K&L California “The Return of Hepburn’s Choice” – Scotch Whisky News
The Hepburn’s Choice single malt whisky label continues to be one of the most important and value-driven finds of the last five years for our spirits department. The relationship we’ve established with the Hunter Laing Whisky Company during our annual visits to their Glasgow-based office is perhaps our strongest and most fruitful in the industry. Their selection of single casks is unparalleled in today’s market and the fact that we can buy directly from the source gives us unbeatable pricing during a period when single malt whisky’s continued ability to provide value is being called into question. Not everyone understands exactly what differentiates “independently-bottled whisky” from the standard brands usually seen on the standard liquor store shelf. Many customers ask: how is it that K&L is able to purchase unique barrels of single malt whisky directly from distilleries that are owned by companies like Johnnie Walker?
In essence: we travel to Scotland to meet with former blending houses that are currently more interested in selling off their inventory as individual components, rather than in large volume blends. We’ve spent the last five years learning to navigate vast warehouses and incredibly-dense inventories in search of only the finest Scotch on behalf of our customers. When we find a particular cask that stands out from the pack, we purchase the entire barrel and have it bottled on behalf of K&L. The whiskies are bottled uncut, without filtration, and with no adulteration. Over the years, our customers have come to recognize these K&L Exclusive selections as the very best of what we offer, waiting with baited breath for each new shipment to arrive.
To learn more about the Hepburn’s Choice label and how we purchase our whisky when we travel to Scotland, check out this latest article from our On The Trail blog for a full explanation.
Check out the latest K&L Exclusive arrivals below:
This is our second cask of young Caol Ila under the Hepburn’s Choice label and our decision to re-order was based on the tremendous success of the previous edition. We weren’t sure how our customers would react to such a youthful and unabashed expression of Islay intensity, but what we discovered was that young Islay whisky tastes rather wonderful. In this five year old cask of Caol Ila there’s a roasted barley note immediately that wraps around the fruit and continues to squeeze on the palate until shaken off by the salty, sea water note that washes into the finish. A second sip shows more pure peat flavor and bright phenolic notes that again get lost in the fruitiness of the Caol Ila spirit. This is another fun one for true fans of Islay and for whisky geeks looking to understand the various stages of single malt maturation.
Ahh….Talisker. That beloved Isle of Skye whisky that tempts so many of us with its heavenly combination of round, textural richness and smoky peat flavors. Now imagine that bright star of a whisky in its incubation period, still forming its integral character, not yet developed or ready to shine in its polished presence. This five year old, unbridled look at Talisker is for true whisky geeks only. Matured in a refill hogshead for only five years, the color is still almost clear and the flavors still maintain much of their new-make youth. The beery and almost-fermented flavors of white whisky are still strong in this interrupted interlude, but it’s the finish that will captivate you and send you over the moon. All of that smoke, peat, saline, salty, and phenolic intensity absolutely explodes on the back end of the palate, erupting in a combination of sweet fruit and bright baking spices. You’ll take one sip, then another, and then yet another as you try to wrap your head around this rare single malt opportunity. Independent editions of Talisker are incredible few in number. For the price, we think your leap of faith will be well rewarded.
| David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2016 |
This whisky is so much fun if you’re really into single malts. Most serious whisky fans know that finding independently-bottled Talisker is next to impossible. This 5 year old cask offers you that allusive opportunity, even though it’s a bit of an oddball at such a young age. You’ll be happy you bit the bullet, however. This whisky absolutely erupts on the finish, smothering the palate in peat smoke, salt, and fruit spices.
This is our fourth cask of Benrinnes in the last two years and, believe us, it won’t be the last. We’ve become rather infatuated with the Diageo-owned Highland distillery since our visit a few years back. Not only were the ladies running the operation incredibly friendly and gracious, they also helped us to better understand and appreciate the delicate, malty flavors of this classic Scotch whisky operation. Benrinnes isn’t a smoky whisky, it’s not a rich and textural whisky, nor is it oily or overtly powerful. It’s simply an old school, no frills, vanilla and fruit flavored single malt that has incredible balance, grace, and pureness of flavor. Despite the rather unexciting description, there’s a lot to be excited about when drinking this cask strength 17 year old edition of Benrinnes. Much like buying a new black suit if you’re a guy, or a new black dress if you’re a gal, there’s something timeless and essential about this whisky. It shows the 17 years spent in barrel with the richness of the vanilla and the roundness of the malty profile, but there is nothing outside the box about this whisky. It’s just a perfect and shining example of Highland perfection. We love it because it is exactly as it’s supposed to be, not because it’s an anomaly. If you love tradition and excellence in your Scotch whisky, then Benrinnes is for you.
| David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2016 |
I love Benrinnes. That’s all I can tell you. I can’t tell you that it’s the flashiest or most potent of whiskies. It’s not smoky or sherried or overly-rich. It’s just absolutely delicious. It just hits the spot in a perfect Scotch-like manner. Vanilla, sweet barley, and a smooth, supple texture. Classic.
| Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 09, 2016 |
Another great cask from Benrinnes. It has wonderful malt and subtle floral aromas that are sweet and inviting. In the mouth it is soft and round with lively refreshing flavors. T Benrinnes over performs again.
Few people have heard of Diageo-owned Glenlossie distillery, the Speyside facility known mostly by insiders for its role in Haig Blended Whisky. But that’s part of what makes single barrels like this one so much fun! It’s a chance to taste whisky from producers that normally do not bottle their Scotch as pure single malts. For fans of Glenlivet’s Nadurra series, this 17 year old Glenlossie single barrel might be right up your alley. The intensity of the oak in this concentrated cask is apparent right from the initial sip as the woodiness quickly overwhelms the palate. At 55.4%, it’s quite a powerful blast, but it soon gives way to grassy, malty, and cereal-like flavors that constitute the classic Highland Scotch style. That extra oak on the entry, however, completely distinguishes this cask from its other Highland counterparts. It’s the boldest and baddest of the Hepburn’s Choice editions we’ve brought in on this shipment.
Almost 100% of Inchgower’s single malt whisky production goes into Johnnie Walker and Bell’s blended whiskies, so the chance to taste a single, unblended cask of the Speyside facility’s whisky was something we were definitely interested in. This sherry-aged beast of a malt should attract the attention of Mortlach and Blair Athol fans who have feasted on the dark, dense, meaty flavors of heavily-sherried casks we’ve purchased in the past. The richness of the Oloroso density is buffered by a strong note of earthy, savory, almost sulfury intensity; a brooding character that becomes more and more powerful as the 57.5% ABV begins to cut through all that sweetness. It eventually reaches a crescendo and the nuttiness of the sherry appears to take you through the finish. It’s not Glendronach, it’s not quite Glenfarclas, and it’s definitely not Macallan; it’s just Inchgower. Welcome to the new king of sherry-aged monsters.
We’re as obsessed with Clynelish here in the K&L spirits department as we are with Benrinnes, which is why we’ve locked down yet another cask of the beloved distillery’s whisky in this latest shipment. While Clynelish is widely considered a connoisseur’s choice for top-notch single malt whisky, its appreciated attributes aren’t always apparent to the unseasoned drinker. What makes Clynelish so special (and a favorite among famous blending houses like Johnnie Walker and Compass Box) is the rather diminutive profile of light vanilla, lemon zest, heather, and a bit of bees wax. It’s not a powerful or potent combination of flavors, but rather a flutter of brilliant beauty wrapped up in a biscuity core of elegance. At 55.4%, this cask strength 18 year old edition of Clynelish could use a little to help unlock all that complexity, but it’s not a necessity. It showcases its quintessential character in fine form straight from the bottle. While Clynelish will never be as popular as the more powerful and showy single malt whiskies, it will always remain the favorite of those who appreciate substance and style.
| David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2016 |
I never get tired of drinking Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most distinct single malt whiskies. That lemony, waxy, creamy profile is probably the only Scotch character I could pick out of a blind tasting 100% of the time. It’s the most distinguished and recognizable flavor in the business and we will ALWAYS take advantage of an opportunity to buy the whisky directly.
| Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 11, 2016 |
This offers soft, pretty and subtle spice aromas. There is a wonderful mouthfeel that is nice and creamy. Here again, there are light spice flavors. In short, this Clynelish is subtle, light, seductive and a joy to drink.
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
