Knob Creek K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #7965B (Distilled 9/24/12, Warehouse W-P, Floor F-02, Rick R-025) Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $49.99 View
Inspired by the tales of ‘character, endeavour and craft’ of The Balvenie Distillery, pre-order the brand new Stories Series at The Whisky Shop.
Introducing 3 new expressions, the new Balvenie Stories Series tells the tales of the distillery both through the whisky itself and also on the packaging of each expression.
All three bottles in the series are available to pre-order below.
Balvenie
The Sweet Toast of American Oak
12 Year Old
Balvenie
A Day of Dark Barley
26 Year Old
Colour: dark gold.
Aroma : delicate wisps of peat smoke transforms aromas of honey cured meats and vanilla pods. Notes of fruitcake laden with nuts, raisins, and plump sultanas develop. A hint of menthol runs throughout. Undertones of zesty citrus and aromatic lemongrass linger.
Taste: a refined single malt. Subtle yet warming spice opens Into raspberry, cranberry, and sweet baked apple flavours. Thick cut seville orange marmalade and gentle sherry influences develop with time. Mature oak notes add a slightly drying character.
Finish: a lingering finish of smouldering bonfire embers entwined with lemon zest and charred oak.
Drioglann Cléire – Cape Clear Distillery
Site Progress
The last two months have seen accelerated progress with all the matters highlighted in the last update well in hand. The new external door and window to the bottling room are in place, as is the sink unit and some shelving. Very effective cleaning has seen the former cold room restored to a pristine clean condition. The tiling in the future fermentation room looks good, concrete floors have been painted, and a reinforced door installed for the storage area. The office area is ready for occupation and the washrooms are almost fully restored. The immediate environs of the building have seen the former raceway covered with slabs and a small (temporary) structure erected for the water treatment system which is currently being installed.
Sweat Investors
We are delighted at the support from some of our local ‘sweat investors’ which have led to various savings on our stated budget including useful economies made on the water treatment system, the restoration of the bottling room, and the nature and quality of some of the other works implemented. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.
Customs and Excise License
We received our penultimate visit from the Customs and Excise people (responsible for licensing) on 28 May and they are happy to recommend the issuing of the license. With the formal paperwork now completed and the bond already paid, focus shifts to the practical items outstanding such as some internal templates which need to be modified for their final visit in about 2 weeks’ time and, of course, the completion of the outstanding works. We are happy and relieved to be now within reach of this crucial goal.
Atex Wiring
The wiring to Atex standards is underway in the largely complete but yet unfurnished building. Some further adjustments needed to be made in the layout to facilitate the electrical installations and these were all achieved within the time frame. The wiring will also include fire and burglar alarms and CCTV cameras.
Bottling Plant
Our bottling plant has been specified and ordered. All the major items for Phase 1 are now on site or on the way.
Budget
It is not possible to ascertain the final costings until the final items have been completed and invoiced; nevertheless with savings incurred in some areas we remain within the original budget so far.
Merchandise – Glassware
We have ordered a range of quality bespoke glassware bearing our logos which we expect to arrive mid-July. These will initially be available in the island tourist office / craft shop and later at the distillery site.
We show a photo of team members Noreen and Ruth Court with Geraldine Ó Mealóid and Niamh Ní Drisceoil. Thanks also to Debbie Stone for her input.
Staffing
We have our first distillery staff ready to start from mid-June. While we may not be quite ready to produce gin at that stage, we will welcome their help in the myriad of pre-operation tasks that will need to be performed.
Other Matters
Insurance has been arranged and an Operational Health and Safety Statement have been commissioned. Focus shifts towards the ongoing operation of the distillery with sourcing of stocks, supplies, and labels etc, which are now a priority. Focus also shifts to near and long term marketing strategies as well as the overall development of our outstanding site.
Looking Forward
We look forward to creating a new and exciting phased approach towards our long term goal of whiskey distillation and are currently breaking this task down into another sequence of achievable steps.
Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.
Cléire abú.
Our mailing address is:
Cape Clear Island Distillery
Cape Clear Island
County Cork
Ireland
A Collector’s Favorite Bourbon from Buffalo Trace
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($39.99)
“If you’re a fan of Buffalo Trace bottlings and you’ve never been able to snag a bottle of their smaller production stuff, this is the perfect place to start.” —Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer
Back for a second run is one of the most sought-after and collectible Bourbons in the market today. In the past few years, when we were lucky enough to get a minuscule allocation, it was parsimoniously doled out by the bottle. Everything we acquired would sell out on the site, often in minutes. This time around, however, we were able to secure a large enough parcel of the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon that we are offering it with no limits on a one-time basis. Based on its cult status and its very affordable price of $39.99, we expect it to fly off our shelves. Easily among our favorite bottlings from Buffalo Trace’s impressive portfolio, the E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch, with its high corn mashbill and strong wood influence, offers the perfect complement of sweet grain and spice. Despite what you might assume given its 100 proof designation, this Kentucky Bourbon has a surprisingly smooth approach that’s perfect for sipping. Considering the overall rarity and incredibly reasonable price, this is one to buy a few bottles for the near term and a few more to store away for a special occasion
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($39.99)
K&L Notes: The Colonel E.H. Taylor Bourbon is named for one of the founding fathers of the modern bourbon industry. Edmund Haynes Taylor, an honorary “Kentucky Colonel,” was a descendant of two presidents (Madison & Taylor) and one of Kentucky’s last surviving Bourbon Aristocrats. The Colonel purchased the famous Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery at the close of the Civil War. There he introduced scientific method to the production of bourbon, modernized equipment and set standards of production that became ubiquitous for quality bourbon production for the next century. He sold this distillery to George T. Stagg, and it would eventually become known as Buffalo Trace. Taylor was a crusader for higher quality standards across the industry and ultimately help pass the 1897 Bottled in Bond Act. No single person can claim as much responsibility for the quality of modern bourbon whiskey as this man. This wonderful Bottled in Bond Small Batch Bourbon, named in his honor, has been extremely hard to get since its release in 2013. It’s won countless gold medals in competitions around the world and a rare 5 star review from renowned spirits reviewer F. Paul Pacult. Some of our competitors feel comfortable charging upwards of $80 for this same bottle due to scarcity. In a world where getting a bottle of Elmer T. Lee, George T. Stagg, or Blanton’s has become next to impossible, finding a bottle of Taylor for $40 is a coup. E.H. Taylor is right at home in the company of luminaries like these.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 07, 2019
It’s been a little while since I sat down and evaluated this product thoroughly. A standard in my back bar when I can get it, but I tend “to drink and not think” this one, if you know what I mean. The fact that it’s recently become slightly more available (for what will certainly be a short period of time) means I get to take some time to consider this one thoroughly. Supposedly the same mash bill as George T. Stagg, I actually get a strong similarity to another famously hard-to-get Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Rock Hill Farms. Maybe it’s a warehousing thing or the fact that they’re both 100 proof, but the mashbills on the two should be different. The nose still has tons of sweet dark oak spice, strong Tahitian vanilla, and caramel. There are also touches of barnyard and dried vegetation. Big, sweet corn appears on the palate with a lovely kick, thanks to the higher proof. This is the perfect whisky to go in between Eagle Rare and Blanton’s, and the shoe fits perfectly, figuratively speaking. Sad we don’t get to sell this on the regular, but hopefully more stocks will continue to open up on this excellent brand.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 06, 2019
I never thought I’d see the day we could secure enough of this to shout it from the roof tops! Colonel Taylor Small Batch is finally here in more than six-bottle-at-a-time quantities! Hallelujah. If you’re a fan of Buffalo Trace bottlings, and you’ve never been able to snag a bottle of their smaller production stuff, this is the perfect place to start. The high corn mashbill in combination with a big woody profile gives an incredible combination of sweet and spicy without relying heavily on rye grain. The 100 proof required by the Bottled-in-Bond Act is actually a perfect spot for sipping. It’s robust enough to stand up in cocktails and sexy enough to enjoy on its own. The flavors are sweet candied corn, mature floral notes, and tons of spicy wood, clove, and burnt orange peel. It’s time to case up, ’cause we have no idea if or when this opportunity will come again.
Shaun Green | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 06, 2019
Wow! Great classic bourbon is so hard to find, and E.H. Taylor (along with all the stable) is almost always in short supply. Wonderfully spicy and alluring, viscous, and showing the slightly sweet corn and oak qualities that I love, without being cloying or overly woody. Especially for a 100 proof whiskey, it is amazingly smooth on the palate and finishes super fine.
Sarah Covey | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 08, 2015
Fans of soft, supple, easy-sipping bourbon should snap this puppy up immediately. Sweet corn, vanilla, spice, and light caramel with a long, lingering finish. You will absolutely want to have this on your bar for sipping on the rocks, or as a killer component in any bourbon cocktail. It’s awesome!
FREE MAINLAND GB DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £15* WITH
CODE
TREATDAD
Spoil your dad and make this Father’s Day one to remember; our bottles of award-winning whiskies are something special for everyone.
Why not treat yourself whilst you’re shopping!
Offer ends midnight on Monday 3rd June.
Single Malt Whisky
Rich, fruity and sippable
£44.95
Founder’s Choice
Single Malt Whisky
Hints of dark chocolate
and fresh red fruits
£64.95
Kilchoman STR Cask Matured
Distilled in 2008, this limited edition single malt whisky from Islay has been matured in special STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) casks. This process adds a great interaction from the cask, resulting in a big and bold flavours.
“Rarely have I tasted such a fruit-forward Kilchoman that accentuates the peaty, smoky character rather than masking it. The summer fruits and citrus combine with an earthy peat smoke character to create a combination of flavours that I haven’t tasted in our whiskies before.”
James Wills, Sales and Marketing Manager
Father’s Day Gift: Bespoke 30 litre casks from Raasay Distillery
Looking ahead to Father’s Day next month (Sunday 16th June), Raasay Distillery‘s bespoke 30 litre casks of Raasay Single Malt which would make a thoughtful gift for whisky-loving Dads.
Proud to chart its own course, Raasay Distillery has launched its bespoke 30 litre casks of Raasay Single Malt. The 30 litre ex-Speyside Scotch whisky oak casks are available to purchase on Raasay Distillery’s website and in person at the distillery.
The smaller casks make the island’s first expression more accessible to whisky lovers and will sit proudly alongside the 190 litre first-fill ex-American whiskey casks currently offered by Raasay Distillery and maturing in the island warehouse. Wood from ex-Speyside casks has been carefully chosen for the smaller casks to ensure the flavours of the final whisky are finely balanced.
All Raasay spirit is produced and distilled on the island, using only Scottish barley, distillers’ yeast and mineral-rich water sourced and filtered directly from a Celtic well on site. A long fermentation period brings a rich, characterful flavour to the Raasay spirit before it even touches the oak of a cask. Once the spirit is ready, both large and small casks are filled by the distillery team and left to age into the first ever Raasay Single Malt.
While the whisky matures, cask owners can come and visit their cask, staying in Raasay Distillery’s four-star accommodation: Borodale House. After the whisky is bottled, owners can also keep their empty cask as a treasured memento.
The legendary independent Campbeltown distillery that commands a worldwide fanbase. Springbank is one of our favourite distilleries. With an ever limited stock year on year, the cult classic distillery always bottles legendary whiskies. The 2019 release is comprised of 60% sherry casks and 40% rum casks.
Limited Stocks
Free UK Shipping
Single sherry cask from the Highland distillery bottled 2018 for the distillery visitor centre. Aberfeldy 1999 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whiskey. Single sherry cask #20658 bottled September 2018 exclusive to the distillery visitor centre. Brothers John and Tommy Dewar established Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896 and commenced distilling there two years later in order to guarantee a supply of quality Scottish malt whiskey for their John Dewar & Sons range of blended scotch. Aberfeldy is a Highland malt whiskey distillery situated in the heart of the Perthshire countryside and these days produces malt whiskey for its Aberlour 12 Year to Aberlour 21 Year Old range of single malts. This Highland malt whiskey distiller’s four copper stills produce both un-peated and mildly peated whiskey. Aberfeldy’s old malt barns house Dewar’s World of Whiskey visitor centre.
