An Ardbeg Limited Release Unlike Any Other
Ardbeg “Heavy Vapours” Islay Single Malt Whisky
(750ml) ($134.99)
“This is for those who can’t get enough peat, earth, and smoke, or those who geek out on production details. Or both, ideally. A hell of a whisky.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

For the most fanatical peat lovers among our Scotch clientele, your ultimate wheelhouse whisky has just arrived. The Ardbeg “Heavy Vapours” Islay Single Malt is quite simply a peat bomb of monster proportions. The Ardbeg malt is already known for its intensely smoky profile, and thanks to a deliberate change in the production process for this bottling, the Heavy Vapours ramps up the peat factor to eleven. This limited release is the first of its kind from the Islay icon, and we’re sure it’s going to find a devoted following among Ardbeg aficionados everywhere.

Ardbeg “Heavy Vapours” Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($134.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 09, 2023

Ardbeg has always been a little silly on the marketing side of things, and this year’s Limited Edition is no different. They’ve created a graphic novel mystery about the missing purifier, the goofy dongle on the top of Ardbeg stills that magically provides the fruity ballast to Ardbeg’s incredible balancing act. Without it, heavy vapours accumulate, and you’re left with a much more robust, smoke-forward whisky. That’s not to say the fruit is gone, but the whisky is starkly different for this one change in the distillation setup. Setting aside their marketing schtick and whatever is to be revealed in the graphic novella on Ardbeg Day (June 3rd, 2023), I must say I only really care about the whisky itself. Let’s taste. At first pour the nose is just as advertised—intense smoke and peat. Heavy Vapours indeed. It’s remarkable actually. This is all about the raw materials. Not a ton of wood to be found. The color is pale straw, and there is a hearty amount of sweet malt underneath all that savory smoke and wet peat. The saline reads a bit like the scent of an indoor pool, somewhere between humid chlorine air and the iodine of Ardbeg’s neighbor up the road. It’s a sort of chemical nose that I, as a lover of all things Islay, find extremely comforting. The nose also holds sweet, candied malt notes, but they are decidedly hidden and only show after many minutes in the glass. On the palate, the malt jumps forward and is quite appealing—sweet barley, roasted and fresh, with a hint of green apple and vanilla. And wham—more peat, wet seaweed, salted earth, and lingering smoke. The finish is a bit of prickly pear and a mix of glycerol alcohol and creosote. It’s a hell of a whisky, but buyer beware. If you don’t love peat and smoke, this won’t be for you. This is for those who can’t get enough peat, earth, and smoke, or those who geek out on production details. Or both, ideally. A hell of a whisky.

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

SCAPA DISTILLERY OPENS THE ‘SCAPA NOUST’, A NEW WHISKY TASTING DESTINATION WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE DRAMATIC ORCADIAN LANDSCAPE

A hidden gem steeped in history and with local traditions at the heart, the Scapa Noust offers an unparalleled whisky tasting experience in Scotland.

This April, Scapa Distillery in Orkney is opening its new and intimate whisky tasting room, the Scapa Noust. Welcoming Single Malt fans and adventurers alike, the tasting room will offer uniquely immersive experiences for those looking to taste exceptional whisky in a spectacular destination, including The Cask Finished Edition, Scapa 19-Year-Old Pedro Ximénez hogshead finish, which launches as the newest addition to the Scapa Distillery Reserve Collection.

The Scapa Noust Tasting Room and experience

The distinctive clifftop location overlooking the natural harbour of the Scapa Flow and dramatic Orcadian landscape makes the Scapa Noust a truly special location to taste whisky. Tucked away on the Northern Isles of Scotland and surrounded by the elements, the Scapa Noust welcomes visitors to enjoy a dram of Scapa whisky Single Malt in an inviting and warm setting.

With touch points throughout reminiscent of the maritime heritage of the destination, the namesake harks back to the island’s traditional boat shelters, ‘Noust’, the Orcadian term for a safe haven for boats. After a tour of the working distillery and warehouse, up to twelve guests can enjoy tastings of Scapa Single Malt whisky around a central hand-carved long table featuring ripples inspired by the sea, whilst seated under a statement ceiling, crafted in the style of a traditional fishing boat’s interior. Visitors will take in views through the floor to ceiling glass, looking out over the Scapa Flow, an underwater landmark site where a shipwreck of a sunken fleet resides. Inside the Scapa Noust, there are nautical design touches from the local area as a reminder of the area’s history, including a traditional naval radio desk donated by a local Orcadian, as well as a helmet which is over 100 years old and was used by the British navy up until the 1970s.

