We wish you a very relaxed and happy 2024!!

Just a short message to wish you and your loved ones a very relaxed and happy 2024!! We are looking forward to this one, since it will be the year of the 15th anniversary of Maltstock! We hope you will be joining us in celebrating!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan, Teun

Maltstock Anniversary Monthly Prize Draw

Just like five years ago we have a treat for you! Our sponsors and supporter have given us some relaxed goodies which we can give away! We will do so by organizing a monthly Prize Draw! Entering this prize draw is very simple! The only thing you need to do is to buy a Maltstock ticket! All ticket holders that have bought tickets, during or before the Monthly Prize Draw will be eligible and entered into the draw. A monthly winner will receive a very special Maltstock goodie box full of… ehrm… ‘relaxed goodies’! Every month we will announce both the winner through social media and this newsletter, and feature one of the sponsors in this newsletter!

Of course terms and conditions apply, click here to find out about them. We’ve put all of you lovely ticket holders into our wheel of fortune and pressed start.

And this months winner is:

We will be in contact with you about your prize!

SMWS is relaxed club of passionate whisky enthusiast and proud sponsor of the Maltstock Monthly Prize draw! Become a member now and receive 20% discount with the coupon code PASSION20. For more information on the Scotch Malt Whisky Society go to www.smws.eu

So feel free to join the relaxed fun. Simply get your ticket here:

https://www.maltstock.com/shop

Grand designs

Glenfiddich Grand Collection blends invention and tradition through flavour

Worlds collide with remarkable results in this innovative single malt whisky collection. 

Glenfiddich 23 Year Old Grand Cru 40% 70cl

£280.00

Speyside’s Glenfiddich distillery might be steeped in tradition, but its whisky-making is as inventive as it comes. Take The Grand Collection. The innovative series spans four expressions, each one an amalgam of flavour.

As groundbreaking as it is delicious, the collection draws on Japan, France and Spain, imparting regional influence through exacting cask management. The results are impressive.

First up is Glenfiddich 23 Year Old Grand Cru. This vibrant bottling was made using French oak casks that previously held a very special type of sparkling wine. A luxuriously complex release, apple, honey and soft spices on the nose give way to a brioche-like velvety palate. An exceptional whisky indeed.

Find out more about The Glenfiddich Grand Series

Shop now

Nikka “From The Barrel” Blended Whisky (750ml) $74.99 View

94 points Whisky Advocate  For Nikka From the Barrel, it’s been a long road to Whisky of the Year. This Japanese blend made its U.S. debut in 2018, but its inception dates back more than 30 years. In 1985, Nikka Whisky Distilling Company’s blending team, led by Shigeo Sato, designed this whisky using both malt and grain whiskies produced at Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo Distilleries. When taking into account the full array of casks—bourbon barrels, sherry butts, refill hogsheads, and more—over 100 different constituent whiskies are enlisted. “From the Barrel” suggests barrel proof, but that’s not the case. The blenders made a conscious decision to bottle at 51.4% (derived from 90 British Proof) to deliver maximum flavor impact. They succeeded. Notably balanced and elegant, the colorful palette of whiskies combines for tremendous depth of flavor. Soft, sweet butterscotch and orange peel meet poached pears and stone fruits. Earthiness appears as dried autumn leaves, coffee, old oak, and tobacco. Among the tangle of spices, tasters identified chili pepper, allspice, cloves, and universally adored its ginger note. Finally, wisps of smoke and sea salt. Overall, it feels generously malty, with the grain whisky lending broad sweetness and supple mouthfeel across the long finish. Beyond its delightful flavors, Nikka From the Barrel presents some paradoxes worthy of contemplation over a glass. It is a classic, yet new to the U.S. It is typically Japanese, yet singularly magnificent. Jeffery Lindenmuth 

K&L Notes. The #1 Whiskey of the Year on Whiskey Advocates Top 20 list in 2018 is now being offered without an allocation limit for the first time thanks to our special relationship with the importer. The wonderful Nikka From the Barrel has been one of the most sought-after offerings from this special distiller based outside of Sapporo. It’s previously not been available in the US due to the USA restriction on the 500ml bottle size, but thankfully the owners designed a 750ml version for the US market. This is a blend of many of the Nikka whiskies we know and love dumped and mingled for further marrying in a large vat at the distillery, hence “from the barrel.” It’s one of the few higher proof offerings available from any Japanese distiller and has a unique character. While the Hibiki Harmony might be the most popular blended Japanese whisky available in the US, From The Barrel is easily the most flavorful. This is nicely aged Yoichi, Miyagikyo, Coffey Grain and Imported Malt further aged post blending and bottled at 102.8 proof. No wonder people are going rabid for the stuff, it’s absolutely delicious!

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

The Good Dram Show – Episode 538 ‘Affordable Blends’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. As we are all skint after Christmas I’ll be taking a look at some ‘affordable’ blended whiskies. Are they worth it? Episode 537 – Yes Minister, It’s Whisky On A Budget Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring Politician Blended Scotch Whisky 40%, Black Bull Blended Scotch Whisky ‘Peated Edition’ 50%, Old Perth Original Blended Malt Whisky 46%,  Eden Mill Guardbridge Blended Malt 46%, Gleann Mor Blended Irish Whiskey 43%, and  Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky 46%

Killowen Single Malt Rum & Raisin Wins Double Gold

Straight into 2024 with another win!

On 22nd December, The Fifty Best held an Irish Whiskey tasting in New York, where 25 Irish whiskies were tasted and evaluated to choose the ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ award of 2023.

We are very pleased to announce that Killowen Rum & Raisin 100% Single Malt Irish Whiskey was awarded a double gold medal. 

As our Rum & Raisin Whiskey has recently upgraded its bottle size from 500ml to 700ml, it was important that this was quality tested also – remember the 500ml was double gold for 2022. Due to its competitive price, it is the best value cask strength single malt on the market and is now in stock in Belfast International airport and all quality stores around the country.

What is Killowen single malt ‘Rum & Raisin?’

It’s everyone’s favourite PX sherry finish vatted with a Killowen rum cask finish, providing full bodied notes of rum and dried fruits. 

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and want to wish you all a Happy New Year, from everyone at Killowen Distillery 🙂

Nc’nean 2018 5YO Westie Sponge No.1

Westie Sponge is a celebration of whiskies form the Western Highlands of Scotland. This is where Angus’ family is from and it’s a part of the world that holds a special place in his heart. He always loved the whiskies of the west coast and western isles, they have a definite richness of character and an evocative power that makes them stand out in a modern whisky world so often marked by homogenisation.

Westie Sponge One is a marriage of two 1st fill hogsheads of 2018 Nc’nean distilled from two separate yeast recipes: Anchor & Fermentis and Anchor, Fermentis & Distillamax RM. Matured separately in 1st fill hogsheads then married together and further matured before bottling with a few degrees reduction at 55%. The result is exuberantly fruity, showing great maturity for the age, while still retaining some of the freshness and vivacity of youth.

£79.00

One-of-a-Kind Exclusive Cask from a Singular Distillery

2005 Ledaig 17 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600201 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt 

“This is truly a special whisky … An easy slam-dunk for any peat lover and an absolute must-have for Ledaig people.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

In our latest selection from Gordon & MacPhail, we’ve acquired an exceptional Ledaig cask, a standout from the esteemed Tobermory distillery on Isle of Mull. Known for its unique and debated profile among whisky experts, Ledaig offers a distinct experience. This cask exemplifies classic Ledaig qualities: robust peat, remarkable complexity, and harmonious barrel character from the refill sherry butt. It’s an early 2024 highlight, setting a high standard with its undeniable excellence.

2005 Ledaig 17 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600201 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($160.00)

K&L Notes: Ledaig Single Malt is a cherished gem from the Hebridean Isles and comes from one of the oldest distilleries in all of Scotland. Produced on again/off again since its founding in 1798 and licensed since 1823, the Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull is known primarily for its two single malt marks. Tobermory, an unpeated dram and Ledaig, with its heavily peated characteristics. Both are widely regarded as malts of outstanding quality. Both malts owe their rich character to the unusual stills that lie at the heart of the distillery—bulbous stills and curvy lyne arms offer a huge amount of reflux. Ledaig’s heavily peated malt offers a rich array of flavors from smoky to fruity to meaty and with just a whiff of green grass. Pair the malt quality with the excellent wood management and exceptional pricing from the legendary Gordon & MacPhail and we have the first entrant for Best Cask of 2024! A very active refill sherry hogshead, Cask No. 18600201 comes in at 17 years old and 54.3% ABV. Yield 310 bottles. Bottled without chill-filtration and no added color.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 02, 2024

