Unbelievable Savings On Single Malt of Uncompromising Quality

2002 Dailuaine 14 Year Old “Old Particular K&L Exclusive” Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

($59.99)

“Is it too early in 2017 to call this the single malt deal of the year?” – David Driscoll, K&L Assistant Head Buyer

While the dollar has made serious headway against the pound over the last year, there are few retailers in a position to pass along that currency savings to their customers; namely, because few other than K&L are buying their Scotch directly. In the wake of Brexit and the increased buying power we’ve experienced since the initial vote took place, we’ve been able to offer serious single malt selections for some prices that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. While we thought our capacity to bring sherry-matured joy to the masses had peaked this past December when we offered a 9 year old cask strength barrel of Dailuaine for a mere $49.99, it appears the whisky gods intend to smile upon us for just a bit longer.

We managed to track down an even older version of the same whisky—a 14 year old sherry-matured Dailuaine—for only ten dollars more! Given the market for sherry-aged, cask strength whisky of this maturity, one might expect a whisky of this magnitude and quality to approach three figures. Yet, due to our relationship with Old Particular and the fact that we’re going directly to the source, we’ve passed along the savings in currency to you. Expect to see a number of great deals as we move forward in 2017, but few as enticing as this one. Is it too early in 2017 to call this the single malt deal of the year?

2002 Dailuaine 14 Year Old “Old Particular K&L Exclusive” Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

This past December we thought we’d uncovered the deal of a lifetime when we were able to sell a 9-year-old sherry butt of Dailuaine at cask strength for $49.99 thanks to the improved Brexit dollar-to-pound ratio. Now, however, with a new shipment of Old Particular single-cask selections upon us, we may have a new contender. The only thing possibly better than 9-year-old, cask-strength, sherry-matured single-malt whisky for $49.99 is a 14-year-old version of that same whisky for a mere ten dollars more! Dailuaine is one of Diageo’s classically styled Highland whiskies used primarily for Johnnie Walker, but we’ve found over the years that the malt drinks pretty well on its own. Much like the 9-year-old edition, this version was aged in a refill butt, meaning the sherry influence isn’t quite as overpowering. In this case, it works in conjunction with the creamy malt flavors of the whisky itself. It starts with notes of dark chocolate and spiced nuts before moving forward into cakebread and flavors of sticky figs and syrup. The nose is a pure essence of caramel, and the finish dances with cocoa and candied ginger. After years of finding the best single casks of whisky Scotland has to offer, there are few hidden gems for us in today’s market. There’s really not much left we can accomplish other than to provide better pricing. The dollar-to-pound ratio has significantly upped our quality-to-value ratio, and it’s very possible we’re still far from peaking on that front.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2017

Let’s be clear: sherry-aged cask strength whisky is in incredibly high demand. In fact, it’s so popular that prices for whiskies in that style have gone way, way up, completely changing the idea of “value” when it comes to Scotch. With this cask of Dailuaine 14 year, however, we’ve outdone ourselves once again. Not so much with the selection, mind you. Anyone who tastes this whisky can tell it’s absolutely delicious. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. It’s brimming with sweet sherry flavors, a creamy mid-palate, and loads of baking spice on the finish. The real accomplishment here is the price. We’ve managed to offer a single barrel, cask strength, sherry-matured Highland whisky for less than what a standard market, water-reduced, general offering would normally cost! The Arran 14 year sherry cask edition is a hundred bucks!! That’s probably the closest comparison on the market right now. Yet, this Dailuaine is better.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2017

This is my first taste of Dailuaine, but I know it will not be my last! This came from one special Sherry butt that yielded 602 bottles, and has the creamy richness and rancio complexity that one would expect from a 14 year old aged in sherry cask. I enjoyed it most with a good splash of water, which opened up the whisky and added layers that the fire of the cask strength hid at first. When David told me the price, I could not believe it… Nothing comes close to this quality in well-aged sherry cask malt even at double the price. Time to make room in the liquor cabinet!

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2017

Sweet, rich, pretty, and powerful. The nose packs a wallop — it’s jammed full of baking spices, dried fruits, marmalade, sherry’s salty and sweet complexity, a little bit of baked apples and warm bread. Not to mention that it brings the heat. On the palate it is warm and rich, full of love and doubles up on the nose profile, but adds a small amount of cocoa that really shines when you add a little water. I loved the 9 year we had before the holidays, but this is, no joke, leaps and bounds ahead. For only $10 bucks more, it’s a true no brainer.

Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2017

Great Scotch thats loaded with integrated flavors, complexity and richness. The extended time in sherry cask imparts a broad, creamy butterscotch core with nuanced flavors of toffee, orange marmalade and a little cocoa. Even at cask strength it is inviting and pleasant, and a small addition of water makes it more so, opening up the flavors quite a bit. Great Scotch priced well below its class!

Sal Rodriguez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2017

We enjoy getting worked up about some great Scotch, if you haven’t noticed. Here is one such Scotch. Rich, powerful, and expressive! There’s no shortage of minerality and sherry butt influence here. If you’re a fan of spicy, rich, flavorful, toasted maple, then this is your next bottle. And at about 50 bucks, this can easily be your nightly “go-to” bottle of Scotch. Act now, ’cause this is another bottle that’s sure to go quickly.

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637) Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Springbank 15 Year Old

New packing for 2017, our favourite Scottish single malt Springbank 15 Year Old features a fresh new face for the New Year. Matured in sherry casks this is a must-try Campeltown malt.

£53.10

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Dumbarton 29 Year Old 1987 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whiske. Single barrel #13049 bottled November 2016 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Sovereign series. 235 bottles. This dark gold whisky has a well-rounded nose of sweet vanilla custard, chocolate shortbread and a slight lemon zest at the end. Rich and creamy on the palate with vanilla pods, butterscotch sauce and soft fruits. The finish is long and sweet with a gentle citrus aftertaste. Dumbarton Distillery is a lost Lowland grain distillery opened by Hiram Walker in 1938 on the site of the former McMillan shipyard. The distillery sat on the banks of the River Leven and River Clyde in Dumbarton and was equipped with one continuous still manufactured in Cincinnati. It was one of the largest grain distilleries in Scotland however it closed in 2002 with most of its buildings demolished by 2008. Spirit was produced primarily from maize with water originating from Loch Lomond with spirit destined for Ballantyne’s blends. Single cask bottlings have been released by Hunter Laing & Co.

Dumbarton 29 Year Old 1987 Sovereign #13049

$97.50 

ABV: 54.7% ~ Age: 29 Year Old ~ Vintage: 1987 ~ Cask Type: single barrel ~ Cask #:#13049 ~ Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co. ~ Region: Lowland ~ Type: Single Grain Scotch

AN ISLAY WHISKY LIKE NO OTHER

The Classic Cask Port Charlotte unveils complex and distinctive flavours from the refill bourbon barrel.

The orange citrus aromas along with the smoky and floral finish have made this wonderfully composed dram into a definite crowd pleaser.

COLOR: Mid gold

NOSE: Peat smoke, toffee and hints of ripe apricot

PALATE: Briny leading to smoke, orange citrus and peach

FINISH: Long and smoky with floral at the end.

$119.99

Good as Gold

The Pitilie Burn in the town of Aberfeldy is one of the few places in Scotland where would-be prospectors still come to pan for gold, but you needn’t get your pick-axe out to find the precious stuff – simply open a bottle of one of our exclusive Aberfeldy single cask expressions! With only a few bottles remaining in stock, now is the time to strike gold!

Free delivery on UK orders over £100 Next day delivery available on UK orders

Aberfeldy 1991Single Cask

This limited edition single cask expression from Aberfeldy distillery in Perthshire was distilled in 1991 before spending 24 years in cask no. 6394. Bottled on 1st October 2015 at a strength of 53.5% abv, only 195 bottles are available, each one exclusive to The Whisky Shop. A delicate sweetness in the mouth with smooth creamy toffee notes, desiccated coconut mingling with a twist of lime and a wisp of smoke to finish.

£320 Buy Now

Aberfeldy 1996 Single Cask

The whisky for this Aberfeldy bottling was distilled in 1996 and was specially selected by members of The W Club and The Whisky Shop Edinburgh staff in March 2013. Exclusive to The Whisky Shop, this is a fabulous single cask expression. Brimming with vanilla notes stewed fruits, this fabulous expression also packs some typical warming oak flavours from the fairly long maturation.

£160 Buy Now

The Classic Cask Macallan 21 Year Old

Embracing the defining elements of sophistication and exceptional quality. It is the ultimate expression of handcrafted excellence. Discover the delicate flavours and remarkable smoothness offered from The Macallan 21 year old.

$339.99

Hello everyone!

We’ve got some exciting things to talk about today, including our first co-sponsored event with the Alamo Drafthouse on Mission St. in San Francisco where we’ll be bringing you…

A K&L “Drink & Watch” Movie Special Featuring Director Steven Soderbergh Live in Person!

On Monday night, January 23rd, starting at 7 PM, we’ll be teaming up with the gang at the Alamo Drafthouse to bring you a screening of Steven Soderbergh’s Academy Award-winning film Erin Brockovich, featuring a live Q&A session with the director himself (hosted by yours truly) and a meet-and-greet cocktail party after the show. As some of you know, I’ve written a column on the K&L spirits blog for years called “Drink & Watch,” where I pair alcohol with movies rather than food. Mr. Soderbergh, who for some reason gets a kick out of those articles, thought it might be fun to take this idea and turn it into a party. As many of you also may know, the Alamo Drafthouse allows you to order food and alcoholic beverages while you’re watching a film, so we’re planning a special cocktail list with Steven’s drink of choice: Singani 63, the grape-based Bolivian spirit he discovered while filming Che on location. We’re big supporters of the brand here at K&L, but we also understand that the spirit needs a bit of an introduction. That’s why we’re inviting you out to the movies on Monday the 23rd to watch a great film, drink some great Singani cocktails, listen to Steven talk about the film, then have a drink with the man at our private after-party. It’s the most exciting event we’ve ever hosted, in my opinion!

Tickets (21 and over) are available here via the Alamo Drafthouse website where you can choose your own seat and reserve your spot:

ERIN BROCKOVICH & SINGANI 63 SCREENING PARTY – $15

Drinks are not included with admission, but there will be a specialty menu for you to order from while in attendance.

I’ll be there with Mr. Soderbergh in tow. We’re looking forward to hosting you!

A NEW BARREL OF KENTUCKY DELICIOUSNESS!

As the market for unique and interesting Bourbon continues to be crowded, competitive, and catty, you’ve got to rely on your strengths as a retailer. As a buyer, I think my biggest strength (and maybe my only redeeming quality, to be honest) is my palate; the ability to know what tastes good and what doesn’t. You might think quality is an obvious characteristic to everyone, but believe me it isn’t. Anyone can pick the oldest cask in the line-up, or the one with the highest proof. You don’t need to be a whiskey master to do that. But when the stocks start dwindling and everything is less than nine years old (as is the case right now at Four Roses), you’re going to figure out real fast who can assess the winners and who can’t.

I offer as proof of our fine palates this delicious new Four Roses selection that we picked out this past Fall. It’s a hair under nine years old and it’s nothing short of scrumptious. I think just about everyone in the Redwood City store went in for a bottle after tasting it this week. It’s just a charming bottle of booze!

Four Roses 8 Year, 11 Month Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel OESO Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey $64.99 – The first selection from our 2016 trip to Four Roses has arrived and it’s absolutely as charming as we remember it. Aged just a hair short of nine years, this OESO selection has a mash bill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley and uses the O yeast strain known for imparting a rich, full-bodied, and vanilla-laden character onto the whiskey. Bottled at 53.25% ABV, the Bourbon is full of sweet oak and baking spices galore on the nose. The palate follows suit with vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves balanced by the sweetness from the charred barrel notes. Simply put, it’s the type of whiskey you look forward to coming home to. It’s full of flavor, never overpowering despite the cask strength power, and balanced on all fronts. It’s not difficult to understand, nor is it hiding many deeper secrets. It shows you everything it has right off the bat: creamy vanilla, lots of sweet spice, and a healthy dollop of oak for good measure. Another winner purchased directly from the Four Roses cellar.

