To say that the Four Roses Barrel Program is second to none in the industry is no exaggeration. Other programs may borrow elements of the Four Roses experience, but nobody executes it like the four flowers. That success is due in large part to the talented team led by the indomitable Mandy Brown, who learned the finer points of Kentucky bourbon barrel hospitality from the late Al Young. The process is not conducted in a dank warehouse or impersonal boardroom but in a purpose-built space designed for the experience. Mandy rolls out ten barrels, their ages and recipes concealed, and thieves the whiskey directly for tasting. After sampling all ten, selections are made before the big reveal, a system that ensures quality rises above hype. While many buyers gravitate toward older or higher proof barrels for marketing value, K&L always makes its picks blind. During this year’s spring selection, we were honored with the rare opportunity to choose four casks, all from the high rye OB recipe but across different yeast strains and warehouses. This barrel, distilled with the elusive Q yeast strain, spent 11 years in Warehouse H West, rick 56, row 2. Its remarkable depth and complexity set it apart as one of the most compelling modern bourbons we have ever offered.

Four Roses 10 Year Old “Private Select – OBSF” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #BS-89-4 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $109.99 View

Four Roses 11 Year Old “Private Select – OBSQ” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #HW-56-2 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $109.99 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

Hirsch (Willett) 7 Year Old “The Single Barrel” #91486 Double Oak 117 Proof Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)

$109.99

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Yet again, we’ve managed to pull off a coup by landing some incredibly special liquid that ought to cost two or three times more than it does. Even I have to remind myself to pause and simply enjoy it. Willett whiskey, aged seven and a half years with a secondary maturation, bottled at 117 proof, and drawn from one of four exclusive barrels we’ll be receiving. This is the very reason we do what we do. The nose greets you with dense maple and roasted nuts, wrapped in warm winter spices and blackberry jam. The first sip unfolds with dark berries, cinnamon-raisin toast, clove, anise, pink peppercorn, and burnt caramel. The finish seems to last forever, echoing the opening notes while layering in leather, sweet brown butter cookies, and sugared oak. It is a phenomenal whiskey at a phenomenal price, and I can’t wait to taste it alongside the other selections.

The program being offered by Hirsch remains one of the most exciting in Kentucky today. These are those famous stocks that no one is supposed to talk about. Produced at an unnamed Bardstown distillery from their famous mashbill – 76% corn, 13% rye, & 15% malted barley. Those whiskies were rebarreled and aged for a further period at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Selected by our spirits team in early Spring of 2025 and bottled at cask strength. These are still inarguably some of the most sought-after stocks in the industry – so much so that the exact same mashbill bottled by the distillery at the very same aged, easily commands 2-3 times the price at retail. Here we’re more interested in getting our customers this special bourbon at an incredible price. These maybe the final stocks to ever be released of these special lot of whisky. This barrel was distilled on January 11th, 2018 and bottled in late June of 2025, making it 7.5 years old. At a barrel strength of 117 proof you’ll not find a better Bardstown distilled bourbon on the market for less.

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

The Hearach single malt whisky is our first, historic dram from the Isle of Harris. It takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for “a native of Harris”, and it’s something that islanders are very proud to be called. We talk about our whisky being woven from people and place, influenced both by the men and women of our community who make it, and the elemental island it comes from.

Made from spirits matured in first fill ex-Bourbon casks, Oloroso, and Fino sherry butts, we further ‘marry’ our recipe to bring additional harmony before bottling. The result is a complex, elegant single malt, full of Harris character that rewards time well spent in its company.

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A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Whisky

Our exclusive annual Christmas whisky has landed! Specially selected to evoke all the classic flavours of the season, it’s packed with dark fruit and spice as well as layers of sweet cherries, chocolate and nuts. Distilled at a secret, undisclosed Highland distillery and matured in a pair of first-fill oloroso sherry casks, it’s all you could want from a Christmas dram. The perfect accompaniment to festive celebrations, or excellent just sipped with friends.

