Saturday, November 24th, 2-5 PM:
Scotch Tasting: Aberlour
Traditional Speyside scotch pours at this expert presented Aberlour Tasting! We’ll be pouring new and rare drams by the storied distillery, with whisky experts present for all your scotch questions.
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 224: Arran Rum Cask Finish for Belgium
Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a small batch Arran. At the end of 2017 Arran launched a small batch of 900 bottles, exclusively for Belgium, of an Arran 2007 Rum Cask Finish. Cut to 46%, this is a surprisingly easy-going malt, which – if you are looking for complexity – is a bit of a let-down. If, however, you are looking for a sweet and soft after dinner dram, then this is for you.
Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Multi-Million-Dollar Investment
in Expansion of Bardstown Visitor Center, Production Facilities
BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today plans for a renovation, expansion and rebrand of the current Bourbon Heritage Center—Heaven Hill’s visitor experience in Bardstown, Ky. since 2004. The new visitor center renovation and expansion, part of a multi-year $65 million investment plan to expand production capacity in Bardstown, cements Heaven Hill’s commitment to Kentucky’s signature industry through growth and expansion in many areas—from distillation and warehousing, to manufacturing and tourism. Expansion details were announced in partnership with Solid Light, Abel Construction and Kentucky Tourism officials.
With an investment of $17.5 million and an enlarged footprint, the new visitor center in Bardstown will focus on the story of Heaven Hill Distillery since its inception in 1935, the Shapira Family, and iconic brands within the portfolio. Visitors will experience a multi-sensory showcase of the stories behind the evolution of Kentucky Bourbon, rooted in key periods in America’s history. From influential names like Elijah Craig and John E. Fitzgerald, to the barrel rollers and distillery workers, the history will be brought to life through one-of-a-kind exhibits and tours.
Unique to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the visitor center will offer a multitude of signature experiences:
“At Heaven Hill Distillery we are committed to the growth of Kentucky Bourbon and invite fans to experience, taste and learn from storied brands across our award-winning portfolio,” said Heaven Hill President Max Shapira. “By honoring historic figures and recognizing the people who are the fabric of this industry, nurturing the dream held by my father and his brothers more than 80 years ago, and educating consumers to enjoy Bourbon into the next generation, Heaven Hill is able to bring history to life in an exciting, modern way relevant to today’s consumer.”
In addition to the visitor center expansion, Heaven Hill will also be adding production capacity with new barrel warehousing, bottling line and equipment upgrades, and increased holdings of aging Bourbon Whiskey, amounting to a total of $47.5 million. Since 2010, Heaven Hill has invested over $100 million into the future of Kentucky Bourbon primarily through distillery expansion, warehouse construction, and tourism.
This newest visitor center expansion will play a vital role in expanding tourism, not only in Bardstown, but across the Kentucky Bourbon Trail through Heaven Hill’s two historically driven stops. When it opened in 2004, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center was one of the first visitor centers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and has played an instrumental role in establishing Kentucky as a top tourist destination. The Bourbon Heritage Center is a multiple past winner of Whisky Magazine’s “Visitor Attraction of the Year” award at the magazine’s annual “Icons of Whisky” Awards and is consistently ranked as one of the top tours in the Bardstown area, drawing 60,000 visitors per year. In Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is dedicated to the story of Kentucky’s First Distiller and the world’s 2nd largest Bourbon brand, Evan Williams. Hosting 100,000 visitors annually, it was the first distillery back on Whiskey Row in Downtown Louisville.
“Our shared commitment to excellence and passion for our home state of Kentucky and Bourbon make working with the Shapira family on the Heaven Hill Distillery Visitor Center an incredible opportunity to convey the history and craft of Bourbon with visitors,” said Solid Light Owner/President Cynthia Torp. “When it opens, guests will have a truly comprehensive and immersive experience that tells the Heaven Hill story, the stories of Elijah Craig and Larceny, and immerses them both in the history of the not only Kentucky bourbon, but the larger history of Bourbon in America.”
Contingent upon receiving tourism incentives, Heaven Hill Distillery’s expanded Bardstown visitor center will generate a significant amount of state and local tax revenue, as well as creating over 20 new full time and part time positions.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.5 million barrels aging in 57 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, and previously held the titles of 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.
Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”
Unrivaled Spirits Selections
With new arrivals from hand-picked single barrels from Scotland, Kentucky, and more, we are flush with some of the most stunning, unique, and special bottlings to ever cross our shelves. What they all have in common is that they are one-of-a-kind selections that are about as far as your money can go in world-class spirits.
Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSQ (9 Years Old, 4 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View
1995 Blair Athol 23 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $109.99 View
1991 John McCrae (Balvenie) 26 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $139.99 View
1996 Bowmore 22 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $149.99 View
1965 Carsebridge 52 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml)$349.99 View
1995 Springbank 22 Year Old “Hunter Laing Old & Rare” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $399.99 View
OUR TOP PICKS FOR YOU
You can never have enough of a good thing, we’ve selected some special recommendations just for you.
SEE LATEST OUTTURN SEE GIFTS AND TREATS
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
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NOVEMBER AUCTION ENDS SOON!
(ends Sunday 25th November)
…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk
With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy!
What happens when you launch a product that blends Scottish single malts and English malt whisky together? Steel Bonnets. The Lakes Distillery is my most local whisky distillery – I’ve been a big fan of The One, even with its sweeter vibe but this has peaked my attention for a while. A NCF and Natural Colour whisky bottled at a higher strength with a flavour palate of rich butterscotch and toffee notes but back by decent spice notes with a hint of smoke running through it. A genuine delight – check it out and as always, comment! Cheers!
Blood Oath Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Trilogy Available This Fall
Pact No. 1, 2 and 3 exclusively packed together for the holidays
(St. Louis) November 12, 2018 – Just in time for the holidays, the Blood Oath limited release series trilogy pack – including Pact No. 1, 2 and 3 – is available in ultra-limited quantities. Only 900 packs of this rare trilogy have been released nationwide. Twenty five of these sought-after trilogy packs will be available at Lux Row Distillers for purchase starting on November 23*.
The three Pacts included in the trilogy pack are all carefully selected, well-bred bourbons, bottled by hand at 98.6 proof. Pact No. 1 combines a spicy seven-year bourbon with a rye mash bill, barrel aged for a subtle woodiness, along with a six-year smooth, wheated bourbon and a 12-year full-bodied, more experienced, oaky bourbon with a rye-based mash.
Pact No. 2 offers a seven-year rye bourbon finished in port barrels for a velvety sweet finish, artfully joined by an 11-year wheated bourbon and an 11-year rye bourbon. Pact No. 3 brings a masterful union of three rye bourbons – a 12-year rye bourbon joined by a seven-year rye bourbon and, to add an unforgettable layer of complexity, another seven-year rye finished in cabernet sauvignon barrels.
“Hand-selecting just the right bourbons that meld together and balance each other out, being able to finish some of them in port and cabernet sauvignon barrels, and tasting that final product has been rewarding,” says John Rempe, head distiller and creator of Blood Oath. “This series has tapped into my creativity and I look forward to creating new Pacts – work has already begun on Pact No. 5 for next spring.”
The trilogy pack includes 750ml bottles of each Pact and retails for $599.
For more information on Blood Oath, visit www.bloodoathbourbon.com.
*While supplies last, first-come first-served basis. One per customer please.
ABOUT LUX ROW DISTILLERS
Real roots, real family, real products: Lux Row Distillers – a new bourbon distillery experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – is a family-owned venture, bringing the Lux family history and spirits tradition to the bourbon industry. Lux Row Distillers is the home of Luxco’s bourbon brands, including Rebel Yell, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbons.
Located in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky, the 18,000-square foot Lux Row Distillers includes a visitor center, barrel warehouses, a tasting room, and event space, making for an all-encompassing bourbon experience. The 90-acre property is home to an 18th century stone house – which is registered as a National Historic Place – and a long, tree-lined driveway providing a scenic entrance to the distillery.
For more information about the distillery, visit www.luxrowdistillers.com. You can also like Lux Row Distillers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/luxrowdistillers or follow the distillery on Instagram @luxrowdistillers.
“These Russell’s single barrels might be the most important whiskies on the market today…These are truly the swan song of that special place, but no one seems to even be talking about it.” —David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
This is about as far as your money can go in Bourbon – truly unique, exceedingly rare, full of depth and character, and a taste that will rival all the elusive cult-level bottlings at multiples of the price. All of these exclusives are one-off opportunities, a piece of history, and simply some of the most exciting things on our shelves in any category. Few Bourbons we’ve carried over the years have elicited the kind of acclaim and enthusiasm of our Russell’s singles, and this new crop echoes that loudly.
Coming from the now-extinct Old Ripy distillery, these are hand-selected gems that each have their own unique and compelling profile. Each deserves a spot on your shelf at home, but there’s something for every palate – finding which one speaks to you is half of the adventure, but it will be nearly impossible to be disappointed in any of them. What they have in common is that they are intense, complex, head-turning Bourbons of the highest caliber:
#320 (Rickhouse K, 5th Floor) – this is old school to the core, it is a remarkably aromatic and ethereal on the nose and ultra rich on the palate. The combination of power and grace in this #320 is striking.
#428 (Rickhouse M, 4th Floor) – brilliant, pure, and bright fruit add to a rich core. There’s tons of cherry, maple, and vanilla. It is a powerhouse, but still full of character. For those that skip their dessert for a whiskey, this is the one.
#17-314 (Rickhouse B, 6th Floor) – lots of holiday flavors (cinnamon, nutmeg) make this one almost festive, but also compelling in a way that’s landed it as one of many of our team’s favorites of the lots. A great balance between the two above, but unique all the same
#17-092 (Rickhouse B, 5th Floor) – this one relies on some compelling savory notes followed by beautiful honeyed and toffee flavors. It is a slightly roasty, deeply flavored Bourbon that hits the low notes and has immense structure that leads to a nearly endless finish.
Tasting these next to each other just makes each one shine that much more. But lacking that, make sure you grab a few while they’re still available. Few whiskies we carry garner such immediate adoration – make sure to find out what the excitement is all about before these singluar bottles are sold out.
The legacy and history of the Wild Turkey brand is one of the most interesting in Kentucky. But what sets the whiskies apart from all the rest is a commitment to quality that few in the industry can match. This commitment is the result of one family’s influence on the brand, the namesake for this special bottle. They were there when an marketing exec at Austin Nichols distribution coined the name Wild Turkey bourbon during a hunting trip in 1940. They were there when Austin Nichols ultimately acquired the old distillery (built in 1891) to give the Wild Turkey brand a home. They were there for multiple changes in ownership as the industry consolidated. They insisted on proper sour mashing, lower distillation and entry proof, on natural aging in traditional rickhouses. The Russell’s have their way of making bourbon and that’s why this whisky is so good. We happen to think their way is better (and we know it’s a lot more expensive). It also represents the final stocks from the place that made the Russell’s what they are today. The old plant was torn down in 2010 and soon we will not be able to offer any products distilled there. While the new plant continues to produce top tier bourbon, but there’s no doubt that this piece of history is something to be cherished. Hopefully people realize how cherished these bourbons should be while they enjoy them like Jimmy intended. This cask was distilled on Nov 25th of ’08 and aged on the 5th floor of Rickhouse B. Bottled in late 2017.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2018
Our current selection of Russell’s barrels allows everyone who has ever thought “I’d sure love to travel to distilleries and pick and choose barrels of whiskey” to pull back the curtain and experience the job of K&L Spirits Buyer for themselves. Imagine being presented with dozens of barrels and trying to choose your favorite one. Occasionally the differences are subtle. Sometimes they are impossible to miss. We found so many great barrels at Wild Turkey that we couldn’t say no to the opportunity to buy them since we knew there was something for every bourbon drinker. #092 opens with generous caramel and toffee sweetness and progresses into a more savory realm of woody garden herbs, tobacco, and leather. The finish carries on and expands into cracked pepper and grilled fruits.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 31, 2018
The Russell’s Reserve stuff seems to be one of those ultra high quality amazing brands that the geeks get, but the greater public hasn’t really began to appreciate just how special they are. If I were a collector rather than a drinker of Bourbon, I’d be loading up on the Russell’s right now because these represent the last stocks of the old distillery. Yes the brand will continue to exist without even the tiniest hiccup, but for those who really understand they’ll know they’re drinking a piece of history. Cask #17-092 was selected last year and only arriving now. It’s from the same warehouse as 17-314 but distilled 5 days earlier and racked one floor below. The nose is a heady mixture of rich nutty nougat, big earthy forest floor, wild cherries and exotic spices. The palate is brimming with deep baked apple spice, wild honey, dark cacao and roasted coffee notes. Beautiful length with a finish that continues for ages, this one is perfect for those who LOVE the darker toastier flavors that bourbon can sometimes exhibit.
Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018
Our Russell’s single barrel exclusives have been the best Bourbons I’ve tasted at K&L in the past three years. They also have an indelible impact on those I’ve shared it with. They’re that good, and each barrel seems to be good for a different reason. Finding yours is half the fun. #092 is a bit more deeply pitched on the nose with burnt caramel and spice. It starts soft but just keeps building exponentially on the palate with waves of spice and toasty oak. The fruit shows up at the end as the complex flavors last for a minute-plus. This is a masterclass on structure and nuance.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 10, 2018
Few bourbons have the prowess to stave off tasting in lieu of continually nosing, either out of bewilderment, impressiveness, or nostalgia- or all of the above. This barreling of Russells did exactly that. Sitting at my desk, I took in the aromas and let the esters bombard my olfactory epithelium, which flooded my brain with serotonin. Warm, pleasant, and inviting, opulent notes of caramel and chocolate brownies, baked apples, and oak and leather navigated my nasal cavity, putting me in a pleasant haze. When I was finally ready to taste this fragrant dram, juicy apples, brown sugar, blue raspberry Jolly Ranchers, and lemon curd announced their arrival. As the main players began to recede, a small chuckle escaped. A flavor that brought me back to going out to diners with my parents decided to linger: Shirley Temple. By the time my glass was empty and my analysis complete, worries and annoyances from the day evaporated with the last of the cask strength vapors escaping from the glass.
This cask was distilled on Nov 20th of ’08 and aged on the 6th floor of Rickhouse B. Bottled in late 2017.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 31, 2018
Part of what’s so incredible about tasting all the Russell’s single barrels side by side is that you find incredible diversity among them why easily identifying a core DNA that makes them unmistakably Wild Turkey. That’s of course the result of the incredible care and detail that the distillery takes with each barrel and a testament to the complexity of this special product. There’s also something cool about tasting them all at the same proof, which is only a couple of degrees off the full cask strength (not the only reason you should buy one of each of these excellent casks). This awesome whiskey was distilled just 5 days after 17-092 and stored in the same warehouse, but couldn’t be more different. This one is pure cinnamon spice – a real Christmas bomb! The sweet candy corn and bright woodsy quality balanced out the hot cinnamon candy on the nose, but it comes right back on the palate. If you grew up loving Red Hots this is the perfect whisky for you. A total fireball and the hottest spiciest Russell’s we have right now.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2018
This barrel tastes just like Christmas to me. A constant stream of cinnamon, nutmeg, baked bread, pie crusts, and some savory earthy herbs going on in the kitchen. It’s raging hot and sweet spice and leaves no questions as to how WT got the nickname Kickin’ Chicken. If you had to pin me down for a favorite Russell’s barrel in our current stock, it’s this one. It’s the gift this year for every bourbon loving family member I have.
Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018
Our Russell’s single barrel exclusives have been the best Bourbons I’ve tasted at K&L in the past three years. They also have an indelible impact on those I’ve shared it with. They’re that good, and each barrel seems to be good for a different reason. Finding yours is half the fun. #314 is gentle soft, elegant, and deep, but then ends incredibly spicy with tons of cinnamon, burnt orange, and a textured mouthfeel. This is one for those that like the powerful side of things, although with a touch of water there’s depth to spare behind that brawn.
Illya Haase | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 06, 2018
Russels Barrel 17-314 was a stand out for me. I am splitting hairs because they are all exceptionally distinct, but 314 had me at the nose: intoxicating wood spice, subtle cinnamon, and charred vanilla bean. The front palate was soft, but had a great complexity, with a pop of caramel, vanilla and toffee. Mid palate opens with a burst of red hot candies, baking spice, and cloves. The finish has a great balance with honey and cinnamon notes that will warm you for ages. Its hot and high in alcohol, but in the best possible way! This will be a great go to on those long winter nights!
