New Old Malt Cask at K&L California – Scotch Whisky News

1991 Longmorn 21 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

SKU #1636997

$149.99

Hunter Laing has been sitting on this one for some time. This is not a true K&L Exclusive, as it was sold in the UK and Europe, but it’s sat in bottle at the Hunter Laing warehouses for almost 10 years now. This is a fun peppery style from Longmorn that offers rich malty, citrus oil and savory spice. The Longmorn Distillery was founded outside of Elgin in 1894 by John Duff. Just one year later, he built a second adjacent distillery now called BenRiach. Longmorn was unique in the area for keeping their direct fire stills operational until 1994. That means that this old bottling is likely some of the last malt to be distilled over burning coal embers and perhaps this is what gives it such wild oldschool character. The intensity of flavor is unique and somewhat surprising as modern Longmorns can be very soft and creamy, but certainly for anyone who loves an old style malt, this will be a very fun and exciting bottling. 700ml. 50% ABV. No color added, no chill filtration.

2006 Orkney 15 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

SKU #1636995

$79.99

We continue to get lucky with these lovely no name Orkney’s. While some suppliers are confident to charge prices similar to what we’d expect from the named version of this, others are offering incredible values for these lovely classic Orkney stocks. Over the past several years, it seems that the owners of this wonderful traditional distillery had decided to liquidate some of the stocks. Perhaps they had miscalculated there blending needs or simply needed cash, but the result is a plethora of high-quality single cask offerings in various age ranges. While we’re not at liberty to discuss the exact origins of this lovely malt, we can narrow it down for you: It’s not Scapa! Considering the pedigree, we’d have been comfortable selling this whisky for much more, but this whisky isn’t just good on paper. It’s a fabulously balanced version of the great Orkney malt with plenty of hearty heath character and twinges of gorgeous ocean-y smoke. An excellent malt by any measure made that much more delicious its ease on the pocketbook.

2008 Benrinnes 13 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

SKU #1636993

$59.99

While Benrinnes complex partial triple distillation has become a simpler and more straightforward affair since 2007, the distillery hasn’t lost it’s charm. In large part that charm is due to the use of worm tub condensers – the old fashioned (read ‘slow’) way to return spirit vapor to liquid form. This slower process typically results in a much richer and fuller spirit but most modern producers have moved away from the worm tub in favor of greater efficiency and control provided by shell and tube condensers. This has made Benrinnes something of a rare bird and that weight and texture is a prized quality for blending to this day. When you get a chance to have it on its own in single malt form, it’s a treat and an opportunity not to be missed.

2010 Auchroisk 11 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single First Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel Finished Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

SKU #1636971

$59.99

The wonderful Auchroisk distillery is one of Speyside’s truly unsung heroes. Often filled into subpar casks, intended only for blending, it’s unique character can still shine through even when the wood is lacking. Add a great high quality barrel and you’ve got a recipe for a gem. The fact that it’s so affordable shouldn’t not scare off the more discerning malt nuts out there, we are the lucky beneficiaries of some outstanding relationships in Scotland, which has afforded us unparalleled access and pricing in the market. The Auchroisk distillery is relatively young in Scottish terms, built to bolster the stocks of the famous J&B Blended Scotch, along with their other stalwart malts – Knockando, Glen Spey and Strathmill. Based near Mulbern, the single malt brand was not used initially, instead opting to use “The Singleton” name, presumably due to the difficult pronunciation. It should be said, “Ah-Thrusk!” Meaning the shallow burn beyond the red stream, it’s remarkable how much meaning can be packed into so few syllables. Likewise, it’s a shock they’ve been able to pack so much flavor into this humble little bottle. It was originally distilled and filled into a 3rd fill sherry butt in 2010 before being transferred to a freshly dumped bourbon barrel in the middle of 2020. Bottled at cask strength of 56.6% abv without chillfiltration or coloring of any kind.

2009 Macduff 12 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

SKU #1636994

$54.99

Macduff sits well under the radar in the single malt world. The official bottling from the distillery goes by the name of Deveron – the river on which the distillery sits. The only Macduff the world sees comes from the indendent bottlers and with the current ownership falling to Dewar’s under the Bacardi umbrella, it is a wonder we see any at all. Fortunately this 12 year old hogshead snuck away from corporate ownership and wound up in our hands. Bottled at 57.9% ABV without chill filtration or coloring, it’s a beautiful malt highlighting sweet vanilla and rich fudge notes all with a bit of fruitiness to round it out.

2010 Benrinnes 10 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

SKU #1636992

$54.99

The gorgeous Benrinnes malt is one we’ve come to seek out. All it needs is a bit of good wood and a decade or so. We’ve rarely found such inviting and approachable pure Speysider’s of this quality at such exceptional prices. This 10 year malt comes in at a price point that is untouchable by our competitors for single cask Scotch bottled at cask strength and without chill filtration or color added. It’s a terrific deal for a classic malt. Charged from a Bourbon barrel this cask yielded just 236 bottles at 57.5% ABV. It’s loaded with Benrinnes classic array of fruits and a hint of floral and herbal notes. The sweet vanilla from the Bourbon barrel is the perfect canvas for an elegant painting from “The Ben.”

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
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

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