One-Time Pricing on a Scotch Treasure

Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2023 Release” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

(750ml) (Previously $375) ($199.99)

“This is exceptionally special whisky…it’s an astonishing old Islay that
no lover of the ‘Beg should miss.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

Ardbeg, situated on Islay’s south shore, is renowned in the whisky world for its bold, peaty expressions and unwavering quality. The distillery’s limited “Traigh Bhan” series is highly sought after, with each annual batch eagerly anticipated and often selling out within days of release. Not only is today’s parcel offered at market-low pricing, it beats that mark by a significant margin—it’s nearly impossible to find under $250, and most retailers are happy to sell it for over $300. For cult-caliber, collectible whisky, this offer represents one of the best opportunities you’ll find on the market.

Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2023 Release” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Previously $375) ($199.99)

This exceptional expression from Islay’s renowned south shore is among the few long-matured Islay whiskies available today. The striking rocky coastline stretching from Port Ellen to Ardbeg culminates at the picturesque Traigh Bhan beach, known locally as the Singing Sands. Pronounced “Tri-van,” Traigh Bhan translates to “heavenly vista,” perfectly encapsulating the allure of both the location and the spirit. While visiting this magical locale offers an unparalleled experience, a fleeting moment of its essence can be captured through this exquisite whisky.

The 2023 release of Traigh Bhan marks the fifth batch in Ardbeg’s series of 19-year-old single malts, bottled in small quantities at 46.2% ABV. Matured in a combination of Oloroso sherry butts and ex-bourbon barrels, this whisky showcases Ardbeg’s signature smoky profile, which, after years of aging, evolves to reveal remarkable tropical aromas. According to Ardbeg, the nose presents perfumed aromas of luscious tropical fruit, followed by notes of herbal incense and smoke.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 27, 2025

The Ardbeg distillery is one of the world’s most exceptional distillers, and we’re always excited to see these older age statements, but they’ve become so limited and expensive it’s very difficult to imagine opening these collectible bottles. Now the supplier is sitting on a release from 2 years ago—after somehow selling through the more current release at normal prices—and now we can finally sell the product at a price I’m willing to crack a bottle and enjoy!

Let’s have a go! The color is a gorgeous deep gold. HOLY heavens, this is real-deal old-school Ardbeg here. Huge notes of salty fish, dense wet peat, turpentine, diesel fumes, bitumen, bakhoor, sweetened mango, pina colada… it’s very big and tense. It loves air and continues to open for ages. The palate is exceptionally lifted and, while retaining the tarry smoke, hits hard with the salt spray and the lemon oils. Zingy and bright at first, and then pulled down by dark, deep, ashy intensity—white smoke, roasted bay leaf, guava, sweet coconut, and a dense nuttiness to remind us of the sherry component! This is exceptionally special whisky, and it doesn’t deserve to be discounted, really, but at this price it’s an astonishing old Islay that no lover of the ‘Beg should miss.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY

Ireland is in the midst of a golden era for whiskey, and while you’ll find single malts, blends, ryes and more in all corners of the Emerald Isle, there’s one style that’s come to exemplify Irish whiskey above all others: single pot still.

Like single malt, single pot still whiskey refers to whiskey made at one distillery in a pot still. But unlike single malt, single pot still whiskey is made with a mixture of malted and unmalted barley (and often with other grains, too), resulting in a creamy texture and a fruity and spicy flavour profile.

                                                                                                                                                                   DISCOVER                SHOP NOW

There’s no style that captures the history, spirit and flavours of Irish distilling quite like single pot still. Those are just the basics, but the story of its rise, fall and modern renaissance is a must for those looking to expand their whisky knowledge.

Japanese Whisky

Sakura season is upon us and so is the time to celebrate Japanese whisky!

This incredible region perfectly blends respect for preserving tradition with a modernistic approach to the whisky-making craft, preserving the harmony between past and future in their style. Discover the latest and best bottlings from Japan this month.

