Kininvie – a long-overdue solo appearance

There was much excitement when William Grant launched Batch One from Kininvie to the Taiwanese market in the autumn of 2013, the first-ever release from this off-the-radar distillery. But now, UK whisky drinkers have something to get excited about: Batch Two, a 23-year-old Kininvie, is about to be launched in this country. Since it began distilling in 1990, virtually all of Kininvie’s output went into Grant’s blends and the tri-distillery blend Monkey Shoulder, but Kininvie itself stopped operating in late 2010, with William Grant seemingly reluctant to throw its weight behind a third single malt – understandable given that Glenfiddich and The Balvenie were doing very nicely, thanks very much.

So far, the only Kininvie we’ve seen here at TWE has been two bottlings, released under the Hazelwood banner (we still have some here), but William Grant is now ready to unveil Kininvie to a thirsty UK market – and the results are well worth it. TWE was invited to try three cask samples in addition to the two finished whiskies to get a good grounding of the whisky’s style:

1. 2006 (bourbon barrel): bags of sweet fruit and vanilla, with refreshing green-apple notes
2. 1990 (American oak hogshead): briney, cured-meat notes, lots of spice, tight and lean
3. 1990 (sherry butt): big, big flavours of Christmas cake and rancio, but not overblown

The first ‘complete’ whisky I tried was the 17 Year Old. Sadly, at the moment it’s limited to travel retail, but for the record, it offered clean, fresh aromas of apple and pear, with a sweet, creamy, mouth-filling palate delivering spicy cinnamon and clove notes. Thankfully, the best of the bunch was the one that is going to be available in the UK: the 23 Year Old.

Kininvie 23 Year Old, 42.6% abv. RRP £96.95 (35cl)

Nose: Rich and complex with stone fruit and notes of Seville orange. Very seductive and moreish. Spices start to come through over time.
Palate: This is 20:80 sherry cask/bourbon cask, but the sherry influence certainly makes its presence felt, with a big whack of dried fruit (raisins), along with Christmas spices. Some honeyed notes in there, too.
Finish: Superb. Lovely balance, as the fruit and spices gently dissipate.
Comment: This was the pick of the five by some distance. A very classy product indeed.

Like its Batch One counterpart, Batch Two will be sold in 35cl bottles – very dinky but rather charming, with 1,286 available in the UK. William Grant’s global marketing manager Kevin Abrook says: ‘Good things come in small packages, and we think we’ve got a super whisky here. We went for 35cl because we wanted to convey the sense of something precious.’

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – Kininvie – a long-overdue solo appearance

The Rumor Still: More Dirt

After a long absence from our shelves – the Dirt has returned. Black Dirt Bourbon that is. Black Dirt takes its name from the dark, fertile soil left by an ancient glacial lake that once covered Thousands of acres of upstate New York. The ‘dirt’ is perfectly suited for growing crops such as corn for fantastic bourbon.

Our Price: $50/btl

Cheers!

Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442 

www.parkaveliquor.com 

info@parkaveliquor.com

AUGUST UPDATE: TOP TIER OF THE CAKE STAND

As the cake stand touched the table, all hands shot out to snag a sweet morsel. The fancies flew off the plate so fast that a few ran out in minutes, but don’t worry: you’re still in time to enjoy that perfect dainty. Here are your favourite five remaining delights…

No. 1: Lightly peated

29.157 Heidi’s Holiday to Islay

17 years, ex-sherry butt

BUY £62.40

No. 2: Spicy & sweet

35.122 Perfumed lady at a garden fete

12 years, ex-bourbon barrel

BUY £43.80

No. 3: Peated

53.210 Fantastic stuff

24 years, ex-bourbon hogshead

BUY £97.60

No. 4: Old & dignified

59.49 Celebration in a glass

30 years, ex-bourbon hogshead

BUY £137.60

No. 5: Spicy & sweet

39.101 Sophisticated adult sweetness

30 years, ex-bourbon hogshead

BUY £84.60

Browse Full August 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

Words to live by!! The August Outturn is full of great bottles, so keep calm, put your feet up and find the perfect scotch for you. For full tasting notes please visit http://www.smws.ca.

