• 1990 Mortlach 22 Year Old K&L Exclusive Chieftain’s Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)
If you’ve ever taken a sip of Johnnie Walker Black then you’ve tasted Mortlach whisky. The Speyside distillery is one of Diageo’s most-prized institutions, creating richly-textured whiskies that provide the backbone to many of its legendary blends. Yet because the whisky isn’t sold as a single malt in the United States, the name Mortlach doesn’t necessarily stir the emotions of the whisky-loving faithful. But there’s another reason Mortlach hasn’t achieved stardom abroad: most of what does make it to the States, under the guise of an independent label, is unsherried. To drink Mortlach out of an unsherried hogshead barrel is like drinking Laphroaig without peat or Macallan without richness. It’s not at all representative of what the distillery does best. Nevertheless, the occasional hogshead makes its way over every now and again, devoid of the toffee, the cake, the spice, and the power. It’s no wonder that these oddballs have done little to boost the distille ry’s rep. On our last visit to Scotland, however, we finally found a prize worthy of purchasing: an ancient, first-fill sherry cask of delicious, traditional, full-throttle Mortlach. Think Macallan 18 on steroids: big, opulent, dense, chewy, meaty, caramel, fudge, baking spices, herbaceous notes, and cakebread. Considering that Macallan 18 just took another price increase, this Mortlach looks like a super value. We’ve never found a cask of Mortlach this good, and we don’t expect to again. Just make sure to add water!

 • Glengoyne 21-year-old Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)
What a steal…

• 1991 Cambus 21 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99)
Here we go! After two years of hunting for a replacement to our wildly successful single grain Girvan, we’ve finally found a cask of grain worthy of our discerning customers. Cambus is among the most difficult-to-find grain distilleries, for a couple of reasons: it’s been closed since 1993, and it’s rumored to be at the heart of the Johnnie Walker Blue bottlings. No surprise that it’s difficult to find–if Diageo is relying on this whisky to produce one of its most sought-after blends, it will certainly be controlling as much stock as possible. Occasionally, small lots slip out of the blender’s grasp and into our glass! Here we have a super-high quality grain in all its awkward splendor. This nose is all oak spice and vibrant fresh fruit. Clove, coriander, freshly grated nutmeg, apple skins, under-ripe mango. On the palate, the fruit takes over, plus vanilla cake frosting, and the baking spices remain subdued, with a bit of coconut and some fresh oak notes. A perfect example of why sometimes, we must not blend all of the grain. (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• 1997 Laphroaig 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99)
We love Laphroaig. Everybody loves Laphroaig (if they don’t hate it). Not a lot of people on the fence regarding Laphroaig. That’s why it’s really hard to get. It’s really expensive as well; this is both cause and effect. We’ve seen prices go up, while quality has remained consistent. We took on a middle-aged Laphroaig last year and sold it for what seemed like a reasonable $140. Now we have another cask of Laphroaig and it’s difficult not to oversell it. If we’re always so effusive about every whisky we taste, people start to question our judgment. So, I’m just going to say that this is top-tier Laphroaig. It’s in that prime moment between the intensity of a young Laphroaig and that depth of the older offerings from this legendary distillery. This was the whisky that we spent time wringing our hands about because we were expecting to be paying the same price as our 18 year from 2012, but somehow we were able to get the price down to something far more reason able. It won’t last, and it will go up significantly after the pre-arrival campaign is finished. Don’t miss it! (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

NEW ARRIVALS

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Arran 16 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($105.99)

• 1995 Benriach 17 Year Old Chieftain’s Single Rum Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($109.99)

• 1997 Glenrothes 15 Year Old Chieftain’s Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99)

• 1992 Glentauchers 20 Year Old Chieftain’s Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($159.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Knob Creek 9 Year Old Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon 750ml ($39.99)

• Old Grand Dad 114 Proof Kentucky Bourbon 750ml ($25.99)

Irish 

• Greenore 8 Year Old Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($44.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Michter’s US #1 Small Batch Bourbon 750ml ($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

The Hibiki range is now in stock and available to order!

