NEW ARRIVALS

Irish Whiskey

• Mosswood Sherry Aged Irish Whiskey 750ml ($55.99)

Canadian  Rye

• Wiser’s 18 Year Old Canadian Whiskey 750ml ($54.99) While I feel the Lot 40 continues to be a great crossover or gateway whisky for American whiskey fans looking to explore something new, the Wiser’s 18 year is Canadian through and through—and that’s a good thing. People who change their personality to fit what others want them to be are uninteresting and boring. That being said, I would be disappointed if 200 years of whisky tradition were changed and altered to capitalize on the current cask strength American whiskey fad. The Wiser’s 18 is full of pencil shavings and rye spice on the nose. It begins with soft oak on the palate, and quickly moves into a peppery, spicy, rye-dominated flurry of flavor that finishes with accents of baking spice and lots of tingly, tangy goodness. If you’re looking for a replacement to that 18 year old Stitzel-Weller Bourbon you drained two years ago, then look elsewhere. If you’re looking to try one of Canada’s legendary 18 year old whiskies for the sam e price as a 10 year old Springbank, then this is definitely up your alley. It’s as good as anything I’ve had from Canada thus far, which I’ll admit isn’t much, but it has me very excited for what else may be lying in wait. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

United States Bourbon & Rye

• Jim Beam Bonded 100 Proof Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey 750ml ($18.99) The beast is awakening! Finally, Kentucky’s largest Bourbon distillery is using its size and scale to create a fantastic, value-oriented, high-quality whiskey that anyone can enjoy. For less than $20, this is my new go-to for mixing cocktails and making rocks drinks. It’s Beam flavor through and through-creamy corn, sweet vanilla, and that spicy, grainy finish-just turned up to 100 proof. It’s a no-brainer for the money.

• Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Style 90 Proof Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey 750ml ($18.99) The beast is awakening! Finally, Kentucky’s largest Bourbon distillery is using its size and scale to create a fantastic, value-oriented, high-quality whiskey that anyone can enjoy. The new 90 proof rye formula is definitely going to make a splash in what is still a rather desolate rye market. The spice is turned up a notch and the pepperiness of the grain really comes through, while maintaining richness. For a few dollars less than Bulleit, it should cause many a discerning drinker to ponder switching over. A must for Manhattans.

• Lost Republic Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml ($32.99) One of the more interesting and intriguing independent bottlings of bourbon since Black Maple Hill went out of production, the Lost Republic whiskey is made of three different bourbons from three different states: Indiana, Tennessee, and California. Matt Weese and his team in Healdsburg are contracting spirit and aging the barrels separately in their Napa warehouse, using them to create a fruity, grainy, and gritty style of American whiskey. The fruity, young whiskey aromas are potent on the nose, but the woody, vanilla notes balance out the youth on the palate and the spice really comes through on the finish. The packaging is fantastic and the price more than reasonable, so we’re expecting this to be a big hit. California has long been the home of American craft distillation, and now that passion is crossing over into creative blending. Those looking for a substitute to Black Maple Hill may not quite have found their replacement, but it’s as close as anything we’ve seen in years. And as the stocks at Lost Republic continue to age, we may get closer with each consecutive batch.

• Prichard’s Double Chocolate Bourbon 750ml – 5 available ($65.99)

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

No Age Statement (NAS) Single Malt Non Chill Filtered Scotch Whiskies;

Proof that a divine Entity loves you and wants you to be happy.

Years ago at the infancy of my journey into the world of Scotch whisky I read of a supposed basic rule; that No Age Statement (NAS) single malts were generally too young and immature for quality enjoyment. Essentially this conventional ‘wisdom’ pointed directly at any whisky under a stated age of 10 years, for a time I accepted this notion. Happily over the ensuing years I have learned differently, however I suspect that there are many, at any stage of their journey, who still believe that NAS whiskies are not a quality dram. Discussed in this epistle are four NAS single malts that completely disprove this outdated and incorrect notion; as an added bonus these single malts are usually well priced for everyday enjoyment. They are vibrant, full of flavour and are sure to please your palate and will be welcome additions to your collection and bar.

1) Aberlour a’bunadh Batch # 14 59.5 % A.B.V. Score 92 Points

This stunning whisky from Aberlour was made to recreate the style of whisky produced at the distillery in the 19th century well before the introduction of ex-bourbon American casks into the Scotch whisky industry. Batches of a’bunadh are made up of specially selected butts that have previously held Spanish Oloroso sherry wine and the batches are made up of 80 to 100 butts each.

A’bunadh is bottled at cask strength, the strength of which varies from batch to batch, and without the addition of spirit caramel or chill filtration. The distillery actually prefers that there to be some slight color variation from batch to batch; this is more authentic to the original style of whisky. Since the whisky is bottled at cask strength without the addition of water the whisky possesses a greater aromatic complexity.

A’bunadh batch # 14 has earthy notes on the nose mixed with huge sweet sherry & spice. The taste is a well balance combination of malt & grape that always delights me. The finish is filled with sweet notes, brown sugar and is medium long. There is a lot in this whisky that is quite perfect and for those who love a malt filled with overwhelming sherry, this is it.

2) Benromach Organic 43% A.B.V. Score 87 Points 

This is the newest whisky from Gordon & MacPhail, the owners of Benromach distillery, and they proudly (& quite rightly so) announce it is the only single malt on the market that can claim to be organic in compliance and fully certified by the UK’s Soil Association.