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 10, 2018
Despite being at cask strength I found this expression to be quite approachable on the nose, giving off notes of spiced caramel apples, apricots, sweet leather and pencil shavings- a great bottle to enjoy by the mantle during the holiday season. On the palate, a red berry medley opened while black cherry and sarsaparilla showed up soon after. Lingering oak notes were the last to the party yet didnt seem to stick around for very long.
The stupendous Russell’s Reserve Single barrels are without a doubt the most underrated treasure on our shelves. The represent the history of old school bourbon production and the incredible history of the Wild Turkey brand and their incredible stewards over the decades, the Russell family. But what most people don’t realize (mostly because Wild Turkey doesn’t really want to talk about it) are that these bourbons are from a distillery that was torn down nearly 10 years ago. They represent some of the last stocks of the old wooden plant that was first built by Thomas Ripy in 1891. Old Ripy, Old Hickory or The Boulevard Distillery was that special place where Jimmy Russell worked when Wild Turkey/Austin Nichols bought the distillery 1971. Nothing about the old distillery itself made for better bourbon, but there’s no doubt that the bourbon made there was some of the very best. The people and the committment to quality are what set it apart. These casks represent the end of an era, one that no one seems to know or realize is even gone. Also the taste absolutely spectacular! This stellar cask was selected by us WAY BACK in August of 2016. We were incredibly lucky to have had Mr. Jimmy Russell himself out to the warehouse with us. We hadn’t realized, but two of those barrels got lost in the suppliers warehouse for nearly TWO years. This incredible whisky was distilled on January 24th 2007 and aged in on the 5th floor of warehouse K. It was bottled in late 2016.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2018
Exotic and beguiling. Cask #320 is packed with brewers spices, varnish, fresh herbs, and caramel galore. With a huge presence on the palate this barrel will stand up in the most complex cocktails or any additions of water or ice. It’s insanely enjoyable neat and doesn’t possess a hard edge. Just big, rich, and round bourbon to delight. If you want a taste of the past, this is the bottle. It’ll remind you that they just don’t make ’em like they used to.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 31, 2018
I’m going to keep saying this over and over, but Russell’s Single barrels might be the most important whiskies on the market today. The people who make it don’t like to talk about the fact that these are the last stocks from the special Old Ripy distillery before it was torn down because they built a beautiful shiny new distillery in its place, but that does not mean we should not appreciate the quality of what once existed and lament the lose of something historical and special. I’m sure the new distillery will continue to offer great single barrels, but they will never be the same as these special casks. Barrel #320 was one of the two lost in the warehouse for nearly 2 years after being selected on site with the illustrious Jimmy Russell back in 2016. A huge contrast to the bold peppery 428, this barrel exhibits an absolutely intoxicating aroma of exotic wood, thuja, earthy forest floor, red fruit preserves, caramelized sugar, and old leather. The ultra savory nose is totally contrasted by one of the softest entries of any WT I’ve ever seen. No kick no bite just ultra rich texture and sweet wood and toffee on the front palate. As it builds in the mouth we start to pick up more spice and what ultimately seemed like it was going to be a total sugar bomb dries right up. This one is a real dream and has that old school bourbon quality that’s so hard to find these days.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 10, 2018
Tasting through these cask selections was like running down a line of my good friends, all holding up their hands for a high five; each one eliciting a slightly different sensation but the fun and excitement only building with the next. No two were the same yet they shared similarities that were undeniable and extraordinary.The aromas coming from the glass seemed to push their way past the fumes of this cask strength whiskey. Sweet oaky notes hurried out of the glass, followed closely by leather and straw, making me feel like I should be in an old, dusty bar in the days of the Wild West. Fruitier notes then started to creep up, giving off a perfectly ripe yellow peach, which then transformed into candy corn and chocolate powder. My first sip materialized me on a old oak porch, somewhere in the south of the U.S. looking out onto a serene countryside as the sun set. Flavors of stone fruits, raspberry slushy and toasted brown sugar distinctly meandered across the palate, slowly fading into fruit punch with apple slices and fruit chews. If youre looking for a nice, sipping bourbon to relax with on your rocking chair at dusk, look no further. Actually, I take that back- if you want a damn good bourbon anywhere, anytime, pick this up.
Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018
Our Russell’s single barrel exclusives have been the best Bourbons I’ve tasted at K&L in the past three years. They also have an indelible impact on those I’ve shared it with. They’re that good, and each barrel seems to be good for a different reason. Finding yours is half the fun. #320 leads spicy but mellows out to deep caramels, deep red fruit, and rebounding cinnamon spice. The texture is terrific and it finishes extremely long with hints of vanilla echoing at the end. This is one that will find lots of friends and has a bit of everything.
This wonderful specimen was distilled on October 11th 2007 and aged on the 4th Floor or Rickhouse M. It was bottled in late 2016.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2018
Noticeably sweet and fruity in comparison to the other Russell’s barrels in stock. A neat glass of this feels like you’ve already mixed a Manhattan. That brandied cherry note is balanced by a complex dance of coffee and chocolate dance. It’s a perfect dessert bourbon. If you can’t decide between pulling a fresh shot of espresso, a piece of cake, or a drink, pour one of these and feel like you’re enjoying all three. An excellent nightcap.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 31, 2018
I’ve stated on multiple occasions my belief that the Russell’s Single barrels represent some of the most exciting and underappreciated products on our shelves. Not only is Wild Turkey committed to making a higher quality product, these bourbons are distilled at a historic distillery that was demolished nearly 10 years ago. Since these whiskies are about 10 years old, we’re unlikely to ever see single barrels from that special distillery again. These are truly the swan song of that special place, but no one seems to even be talking about it. A modern day Stitzel-Weller in my book – I’m glad we bought everything we could when we had the chance. Barrel 428 was selected way back in 2016 when Driscoll and I had the extreme pleasure of opening barrels in Rickhouse K with Jimmy Russell himself. In some insane twist of fate this barrel and #320 were lost in the distributors warehouse for more than two years before popping up with our subsequent batch of casks. 428 has a big nose of candied cherries, fresh tanned hide, dusty dried herbs and sweet tea. The palate is big bold and spicy! The old kickin’ chicken gets right at it, with a ton of white pepper, dried earthy oak, roasted vanilla bean and hints of candied cinnamon(redhots). The finish sweets up a bit with some softer maple character balancing the intensity of the palate. A big bold biter for people who like to fight a bit with their bourbon.
Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018
Our Russell’s single barrel exclusives have been the best Bourbons I’ve tasted at K&L in the past three years. They also have an indelible impact on those I’ve shared it with. They’re that good, and each barrel seems to be good for a different reason. Finding yours is half the fun. #428 leads with massively powerful aromatics of that have hints of baking chocolate and barrel char, but the palate shows mellow fruit (grilled pineapple/stonefruit) before picking up again to a spice-lined finish. It is remarkably complex and changing and is for those who want to take their time with it.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 10, 2018
The second of four barrels to entice me into nosing the glass a bit longer than I normally would, this barrel has rich aromatics of candied orange peel and chocolate with black cherry and (mostly) the torched sugar of crème brulee. The texture of this bourbon added another dimension to the flavor profile, and once again, I was reminded of a childhood drink, the Roy Rogers. Red cherries, cola, and black plum elicited memories of going out to dinner with my parents and feeling rebellious for ordering a (n.a.) drink named after someone. The finish on this one was loooooong with orchard fruits (pears/nectarines/apples) rooting for me to go back in for another taste.
A richly dark sherried hogshead form the Signatory Vintage warehouses, yielding just 168 bottles. Think; luxury mince pies, Christmas cake and mocca coffee. Auchentoshan 21 Year Old 1997 vintage Lowland single malt Scotch whiskey. Single cask refill sherry hogshead #2911 bottled October 2018 by Signatory Vintage for the Un-Chillfiltered series. This is a specially selected release exclusive to The Whisky Barrel. 168 bottles at natural cask strength. MAXIMUM 2 BOTTLES PER CUSTOMER.
Auchentoshan Distillery was built by John Bulloch around 1800 and originally licensed in 1823 as Duntocher Distillery but renamed Auchentoshan Distillery during the 1830s. Auchentoshan is situated just north of Dalmuir, close by the northern bank of the River Clyde. Then it was in the countryside and now hugging the north western fringe of Glasgow yet not far from Loch Lomond. Auchentoshan is now one of the few distilleries in Scotland to produce malt whiskey using a full triple distillation process. Expressions released by Wemyss, Hunter Laing and Cadenheads prove very popular.
