Secret (M)acallan

Single Bourbon Hogshead from the Secret Easter Elchies Distillery

Secret Speyside 14 Year Old 2009 for TWB

Distilled at a Speyside distillery that is now so revered it is only to be spoken of as its entire region.

Matured in a single ex-bourbon hogshead #163 and bottled May 2023 by Signatory Vintage for the Un-Chillfiltered series at cask strength 64% abv.

Expect a soft and creamy palate, with oak spices and a basket of tropical fruits.

373 bottles… WHILE STOCKS LAST!

Shop – Speyside 14 Year Old 2009 – £79.99 / u$81* / €76*

MYSTERY MALT SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Mystery single malt that don’t want to reveal their true identity. Rummage around and with a bit of investigation you are sure to find a rare unspecified bottling from independent bottler.

Our signature core range have been downsized…

Our core range – The Hive, Peat Chimney and Spice King – have been tapped off into miniature 5cl portions just for you. Now you can buy and try all three, at the same time if you really wanted to (though we wouldn’t advise it). These vivid expressions in whisky were crafted by our Production Director Isabella Wemyss to showcase the three main avenues of scotch: Sweet, Spicy and Smokey.

The Hive 5cl Miniature

£5.00

Buy Now

Peat Chimney 5cl Miniature

£5.00

Buy Now

Spice King 5cl Miniature

£5.00

 Buy Now

Another of our Fynest single casks:
Ben Nevis 1996 25 Year Old #1402

We have dropped yet another incredible single cask dram, if we do say so ourselves! But the real work was done by our friends up at Ben Nevis, and an incredible refill hogshead cask for a quarter of a century. Secure a bottle to add to your collection today.

Ben Nevis Fynest 25YO →

Aged for a whole 25 years in a refill hogshead, this Highland whisky has been bottled at 47.03% abv. With just 289 bottles in existence, it’s a limited-edition beauty. Discover some tasty notes on the palate of exotic fruits, vanilla and dark chocolate, with gentle peaty undertones. Another belter!

🔥 Free delivery over £99 🔥

Welcome to the second episode of the show for this week. In this episode I’ll be reviewing a few new-ish releases from Mossburn and a couple of older releases in Elixir’s elements of Islay range.

https://youtu.be/oo3ZcL66oZA

European Novelty. Full Maturation in a Mizunara Cask

The German Distillery St. Kilian in Rüdenau, Lower Frankonia, launched an exclusive whisky rarity: a single malt whisky fully matured in a single virgin Mizunara oak cask.

Common in several regions of Japan, Mizunara oak is among the rarest and most expensive wood used to mature whisky. The Japanese oak for this 225-litre medium toasted single cask is about 250 years old. It was harvested in the forests of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

“Mizunara or Japanese oak (Quercus mongolica) is growing across Japan, but in the North of Japan (Hokkaido) the tree grows slower results with a tighter annual ring which is suitable for producing a barrel. 

The wood delivers some particular taste on the spirits characterized as sandalwood and a much stronger coconut aroma than any oak especially when it interacts with whisky after a long time aging.” Source Ariake Sangyo

Experienced coopers of Ariake Sangyo carefully set up the casks. The treatment of the wood, especially of the staves, is very difficult to handle and only a few coopers are able to bind the casks together. The cask staves and the heads were completely made of Mizunara oak.

St Kilian Distillers imported four medium toasted virgin casks directly by plane from Japan in August 2019.

CTO and Master Blender Mario Rudolf: “The Mizunara oak is known for its unique aromas of sandalwood, oriental spices and exotic fruits, which give the whisky distinctive characterful aromas. This masterpiece of whisky craftsmanship reflects the synergy of Japanese finesse with German distilling art in Scottish pot stills. The exceptional Single Malt promises an incomparable taste as well as an exquisite enjoyment experience for discerning connoisseurs.”

A more than delighted Managing Director Philipp Trützler says: “We are very proud to be able to present this exclusive whisky rarity made from Mizunara oak…According to our research, this is the first non-Japanese single malt whisky to be matured in a single, fresh, unoccupied Mizunara oak cask. A true treasure for whisky lovers and collectors alike.”

The result of the maturation provides a unique taste of ripe fruit and exotic melon paired with warming oak notes, oriental spices and fragrant sandalwood aromas.

The Angels’ Share of cask no.3886 was 4.7% of the initial content which is much higher than normal (2 to 3%). The age of the single malt is three years old plus a few months.

“The cask filling strength was lower than regular…at 55.2 % abv as we intended to generate more sweetness in the whisky,” Mario Rudolf reports. 

St Kilian’s EXCEPTIONAL MIZUNARA

The exceptional Mizunara single cask bottling at natural cask strength of 55.1% abv was limited to 300 bottles.

The Exceptional Bottling of Mizunara is the first of a new St Kilian range which will present further exceptional casks to the customer. The series will only be open for thematic exclusive Single Malts which have matured in one of the 371 different cask types in the nearby St Kilian Bunker City.

The Mizunara specialty whisky is presented in a printed 0.5 litre pot-still shaped glass bottle with noble packaging which will make for the uniqueness of the St Kilian product.

“After numerous tastings of bottlings with Mizunara finish, we wanted to find out what a St Kilian whisky with Mizunara full maturation would taste like,” Master Blender Mario Rudolf explains, “…Inspired by our trip to Japan in 2017, we filled the Mizunara oak barrels with our mild as well as  our peaty new make spirits. By doing so, the present result exceeds by far our expectation and confirms the magic that this extraordinary wood ignites in our whisky.”

Please note: At St. Kilian they intend to do only full maturation in casks and no double maturation or finishings. However, a revatting has to be done when casks accidentally are leaking.

Official Taste Notes

COLOUR. Warm amber

NOSE. A beguiling fruit sweetness, carried by ripe pear, apricot and exotic melon, underpinned by buttery cream toffee, aromatic sandalwood and oriental spices.

PALATE. Fruity sweet start with ripe pears, apples and apricots, at the same time warming with spicy oak and sandalwood notes as well as some pepper, before the creamy fruit melange takes over again.

FINISH. Long lasting with creamy fruit jam, accompanied by dry sandalwood aromas as well as a hint of buttery toffee.

ALCOHOL STRENGTH

55.1% abv “

The St Kilian Exceptional Mizunara is a well balanced harmonious young single malt with some rather pleasing sweetness and a basket full of fruity notions of ripe fruit like apples, pears and some melon along with some lingering spiciness. The soft mouthfeel is long lingering with toffee notes and surprisingly the strong alcohol of 55.1% abv is well embedded and makes for the enforcement of the fruity notes.

St Kilian Honorary Brand Ambassador Udo Sonntag said:

„This whisky  is the opposite of ordinary.

That’s quite a cracker…“ 

There are only a few Exceptional Mizunara St Kilian bottles left at the distillery for direct sale. No wonder most of the 300 bottles were sold within five minutes after the web presentation show on Saturday 6th May 2023 for  €249.00 (0.5l).

NB: There will be further Mizunara St Kilian releases in future. Whisky geeks loving peated whiskies will certainly be pleased when the next Exceptional Mizunara cask will be released.

Website: www.stkiliandistillers.com

This is an exciting time here at Shelter Point, the 2023 release of our 10 Year Old is getting underway. This release is kicking off with our 10 Year Old as a part of the BC Liquor Summer Spirit release. This is the first time that any of our products have featured in this prestigious event and it is fantastic to be a part of. The release is on 17^th June but our 10 Year Old is available for online pre-order from June 1^st to 3^rd. If you are interested in acquiring a bottle then we would recommend pre-ordering if possible as this is only a limited release. Be aware there is a 1 bottle limit through the BCL pre-order process.

The 10YO can be found here on the BCL website and their tasting notes do this delicious whisky justice: “Sweet, with a hint of brine and smoke, this special whisky is rich in fruit, baking spices and subtle tannins, finishing long and smooth.” The 10 Year Old is one of the few Shelter Point whiskies to come in a presentation box so it is definitely one to get hold of.

There is also a chance to try the 10 Year Old at the BC Liquor Store in Langley, a tasting event is running there from 10am – 2 pm. More details can be found here.

It might not be a coincidence that the date of the Summer Spirits release, June 17^th,  coincides with Fathers Day Weekend. We think that a bottle of whisky or a tour and a tasting at the distillery is a great way to give a treat to the Dad or father figure in your life. We’ll be offering free tastings for Dad and in-store discounts on Saturday June 17^th. Come on down and give them a gift to remember.

Also we are extending our opening hours for the summer. We will still be open from 10-5 from Wednesday to Saturday but we are now open from 12-5 on Sundays too. If you are in the area, stop in and say hi and take the chance to try a whisky before you buy. We will be making tours available on Sunday soon, so keep an eye on our booking page.

Recent Events

We had a great time at the Victoria Highland Games Whisky School. The masterclass was great fun and the atmosphere of the Highland Games was excellent as always.

The evening masterclass at Artemis in Victoria was a great opportunity to showcase not just our products but how well they work as a part of a cocktail too.

The Vancouver Island Porsche Club gathered in Comox last weekend. We were on hand to provide a tasting at one of their evening gatherings and were also the final stop of one of their organised drives. It was great to see a range of Porsches, from classics to top of the range new models parked up out front of the distillery while their owners were inside learning more about how we make our whiskies.

Upcoming Events

If you are in the Tofino area this weekend come and visit the Tofino Wine and Dine event on June 3^rd. We’ll be there showcasing our products alongside some of the areas best producers, it will be a great event for sure.

June 17^th Fathers Day weekend – join us here at the distillery for the usual tours and tastings and instore discounts. Dads get a free tasting!

June 24^th – we’ll have a booth at the Storey Creek Golf Club for the Brind’Amour / Nugent Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Golf Classic – one of the highlights of the year in Campbell River this golf tournament is a great fundraiser to help people with Cystic Fibrosis. After being postponed since 2019 due to Covid this year the event will be back with a bang for sure.

