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Hirsch (Willett) 7 Year Old “The Single Barrel” #91486 Double Oak 117 Proof Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon ~ K&L California Whiskey News

Hirsch (Willett) 7 Year Old “The Single Barrel” #91486 Double Oak 117 Proof Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)
$109.99
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 Historic Hearach Single Malt from the Isle of Harris – Scotch Whisky News


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.
Order your bottle and open to discover more…

A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Whisky – Scotch Whisky News

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
Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (European Import) – K&L California Whiskey News


Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (700ml)(European Import)
$209.99
While we’re committed to offering rare bourbon at standard mark up, we’re also not blind to the fact that the market is on fire for these special products. While our competitors charge north of $150 for the standard expression of Blanton’s, we’re still only asking $55. That’s while it can feel so hard to get some of these rare bourbons at K&L. So when the opportunity came up to purchase these re-imported stocks, I insisted that we do so in a fair an equitable way. Of course we could charge $400 a bottle for this special bourbon and likely still sell most of it, but it just goes against my ethos of what a great wine and spirits store should be for their customers. So while these stocks are above standard price for this US version of this product, they’re being offered at our standard mark up, well below market price. It’s a small price to pay for access to these special stocks, especially when considering what the market seems to be comfortable charging for the standard release. In any case, this is dang good bourbon and never disappoints.
Like all Blanton’s it’s aged in the famous warehouse H and is the high rye mashbill. This bottle is drawn from barrel No. 397, which was dumped on February 7th of 2022 and bottled at 63.05%. Your bottle will almost certainly be different, so please be aware of the unique character of each barrel. The nose is absolutely explosive with rich aromas of caramel sauce, orange peel, Tahitian vanilla, cherry compote and vibrant woody spice. The palate starts extremely sweet and creamy before the rye and barrel spice begin to wallop the mid-palate. The intense spice and old school woody character balances the heavy woody sugars perfectly and while exhibiting plenty of the Kentucky Hug that bourbon lovers enjoy, it doesn’t feel burn-y or ethanol like at all. The long chewy palate gives way to a rich oxidative finish full of nutty sweet chocolate and dried red fruits. A few drops of water add more fruit and tame the spice a bit, but I like this best right out of the bottle. There’s no question that the price of entry on this one is high, but if you’re prepared to spend this kind of dough on any other modern bourbon this should be a contender for top dog!
From Buffalo Trace Distillery,
Blanton’s holds the distinction of being the world’s first regularly released single-barrel bourbon. This exceptional brand was launched in 1984 and named for the legendary leaders of that historic distillery outside of Frankfurt, Albert B. Blanton. The brand, which is produced and distributed by Sazerac at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, is owned by the previous owners of the distillery, a Japanese company called Age International. Over the last several years, Blanton’s has become one of the most sought-after and inaccessible whiskies on the market. This, their rarest and most elusive expression, is previously completely unobtainable. For instance, in 2021 K&L was allocated a measly 3 bottles company wide. Now that new regulations allow 700ml bottles to be sold, another channel is open for us to obtain this special whiskey. Each barrel is different, bottled at full cask strength without chill filtration of any kind. Proofs range from 115-135 proof and cask numbers cannot be checked in advance of purchase. This rare expression is truly one of Kentucky’s finest.
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 Isle of Harris Display at Selfridges – Scotch Whisky News


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…

Distillery profiles: Pittyvaich-Glenlivet by Mark Davidson (aka The Jolly Toper) ~ Lost Scotch Whisky News

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 at D&M California – Scotch Whisky News
Cutty Sark Tam O’Shanter 25 year
“In my opinion Cutty Sark 25 year old is one of the great blends, so a new version was always going to be a big ask. This one comes with a lot of packaging, so is it a victory for style over substance? Not at all. This is all about big flavors; burnt orange, juicy raisin, and dark chocolate; rich oak and exotic spice. A treat, and worthy of its heritage.” – 91 PTS., DOMINIC ROSKROW, WHISKY ADVOCATE (Fall 2012).

The Whisky Exchange ‘Whisky offers from around the world’ – World Whisky News
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.
The Whisky Exchange ‘Peat and fruit whiskies made for autumn’ – Scotch Whisky News

PEAT AND FRUIT WHISKIES MADE FOR AUTUMN
As the nights draw in, there’s no better way to embrace the season than with a whisky that combines smoky depth and autumnal fruit. Indulge in the iconic Lagavulin 16 Year Old, with its rich peat smoke and dried fruit, the elegant Kilkerran 12 Year Old, bringing citrus brightness and gentle orchard smoke, and the bold Ardbeg 10 Year Old, where Islay peat meets lemon zest and vanilla.



