Cask No. 125.67 Clean and innocent
14 years old; 1st fill barrel; 58.7%
The nose is sweet (honey, meringue, toffee, creme brulee) and pleasantly woody (tea chests, coconut, polished Steinway) with lemon, leather, vanilla and elderflower. The palate evokes wooden toys, sticky with love and sweets (creme eggs, ice cream, custard) – fruitily perfumed with water.

Cask No. 77.30 Attractively accessible and mouth-watering
9 years old; refill hogshead; 61.9%
An attractive nose, brimming with barley sugars, fondants and shortbread; added interest from fresh linen, pear sorbet and orange zest; water brings mango, lime and daffodil stems. The easy-drinking, mouth-watering palate has stewed apples, pineapple tarts, toffee, tablet and sherbet fizz.

Cask No. 9.78 White chili chocolate
11 years old; 1st fill barrel; 59.3%
Sweet aromas dominate; brown sugar, golden syrup and cream of coconut. The taste is devilishly hot and lip tingling like white chili chocolate. With water fresher and slightly herbal on the nose and wonderfully smooth and creamy, white chocolate lime mousse, on the palate.

Cask No. 3.201 Scented wood smoke, lavender and violets
24 years old; 2nd fill sherry butt; 50.8%
Lots of scented wood-smoke on the nose – also polished furniture, rosemary, leather, marmalade on toast, toffee, cedar and carbolic. The palate has nice viscosity, wood smoke and ash (leather armchair by a log fire), charred orange peel, lavender and parma violets.

Cask No. 29.131 Buttercups, bothies and BBQs
17 years old; refill barrel; 60.6%
The unusual nose eventually balances sweetness and smoke – sugar puffs, vanilla and honey against coal, charred mackerel, rock-pools and oil lamps in bothies. The palate has caramelized onions, burnt schnitzel, mustard, tar, ash and smoke; lavender and buttercups in the background.

Cask No. 53.200 A day at the beach
18 years old; refill sherry butt; 59.8%
On the beach with fresh seaweed and overgrown wooden groynes next to a harbour where the boats are landing their catch. The taste is like fresh oysters with Tobasco and honey butter roasted scallops. Adding water, like eating ashy marshmallows and fresh rhubarb with an agave syrup.

http://www.smws.ca

The Society is having a Summer Sale until August 11^th

Members receive 10% off all Society bottle orders placed through August 11^th.

Cask No. 64.50                         $180 

Impressionist oil painting 

Speyside, Lossie 

The nose neat greeted us with fresh, floral and fruity aromas in the air. Warming sunshine, turquoise sky, fluffy white clouds, lots of birds tweeting in an orchard of flowering apple and peach trees with countless daffodils blossoming in the meadow. All very delicate with a vibrant mix of colours like an impressionist painting – you get the picture. The taste, much more intense, best described as a mixture of various Indian spices together with the fragrant, sweet and warm flavour of ground cinnamon like the German ginger cake Lebkuchen. With water sweeter aromas appear, bourbon vanilla, pancakes with melted butter and maple syrup and the taste fresh and sweet like a mango lassi with ginger nut biscuits. 

Drinking tip: Picnic in the meadow 

Colour: Sauternes wine

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 23 years

Date distilled: February 1990

Alcohol: 56.4%

USA allocation: 120 bottles 

Cask No. 3.215                                   $150 

Weird but wonderful 

Islay 

Gentle waves of smoke lapped across the nose – peat burning among sand dunes, perfumed wood smoke from a campfire – but also acid drops, chalk, hazelnut, charcoal, old leather books, sea-salt, lavender and violets – certainly complex. The unreduced palate seemed initially meaty – salty cured ham and Italian salami with caraway and peppercorns – quite delicious – then other things opened up – sweet smoke, charred oak, perfumed soap and fresh laundry. Water brought some fruit to the nose (perfumed peach, ripe Charentais melon). The palate now married a make-up bag to a first aid box; (slightly) weird but wonderful stuff from Islay’s oldest distillery. 

Drinking tip: For summer evenings in the garden – when the bats come out 

Colour: Pale primrose gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 18 years

Date Distilled: April 1995

Alcohol: 55.2%

USA allocation: 96 bottles

Cask No. 41.58                                   $100 

Juicy, juicy, tart and fruity 

Speyside, Spey 

Someone described the initial nose as ‘half-constructed flat-pack furniture – wood, glue and puzzlement’; then we got custard creams, jammy dodgers, vanilla, lemon bonbons, pears in custard, sugared almonds and marzipan – sweetly attractive, in other words. The palate was busy; bittersweet, tart and fruity, with gooseberry jam, grapefruit, blackcurrant, lime pastilles and dark chocolate orange – plus light perfume and liquorice tingles at the end. The reduced nose found green apple, floral notes and pepper – pretty dynamic stuff. The palate became juicy and fruity (tinned pears, sherbet lemons, Starburst) with varnished wood – the flat-pack furniture finally completed. The distillery lies near Carron. 

Drinking tip: Quite a juicy, chirpy wee number – for a garden celebration or to spice up an outdoor tea-party 

Colour: Habitat pine

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 10 years

Date distilled: August 2003

Alcohol: 61.5%

USA allocation: 108 bottles 

Cask No. 123.8                                             $120 

In the Spanish mountains 

Highland, Southern 

From the nose, we conjured an image of Spanish mountain villages – horses, hay-wains, orchards, citrus groves, rose gardens, sunshine on rosemary and rustic farm-labourers whittling wood. We also found plentiful sweetness in plum jam, juicy raisins, chocolate, toffee, marshmallows and fig rolls. Water brought out raspberry notes and Sangria. The palate was fruity, winey and tasty, with various jams, dried figs, vanilla sponge, Soreen and granola, but spicy notes of ginger, clove and chilli tweaked our tongues. Water sweetened it further resolving those tweaks into tingles –cranachan, jam tarts, Pavlova and posh Pimms. The distillery is near the West Highland Way. 

Drinking tip: Will get a conversation going, for sure 

Colour: Deep rose gold

Cask: Refill port pipe

Age: 12 years

Date Distilled: April 2001

Alcohol: 59.2%

USA allocation: 60 bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society at http://www.smwsa.com/

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Fourteenth Round of

Single Oak Project Bourbon  

Experiment Focuses on Wood Seasoning and Char Level, with Insights from Industry Expert  

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 5, 2014) – Barrel stave seasoning and barrel char levels are the latest variables Buffalo Trace Distillery attempts to examine with the release of its fourteenth round of the Single Oak Project Bourbon.  This release features bourbons which were all aged in barrels made from the bottom half of the tree, while keeping the other variables such as entry proof (at 125), and warehouse type (all aged in Warehouse K, a wooden floor warehouse) the same.  The remaining variables, recipe (wheat or rye), grain size, barrel stave seasoning, and char level vary. 

To further explore the results of using different char levels and stave seasoning, Buffalo Trace turned to barrel expert Brad Boswell, president of Independent Stave Company, the cooperage Buffalo Trace partnered with on the Single Oak Project.  “Charring the wood breaks it down quickly and certainly changes the flavor, in a more intensive way than just seasoning. Charring provides more of the vanilla and caramel characters coming from the barrel.

A number three char (which is what Buffalo Trace used on some of the barrels in this release) takes approximately 45 seconds while a number four char (the other char level Buffalo Trace used on the barrels in this release) takes approximately 55 seconds.  The lighter char preserves more of the natural oak aroma and flavor (think a little spicy, a little earthy, with a touch of cedar). The heavier char provides more color and caramelization. Tannins will vary between these two types of barrels. The heavier char can also provide for more of a sweet smoke note that is often desired.” said Boswell. 

“Stave seasoning allows the wood to slowly break down (degrade) whereas charring and toasting breaks down the wood much more quickly. When the wood air seasons, the microbial activity breaks the wood down and the rain leaches out some of the tannins. The freezing and thawing breaks down the wood. Even the UV light breaks down the wood to some extent. The flavor of the wood changes as it breaks down.

Barrels with extended air seasoning with charring will provide a slightly different array of flavors as compared to barrels with less air seasoning and then similarly charred. The levels of smokiness, vanillin, caramelization, and tannin will vary between the two types of barrels,” continued Boswell.

If past online votes are any indication, fans prefer a lighter #3 char with a six month barrel stave seasoning, as barrel #82 remains in the lead for the past several months in a row.  Barrel #83 is right behind it though, with a darker, #4, char and also a six month stave seasoning.

            Reviews are still being encouraged, as two more releases will take place before this project ends in the summer of 2015.  More than 4,000 reviews have been given so far on www.singleoakproject.com.             

            The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

            To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof.  And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors.  In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

            For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

            The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011.  This fourteenth release will reach stores towards the end of August. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The fourteenth release is made up of barrel numbers 2, 12, 34, 44, 66, 76, 98, 108, 130, 140, 162, and 172. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.   

            At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES 18 YEARS OLD TAWNY PORT FINISH

GOLDEN syrup, red fruit compote and red grapefruit – a mouth-watering description of the new GlenDronach 18 year-old Tawny Port expression launched today (4August 2014).

Bottled at 46% abv, it is the award-winning Aberdeenshire distillery’s latest addition to its wood finishes range and replaces the 15 years old Tawny Port finish expression.

The GlenDronach Tawny Port finish is first matured in European oak casks and thereafter finishes its maturation in a small batch of Tawny Port casks. This gives the whisky its own unique flavours and aromas – in particular a distinctive rich red fruit taste.

The tasting notes show the whisky and the two different woods combining brilliantly to produce a phenomenal Highland malt.

Appearance:

Bright amber with a tawny heart.

Nose:

Elegant notes of golden syrup drenched over red fruit compote with a contrasting red grapefruit balance. Touches of cinnamon and nutmeg add to a rounded, warm depth.

Palate:

Vivid, tart cranberries and crisp barley marry harmoniously with stewed plums and roasted apples. Cedar wood and sweet cigar box spices add a delicate warmth and unique complexity to the long warm finish.

Finish:

A beautifully structured balance of contrasting rich fruit characters and intriguing warm oak spices.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We launched our wood finishes range four years ago and the response worldwide has been excellent.

“We’ve carefully selected whisky that has been gently maturing in lighter casks so that aficionados experience the full impact of the Tawny port cask.

“The very pleasing result contributes extra depth and concentrated stewed fruit flavours. It’s another outstanding whisky that we’re delighted to add to our portfolio.”

TOP PICKS!

• Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $82) ($69.99)
  96 points Whisky Advocate: “Powerful, muscular, well-textured, and invigorating. Even within the realm of Ardbeg, this one stands out. The more aggressive notes of coal tar, damp kiln, anise, and smoked seaweed are supported by an array of fruit (black raspberry, black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, espresso, molasses, bacon fat, kalamata olive, and warming cinnamon on the finish. Quite stunning! (Vol. 18, #3)” K&L Notes: 2009 Scotch Whisky of the Year from the Malt Advocate! Named for Europe’s largest whirlpool, this whisky is now available on a full time basis, having replaced the beloved Beist. Like the whirlpool, Ardbeg Corryvreckan is heady, intense and powerful. Its finish is long and deep, leaving the sipper with a lingering, mysterious and enticing taste. It is without a doubt one of the best Ardbeg’s ever created and lends a bit of richness to balance out the spicy flavors. Lots of peat, lots of power, but always perfectly balanced. A malt to savor.

NEW ARRIVALS

• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #6 Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 9 available ($64.99)

• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #6 Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 10 available ($64.99)

BACK IN STOCK

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Angel’s Envy 100 Proof Rye Whiskey 750ml (one bottle limit) – 4 available ($67.99)

• Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon 750ml (oversized bottle, ships as 1.5L) – 1 available ($46.99)

• Rock Hill Farms Kentucky Straight Bourbon 750ml (ships as 3L) – 4 available ($44.99)

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

AUGUST OUTTURN: STACKS OF SUMMER FLAVOUR

The 15 casks in this month’s Outturn have lashings of fruity, cakey flavours fit for any occasion. Mouths will water. Tastebuds will tingle. But which of these devourable delicacies will tempt you?

