Since its original debut in the U.S., the Hibiki 12 has symbolized excellence in not just Japanese whisky, but whisky as a whole. Blended to a seamless perfection, the flavors of vanilla, sweet malt, and butterscotch have enticed drinkers around the world like a siren, hypnotizing whisky fans with its haunting beauty. A perfectly assembled blend of malt whiskeys matured 12 years or longer and mellow grain whiskies of the same age; it also includes some whisky from casks formerly used in long-term aging of Japanese plum liqueur – this helps bring out the sweet floral notes on the nose and palate for which Suntory whisky is known. Adding venerable malt aged more than 30 years further brings out the bouquet and adds body to the palate. Unfortunately for those of us who value its quality, the demand for the 12 year has become unsustainable and in 2015 Suntory announced it would be discontinuing the expression, replacing it with a younger blend called the “Harmony,” (which are also excited to present in today’s offer). We were lucky enough to grab one last curtain call before they pulled the plug on the 12 and we don’t expect it to last long. If you like the Hibiki 12 year as much as we do, it’s time to load up your reinforcements.

Suntory Hibiki 12 Year Old Japanese Whiskey (750ml)$99.99 View

Suntory Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whisky (750ml)$62.99 View

K&L Wine Merchants http://www.klwines.com/

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

Email: wine@klwines.com

San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

This week Joe Ellis reviews Glengoyne 15 Year Old Single Malt.

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www.ralfy.com talks about Lomond stills with Whisky Review 593 – Inchmurrin 12yo malt @ 46%vol

Balvenie Tun 1509 & Single Cask Expressions

We have some fantastic whiskies coming into stock this week that we can’t help shouting about. Ranging from 18 to 25 years old, these single cask whiskies are very limited in number as no more than a few hundred bottles can be charged from one cask. In addition we have more stock arriving of the much sought-after Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3, so make sure you pre-order to avoid disappointment!

Free delivery available on all orders over £75 Next day delivery available

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3

 
FIRST EDITIONS ALLT A’BHAINNE 1993

One of only 177 bottles produced from a single bourbon barrel, this Speyside Single Malt was distilled in 1993 at the Allt A’Bhainne distillery. Aged for 22 years, this expression has been bottled at a cask strength of 51.4% abv and is non chill-filtered.

Expect vanilla, stewed apples and spring flowers. A smooth, creamy mouthfeel with stewed rhubarb and liquorice, with oak making a late appearance.

£160 Buy Now

OLD MALT CASK ROYAL BRACKLA 18 YEAR OLD

A mere 127 bottles of this Highland Single Malt have been produced from a single refill barrel in the Royal Brackla distillery in Nairn. Distilled in May 1998, this 18 year old is presented at a preferred strength of 50% abv as part of the Old Malt Cask range.

Sweet vanilla fudge on the nose, with chocolate and toffee notes. The palate is creamy with vanilla, cinder toffee and sultanas, while the finish is long and sweet with fruity notes and a hint of oak.

£125 Buy Now

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Bourbon

The country with the most summer sporting medals of all time is home to a variety of styles of whiskey. Bourbon is the most famous, and our top offer this month is an aged example from Heaven Hill, the home of Elijah Craig. At £4 off, it’s even better value for money than usual. Tasting Notes by Rocky

Nose: Complex with toast, toffee, marmalade, lots of vanilla and an underlying sweetness.

Taste: Big and rich with a creamy texture and notes of orange, apricot, cinnamon and a hint of liquorice balls.

Finish: Long and toasty with the spicy notes prevalent.

Paul’s Blog for the June whisky & golf tour with two American gentlemen.

Arrival day, met our two whisky loving golfers at Edinburgh airport. With a scenic route taken via St Andrews, we headed up to Broughty Ferry where they stay a couple of nights. After a long trans Atlantic flight, they rested up, dined for the first time on Scottish soil and shared a dram or two! Next day they took to playing around, in fact at Monifieth course; Monifieth is one of the courses that have been announced as the host venues for the Qualifying event to the 2016 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex. 1639 is the earliest reference to golf at Monifieth found in the Kirk Session records. They played with Dennis (Liz’s husband and another local). Drinks all round at the 19^th hole. Sunday saw them take on the challenge that is Carnoustie Golf Course.

Leaving the Ferry (and a bevy of happy locals) behind we then set out north via Aberdeen to Speyside, first call Glenfiddich whisky distillery for a tour and lunch. Glen Grant distillery followed, after this – almost a stones throw away, to their hotel in Rothes. I must say the whisky bar here is superb! Tuesday and a wee trip to play another round of golf; Nairn Championship course. Gorse is a hazard here. The par 4 holes tease and confound and all four short holes are cunningly angled, with the 4th a little gem and the 14th simply spectacular. As three of the par 5 holes are over 530 yards long, it is a test for all.

Whilst our two golfers stayed in luxury at Rothes, I was a few miles doon the road near Dufftown – whisky capital of the world. Staying a stones throw from the Glenfiddich distillery and Balvenie castle, my “rest place and sanctuary” was built in 1892, the former property of James Watson & Company (wine & spirit merchants) to house their Customs and Excise Manager – to keep an eye on the activities of Parkmore Distillery opposite (quite apt don’t you think?). Sadly this closed since 1931, it is rumoured that that the water source became unsuitable for whisky distilling; along with hefty tax levy’s imposed – meaning that today the buildings, whilst well maintained, are only used for storage by the Edrington Group. I can live with that – I did!

Wednesday arrived and we set out for Cragganmore distillery, followed by some whisky scenic touring locally! Lunch at the Mash Tun Aberlour, with the Macallan discovered in the afternoon!

Thursday, the tour is near the end, but no before we headed into Glen Moray. Here our pal Iain took them on a great tour and filled them full of drams fae the warehouse, well done that man! Catching them again, we headed south into Perthshire where they stopped for lunch at Gleneagles Hotel. Final call of today – Edinburgh where they stay to relax after all their exertions.

Paul McLean, www.mcleanscotland.com/ www.whiskytours.scot/

Liz and Paul in Craigellachie Hotel Bar Speyside Scotland

What We Do – a group golf & whisky tour, or a relaxed escorted whisky tour exploring Scottish distilleries, our guests tell us that it’s an experience to remember, not just a holiday! We’ve twenty years of designing whisky tours and have extensive knowledge and contacts. Why not come and enjoy the best of Scottish hospitality from the moment you arrive, until your final dram – you drink, we drive!

Who We Are, Paul has a background in advertising and marketing, owning advertising agencies before tourism. Having discerning taste buds and a wealth of information on not only the best places to visit but also the secret and hidden ones too.   His passion for Scotland and extensive knowledge in the whisky world make him an ideal driver/guide. (He even make’s history interesting, says Liz!)

Liz, the organiser and brains, however it was only a few years ago she stopped making hot toddies and realised whisky’s true value. She now appreciates the perfect dram and if it pass Liz’s “whoo hoo” test, it’s a winner!

A dynamic duo best friends who together are perfect hosts and you’ll soon feel like family, as they share the secrets of Scotland, home to some of the finest whiskies in the world. Scots are well known for their warmth and enthusiasm and you’ll find that both of them ensure you share their love for the country and their passion for delicious drams. Arrive a guest, go home a friend

NEW TO THE PARTY

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10yr – It’s back, and with a refreshed label. Smooth Ambler is one of our house favorites. Check out this excellent 10yr Bourbon neat, on the rocks, or in a top-shelf cocktail.

OCD Bourbon Cask Strength – Here’s a new Bourbon with ties to an old distillery. These guys bought the former Old Crow distillery and found some of the original Old Crow yeast! Finding it in a closed-top fermenter, and working diligently, or maybe obsessively, to nurture the yeast back to life, the folks at Glenns Creek Distillery found both their method and the name of their first bourbon OCD #5.

Cooper’s Craft Bourbon – This is the first new bourbon from Brown-Forman in over 20 years! From the folks who bring us Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, here’s a new treat that falls somewhere in the middle. It’s smooth, delicious, and awesomely priced. Try it over ice or in any of your favorite bourbon cocktails.

Evan Williams Honey with 50ml and glasses – If you need some smooth, sweet, honey-bourbon, you might as well pick up this gift set with a free shot glass and a 50ml sampler each of Evan Williams Fire and an Evan Williams Cherry.

Laphroaig Lore – Here’s the newest offering from one of the top single malt producers in Islay. Lore is information passed from person to person by word of mouth. This bottle is named for all the info and history passed down about how to distill and aged great scotch. This is a rich bottle of Islay Scotch and will be excellent for any Laphroaig or Islay lover.

Sipping into summer

Whisky and cheese Tasting

On Monday the 25th of July we will be journeying into the world of whisky and cheese. From the shores of Scotland to the fields of Ile-de-France. Our expert staff will take you from the oak trees that become the casks through to the flavour profiles that pair harmoniously with our fine selection of cheeses. Tickets can  be found on our website.