The stunning Hibiki 21yo & the Hibiki 30yo are now in stock. Both expressions are very limited and only available while stocks last!

Hibiki 21 year old Only £150 Click here to buy 

Hibiki 30 year old Only £900 Click here to buy

The Whisky Shop
Tel 0141 427 2919
info@whiskyshop.com
www.whiskyshop.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks Invergordon BBR 1988 24yo Cask 9000

Invergordon BBR 1988 24yo

46%abv

£63.00 inc vat £52.50 ex vat

Official Notes:

The nose gives toasted oak, apple and melon skins with an uplifting menthol note. There is some honeyed depth and cinnamon spice.
The palate is beautifully expansive with bourbon cask notes, buttery vanilla and cream caramel.
The delivery is almost angelic and long lingering.

Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk

Alasdair Day the owner and re-creator of The Tweeddale (a small batch, limited edition Scotch Whisky) will be in Toronto from Monday 27th May to Saturday 1st June 2013.

His latest and 3rd release of The Tweeddale will be available for the first time outside the UK, as one of the LCBO’s Disttiled Treasures available in their stores from 25th May. Please see the links below for more information from the LCBO.

http://www.vintages.com/index.shtml

http://www.vintages.com/circular/circ_130525pdf.shtml

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=tweeddale&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

As part of Alasdair’s visit he will be conducting in-store tastings and bottling signings. He will also be giving away his copy of Ian Buxton’s revised & updated edition of 101 Whiskies to Try Before you Die. The Tweeddale is included in this edition as one of the 101. Alasdair’s copy bears the following signed inscription from Ian “With best wishes for every success with the launch of The Tweeddale in Canada, 2013. Slainte!”

You will be able to taste The Tweeddale and meet Alasdair on; 

Thursday May 30th 4 – 8 PM – 2946 BLOOR STREET WEST, TORONTO BLOOR & ROYAL YORK (KINGSWAY)

Friday May 31st 4 – 8 PM – 321 CORNWALL DRIVE, OAKVILLE CORNWALL & TRAFALGAR

The Tweeddale was first produced by J&A Davidson established in 1820 in Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. Alasdair’s family connection began when his Great Grandfather, Richard Day joined the business as an office boy when he left school in 1895. in 1923 Richard Day took over the business and continued to trade until the start of World War 2.

There was a 70 year gap from when Richard Day last produced The Tweeddale until May 2010 when his Great Grandson produced his recreation. As part the bottle design for the 3rd release Alasdair has included a sketch of his Great Grandfather and so The Tweeddale Legacy lives on.

May 2013 NEW Outturn Offerings 

Cheshire cat whisky 

Cask No. 1.164                                             $175

Speyside, Spey

‘Sweet manna from heaven’ – toffee, fudge, caramel, Toffifees, vanilla, honey – but more – tea chests, spice racks, aromatic smoke, burnt heather and pencils in a library – we could have sniffed it endlessly. Water opened up the fruit – sherbet, orange zest, peach, strawberry, tinned grapes, sweet sap and light smoke – panellists grinning like Cheshire cats. The sweet, oaky palate had tablet, fudge and bread dough – by an open fire; but it also had a darker side – woody, earthy, drying, with sticky cassis and treacle. Water brightened it up – Starbursts, Skittles and spicy Advocaat. From the distillery always directed by John or George.

Drinking tip: It needs time – one for a long journey perhaps – or for an evening with no pressure

Colour: Polished gold                                 Date distilled: October 1985

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 52.1%

Age: 27 years                                               USA allocation: 60 bottles

The Camping Trip 

Cask No. 3.188                                             $115

Islay

Remember the last time you were camping? The smell of the dew touched grass in the morning a distant memory as the sweat, deep heat and old tent pierce your nostrils. An oily smoked fish caught earlier in the day mixes with the aroma of roasting marshmallows and ash. The barbecued green peppers, mushrooms and lemon dressing on the palate make way for heat and lavender. When the water is added, the campfire smoke intensifies, the petrol used to light the fire maybe wasn’t such a good idea as it catches the nose, but that won’t retract from the comforting beach aromas and the budget chocolate bar you’ve been sitting on all day.

Drinking tip: On a camping trip

Colour: New Engine Oil                              Date distilled: September 1997

Cask: Refill butt                                            Alcohol: 58.8%

Age: 14 years                                               USA allocation: 120 bottles

Superb sweet and salty symbiosis 

Cask No. 27.100                                           $110

Campbeltown

The nose took us places – a harbour wall (fish boxes, lobster pots) – an old bike shed – a coal shed (coal-sacks, newspaper) – a smoke-house (fish again) – a sandy beach – a tennis locker – a Greek seaside taverna (salted pistachios, ouzo, lemons, fish again, well-done loaves from a wood-fired oven); quite a journey! The palate presented a superb sweet and salty symbiosis and a warm, mellow mouth impact – wonderful sweetness (sugared almonds and peanuts, liquorice allsorts, popcorn); yet muscular, with the nippy heat of aniseed, mustard and chilli. Even the fishiness was sweet (sweet-cured herrings, sweet smoky barbecued fish). From the quintessential Campbeltown distillery.

Drinking tip: While sailing around the Greek islands, of course! Or with food. Or with friends, singing ‘Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky…’

Colour: Pale moon gold                             Date distilled: March 2000

Cask: Refill barrel                                        Alcohol: 52.4%

Age: 12 years                                               USA allocation: 90 bottles 

Flip-flops up a chimney 

Cask No. 33.120                                           $85

Islay

Quite a nose! We found delicate smoke wafting from snuffed candles, mint humbugs, char-grilled prawns, hessian sacks, sandy beaches, maple-cured bacon, sherbet, pencil boxes, vanilla pods and recently washed hospital floors. Water brought apples, plums and red grapes, liquorice, Murray Mints and flip-flops up a chimney. The unreduced palate was very nicely layered and constructed, with tar, tobacco, stir-fried seaweed, anise, liquorice, muscovado sugar and Bendicks dark chocolate mints. The reduced palate – a fabulous balancing act between sweet and smoky – gob-stoppers, smoke-flavoured Edinburgh Rock, aniseed balls, wood ash and hints of roasted meats. From LVMH’s heavenly little corner of Islay.

Drinking tip: After dinner – perhaps with a cigar

Colour: Pale sand gold                              Date distilled: September 2003

Cask: First-fill barrel                                     Alcohol: 58.5%

Age: 8 years                                                 USA allocation: 72 bottles 

The palate gets a Ping! 

Cask No. G1.9                                              $150

Grain

The nose was attractive and complex – sweet (butterscotch, flapjacks, golden syrup, corn candies, vanilla ice-cream) with good orange zestiness (marmalade on toast, dark chocolate orange) and leafy perfumes (geranium, eucalyptus, tea-tree). Our palate were pinged to attention by ‘wake up the senses’ ginger snaps and chilli heat – also golden syrup on toast, caramel, toffee, honey waffles, bourbon, root beer and tomato leaf. Water brought out toffee popcorn, honey-glazed chicken wings and clove-studded baked ham on the nose; the palate became more agreeable and easy, with vanilla and banana barbecued in brown sugar and cinnamon. The distillery’s neighbour is Hearts F. C.

Drinking tip: A summer afternoon or evening with a barbeque – could even take ice

Colour: Burnished oak                                Date distilled: December 1990

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 62.8%

Age: 21 years                                               USA allocation: 60 bottles

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

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks Bunnahabhain BBR 1990 21yo Cask 19

Bunnahabhain BBR 1990 21yo Cask 19

46% abv

£79.00 inc vat £65.83 ex vat

‘…A big, robust sherry cask Bunnahabhain…’

Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk

ISLAY FESTIVAL OF MALTS & MUSIC – SPECIAL FESTIVAL BOTTLINGS ANNOUNCED FOR CAOL ILA AND LAGAVULIN

by Pat Roberts

To celebrate this year’s Islay Festival of Malts & Music, Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries have again announced exclusive Festival bottlings for visitors to the distilleries.

18-year old Lagavulin from European Oak

The LAGAVULIN™ 2013 special festival bottling, from whisky distilled in 1995, has been aged in ex European Oak Sherry Butts, and was personally selected by Lagavulin warehouseman Iain McArthur.

Feis 2013 Special Bottlings – Lagavulin

Triple-matured Caol Ila

This year’s CAOL ILA™ special festival bottling  is a little special and unusual, explains distillery manager Billy Stitchell, who personally selected the whisky:

“Spirit distilled in 1998 has been triple-cask matured. For 12 years it rested in a combination of Refill Butts, Hogsheads and Barrels. The vatted whisky was then allowed to mature for several months in active hogshead casks to impart a spicy/oaky note to the existing delicate Caol Ila smoke. Finally it was treated to a final gentle maturation in European oak.”

Feis 2013 Special Bottlings Caol Ila

Volumes and prices

Bottles will be on sale to individual visitors at the distilleries priced  at £99. The Lagavulin festival bottling goes on sale at the distillery at 10:00 am on Saturday 25 May (Lagavulin open day); the Caol Ila bottling goes on sale at 10:00 am at the distillery on Monday 27 May –  in both cases with an allocation of two bottles per customer.

Each release has been bottled at natural cask strength and comes in limited editions of 3,000  individually-numbered bottles.

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach, commented:

“We are again delighted to have two exceptional whiskies from Lagavulin and Caol Ila which we have bottled for the enjoyment of those visitors who come to celebrate Islay’s great whiskies and whisky-making traditions with us during the Fèis.

“In the past our special single-cask Festival bottlings have sold out very rapidly, leading to disappointment for some visitors, and unfortunately allowing others to profit from their misfortune by re-selling bottles at inflated prices. This was never our intention.

“So this year we are releasing slightly more generous volumes without compromising the quality of our offering. We hope this  will enable all Fèis visitors who want to buy a bottle as a memento of of their visit to do so.”

Feis 2013 Special Bottlings x2

NOTES

The 2013 Fèis Ìle (Islay Festival) runs from 24 May to 1 June.

See also http://www.malts.com/ and http://www.discovering-distilleries.com/

Grain Outturn: An Intriguing surprise in disguise
We’re still The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, promise…but we do love a good single cask grain.  As part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations, we shine the spotlight on this underrated spirit bringing you 10 unique grain whiskies (and a new distillery).

Leave behind your preconceptions, open your mind and set your compass for absurdly intriguing variety.

West of Scotland Grain Pair Offer: G7.5 & G10.4
G7.5 Smoky Werther’s Originals
The taste has a delicate, well balanced sweet and smoke combination, dusty icing sugar and, if only they would exist, smoky Werther’s Original.

G10.4 A witch’s Christmas tipple
Something quite Christmassy gift-wrapped the nose – oranges, mixed peel, Brazils, pecan pie, floral perfumes, varnished wood and pine trees. Water introduced dark chocolate, toffee, fudge, and coconut, with hints of spice
   
Grain Pair only £116 
Buy 

Grain Outturn
*G7.5 is exclusive to this pair offer

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 http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Glendronach
Cask Strength Batch #2 (55.2%)

NEW 2013 Release

Selected once again by Master Blender
Billy Walker. Matured in the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

Bottled at natural cask strength.

Buy – $63.30

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks Ben Nevis 1996 15yo

Ben Nevis 1996 15yo

55.4%abv

£81.00 inc vat £67.50 ex vat

‘…A rich chocolatey palate that reminds me of my old school classroom…’

 Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk