Balmenach 2009 14YO, Cask #18603404

Bottled Exclusively for the UK.

One of only 274 bottles from a first fill sherry hogshead.

£110.00 >

This release is from Balmenach Distillery, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. Coming in the ‘Cask Strength’ range of Connoisseurs Choice. Bottled exclusively for the UK. Distilled: 2009. Bottled: 17th November 2023. Batch number: 23/063. Cask number: 18603404. Cask Type: First Fill Sherry Hogshead. Aged for 14 Years.. One of only 274 bottles.

Notes:

Coffee aromas give way to mixed nuts and stewed raisins. Smooth raspberry compote flavours complement dark chocolate and citrus peel. A full finish with lingering forest fruits and toffee.

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Virginia Distillery Co. 11 Year Old “First Fill Bourbon and Moscatel Cask #2847” Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

You’d never know it from the label, but this is 100% Scotch Single Malt – with a twist. It wasn’t bottles in Scotland and therefore it has foregone it’s moniker. Virginia Distilling purchased some Scotch in first fill Bourbon casks and imported them to Virginia. The original plan was to blend it with some of their early distillate, but a few of the casks were so special they just held onto them. At 6 years old, they recasked them into some particularly delicious fresh Moscatel casks – then they left them alone for another 5 years. When we saw the price on the table for cask strength 11 year old single malt that basically had a full first maturation in 1st fill Bourbon and a 2nd maturation in Moscatel – a sweet fortified wine from Portugal – we just had to taste them. We picked the best barrel of the bunch and it’s finally bottled and here as a K&L exclusive! At a whopping 60.3% ABV and bottled without adjustment, color or filtration, just the way it should be.

Wathen’s Private Barrel “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #4498 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

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

ralfy review 1012 – The Art of Up-Blending.

Naked Malt announces the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ cocktail making competition winners

30th January 2024: Naked Malt, the award-winning* and top-trending** blended malt today unveils the champions of its renowned 2023 bartender engagement programme, the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’. Five bars have been crowned national winners from France, Denmark, Taiwan, the Netherlands and South Korea, following a rigorous three-stage competition, focused on the brands signature serve, a reinterpretation of the classic whisky sour, a ‘Naked Sour’.

Recipients of this year’s prestigious industry award are Cuckoo Bar, Tainan, Taiwan; The Cambridge Public House, Paris, France; Zest, Seoul, South Korea; Ruby, Copenhagen, Denmark and Fitz’s Bar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

As part of the prize, the winners will go on to take part in a global bar exchange this year, to inspire them and offer a fresh perspective, living out Naked Malt’s ethos. The ‘swap’, which will see two bartenders from winning accounts switch countries with their peers, will be a culturally immersive experience and help participating bartenders expand their knowledge, learn new skills and build relationships across the global bartending community.

The bar swaps will take place in the first quarter of the year, and will see the Taiwanese and French winners swap, champion bartenders from Denmark will visit Korea, the Korean victors will visit the Netherlands and the Netherlands winners will visit Denmark. As part of their prize, the international champions have also been automatically appointed to the judging panel of the 2024 competition in their visiting country.

Isac Melander, Global Brand Ambassador at Naked Malt, said: “This year’s ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ was a spectacular celebration of the very best industry talent working across the globe. After an incredibly challenging period for the hospitality industry, we wanted to reunite our Naked community over a Naked Sour serve. We aimed to inspire a new generation of bartenders and consumers to explore the very best of Scotch whisky and challenge conventional thinking. Through liberating, inspirational, and educational experiences bartenders were able to reconnect, share their creativity, their skills and most importantly experience what it means to ‘Live Naked’.”

During the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ competition two bartenders from each participating bar were tasked with designing their perfect, stripped back Naked Sour serve and asked to share the story of their creation through a series of engaging social media posts. Competition participants were then invited to attend a national finale event where they presented their Naked Sour in front of an expert panel. They were finally challenged on the spot to serve up a bespoke cocktail, using only a selection of mystery ingredients.

Competition finale events in each country were underpinned with interactive and immersive activities, designed to embody the brand’s ‘Live Naked’ ethos – freedom from conventional thinking – and provide a memorable out-of-bar experience, this included various creative and outdoor activities such as yoga classes, sand surfing, painting workshops. The aim was to take entrants away from the pressures of everyday life behind the bar to enjoy the spirit of freedom the brand represents.

