Top Picks

•1993 Glenmorangie Ealanta 19 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($115.99)
It’s getting to the point where the annual Glenmorangie special edition release is personally my most anticipated whisky of the year. The peated Finealta from two years back was a splendid release, super refined and very lithe on the palate. Last year’s Artein was simply magical – it was easily in my top three favorites of the year. 2013 brings us another slam dunk, gotta-have-it, masterpiece release with the Ealanta: a 19 year old whisky aged in new oak from Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest. While that may not sound too interesting to the average whisky fan, it is very unusual for single malt whisky to see new wood – especially charred. American Bourbon must always be aged in new oak barrels, but Scottish single malt is almost exclusively aged in ex-Bourbon or ex-Sherry casks, which have already been seasoned with a previous liquid. The barrels used to age the Ealanta were air-dried for over two years, but were never used otherwise. The resulting flavor s are not foreign, but they are intensified. The richness is richer, the oak spice is spicier, and the vanilla is creamier. This is absolutely one of the most polished whiskies I have ever tasted from Dr. Bill. There’s nothing fancy going on with the Ealanta – it’s simply perfect single malt whisky. Flawless. Round, robust, intriguing, with lovely baking spices and candied orange peel on the finish. I can’t imagine anyone – either new to single malt or a chiseled veteran – not adoring the Ealanta. A true must-buy.

•Laphroaig “Triple Wood” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($64.99)
94 points Whisky Advocate: “This is the first time I’ve been up for reviews here so I had a game plan: play it cool, mark tightly, let everyone know I’m hard to please. Then they gave me this, the whisky equivalent to front row tickets to Neil Young on his current Twisted Road tour: not just a chance to get up close and personal with an old favorite, but to do so with an old favorite who’s on fire. Laphroaig’s owners are intent on ensuring a big peaty engine for any new release, but this is a monster by anyone’s standards. It’s essentially Quarter Cask finished in oloroso sherry casks, so in addition to the intense charcoal smoke attack there are rich fruity notes; blackcurrant and berries. It’s an evening barbecue whisky. Grill that fish until it’s blackened and crispy, drizzle on lemon, and as the smoke rears up in protest, sip this. Big, moody, broody, fruity, and rich: what’s not to love? (Vol 19, #3)” K&L Notes: A limited release that was supposedly for European Travel Retail only! Lucky for us some popped up in California. This is essentially the Quarter Cask finished in Oloroso Sherry Butts. There’s an extra touch of savory richness at the back end, but the entry is all peat and iodine just like we expect from Laphroaig. The finish really lurks for some time, morphing from smoke, to nutty rancio, to savory sea salt. It’s a great new release from Laphroaig – a distillery that has been absolutely killing it with their special edition whiskies as of late.

•Macallan 25 year old, Distillery Bottling Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($699.99)
Extremely Limited! Macallan’s 25 year old sherry casks are a modern classic.

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Ireland 

• Irishman Original Clan Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($29.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Glengoyne 17-year-old Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $100) ($49.99)
• Laphroaig 25 year old Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Previously $500) – 5 available ($499.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Black Maple Hill, Small Batch Bourbon 750ml (1 bottle limit) ($33.99)
• Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Small Batch Rye 90 Proof 750ml (3 btls per customer) ($34.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA