Spring Scotch Specials – K&L Exclusives at Terrific Pricing – Scotch Whisky News
Deep Discounts on Collectible, Aged Scotch
It’s time for a little Spring cleaning here at K&L, so we’ve sharpened our pencils and slashed the prices on a set of aged Scotches that are sure to tempt more than a few collectors. This set represents some of the finest values you’ll find in Scotch, anywhere. From the extraordinary 29 Year Old Single Grain from Cambus to the amazingly soft and seductive 30 Year Old Strathclyde, these are delightfully unique bottlings you won’t find anywhere else and at prices that will make your jaw drop. This is a last-of-bin offer, so once they are gone, they are gone for good. This is a terrific opportunity to stock up, while saving a bundle!
We have two amazing rarities from the reclusive Loch Lomond distillery this year. A unique facility, Loch Lomond makes every type of whisky they need for their blends in house. This means they operate a huge number of both pot stills and column stills. They make whisky in damn near every combination, from heavily peated single malts to peat-free malt and multiple varieties of grain whisky. This 22 year old is technically a single grain, but as grain whisky can be made from any grain, this so happens to be made from malted barley. Think of this as a much, much older version of Nikka Coffey Malt. As fans of our extensive grain program know, when grain whisky gets over the two decade mark, it’s a whole new ballgame. The richness of time shows itself in what is otherwise a traditional blended whisky filler. Add to that the inherent complexity of malt as the grain for this cask and you’ve got fireworks. At first subtle, but building steadily into a crescendo of fruit, fudge, and spice, this is a sexy little number to add to your drinking portfolio.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 13, 2018
Here is a weird one! I’ve never had a grain whisky anything like this little puppy. The distillery, which has since changed hands, used to get in lots of trouble trying to sell this stuff as “pure malt” before the SWA banned the terminology. Now we’re the beneficiaries of those oddball experiments. The nose is filled with vibrant orchard fruit, much more expressive than most grain whiskies at this age. Subtle hints of green tea, toasted sour dough, vanilla wafers. The palate has tons of green apple, white pepper, sugar candies and fresh herbs. A playful example of the interesting things that happen when you distill 100% malt mash on a column still!
Built in 1811, Port Dundas grew throughout the 19th and early 20th century by absorbing neighboring producers. It quickly became Scotland’s largest distillery. During its long history on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow, this grain whisky powerhouse provided much of the juice for the Johnnie Walker and White Horse blended whiskies. With Diageo’s expansion and modernization of Cameronbridge in the early 2000s, production at Port Dundas ceased, and in 2011 the landmark site was completely demolished. That closure makes this 28 year old single grain whisky a veritable piece of history. And at the same time, one of the most affordable ghost distilleries available on the market. Nearly every time we have the opportunity to purchase old grain from Port Dundas at this kind of price, we have to take it. The whisky is too enjoyable to pass up. Just as it’s been a workhorse for blenders for 200 years, it’s a workhorse in nearly every K&L staff member’s whisky collection.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 17, 2019
I often talk about how Single Grain shouldn’t be seen as some type of Single Malt light or an offshoot of bourbon, but should really be treated as a stand-alone category that should be judged on its own merits. That’s why we thought it was so important to offer a diverse selection of well-aged grain at reasonable prices. We’ve managed to amass a collection of nearly ever active grain distillery (save for Girvan) along with several ghost distillers, all in the $100 range and absolutely delicious. Anybody who can wrap their brains and palates around the subtle complexities of grain whisky should consider amassing as many of these awesome examples as they can afford, not only for the exquisite learning experience, but simply because we’re not sure when we’ll have this kind of broad access again. This lovely Port Dundas is not the typical thing we get on these grains. Subtle is normally the name of the game, but this Dundas pops right out of the glass with a tinned pineapple, bake apples, toffee and lemon meringue. The oak is very much on the back burner with the vibrant, zesty fruit taking over. Touches of savory cereal qualities come in for a growing finish that goes darker and exhibits tiny bits of oak char and vanilla bean. A fun one that’s more expressive than your average grain.
The shuttererd Cambus distillery had a spectacular history in the development of modern whisky and has had an equally important, albeit shorter and more recent, history in K&L’s direct import program. At the dawn of the 20th century, not everyone was in agreement that grain whisky produced on a Coffey still could actually be considered whisky. The extraordinary quality of Cambus was a key component in establishing that precedent, which is a huge part of today’s whisky trade. In fact, for many years, Cambus formed a large portion of Johnnie Walker Blue. Unfortunately for whisky fans everywhere, Cambus was closed by Diageo in 1993. As a result, every dram is a piece of history and one step closer to the extinction of a classic. With stocks dwindling, we are thrilled that we have yet again been able to grab a cask for your and our drinking pleasure. Nearly 30 years in barrel has resulted in this grain whisky being devilishly smooth. The soft fruit and surprisingly subtle barrel influence goes down much too easily.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 17, 2019
I often talk about how Single Grain shouldn’t be seen as some type of Single Malt light or an offshoot of bourbon, but should really be treated as a stand-alone category that should be judged on its own merits. That’s why we thought it was so important to offer a diverse selection of well-aged grain at reasonable prices. We’ve managed to amass a collection of nearly ever active grain distillery (save for Girvan) along with several ghost distillers, all in the $100 range and absolutely delicious. Anybody who can wrap their brains and palates around the subtle complexities of grain whisky should consider amassing as many of these awesome examples as they can afford, not only for the exquisite learning experience, but simply because we’re not sure when we’ll have this kind of broad access and outrageous pricing again. This Cambus is probably the friendliest of the set. Having seen significant evaporation in its nearly 30 years, the bottle is light on its feet, but no slouch. Expect a head blast of shaved coconut and spiced apple. The palate is easy and round with a tiny salinity that keeps it exciting. Long and easy, the subtle coconut continues but brings in a sweet taffy and caramel covered nougat. I hate to say “a beginner’s grain”, because I don’t want to scare away the initiated, but this one will pass anyone’s smell test.
A co-op of sorts, the North British distillery was founded in Edinburgh in 1885 by a group of gentlemen looking to break into the grain whisky business. At the time, there was a virtual monopoly on grain production controlled by a company called DCL. North British found great success and has grown its production over the years due to the tremendous quality and quantity of their primarily maize or wheat distillate. The knock-on effects of this enormous production are incredibly inexpensive, yet quite well-aged stocks of premium grain whisky on the blending and independent bottling market. Something of a wheelhouse for K&L, we are always excited to bring great old grain into California whenever we can. Even if you don’t believe you’ve tasted North British before, you almost certainly have. Its sweet grain whisky finds its way into such notable blends as Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark, Chivas Regal, and J&B. In a great irony, these blends (and the North British distillery itself) are all owned by Edrington and Diageo, the direct outgrowth and descendants of DCL, the company that North British was founded to compete with in the first place. No matter! The whisky is delicious, it’s inexpensive, it’s available, and it’s ready to drink!
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 14, 2019
The plethora of old grain in our portfolio at the moment shows just how much we think of these bottles. They offer some of the best value on the planet in the Brown Water category. I mean seriously, 30 year old cask strength whisky for a buck twenty? In 2019?!? The NB30 bottle is decadent. It’s creamy, loaded with syrup, citrus peel, vanilla and a bit of nougat. The finish flourishes with loads of sweet barrel spice. At 49.4%, it’s almost too friendly.
What began as a neutral spirit facility in 1927 to produce buckets of gin has grown into one of the most successful grain whisky operations on the planet. Starting in ’57, for nearly 20 years it also discretely housed a malt facility going by the name of Kinclaith before being converted to focus exclusively on grain whisky. While historically some of the distillate would end up in Ballantine’s and Teacher’s blended whiskies, the distillery is owned today by Chivas Brothers. The grain production is wheat based giving this 30 year old whisky an amazingly soft and creamy feel.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 14, 2019
Round, like a loaf of freshly baked bread, the nose of this whisky makes no secret about the fact that it’s going to be a soft and easy drinker. It just smells comforting and pleasant, like a warm, corner store bakery. A little sweet spice of wood comes through the nose, but the magic really happens when you get around to tasting it. Honeyed graham crackers, nutmeg, and cinnamon coat your palate, as a little browned butter shines through. Toast sprinkled with vanilla sugar comes to mind. It’s full and gentle, but with a slight piquant note from the 51.8% cask strength. It’s one of those ‘practically perfect in every way’ kinda whiskies.
