A Bourbon Distillery on a Tear Rolls Out Three More Stunners
“Bardstown is manufacturing hit after hit with every new release.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

NOTE: In accordance with local directives, our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have low cost and free delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

For a few years now, we’ve enjoyed tremendous success with the line-up of highly unique, expertly crafted whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Eponymously named for the town at the epicenter of the Kentucky bourbon tradition, this distiller maintains a healthy respect for its roots while also pushing the innovative envelope in its blending practices and collaborative ventures. The second releases of the Discovery and Fusion Series represent some of the most distinctive profiles in their respective classes. The Discovery #1 thrilled us and anyone we turned on to it, and the #2 has seemingly set a new bar for that already impressive collectible bottling. The Fusion Series #2 is just about the greatest sequel you could wish for to follow the Fusion Series #1, which was Whiskey Advocate’s #11 whiskey of 2019. If these two weren’t enough, Bardstown also carries out a truly inspired collaborative program, sourcing barrels from top-notch breweries, distilleries, wineries, and cideries across the U.S. This newest edition features barrels that once aged the world-famous Prisoner red wine, and the result is nothing short of pure hedonism. Those who’ve partaken of the previous Bardstown releases will know what’s on offer here, and those who haven’t should pay serious attention to these stupendous new editions. The quality curve is exponential here, and Bardstown Bourbon Company is a name to follow.

Bardstown Bourbon Company “Fusion Series #2” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($59.99)

The new release of Bardstown’s Fusion delivers the goods. While series #1 won big accolades as Whiskey Advocate’s #11 best whiskey of the year in 2019, we expect big things for Series #2. We here we have the same 60% Bardstown whiskey to 40% 12 year old sourced juice (74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley). Bardstown delivers 18% of their wheated bourbon and 42% of their high rye recipe to the blend, but in this series, the BBC whiskies have grown a little older. The rye component is more assertive, yet so is the wheat. It’s a spicy and creamy combination that drinks easy. The edges of series #1 have been rounded off and the whisky feels more complete.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 05, 2020

The Bardstown collaborative approach extends well beyond their unique finished barrels. They involve the entire Bardstown team in the blending process, bringing together their distilling, culinary (they operate an exceptional restaurant) and beverage (and a top notch bar program) teams to make sure they have a blend that truly reflects what they’re trying to accomplish. They’ve succeeded in a big way. The first release of Fusion won major accolades, both from us here at K&L, and folks like the Whisky Advocate – who named it #11 on their top 20 whiskies for 2019. I daresay, that Fusion #2 is a better whiskey. It makes use of 40% 12 year old KY Bourbon and the 60% remainder is a combo of Bardstown’s wheat and high rye distillate. The whisky is very similar to series #1, but the hard edges have been sanded down. It’s more round and supple. The rye component stands out a little more in flavor, but it really maintains the supple creamy wheat texture. It is an impeccable blend of different ages and mashbills in one of the best new bourbons to hit the market in 2020.

Andrew Tobin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 10, 2020

Bardstown’s Fusion Series 1 was one of my favorite bottles of bourbon we carried while it lasted. I went through 2 or 3 of them easily and the rest of the staff in SF was equally fond. When the series 2 came in I eagerly bought a bottle as I wanted to see what their evolution as distillers and blenders was going to be like. A little tight when I first opened it. I let the bottle sit for a few days (yes, whiskey too can benefit from breathing). Upon second approach the bottle was much more aromatic with notes of baking spice, cherry and apricot, roasted almond and hazelnut. This has to be one of the softest palates of any bourbon at nearly 100 proof. The mouth explodes up front with fruit and spice and sits soft and round on the mid palate with the roasted nut, and toffee. The finish is full of burnt caramel, Baker’s chocolate, and tons of wood spice. Very different from the original offering, you can really see what an extra year of maturation does to their own distillate and makes me excited for what they have to come!

Bardstown Bourbon Company “Collaboration Series – The Prisoner” Red Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon (750ml) ($129.99)

The next in line from Bardstown’s epic collaborations is “The Prisoner.” This world-famous Napa Valley red blend meshes perfectly with the 9 year old Tennessee distillate over 18 months of finishing. Bottled at an even 100 proof, it’s everything you love about The Prisoner delivered into whiskey form. It’s rich and complex – a hedonistic combination of blackberries, cherries, honey, vanilla, oak, baking spice, and a touch of grape sweetness.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 05, 2020

Bardstown is manufacturing hit after hit with every new release. The Prisoner Collaboration is sure to be no different. The world famous Prisoner Red Blend is a wine that smacks of sweet red fruits and barrel spice. These things play perfectly with the 9 year old Tennessee mashbill. The whisky shows gobs of black cherries, honey glazed corn, peanut butter nuttiness, tons of vanilla and complex wood. It’s a big, sweet, luxurious bourbon.

Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #2” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($129.99)

It’s hard to imagine an improvement over Discovery Series #1, but Bardstown has done it. Number two is a blend of whiskies all over 10 years old. The make up is 44% 10 year (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley), 39% 12 year (74% corn, 18% rye, 8% barley) and 17% 14 year old whiskey (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% barley). The blend here shows more wood and intense rye spice than Series #1. It’s a big whiskey in a big bottle that delivers a big value for the most discerning bourbon drinkers.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 05, 2020

Discovery Series #1 was a huge hit with staff and customers alike. I think batch #2 will shake the bourbon industry. It’s exceptional. Everything in the blend is over 10 years old. The rye in the mashbills really stands out. It’s a large-and-in-charge whiskey that carries a ton of spice. Yet it doesn’t lack for sweetness. It’s full of caramel, maple syrup, and vanilla notes. The oak is very pretty and well integrated. A sweet cherry cola profile fills the middle of the palate. It’s balanced and very sippable at 122.2 proof. A supremely high quality whisky that is worth buying in multiples. You’ll definitely want one or two to drink now and a couple to stash in the collection for later.

Hello friends, family, & whisky lovers,

It’s been a hectic past week for all of us, but we wanted to share some updates you’ve been asking about regarding the anticipated release of Courage & Conviction.

First, our Visitors Center has been closed since March 15th due to guidance regarding COVID-19. As such, the Courage & Conviction Release Party set for April 4th will be postponed to a date to be determined.

You’re such a huge part of Courage & Conviction’s release and we’re eager to celebrate with you, but in the interest of safety and health for our guests and our team, we feel postponement is in the best interests of everyone. We’ll be in touch when things settle down and can officially set a date.

Courage & Conviction – Now on Shelves in Virginia

On a positive note, we’re extremely proud to continue with the release of Courage & Conviction and happy to announce bottles are on shelves of select Virginia ABC Stores. If you’re interested in purchasing from your local Virginia ABC Store, visit our website to find out where you can get a bottle.

Buy Two Or More Bottles, Get $1 Shipping

Get your whisky delivered to you! Our 3rd party distributor has begun taking pre-orders of Courage & Conviction and is offering a buy two or more bottles and get $1 shipping.

In 2015, we began distilling our world-class American Single Malt whisky in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, but the dream started much earlier. After many years of planning, building and preparing for this inaugural release, we’re proud to see our founder George’s vision come to life.

Despite things looking a bit different in the world than we originally expected, we’re rolling with the punches and raising a glass with Courage & Conviction.

Be healthy. Be strong. We’ll get through this together! 🥃

Cheers,

– The Team at Virginia Distillery Company

Hello Dear Customers,

We wanted to reach out and let you know what we here at D&M are doing during the California shelter in place. We do have a license that would allow us to open for pickups. At this point in time in an abundance of caution, and to follow the spirit of the shelter in place, we are going to remain closed. Our online store at dandm.com remains open, and one of us will be going in once or twice a week to pack and ship any online orders that are placed. We love seeing you all, but to break the chain of potential transmission, we want to do our small part. People before profits in this time of need. We are in a good place to immediately reopen and resume normal operations once the shelter in place is lifted, and look forward to seeing you all on the other side of the CoVid-19 shelter in place.

Stay Safe and be well,

Mike and Karen Politz and the Staff at D&M

Covid-19 Service Update

As the Coronavirus / Covid 19 situation continues to develop, we will be following government guidelines and are taking appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our staff, families, customers, and suppliers whose welfare is of the utmost importance to us.

Where possible, our staff are working remotely to ensure that our customer support remains unaffected.

Our Birmingham store remains open for business and we can offer a contactless purchase option if you require. We have parking right outside our store and can bring any product to your vehicle to minimise your contact with us.

We continue to ship parcels domestically and to international destinations. Please be patient with our couriers as they are currently shipping very high volumes of parcels.

Our distribution warehouse is located on a different site, and our retail and distribution teams have been isolated from one another. We have taken additional steps to ensure that all parcels leaving our warehouse have been handled under World Health Organisation guidelines.

Hard To Find Whisky thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes and good health,

Hard To Find Whisky

BEAM SUNTORY AND SOUTHERN GLAZER’S WINE & SPIRITS DONATE $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT IMPACTED BAR AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES

Donation will provide resources and financial aid to workers affected by mandated closures amidst the COVID-19 pandemic 

March 20, 2020 (CHICAGO, IL) – Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS), the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, will donate a total of $1 million to the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) Foundation Emergency Assistance Program and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation.

These organizations support the bar and restaurant community and are providing financial aid and other resources for workers who are most impacted by COVID-19 as a result of restaurant and bar closures across the country.

Beam Suntory is equally grateful to Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits that the company shares its people-first approach – a powerful example of what these businesses and their relationship can do, especially in times of crisis.

“The people of Beam Suntory and our colleagues at SGWS are passionate about helping support the bartenders, restaurant workers and their families whose lives have been turned upside down by the global pandemic,” said Albert Baladi, President and CEO, Beam Suntory. “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions. We are proud to support the trade community and their livelihoods, as they are part of our extended Beam Suntory family, and we are fortunate to be part of an industry where so many companies are uniting to assist our communities in this unprecedented battle.”

“We are pleased to partner with Beam Suntory to support the trade community,” said Wayne Chaplin, CEO, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “In a time of great need, it is important to unite efforts to provide the trade with extra resources to ensure everyone ultimately emerges in a position of strength, together.”

Additionally, Beam Suntory is working with its other distributors across various states, including Major Brands, Badger Liquor, Fedway Associates, Inc., Allied Beverage Group, LLC, Empire Distributors, Inc., Best Brands, Inc., and Horizon Beverage Group, to provide donations to local organizations that will further help support the trade in their respective communities during this challenging time. 

About Beam Suntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, and employs nearly 22,000 team members. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.

About the United States Bartenders’ Guild

Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders’ Guild®️ is a non-profit professional society of bartenders and other hospitality professionals uniting the hospitality community to advance professional bartending. The USBG believes that every US bartender achieves greater personal and professional success by connecting to diverse local and national hospitality communities. Through our network of over 40 communities nationwide, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, community service projects, and skills-based competition. Learn more at usbg.org.

About Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF) is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. While RWCF was founded in 2018 to advocate for gender equality, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the RWCF Crisis Relief Fund’s full focus is now on supporting workers, small business owners, and an industry in crisis. The fund is structured to address three needs: 50% will go to Southern Smoke Foundation to support the individuals in the restaurant industry who are in immediate financial crisis, 25% to support the organizations working to provide crisis relief such as mental health support, childcare, and food pantries, and 25% to establish a no-interest, no-collateral loan program for small businesses that need help getting back up and running after this crisis has passed. For more information, please visit www.RestaurantWorkersCF.org.

Arran 1995 Single Cask #217
The Whisky Shop Exclusive

The latest Whisky Shop Exclusive Single Cask is here. This single cask expression from Arran’s eponymous distillery has been specially selected and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop as part of The 1995 Collection, celebrating the distillery’s founding.

Free UK delivery on all orders over £25 for a limited time

Distilled in November 1995 and matured in a single cask (#1995/217) for almost a quarter of a century, this expression was bottled in January 2020 at a strength of 51.7% abv. Just 294 bottles have been produced, each one presented in a beautiful trapezoidal bottle.

£179.00

Signatory Vintage
30th Anniversary Scotch

Ben Nevis, Laphroaig, Highland Park, Blair Athol and more!

Blasts From The Past

Signatory Vintage celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018. They released an amazing array of old, rare and big vintage whiskies to celebrate. We’re delighted to have secured some more of these highly sought after whiskies.