SHOP JAPANESE WHISKY

Top tasters 🥃

Nose, palate, finish… what? If tasting whisky feels more confusing than amusing, this is how to taste like a pro

Did you know that there’s a difference between drinking and tasting? We’re strong advocates for both here at Milroy’s. The difference: how much you’re analysing your whisky. Drinking is just kicking back and enjoying. Tasting is delving into a whisky’s appearance, nose palate, finish to assess and describe what’s going on in the glass.

While you don’t need to write tasting notes or examine your dram to savour it, it can be useful to know how. Here are our team’s top tips if you want to really taste your whisky:

🥃 Take it slowly. Don’t overwhelm your nose or palate by sticking your nose right in the glass or taking a huge sip straight away!

🥃 A whisky’s appearance doesn’t actually mean all that much. Don’t get caught up in it.

🥃 Finding it hard? Like almost everything in life, tasting gets easier with practice. And if you really aren’t vibing with it, it doesn’t matter. Just enjoy your whisky!

Looking for a dram to practice with? This red wine cask-finished Tomatin 8 Year Old from independent bottler Finn Thomson is a vibrant delight.

Scroll on for more top tasting tips – and check out more of our flavoursome favourites for tasting practice below!

Explore all how to taste tips

One of the most surprising aspects of whisky is that no two experiences with one bottle will ever be the same. The time of day, the environment and what you’ve eaten will all affect your perception of flavour and can result in a completely different flavour journey.

It seems straightforward enough – but what happens when you try a bottle of Society whisky you’ve already tried? It’s a rare thing for us to be able to offer re-releases but we’ve managed to find a few old favourites from some beloved distilleries and flavour profiles. So whether you missed them the first time, or want to try an old favourite with a new experience, now’s the time!

READ MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

This single malt Irish whiskey is distilled at Northern Ireland’s Bushmills, claimed to be the world’s oldest licensed distillery. This 21-year-old is matured in Oloroso sherry casks and bourbon seasoned casks for more than 18 years before being finished in Madeira wine casks for two years.

The nose is sweet with notes of honey, toffee, spiced fruits and espresso. The palate is rich and mouth-coating with dates, pecans, mango and grape. The finish is sweet and smooth with a hint of tobacco leaf and cooling mint.

Taste Profile toffee honey spicy fruity coffee dates pecan mango tobacco mint

 Single Malt Over 18 Years Category Winner — The W Club Members’ Choice Awards 2024

 Gold — International Spirits Challenge 2022

 Gold — International Wine & Spirits Competition 2022

£194.00

Bushmills claims to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world, having received its original grant to distil in 1608.

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

WHAT IS CASK FINISHING?

You’ll find terms around cask finishing cropping up throughout the whisky world these days, but this approach to maturing whisky and other spirits only became commonplace in the 1990s. The practice refers to taking a whisky aged in one type of cask for the majority of its life, and putting it into another one for a final period of maturation, to add layers of flavour and complexity.

EXPLORE    SHOP NOW

What makes a sherry matured whisky stand out for you?

For some, it’s the colour, and for others it’s the strength, while some like to see what style of sherry is used, others want to know how long the whisky has been in an ex-sherry cask.

All these factors, as well as others can be used to define a ‘Sherry Bomb’. Sadly, the term has come to be used almost exclusively for really dark and rich colours, like the dram poured in the picture here.

This dram, is actually a wine cask matured Auchentoshan – but the colour suggests sherry, and here starts the problem. To read more about my thoughts on great sherry maturation, read my blog, which you can find by clicking the link below. If you just want to have a look at some of our exceptional range of Sherry matured whiskies, continue to scroll….

Read Blog

Made up of some of the rarest casks, this is a whisky known the world over for its finesse. At the top of the core Johnnie Walker range. Note: If you add an engraving to your order, the message will be displayed on the front of this bottle.

Our Hamish has had a sip and jotted down his thoughts.

Nose: Full bodied with big aromas of dried fruit. Some woody notes, also polished mahogany, mixed berries and dry woodsmoke.

Palate: Honey and rosewater, fruit cake with spice and molasses.

Finish: Long with rich fruit and a wave of smoke.

Orphan Barrel 17 Year Old “Fanged Pursuit” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $189.99 View

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA