1988 Blair Athol 26 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($179.99)

Last year’s cask of 1988 sherry-aged Blair Athol from Signatory drove our customers into such a frenzy that we still get phone calls asking about it over a year later. The big, rich, caked-in-sherry flavor blended beautifully with the soft-fruited core of the Highland whisky’s profile, creating an absolute beast when bottled at full proof. We’re happy to announce to all those who’ve been begging us for more that we were able to return to Signatory this past spring and purchase the lone sister cask to that beloved Blair Athol, bringing one last batch of that sherry-matured magic to K&L customers one last time. Whereas last year’s cask showcased all the sweetness and sugary spice that Oloroso sherry can offer, this whisky is much drier and earthier on the palate. It’s full of coffee bean, dried prunes, and burnt almonds, lingering far longer on the finish with a more dynamic finale of dried earth and savory splendor. It’s a fitting finale to one of the most talked-about and requested whiskies in K&L history. We’re happy we were able to finish out the legacy with a bang!

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 07, 2015

An expressive, rich and round single malt that is full-bodied. It is packed full of flavor with the sherry barrel aging showing itself. Malty and dried fruit flavors are part of the delicious flavor profile.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Vote on your favourite design for our Jura Tastival 2016 bottle packaging

Happy New Year Diurachs!

2016 has just begun, but we’re already busy planning for our favourite event here on the island – our annual whisky festival, Jura Tastival.

Tastival’s all about celebrating flavour, inspiring new ways to enjoy whisky and opening our distillery doors for you to join our exciting programme of whisky tastings, tours and entertainment.

Every year we release a limited edition Tastival bottling to mark the occasion, and this year we want you to help choose the packaging for this special expression.

We gave four artists from around the world an early dram of Jura Tastival 2016 and asked them to bring their tasting notes to life in their own style. The result is an eclectic gallery, highlighting the many ways our whisky can be interpreted – and one of these designs will form the packaging for our limited edition bottle.

Now we want you to help us choose which one by casting your vote here before the end of the week.

The winning design will be revealed when Jura Tastival 2016 is launched in May, where we hope you’ll tell us what you taste in your dram too. Until then, here are the designs to choose from….

Cast your vote here before the 18^th of January for a chance to win a bottle of Jura Tastival 2016 and one of five specially framed prints of the winning artwork. Terms and conditions apply.

United States – Kentucky

Angel’s Envy 100 Proof Rye Whiskey (750ml) (one bottle limit)  $74.99

Cyrus Noble Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)  $24.99

Knob Creek Small Batch 100 Proof Bourbon (750ml) $22.99

Scotland

Bowmore Small Batch Reserve Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $36.99

Isle of Jura 16 Year Old Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $69.99

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Happy New Year fellow whisky-lovers!

Well, how was it for you? Did you enjoy some good whiskies? We hope so. We also hope you weren’t effected too badly by the flooding or other terrible weather events here in the UK (or elsewhere). Here at TWL HQ in York we had some hairy moments, but luckily no damage done. First thing to note is that we have a shiny new website. We think it looks good and works well but we always love to get your feedback so please feel free have a look around and let us know what you think! We also recognise that one or two features are either missing or not functioning as they should be, so please bear with us whilst we make the necessary adjustments…

BURNS-A-THON

As many of you will know, we always start our whisky year with the thinest available excuse to taste some good stuff. Happily, Robert Burns selflessly provides us this opportunity every January. We certainly raise a dram or two in his direction with the occasional poem depending on location and presenter. Many of the events are now sold out (we didn’t think it fair to show these) but we have added new dates which are as follows;

BURNS’ TASTINGS/DINNERS DATES & VENUES

SUNDAY   24th JAN.            NEWCASTLE, Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm

MONDAY  25th JAN.            YORK, Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm

MONDAY  25th JAN.            LEEDS, The Hedonist Project, 156 Briggate, 7pm

TUESDAY 26th JAN.            SHEFFIELD, The Tap, Sheffield Station, 7pm

THURS.    28th JAN.            BRIGHTON, Grand Central, 29-30 Surrey St., 7pm

THURS.    28th JAN.            EDINBURGH, Clouds and Soil, 4 Picardy Place, 7pm

THURS.    28th JAN.            LONDON, Salt Bar, 82 Seymour Street, W2, 7pm

After a couple of years of (very successful) trips to the Feis Ile we have decided in 2016 to do one trip to Islay outside of festival week and one in Speyside. Both are incredible opportunities to get up close and personal with distilleries and their personnel in the respective areas and to spend some quality time with us! Within both trips you will experience more quality whisky than you can shake a stick at, great food, lovely accommodation, beautiful scenery and amazing craic. That enough superlatives for you? As previously, you can choose from 3 day tours or a full week if you’re willing and able…

Back Stage Speyside Options;

Tour 1:         9th – 12th July

Tour 2:        13th – 16th July

Full Week:   9th – 16th July

Back Stage Islay Options;

Tour 1:         1st – 4th October

Tour 2:         5th – 8th October

Full Week:   1st – 8th October

KAVALAN TASTINGS

With our Kavalan Vs Scotland series back in September 2015, we saw how seriously their whisky is to be taken.

With that in mind we decided now might be a good time to see what else they have… So this series, quite simply, is a tasting of six different whiskies from this most exciting of East-Asian distilleries.

TUESDAY 16th FEB.            SHEFFIELD, The Tap, Sheffield Station, 7pm

FRIDAY     19th FEB.            M’CHESTER, Britons Protection, Gt Bridgewater St., 7pm

FRIDAY     19th FEB.            NEWCASTLE, Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm

SAT           20th FEB.            YORK, Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm

WEDS       24th FEB.            LIVERPOOL, Jenny’s Bar, Fenwick St., 7pm

WEDS       24th FEB.            LONDON, Salt Bar, 82 Seymour Street, W2, 7pm

WEDS.      24th FEB.            BRIGHTON, Grand Central, 29-30 Surrey St., 7pm

THURS.     25th FEB.            LEEDS, The Cross Keys, Water Lane, 7pm

EDINBURGH TBC

BLENDING WORKSHOPS

Fancy getting your hands dirty? Think you can do better than Chivas or Johnnie Walker? Let’s be having you then! We are running Blending Workshops throughout the year in most venues we already work with to give you the opportunity to blend your own whisky! After tasting some exceptional blends you will be let loose on your own (with a blending partner) to create and name your own blend. You can then take a miniature home to show off!

NEXT BLENDING DATES

TUES.      8TH MARCH               SHEFFIELD, The Tap, Sheffield Station, 7pm

WEDS      9TH MARCH               LEEDS, The Cross Keys, Water Lane, 7pm

THURS.   10TH MARCH             BRIGHTON, Grand Central, 29-30 Surrey St., 7pm

WEDS      23RD MARCH             LONDON, Salt Bar, 82 Seymour Street, W2, 7pm

WEDS      6TH APRIL                  LIVERPOOL, Jenny’s Bar, Fenwick St., 7pm

THURS.   7TH APRIL                   M’CHESTER, Britons Protection, Gt Bridgewater St., 7pm

THURS.   7TH APRIL                   YORK, Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm

FRIDAY   8TH APRIL                   NEWCASTLE, Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm

We do have more to tell you about, but I think this is enough to be going on with for now! Keep an eye out for an email at the end of the week with news on the London Whisky Weekender, Whisky Sessions, Brighton, Bristol, Aberdeen and more festivals…

Sláinte

Eddie, Amanda and Joe The Whisky Lounge Team.

Whisky Bible Review 2016

In case you missed it, Jim Murray deployed his annual megaton whisky device recently prompting the usual shockwaves and ramifications. The modestly titled ‘Whisky Bible’ is debated by enthusiasts, scholars and onlookers more than any other award. To those blissfully unaware of whisky itself, it may seem to be the only award that matters. Originally the Malt Maniacs award was a valid barometer of whiskies across a broad spectrum but this has fallen by the wayside, whereas Jim continues on his pilgrimage to educate and promote whiskies from around the world via his soapbox. The format and the man himself both come in for criticism from all sides, but you cannot argue with the impact these awards have and the most visible aftershocks are delivered at auction.

