2014 Bunnahabhain (Peated) 9 Year Old “Faultline” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $49.99  View

Every peat lover should buy this before it runs out- that is the simple truth of the matter. To elaborate, high quality peated malt boasts something of a premium these days, and the closest thing to this deal, Laphroaig 10 y.o. Cask Strength, costs $20 more for a polarizing malt with less character. Hearty, mossy smoke upfront gives way to lacquered wood, cracked pepper, walnuts and charred fig. The malty backbone soaks up the sherry perfectly, providing ample weight and a satisfying finish, balanced by fresh wood smoke and sea salt. I cannot overstate the quality of this cask; previous Staoshia bottlings have used re-charred barrels to impart flavor in a short period, but the refill sherry provides a perfect compliment to the powerful malt with no need for shaving and processing the wood. If you don’t procure yours soon, I can guarantee you’ll regret missing out.

2010 GlenFabulous 13 Year Old “Faultline” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $59.99 View

Our series of Faultline mystery malts continues with this special cask distilled at the special distillery near Ballindalloch. Glenfarclas absolutely detests others using their name on any labels that might hold juice that they distilled, so our bottler would not include the distillery details on the label, but we have no such qualms telling you exactly where this is from. It was distilled on May 8th, 2010, and filled into a hogshead for 13 years before being bottled exclusively for K&L at a natural cask strength of 55.1% on July 29th, 2024. No chillfiltration or coloring added. One of 294 bottles. Cask: 29900345

1998 The Huntley (Balvenie) 25 Year Old “Faultline” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Hogshead Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $250.00 View

If you’re lucky enough to taste a cask strength single barrel of sherried Balvenie 25 year, it’s probably because you ponied up for the Ultra VIP tour at the distillery. You might get a tiny little sip and then find out it’s about £1500 a bottle. It’s probably worth it considering how absolutely unbelievable these whiskies are when they’re old, but I wouldn’t be able to swing it, not when barrels like this are sneaking about Scotland. The trade name for this whisky is Burnside and we’ve had several great ones over the years, but never one in a high quality refill sherry hogshead like this. That barrel take this to the next level and is simply so showy I almost feel bad not charging more, but we’re committed to being fair, so profit while you can. Here we go. The color is the most perfect possible burnished copper (1.1). The nose is quintessential offering deep wild honey, Tahitian vanilla, candied ginger, sultanas, fig compote & old jurancon. The palate is incredibly zesty and vibrant with huge orange oils, marmalade, apricote jam, ginger root, honeysuckle, mirabelle, dried tarragon. With water it opens and adds a beautiful lemon oil character, the tiniest cleanest wisp of white smoke, waxy pear and baked apple. This is extremely delicious old school Balvenie that could have easily stood out in their own warehouses. Not at all sure why they would have let this go, but considering we’re a quarter of the price of the current 25 year and it’s full strength in refill sherry its about the best deal we’ve ever had from the special Dufftown distillery.

1997 Islay Mystery (Ardbeg) 26 Year Old “Faultline” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $300.00 View

This is another one of those that we’re simply honored and lucky to have been able to snag under the Faultline label. Yes, it’s very expensive – but old Islay of this quality is rarely trading for less than double the price of this wonderful single cask. Sure, it’s listed as a blended malt, but there’s no question about the source and if you’re in it for the function over the form, you’ll be extremely happy with this stupendous cask of Ardbeg. If the distillery had held onto these barrels, there’s no question they’d be in some gorgeous special edition worth thousands. No need for further convincing. Let’s taste. The color is picturesque old gold (0.6). Still extremely powerful after more than 2.5 decades offering pungent dark coal smoke doused in salt water. Pulverized oyster shell, lemon oil, lanolin, old rubber boots, salted fish, candy cane, roasted tarragon, Vin Jaune, and metal shop. On the palate powerful green and black peat smoke, tense yet full bodied, cigar ash, camphor, lemon drops, menthol, tarry asphalt. With water we add much more oyster brine and lemon oil on the nose, but the palate still exhibits powerful peat smoke albeit slightly tamed. Now we have some limestone, Myer lemons, candied ginger drops, and creosote. Absolutely top notch old heavy peat Ardbeg. Not one of these tame ones. A real refreshing contrast to the modern style peat. It ain’t cheap, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a similar experience anywhere else these days.

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

SPECIAL OFFER:
GLENGOYNE 15

Among our raft of special offers you’ll find a great price on Glengoyne 15 Year Old. It captures delightfully bright and fruity flavours from unhurried fermentations and distillations. Creamy coconut, nutmeg, and fresh rosehips join the fold thanks to its maturation in quality first-fill bourbon and sherry casks.

SHOP GLENGOYNE

The Scotch Whisky Distilleries Using Worm Tubs

There are two main condenser systems in operation today: shell and tube condensers and worm tub condensers. Shell and tube condensers, the more modern of the two, are widely favoured, but some distilleries continue to use worm tubs, valuing their distinct influence on both texture and flavour. Whiskies from worm tub distilleries are often described as meaty, sulphury, and texturally rich. Here’s a list of 20 Scottish distilleries that still use worm tubs.📖 Read the Post

Mortlach 10 Year Old – 2014 | Signatory Small Batch #15 (Bottled 2025)

£59.00

Another delight of a dram, released by independent Scotch whisky bottler Signatory as part of the impressive ‘Small Batch’ series. Distilled in 2014 and matured for 10 years in 1st fill Pedro Ximenez sherry hogsheads, then bottled at the Edradour distillery at 48.2% vol, un-chillfiltered and without any additional colouring.

Our first Single Cask release of 2025 is triple distilled; not something one comes across very often, and we think, a very special whisky. Having spent over a decade maturing in super first-fill American casks, this delicate, refined whisky has wonderful notes of vanilla and chocolate. Ideal pre-dinner where the gentleness of this whisky can really be appreciated.

The English Triple Distilled is part of our Single Cask range, showcasing the influence of our super oak casks, each type hand picked for its unique influence on the whisky whilst maturing. Single cask releases are incredibly rare, each one yielding only a few hundred bottles. The casks. First Fill American Standard Barrel

The nose.

Wafts of smooth caramel, orchard fruits, vanilla, floral honey and milk chocolate

The Palate

Fruity (orange, hints of lime), malt toffee notes, vanilla custard, sweet milk chocolate and peppery oak

The Finish

A very gentle, medium length finish

Good to know

Non-chill filtered. Natural colouring

Iron Gates’ second Spirits Auction of the year features Canada’s finest spirits available. Highlights include iconic Scotch like the 1971 Glenfarclas 43YO from the Family Casks series and 1964 Glenfiddich Sherry Cask 40YO. Bourbon enthusiasts will find treasures like the rarely seen Weller Millennium and Double Eagle Very Rare 20YO. Fine global spirits, such as Richard Hennessy Cognac and Moutai 50-Year-Old—a legendary Chinese baijiu being auctioned for the first time in the country.

Auction Ends March 24th.

THE AUCTION

Iron Gate Auctions is pleased to continue working with our partners at Calgary Shipping to handle the safe and effective shipment of your auction winnings across Canada. Offering flat rate shipping to select cities, Multi-Day Refrigerated shipping and more.

Cask Collection No.75

In our selection for A. D. Rattray’s 75th Cask Collection release, our first curation of 2025, we have considered this idea of “off” notes in whisky, what constitutes “quality”, and the value of intrigue. Each of the five casks selected has very particular characteristics that may not be to everyone’s tastes, but are chosen to sate the appetite of the more curious among us.

If unusual aromas and unique flavours are what you seek from a whisky, then single casks are the place to find them. Such distinctive characteristics tend to vary significantly between sister casks, much more so than the more typical, marketable flavours we associate with malt whisky. Furthermore, for a bottler, the quantities involved in a single cask make releasing whiskies that may be deemed out of character much less of a risk. It would be a brave decision for any major distillery to release a batch product of many thousands of cases of anything exhibiting flavours that some consider to be “off” notes.

In our stock evaluations at A. D. Rattray, we often note casks as “flawless”. This is a technical assessment of quality, but on its own it is maybe not the high praise it seems. Everything is there, but where is the hook? Can a whisky be too balanced? It is far more common for us to overlook casks that simply aren’t interesting enough, rather than reject them for exhibiting any peculiar notes. For us, and others who share our passion, the real beauty in single malt scotch whisky lies in the anomalies and imperfections found in a single cask.

CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE COLLECTION

$219.99

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 554: Distilled In Ireland for The Nectar

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries two single cask Irish whiskeys. After the fantastic trio of Irish whiskeys with the famous Maria labels, The Nectar of the Daily Drams treated us last year to another fantastic duo, again with beautiful labels. ‘Distilled in Ireland’ was proudly displayed on the label. A 22-year-old from 2002 and a 23-year-old from 2001 were presented at a very attractive price. This shows just how good the relationships are that The Nectar maintains with former Cooley boss Jack Teeling. Mark is more than happy to taste them head-to-head.

Whisky Ramblings 554