Each year we search high and low across Scotland’s treasure-filled warehouses to find the perfect casks of whisky for A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Whisky. This year we uncovered a parcel of 16-year-old Highland malt whisky aged in first-fill oloroso sherry casks, filled to the brim with all the tasting notes we associate with the festive season. It’s an absolute cracker.Chris Bolton, Own Label Product Manager

Christmas is all about sharing and what’s better to share than a dram of something delicious. This whisky is all about the flavours of the season and, even better, we are now in more sustainable packaging! What’s not to love?Dawn Davies, Buying Director

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Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (700ml)(European Import)

$209.99

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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

Isle of Harris Display at Selfridges

Look out for our beautiful new display of Isle of Harris spirits in Selfridges London if you happen to be in the city. Alongside the recent single cask collaboration you’ll also find The Hearach single malt and Oloroso Cask whiskies,. There’s also some nice stories and photography alongside to help inspire shoppers to take a taste of our island home with them.  You’ll find us in the Wine Shop near Harry Gordon’s Bar on the lower ground floor…

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view from the street

Distillery profiles: Pittyvaich-Glenlivet

Pittyvaich: Pit a bhathaich- “farm with a byre” (byre is a cattle shed btw). The distillery was built on the site of the farm adjoining Dufftown distillery. Pittyvaich House, built around 1850, was demolished to make way for construction. According to Misako Udo Dufftown distillery was originally to be given the name “Pittyvaich”. It was the eighth distillery to be built in Dufftown, Kininvie followed in the 1990s.

Dufftown distillery was established in 1896, Arthur Bell and Sons bought the facility in 1933. With rising demand for Scotch whisky the number of stills at Dufftown were doubled to four in 1967 then another pair were added in 1979. Bells became the best selling brand in the home market accounting for an impressive one quarter of blends sold. It was decided a new distillery was required to keep up with demand for the successful brand.

Production began at Pittyvaich in June 1974 on a site close to the Dufftown distillery at the town boundary on a hilltop. Compared to Dufftown Pittyvaich was modern and spacious offering up to date practices in a building constructed sympathetically to the operator’s working environment. Unlike many older buildings in the industry that had been gradually expanded it was relatively easy to keep clean and was well laid out.

There was a cast iron mash tun and 6 stainless steel washbacks. Fermentation, at least for a period, took between 40 and 48 hours. The two pairs of stills were replicas of those at Dufftown, each with a capacity of 30KL. They took about a 15kl charge. Waste heat was used to pre-heat the wash before entering the wash still. Heating was by steam whilst shell and tube condensers were fitted. Distillery output was about 4.5MLPA.
A dark grains plant was also commissioned to process the draff from both distilleries as well as from sister distillery Inchgower at Buckie.

In 1985 Bells were acquired by Guinness then in the following year DCL were also taken over. The following year, 1987, United Distillers was formed when the Bells and DCL distilleries were combined under one administration.

In May 1993 United Distillers reduced the number of operating distilleries from 31 to 27 when Rosebank, Bladnoch, Pittyvaich and Balmenach were closed. 20 jobs were lost at the time but the distillery was back in production in November 1994 although it was used to make gin for Gordon’s. It was also employed as a test bed for spirit production around 1997. The asbestos roof was replaced sometime during this decade. A final halt to production was called in 2001, some equipment was used at Clynelish. Pittyvaich was demolished in 2002.

Apart from being used in blends, particularly Bells, Pittyvaich was from 1991 a feature in the Flora and Fauna range where it was bottled at 12yo and 43%. There has also been a number of aged bottlings from Diageo’s Special Release series.

Jim Murray compared one sample he had to Semtex.

Mark Davidson, aka The Jolly Toper Profile

Cutty Sark Tam O’Shanter 25 year

$325.99

WHISKY OFFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

We have standout offers on some of the world’s best whiskies. Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky, now £20 off, showcases Ichiro Akuto’s mastery over blending by using whiskies from five countries. There’s £10 off Gold Spot 13 Year Old, which brings spice, dark fruit and oak. Hakushu 12 Year Old, now £12 off, offers fresh herbs, smoke and orchard fruit, while Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel, £5 off, delivers rich chocolate, oak and dried fruit.

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