A K&L-Exclusive, Sherry-Aged Best Seller is Back in Stock
Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)
“Whatever is going on in that cave in Bouze, it’s working like a charm, because this batch tastes better than ever.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

In their constant search for the world’s most unique and compelling spirits, our buying team routinely discovers truly stupendous offerings exclusive to K&L. Back in stock is one of our best-selling K&L favorites over the years, the Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky. What’s truly remarkable is where this inimitable dram comes from—a deep, dark cellar in the heart of Burgundy. The late Michel Couvreur arrived here in the 1960s and set about acquiring impressive stocks of new-make, single-malt Scotch and cultivating one of the most well-sourced sherry-cask regimens in the whisky world. Now produced by his long-time apprentice, this peated K&L Exclusive is, as spirits buyer David Othenin-Girard declares, “one of the most authentic and absolutely delicious malts on the market.” For any lover of incredibly expressive sherry-cask whisky, this is a must-try bottling that will leave you stunned, thrilled, and totally addicted to the Couvreur style.

Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)

K&L Notes: The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that we had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This innovative Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the ’60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of Pinot Noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself, selecting his own sherry butts to ensure the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jaw-dropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: DO NOT cut the hard wax seal—use a wine opener to go through it.)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: July 28, 2022

A new batch is upon us, and while the last exhibited more wild Islay character, this one offers more dense sherry influence. The peated element is less forward and acts as a subtle ballast to the powerful, nutty dried fruit and tense spice complements. While most whisky companies count on consistency, Couvreur’s ethos brings the artist’s touch to table. Whatever is going on in that cave in Bouze, it’s working like a charm, because this batch tastes better than ever. The magnificence that is Michel Couvreur has always been clear, but it wasn’t until we stepped into the special cave, carved out of the rock, in Bouze-lès-Beaune that you can fully appreciate the incredible endeavors taking place at this fine producer. While this is by definition not scotch, because it is aged outside of the country, the old-school practices utilized here are unusual back in Scotland. The fact that these guys literally drive to Jerez to pick out fresh sherry casks (from Equipos Navazos no less) is totally unique in modern times. In fact, no producer of malt whisky is getting access to fresher barrels, and the modern industry rarely fills barrels of this quality. Despite not being able to use the famous category designation, this is undoubtedly one of the most authentic and absolutely delicious malts on the market. Stupendous depth and complexity even at 86 proof, and while the sherry is toned down from the standard version, a subtle fino/amontillado quality exists in the background. This is pointed by a fabulous, smoky sweetness, which hints at the source whisky. Maybe an island somewhere, maybe a drop of Islay. Wldly high-quality whisky with a French sensibility and a truly unique gem.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
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Elements of Islay & SMOS Lunch Release 2022
This event is a special release event from Single Malts Of Scotland (SMOS) And Elements of Islay. 

Single Malts of Scotland have been bottling and distributing a superb range of single malts dating way back to 2005. Elements of Islay was established in 2008, releasing some rich and iconic single malts from the Isle of Islay, with each release happening one to two times per year this is going to be a product showcase event. The Tasting will give our customers a sneak peak at some new Speyside, Highland, Islands, with some rather impressive elements of Islay expressions to dive into. The event will have single malts with a taste range to suit all palates, from classic bourbon casks to a rather interesting sherry cask.

Space is very limited for this event world exclusive preview tasting event.

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the spirit of glengoyne

We are delighted to announce the launch of Glengoyne Distillery’s NEW and most in-depth distillery tour to date: The Spirit of Glengoyne.  The half day tour allows you to delve deeper into Glengoyne’s unique whisky making process like never before. Relish the magic of our traditional dunnage warehouses, draw samples straight from European oak and American oak sherry casks in our No.1 Warehouse, and enjoy a tutored tasting of the samples taken and Glengoyne 12 Year old, 18 Year Old and 25 Year old.

THE SPIRIT OF GLENGOYNE

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 454: Kavalan Distillery Reserve Rum Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a distillery cask from Taiwan. When Mark visited Taiwan in January 2019, he brought two Distillery Reserve releases from the Kavalan Distillery: a Peaty Cask and a Rum Cask. The Peaty Cask stayed in Belgium, the Rum Cask went to Holland. But when Mark’s buddy Manny saw his tasting notes online, he decided to bring his bottle with him on his next visit to Belgium to open it up together. That’s what friends are for.

https://youtu.be/3cpwIW26UII

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s Chief Design Officer commended by President of Portugal as the world’s #1 luxury designer in recognition of his service to design and Portugal as part of Day of Portugal celebrations

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s Chief of Design, Tiago Russo, is personally commended by the President of Portugal, his Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at a special reception held at the Portuguese Embassy, London, as part of celebrations of the Day of Portugal on 10 June 2022.

Following on from recent historic wins at the A’Design Awards that cemented his reputation as the world’s #1 luxury designer,  Russo was personally invited by the President of Portugal to a special reception  celebrating the cultural community, with the best Portuguese artists, musicians, actors and creatives with Tiago chosen to represent design.

During his visit, the President met with the most successful Portuguese citizens abroad, to congratulate them on their achievements. Tiago spoke with the President, Portuguese ambassadors and top ranked state representatives about his work and achievements at The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. The President praised Tiago’s successes, awards and recognition, as well as the recent opening of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s design department in Lisbon, which has brought jobs and opportunities to the country. He also praised Tiago’s return to Portugal, bringing a skill set obtained abroad and passing that knowledge to Portugal’s young designers.

Tiago’s personal invitation from the President of Portugal came after his recent wins at the prestigious A’Design Awards; a perfect score to win Platinum for The Emerald Isle, a Gold for The Taoscán – only the second single malt to win Gold, the first being The Devil’s Keep – and a rare Limited Edition award for The Aodh. These unprecedented wins made Tiago Russo the world’s number one designer.

Commenting on the meeting, Tiago Russo said “It was an absolute honour and a privilege to be invited by his Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa himself, and to be able to speak to him and some of the highest Portuguese representatives about my career so far; design, awards, whiskey and the added value of using my skill set and know-how to bring it back to Portugal and further develop the design field in my native country. This truly represented a unique moment in my years as a designer, and one of the highlights of my career, to see my own work highly recognised by my country.”

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is on a mission to reinvent Irish whiskey, elevating its potential as a luxury product and restoring Ireland’s reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world.

Formed in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. was born from a desire to return Irish whiskey to the heights it once enjoyed. To achieve such a goal has taken a complete reimagining of the craft; honouring centuries of tradition but questioning convention and adding scientific understanding to reinvent the maturation of the whiskey. No expense is spared, no corners are cut.

In 2021, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. became the most highly awarded new company of the year amassing a total of seventeen awards across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whiskey releases. In 2022, the company continued this award-winning streak, adding the world’s Best Irish Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards for The Devil’s Keep, and a perfect score to achieve Platinum at the A’Design Awards for The Emerald Isle.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for The Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022.

For more information visit www.craftirishwhiskey.com

Visit The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. to see Tiago’s award-winning designs, including the world’s #1 luxury design of 2022, The Emerald Isle.

Monday 8th August 2022

Selected exclusively for The Whisky Barrel 15th Anniversary.

On-Sale from: 4-AM EDT / 9-AM BST / 10-AM CET / 4-PM HKT

Heaven Hill National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist Lynn House named “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 2022 Spirited Awards Ceremony in New Orleans

BARDSTOWN, KY (JULY 29, 2022) – Yesterday, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation recognized Heaven Hill’s Lynn House as the “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 16^th Annual Spirited Awards in New Orleans. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards is one of the industry’s most outstanding awards events, recognizing premier beverage professionals, products, establishments, journalists and media across the multi-faceted spirits and cocktail community.

“I love being a part of the Heaven Hill Brands family where I have the unique pleasure of being my authentic self,” said Lynn. “In my role, I have been able to collaborate with individuals and groups around the country. This job has also given me a platform to promote visibility, inclusion and create opportunities for the generations to come.”

The Spirited Awards are composed of both U.S. and international industry accolades, media awards, and a few highly esteemed awards that are accessed in a global scale, transcending regionality. The “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” honor is awarded to an individual whose creative use of brand communication and exceptional personality has had a prominent impact on the promotion of drink brands through engaging the trade and executing compelling educational seminars. Recipients of this award are assessed on their trade engagement, quality of education and seminars, creativity in brand communication and their title as a Brand Ambassador in the field with a focus on education for the trade. Learn more about the 2022 Spirited Awards winners here.

Lynn House is Heaven Hill’s National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist. She is responsible for support of the entire Heaven Hill Portfolio with emphasis on on-premise focused brands. Specifically, she implements brand and spirit category education, cocktail development for both national and local programming and identifies current and upcoming cocktail trends. Lynn is a resource and mentor to external distributors and trade personnel as well as internal field sales and brand teams, working on programs like Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week.

Previously at Heaven Hill, Lynn has served as the PAMA Liqueur Brand Ambassador and the National Brand Educator, covering all Heaven Hill Liqueur brands. She was a finalist for “Best American Bar Mentor” in the 2020 Spirited Awards. In 2017 and 2018, she was recognized as a finalist in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Best American Brand Ambassador category. Additionally, Lynn is an inaugural inductee to the Dame Hall of Fame and has been featured in many industry publications. Her knowledge of Heaven Hill’s large and diverse portfolio of brands and her dedication to education of various spirits has led Lynn to great success in this field. She is creative, diligent and serves as a strong resource and mentor to all who she works with.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur, plus the newly-acquired Samson & Surrey portfolio.

The Grand Whisky Auction is live!

www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction

2000+ lots to browse and bid on!

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

T. +44 (0)1463 210 427

E. sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com

An Exclusive presale of Linkwood 1971

Aged 50 years

Online whisky store thesinglemaltshop.com is proud to present readers with the presale details of its exclusive single cask bottling from Gordon & MacPhail’s Private Collection range.

Dublin-based online retailer thesinglemaltshop.com is celebrating the launch of a notably rare, exclusive single-cask bottling of a classic whisky from legendary Elgin independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail’s Private Collection range. The whisky in question is a 1971 Linkwood, aged for half a century in an American refill hogshead and bottled at 42.4% ABV.

This incredibly precious liquid earned extremely high praise from leading whisky expert Charles MacLean and just 166 bottles are being released, with a retail price of €7,950. The first 10 buyers of a bottle will receive a complimentary ticket to attend an exclusive, luxury launch event at Boisdale of Belgraviain in London, hosted by Whisky Magazine, Charles MacLean and thesinglemaltshop.com.

When it comes to rare examples of ‘veteran’ Linkwood spirit, Charles MacLean declares that, “Malts distilled before innovations of the 1970s, as this Linkwood 1971 was, open a sensory window on the past, they are themselves liquid history, and as such are hugely emotive. Furthermore, from a collector’s perspective they are so rare they are sometimes described as ‘unicorns’–gorgeous mythical creatures. A combination of these factors makes such malts highly desirable to connoisseurs, collectors and investors.”

To secure your bottle as part of this exclusive presale use the Discover More .

Gordon & MacPhail was established in Elgin during 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail. In 1915, John Urquhart joined the firm and soon established a formidable portfolio of maturing whiskies, before ultimately taking over the business. Successive generations of his family have continued to own and operate G&M up to the present day. Thanks to the Urquharts passion and foresight, G&M now boasts an unrivalled inventory of single malt casks, some dating from before the Second World War. It is no exaggeration to say that the company has played a crucial role in the renaissance of single malt Scotch whisky.

New single malt Scotch

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