Produced in Scotland by ultra-premium spirits company, Edrington, Naked Malt, launched a new bottle design with 100% recyclable packaging in 2021. The launch saw no change to the liquid which is comprised of the world’s finest single malts, extra matured in first-fill (or naked) Oloroso sherry casks for 6 months. The brand seeks to inspire a new generation of whisky drinkers by offering a great quality, yet accessible whisky that’s versatile for any preferred whisky serve.

Venues interested in entering the next ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ competition should get in touch with their Naked Malt account manager or representative to find out more.

Notes

For more information about Naked Malt or the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ please contact: bronte.stephens@havas.com Naked Malt is available in 70cl at 40% ABV In the US & South Africa its available in 75cl at 43% ABV In Global travel retail Naked Malt is available in 1L at 40% ABV

About Naked Malt

Naked Malt is a blended malt whisky produced in Scotland by ultra-premium spirits company Edrington.  It initially launched as a blended Scotch under the name Naked Grouse in 2011 before relaunching as a blended malt in 2017, in line with the increasing popularity of contemporary whiskies. In 2021, a new brand name of Naked Malt was revealed to cement the brand’s place as the drink of independent and freedom-seeking consumers with a revised bottle design including a portrait of the first-fill casks against a sleek, modern glass bottle.

Naked Malt is comprised of a selection of Scotland’s finest single malts – a unique blend of the world’s finest single malts. The blended malt is matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry oak casks, and it is from these “naked” casks that have never held whisky before, that Naked Malt takes its name and its distinctive flavour. The ageing process, along with the blend of single malts, results in a rich and fruity whisky with a soft spice finish.

Naked Malt has become the fastest growing contemporary whisky with consecutive years of double-digit growth and is currently distributed in 63 markets globally. (IWSR 2022).

Naked Malt tasting notes:

Nose: Buttery toffee, apples, sweet spice

Taste: Vanilla custard, stewed fruit, raisins and sultanas

Finish: Rich sherried spice

*Naked Malt award wins

2024

**Drinks International, Top Trending Scotch Whisky #6 Drinks International, Top Ten Best Selling Scotch Whisky #10

2023

Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Excellent (94 points) Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Finalist Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Great Value World Spirits Competition, Double Gold Drinks International, Top Trending Scotch Whisky #4 Drinks International, Top 50 World’s Most Admired Whiskies #43

2022

Drinks International, Top Trending Scotch Whisky #10 International Spirits Challenge, Silver (Taste) World Spirits Competition, Best of Class World Spirits Competition, Double Gold Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Excellent (94 points) Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Finalist Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Great Value IWSR, Silver

2020

International Spirits Challenge, Gold

2019

World Spirits Competition, Double Gold

Over 60% Off: One-of-a-Kind, Sauternes-Finished Bourbon
Saint Cloud X Series “Abstrakt 2 110 Proof” Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Elsewhere $150) ($49.99)
“Unique, thought-provoking, and absolutely delicious bourbon in a stunning package at a no-brainer price.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

Spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley nicely sums it all up in his quote above, but in case you need a little more detail, the specs on this singular specimen are quite intriguing. Starting with nine-year-old bourbon from a renowned legacy Kentucky distillery, we’re already looking at a premium whiskey, but factor in nine months finishing in Sauternes casks from the iconic Château Rieussec, and we end up with something in a class all its own. Bottled at a robust 55% ABV, it’s got complexity and body to spare, all at a one-time price over 60% off the going market rate.

Saint Cloud X Series “Abstrakt 2 110 Proof” Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Elsewhere $150) ($49.99)

K&L Notes: The enigmatic Saint Cloud bourbon is one of the most exciting brands offering hyper limited releaes. Their X Series highlights experimental whiskeys and partners with artists to create labels worthy of the exceptional juice within. This 9.5 year old Kentucky Bourbon is adorned in a wild label from New York artist Christopher “Flore” Florentino. Just like the outside, the bourbon inside has been framed by one of the wine world’s most sought-after creations, a nine-month finish in Premier Cru Château Rieussec Sauternes barrels. In addition, the barrels spent those many months in the very hottest most active part of the warehouse, thereby increasing the interaction between the barrel and the excellent bourbon inside. The deep, rich complexity of this mature Kentucky bourbon, sourced from one of the country’s most historic “legacy” producers, is perfectly kissed by the rich sweetness and finesse of the fine Bordeaux wine and the top-notch French oak casks. Due to age, rarity, and cost of both the bourbon and the finishing barrels, the suggested retail price for this expression was upwards of $200, but we’re able to offer a one-time only price unavailable anywhere else. Very few bourbons on the market today will offer a better experience for the dollar than this stupendous deal.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 18, 2024