This week we’ve got in a very exciting bourbon from EH Taylor, if you haven’t had their Single Barrel Bourbon it’s well worth a try.  An oaky and spicy bourbon from Buffalo Trace, the Single Barrel release is made with barrels from the infamous Warehouse C. The buttery smoky finish seems to go on forever.

Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 in Bardstown, Kentucky. The oldest distillery in the area. This port finish is their most recent release. The amalgamation of an excellent Bourbon and Port wine casks pairs beautifully to create something really exciting. A surprisingly light and subtle bourbon with light apple flavours on the palate. An oaky and walnut finish sets this up to be a very popular release from 1792.

This week we have had in the newest limited release from Glenlivet, the Cipher. With almost no information about it released you are left to your own devices to work out what you think has gone contributed to the final product. A green apple note at the beginning, immediately followed by a smattering of peach that transforms during its long complex finish, developping into chocolate and coffee note with a hint of tobacco. A very enjoyable dram.

This 35 year old 1979 Caol Ila is something special. A delightfully soft spirit that retains its peaty majesty. The classic Caol Ila notes interplay with lighter fruits and spices on the finish. Independently bottled by Douglas Laing as part of their XOP range (Xtra Old Particular). Douglas Laing is a proud family business in its third generation, it  is one of our favourite Independent bottlers.

United States – Kentucky

792 Sweet Wheat Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) $34.99 View

Orphan Barrel “Rhetoric” 22 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml – ships like 1.5L due to bottle shape) 119.99View

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Spotlight on Islay’s oldest working distillery

Inveraray is often described as the gateway to Islay so this week we have decided to bring you some expressions from the oldest operational distillery in the Whisky Mecca of the Inner Hebrides.

We ship worldwide Next day delivery available on UK orders

Bowmore 23 Year Old Platinum Old & Rare

This 23 year old Bowmore expression is one of only 195 bottles drawn from a single sherry finished hogshead. Part of the Platinum Old & Rare collection from independent bottler, Hunter Laing, each bottle is beautifully presented and individually numbered. The nose has a trace of peat smoke on the sea air, with lemon zest and burnt toast. The palate is light and fruity with figs and marmalade, while the finish is big and rich with ripe dark fruits and chocolate.

£295 Buy Now

Bowmore 25 Year Old

This 25 year old Islay Single Malt has been slowly matured in American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks for a quarter of a century. Hand crafted on Islay, this is a sublime small batch release. The nose is intensely sherried with stewed fruits, citrus and a trace of smoke. The palate offers toffee and hazelnut woven together with a hint of sweet peat smoke. The finish is mellow, gentle and incredibly complex.

£329 Buy Now

Bowmore Devil’s Cask III

Legend has it that the church in Bowmore was built without corners so that the Devil could not hide. One evening, the locals chased Auld Nick out and he ran into the distillery, hiding inside casks bound for the mainland. The result is Bowmore Devil’s Cask and this third release is devilishly smooth. The nose is full of dark and exotic fruits, mango, raisin and toffee. The palate is smooth and rounded, with oils, dried fruits and a hint of salt and treacle. The finish is long lasting with fruitcake, orange, and a whisper of smoke.

£195 Buy Now

Bowmore Devil’s Cask III Fyne Wee Dram

Don’t miss your opportunity to try a wee taster of the third and final release of the Bowmore Devil’s cask with our Fyne Wee Drams 3cl range. Whether you’d like to preserve your full bottle but still sample a dram or two, or you simply want a brief dance with the Bowmore Devil’s Cask III, a Fyne Wee Dram is the ideal solution.

£11.99 Buy Now

Bowmore Laimrig 15 Year Old

Matured for 15 years in Spanish sherry casks, this limited edition release takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for ‘pier’ in homage to the stone pier that once served the distillery. The nose offers ripe red grapes, Spanish sherry, dark green moss and a lot of Islay smoke. The palate has dried fruit sweetness with dark smoke, grapes, exotic spices and very delicate peat. The finish brings more sherried fruits with a hint of ash.

£70 Buy Now

Bowmore 12 Year Old

The signature release from Bowmore, the 12 year old is renowned for its lemon, honey and peat flavour. Complex, yet perfectly balanced, this expression has received much critical acclaim and reflects the raw essence of Bowmore – thrashing waves, windswept landscapes and generations of tradition. The nose is characteristically smoky with subtle lemon and honey notes. The palate offers sweet heather honey, dark moss and peat smoke. The finish is long and mellow with hint of sweet peat fire.

£29.95 Buy Now