Much ado about nothing or a genuinely fine dram??

For 2016, Jim highlighted his top 5 whiskies from around the world. The biggest surprise being that Scotland wasn’t represented amongst the alumni. The Scottish contingent represents an easy target and whilst some may criticise Jim for having a vendetta; other regional producers are pushing boundaries more arguably enabled by less restrictive rules. Several friends ignore the bible totally whereas I… read more on this month’s Blog

www.ralfy.com gets into a good mood with a singular character by way of Whisky Review 568 – Benriach 1998 single cask malt

The new year is starting with a bang – whisky of the month with a great money-saving deal.

I’ll start with the Malt of the Month, as it’s a whisky that I tried and enjoyed back when it arrived, shortly after I started at The Whisky Exchange – Talisker 25 Year Old, bottled in 2011. The 25 Year Old has been an occasional limited release in Talisker’s line-up, and the 2011 marked a change – the dropping of the ABV from cask strength to 45.8% ABV like the rest of the range. It was the first Talisker 25 I had the chance to try and I was impressed – it’s more elegant and refined than the gutsy earlier releases:

TALISKER 25 YEAR OLD, BOTTLED 2011. 45.8% ABV

Nose: Honeysuckle, beeswax, fruity smoke, pineapple, lychee juice, carbolic soap and a hint of tomato.

Palate: Freshly cut boards, tropical fruit syrup, muddy peat, violets, juicy orange and light smoke.

Finish: Anise, light spice and sawdust, with lingering floral notes.

Comment: Elegant and reminiscent of much older drams [you can tell that I wrote these notes back in my less wordy days…]

We’re doing it for the impressive price of £180 all month – £50 off the normal asking price.

Bargain

Cask No. 29.166                     $140

‘Elementary, my dear Watson’

Islay

This sample presented interesting challenges to our Sherlock noses – we were all over the place, from a hunting lodge (wellies, tweed jackets, rifles, log fire) to an amateur beach bonfire barbeque (jacket potatoes, toasted marshmallows, grilled pork – all slightly overdone). The unreduced palate had ash, wood smoke, peat smoke, singed lime, porridge with brown sugar, caramelised apple and donuts.  The reduced nose seemed fresher, with laundry flapping vigorously on a washing-line down-wind of chimney smoke; also sou’westers and pork crackling with apple. The reduced palate re-discovered its sweetness (white jelly babies, icing sugar, vanilla) – but with curious hints of smoked fish.

Drinking tip: A west coast holiday dram – or to provide warmth and calmness on a blustery day.

Colour: Playboy bunny platinum blonde

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 15 years

Date distilled: July 1999

Alcohol: 51.5%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Peated

Cask No. 5.47                         $135

Floral perfumes in a Chinese restaurant

Lowland

We found the nose straightforward but attractive, with vanilla, lemon puffs, green apple, rhubarb and chalky sweets (Edinburgh Rock) but one panellist was in a Chinese restaurant (five-spice, fragrant rice, fortune cookies). With water the floral, citric perfumes edged forward and it became more buttery (popcorn, shortbread, caramel). The palate had good viscosity and body, with sweet and tart flavours of stewed rhubarb, gooseberry, plums, red grape Shloer, Haribos and Astro Belts; it even seemed fizzy and lively at times. Water emphasised different aspects – pistachios, almonds and salty bread, with lemon rind, white pepper and aniseed bringing dryness to the finish.

Drinking tip: A pick-me-up or palate cleanser.