MORE COMPASS BOX RARETIES!

After the madness of the holiday rush ended, I went back to some of our favorite suppliers to see if there were any trophies left unclaimed. It turns out that Compass Box had a few gems still available, so I snagged the last few bottles of each. The “Three Year Deluxe” was one of my favorite whiskies of the year, so don’t sleep on these:

Compass Box “Three Year Old Deluxe” Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky $279.99 – Composed of less than 1% three year-old malt whisky produced near the village of Brora, 90% malt whisky of an unstated age from the same distillery and around 9% peaty malt whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye, regulations only permit us only to share details of the age of the youngest component! No matter. For it is this three year-old that is most important to this whisky. Aged from new-make spirit in first-fill American oak casks, the rich vanilla notes, waxy mouthfeel and decadent baked orchard fruit notes from the larger parcel of Highland malt whisky provide a beautiful platform on top of which the brooding qualities of the peaty malt whisky and the clean, bright character of the three year-old parcel are able to shine.

Compass Box “The Circus” Limited Edition Scotch Whisky $249.99 – Limited Edition release of 2,490 bottles worldwide. Bottled March 2016. Producer Taste Notes: A lithe frame and opulent mouthfeel showcasing the supple softness of mature grain and the complexity of aged Blended Scotch Whisky. Brimming with dried fruit character, a luscious maltiness and nuances of almond and hazelnut.

Compass Box “Spice Tree – Extravaganza” Limited Edition Malt Whisky $139.99 – This is a blend of 60% aged malt whisky from the Clynelish distillery, 20% aged malt whisky from the Dailuaine distillers, and 20% aged malt whisky from the Teaninich distillery. This blend is then matured for another four and a half years in 49.8% first filled Sherry butt, 2.6% American oak, 27.7% light/medium toast hybrid cask, 4.3% refill hybrid cask, and 15.6% heavy toast hybrid cask. The hybrid casks are specially created by Compass Box with toasted cask heads that impart more oak flavor to the spirit, resulting a very rich whisky.

Our new container of Old Particular single malt docks in Oakland next week! I’m looking forward to sharing some of those casks with you shortly. Watch the spirits blog as well for news about our new Italian amaro finds, and check out our upcoming Armagnac adventures tomorrow at On the Trail.

Have a great weekend!

David Driscoll Assistant Head Buyer

daviddriscoll@klwines.com

650-556-2736

http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com

Single Cask Springbank

We’ve always been big fans of the distillery down the road, Campbeltown’s Springbank. Now we have something extra special to bring you from the region’s oldest operational distillery: a single cask expression bottled at cask strength available while stocks last at Loch Fyne Whiskies. Looks like Friday 13th might be your lucky day!

Next day delivery available on UK orders Worldwide shipping

Springbank 1992 21 Year Old

Available at Loch Fyne Whiskies while stocks last

A single cask expression distilled on 18th December 1992 at Campbeltown’s Springbank distillery. Aged for 21 years in cask no. 326 before bottling in March 2014 at a natural cask strength of 51.6% abv.

£220 Buy Now

Mystery Islay Moscatel Cask

Matured in a Moscatel cask selected and bottled by Creative Whisky Co. The distillery takes it’s water from Loch Nam Bam and features tours of a whietwashed distillery. £38.56

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JANUARY OUTTURN UPDATE: TOP FIVE FAVOURITES

Last week’s January Outturn brought us a marvelous mix of interesting and unusual casks with a great range around £50 or less, for those feeling the festive over-indulgence. Don’t miss out on these never-to-be-repeated single casks, we’ve picked our top five favourites still available in our online shop.

Looking for some tasty savings? Pick-up one of our parcel offers, choose between our Day & Night Pair, Spectacular Trio or Flavour Feast Case, all at great January prices.

BROWSE THE OUTTURN

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