Unique, thought-provoking, and absolutely delicious bourbon in a stunning package at a no-brainer price. While this whiskey offers a whole bunch of classic bourbon notes, it’s really the Sauternes barrel and French oak that make it stand out from the crowd and drink almost like a cocktail straight from the bottle, but at a massive 55% ABV (not that it’s outrageously high, but it feels way more powerful than that). You can’t even think about drinking it without appreciating the packaging. The art by Flore is a great backdrop for the branded coin on the front, and the heavy Hermes statue topper stands out on any bar to be sure. But once you get into the bottle, things really get wild. Château Rieussec barrels, made from top-quality French oak, contribute so much here. The whiskey smells golden. It immediately proffers dense apricots, cherries, canned mandarins (and their syrup), peach preserves, and the high-toned, spicy peaks of French oak along with the pollen-esque texture of the famed Noble Rot of Sauternes. The nose continues to unfold over many minutes (I recommend resting this in glass before and after adding water). The vanilla and underlying American oak from the initial nine years of just being classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon come out from under all that fruit reminding you that you’re in fact drinking America’s spirit. Butterscotch, maple syrup, dusty cocoa with a flash of white chocolate. When you do get into the palate, I honestly find it a bit too much at 55% ABV, and I’m not one to shy away from high proof or a little alcohol burn. I think it begins to show a much more complete profile with a bit of water. Add that water and the entire glass clouds immediately—an indication of how much flavor is packed into the liquid. It settles into a more mocha-like sweetness. Black pepper and vanilla abound. Burnt orange peel and maple syrup make it feel a bit like you’re drinking a well-prepared Old Fashioned. It’s mouth-coating and lingering. The finish leans more towards crunchy peanut brittle and toffee. All around a delightful pour that is certainly out of the ordinary in a good way.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 19, 2024

This gorgeous little bourbon certainly looks and feels like it should be very expensive, so I don’t fault them for selling it for $200! But sometimes we have to price whiskey to drink, and thank God we were able to price this bourbon that way, because it drinks incredibly well. In fact, it drinks easily as well as products that sell out in moments even at $200! This is a high-proof version of an unnamed legacy distillery. Neither the distillery nor the bottler disclose the mashbill, but it’s likely a high rye (circa 18%) and distilled in the absolute heart of bourbon country. I’m skeptical of all wine finishes, but Sauternes seems to be the perfect pairing for bourbon. The sweetness of the wine balances heady French oak perfectly. Let’s give it a GOOOOO! The nose is ultra-toasty, sweet fresh oak, coconut butter, stewed plums, Werther’s, honey, marmalade, hints of heady spice—clove and nutmeg—and a twinge of earthy wood to balance the wild sweetness. On the palate, dark red cherry, burnt sugar, apricot candy, cocoa powder, big oak, but no hard tannins or planky-ness. We move into a rather long finish, which highlights the spicy French oak over the sweet, dried fruits with a big toasted vanilla bean on the exhale. Truly a hyper-loveable and wildly drinkable bourbon. At this price, it’s probably investment grade whiskey.

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

Distillery Release

EDRADOUR DISTILLERY 30 Year Old 1993 IBISCO Single Cask Cask #302

£850 / $900* / c$1,217* / €827*

1993 vintage single cask first fill sherry butt bottled #302. Release of 562 IBISCO decanters. Edradour 30 Year Old 1993 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt #302. 562 IBISCO Decanters.

Edradour Distillery was formed in 1825 by a group of eight local farmers. Situated at Milton of Edradour near Pitlochry and still just a farm sized distillery equipped with a Morton refrigerator to cool the worts and two wee stills with their spirit cooled in a single worm tub. Whilst ranked amongst the small working distilleries in Scotland its owners Signatory Vintage have plans to increase its size and output. Official distillery releases include the Edradour 10 Year Old, Barolo Cask and Sherry Cask Ibisco decanters.

Stoll & Wolfe 7 Year Old
Single Barrel Bourbon

Made under the tutelage of whiskey maker Dick Stoll, this bourbon has a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley and was bottled from a single cask without the use of chill-filtration. This is fruity and rich with a hint of pepper on the finish.

£74.95

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 519: The Wasted Wolf

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, discovers The Wasted Wolf. It is a whisky bar & shop in Belgium. They’ve recently started bottling single casks as well, which triggered Mark to go an pay them a visit. In this 15min Rambling, he’ll try their first three releases: a Glen Moray, Campbeltown blended malt and a Milk & Honey.

https://youtu.be/GxwfdEtqJCM