ralfy.com visits New Mexico for an Irish malt with Whisky Review 603 – Colkegan New Mexico Whiskey @ 46%vol

Caol Ila 18 Year Old

1997 vintage single cask expression of the smokey Islay single malt at an unmissable price for this age. Selected and bottled by our chums at Berry Bros & Rudd.

£58.60

SHOP NOW > 

Hello again everyone! Another busy week in the spirits department has yielded another bountiful series of deliveries, bursting with more exciting whiskies to tell you about today. We’ve got more fun stuff from Islay, another single cask of ancient grain whisky, and some fun events to talk about as well. Let’s not waste any time!

MORE LAPHROAIG CAIRDEAS (NO LIMITS NOW) AND MORE BOWMORE DEVIL’S CASK

If you’ve never watched Laphroaig’s head distiller John Campbell shovel peat into the distillery’s kiln, it’s a beautiful thing. As is the new Laphroaig Cairdeas, the 2016 special release from the Islay stalwart finished in Madeira casks. We had to limit customers to one bottle last week, but this time around we’ve got enough for everyone so the limits are off! Get yourself some smoky Laphroaig goodness to prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

Laphroaig 2016 “Cairdeas” Madeira Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $79.99 Each year Laphroaig’s Master Distiller, John Campbell, handcrafts a limited edition malt to celebrate friendship (“Cairdeas” in Gaelic). The 2016 bottling features fully-matured Laphroaig aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being blended together for a second maturation in Madeira seasoned traditional hogsheads. The result is a classically smoky Laphroaig with accents of sweet fruits and honey around the edges. Bottled at 51.6%, the extra kick helps balance out the additional richness. If one bottle of deliciously-limited Islay whisky isn’t enough for you, then you should grab a bottle of the Bowmore Devil’s Cask. Not only is it extra peaty, it’s extra sherried! We sold out quickly last time around, but we managed to snag an extra serving of batch three today. This is for fans of the Aberlour “Abunad’h” whisky who want a bit of smoke to go with all that high-proof sherry action.

Bowmore Devil’s Cask “Batch 3” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $99.99 Bowmore’s limited edition, 56.7% sherry-matured whisky is so powerful and intense, it must have been the work of the devil! From the distillery: On the eye: Deep mahogany. Breathe in a cornucopia of rich, dark, exotic fruits, sultana, mango and raisin, fused with earthy angelica root and treacle toffee. Sip the smooth, rounded taste of date oil, chocolate fudge and salted treacle, warmed by orange-laced Aruba coffee. Savour the long-lasting finish of smoked fruitcake, blood orange and sea salt.

MORE JAPANESE RICE WHISKIES

For those of you who loved the K&L single cask selections from the Fukano and Ohishi distilleries, we’ve just re-upped with more inventory. These are not exclusive selections for K&L this time around, but the whiskies definitely stay true to the original character of what we sold you last time around. Check out what just came in:

Fukano Japanese Whisky (750ml) $79.99 This exceptional distillery in the city of Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu has been distilling since 1823. They’re famous for a diverse offering of Shochus and high quality liqueurs, but a tiny portion of their production is devoted to malted rice distillation. In Japan, these old whiskies are not bottled as such, though they do meet the definition by American standards. Instead they use them to make their high-end liqueurs, which is sad for them, but GREAT for us. This new offering from Fukano Distillery showcases a blend two cask types, new oak and sherry. Same exquisite quality as previous offerings although now featuring the distinct influence of sherry along with the rich wonderful flavors we expect from Fukano.

Ohishi Japanese Whisky (750ml) $69.99 The Ohishi distillery is located on the banks of the Kuma River, one Japan’s fastest flowing rivers. The distillery was founded in 1872 and produces some of the most exciting whisky coming out of Japan. Ohishi grows at least 30% of the rice that they distill, and the fertile soils and exceptional growing climate make for some of the finest base ingredients available. The strain of rice is called “gohyakumanishi” (meaning “five million stones”), and an organic method of cultivation is utilized that requires the use of koi carp for weed control. The rest of the grain is procured from local farms in Kumamoto prefecture and is of the short grained Mochi variety. The grains are partially malted and then distilled on the traditional Japanese stills before being filled into ex-sherry and brandy casks and aged in high-altitude warehouses.

