• Michel Couvreur K&L Exclusive Overaged Peated Malt Whisky 750ml ($89.99) The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the 60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of pinot noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself; selecting his own sherry butts to insure only the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away last year from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave this past Spring, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, tap it so that it breaks)

• Nikka Coffey Still Japanese Grain Whisky 750ml ($62.99) Grain whisky is one of the least understood components of the whisky world. When you sip a blended Scotch like Johnnie Walker or Suntory’s Hibiki, you’re drinking a blend of two types of whisky — both single malt and grain — hence the term “blend” (many people assume the “blend” refers to the blend of various distilleries). While we’ve gone out of our way here at K&L to help our customers understand 100% malted barley single malt whisky, we’ve never really talked very much about grain whisky — mostly because there’s very little of it available! Grain whisky is made from corn, wheat, and unmalted barley on a continuous still — much like vodka is produced. The Coffey Still is a type of continuous still that can pump out grain whisky without having to alternate batches. Because of the efficiency and cheaper production cost, grain whisky has taken on a bit of a bad rap. This reputation is entirely undeserved, however, especially when delicious grain whisky like the new Nikka Coffey Still is available. This is classic grain whisky — round vanilla, hints of caramel, and an herbaceous, spicy note that brings some pop on the finish. NOTE: while grain whisky can be enjoyed on its own, I find it’s flavors are much more impressive on the rocks and when splashed with a bit of soda. The Nikka Coffey Still is perhaps the best grain whisky we’ve yet seen available on the American market. We need more whiskies like this! ASAP!

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

News release from Benromach Distillery Company Ltd 

Benromach 15 Years Old launched by leading Speyside distillery 

A notable new addition to the Benromach stable of classic Speyside single malt whiskies has gone on sale.

Benromach 15 Years Old has a distinctive golden amber colour thanks to long maturation in sherry and bourbon casks and a soft smokiness.

It tastes of luscious sherry and rich fruitcake with stewed plums and a hint of cocoa.

Launched by the Benromach Distillery Company Ltd, the 15 Years Old is available now with an RSP of £48.99 (prices may vary in export markets because of duty and import taxes).

As with all Benromach whiskies, the 15 Years Old is hand-crafted by just three distillers using the finest natural ingredients at the Forres distillery.

Benromach, in Forres, was bought over by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993 and carefully restored.

It was opened once again in 1998 by HRH Prince Charles and has since gained a reputation for producing an innovative range of distinctive Speyside whiskies with pre-1960s character.

Ewen Mackintosh, Chief Operating Officer of Gordon & MacPhail which owns the Benromach Distillery Company Ltd, said: “The Benromach story is a remarkable one, and the launch of the 15 Years Old marks a significant milestone in the distillery’s history.

“The whisky has a great deal of character and we hope it will appeal to whisky lovers who have tried other Benromach single malts and to those who would like to see what a classic pre-1960s Speyside malt is like.”

The packaging for Benromach 15 Years Old adopts the same design principles as the 10 Years Old, with the addition of gold effect detailing to highlight the premium nature of the product.

The bottle style and packaging reflects the hand-crafted character of the Benromach whiskies.

The elegant bottle’s neck and shoulder resembles the shape of the Benromach stills while the box, complete with embossed hand-drawn lettering, replicates their colour.  

Notes to Editors 

Leading malt whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail is the owner of the Benromach Distillery Company Ltd. Established in 1898, the distillery was virtually derelict when the family-owned company bought it in 1993.

Following careful restoration and re-equipment, it was re-opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail decided to create a classic Speyside single malt – a style that draws its influence from pre-1960s Speyside whiskies.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A four star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world famous Malt Whisky Trail.

Three fingers of whisky, three times a day. That was the daily regime for the Glengoyne workers for over 150 years – gathering in the canteen for a dram at nine o’clock, midday, and three o’clock.

Wonderful, certainly, for the seasoned workers – but a bit much for the younger ones. To save face, they’d take the first dram, then discretely pour the next two into a copper teapot on the windowsill. However, it certainly didn’t go to waste. Their older colleagues – veterans of the dram one and all – would intersperse official drams with unofficial “cups of tea”.

Only available at Glengoyne, the Teapot Dram IV has been lovingly recreated by men with a hazy recollection of those times.  Bottled at 58.7%, this batch of 3,178 bottles was created by marrying seven First Fill Sherry casks.

The casks have certainly done their job: the natural colour of dark mahogany, and packed with sweet treacle, soft oak and black pepper. It’s a treat, for sure, but it would be irresponsible of us to recommend the consumption of nine fingers’ worth by mid-afternoon. A little goes a long way.

Purchase the limited edition Teapot Dram IV >

Please note: We would love to ship the Teapot Dram worldwide, but due to restrictions, we are limited to the countries listed here.

* Maximum purchase of 6 bottles

Now available around the globe …..

Limited Release Glenturret – The Brock Malloy Edition #Cask328 

Glenturret Distillery’s release of a rare 28 year old single cask malt whisky, described as the best cask that has ever been produced by Scotland’s oldest working distillery, has garnered attention from whisky lovers around the globe. So much so that a planned launch of an international delivery service has been brought forward by the distillery, several weeks before it was set to be introduced, to meet international demand.