Young & spritely

13.46 Something sweet for a beekeeper
BUY£55.70

26.103 Fresh and lively
BUY£48.40

Sweet, fruity & mellow

121.73 A layered sponge fruit cake
BUY £48.10

Spicy & sweet

35.122 Perfumed lady at a garden fete
BUY £43.80

39.101 Sophisticated adult sweetness
BUY£84.60

9.89 Balanced and harmonious
BUY £98.00

Deep, rich & dried fruits

50.55 High class luxury
CLOSED DISTILLERY!
Available exclusively as part of the August case offer
MORE

Old & dignified

1.184 Few and far between
BUY£92.40

59.49 Celebration in a glass
BUY £137.60

Lightly peated

3.223 Sweet, floral perfumed smoke
BUY £101.60

29.157 Heidi’s Holiday to Islay
BUY £62.40

Peated

53.210 Fantastic stuff
BUY£97.60

Browse Full August 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

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• 1997 Bunnahabhain Heavily Peated 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Chieftain’s Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($129.99)
  When you hear about whisky “shortages,” we’re not necessarily referring to the idea that there’s less actual whisky in the world, just less of it available for purchase. When fear and anxiety about future stocks take hold, companies will begin holding back inventory, dreading the idea of a whisky-less future should their available casks be gobbled up too quickly. This was our experience in 2013 while travelling through Scotland. In 2014, however, some of our partners began throwing us a few bones to test the waters; one of these bottlers was Chieftain’s. After a fruitless crop in ’13, we managed to secure one whole barrel the following year and was it ever a winner. This 1997 Bunnahabhain was part of a heavily peated run by the Islay distillery, resulting in one phenolic blast of a whisky. The sweet-fruited spirit of Bunnahabhain is the first thing you taste when the whisky hits your lips, but then it is utterly obliterated by motor oil, smoke, scorched earth, and more massive smoke. It’s like getting punched in the mouth with a burning chunk of peat moss while trying to savor a piece of hard candy. At 56.1%, the heat of the alcohol only adds to this intensity. The finish lightens the load just a big, as the machinery slows down and mutates into a lovely Ardbeg-like brightness. We only got one single cask of whisky from Chieftain’s this year, but we got the absolute best one they had. It’s not for the weak-hearted, however.

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Cedar Ridge 5 Year Old Reserve Bourbon 375ml – 3 available ($39.99)

• Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSF (10 Years Old, 9 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)
  It’s no secret that we love Four Roses distillery and it’s also not a secret that our K&L Exclusive casks from the Bourbon maker are some of the best whiskies we get each year. However, drinking great Kentucky Bourbon isn’t always enough these days as consumers are always looking for something more to sink their teeth into. That’s why we decided on a little theme for our most recent batch of Four Roses selections. The distillery makes two different mashbills: “E” which uses 75% corn, 20% rye and “B” which uses 60% corn and 35% rye. They also use five different types of yeast, creating the permutation potential for ten different recipes. We decided to pick two yeast strains and see how they interacted with the two different mashbills, side-by-side. In the OBSF cask, the higher percentage of rye comes through on the finish, as the peppery notes and minty flavors from the grain dominate the backend. The nose is all fruit, however, and a bit of water helps to tame that 59% cask strength proof. It’s a different animal than the OESF, which we also brought in this time around as a comparison. The extra boost of rye really gives it that in-your-face spice that many Bourbon fans truly enjoy. It’s a great whiskey for rocks sipping or even a bold Manhattan. (David Driscoll, Spirits Buyer)

• Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSQ (10 Years Old, 5 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)

• Four Roses K&L Exclusive OESF (10 Years Old, 2 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)

• Four Roses K&L Exclusive OESQ (9 Years Old, 5 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)

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