Colour: Transparent pine

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 14 years

Date distilled: October 2000

Alcohol: 59.8%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow

Cask No. 13.47                               $105

It’s a knockout

Highland, Northern

This was not subtle to start with, in fact, it felt like one of Mike Tyson’s unbelievable knockout punches and after being counted out we were helped back up on to our feet. As we slowly recovered we could smell the aromas from the ringside seats of toffee caramels, sweet and salty buttered popcorn and monkey peanuts. The taste was initially a spicy hot dog but then, sweeter flavours of strawberries with molasses sour cream sauce emerged. Water brought out boozy orange caramel pancakes with crispy bacon and in the finish, clootie dumplings with Drambuie custard – one for the real grown-ups!

Drinking tip: Preparing for something big

Colour: Sunflower oil

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 10 years

Date distilled: May 2005

Alcohol: 59.3%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

Cask No. 54.34                       $100

Monkey’s Lunch

Speyside, Spey

This was a dancing dram for each time we got back it had changed. Aromas spread from sharp grapefruit slices, lemon sherbet and lime soda to tropical sorbet, marzipan fruits, vanilla pods and banana marshmallows. Sharp and citric without being bitter on the palate neat like freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and hot cinnamon bagels sprinkled with cayenne pepper combined with the dry, briny finish of a Manzanilla Sherry.  With water, a delicious adult milkshake called Monkey’s Lunch; Kahlua, fresh bananas and vanilla ice-cream. Whilst in the taste now surprisingly creamy, sweet and salty like that of a salted caramel crème brûlée.

Drinking tip: Afternoon in the garden

Colour: Mellow yellow

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: October 2005

Alcohol: 59.8%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Young & spritely

Cask No. 58.17                       $105

“Not shaken, not stirred”

Speyside, Deveron

We all stepped into an old fashioned sweet shop; plenty of dust but the floor was recently spring cleaned with bleaching powder and chlorinated lime. When we left we strangely bought pancetta, prosciutto, freshly grounded coffee and Amontillado Sherry. The taste neat was like an erupting volcano with the lava flowing into the sea and causing a sizzling hot spray – exhilarating! Water calmed the scene and fruity aromas of apples, pears, plums and grapes appeared out of nowhere with the refreshing sparkle of a white grape and raspberry juice on the palate and a perfect Martini in the finish.

Drinking tip: In a moment of exhilaration

Colour: White swan feathers

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 10 years

Date distilled: April 2005

Alcohol: 60.4%

USA allocation: 102 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & dry

Visit the Scotch malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com

Plan your Bourbon education ahead!

February is Bourbon-heavy at Brandy Library

sure we got the new John E. Fitzgerald 20 year old , as well as 18 year old Elijah Craig, but we also have gathered more Barterhouse 20 years and I.W. Harper 15 years. And a bunch of classes: “Barrel Proof Bourbon” on 02-27-16, “Single Barrel Bourbon” on 02-09-16 and a Rye Whiskey seminar on 02-02-16.

St. Magdalene (Linlithgow) 31 Year Old 1982 Hart Brothers

Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$601.41

St. Magdalene 31 Year Old 1982 vintage Lowland single malt Scotch whiskey. Distilled September 1982 and bottled October 2013 by Hart Brothers for the Finest Collection series.

This is initially quite a complex malt that takes the addition of a little water to release the peaty nose. There is also a hint of licorice coming through. This is really a very pleasant typical Lowland malt with a sweet sherry initial taste, which comes from the cask in which it was matured. Try as a pre-dinner aperitif.

St. Magdalene malt whisky distillery was established by Sebastian Henderson in Linlithgow sometime between 1753 and 1798. During the 1810s St. Magdalene Distillery was amalgamated with its near neighbour Bonnytoun Distillery. The Union Canal was constructed right on its southern doorstep during the early nineteenth century then the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway steamed right past on its northern doorstep and ensured easy access to rapidly expanding markets. St. Magdalene Distillery closed in 1983 and was later converted into private housing and is now a lost Scottish Lowland malt whisky distillery. All the whisky from St. Magdalene’s four stills went into blends during its working life, the few single cask bottlings are a modern development.