Tradition reigns supreme at Glenturret where whisky is genuinely handmade and a small batch product. By hand and by heart is the only way to produce Glenturret’s unique whisky and that is the exact way it was created when two local stillmen, Hugh Malloy and Chick Brock, laid down #Cask328, 28 years ago.

From cask to packaging, everything in The Brock Malloy Edition has been done in a traditional way and by true craftsmen. There will only ever be 240 bottles of this exquisite whisky in the world, so make sure you get your hands on one before they are all gone!

At only £200 per bottle (inc UK VAT), you can buy it TODAY.

POPULAR PICKS: FRUIT-LADEN FRIENDS RETURN FOR SPRING

Inspired by a touch of sunshine and long, leisurely evenings, we decided to share a selection fruit-laden delicacies. These ripe, juicy drams disappeared for a while but we found just a handful of each tucked away in a dark corner: let them out into the light before they’re gone for good…

Light & delicate

5.39 A vibrant promise of Spring £54.10

The nose is a profusion of flowers conveying the vibrant promise of Spring – the palate is zesty, lively and perfectly balanced…

15yo, Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

Buy >

37.62 Easy like a Sunday morning £44.00

Apple, pear, quince, lemon and lime are the overriding aromas in this summery dram. Fizzy and sweet on the palate…

10yo, Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

Buy >

Young & spritely

2.91 Buck’s Fizz and Gewurtztraminer £58.20

The nose eventually finds honey and fruit (peach, pear, apple, kiwi) – Juicy Fruit gum and Gewürztraminer with water. The palate is bright and tongue-coating…

12yo, Refill ex-bourbon barrel

Buy >

48.50 Mirror, mirror on the wall…£44.70

Imagine Snow White feasting on shiny red apples, juicy peaches whilst perched on a newly varnished pine stool. Confectionery sweetness follows…

13yo, First-fill ex-bourbon barrel

Buy >

Spicy & dry

9.83 Tiger Balm, Limoncello and scented candles £98.00

The aromatic nose carries linseed oil, tiger balm, Limoncello, lime zest and scented candles. The palate combines peaches, strawberries, ice-lolly sticks…

25yo, Refill ex-sherry butt

Buy >

Browse New Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

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

The Authors’ Series is an exclusive range of Single Malt Whiskies created by prestigious blenders and bottlers, Hunter Laing Ltd.

The range features specially selected, unique high end single malts. Each whisky paired with a famous author, ensuring that author’s life and work relate to the distinct taste and character of the malt contained within. The first four author’s in the series were Charles Dickens, Robert Lewis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling & Edgar Allan Poe.

Each bottle is individually dipped in wax and then sealed with the monogram design. Then packaged in a brown leather presentation box finished with a gold metallic foil to bring a touch of luxury to this limited edition malt.

Ardbeg 1993 Rudyard Kipling 

This Ardbeg 21 year old was matured in 1993 and bottled in January 2015. It is one of only 120 bottles which have been drawn from a Refill Hogshead and bottled at a natural cask strength of 56.4% volume.

£900 Buy Now

Macallan 1993  Charles Dickens

This 21 year old single malt from the Macallan distillery in Speyside. This particular expression was distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2015 from a Refill Barrel at a natural cask strength of 54.8% volume. One of only 99 bottles. Full of rich, dried fruit flavours with a hint of spice.

£600 Buy Now

Clynelish 1996 Edgar Allan Poe

This particular expression is a Clynelish 18 year old, originally filled to cask in December 1996 and bottled in 2015 at a natural cask strength of 56.1% volume. Drawn from a refill Hogshead it is one of only 243 bottles. Sweet yet spicy, with a creamy fudge flavour and some citrus notes.

£280 Buy Now

Probably Speyside’s Finest 1986 Robert Louis Stevenson

This whisky comes from the Glenfarclas distillery, and was originally filled to cask in 1986. Matured for 28 years in a Sherry Butt and bottled in 2015 at 48% volume. One of only 306 bottles. Rich and sweet, with delicious Christmas pudding and sherry flavours.

£190 Buy Now

Hunter Laing Collection

Hunter Laing & Co are an independent bottling company based in Glasgow that provide The Whisky Shop with a superb range of single cask malt whiskies under the labels Old Malt Cask, Platinum Old & Rare and Douglas of Drumlanrig.

Every Hunter Laing bottle available from us has been hand picked by members of The Whisky Shop staff based on its fantastic flavour and outstanding quality.

View The Full Collection Now

GEORGE T STAGG, 2010 BUFFALO TRACE ANTIQUE COLLECTION, 71.5%

We have been fortunate enough to have received a small parcel of stock which has contained a small quantity of the 2010 edition of the George T Stagg Bourbon. We regularly get asked if we have any of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and usually the answer is no (unless asked close to the annual launch). So we probably don’t need to stress how rare it is to come by a few cases of this limited edition Bourbon.

