The Final Edition of an Coveted Collectible Canadian Whisky
Canadian Club 45 Year Old “Chronicles Issue #5: The Icon” Canadian Whisky (750ml) ($349.99)
A limited pre-sale opportunity for serious spirits collectors…

Over the past 160 years, Canadian Club has been the standard bearer for Canadian whisky, and the series of highly limited, perfectly mature Chronicles bottlings have paid tribute to the brand’s legacy. The Icon is the fifth and ultimate edition of this acclaimed series, and we’ve just secured a rare pre-sale opportunity for collectors to lock in an allocation of this already coveted release. Distilled in 1977, this 45-year-old whisky represents the pinnacle of the singular quality and style that have defined Canadian Club for more than a century, and savvy aficionados can add it to their collections at razor-sharp pricing below the distillery’s SRP. But supplies are limited, and it’s a sure bet this will disappear from the market in short order.

Lock down your bottle of the Canadian Club Chronicles 5th and final edition—the 45-year-old bottled at 50% ABV. Over the past 160 years, Canadian Club has been the standard bearer for Canadian whisky, and the series of highly limited, perfectly mature Chronicles bottlings have paid tribute to the brand’s legacy. The Icon is the fifth and ultimate edition of this acclaimed series, and we’ve just secured a rare pre-sale opportunity for collectors to lock in an allocation of this already coveted release. Distilled in 1977, this 45-year-old whisky represents the pinnacle of the singular quality and style that have defined Canadian Club for more than a century, and savvy aficionados can add it to their collections for well under the suggested release price. But supplies are limited, and it’s a sure bet this will disappear from the market in short order.

Canadian Club 45 Year Old “Chronicles Issue #5: The Icon” Canadian Whisky (750ml) ($349.99)

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

From the producer, “For us, the American Whiskey category is all about creativity. Fewer rules and regulations than bourbon means a winder cannon of options. This allows us to be more experimental when it comes to sourcing, blending, and creating batches of whiskey that are truly greater than the sum of their parts. Our goal is simple, but audacious: Become the most creative, forward-thinking, and progressive whiskey blenders in the nation. That doesn’t mean we’re compromising our principles. We’re still meticulous in sourcing the best whiskeys and finishing casks from our favorite producers around the world. A global mindset and years of experience in the industry mean we can get our hands on rare and unusual whiskeys that no other company can. When blending every limited-edition batch, our goal is always to create whiskeys that are unique and expressive of their ingredients. That philosophy is reflected in our transparent labeling, which gives you as much information as possible about exactly what’s in the bottle. Think of it as a road map to a brand-new whiskey experience.”

Barrell Craft 9 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #Z5L5 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

$99.99 View

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

C.1832 Scottish Distillery Maps For Sale At Mark Littler Ltd 

The distillery maps have been digitally restored to create high-quality framed prints. 

The first historical mention of whisky distillation in Scotland dates back to 1494 in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls in which there is a mention of “eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor wherewith to make aquavitae”, aquavitae being a latin term meaning ‘water of life’. The term ‘uisge beatha’ was often used in Gaelic.

Since this historic document was created, distilleries have sprung up, been mothballed, been demolished, and endured throughout Scotland’s history. Today there are over 140 distilleries in Scotland, some of which are shown in this digitally restored map of Argyllshire, originally made in 1832.

The maps are reproduced from the Atlas of Scotland maps, published in 1832 by cartographer, publisher, and bookbinder John Thomson. The maps were originally hand drawn by William Johnson and engraved by John & George Menzies. On the map such landmarks as the Isle of Mull, Islay, and Campbeltown.

Overlaid onto the maps are icons representing the currently active distilleries in Argyllshire, including Lagavulin, Bowmore, Oban, Laphroaig, Bruichladdich, Kilchoman, Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Lagg, Ncn’ean, Jura, Ardnamurchan, Port Ellen, Lochranza, Lagg, Springbank, Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Ardbeg. In the bottom left-hand corner of the map, a street view of Campbeltown can be seen. Campbeltown was once the whisky capital of the world, with more than 30 operational distilleries. However, many of these distilleries fell foul of the 1980s whisky loch. Today, there are only 3 left: Springbank, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia.