Shop – Signatory 30th Anniversary Whisky

New Arrivals and Back in Stock

For our whiskey drinkers, we have a ridiculous value in the form of the Spirits of the Apocalypse “The Walking Dead” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Regularly priced at $40, we have it for only $12.99. This is a lot of whiskey for the price. With a profile that places it alongside Bulleit Bourbon, but at half the price, it is the perfect go-to for all your whiskey cocktails. We are also pleased to announce the arrival of two New Riff bottlings. When we first introduced this label, it became an instant hit, and we fully expect this enthusiasm to carry through to these releases. Crafted by whiskey luminary Larry Ebersold, they have a pedigree that far surpasses their modest prices.

Spirits of the Apocalypse “The Walking Dead” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $40) $12.99 View

New Riff Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $44.99 View

New Riff “Single Barrel” Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $49.99 View

1994 Auchroisk 25 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $129.99 View

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. In these dark days I hope this channel is providing some light entertainment. This week’s episode of the show features the Independent bottling company, House of Macduff.

https://youtu.be/DyjEoUm5sKM

NEW WEALTH REPORT ON LUXURY INVESTMENT INDEX REVEALS WHISKY AS MOST COVETED COLLECTABLE

Results of The Wealth Report’s new unique luxury investment index reveals whisky was one of the most coveted objects of desire in 2019.

The report out this month, produced by Knight Frank, says Rare Whisky has grown in value the most over the last 10 years at +564% and increased by +5% in the past 12 months; and states casks remained in huge demand. By comparison cars have seen an increase of 194%, art by 141% and wine by 120%.

Simon Aron, Owner of Cask Trade, that offers a transparent, trustworthy and honest marketplace for the trading of whisky by the cask, says: “Whisky will always be drunk in times of celebration and in times of crisis. Cask whisky is the best long term alternative investment with no free fall.”

Objects of desire

In the last 10 years, whisky has far outstripped the more established alternative assets such as art, cars, wines, watches and jewellery and is now one of the most coveted objects of desire. According to the report, whisky was one of 2019’s top performing luxury investments.

Be investment savvy

Whilst Cask Trade recognise the famous whisky names of Macallan, Bowmore and Dalmore have done well in bottle at auction, they say these aged whisky casks are very rare, and getting rarer, are very expensive and becoming a weaker in investment value as they get older and the alcohol levels reduce.

Cask Trade believe the real investment opportunity is with distilleries who have been quietly producing fantastic whisky for years that has either been independently bottled or was used for global blends of whisky. Examples of those looking to carve out their place in the market and fulfil a much larger demand from around the world include: Miltonduff, Caol Ila, Craigllachie, Glenallachie, Glenrothes, Glen Moray, Fettercairn and Glen Garioch.

Aron adds: “Casks from these distilleries have all got a fantastic price point and make very good whisky but don’t have the capacity, global reach the marketing power yet. But the demand is there and people want to know more.”

Auctions

As the new Wealth Report explains, as luxury collectables continue their rise up the investment agenda, a growing number of fledgling UHNWI collectors are making their first forays into the world of auction sales.

In January, Cask Trade hosted the world’s first live, online whisky auction dedicated to casks.

More than 300 whisky lover from around the world registered on auctionyourcask.com and over 100 samples were sent to prospective buyers around the world including America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Among the casks sold during the auction was a 1995 Springbank sherry hogshead which was bought for £47,200 and the Glen Ord barrel April 2015 went for £3,186. The second aution will take place on 22^nd April 2020.

The Wealth Report says: “Money flows fastest in those areas with the highest “supply” and turnover: contemporary art, jewellery, cars, wine, whisky and watches. These specialist auction markets are concentrated in London, New York and Hong Kong, creating a dynamic market with associated price fluctuations that percolate at different levels depending on where they are offered. Such collections should be valued regularly for insurance and tax planning purposes.”

World record 

A new world record for a bottle of whisky was set in October, when Sotheby’s sold this bottle of The Macallan Fine & Rare 60-Year-Old 1926 for £1.5 million in London.

NOTES

KNIGHT FRANK WEALTH REPORT 2020

Full details of The Wealth Report 2020 can be found here: https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport

ABOUT CASK TRADE

Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.

A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:

The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail…

• Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
• Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
• HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.

Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade. It also offers…

• Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
• Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
• Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
• Financial modelling for each cask based on age and rarity with estimated % returns
• Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
• Regularly updated whisky investment guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
• Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.

Cask Trade has started the first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: www.auctionyourcask.com

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy. – Wherever possible. We validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee we can offer you the actual hammer price. Our low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks. The next auction will take place on 22^nd April 2020.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com