Rarities and Exclusives: Can’t Miss Bourbon and Scotch Bottlings

Three of today’s exclusive Scotch selections are among the finest we’ve ever brought in, and that’s a long list. The Ardmore and Glengoyne stand out not only for their layered, cask-strength complexity but also for their incredible value among their peers. The Highland Park 19-year-old is in a league of its own, competing with bottlings priced at multiples of this rate. Along with this trio, we have a first look at the highly allocated High West Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12, as well as a special Russell’s pack offering access to some of their most coveted bottlings.

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

Highland Park 10 Years Old 2014 Random Barrique

This single malt was distilled on the 28th of May 2024 at the Highland Park Distillery, located near Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands. It was aged for 10 years in a single random barrique, which imparted notes of figs and candied peel, balancing the delicate, funky peat. It was bottled in October 2024 by Little Brown Dog Spirits, without chill-filtration, artificial colouring and at natural cask strength A single malt from Highland Park Distillery. It was distilled on the 28th of May, 2014, and aged for 10 years in a random barrique before bottling on the 27th of October, 2024. Bottled by Little Brown Dog Spirits at 60.1% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration.

£82.50

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Whisky making returns to The Cabrach after more than 170 years

Whisky production has returned to a historic Speyside community after nearly two centuries, with the first distillation at The Cabrach Distillery reviving the craft of whisky making in this unique part of Scotland.

Heralding the return of real Cabrach whisky after a long sleep of more than 170 years, the first distillation from The Cabrach Distillery has been marked with an exclusive ceremony, attended by Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.

Widely regarded as a birthplace of malt whisky, The Cabrach is a unique part of Scotland on the rugged edge of Speyside where Highland geography, rich cultural history and a distinctive community spirit intersect to create an inimitable sense of place. This is where the illicit Scotch story began, a place where three legal distilleries thrived following the dawn of legal production in 1823, and now, once again, a place where The Cabrach Distillery is reigniting these time-honoured traditions while also working to regenerate the local community.

In front of over 100 guests, including the local community and members of The Cabrach Collective, first distillation of the new spirit took place at Inverharroch Farm, within painstakingly restored 19th century stone steadings. The Cabrach Trust’s community-led regeneration plan will also see the development of a bistro and heritage centre alongside the distillery, offering hospitality to visitors.

The Cabrach Distillery is a social enterprise, the first Community Interest Company of its kind. Purpose-driven and community owned, The Cabrach Distillery aspires to meet the highest social and environmental standards, creating skilled employment alongside volunteering opportunities. All future profits generated by the distillery will be used to further progress The Cabrach Trust’s community regeneration vision.

The Cabrach Distillery’s first spirit ceremony follows a successful application by The Cabrach Trust to secure capital funding from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund; a commitment targeted at projects in the North East and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.

During the ceremony, the Deputy First Minister inspected the distillery stillhouse as the historic first spirit flowed through the spirit safe. Thereafter she delivered a speech in the dunnage warehouse, reflecting on the bravery of the project and the transformational economic impact The Cabrach Distillery stands to realise as the centre piece of The Cabrach Trust’s strategy.

The Cabrach Distillery will distil, mature and bottle a handcrafted single malt Scotch whisky of unparalleled provenance on a very limited in scale. Bottles of Cabrach Single Malt Whisky will be scarce and highly sought-after.

Jonathan Christie, Chief Executive Officer of The Cabrach Trust, said:

“Our first distillation represents a long-awaited, landmark milestone in our journey to revive the lost spirit of The Cabrach. This is a project that will serve as the economic lungs of our regeneration vision for this special place, attracting thousands of visitors to the area, captivated by the incredible history and timeless landscapes of The Cabrach.

“It has been a privilege to share this occasion with the Deputy First Minister, and we greatly appreciate the Scottish Government’s continued support of our mission. The wild spirit of The Cabrach will now be filled into fine casks to begin its patient maturation which, in time, will culminate in the release of The Cabrach Single Malt Scotch Whisky.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

“The Cabrach Distillery was one of the first projects to secure monies from the Just Transition Fund, a £75 million Scottish Government initiative to create jobs and support innovation across the North East and Moray.

“As a social enterprise and whisky distillery it’s a unique part of the vibrant food and drink sector which makes a valuable contribution to the national and local economies. Today’s ceremony signals the start of a new chapter for The Cabrach and its ambitions to be a leading example of community-led, rural regeneration.”

Grant Gordon OBE, Founder & Chair of The Cabrach Trust, added:

“The Cabrach is my home as well that of my ancestors, but in my lifetime, I’ve witnessed firsthand decades of abandonment and decline.