These historic maps are the perfect gift for any whisky lover – an authentic, yet modernised, map of Scotland’s whisky-distilling west coast.

The prints are produced in Lancashire, England, printed via fine art Giclee techniques, mounted on an acid-free backing board and presented in solid wood frames.

The prints are available in three sizes at three different price points:

• A1 – £270 
• A2 – £157 
• A3 – £97

About Mark Littler Limited

Mark Littler is an independent whisky broker, market analyst and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry. Each week he publishes new videos on his YouTube channel about topics such as cask investment fraud (and how to avoid it), the history of distilleries and bottles, debunking whisky investment myths and much more. For more information visit www.marklittler.com

If you are interested in the Distillery Maps or would like to chat to one of the team about our other services, please get in touch.

Email: whisky@marklittler.com

Telephone: 01260 218 718

An Exclusive Custom Cask from a Bourbon Icon
Maker’s Mark Private Selection “Baklava Barrel” K&L Exclusive Stave Finished Cask Strength Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
“The Maker’s Private Select barrel program continues to deliver in one of the most innovative and interesting ways in all of Kentucky.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

During last year’s trip to the hallowed halls of the Maker’s Mark distillery in Kentucky, K&L buyers Andrew Whiteley and David Othenin-Girard were able to re-kindle the Maker’s Mark Private Select program to great success. For those unfamiliar, it’s a collaboration between the iconic bourbon distillery and our own intrepid spirits team to develop a custom-cask whiskey aged to our exact specifications. The Baklava Barrel shows the classic Maker’s Mark profile that has attracted legions of fans over the years, but our buyers’ added input has yielded a truly singular expression that brings additional power and depth that will thrill avid and casual fans alike.

Maker’s Mark Private Selection “Baklava Barrel” K&L Exclusive Stave Finished Cask Strength Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)

K&L Notes: This new barrel of Private Select continues our foray into experimentation with the new mendiant stave. If you’re just catching up to the Private Select program, this is a system for creating unique single barrels where Maker’s allows us to select from five stave types for a 90-day finish to make a unique selection unlike any other. Starting with the extremely delicious cask-strength Maker’s product, we added two staves of Seared French Cuvée and eight of the new Roasted French Mendiant. The idea was to evoke the sweet and savory character of the mendiant chocolates for which they’re made, but the sweet, wheated maker’s profile kept transporting us to some secret Turkish bazaar.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: December 28, 2022

The Maker’s Private Select barrel program continues to deliver in one of the most innovative and interesting ways in all of Kentucky. Maker’s has always been about consistency, and the core Bourbon is pretty close to being their only product. They go so far as to rotate barrels in the rickhouses so that each barrel is as close to all the others in profile as possible. While this is great from a quality-control standpoint, they needed to do something to differentiate barrels in their single-barrel program. Enter the Maker’s 46 process: take one of those incredible single barrels of full-proof Maker’s Mark Wheated Bourbon and hang additional staves in the barrel for nine weeks. Different types of staves means endless combinations of flavors. The stave selection process is one of the funnest single-barrel selection experiences available in Kentucky, and the flavors you’re capable of achieving are unmatched in the bourbon world. Think Toasted Barrel from Michter’s or Elijah Craig on steroids! This year Maker’s introduced a new stave to the mix, the Roasted French Mendiant stave. Just like its namesake candy, this stave offers chocolate, fruit, and nuts. Add to that the honey and sweet vanilla of Maker’s Mark, and we felt “Baklava” was a reasonable descriptor of this whiskey. Of course, we don’t know anything for sure until the long nine-week wait is over and the precious liquid is delivered in bottle. Let’s see how it turned out! The nose is classic Maker’s but with a dark side. It’s much more chocolate and spice than we even expected and seems to throw varnish and lacquer into the mix as well. Manuka honey and Madagascar vanilla are balanced by a bit of herbal thyme and cinnamon spice. The palate is bolder than most of the Maker’s barrels we’ve bottled in the past—rambunctious almost. It’s fiery and robust, a bit of a surprise. At 54.3% ABV, it’s one of the higher ABV barrels available in the typical range (they usually run from 52-55% with a couple of outliers on occasion). The palate and finish really bring on the nutty complexity, offering an array of candied almonds, roasted pistachios, and baked walnuts. Freshly sawn oak and more honey mesh with citrus peel and orange blossom to round out the sweeter profile. While it always feels a little bit like you’re shooing in the dark when mixing these staves together, I think that after at least a dozen barrels, we’re getting pretty dang good at it!

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

TOP 10 WHISKIES
FOR BURNS NIGHT

Our top 10 whiskies this month feature fine drams for those celebrating the life of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns, as well as those looking for a great excuse to try a new Scotch whisky. Throwing a Burns Supper? Start the evening off with the light and fruity Arran Robert Burns single malt before moving on to fuller bodied or peated whiskies from the likes of Balblair and Benromach to match the rich, spicy flavours of haggis. Finish off with a sweet and spicy sherried dram from Benrinnes or Royal Brackla to toast the end of the night.

TOP 10 WHISKIES

‘Dare to discover different’ in 2023 with this  Single Malt from New Zealand!

Nestled in a warm, often misty valley, protected by the volcanic hills from which they source their pure spring water, Pōkeno is a hidden treasure of a remote and beautiful land – and a natural choice of location for this state-of-the-art distillery.

Everything done here is driven by a goal to create one of the world’s great Single Malts. Batch production, long fermentation, and slow distillation are just a few of the things that help make them different. As craft distillers, they are also able to focus on quality over quantity and on doing things their way, not the easy way.

Using only pure volcanic spring water from the North Island distillery’s surrounding volcanic hills and family-farmed barley from New Zealand’s rich, fertile South Island, Pōkeno selects only the finest casks to mature their precious spirit, and the warm subtropical local climate accelerates its maturation and flavor development.

All of this allows Pōkeno to produce Single Malt whisky with exceptional body and flavor; whisky that captures the pure spirit of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The New Zealand spirit is forged through a unique marriage of culture and climate. It’s an intangible phenomenon that produces tangible greatness and enables Kiwis to fearlessly stride on a global stage. It’s this spirit that inspires the team at Pōkeno to experiment with flavor to create world-class- but distinctively different – Single Malts.

When asked of the new partnership with ImpEx Beverages in the US, Founder Matt Johns said, “We are delighted to be partnering with ImpEx Beverages for the distribution of Pōkeno Single Malt Whisky in the United States.  We are passionate about what we do, and were focused on finding a partner who shares the same passion for Single Malt whisky to bring our fantastic range of New Zealand Single Malt whiskies to the American market”

Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages said, “Matt and his team truly have a passion for what they do and a love of where they come from. All of this translates into every drop of this beautiful liquid. We couldn’t be more proud to introduce this small piece of New Zealand to whisky lovers in the US and are excited to see consumers here fall in love with Pōkeno in its quest to be ‘fearless, relentless, and ever original’”

Pōkeno officially launches in January of 2023 with two core expressions and a US Exclusive Single Cask offering.

Pōkeno Origin is matured in first fill Bourbon casks. It is a delightfully sweet and round whisky with beautiful citrus, honey, grapefruit, and creamy toffee notes that give way to a complex and lingering finish.

Pōkeno Discovery is fully matured in first fill Bourbon, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez Casks then allowed to marry perfectly together. It is a rich and complex whisky with beautiful notes of dark chocolate, black forest gåteau, ripe cherries, and sweet citrus that give way to a rich, smooth, and incredibly long finish.