George T Stagg is big… we mean BIG! It is bottled at barrel proof giving it a hefty alcoholic roundhouse, if you’re approaching this stuff be prepared to go in swinging. This is a meaty and oaky American whiskey with a deeper subtlety beneath its brash exterior. This is one for collectors and drinkers to get into a Royal Rumble over!

PLEASE NOTE THE IMAGE PROVIDED IS NOT OF THE 2010 EDITION.

£164.95

For any queries please email angus@milroys.co.uk

Glenturret 2000 Vintage MacPhail’s

New 2015 edition matured in sherrywood from the Highland Distillery and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. A real treat!

Glenturret 2000 $52.34

GLENDRONACH CASK STRENGTH BATCH 4

£53.50

While the annual cycle of “limited” single malt releases is beginning to raise a few eyebrows in terms of continued quality and actual rarity, one distillery that continues to deliver year after year is Glenmorangie. Their yearly contribution to the whisky collector’s must-have list of magical malts continues to be one of the most sought-after and special of the genre. This year’s Tusail is no exception. Using a completely different strain of barley, Dr. Bill Lumsden and his whisky-making team mimicked the production of their standard 10 year Original in every way possible, with the exception of the malting process which was done the traditional way on the distillery floor. The goal of the project was to showcase the role that barley actually plays in the ultimate flavor of each whisky and how important the inherent grain is to the character of single malt. Not only is the Tusail delicious, it’s one of the most unique and satisfying releases we’ve tasted this year. Our allocation was limited to 120 total bottles, so we don’t plan on having this around much longer! It’s another winner from the always-dependable men of Tain.

Glenmorangie Túsail Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)

Tùsail is non chill-filtered and is made with floor-malted Maris Otter barley, the older (1960s) variety that’s also favored by craft breweries like England’s Black Sheep Brewery for its rich, malty flavor. The ten year old expression was created after Glenmorangie distiller Bill Lumsden located a grower of the strain and had it floor-malted at the distillery the old-fashioned way. Aged entirely in Bourbon casks, the Túsail stands in comparison to Glenmorangie’s classic 10 year expression; the only difference being the malting process and the strain of barley itself. Despite the similarities, the two whiskies couldn’t be more different, showcasing the potential for variance when steps that are often taken for granted get tweaked only slightly. The palate if the Túsail is thicker and creamier than the standard Original. The vanilla is front and center, but it’s accented with exotic spices and a sprinkling of anise seed. Much like Bruichladdich’s recent Bere Barley release, nothing seems all that different, but everything just seems to taste better! The finish is long, lingering whisper of sweet grains and candied citrus. As with most limited releases of Glenmorangie, the Túsail delivers everything you’re hoping for: quality, supreme flavor, and individuality. It’s not just another excuse to sell more whisky. The Túsail was engineered in 2004, long before the boom began. Yet more proof that Dr. Bill and his team remain at the head of whisky development for the Scotch industry.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 23, 2015

I love that there are a few distilleries interested in playing around with different strains of barley. What they’ve shown us without a doubt so far is that it absolutely DOES make a difference (whether you care about it, or not is a different question). The Bruichladdich Bere Barley was the first example of a unique and wildly different style of malt, and the Tusail now is the next great presentation. It’s spicy, gingery, mealy, and full of inherent flavor that obviously doesn’t come from the wood. It’s textural and exotic, malty and rich. It’s a home run from the best whisky development team in Scotland.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 25, 2015

We all know the Dr. Bill can do no wrong and this fabulous new offering from Glenmo’s Private Edition line is no exception. I love it when instead of getting super experimental (think Ardbeg Space Whisky) the guys at Glenmo kind of go back the other way. Producing whisky by hand from heirloom varieties of barley is not a first for the modern whisky industry, but Dr. Bill has done it in such a thoughtful and delicious way, you’re almost glad he didn’t do it first. We absolutely loved the Bere Barley from Bruichladdich a couple of years ago and this takes the idea of barley varietals one step further by including an in house malting scheme. The result is something utterly unique and perhaps wildly authentic. This feels like old school whisky (although retaining Glenmo’s classic elegance) and has a depth and soul hard to come by in modern releases. The high protein variety of barley producers far less alcohol (less starch), but much more character than the spring varietals typically used. Robust and round, with tons a fruit and small but persistent spicy quality. We’ve got a decent supply right now, but like all the Private Editions we’ll have people asking about this one for years to come (not to mention it’s likely to take home some serious awards later in the year).

Kyle Kurani | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 24, 2015

The Glenmo Tusail has been a decade in the making. This is not some hodgepodge blend of differently aced barrels, this is a whisky that was conceived of 10 years ago, brought to fruition with floor malted barley, and laid to rest, creating a Malt that is truly unique. The Maris Otter barley gives an amazingly nappy texture, delivering notes of vanilla and baking spice in a palate coating luxury. The bourbon barrel aging allows all the complexity of the Scotch to shine without covering it up with pure wood notes. Candied ginger and sweet lemon zest make for a delicious dram.

K&L Wine Merchants http://www.klwines.com/ Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637) Email: wine@klwines.com San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA