, shoe soles—it’s even used as insulation throughout spacecraft and can shield the crew from incredibly high temperatures. But even with all of these applications, 60% of all cork still goes into making bottle stoppers. As a bottle stopper, cork’s impermeability and elasticity make it ideal as a reusable stopper. And it’s eco-friendlier than plastic or metal alternatives. ANGEL’S ENVY puts a lot of thought into every aspect of its bottle, but for the brand, Portuguese cork was the obvious choice.

Since 2006, when Bacardi began tracking its global impact on the environment, it has improved both water use efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity ratio by 46%. Building on current programs and efficiencies that reduce its environmental impacts, the Bacardi Limited “Good Spirited” sustainability program sets specific goals in three areas to help the Company reach its vision of a net zero impact:

• Responsible Sourcing: Bacardi strives to obtain all raw materials and packaging from sustainably sourced, renewable or recycled materials while maintaining or enhancing the economic status of growers and suppliers. By 2017, the goal is to obtain 40% of the sugarcane-derived products used to make its rum from certified, sustainable sources – and 100% by 2022. This pledge from Bacardi is an industry first.
• Global Packaging: Bacardi commits to use eco-design to craft sustainability into its brand packaging and point-of-sale materials. By 2017, Bacardi plans to reduce the weight of its packaging by 10% and achieve 15% by 2022.
• Operational Efficiencies: Bacardi continues to focus on reducing water use and GHG emissions with a 2017 goal to cut water use by 55% and GHG emissions by 50%. Also, Bacardi aims to eliminate landfill waste at all of its production sites by 2022.

To learn more about Bacardi Limited and its “Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future” environmental initiative for sourcing, packaging and operational efficiencies across the entire Bacardi family of premium spirits and wine brands, visit http://www.bacardilimited.com/good-spirited.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Blended Scotch whisky, ERISTOFF® vodka, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur.

Founded 154 years ago in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi manufactures its brands at 29 facilities and sells in more than 160 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.  http://www.bacardilimited.com/

K&L Direct Import Feature: Hepburn’s Choice Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Now that we’re into September and there’s the slightest semblance of Fall in the air, we can start thinking about peat; specifically Islay whisky. After spending the last month and a half getting you acquainted with some of our lighter, easy-drinking, and substantially well-priced Highland offerings, our palates are now craving something different. As the leaves start to change color and the evenings begin just a bit earlier, that heartier, smokier, unique Islay character becomes all the more desirable. It entices our imaginations: a roaring fire, the cold night outside, a glass of Scotch in hand to sip as we spend more time in doors.

Now that we’re transitioning into that mindset, it’s time to show you our first two peated Islay selections from Whisky Season 2016, still very much value-driven as has been the case with all our offerings thus far. A young Caol Ila, this time from a sherry hogshead, that offers punch as well as precision. A dark and heady Bowmore that reminds us of how rich and quintessential the iconic distillery’s character truly is.

2009 Caol Ila 6 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($49.99)

On the strength of the previously popular young, peated whiskies we’ve been importing, we went back to the well again this year. This time, however, we asked the folks from Hepburn if they had any of that same fiery Caol Ila aged in sherry cask. Luckily they did and it’s that little highlight of sweetness that makes all the difference between this year’s selection and older editions. The classic elements of Islay are at play, of course: smoke, peat, earth and sea salt, but they’re accented by a richness from the sherry. There’s a nice little coating of cakebread and cocoa around that core of Caol Ila, rounding the edges and tempering the bold 58.9% cask strength character just the slightest bit. The best part, however, is the price. We managed to keep the cost right at $49.99, despite the extra year in barrel and the added bonus of the sherry. For the money, you’d be hard pressed to find a more potent Islay value anywhere.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 18, 2016

A beautiful cask of Caol Ila . The thing that I think sets this cask apart is the balance between all of the different flavors. In the nose there are light smoke aromas. In the mouth it is bright , creamy and complex, with a light peat influence. It is easy to drink and has a wonderful long finish with all of the flavor profiles working together.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2016

Young peated whisky is the new hot thing around these parts. In the case of this precocious Caol Ila 6 year, imagine the best parts of the Kilchoman sherry-finished whiskies, but at full proof and half the price! I’m hoping folks don’t sleep on this one because I’m imagining hoards of customers coming back, looking for a second bottle, only to be dismayed by its limited quantities.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2016

Not too long ago we brought in a Caol Ila 5 year from Hepburn and I thought it was good and fun for a young Scotch. I was expecting much the same when I went to taste the new young Caol Ila David bought this trip and was astounded by how much more I enjoyed it. Something about that extra year, or more likely the sherry hogshead it was aged in, added a complexity and helped this whiskey truly come together. Like the 5 year this beautiful bottle has light dense fruit with plenty of peat and iodine, however, the mid-palate is balanced and all of the parts work together. This is still a very young smoky and peaty Scotch, but it is worth getting into.

2001 Bowmore 14 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($82.99)

While Bowmore seems to play second (or even fourth) fiddle to the Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig selections on our shelf, we’ve always been enamored with Islay’s most historic distillery. We’ve never let popular whisky culture or changes in the portfolio diminish the fact that Bowmore tastes pretty damn good in a number of iterations. While tasting through single-cask selections this year, we found a 14-year-old sherry butt that was so dark and so soft we couldn’t pass it up. The best part about this particular expression was the texture; it mirrored the most popular Bowmore edition we sell: the 15-year-old “Darkest,” albeit at full proof and from one concentrated cask (and despite the fact this was supposedly a “refill” barrel). The flavors are dark and rich, brooding and slow-moving over the palate. Dark chocolate accented by a beach bonfire oozes over the tongue, buoyed by toasted almonds and earthy peat. The nice part about sherry butts is that they hold more whisky! In the case of this 14-year-old Bowmore, we figured we were going to need every drop. We expect this to be one of the most popular K&L casks of the fall season; while it lasts, of course.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 18, 2016

The color of this wonderful cask is a dark brown reflecting the sherry barrel aging. In the nose there are inviting light smoke aromas. In the mouth it is rich and round, showing the influence of the sherry.The sherry barrel did not make this Bowmore overly sweet but added complexity and helps make this single malt so good and easy to enjoy . There is a nice long finish.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2016

An absolutely delicious smoky whisky that should please any fan of the genre. This has everything: smoke, peat, sherry, campfire, earth, chocolate, toffee, and even a nuttiness that finishes with poise and presence. I’ll be recommending this to everyone looking for something beyond Lagavulin 16.

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637) Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA