Single Barrel, Cask Strength, No Compromise
K&L Exclusive Aged Canadian Whisky Duo from Found North
“Allow me to be the first to tell you that this brand is probably the most exciting new bottler in years.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

These selections are labeled as 12-year bottlings since the base component (50%) comes from 12-year-old stock, but over 30% of the blend is made up of whiskies aged more than 20 years. The result is an under-the-radar gem that wildly overdelivers—offering far more than its age statement or price tag would ever suggest.

The unreal run that Found North has achieved over the last several years is truly unprecedented. The two brothers behind the brand understand whisky—and the whisky business—like few founders in the industry today. They know that every bottle they release must astonish the customer who opens it.

They’ve created a new style of whisky that, while nodding to great innovators before them, transcends traditional categories. Using exceptionally high-quality, well-matured stock from Canada, paired with thoughtful cask selection and a deft blending hand, they’ve developed a system for producing world-class aged whiskies that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest in the world.

We’ve always said “yes” to any offer from Found North, so when they presented us with two single casks this year, we snapped up the best of the lot. These powerhouse whiskies were distilled in Canada, aged separately, and then blended and given additional maturation in top-quality barrels.

— Josh Gelfand, K&L Spirits Buyer

Found North “Season 6 – Madeira Finish #6131” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky ($99.99)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer

If you’re not yet familiar with Found North, allow me to be the first to tell you that this brand is probably the most exciting new bottler in years. The Taylor brothers, who founded the company, seem to have cracked some sort of whisky cheat code. What they’ve proven is that mature whisky doesn’t need to spend its entire life in fresh wood to be complete. If you take well-aged whisky, blend it skillfully, and finish it thoughtfully, you can create something far greater than the sum of its parts.

Of course, it’s not that simple—you need great whisky and great wood from the start. Blending is a huge factor as well, but it’s clear these guys are overachievers on both fronts. We’ve never had a Found North release that didn’t overdeliver, and these two new barrels are no exception.

Let’s start with the Madeira Cask Finish. This one isn’t rye- or corn-heavy; instead, it perfectly balances its aromatic and palate-driven elements. The color is a lovely russet (1.3). The nose is explosive, offering baked orchard fruit, exotic spice, tense earthy oak, candied apricot, gravel, and caramel candies. On the palate, it’s dusty and old-school, with loads of rye spice and earthy warehouse floor notes. With some air, the nose opens beautifully to sweet peach tea, fig jam, pink peppercorn, and wet cement. The palate stays bold, spicy, and earthy, while adding layers of sweet oak and candied corn.

A tremendous and surprising whisky that fits into no box—and doesn’t need to. It’s simply delicious.

Josh Gelfand | K&L Spirits Buyer

These guys sure know how to pick them. Here’s a Canadian whisky that defies what most Americans might expect from the north. Blended from 49% rye, 48% corn, and 3% malted barley—and drawn from barrels aged between 12 and 25 years before a final rest in Madeira casks—this is a stunning example of thoughtful craftsmanship. Each grain and the finishing cask have their moment to shine.

The nose opens with sarsaparilla, allspice, toasted coconut, and buttery pastries, all of which carry gracefully onto the palate. The flavors unfold further, revealing lemon custard (a hallmark of Madeira cask aging), orange marmalade, white chocolate, and a cascade of baking spices. It finishes with a touch of earthy potpourri, laced with spice, dried flowers, and cream soda. Despite the high proof, it drinks with deceptive ease and leaves you wondering what other treasures might be resting in those northern warehouses.

K&L Notes: The resulting mashbill for each barrel is 50% 12yr rye (w/ malted barley, 3% 21yr rye, 13% 15yr corn, 3% 17yr corn, 27% 22yr corn, 4% 25yr corn). These single barrels could not technically be classified as either bourbon or rye, if they’d been distilled here, but barrel #6131 delivers a heady combo of both. Expect sweet stone fruit, earthy soft tannins, exotic wood and wild funk finish. We’re proud to continue supporting Found North. Bottled at cask strength without any dilution, chillfiltration, or additions of any kind.

Found North “Season 6 – Tawny Port Finish #6118” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky ($99.99)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer

Let’s see how an old Tawny Port cask works with these exceptional aged Canadian rye and corn whiskies. The color is a deep, sanguine auburn (1.5)—an absolute about-face from the Madeira cask—offering dense red fruit notes of cherry, cassis, and raspberry. Next come layers of roasted nuts and rich herbal tones such as cassia bark, cinchona, and kola nut. The palate shows dense rye spice and earthy warehouse floor character more overtly than the Madeira, with the spice kicking up at the end. It begins with sweet, jammy red fruit—dark cherry and fudge—before melding into gravelly rye spice and exotic herbs.

Josh Gelfand | K&L Spirits Buyer

If you really want to see how much a finishing barrel can transform a whisky, look no further. The Found North team continues to uncover exceptional spirits and display blending skills rarely seen from our neighbors to the north. This exclusive release—like its Madeira-casked counterpart—combines an almost even split of corn and rye whiskies with a touch of malted barley, all aged between 12 and 25 years. The blend is then finished in tawny Port casks, creating something that, as cliché as it sounds, is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

The nose opens with blackberry jam, figs, and Mexican chocolate, all wrapped in the warm air of a dusty saloon. Those rich, stewed berries carry through to the palate, joined by clove, anise, wet bark, and a touch of molasses, before finishing with black cherry compote over dense dark chocolate. It’s remarkable how distinct it is from the Madeira-cask version, proving just how dramatically different fortified wine barrels can shape a great blend. Both are stunning and well worth tasting side by side.

K&L Notes: The resulting mashbill for each barrel is 50% 12yr rye (w/ malted barley, 3% 21yr rye, 13% 15yr corn, 3% 17yr corn (new wood), 27% 22yr corn, 4% 25yr corn. These single barrels could not technically be classified as either bourbon or rye, if they’d been distilled here, yet this delicious barrel #6118 delivers the best of both – a bomb of spice, sweet red fruit, dusty earth and sweet oak. We’re proud to continue supporting Found North. Bottled at cask strength without any dilution, chillfiltration, or additions of any kind.

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

Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

$74.99

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David Othenin-Girard | K&L Buyer  |Review Date: 08/2022

Frank August is a refreshing take on the bourbon category. Not caught up in any old tropes, this is just really well put together bourbon from a couple of good guys, who seem to know EVERYBODY. Again, Kentucky is all about who you know and while very little can be divulged about the sources and methods here, I think the whiskey speaks for itself. It’s safe to say that this is coming from a well regarded distillery and the blending is done by an industry veteran, who’s taken the idea of small batch to a whole new level. Blends matter a lot at this scale and this inaugural batch is tasting pretty stellar. The style isn’t a baseball bat to the pallet like some of the geeks might want these days, but instead a subtle and elegant expression of bourbon that’s rarely on display in the modern market. Let’s taste it! The lovely reddish hue tells us that this one is maybe a bit older than some others on the market.

The nose is a deft and well aligned bouquet of caramel candies, toasted vanilla, baked clove and other aromatic spices. Hints of cacao, burnt sugar and dried fruit support.

The texture is rather rich and unctuous with a full bodied but no heat at 100 proof. No oddness or distinctive flavors beyond the classic, elegant and well rounded character of an excellent medium aged KY bourbon.

The finish is long and inviting, offering tons of sweetness and tempering the spice that lingers on the front pallet. It’s hard to say where this was sourced exactly, but very few of the luxury brands offer such opulence and well rounded charisma. I’d say its safe to say that this is better than most every new product we’ve come across – and there are many.

Frank August might sacrifice power for elegance and completeness, but no good bourbon drinker will be disappointed and the overtness allows even the most novice entry into this still somewhat hard to parse category. Plus the bottle looks awesome and doesn’t scream or shout, just looks pretty on the bar for as long as you can keep it full, which likely won’t be long.

Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 09/2022

It is incredibly refreshing to see a new Bourbon brand come to market and move away from the “my great great granddaddy moonshined back in the day’ BS story that so many brands cling to. While ultimately at K&L we try to make the bulk of our decisions about what to sell based solely on the quality of what is in the bottle, a nice package and story is always good to be able to add in. Fortunately, here with Frank August, we’ve got the whole kit & kaboodle. First off, the package is extremely elegant and thoughtfully designed (the special glue on the back label peels off to make reuse as a vase or decanter extra easy). The whiskey itself is also shockingly elegant and thoughtful in its blend. Bottled at a respectable 100 proof, it’s no punch you in the teeth bruiser, but instead is packed with flavor and nuance.

The color is lovely – a golden amber. The nose is bright and clean. It has a great deal of sweetness mixed between fruit, candied sugars, and wood equally. A flash of cherry and stone fruit, maybe even a blackthorn’s sloe berry with its bright tang, caramels, molasses, brown sugar syrup, and a wood profile that isn’t all varnish, but rather freshly hewn green branches and a kiss of dried vanilla.

The palate carries much of the nose into it, but also adds a bit more herbal complexity on the edges and a sweeter midpalate than you might expect. Molasses and tarragon both come to mind as does fresh Granny Smith apple.

The finish is medium in length – lingering pleasantly, but never cloying or aggressive with just a kiss of heat. In short, this is one of the finest entrants and well conceived Bourbons to enter the scene we’re likely to see. It bucks the trend of going for broke on a hazmat proof single barrel in favor of thoughtfully executing a quality dram.

A delightful surprise and fine addition to any bar of collection.

This new brand (As of 2022!), from an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky, is a true small batch; only 15 barrels are dumped at a time. While we don’t have much information about how it was made, we can tell you that this micro-batch would easily qualify as Bottled-in-Bond if the distiller could be disclosed. And while the market for Kentucky bourbon is as tight as can be, this is proof that nearly anything is possible. Designed impeccably to bring bourbon into the modern era, Frank August isn’t relying on tired tropes about some fictional recipe. In fact, Frank August is not a real person at all, but an ideal. Instead of retelling a contrived story, Frank August is reinventing the act of storytelling completely, purposing a new narrative of what it means to be American and how and why we consume our national drink. Ultimately, they’ve put together a gorgeous package and managed to fill it with exceptional juice. And that’s a good enough story for us!

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

The London Distillery Company reimagines its past with the launch of Yesteryear

The London Distillery Company (TLDC) is proud to announce the launch of Yesteryear – a six-year-old single London rye whisky that reimagines the distillery’s original LV-1767 Edition, first released in 2018.

Yesteryear was crafted from the remnants of TLDC’s landmark release – the first new whisky distilled in London for over a century. Revived from glass, inherited with the purchase of the company by Gleann Mòr Spirits, the LV-1767 whisky was returned to wood for an additional two years of maturation, resulting in a reconceptualised expression of the whisky that started it all.

Founded with an ambition to reconnect London to its distilling roots, TLDC helped reignite whisky making in the capital, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary curiosity. Yesteryear continues that story. The new release preserves the distinctive rye character of LV-1767’s original distillate while exploring what that inaugural release might have been if crafted for today. The result is a whisky that feels both familiar and new – a perfect harmony of history and progress.

Alongside TLDC’s legacy casks, the remains of the LV-1767 Edition were discovered preserved in glass – a forgotten milestone in London’s whisky renaissance. Crafted from 100% Warminster Rye and matured in English oak, TLDC’s first release was laid down in October 2014 and bottled in 2018. It was named the LV-1767 Edition in recognition of the last company to successfully produce whiskey in London – Lea Valley Distillery. Rather than leaving the milestone release as an artefact, the distillery’s revival team sought to return the spirit to wood, to let it mature once more and evolve into something truly contemporary.

Following eighteen months additional maturation in first-fill sherry octaves, the whisky was then reassembled into a refill sherry quarter cask for six months, allowing the aromas and flavours to marry into a cohesive whole. The result is a six-year-old rye whisky that embodies London’s dual identity – steeped in tradition, yet unafraid to reinvent itself.

Only 188 bottles of Yesteryear have been produced. Bottled at 52.3% ABV and with an RRP of £69.95, they will initially be available from www.londondistillery.co.uk from Friday 14th November.

Speaking of the launch, Matt McKay, TLDC Managing Director and Whisky Maker said “Yesteryear marks a full-circle moment for The London Distillery Company. It honours the whisky that started the journey, while signalling what’s still to come. It’s a testament to the idea that craftsmanship is not static – that heritage, when approached with creativity and respect, can become a foundation for innovation. Yesteryear is a whisky born of our past, that has been shaped by our present, and that confidently points towards our future.

Yesteryear

London Single Rye Whisky

Initially matured in English oak and then finished in 1st fill oloroso sherry octaves and a refill sherry quarter cask

52.3%

£69.95

Available from www.londondistillery.co.uk from Friday 14th November 2025

Nose: Seville oranges join sugar-coated red berries, while clove and cinnamon mingle with rich toffee and luxurious chocolate.

Palate: Thickly textured marmalade and buttery toffee sit alongside classic rye spices, whilst malty biscuits join toasted almonds and cocoa nibs.

Finish: Lingering cinnamon and herbaceous rye snuggle up to berry fruit tea and well-balanced cask-led pepperiness.

About The London Distillery Company

The London Distillery Company was established in 2011 as London’s first new whisky distillery for over a century. Trailblazing the revival of the capital’s distilling heritage, the company crafts exceptional spirits that reflect both tradition and modernity.

Committed to using only the finest ingredients and time-honoured methods, every bottle produced by The London Distillery Company expresses a dedication to craftmanship, blending expertise and a relentless pursuit of character and flavour.

www.londondistillery.co.uk/

Find the Perfect Christmas Gift

We’re here with the very best bottles to help you savour every moment this Christmas. Whether it’s personalised gifts to leave under the tree, the perfect festive single malt to pour with your friends and family, or Champagne to share around the table, our gift guide has got exactly what you’re looking for.

Gift guide

We’re speeding into the busiest time of year, where the call to squeeze in a catch-up with friends echoes through the dark evenings. It’s the time of year when Society whisky invites you in, whether it’s enjoying a bottle with friends at home or heading to our Members’ Rooms for a dram or two with a pal.  There’s an incredible amount of whisky to discover this First Friday, including our first ever small-batch blended malt using mezcal casks, Smouldering Mojo. Take a look and enjoy the drams!

EXPLORE THE OUTTURN HUB

TAKE ME TO THE BOTTLES

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

Chivas Brothers unveils The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Year Old, 1 of 1 — a one-of-a-kind auction release in partnership with Sotheby’s

London, November 2025 – Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky and makers of The Glenlivet and Aberlour, today reveals the second release in its landmark partnership with Sotheby’s to bring never-before-released whiskies to discerning collectors.

The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Year Old, 1 of 1 represents the pinnacle of more than five decades of craftsmanship, innovation and maturation expertise. Master Blender Kevin Balmforth collaborated with sherry suppliers in Spain to craft a bespoke seasoning blend — combining Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Palo Cortado — which seasoned a new Spanish Oak cask before the whisky was laid down over four years ago. The ageing journey was a combination of this bespoke sherry butt and American oak barrel, adding layers of vanilla and toffee to complement The Glenlivet’s hallmark orchard fruit and honeyed richness. The combined result of these two casks is a singular, exceptionally aged single malt offering extraordinary depth, shaped by a finishing process unlike anything in the brand’s history, one that exemplifies Chivas Brothers’ craft of truly one-of-a-kind whiskies defined by rarity, provenance and masterful artistry.

This exclusive single malt lot is presented in a 24 carat gold-plated spherical glass decanter, adorned with  gold engravings of heather branches. Its bespoke bar top features an exceptional 137.73 carat lab-grown Paraiba Tourmaline simulant.   The whisky is accompanied by a bespoke sculptural plinth crafted by acclaimed artists Fredrikson Stallard, featuring  3D-printed heather branches plated in 24 carat gold that rise from a base of Guatemalan green marble. Inspired by Speyside’s dramatic terrain, the design echoes the whisky’s complexity and the rugged beauty of its Scottish homeland.

The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Year Old, 1 of 1 will be offered solely through Sotheby’s Finest & Rarest Whisky auction, running from 6–20 November 2025. Proceeds will support the National Trust for Scotland’s excavation work within the Cairngorms, where erosion threatens archaeological remains that could unlock new understanding of prehistoric life in the region. The initiative builds upon a five-year partnership between The Glenlivet and the Trust.

This announcement follows the recent record-breaking Distillers One of One® Charity Auction, held with Sotheby’s on 10 October 2025, where The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965 achieved a record selling price of £650,000 — the highest bid ever recorded for the brand at auction and highest ever single bottle lot record at The Distillers One of One auctions to date. As Scotch cements its position as the world’s leading status spirit, Chivas Brothers’ diverse portfolio of high-end and exceptionally rare whiskies is perfectly positioned to meet the demand for rare, investment-grade and prestigious Scotch.

Jacques-Henri Brive, Global Head of Luxury Development at Chivas Brothers, said: “Through our partnership with Sotheby’s, we are unlocking exclusive access to previously unseen rare Scotch from the archives of Chivas Brothers — broadening the horizons for luxury spirits collectors around the world. The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Year Old, 1 of 1 reflects our legacy of creating the world’s finest high-aged Scotch, giving the most discerning collectors an opportunity to own their own slice of Scotch whisky heritage.”

Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Spirits at Sotheby’s, said: “It’s a real honour to continue our partnership with Chivas Brothers, offering collectors exclusive access to some of the rarest Scotch whiskies in existence. Even as the auction market steadies for fine and rare whisky, demand for truly exceptional liquid remains unwavering — and Chivas Brothers is uniquely positioned to meet that appetite with whiskies that are defined by scarcity, provenance and artistry. With The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition 56 Year Old, 1 of 1, we are once again bringing an extraordinary expression of luxury Scotch to the global stage.”

The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Year Old, 1 of 1 carries an estimate of £35,000-£70,000. Bottled at 42.7%, this expression offers notes of poached plums, sticky dates and luscious dark chocolate ganache on the nose, with a taste of fresh blackberries, ripe banana and cherry compote and a velvety sweet, complex finish with enduring notes of dark chocolate.

* Early interest in the auction can be registered here

Copenhagen Distillery Unveils Newest Whisky Expression: REFINED No.3

Capturing Denmark in a bottle, REFINED No.3 is a perfect balance of innovation and craftsmanship

‘Distinctively Danish’ whisky producer, Copenhagen Distillery proudly announces the release of REFINED No.3, the highly anticipated newest expression in its acclaimed portfolio.

Limited to just 1,362 bottles, REFINED No.3 is crafted from 100% malted barley, including carefully cold-smoked portions, and matured in virgin and specially seasoned Hungarian oak casks.

Copenhagen Distillery’s unique seasoning process imbues the barrels with a proprietary blend, infusing each drop with a distinctly Danish character. The careful cask treatment adds layers of complexity that positions REFINED not just an expansion of the portfolio, but a bold statement in its own right.

REFINED No.3 presents a whisky of sophistication, depth and balance, with expressive layers of robust spice, herbal notes evocative of classic Danish bitters, complemented by subtle hints of liquorice and toasted rye bread. On the palate, expect delicate phenols, gentle smokiness, herbaceous sweetness, and discreet spiciness, showcasing both refinement and complexity in equal measure.

Lasse Öznek, Master Distiller at Copenhagen Distillery, comments: “With every release, we take another step toward our ultimate vision of crafting the perfect whisky – though in truth, the journey will never truly end, because experimentation is in our nature. REFINED No.3 is the latest expression of that exploration, and exemplifies our spirit: innovative, distinctly Danish, and layered with complexity from our unique cask seasoning process. It’s a whisky that captures both tradition and innovation, and we are very proud of it.”

Building on this philosophy, REFINED No.3 pushes boundaries with its balance of bold character and elegance. Crafted to showcase both innovation and heritage, it brings together Copenhagen Distillery’s forward‑thinking methods and its dedication to shaping a new Danish whisky tradition.

More than a new expression, REFINED embodies the very essence of Copenhagen Distillery’s mission – to craft whiskies that are unapologetically Distinctively Danish. The unique cask treatments add unexpected layers of flavour, highlighting the distillery’s uncompromising approach to innovation, craftsmanship, and bold expression.

REFINED No.3 (58.3% ABV) is priced at €265. The whisky will be available to purchase in the UK from The Whisky Exchange Online, as well as leading speciality whisky retailers worldwide and online in Northern Europe via the Copenhagen Distillery website.

Sip Into Autumn with the Fettercairn 1824 Martini 

Looking for a crisp new serve this autumn? Fettercairn 1824 Martini is a refined twist on a cult classic – perfect for dinner party season. A contemporary reimagining of the timeless Old Fashioned, but without the mixer, it uses ingredients that gently enhance the tropical fruit flavour of the whisky. Accents of golden citrus, sweet honey and warming spice echo the flavours of the season while a crown of Crémant sparkling wine gives a vibrant, distinguished finish.

To make it at home, simply combine…

• 37.5ml Fettercairn 16 Year Old
• 12.5ml kumquat liqueur
• 10ml Fettercairn honey syrup
• 15ml lemon juice
• 4 dashes of banana & coffee bitters

Shake all ingredients briskly with ice, fine strain into a chilled Champagne coupe, and top with Crémant sparkling wine. Garnish with a fresh lemon twist for a touch of finesse. Serve in your most elegant Martini glass, well-chilled.

Fettercairn 16 Year Old is available from a range of retailers, including The Whisky Shop, RRP £87.