ImpEx debuted this exciting new addition to the portfolio in their last ImpEx Distillery Deep Dive of the year hosted on their Facebook and YouTube Channels December 21^st 2022 at 3pm Pacific/6pm Eastern Time.

Pōkeno will be available at specialty retailers across the US. For more information on where to purchase this amazing spirit of New Zealand please contact our office at Office@ImpExBev.com.

About Pōkeno Whisky

In 2017 Pōkeno Whisky was founded with a vision to put New Zealand on the map as a producer of single malt whisky. It is the largest single malt distillery in the country. Today, the Pōkeno Whisky Company handles all processing on site at a state-of-the-art distillery with maturation warehouses, filtration and bottling facilities, and a fully functional cooperage.

About ImpEx Beverages

In 2008, ImpEx Beverages was founded with the vision to import premium and rare spirits from around the world, with a special emphasis on the best of what Scotland has to offer. Today, ImpEx boasts an impressive portfolio, including some of the most notable small to medium sized distilleries and independent bottlers; importing Whisky, Gin, Rum, and Mezcal from Scotland, Wales, Japan, Israel, Mexico, England, India, and New Zealand with future anticipated additions from unexpected destinations. ImpEx also features a fine line of Liqueurs and Cordials produced in the US.

CELEBRATE LUNAR
NEW YEAR 2023

Celebrate Lunar New Year in style with a special whisky or spirit including this new limited-edition Year Of The Rabbit release of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, decorated with illustrations by Chinese fashion designer Angel Chen.

  SHOP JOHNNIE WALKER 

YEAR OF THE RABBIT

Apogee 12 Year Old “XII” Bimber Cask Finished Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $89.99 View

Apogee XII is a 12-year-old, premium pure malt whisky maturated in high quality ex-Bimber London Single Malt casks. Drawing from generations of historical expertise and a modern aesthetic, Apogee offers a uniquely alluring twist on the old blended cateogry. Versatile and deeply captivating whisky, it was designed to be a celebration of the fine art of blending, Starting with two high quality 12 year old Speyside malts the ex-Bimber casks add additional layrs of vivid, fruit and spice character providing a truly special experience. Tasting notes from the blender, “NOSE: Spiced pears and oven-baked apricot flans are sweetened by candy necklaces and scented with rosewater, nutmeg and powdered ginger. PALATE: Syrupy orchard and stone fruits provide a bright and fresh mouthfeel supported by lightly charred oak, gentle white pepper and cooling mint. FINISH: Lingering ripe and sweet fruits…”

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

A SMOOTHLY COMPLEX FLORAL EXPRESSION

Bohemian Blossom is a small batch, hand-crafted Scotch whisky made using a selection of sweet single malts, inspired by the Speyside region, combined to create a smoothly complex floral expression. A sweet blended malt whisky with lively floral notes and a touch of spice, this exclusive Limited Release of only 4,200 bottles is a sumptuous blended Scotch malt whisky designed to be savoured and enjoyed.

Nose: A bouquet of orange blossom and wild geranium

Palate: Zesty clementine, golden sultanas and the warmth of freshly grated ginger

Finish: Complex spices with a whisper of dry wood smoke

ABV: 45.4%

Chill filtration: Non-chill filtered

SHOP BOHEMIAN BLOSSOM UK

SHOP BOHEMIAN BLOSSOM EU

BRAW BURNS BOTTLINGS

We love to wax lyrical about Rabbie Burns…a true maverick with a playful mischievous streak and a glint in the eye that you can’t help but admire. We’re letting the party play on this month as we look forward to celebrating our National Bard on Wednesday, 25 January. Get involved in the Society action, get along to one of our Burns Night Sippers and Suppers events or make sure you’ve got the very best whisky in your glass for a toast.

We’ve just released a NEW selection of Braw Burns Bottlings, click over to our website to discover the release or keep on scrolling for a cast of colourful characters not to be missed.

VIEW NEW WHISKIES

BROWSE ALL 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