“Since The Cabrach Trust was established in 2013, we have witnessed the growing support of the community, further strengthened by an ever-increasing membership. The creation of The Cabrach Distillery sits at the heart of our regeneration aims for The Cabrach. This is a unique community asset that will celebrate an important part of The Cabrach’s cultural identity, whilst creating an extraordinary Single Malt Whisky.”

“I’m immeasurably proud today.”

To assure early success, The Cabrach Distillery has introduced The Cabrach Collective, a small community of founding champions who will join the journey to revive the long-lost craft of whisky making in The Cabrach. The unique membership programme offers much more than a special whisky package. It offers whisky lovers the chance to become part of a tale of renewal and play a vital role in restoring a proud community like few others.

The Cabrach Collective members will gain access to an exclusive range of bottlings, including the premier release of The Cabrach Single Malt Scotch Whisky, crafted with meticulous care and only available to Collective members.

Membership of The Cabrach Collective also includes The Feering series of three Speyside blended malt whiskies and access to future collective-only distillery releases offered exclusively to members for annual purchase.

Members are welcomed with a reception pack including The Cabrach nosing glass and can enjoy annual visits to Inverharroch Farm to discover the unparalleled community regeneration project firsthand.

The Cabrach Collective is limited to 1,849 members, in tribute to the old steadings, home of The Cabrach Distillery, which have stood at Inverharroch since 1849. Membership of The Cabrach Collective is available for £1,245 per person.

A registered charity formed in 2013, The Cabrach Trust was set up to preserve the cultural heritage of The Cabrach and safeguard its remote community. Founded by Grant Gordon OBE, the Trust has advanced a community-led regeneration plan that has underpinned the development of projects such as the historic distillery and heritage centre, creation of the Discovery Trails, coordination of a rural skills and wellbeing programme, creation of a Cabrach Tweed, relaunch of a lost Highland Games, and much more besides.

For further information about The Cabrach Distillery or to sign-up to The Cabrach Collective visit www.thecabrach.com.

About The Cabrach and whisky

The illicit distilling of whisky in Scotland was seen as a ‘right of man’ at the end of the 17th century and no place in Scotland did a higher concentration of illicit distilling happen than in The Cabrach. Attempts to enforce excise duty on the spirit were therefore met with resistance, ranging from riots to the adoption of ever more inventive ways of avoidance.

The Cabrach’s inhabitants showed extraordinary ingenuity in this clandestine activity, creating an unparalleled network of stills and smuggling routes to evade revenue officers. Spirits travelled far and wide, across the border into England, to Scotland’s North Sea ports and beyond, lending solidarity to the struggles of the Jacobites – and making many fortunes in the process.

However, legal production in The Cabrach also emerged for a short but crucial period in Scotland’s malt whisky story. By the time spirit once again flows from licensed Cabrach stills, over 170 years will have passed since legal distilling in the area came to an end. In 1823, a significant change in legislation succeeded in encouraging three Cabrach families to establish distilleries on their farms – Blackmiddens, Lesmurdie, and Tomnaven. For more than 30 years, these distilleries flourished and Cabrach whisky continued to be held in the highest regard. However, one by one they closed, as they were hard to reach and not economically viable.

The Cabrach Trust’s development of The Cabrach Distillery is well underway. This transformational project is designed to breathe new life into the area; famed for its role in the birth of malt whisky. The Distillery will showcase the craft and alchemy of making Scotland’s national drink and tell the story of the historic region.

Once complete, The Cabrach Distillery, wholly owned by The Cabrach Trust, will be unique in quality, purpose, and limited scale. Producing 100,000 litres of spirit each year, with barley sourced from the fields adjacent to the distillery and nearby farms, the project will maintain an overarching commitment to environmental sustainability. Importantly, Cabrach Distillery is a social enterprise, with future revenues set to support the Trust’s community regeneration mission.

Pennsylvania Rye Distillery Stoll & Wolfe Debuts 4-Year-Old Version Of Its Heritage Rosen Rye

The launch of the four-year-old single barrel version of Stoll & Wolfe Straight Rosen Rye draws from whiskey distilled from a rare rye grain type grown on an associated family farm a few miles from this Pennsylvania distillery.

Lititz, Pennsylvania – November 2024

Stoll & Wolfe, a Pennsylvania distillery founded on the ideals of reviving the exceptional art of Pennsylvania whiskey distilling, is proud to present the latest offering in its rare Rosen Rye expression, distilled from a rare heritage grain almost lost to time.

Rosen Rye, a type of winter rye first developed in mid-1910, was known to be a favorite of American distillers at the time. Sadly, the grain was eventually “forgotten” because of cross-contamination by more common varieties.

A revival of Rosen in 2015 led to the involvement of the distillery team at Stoll & Wolfe, including Erik Wolfe and former legendary Historic Pennsylvania Michter’s Distillery master distiller Dick Stoll, to bring this grain back to whiskey making. Stoll, in particular, was directly associated with this rye, having been the last distiller to produce a run of the whiskey before the Pennsylvania-based distillery was shuttered.

Unfortunately, Stoll, who distilled the first Rosen Rye in nearly 50 years in 2019, passed away before the final whiskey was released.

“Dick’s legacy is part of the founding story of Stoll & Wolfe,” said Wolfe. “This Rosen Rye whiskey we are releasing at four years of age reflects his vision in how we produce this heritage grain expression.”

A unique thing to note with this whiskey’s release is its ties to the family story of Stoll & Wolfe. The Rosen Rye grown for it comes from the Kline Family Farm, just two miles from the Lititz, PA-based distillery. The farm has a family connection with the distillery, as their shared 7x great grandfather William Kline started the farm in 1741, with it remaining in the family.

“I’m proud of my family’s direction connection to the whiskey in these bottles,” noted Wolfe. “It makes this particular release all the more special.”

The Stoll & Wolfe 4-Year Single Barrel Rosen Rye, bottled at 106.5 proof, is non-chill filtered and limited to just 220 750 ml bottles priced at $120 each. It is available now in Pennsylvania and nationwide online. For more information on how to get a bottle, visit HERE 

ABOUT STOLL & WOLFE STRAIGHT ROSEN RYE 4-YEAR

4-Year Single Barrel Kline Farm Rosen Rye. 106.5 Proof (53.25 ABV). Non Chill Filtered. Distilled in PA. 220 bottles at $120 each.

Nose: Ginger and brown sugar open on the nose, along with spice cake, cream soda, vanilla, candied citrus, and a touch of dark cherry.

Palate: The palate bursts its way open with rye spice, nutmeg and apricot, dark chocolate, and toasted oak.

Finish: A long-lasting finish then takes a sweet and rich turn, with toffee and crème brûlée, a hint of black pepper, and lingering rye spice on the tongue.

ABOUT STOLL & WOLFE

Stoll & Wolfe, opened in 2016 in Lititz, Pennsylvania, is a testament to its unwavering dedication to the revival of Pennsylvania rye whiskey. Founded by Erik and Avianna Wolfe, the team worked tirelessly with former Michter’s (Pennsylvania) master distiller Dick Stoll to lead the charge, particularly with the rebirth of the Rosen Rye grain type. Their timeless approach to the production of spirits, employing open cypress tank fermentation and a column still with a thumper/doubler, followed by maturation in a range of unique settings, is a reflection of their commitment to developing the core flavors of Pennsylvania rye whiskey lovers have come to expect.

We’re very pleased to present the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival. The Victoria Whisky Festival will run through Thursday the 16^th, Friday the 17^th, Saturday the 18^th and Sunday the 19^th of January 2025 at the 5-star Hotel Grand Pacific located on Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. To order tickets please contact Frank Hudson at info@victoriawhiskyfestival.com

OLD PERTH SOLERA

Old Perth Solera – a whisky like no other – crafted using a solera system that harks back to an era of sherry maturation that is seldom seen today. The solera system, commonly used in sherry production, involves fractional blending – a perpetual cycle of maturation that enriches the whisky with each pass. At Old Perth, this system combines ancient ex-bodega solera butts that have matured traditional styles of sherry for nearly 70 years with quality second fill Oloroso sherry butts. The solera butts used to create Old Perth Solera are not just any casks. Originating in Jerez, these ex-bodega casks once held Oloroso sherry – a dry, nutty, and complex sherry with subtle fruity undertones. After maturing sherry for around 70 years, these precious casks have spent the last two years in our solera system, adding to their already rich history. These huge casks can hold 680 litres, and their delicate nature presents challenges. At this age, the casks require extra care, and their tendency to leak results in higher-than-expected losses. However, the unique whisky they produce is more than worth the effort.

OLD PERTH SOLERA

Cask type: Bodega sherry butts
Colour: Deep Crimson
Nose: Spent matchsticks with intense fruity notes and sticky syrup
Palate: layers of treacle, old book pages, sticky dried fruits & a lasting sweet finish
ABV: 57.6%
RRP: £65

Available from select retailers. Click here to see a list of our stockists.

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LONGROW 18

NOSE

This year’s Longrow 18 kicks off with notes of blackberry jam, walnuts, liquorice and a subtle smokiness on the nose.

PALATE

The peat smoke continues on the palate and notes of black forest gateaux, maraschino cherries, dates and dark chocolate ganache are introduced.

FINISH

A long, gentle finish, there are notes

of coffee beans, sea salt and peat smoke.

UK RRP £110 – £120

Whatever you’re expecting, this isn’t it! Gastronomic Fusion is a peated single grain whisky. But, even if you’re a regular grain whisky drinker, this one is different. First and most importantly, it comes from 100 per cent malted barley distilled in a column still. Secondly, there’s the fact that 40 per cent of this whisky was distilled from peated malt. Last but certainly not least, this whisky was matured entirely in bourbon casks.

