2005 Ballechin (Peated Edradour) 10 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $89.99 View

Although we’ve been working directly with Edradour’s Signatory label for five years now, we’ve never bottled anything directly from the distillery until finding this monster cask of 2005 Ballechin on our last trip. Ballechin is what Edradour distillery calls its heavily peated expression, and the result is something far more beastly than anything you’ll find on Islay. That’s not to say the whisky is peatier, but rather it’s heavier, more earthy, brooding, and dense. The peat smoke is clear right off the bat, but once it begins to collide with Edradour’s intense maltiness, the peat becomes something completely different. If you can imagine the smells and flavors of fermenting malt, that combination of sour, sweet, and cooked grains, then combine those elements with scorched earth, heavy smoke, and burnt peat, then you’ll begin to understand the power of this single Bourbon cask of Ballechin. Now power that profile up to 55.8% and all that intensity gets dialed up a notch. What’s ironic to me about this whisky is that it comes from one of Scotland’s tiniest, daintiest, most manicured and fairy tale-esque distilleries. There’s nothing dainty about this malt, however. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2016

I am very happy that we were able to purchase this cask from Edradour on this year’s trip. It is flavorful, interesting and just plain fun to drink. There are nice fruit and smoke aromas. In the mouth it is a lusty gem with an interaction between expressive fruit and smoke with smooth and clean flavors. Very good.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2016

This is one of the most unique and interesting 10 year old Scotch whiskies I have tasted from anywhere in Scotland. A heavily peated Highland style that offers almost a char-grilled fruit note with layers of caramel and toffee. The big fruit with highlights of vanilla are bolstered by scorched earth and malty goodness. This is a super fun whisky that is a big boy, yet still balanced for all that and a different approach for those of us who love big peat and bold flavors.

1995 Benrinnes 20 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

Here at K&L we love Benrinnes distillery so much that, as soon as one cask sells through, we turn right back around and buy another. Whereas we usually like to shake things up and diversify our inventory to keep things fresh, we start breaking out into sweats when the Benrinnes starts to get low. While it’s not a household name, Benrinnes is part of the Johnnie Walker empire and, while it’s rarely bottled as a single malt, the distillery makes one of the softest, fruitiest, most drinkable whiskies in the business. Everything about the flavor of Benrinnes is joyful, lithe, and warming. This particular cask is light on its feet with fresh stone fruit on the initial entry, followed by soft touches of oak from the hogshead cask and a lovely note of biscuit and sweet malt. What’s also interesting about this cask is that it only yielded 112 bottles and proofed itself down to 48.2% naturally. The result is a high-end session whisky designed to please serious fans of old school Scotch. The bad news about this cask is that it’s the last one in Signatory’s warehouse, meaning we’re going to have to look elsewhere for future releases. At least 112 people will go home happy! (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2016

This Benrinnes speaks for itself. As soon as one smells it, the Benrinnes 20 invites one to drink it with pretty aromas that are floral and malty. In the mouth it is classic, light and pretty with fruit and malt flavors. It is easy to drink and there is a nice finish.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2016

This is now the third bottling of a Benrinnes I have tried, and the second from Signatory, and I am still struck by how good the whisky from this distillery is. The third party bottlings of Benrinnes have become my go to for elegance and balance, and for anyone looking for an amazing bottle on the lighter and more delicate side. There is a lovely whiff of peat on the nose wrapped in notes of green apple and pear. Light fruited notes with layers of peat and a subtle smoke lead to a slightly spiced finish that has very little heat. This is a beautiful bottle that is light, elegant, and perfectly well balanced.

1992 Longmorn 24 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $159.99 View