Designed by a local Orcadian architect Mark Fresson, the tasting room pays homage to the traditions and crafts of the Orkney islands. Cassie stone from across the island has been re-used and repurposed outside, using a technique hailing from Medieval times. There are also examples of locally crafted and rare Orcadian basket weave inside. The Scapa Noust encompasses the contrast of wild and calm: being both surrounded by the harsh elements and cliff edge lapped by the sea, while also inside an oasis of tranquillity as a nod to the welcoming warmth of the Orcadian community.

Scapa Distillery Reserve Collection

To celebrate this opening, Scapa is launching a new addition to its Distillery Reserve Collection, The Cask Finished Edition, Scapa 19-Year-Old Pedro Ximénez hogshead finish. There are just 440 bottles of this rich and spicy whisky which will be available exclusively at Scapa Distillery and on the distillery website, priced at £185.

Jacques-Henri, Head of Brand Experience and Advocacy at Chivas Brothers commented:

“We are thrilled to open the doors of the new Scapa Noust tasting destination at our Scapa Distillery. The team are so proud to have brought this vision to life, designing a space with a modern and fresh interior, whilst simultaneously honouring the rich traditions of Orkney that make Scapa whisky what it is.

Orkney is a special place, perfect for those wanting to absorb rich local history and culture and experience the wild beauty of the Orcadian archipelagos. The stunning Scapa Noust offers an incomparable experience for whisky fans and adventure seekers alike”.

The Scapa Noust tasting room is open to the public from 1^st April 2023. With a new direct connection from London City Airport to Orkney launching this summer, it is now even easier to discover all that Orkney has to offer. To learn more, please visit Scapa Distillery (maltwhiskydistilleries.com) or contact Visitor Centre Supervisor Maria Letizia Bardelli at scapa.admin@pernod-ricard.com.

EU Shop | Batch Strength | Single Casks

Carriages at Midnight

 2023’s first EU Exclusive

Our latest Single Cask Limited Release brings a soft and delicately sweet whisky to the EU. Carriages at Midnight is dripping in elegance from head to toe, and is long and luxurious with malted toffee sweetness, blackcurrant and lemongrass.

“Having dusted off the digestifs at the fancy party you thought you’d never go to, arm in arm you tumble into a taxi home full of good food and even better memories. This dram is that carriage home at midnight…”

~ Kirsty Mackinnon, Brand Manager ~

Shop Carriages at Midnight EU

Jack Daniel’s Releases McLaren Racing Limited Edition 

Tennessee Whiskey Bottle

Limited edition bottle features special packaging to celebrate the brands’ pioneering founders and spirit of independence, authenticity and boldness

Lynchburg, Tennessee (April 26, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery today announced a limited edition Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to commemorate its partnership with McLaren Racing. Available in select Formula 1 race markets across the globe, the limited edition Tennessee Whiskey features a custom label and packaging that honors the pioneering founders behind Jack Daniel’s and McLaren Racing – Mr. Jack Daniel himself and Bruce McLaren.

“McLaren and Jack Daniel’s are two of the most iconic brands known around the world, and we’re excited to celebrate our partnership with a special bottle that nods to our shared spirit of independence, authenticity and boldness,” said Sophia Angelis, Jack Daniel’s SVP, Global Managing Director. “We have been working with the McLaren team to develop unparalleled experiences for both racing and whiskey fans, and we can’t wait to share more on what we have in store.”

“We are thrilled to launch this special McLaren Racing bottle with Jack Daniel’s, an exciting collaboration with a partner which shares our ambition to put fans at the center of what we do,” said Louise McEwen, Executive Director, Brand & Marketing, McLaren Racing. “In our 60th year we are marking our team’s great legacy, started by Bruce McLaren. This limited-edition bottle is another fantastic way to share these celebrations with our fans, remembering both Bruce and Jack – two distinguished founders. I am looking forward to seeing the bottle on shelves across the globe.”

The McLaren Racing limited edition is Jack Daniel’s classic Tennessee Whiskey grain bill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% malted barley, bottled at 80 proof (40% abv). Beginning in May, it will be available in 700 mL bottles in select F1 race cities in the U.S. and internationally.

For more information, visit JackDaniels.com.

About McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren 60 years ago in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966. McLaren has since won 20 Formula 1 World Championships, 183 Formula 1 grands prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.  

McLaren Racing competes across five racing series. In 2023, the team will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers René Rast and Jake Hughes, and the Extreme E Championship with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team drivers Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust. The team also competes in the F1 Esports Pro Championship as McLaren Shadow, having won the 2022 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.

McLaren is a champion for sustainability in the sport and a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment. It is committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in the motorsport industry.

McLaren Racing – Official Website

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Please Drink Responsibly.

Tennessee Whiskey, 40% alc. by vol. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JACK DANIEL’S is a registered trademark. ©2023 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.

DOUBLE CASK DC113

To create our Double Cask, Distillery Manager Heather Tillott draws on the vast array of casks that rest within the Sullivans Cove bond store.

A trove of casks that we have been building for almost 30 years.

From 17 year old whisky, to 8 year old whisky. From the fine and firm tannins of French oak, to the confectionary and spice of American oak. Each cask has a role to play, thoughtfully placed in a creamy, decadent and fruit forward marriage from the furthest reaches of our bond-store.

“Ah – that’s beautiful. The presence of very old whisky is immediately apparent” – Miranda Lidgerwood – Sensory Team

Opening delicately with a light grip of fine, old oak right at the front, the back palate lights up with a wave of lime and mandarin – completely in sync.

This is a palate with great structure and lots of dimension. A beautiful balance of fruit, spice, and confectionery (with some jammy things) comes next, as the flavours swell into one another. Iced Vovos, candied almonds, hot cross buns, lime jelly, warm custard and a big dose of mango chutney see you through the finish.

TASTING NOTES AND CASK DETAILS

The ballot for DC113 opens for 24 hours from 10am Monday 22 May, Hobart time. Further details, with a link to enter the ballot will be sent via email prior to the ballot opening.

A note on our ballot system. 

Our policy is one entry per person, per household. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter once only. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballot closes.

Glen Garioch 12 Years Old 2011 Single Cask

Founded in 1797, Glen Garioch Distillery is one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, sitting just outside the town of Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire’s fertile barley plains.

Glen Garioch and Sherry Wood are one of the finest matches in the whisky world – which is why this robust malt has spent the last two years building some extra muscle in a first-fill butt. The bouquet offers dark chocolate and tea leaves, with prune cake and spiced sultanas appearing with time. Glen Garioch has an incredible body, and the palate is notably thick as dried fruit, wood smoke, brambles and oak spice all demand your attention. The finish lasts long, showing a perfect balance of fruit, spice, smoke and Sherry wood. It’s a perfect marriage of wood and distillate.

Only 433 bottles were produced.

£96.00

Shop now

Ardmore 11 Years Old 2012

Ardmore Distillery, located near Kenmethmoth in Aberdeenshire, was founded in 1908 and produced quite a peaty style by \highlander standards.

The unique earthy wood smoke drifting out of the glass can only announce the arrival of Ardmore, one of the Highland’s most characterful drams. Ash, hessian, kippers and digestive biscuits mingle with an outstanding balance, with a hint of tobacco and fruit cake appearing after some time in the glass. The palate is tremendously smoky yet subtle, with notes of cedar, smoked straw, pipe tobacco and lime zest. Woodland bonfire smoke lasts long on the palate. This is the perfect hill-walking dram – enjoy it at cask strength in gale-force wind and rain.

Only 661 bottles were produced.

£75.00

Shop now

Glencadam 12 Years Old 2011 Single Cask

Glencaddam is an often-overlooked gem of the Highlands. It is the only surviving distillery in the area of Angus, which was once home to the famous North Port and Lochside distilleries.

A final year maturing in ex-sweet wine casks has brought out the playful fruitiness of this delightful Glencadam. Apricots, peaches, orange blossoms and honey yoghurt all flutter out of the glass, making for a wonderfully refreshing nose. The palate is gloriously this, bringing more bright fruits along with mango syrup, chewy dried pineapple and a hint of drying wood varnish. All of this is wrapped up on the lingering palate by further notes of fruit syrup. Amazingly fresh and floral.

Only 255 bottles were produced.

£86.00

Shop now

Glen Elgin 10 Years Old 2013 Small Batch

Glen Elgin is three miles south of Elgin – the last distillery to be established during the Victorian era.

The nose opens with Glen Elgin’s trademark burnt marmalade notes alongside some apples and pears. A little time in the glass brings forward notes of crème brûlée with spiced cream. The palate is muscular, reminding us of Glen Elgin’s traditional worm tubs, during a perfect balance of fruit and oak waltz over the tongue. With characterful liquid like this, it’s hard to fathom why Glen Elgin isn’t one of the biggest names in Scotch whisky.

Only 851 bottles were produced.

£70.00

Shop now

New Single Casks from Lady of the Glen

Lady of the Glen is an independent bottler bringing international whisky enthusiasts an exclusive taste of the nation’s traditional spirit.  All Lady of the Glen brand releases are hand bottled at natural cask strength, without any chill filtering or colouring which means the original taste remains unaffected and the end flavour is pure, full, and always unique. Lady of the Glen whiskies are a homage to the long tradition of independent bottling in Scotland and of outstanding and unhurried techniques that create a product that is both rare and special.

Inverurie Whisky Shop 1 Burnside, Burn Lane, Inverurie, ENG AB51 3RY

Back in Stock: A Special Release from a Scotch Icon
Macallan “The Harmony Collection – 2022 Intense Arabica” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
(Elsewhere $250) ($174.99)
“It’s like the perfectly pulled shot of espresso—rich with a distinct crema, full, round, and yet lively.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

The anticipation surrounding last year’s second Harmony release from Macallan was well justified by the end results. Master Blender Steven Bremner applies the distillery’s renowned, signature sherry-cask aging with incredible precision and detail, making for an intensely expressive whisky that bears all the hallmarks of the world’s finest coffee roasts, while holding on to its classic, luxurious Macallan foundation. The Harmony Collection is shaping up to be a must-have series of releases, and these early renditions are sure to become highly coveted collector’s trophies in the near future.

Macallan “The Harmony Collection – 2022 Intense Arabica” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $250) ($174.99)

K&L Notes: The new Harmony Collection from Macallan has been an enormous hit with single malt fans and collectors alike. The first release in 2021 can now be found averaging double its original price tag. The second release in the collection is 2022’s Intense Arabica. We were able to snag a large stock to close out the year and now have this wonderful whisky on offer without an allocation limit.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 05, 2023

Macallan’s new Harmony collection is inspired by the natural world and looks to work in conjunction with what it has to offer. The latest rendition, Macallan Intense Arabica, not only utilized coffee bean husks to create the beautiful presentation box, but the casks selected by Master Blender Steven Bremner, also reflect the complex aromas and flavors that can be found in the Ethiopian Arabica bean when perfectly roasted and brewed by the best coffee professionals in the world. Of course, it’s still Macallan, so it’s aged in 100% sherry casks made of both American and European oak. The deft use of the barrels is on full display here. It’s not an overt sherry bomb, but like roasting a coffee bean to just the right level, it’s been perfectly paired to the raw material to coax out the most flavor. The nose is loaded with toffee, bread pudding, vanilla, chocolate, ginger snaps, and dark roasted malt, and of course, coffee. It’s like the perfectly pulled shot of espresso—rich with a distinct crema, full, round, and yet lively. The palate is sweet and expansive. It builds from dusty cocoa and sandalwood into succulent, ripe stone fruit and citrus bursting at the peel. Creamy vanilla wafers tie the whole thing together, surely thanks to a fair amount of quality American oak, although the full cask recipe isn’t given. The finish lingers very pleasantly with a spicier cinnamon bark note at the end.

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

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a gold medal for our Cotswolds Bourbon Cask and silver medals for The Cotswolds Harvest Series: Golden Wold and Cotswolds Reserve at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2023. This competition is globally recognised as the standard for acknowledging the highest quality spirits in the world, and winning these medals is an exceptional achievement and a testament to the superb quality of our spirits.

Cotswolds Bourbon Cask 

Our Bourbon Cask is for those who appreciate discovering the most authentic flavours of single malt whisky. This award-winning spirit boasts aromas of honey, butterscotch, and apples, with flavours of lemon, baking spices and toffee apples.

Rob Patchett, Global Whisky Ambassador said “Our Cotswolds Bourbon Cask is our purest whisky to date, using the best quality first fill American oak casks from distilleries such as Basil Hayden’s and Bookers. These incredible quality casks help amplify our fruity spirit and really show our outstanding distillery character.”

Experience the unparalleled quality of our Bourbon Cask for yourself.

SHOP NOW

“We’re incredibly proud to have won these awards from such a prestigious competition. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team to create spirits of the highest quality,”

Founder and Executive Chairman, Daniel Szor

We want to thank you for your continued support and loyalty to the Cotswolds Distillery. As always, we are committed to crafting exceptional spirits that you will love and enjoy. If you haven’t already, we highly recommend trying our award-winning Cotswolds Bourbon Cask. This pure and authentic single malt whisky is best served simply, allowing its delicate flavours to shine.