Mature Single-Malt Unicorns at Jaw-Dropping Prices

2005 Secret Speyside (M) *MACALLAN* 18 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive #DRU 17/A106 #37 First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Cask Strength Non Chillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Secret Speyside (M) series is one of Signatory’s most prized. This lot of extremely high-quality, first-fill oloroso sherry butts was distilled at the exceptional distillery across from the town of Craigellachie on the Easter Elchies estate. While the bottler is prohibited from naming the source explicitly on their labels, they’ve been cheeky enough to add (M) and we’re certain here that this is not a bottle of MacDuff, Mortlach, Mannochmore or Miltonfuff. But, it seems that the Signatory was compelled to point out the incredible pedigree of these barrels due to their similarity to the house style of the distillers. Often, when Macallan is sold to third parties in bulk, it’s because the spirit was aged in barrels that aren’t in line with the distillery profile. Those less prized casks are generally intended for blending, and while the quality can be exceptional, it will never taste like a single barrel selection from the distillery. Those special bottlings are called the “Exceptional Single Cask,” and a similarly aged version easily commands $3-5,000 on the open market. We’re happy to settle for one letter of the eight to a few thousand per bottle. This first fill sherry butt was filled on July 11th, 2005 and dumped on July 1st 2024, just shy of its 19th birthday. Dense, dark and powerful, the prowess of this legendary house is evident here. This cask is sold exclusively at K&L, bottled without chill-filtration, coloring or water added at 57.7% abv.

(700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $250.00 View

2005 Secret Orkney (Highland Park) 19 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive #DRU 17/A63 #28 First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Cask Strength Non Chillfiltered Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Signatory has long been one of the preferred independent bottlers on the market. For almost 30 decades now, we’ve been selling Signatory because their cask selection process is second to none in the industry. They also have a knack for building incredible collections of rare casks, so walking through their warehouse is an absolute dream. As you pass Bowmore from the 70s and Port Ellen, you’ll stumble by Dallas Dhu and Rosebank. Yet it’s some of the modern stocks that are most shocking! Highland Park on it’s own is pretty rare outside of distillery bottlings, but big European oak sherry butts (DRU series) are almost unheard of outside of the distillery. We’ve been comfortably committing to 10-12 year old stock in similar caliber barrels at this same exact price, but this spirit absolutely loves the extra 7 years. The intense punchy tannin of the fresh European oak has developed into something otherworldly. Expect the incredible rugged Orkney spirit in a constant battle with the deep high-quality sherry, like the waves of the northern sea pounding a craggy yet beautiful atoll. Rich dried tobacco, old leather kept well, dense stewed fruit, a fragrant forest of earthy herbs and old growth evergreen. The oloroso is powerful, but not overpowering. The core of Orkney still fights through the oak and wine offering sweet roasted heather, wild honey, and hints of salty smoke. On the palate, they continue to spare with the roasted hazelnut, potash, salted fruit, and deep old oak.

(700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $149.99 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