Age: 8 years

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrels & Second Fill Bourbon Hogsheads

In regards to taste, this intriguing whisky offers a decadent foodie mix of aromas and flavours that are hard to resist. But don’t just take our word for it, you know it’s good when someone on the Tasting Panel let’s the word “stonker!” slip while writing their notes.

READ THE STORY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

The Whisky Bothy – THREE whisky Books to see in the New Year.

Diageo Creates the Diageo Luxury Group to Unite Its Global Luxury Spirits and Experiences for the First Time

The Diageo Luxury Group brings its luxury offering, from rare and exceptional spirits to brand homes, into one new division.

New division will oversee management of the Diageo Luxury portfolio, creation of the luxury innovation pipeline of products, development of the private client business and luxury spaces and experiences at Diageo’s pinnacle brand homes.

Spearheaded by Managing Director Julie Bramham, former Global Brand Director of Johnnie Walker.

12th November 2024: Announced today, the Diageo Luxury Group is a new global division which unites Diageo’s luxury assets into one portfolio including key luxury brands Brora and Port Ellen, iconic Scottish brand homes including Johnnie Walker Princes Street and luxury wine business Justerini & Brooks.

The new division will be responsible for chartering luxury strategy and accelerating the growth of brands that retail at $100 and above, in partnership with their respective brand stewards globally. This is the fastest growing price tier in international spirits since 2020¹, underpinned by long term consumer trends, like a growing interest from young and diverse consumers² and the growing desire for intangible experiences in luxury³.

Led by Julie Bramham, former Global Brand Director of Johnnie Walker, who is also responsible for shaping and delivering the marketing transformation agenda at Diageo, existing colleagues within marketing, sales and commercial teams have been aligned under new strategy and leadership, as the Diageo Luxury Group aims to become the number one luxury spirits company in the world⁴.

The Diageo Luxury Group will focus on key influential cities around the world, Global Travel and the market of Great Britain, the home of Scotch Whisky. The news comes as Diageo Great Britain simultaneously launches the Diageo Luxury Company (DLC), a division within the home market. Operating within a broader price point of £30+, the DLC will focus on locally relevant luxury brand building and memorable consumer experiences, working with brands including Don Julio, Johnnie Walker, and Cîroc.

As overseers of some of the world’s most famed distilleries, brand homes and luxury spirits experiences, a trusted private client offering, and an extensive network of luxury experts, craftspeople and drinks industry talent, the Diageo Luxury Group will encompass:

• Diageo’s 15 brand homes and distillery visitor experiences, including Johnnie Walker Princes Street – which has welcomed over 1 million visitors from 141 countries since it opened three years ago.
• In Scotch alone, Diageo’s access to over 10 million casks from over 30 distilleries, approximately half of the total number of casks currently resting in Scotland. These include ‘ghost’ stocks from Port Ellen and Brora, appointment-only, luxury distilleries, and icons of the whisky world which have been meticulously re-envisioned and restored to their former glory.
• Shaping the future of Justerini & Brooks, one of the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchants, including a luxury shopping destination at 41 Burlington Arcade and its outstanding portfolio of whisky and wine. Celebrating its 275th anniversary this year, it has become a symbol of quality.
• Relationships with an exclusive community of global clients, who enjoy extraordinary access to Diageo’s exceptional product offerings and its otherwise unattainable experiences.
• One of the whisky industry’s most established and diverse cask ownership programmes, Casks of Distinction, which offers access to purchase individual casks of rare Scotch Whisky from Diageo’s stocks. Only a small number of fully mature casks are selected and sourced from a range of some of Scotland’s most historic distilleries. Diageo will soon be announcing the second iteration of ‘The Twelve’ by Casks of Distinction, single cask offerings that will never be repeated or created again.
• Further transformational and iconic collaborations to come across trade partners, brand and innovation pipelines.

Julie Bramham, Managing Director, the Diageo Luxury Group, said “We are privileged to hold Diageo’s finest assets in our possession – a collection of exceptional brands and talented individuals that allow us to combine heritage with a forward-thinking drive. Bringing the breadth of our luxury offering together, alongside a focus on expansion of our luxury-based experiences, has Diageo incredibly well-placed to deliver for our clients and customers. I look forward to an exciting future.”

Luxury International Spirits is a $12.7B category (IWSR 2023CY), growing twice as fast as IS overall and the fastest growing price tier within IS since 2020 in both volume (12% CAGR) and value terms (18% CAGR).

[1] IWSR 2023

[2] Kantar, Diageo Brand Guidance System 2024

[3] Bain Altagamma 2023

[4] Per IWSR, market share of Prestige and Prestige+ International Spirits

About Diageo:

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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