We hope you’ve been able to enjoy the sunshine we’ve been blessed with for the last few weeks and here’s hoping there’ll be more to come over summer!

Cheers

Chris

An Unbelievable Buy in Mature Collectible Scotch
Cadenhead’s 30 Year Old “7 Star” Cask Strength
Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($149.99)

“This spectacular expression from the historic bottler Cadenhead’s is simply unlike anything else on the shelf. If this same whisky said Chivas or Johnnie Walker on the label, it would come in a crystal decanter and cost $2,000.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

Our spirits team forges ahead undaunted in their mission to combat the skyrocketing prices in the collectible Scotch market, and this latest find from a historic bottler is a master stroke for savvy buyers everywhere. There’s simply no reason why an unadulterated, 30-year-old, cask-strength Scotch whisky should be selling for less than four figures these days, let alone for just over $100. But Cadenhead’s is a rare light in the Scotch world, and their unparalleled stocks of fully mature barrels give them raw materials against which other bottlers simply can’t compete. The quality is unimpeachable, the price is unbelievable, and the supply is limited, so don’t think twice about stocking up.

Cadenhead’s 30 Year Old “7 Star” Cask Strength Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($149.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 20, 2023

Tough to argue with this one—it’s a fool-proof whisky with incredible specs from a legendary bottler with impeccable pricing, and it tastes amazing. The nose is old-school cool. Deep sherry that leans heavy on the chocolate and orange zest along with candied nuts and raisins. It’s basically trail mix in a glass! A little dusty, a lot sweet, a touch savory, and so well balanced. Crunchy malt and sweet nougat hit the palate, and a blend of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and tobacco leaf rounds out a complex array of fruit cake spices and fresh bread. In today’s whisky landscape with sky high prices, it is easy to forget that for the folks who’ve been in the game for decades, the cost of raw goods and long-term storage of those casks is actually shockingly low. Cadenhead is basically flexing its muscle and long-term cred by selling this whisky at such a low price. Surely by auctioning off the component whiskies of this blend to the highest bidder they would have made more money, but they are and have always been about the whisky and the drinker, and that is why they are so well loved by Scotch enthusiasts.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 16, 2023

This spectacular expression from the historic bottler Cadenhead’s is simply unlike anything else on the shelf. If this same whisky said Chivas or Johnnie Walker on the label, it would come in a crystal decanter and cost $2,000. But what this has that the big blends don’t is real soul and not junk. It checks every geek box and then some. No chill-filtration, no coloring, cask-strength, 30-year-old Scotch finished in oloroso sherry casks for $150? Come on man. Cadenhead’s still has something up their sleeve. Rumor has it that they control a huge stock of old barrels, but no one knows for sure except the man himself, Hedley Wright. The enigmatic owner of Cadenhead’s and Springbank is rarely seen in public, but he allows his blending team access to an incredible array of old and rare barrels for projects like this one. No telling what’s in the blend, but we can’t get malt or grain of this quality at cask strength from any normal channels at this price point, so this really is one of the best values in the category today. It’s not a closeout or some screw up, just really good, limited-edition Scotch whisky at an amazing price. Let’s have a go. The color is a beautiful deep copper. After 30 minutes in the glass, there’s a gorgeous, nutty oloroso character up front. Behind that stewed stone fruits, maple syrup, candied walnut, and sticky caramel. On the palate, it has great weight, with all the sweetness front-loaded. Striking nougat, creamy roasted almonds, sweet herbs, and a tiny spicy backbone poking up at the end. It’s so incredibly balanced I can’t imagine adding water, but a tiny drop opens the fruit and the sweetness. This is just damned good whisky on any scale. Perhaps if you’re looking for a hammer like a Kavalan Cask Strength then you’d reach somewhere else, but most lovers of Scotch will likely find themselves polishing this bottle off in just a few sittings. It’s truly lovely and arguably one of the most affordable whiskies on the shelf for the quality.

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

Glen Elgin 2010

We are excited to have partnered with Berry Bros. Rudd on our latest Aberdeen Whisky Shop Exclusive. Amongst the numerous distilleries in Speyside, Glen Elgin distillery quietly ambles along within the pines and flitting house martins confidently producing a rich, fruity spirit. This particular cask began life in an ex-bourbon barrel before ending its journey in a fresh oloroso butt for three years. Bright red fruit and gingerbread spices let you know it has spent some time in sherry. Fresh white peaches, dried apricots and lashings of honey and cream on the finish remind us of its quiet but generous home.

£89.99

Shop now

Our June 2023 collection schedule has now been finalised.

Please click HERE for the list of dates, locations and to register your interest in this service. The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 12th June 2023.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Unfortunately this service is not available in London or to those customer who live within 10 miles of a collection point.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis.

It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page.

It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label

ralfy review 979 – Laphroaig 10 yo Batch 15 @56.5%vol