2009 Heaven Hill 10 Year Old “Archives Whisky From The Whiskybase Team” K&L Exclusive Single Cask #496 

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.

Some of the most exciting projects in the world of whiskey are the bottlings coming from the Whiskybase Team. By taking classic American whiskies and aging them in Scotland, these bottlers have placed a uniquely European imprint on a classic American style. This 10-year-old barrel from the famed Heaven Hill distillery has undergone this unique aging process, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking. Yes, you get all the orchard fruit and vanilla one expects, but there’s also an added element of European refinement that takes things to another level. Wonderfully complex and irresistibly delicious, it is a marriage of styles that whisk(e)y lovers of all stripes will enjoy. Clocking at a whopping 133.2 proof, this is no shrinking violet, but Whiskybase is very adept at balancing the spirit’s heat against its sweetly seductive oak. All it takes is a splash of water to make this beauty sing—and what a song to behold. We couldn’t be more pleased to have access to this exclusive barrel, offering what was once only available in Europe. Our exclusive price of $120 makes this unique expression all the more tempting. For those looking to expand their whiskey horizons, we strongly recommend this spellbinding single cask expression.

2009 Heaven Hill 10 Year Old “Archives Whisky From The Whiskybase Team” K&L Exclusive Single Cask #496 American Whiskey (750ml) ($119.99)

The wonderful whiskies coming from the WhiskyBase team are finally available in the US and K&L is the exclusive retailer for the brand throughout California. One of the oddities of the Scottish whisky industry has been the release of several American whiskies from bourbon mashbills aged partially in Europe. These weird, wonderful whiskies have been released by famous names like Cadenhead’s and The Boutique-y Whiskey Company, but we’ve rarely seen these unusual products imported back into the US. Now, thanks to our relationship with the wonderful team making Archives, we’ve secured one of just a handful of these excellent Heaven Hill barrels that have made their way back into the US. There are huge differences in maturation between Scotland and Kentucky, but there’s still something inherently bourbon-y about this special spirit. This whiskey spent six years in Kentucky in used cooperage before making the journey to Scotland for four more years. The aromatics still rest resoundingly in the realm of sweet orchard fruit and vanilla, but instead of caramel and spice, it’s ripe, fresh fruit. Instead of pungent and smoky, the vanilla is subtle and floral. Behind the pretty aromatics are powerful exotic flavors. At an impressive 133.2 proof you’d expect the heat to be overwhelming without the sweetness of new oak, but this remains surprisingly supple and drinkable. We do recommend a splash of water and while its provenance is unusual, it remains a distinctly American spirit unlike any other.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 26, 2020

This oddity is part of a particular category of American whiskeys aged partially out of the country. This one spent at least six years in Kentucky before making the transatlantic journey to Scotland for further aging and bottling. Distilled at the Heaven Hill facility in Louisville known as Bernheim, it was aged in second use American oak for its entire life. We call this “the devil’s cask,” as it’s bottled at a staggering 133.2 proof, making the abv precisely 66.6%. The nose is fiery and raw at first, arresting, to say the least. Behind the intense nose are candied fruits and dried cinnamon. While I don’t usually recommend adding water to cask strength bourbon (this isn’t bourbon, but still), this loves water as well as any single malt would. Once you’ve added some water, the bourbon character becomes much more evident. It reveals a beautiful balance between sweet stewed fruit, exotic spices, and elegant vanilla. Once it hits your lips, we’re distinctly into bourbon territory, with a rich texture and a bold sweetness. We’ve moved more toward the orchard fruits, dried apple, and hints of mango, with a building spice on the finish. It is an excellent spirit that doesn’t fit any category well, but drinks like a dream. Don’t forget to give it a good splash to unlock its character. It’s a shame this style is considered an oddity, but considering how delicious and unusual this is, I wish we could have stuff like this all the time! Grab it while it lasts, as we’ve only got one barrel for the whole year.

Double Cask Batch DC106

Our latest batch of Double Cask Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is finally ready for release to our mailing list members.

Double Cask batch number DC106 is a marriage of portions of nine different casks, ranging in age from 11 to 13 years. As well as whisky from several American oak ex-Bourbon casks, this batch also contains both first and second fill French oak ex-tawny casks as well as one French oak cask previously used to mature Australian white wine.

“There’s something quite nostalgic about this whisky. Some spirits just conjure up more memories than others, and this is one of them. Deep, gentle, bold, dark, delicate. One to get lost in.” – Heather Tillott, Head Distiller

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Seriously nutty, and deeply honeyed. Cocoa nibs, white chocolate, rye bread, ripe raspberries, along with dried apple, red rose petals, musk stick lollies and lemon peel. Vanilla is quite present, but taking a supporting role to hold the others together- someone nominate that vanilla for a Golden Globe! A whisper of sweet tobacco, and an old Cartier perfume: floral, nutty, woody, deep and elegant.

PALATE: Dream texture; velvety and thick without being too viscous. Loads of milk chocolate, peanut brittle, orange and raisins. Quite malty, and with flavours of dried coconut, rainbow Paddlepop, ripe cherries dried banana, glacé pineapple and dried ginger.

FINISH: A wave of pears and apples with a burst of citrus freshness leading to roasted macadamias, dates, fresh coconut, fruit & nut chocolate, and cola. Then a flush of apricot blossom, with a touch of brine and earthy vegetal notes to carry it all home.

Please Note: 
All domestic parcels will now be shipped via Australia Post Express, and charges will be based on actual shipping costs plus a small handling fee. This change has been made to improve shipping times and to decrease the incidents of lost and damaged packages. If you have any questions about this change, please don’t hesitate to email us!

Click the link below to purchase.

PURCHASE NOW

Join us on Friday 12th June at 20:00 BST for a very special Glengoyne Live Virtual Tasting as we sample three of our most rare and special drams; Glengoyne 21 Year Old, Glengoyne 25 Year Old and Duncan’s Dram 17 Year Old Single Cask.

The live tasting, hosted by our very own Robbie Hughes and Gordon Dundas, will be available on both Glengoyne’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Bring the tasting experience to life in your own home by purchasing one of our extremely limited Glengoyne Tasting Kits. 

Priced at £50.00 the tasting kit contains 30ml drams of 21 Year Old , 25 Year Old and Duncan’s Dram 17 Year Old Single Cask. Also included in the kit is a Glengoyne Glencairn glass. Although at Glengoyne we are normally Unhurried, you’ll have to be quick to buy one of our kits as only 200 are available. Buy now for delivery in time for the Live Tasting.

BUY NOW

In the meantime, we invite you to send us your questions in advance or live on the night itself, and we will enter you into our prize draw, where one lucky winner will receive a 20cl bottle of Glengoyne 21 Year Old. T&Cs apply!

We look forward to you joining us with a dram in hand on the night of the 12th June!

Glengoyne Distillery, Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB
Tel. +44 (0)1360 550 254

Cambus 30 Year Old

1988 vintage bottled 2019 for The Soveriegn label. Lost distillery single cask #16643 sherry hogshead of just 242 bottles.

Shop £141.64

Cambus 30 Year Old 1988 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whisky. Single sherry hogshead #16643 bottled 2019 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Sovereign series. 242 bottles. Butterscotch angel delight, bonfire toffee, manuka honey, candy floss. Oranges on the palate, apple purée and cinnamon leading to a long, sweet, caramel infused finish.

CAMBUS SINGLE GRAIN WHISKY

John Moubry commissioned Cambus Distillery in 1806 at Cambus near Alloa to produce malt and grain whisky. He was amongst a group of contemporary distillers ‘paid’ to close their works for a number of years by the Stein and Haig distilling family in order to enable the later to maintain their monopoly in the exportation of Scottish spirits into the London gin market. Cambus Distillery is a lost Lowlands grain whisky distillery having closed in 1993 although its whisky remains available and the site is occupied by a Diageo cask filling works. Hunter Laing Sovereign Cambus grain whiskies are extremely popular.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 314: Bruichladdich 14 Year Old 2006 Liquid Art

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, finishes of his series of Feis Ile videos with a brand new Bruichladdich. He was fortunate enough to experience the very first presentation of this new release of Liquid Art during a live-stream. It did not take long before it arrived on his doorstep. This 14 years old Bruichladdich was bottled at a cask strength of 51.7%.

https://youtu.be/o3wii_sdpHU

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

RELEASING WELLER SINGLE BARREL BOURBON 

New Addition to Wheated Bourbon Line to be Annual Release 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 19, 2020) A Weller Single Barrel offering is the latest addition in the storied Weller bourbon line from Buffalo Trace Distillery.  Bottled at 97 proof, the Weller Single Barrel will be an annual release, starting this Summer.

“Many of our Weller fans have been asking for a single barrel bourbon for quite a while, and we’ve planned for this addition for a number of years, so we’re excited to be able to make this happen, said Joshua Steely, marketing manager, bourbon. “Our rye bourbon mash bill has a variety of options, like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Stagg Jr. George T. Stagg and E.H. Taylor, Jr. bourbons, so it’s nice to be able to offer some variety in our wheated bourbon mash bill as well.”

            Tasting notes for the new expression describe the new Weller Single Barrel as having a nose of cherry and mint, fading to vanilla.  Caramel and baking spices with hints of cocoa explode on the palate, with a finish of cinnamon, coffee, and a hint of pepper.

            Weller Single Barrel joins the Weller line up of Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12 years old, Weller Full Proof, Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon, and William Larue Weller, which is part of the Antique Collection, released each fall.

The Weller Single Barrel will be available starting in June this year, and although the offering will be limited, it will be released once per year.  The packaging will contain a cork stopper, like the Weller Full Proof Bourbon released last year.  Suggested retail pricing is $49.99.

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 1773 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 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Cask Trade reports best month ever and increased interest from Asia as investors seek a safe haven amid market chaos

Global markets have suffered huge losses and as the COVID-19 epidemic continues, assets across the investment spectrum have depreciated ahead of what is likely to be a global recession.

In these uncertain times, investors are looking for a safe haven. Cask Trade, a London-based business selling whisky by the cask, has reported a huge increase in demand and recorded its best month ever in March and has had a big uptake in interest from Asia, in particular Hong Kong and Singapore.

Owner of Cask Trade, Simon Aron, says casks of whisky are fast becoming the investment choice for people looking for an alternative that is less uncertain. “Whisky is one of the only assets that appreciates the older it gets and it is still completely detached to financial markets, which makes it a safe haven for investors.”

“Asia has really woken up to whisky, especially since the economy in Hong Kong, Singapore and China gets back to some sense of normality,” says Simon, who adds: “Our new Asian customers are very enterprising. They have a love of whisky so they keep some, bottle some of the casks they are buying and generally trade others. They enjoy our keener prices and transparent way of business, as well as our excellent stock which I believe is the best in the world.”

Whisky on the rise 

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. Last year, whisky was one of the top performing luxury investments.

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

The report 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%.

Aron, who has received calls from hedge fund managers in New York looking for financial modelling on large portfolios of cask whisky, adds: “Through any economic downturn alcohol sales remain constant and even go up.”

Ten reasons to invest

• Cask Trade boasts the strongest stocklist of cask whisky on the market
• Confident enough in the appreciation of whisky that Cask Trade has bought even more casks than ever before
• With the markets down, currency favours the euro (€) and dollar ($). Simply speaking, casks of superb single malt whisky are the most fantastic way to balance your medium and long-term investment
• Almost 100 casks in stock
• 22 different distilleries from all regions
• All budgets and styles catered for
• 14 sherry butts from 5 different distilleries
• Younger maturing cask
• Old and rare casks
• Vintages from 1978 to 2016

As well as buying and selling casks to private owners, investors and bottlers, Cask Trade also hosts quarterly online auctions via its online platform auctionyourcask.com. The next auction goes live on 14^th August and will run until 23^rd August. To register your interest as a bidder visit https://www.auctionyourcask.com//members/login to sign up.

NOTES:

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.
• HMRC-issued AWRS Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: Licenced to wholesale, bottle and retail.

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: 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.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

Whisky Price Growth

Results of the recent Knight Frank Wealth Report’s new unique luxury investment index revealed whisky was one of the most coveted objects of desire in 2019.

The report out in February 2020, 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%.

https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport

Data collected by Rare Whisky 101 suggests the four-year growth from December 2014 in rare whisky has increased over 160%, compared to just 2.47% for the FTSE 100. https://www.rarewhisky101.com/indices

The same report by Rare Whisky 101 claimed via the BBC that they had performed a controlled test of 55 rare bottles, of which over a third were fakes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-4656670

On behalf of everybody here at SWA we would like to thank  everyone for your incredible patience and understanding throughout this difficult time. We are delighted to bring you our 108th auction, now live. We have a wide variety to choose from this month in a hope to keep your spirits up in more ways than one!

Happy bidding and best wishes from all at Team SWA.

GlenAllachie 2005 – Madeira Cask #3754

We’ve managed to get a small quality of this delightful single cask back in stock!

Buy Now

Glendronach “Revival” 15 Year Old Distillery Bottling Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)

93 points Whisky Advocate: “Deeper, richer, more viscous, and more intriguing than the 12 year old (and not as sappy as the 18 year old). Complex and intriguing, with raisin, orange marmalade, grape skin, sugar plum, cinnamon bun, raspberry preserve, mixed nuts, and coal ash. Nice tannic grip on the finish. The best of the bunch, and very impressive! (Summer 2010) Reviewed by: John Hansell”

K&L Notes: The 15 year is finally back! After ceasing production in 2015, the Revival has returned. Aged in PX and Olorosso casks the malt is classic, rich, and unctous. It’s full of honeyed tones, chocolate, and dried fruits. I was nervous for the return, but it’s every bit as good as the last bottles in 2015, possibly even better.

