Thursday, January 19th, 3-7PM:

Glenlivet 

Come by for an in-store scotch tasting featuring Glenlivet. Promoted as “The Single Malt that Started it All,” Glenlivet distillery was founded in 1824 in Moray, Scotland- and has operated almost continuously since. Guests will be treated to a selection of award-winning drams, with distillery representatives and whisky experts present throughout. 

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Four weeks to the start, have you registered yet?

The first World Whisky Forum is closing in and we will all meet Feruary 9-10 in Sweden. The speakers list is really superb and the participants are registering from various parts of the whisky world. Please check out the website for more information about tickets and program, http://www.worldwhiskyforum.org/. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Our host Box Distillery sends a winter welcome

Right now winter is getting it’s grip on the north of Sweden and we just got a great postcard from our local host for the event, Box Distillery.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Donation Helps Raise $215,000

for Emeril Lagasse Foundation

Over a Quarter of a Million Dollars Raised through Buffalo Trace Donations Since 2013

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Dec. 13, 2016) For the past twelve years, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation has held a fundraising weekend which raises money for children’s charities nationwide. In 2013 Buffalo Trace Distillery joined the fundraising weekend as a sponsor of the foundation’s Friday night Festivities, Boudin, Bourbon & Beer. For the past three years Buffalo Trace Distillery has donated a live auction package to Emeril’s signature event, the Carnivale du Vin wine auction, and has helped raise over a quarter of a million in funds.

In November of 2016 Buffalo Trace’s auction lot helped raise a whopping $215,000; $150,000 of that will specifically be assigned to Emeril’s culinary garden and teaching program.

This year’s prize package from Buffalo Trace Distillery included more than 30 highly sought after whiskies from the National Historic Landmark Distillery, including the elusive Pappy Van Winkle Rye and a very rare bottling from Buffalo Trace’s 5 Millionth Barrel, distilled in 1981. Also included in the prize pack was a trip for four to Buffalo Trace, including first class airline tickets, overnight accommodations and many other extras. This year’s winner, Noah McMahon, is excited about his upcoming trip, stating “This is a dream come true for me and my friends as we are huge fans of all of the Buffalo Trace brands. The trip to Kentucky will be once-in-a-lifetime and something we will never forget!” McMahon will be scheduling his trip to Kentucky soon.

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation was founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden and has granted more than $7.5 million to children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. Lagasse’s Fund a Need program, of which part of McMahon’s

donation will go towards, is a program that fully integrates both gardening and cooking elements into school curriculums.

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 www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

 BROWSE LOTS

One of the passions of our Spirits Department is tracking down those ultra rare bottlings, the white whales of the spirits world if you will, that collectors long for. Whether it be mature single malts from Scotland and Japan, or rarefied bottlings from Bourbon County, we cast our net far and wide to seek out the most coveted spirits in the world. While quantities of these treasures may be exceptionally limited, as you will see in the list below, the breadth of our selection is impressive. Some highlights include the Belmont 8 Year Old Bottled in Bond Handmade Sour Mash Whisky which dates all the way back to 1902, a 1950 Very Old Fitzgerald 8 Year Old Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from the famed Stitzel-Weller Distillery, and an array highly sought after of Single Malts from Japan’s Karuizawa. Whether you are looking for a bottle as a very special gift or to add to your own collection the finds here represent some of the very best spirits out there.

Aberlour-Glenlivet “WH Holt & Sons” Single Malt Scotch (750ml) (Bottled circa 1930s) $2,500.00 View

1902Belmont 8 Year Old Bottled in Bond Handmade Sour Mash Whisky (750ml) $1,999.99 View

Brora 38 Year Old Limited Edition Special Release Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $2,199.99 View

Dalmore 35 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $4,999.99 View

Four Roses Paul Jones Distillery Whisky (750ml) (Circa 1910s)1$1,999.99 View

1988 Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt “Big Butt” Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $3,000.00 View

1969 Hillside (Glenesk) 25 year Rare Malt Selection Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Previously $1500) $1123.99 View

1984 Karuizawa 26 Year Old “Map of Japan” Single Cask #2962 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $4,000.00 View

1982 Karuizawa 26 Year Old “No 1 Drinks” Cask #2230 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $3,200.00 View

1982 Karuizawa 30 Year Old “Geisha for Kinloz Culture Hong Kong” Single Cask #3619 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $10,000.00 View

1977 Karuizawa 32 Year Old “White Label” Single Cask #6994 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $6,400.00 View

1981 Karuizawa 34 Year Old “Samurai” Single Cask #6355 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $10,000.00 View

1980 Karuizawa 35 Year Old “Samurai” Single Cask #8317 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml)1$10,000.00 View

1971 Karuizawa 37 Year Old “White Label” Single Cask #6878 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (750ml-stained label) $6,500.00 View

Laphroaig 25 Year Old “2014 Release” Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml)1$599.99 View

1959 Old Grand Dad Bottled in Bond Kentucky Bourbon (750ml)1$1,200.00 View

1979 Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year Bourbon (750ml) $4,999.99 View

1941 Pebbleford 8 Year Old Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $1,999.99 View

Shinshu Mars Komagatake 30 Year Single Malt Japanese Whisky (750ml)3$1,799.99 View

1950Very Old Fitzgerald (Stitzel-Weller Distillery) 8 Year Old Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (slight scuff on the next label) $3,500.00View

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

Hello and good Wednesday to you all! This week we’re looking at, Compass Box Enlightenment, it’s one beautiful and rounded expression of whisky with a nose to die for. A vatting of single malts from; Clynelish, Balblair, Mortlach and Glentauchers, it brings together all of the flavours you could ever want, with a lack of smoke but in this case it isn’t such a bad thing, all the fresh fruit you could ever want. I love this whisky and hopefully, I can win some of you round into liking it as well. Enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/kxXwsilOLb0

AGE OF DISCOVERY COCKTAIL NOW AVAILABLE AT THE BEAUFORT BAR

The highly anticipated Age of Discovery, a specially created, barrel aged cocktail, is now available as an exclusive serve or by the bottle at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar. Having travelled the globe on board Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2, the cocktail has now returned to The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, where it was mixed, sealed and bonded for its world voyage many months ago.

With only 700 serves available, guests can order Age of Discovery at the Beaufort Bar as an exclusive explorative serve – inspired by the incredible, vast journey the cocktail has taken. The drink, priced at £90, is served in a custom–made glass with a magnified base, atop a map board which shows the journey and temperatures the barrel went thought during its 41, 000 nautical mile journey around the world.

Also available to take home in a bottle, the Age of Discovery blend has become the latest limited edition bottle (priced at £350) in The Savoy Collection – one of the world’s most prestigious and unique collections of one-of-a–kind spirits and liquids. Launched in 2013, The Savoy Collection was created with the support of esteemed drinks experts Speciality Drinks to celebrate the rare and the beautiful from the world of drinks; Age of Discovery makes a wonderful addition to this incredible collection.

The Age of Discovery cocktail itself matured in a hand chosen, 300 litre Jack Daniel’s barrel on board Queen Mary 2 during her 41, 000 nautical mile, four-month world voyage from January – May 2016. Formulated by the team at the world-famous Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, named Best International Hotel Bar 2015, the Jack Daniel’s cocktail[1] is inspired and influenced by the tastes and aromas of the continents Queen Mary 2 visited; from Europe to Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania.

Painstaking attention to detail and refinement has gone into the choice of ingredients to reflect both Cunard’s 176-year ocean-going heritage and the decades of history and patronage associated with The Savoy’s famous cocktail bars. Its home for the voyage, a Jack Daniel’s first fill American oak barrel, was carefully chosen by The Savoy, whose team travelled to the Jack Daniel distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee and personally chose the barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel to be used in Age of Discovery.

During her four-month circumnavigation, Queen Mary 2 visited 39 ports of call in 27 countries, during which time the barrel was secured in open deck space to expose it to the varied elements and climates that have influenced the fascinating final result. Prevailing temperatures, humidity and sunlight – as well as more inclement conditions – have combined to produce this truly unique barrel-aged cocktail.

Anna Sebastian from the Beaufort Bar says: “The Jack Daniel’s and Bacardi represent the discovery of the Americas, while the Dubonnet is there as a symbol of Cunard’s royal associations. The spice-infused Madeira, used to sweeten the cocktail, is synonymous with the famous spice trail and oceanic expeditions.”

Nidal Ramini, Head of Advocacy at Jack Daniel’s added: “We have a great partnership with The Savoy and they’ve been hand-selecting their own Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel for five years. It’s great to take this partnership to another level and be involved with Age of Discovery. As the only whiskey maker in the world to craft every one of our own barrels, the idea of a barrel aged cocktail, containing the very whiskey that Daniel chose when we went to Tennessee together, travelling the world, was music to our ears.”

Angus Struthers, Cunard Director, says: “Cunard and The Savoy are world-renowned brands famed for their luxury and levels of service as well as the experience each is able to offers its guests. We are delighted to have worked in partnership with The Savoy to create the finest and most unique cocktail in the world on board the finest ocean liner ever built, as she circumnavigated the world.”

Age of Discovery is a truly unique collaboration from three of the world’s most highly acclaimed brands: Cunard, The Savoy and Jack Daniel’s. Renowned for their traditions of service and excellence, these three brands have come together to create a world-class, world-travelled and globally one-of-a-kind cocktail. The cocktail will be exclusively available to purchase at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, and on board Queen Mary 2.

http://www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/promotions/age-of-discovery/

CELEBRATE: BURNS NIGHT AT THE SOCIETY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Ralfy celebrates a New Year with Ralfy Review 617 – Ardbeg 10yo re-reviewed 2017

Today we’re thrilled to be able to share our limited allocation rare, one of a kind, & antique whiskies. See the entire list below, but first a bit about our new Bruichladdich acquisitions…

We’ve had a long and storied relationship with the wonderful Bruichladdich Distillery. They’ve gone through some serious changes in the last couple of years, but what counts for us, what has always counted most, is that the whisky is delicious. Bruichladdich has always produced exceptional single malt whisky, but none better than those made in the last 15 years by our friends Jim McEwan, Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin. Now Jim & Mark are gone, but the magnanimous Simon Coughlin remains at the helm to make sure the ship stays steady. And steady ahead they go, releasing a second batch of age stated 10 year old whisky that are even better than initial releases from a few years ago. These whiskies are a testament to the hard work that went into rebuilding that old distillery outside of Port Charlotte on the beautiful banks of Loch Indaal. Truly they are a tribute to that legacy and a triumph for all who may be lucky enough to taste them.

Bruichladdich 10 Year Old “The Laddie Ten- Second Limited Edition ” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

K&L Notes: Many of us at K&L feel that Bruichladdich’s post-2001 whiskies are some of the best distillates in the world. The quality of the spirit coming off their pot stills is simply jaw-dropping and we were excited to finally see what it can do after a decade in the barrel. After an ultra-successful initial 10 year old release, the age statements were judiciously removed in favor of focusing on flavor and perserving stock. Now we’re can finally sell and age stated Laddie Ten again. This time they’ve drawn exclusively from first fill bourbon, sherry, and French wine casks. The malt is ultra smooth, creamy palate with citrus notes, stone fruits, and the trademark saltiness that reminds us this is Islay whisky through and through.The 10-year is one of the most anticipated whiskies of all time and for about $60, it’s one of the best single malt deals in craft single malt. For those lamenting the rising cost of good whisky, make sure you take home the Laddie 10 and savor each drop. This is true handcrafted whisky.

Port Charlotte 10 Year Old “Second Limited Edition” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($64.99)

The 10-year-old benchmark for Bruichladdich’s peated whisky project, named for the famous distillery in the town of the same name, is back! Here we have the massive intensity of Port Charlotte framed in a very natural context. Tarry and phenolic, turning toward citrus and salt on the palate. The oily texture is lifted by a tartness that offsets the smoke nicely. A very exciting whisky for any malt lover. To be perfectly clear–I have never tasted such focus or purity in a single malt whisky. I can safely say that no whisky has ever tasted as much to me like the source from whence it came. The 10-year-old Port Charlotte literally tastes like a piece of malted barley that has just come out of the kiln. This whisky tastes like distilleries smell. It’s so bracingly clear that it’s almost like getting new glasses or contact lenses–every flavor just comes into an insane level of focus right from the first sip. Whether or not you like that flavor is up to you, but I got chills. A huge accomplishment. The Second Limited Edition was aged full-term in first fill bourbon, sherry, tempranillo and French wine cask and peated to 40ppm.

Octomore 10 Year Old “Second Limited Edition” Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($229.99)

This is the second 10 year old release of Bruichladdich’s well regarded super smoky malt. The small batch whisky is peated to an astounding 167pm and was distilled entirely in December 2005. This special spirit was rested for 10 years in Fresh Bourbon barrels and Gernache Blanc casks at their ancient stone warehouse in Port Charlotte before being bottled at 57.3% aclohol. The result is something completely other wordly and totally unique. Extremely limited.