Ohishi Single Sherry Cask Japanese Whisky (750ml) $69.99 Another single sherry cask release, this is full of that soft, rich, Oloroso flavor whisky drinkers love. This cask brings in a great balanced sherry influence and definitely feels more like Scotch than our single cask from the Fukano Distillery.

COME MEET BRUICHLADDICH’S NEW HEAD DISTILLER: ADAM HANNETT

Bruichladdich Single Malt Tasting & Dinner w/Adam Hannett @ Donato $50.00

Come out to Donato Enoteca in Redwood City on Tuesday night, November 8th, at 7 PM for an unforgettable event with Bruichladdich’s young new leader Adam Hannett. We’ll have some Botanist gin cocktails for you, as well as a full three course meal along with a trip through the distillery’s core whisky range. Adam will be there to introduce himself, unveil what the future of Bruichladdich holds, and talk you through the malts as we taste them. Those who haven’t yet caught wind of how important the specific origins of barley are going to be to the future of single malt whisky will want to be hand for this one. Bruichladdich is already at the forefront of this movement and Adam is ready to continue that push forward. Once again, tickets are a ridiculous fifty dollars, so they will likely go fast. They’ll have the full line up as well as the Black Art and Octomore whiskies on hand to taste. This will be a formally scheduled event, however, so expect a guided tasting, a Q&A session, and a full presentation from the Bruichladdich team. There are no refunds once you’ve purchased your seat, so please check your schedule before committing! We’ll see you there!

That’s it for today, folks! You know where to find me if you need more help!

David Driscoll K&L Spirits Buyer daviddriscoll@klwines.com 650-556-2736 http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)

Email: wine@klwines.com

K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA

San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 146: Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1991 Asta Morris

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whisky blogger, tries another of his favorites. The Belgian bottler Asta Morris found a beautiful single sherry cask of his favorite Lowlander. The Auchentoshan spirit went to sleep in 1991 and was bottled at the age of 24 years, cut to a drinking strength of 50%. Meant for the Japanese company Gaia Flow, Mark feels lucky to have been able to secure a few bottles. It is a grand Auchentoshan!

https://youtu.be/KAkvP-1IjnE

Kavalan Solist

Bottled by Kavalan for their Solist series is this beautiful sherry cask matured whisky from Taiwan. 526 bottles have been filled at cask strength, without any colouring or chill-filtration.

£124.80

CHAPTER 14 WINS BEST EUROPEAN WHISKY 2017!

We are thrilled to announce that Chapter 14 has once again been named Best European Whisky 2017 by the world famous Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. Managing Director, Andrew Nelstrop says, “We are honoured to have received this accolade yet again. It is a true tribute to the team at St Georges Distillery”

CHAPTER 14 46%ABV

£44.99

Part 3/7 of the Beginners Guide to Whisky – Campbletown; Glen Scotia and Longrow.

GlenDronach Batch 14

GlenDronach Batch 14 now available at Abbey Whisky. 12 new single casks ranging from 1985 to 2004. Interest for all casks has been incredible, we’re expecting stock sell very quick, so if you’re looking for a set, don’t delay…

Strictly one per person.

GD Batch 14

Clicking the link above will take you through to our New Arrivals section. If you don’t see a particular cask via here or our GlenDronach page, it looks like it has sold out. The site is live, once stock has depleted the item is removed, so that the site is not cluttered with out of stock items… 

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2016 – 200 Years of Lagavulin

Diageo’s Dr Nick Morgan has spoken about Lagavulin many times this year, with the distillery celebrating its 200th anniversary. But what really came through at The Whisky Show’s 200 Years of Lagavulin masterclass was how much he is in love with the place. He took us through five Lagavulin bottlings, as well as an extremely old and rare White Horse, of which Lagavulin is a key component.