2005 Laphroaig 13 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($159.99)

The magical distillery on the south shore of Islay, like all south shore distillers, is quite unlike any other. But Laphroaig has a certain place in the hearts of the hardest core peat lovers. They’re the last distiller down there to malt a portion of their barley on site. Their complex system of tiny stills create the most peculiar and enticing peated spirit in the world. The quality and consistency of their casks is second to none. But over the last decade, what was once a staple in the independent bottling repertoire has completely disappeared. Laphroaig is simply not selling casks any longer. And when we do find casks they’re usually in very inactive hogsheads and declassified to their trade name, “Williamson.” Now that’s not a huge problem because Laphroaig always tastes good, but bottlers can’t replace even those few casks the prices have gone absolutely bonkers. Signatory recently bottled a sister cask those we sold here just three years ago for $200, Laphroaig from the Fall of 1997, for $700. And by God those bottles sell. But a beautiful butt for a not completely abhorrent price, we jumped all over it. Thank the Lord of the Isles that we did, as it’s a complete and utter masterpiece. Some purists askew the idea of Laphroaig in active sherry, but much of the experience is limited to low proof distillery bottlings and finishes. It’s truly a stupendous find and going to be one of those casks that people remember for years to come. Collectors and drinkers alike take note

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2019

Laphroaig is one of those incredible things that is both polarizing and unifying, sometimes between the same people at the same exact time. I personally adore almost everything I taste from this special distillery. Yes there are some underwhelming distillery bottlings that might feel a bit over manipulated, but the whisky is never ever bad. The great heights that can be achieved by Laphroaig are truly unbelievable. And uniquely, some of the very best from this special distillery are not even very old. The very best Laphroaig I’ve ever had the great pleasure of tasting are no more than 10 years old, given they’d have been distilled 40 or 50 years ago, but the fact remains that Laphroaig is often more special in its youth. For years Laphroaig has felt like a bit of a secret that you weren’t sure you wanted to share with everyone you know. Particularly that was true of the special single casks that we’d come across in warehouses and whisky shops throughout Scotland. But in the current climate, where the distillery itself has no need or use for trading or brokering excess production, what was once a special secret to find and share is now an endangered species completely. So when we get offered casks like this we expect them to be unfathomably expensive. But even if this were twice the price I’d still have bought it. This is that perfectly idiosyncratic Laphroaig, apt to have you disagreeing with yourself. Deep wafting peat, a mix of bitter herbs, salty ocean trawler, candied apricots and diesel engine. Old leather furniture, Seville oranges, not quite tropical, but not so severe as it might be. On the palate a building sweetness envelopes the powerful smoke as it wafts toward the olfactory system. Dark chocolate, salted plums, menthol and magic. A total dream and a secret that deserves to be kept.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019

Every so often time stops, a dizzying array of pieces fall into place, and you’re left with one special moment. Such is drinking this masterpiece. Tragically, Chieftain’s is going away. One of the most storied and high quality bottlers in Scotland has pulled out all of the stops for it’s swan song. Aged to perfection this cask toes the line perfectly between every facet of Laphroaig. It’s equally salty, malty, fruity, floral, and smoky in that amazing way that only Laphroaig can be. In addition there is a splendid cigar box spice provided by an amazing barrel of the highest quality and perfectly matched to the whisky. Not overpowering, it is just robust enough to blend seamlessly with everything on offer from the spirit. My best Laphroaig drinking experience was having John Campbell, Distillery Manager, walk me through the classic 10 year, a single cask bourbon barrel roughly 14 years old, and the legendary 30 year. The insights those 3 carefully chosen whiskies provided into the soul of Laphroaig is something I will never forget. It set off a personal and more indepth study of the whisky behind the smoke and iodine that the distillery is so famous for. This one cask highlights the traits that makes the the malt from this special place so complete and such a rarity in the flavor spectrum without giving up that core profile. Tasting this malt and then going back to Laphraoig 10 will forever unlock for the drinker the often overlooked and underappreciated glory of the classic expression.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019

Laphroaig very infrequently releases anything new, let alone a single cask of something new. Fans of the classic Laphroaig style will not be disappointed here, but will also be pleased to find new tastes and expressions. Rich texture and creamy peat notes get a kick from a slight jalapeno pepper spice in the back. This extremely limited and special release could retail for much higher given its scarcity. Lucky for us it doesn’t.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 18, 2019

Since barrels of single malt age differently and produce a range of flavors it is always a treat to taste something and see the variation on a theme from the regular releases.This tasty barrel is very interesting and fantastic. The nose has a burst of smoke that is almost pretty ( a word not usually associated with Laphroaig) with toasty undertones. In the mouth it is classic Laprhoaig with smoke , iodine, salt and malt. With water it opens up and becomes softer. There is a long finish with an interesting touch of spice.This single barrel is unique and interesting.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2019

If my family drank, this is a bottle Id take with me to our holiday dinners. This bottle screams autumn with notes of ume plum, burnt caramel, oak spice, and cinnamon graham crackers on the nose. The palate is fatty, savory, and sweet and I can imagine it going perfectly with turkey and stuffing. Its warm and inviting, I just want to cuddle up with it next to a fire and look longingly at the glass.