Liquid amber in color and boasting a nose equally full of fruit, charcuterie meats, and candied smoke. This is a Ledaig like we haven’t seen in ages. Active, clean sherry without a trace of sulfur really lets the fullness of the malt shine. First the fruit: crisp apple, dried orange peel, apricots, hoshigaki, and fruit leather—it smells ripe and sweet. The meatiness is intertwined with the fruit and the smoke, an array of cured and smoked meats. Applewood smoked ham hock comes to mind almost immediately. Candied and smoked nuts make the transition into more pronounced peat smoke, which really shines once you get the whisky on your palate. The wood and malt are so evenly matched it is difficult at times to tease apart which component is contributing which flavors. The palate is thick, a blanket of fresh peat and cold ash, saddle leather, and abundant ripe fruit. A blush of cool mint and dewy grass add lift and freshness. It goes on for days, and yet you can’t help but go back for more. Salted nuts slowly candied in honey and a kiss of sea spray top it all off. Proof positive that G&M still hold some of the finest whisky stocks in Scotland.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 02, 2024

The peated malt from the gorgeous Tobermory distillery is known as Ledaig. It’s not just the same whisky with peated barley, but utilizes specific fermentation and distillation times to create one of Scotland’s most intensely flavored spirits. It’s for that reason and maybe some issues with cask management over the years that Ledaig has a bit of a love/hate relationship for some peat lovers. But when you get a great one, it’s absolutely undeniable. This is one of those barrels. Full term in high-quality (and active) refill sherry with some of Mull’s finest. Stupendous! Let’s taste it. The color is a splendid chestnut! On first nosing it’s big, meaty, sooty smoke. With a bit of air—this one needs air—we move distinctly into the old leather, kippers, sweet orange zest, marmite, apricot jam on pumpernickel, and burnt raisins. On the palate, it’s perfectly salty, savory, and sweet. Almost no sulfur but so much leathery smoke, it’s unbelievable. The long finish offers deep, billowing, ashy smoke along with powerful baking spices and nutty oloroso notes. This is truly a special whisky and highly undervalued thanks to our amazing relationship with Gordon & Macphail. Only rivaled as an exclusive Ledaig by the much more controversial and divisive Chieftain’s 21-Year, this one is so much easier to love. An easy slam-dunk for any peat lover and an absolute must-have for Ledaig people

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

Pintail combines the expertise of selecting the right whisky distillate for the right style of the sweet cask with a curiosity for flavour exploration.  

AUCHROISK 15 YEARS OLD

This unique single malt, distilled and filled at Auchroisk distillery in 2008, was matured for many years in a refill ex-Bourbon hogshead and then finished in a century-old Spanish oak cask, which previously held the rare and ancient sweet wine of the Alicante region – Fondillion. The resulting whisky carries notes of dried fruit, toasted oak, turmeric spice and orange peel.

Fondillion is regarded as a luxury sweet wine enjoyed by Spanish royalty since the fifteenth century and produced solely in the Alicante region on hills overlooking the Mediterranean sea. It gets its caramel, hazelnut, dried orange peel and ripe fig.

£110

Shop now 

TEANINICH 8 YEARS OLD

This unique single malt, distilled and filled at Tenaninich Distillery in 2015, was matured for many years in a hogshead cask, then split and finished in two smaller octave casks which previously held Vino Santo from Tuscany, Italy. The resulting whisky carried notes of toasted hazelnuts, figs, dark honey, dried sultanas and apricot jam

Vin Santo is Italy’s “Holy Wine”, produced as far back as the fifteenth century in Tuscany. It is a sweet white wine which takes on a rich amber colour through a long period of maturation in European oak. Typically, it delivers sweet amaretti biscuit, bitter almond, and ripe fig notes. 

£80

Shop now

GLEN SPEY 14 YEARS OLD 

This unique single malt, distilled and filled at Glen Spey Distillery in 1009, was matured in a refill ex-Bourbon hogshead and then finished in a French oak barrique, which previously held the creamy-sweet French white dessert wine, Loupiac. The resulting whisky carries notes of honeydew melon, apple pie, acacia bloom, almond oil and peppery oak.

 Loupiac is an ancient sweet wine produced on the bank of the Garome River opposite to the better-known Sauternes. South-East of Bordeaux, the terroir’s chalky, gravelly soil, hot sun-drenched summers, and mild winters help create a “raising” action in the grapes, concentrating high sugars, deep aromas and rich sweet flavours. 

£90

Shop now

Course Spotlight: Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Immerse yourself in the world of single malt whisky when you study our flagship Diploma course. Online self-study offers an immediate start, or you can opt for guided study over three weeks from a set start date. In-person, you can join us over two days at the Port of Leith Distillery or Arniston House.💻

Read More

The Waitlist

We are pleased to announce that we are introducing a waitlist as a new way for our loyal supporters to purchase our whisky. Access to join The Waitlist will be offered first exclusively to mailing list subscribers, giving you the first chance to secure a bottle of Double Cask, American Oak or French Oak when our limited stock availability allows.

LEARN MORE