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s head of whisky outreach

Dr Nick Morgan – In His Own Words

‘Lagavulin is one of the most special places in the world. There is something magical about it’

‘The reason we have Lagavulin today is because of Peter Mackie. He was obsessed about the quality of single malt whisky because he was obsessed with the quality of blended whisky. He set up a laboratory at Hazelburn in Campbeltown and introduced the screwcap closure in 1925’

‘It’s Lagavulin’s bicentenary this year, but we don’t actually know how old Lagavulin is!’

‘My first experience of Islay was Kilnave Chapel, the Kildalton Cross, Kilchoman Bay and Finlaggan. I don’t like Lord of the Rings, but it’s like stepping into Lord of the Rings land’

‘I went to Islay and used peat on our fire. This is not what people do on Islay, as I realised when it took six months to get the smell out of the kids’ clothes…’

‘When I look at it from the sea, Lagavulin is just a crazy jumble of buildings’

‘Lagavulin 16 Year Old is one of the most special whiskies in the world. It’s just perfect. It has richness, sweetness, burnt Christmas cake, and an overwhelming phenolic smokiness’

‘Some Lagavulins have a quote from William Black on the label in which he describes it as “just as fine as new milk” – that took about three months to get past the lawyers…’

‘We’re launching a 1991 (25yo) Lagavulin later in the year. All proceeds will go to the legacy fund on Islay. We’ve taken a lot out of the island over the years, so it’s only right that we put something back’

We Tasted

Lagavulin 16 Year Old Beautifully balanced between honeyed fruit and smoke, with oily notes of smoked fish – a classic Islay single malt.

Lagavulin 8 Year Old/200th Anniversary Launched earlier in the year to mark the 200th anniversary, this is all about evocative woodsmoke, tobacco and peppery spice.

White Horse 1938 I’m a big White Horse fan, and had never tried one as old as this before. The closure was in perfect nick, and once opened, the whisky delivered aromatic notes of peach, vanilla and tropical fruit with a touch of smoke. Absolutely beautiful.

Lagavulin 25 Year Old/200th Anniversary Rich and sherried, this was a sublime combination of tobacco, peat smoke, orange peel and cured meat.

Lagavulin 12yo (1980s) Surprisingly sweet, with rich toffee and chocolate orange. There’s some smoke there to balance the rich fruit and sweeter notes. Very classy indeed.

Lagavulin 1991 25 Year Old (charity bottling) For me, the spiciest whisky of the tasting, this balanced citrus and tropical fruit with robust notes of cinnamon and incense.

Thanks to Dr Nick for a fascinating insight into what is one of the best-loved Scotch whisky distilleries around. Lagavulin wins plaudits from all sides of the industry, and its 16 Year Old bottling is, for my money, one of the best bang-for-your-buck whiskies out there.

The Macphunn 16 Year Old

The Story Behind The Dram:

Years and years ago, the story goes, Archibald Macphunn of Drip – a local rogue – was hanged ’till deid’ for sheep-stealing. On the way back across the water with the corpse, his wife, who was nursing an infant bairn, noticed her husband’s body twitch. Putting the baby aside, she raised the man up, and plied him with mother’s milk laced with a wee dram of whisky she had on board. The colour began to return to his cheeks, and Macphunn of Drip revived. Since, by law, he could not be hanged twice for the same crime, Macphunn lived on to a ripe old age.

Sir Fitzroy Maclean handpicked a whisky good enough to commemorate ‘Half-hung Archie’ (as he was known locally) and his son Sir Charles continues the tradition to this day. A 16 year old Speyside Single Malt at cask strength, The Macphunn trumpets taste and excellence in a manner that would surely wake the dead. Sir Charles takes his dram with a little burn water, he says, “to loosen the noose and set the spirit free.”

A single cask expression from Ardmore distillery in the far southeast of Speyside, this cult classic whisky has been matured for 16 years in a sherry cask before being bottled at a natural cask strength of 56.8% abv.

£110 Buy Now

Only available while stocks last