Gordon & MacPhail have gone to great lengths to ensure that the whole process from the raw ingredients through distillation, maturation and bottling is certified organic to the high standards set by the Soil Association. To ensure the highest quality distillate spring water from the Romach Hills, Scottish organic barley and organic yeast are used as well as using virgin American casks for maturation. Additionally Organic is bottled without chill filtration, at natural colour (without the addition of spirit caramel) and at 43% A.B.V.

Golden brown in colour, Benromach Organic is a fresh vibrant whisky with a strong oak influence. The nose reveals sweet, charred oak aromas with fresh fruit notes (bananas and pineapples). An earthy, toasted aroma also present. The palate exposes sweet, vanilla and toffee flavours. Hints of green apples and orange peel with a rich resinous note.[1]

I recently tasted this exceptional malt at the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie and was both delighted and surprised at the nose, taste and finish of this very fine dram. The famed bar manager of the Highlander, Tatsuya Minagawa, advised our group to drive to Gordon & MacPhail’s shop in Elgin and buy two bottles each, such was is his respect for this dram. As interesting back up to this whisky is its stable mate Benromach Traditional 40% (NAS), the first whisky to be released after the reopening of the distillery in 1998 and released in 2004.

3) Laphroaig Quarter Cask 48% A.B.V. Score 91 Points 

This is the single malt that has taken the Islay whisky world by storm and for many of us our first in depth look at Laphroaig Quarter Cask was in Dave Broom’s article in Whisky Magazine[2]. In the article Robert Hicks, then Allied Domecq’s master blender reveals to Dave how Laphroaig commissioned the Speyside Cooperage to make 50 quarter casks from first fill oak, each with a capacity of 105 liters. A vatting of different ages from standard size casks was then matured for a further period in the quarter casks. The increased whisky to wood ratio and increased contact of charcoal with the whisky resulted in a faster maturation and increased vanilla notes. The overall effect has produced a stunning whisky with lots of smoky and sweet flavours that is vibrant but not over whelming in any one area, magic!

The nose is full of peat, peat and some more peat thrown in for good measure yet is still vibrant and fresh. My first nosing of this whisky reminded me of my first taste of Laphroaig 10 many, many years ago. The taste is very peaty and yet malty sweet (vanilla) at the same time, truly an exceptional experience for those who adore peat. The ending is long and full of more sweet peat with some wood notes.

Happily in my part of the world Laphroaig Quarter Cask is only available in one liter bottles!  

[1] Credit http://www.benromach.com/

[2] Issue 42

This article was originally published as a Malt Maniacs E-pistle on the mighty Whisky Fun in September 2006 and was written by Lawrence Graham.

Whisky Intelligence recently held a NAS whisky tasting, details can be viewed in Twitter #weloveNASwhisky

BenRiach 18 Year Old Albariza

Peated expression double matured in PX Sherry casks from the Andalucia region of southern Spain.

Benriach Albariza $82.88

• Knappogue Castle K&L Exclusive 12 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Irish Whiskey 750ml ($49.99) Knappogue Castle is a third party label that bottles sourced and purchased whiskies from Ireland’s main whisky distilleries. This particular 12 year old cask comes from Cooley distillery, the unloved stepchild to big brothers Midleton and Bushmills. Now that Beam/Suntory has taken over the reigns at Cooley, getting our hands on single barrels of Irish whisky has become much more difficult, so we jumped on this baby while we had the chance. This is just a delicious and classically-flavored Irish whisky through and through. Soft vanilla immediately awakens the palate, with flavors of stone fruit and sweet oak shortly behind it. The backend is creamy and rich, and the finish is malty and round. There’s nothing earth-shattering going on inside of this whisky, but it’s just darn tasty. It’s one of the whiskies where you say, “Man, that’s just freakin’ delicious. Can I have another glass?” Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, th is is the bottle you’ll want for your celebration. Bottled exclusively for K&L. Only 216 bottles available.

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

This week Joe Ellis reviews Connemara Single Cask #4332.

https://youtu.be/JOnxpeJYpsA

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This week Joe Ellis reviews Aberlour 12 Year Old NCF 48%.

https://youtu.be/yAGpsZD3mCQ

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

This week Joe Ellis reviews Bulleit Bourbon.

https://youtu.be/13vbSyvyFGE

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

MILROYS RETURNS!

London’s oldest whisky shop is back and independent

Read the story here…

If there’s a day of the year where Irish whiskey is best celebrated, then surely it’s St Patrick’s Day. To take full advantage of our whisky shop/bar combo we thought we’d offer a free dram of Teeling Small Batch Blended Irish Whiskey with every bottle purchased. If that isn’t enough, we’re also running a free prize draw. Everyone who buys any bottle of Teeling Irish Whiskey will be entered to win a bottle of the Teeling Poitin, you can’t say better than that!

This week Joe Ellis reviews Glenkinchie 12 Year Old. 

https://youtu.be/isSlx-X_7vI

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Everyone’s Irish on March 17th!

Why not celebrate the occasion with one of our favorites.

Discounted Items

Bushmills 10yo Irish Whiskey Melted chocolate and honey that sits on the tongue$43.99

Mosswood Barrel Aged Irish Whiskey This Irish whiskey leaves a wonderful impression.$59.99

Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Crisp, mouthwatering with a fabulous honey burst, alarmingly sensuous $52.99

Yellow Spot 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Another game changer.$104.99

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2015: Irish Whiskey of the Year:  $249.99