With a touch of snowy weather arriving with a shiver and a shake, it’s time to look forward to the long winter evenings when our beloved single malt really comes into its own; warming up the parts other whiskies simply cannot reach and bringing us ever nearer, one dram at a time to the festive season.

And with all this in mind, our attention is drawn to the wonderful Martin Markvardsen, our Senior Brand Ambassador, who’s Christmas has come a little earlier this year!

The much-loved (and definitely larger-than-life) Martin has recently been recognised as ‘The Best Whisky Ambassador in Norway’ by the organisers of the Oslo Whisky Festival.

The award is presented annually to the person who has made a difference to the whisky industry in Norway and the festival organiser, Chris Malie, felt that Martin had to be recognised for his length of service, his passion for Highland Park and legendary Orkney storytelling, alongside his vast knowledge of single malt whisky and that fact that he has been on more trips to Norway than any other ambassador.

“I am honoured to have been presented with this award, says Martin and I see this as much more of a prize for the team than an individual prize.”

Modest as well as supremely nice, if you happen to bump into Martin at a forthcoming whisky event, or, for that matter in a bar, shake his hand and for your next round he’ll be having a gentleman-sized measure of Highland Park 18 year old please…

Having bottles on hand for upcoming celebrations, unexpected guests and last minute party invitations is key to stress-free holidays. These bottles make it easy – for under $40.00 each!

Michter’s Small Batch American Whiskey

James E. Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Distillery Bottling
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

We’re searching for the world’s greatest storyteller!

If you’ve got a legendary tale to share with the world, then we’re dying to hear it! Submit your story to our new #WinningWords competition and you could win a luxury trip for two to the Isle of Jura. The prize includes three nights accommondation at the eccentric Jura Lodge, entry to our whisky festival and a VIP tour of the island.

So curl up in front of the fire, pour yourself a dram and put pen to paper; it’s time to write an unforgettable tale.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY NOW

BACK IN STOCK

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Bruichladdich Octomore 5.1 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($179.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon 750ml (Ships as 1.5L) ($27.99)
97 points Wine Enthusiast: “Complex and addictive. Scents of cinnamon, hazelnuts, and dried fruit precede big flavors: cinnamon spice, raisinated and plummy, like Madeira or Sherry. Long finish, with a bit of a bite.” (09/2010) K&L Notes: Medium gold in color. The nose brings notes of butterscotch, clover, vanilla and old leather. The big body displays a palate with an almost wine-like character that balances intense fruits, honey and vanilla with a light spiciness that shows off the distiller’s craft. The finish is long and warm.

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

1995 Glendronach 18 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single PX Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($149.99)
Good grief, Glendronach keeps bringing the hits. We’ve been obsessed with Glendronach since our first visit to the distillery in 2011. They’ve revamped this distillery, investing in the highest quality wood, using meticulous warehouse management to get the very most out of old stock and continuing to pump out some of the finest juice in Scotland. This year’s offering was aged in Pedro Ximenez casks and shows a totally different type of sherry influence from last year’s powerfully masculine dry oloroso cask. What we have here is the perfect sweet sherry nose, filled with dense dried plums, spiced pears, subtle flintiness, and a rich creamy core. On the palate, the baking spices really explode fresh clove, nutmeg, and freshly dried stone fruits. This balance between spices, dark exotic oak tones, and powerfully rich fruit is the hallmark of Glendronach. I think this cask will be the best received Glendronach yet.

Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($109.99)
The 2013 limited edition is here, loaded with the Pedro Ximenez sherry from the double barrel maturation. Big, cakey, and round with tons of richness. This whisky is always a big hit. We’ve been getting about five requests a day for this lately, so it appears the DE Lagavulin is the new hot thing on the street! Personally, I have always felt that the DE over did it on the PX sherry, but I finally got around to tasting this year’s expression and I was quite taken aback. This 2013 edition is exactly what I hope Lagavulin with extra sherry will taste like, but never seems to actually do. A burst of rich raisiny sherry comes first with all the classic Lagavulin smoke and brine on the back end. The fudge lingers long on the finish, mingling between cocoa and campfire smoke. I’ve found that previous editions have overdosed on the sherry and drowned out the peat. Not this one. It’s perfectly harmoneous. It’s totally balanced and right where it need s to be. I think it might be the best Lagavulin I’ve tasted in years. Much better than the standard 16 in my opinion. Fans of the distillery will be very pleased. This whisky is delicious. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Elmer T. Lee Single Barre l Bourbon 750ml (Ships as 1.5L) ($27.99)
97 points Wine Enthusiast: “Complex and addictive. Scents of cinnamon, hazelnuts, and dried fruit precede big flavors: cinnamon spice, raisinated and plummy, like Madeira or Sherry. Long finish, with a bit of a bite.” (09/2010) K&L Notes: Medium gold in color. The nose brings notes of butterscotch, clover, vanilla and old leather. The big body displays a palate with an almost wine-like character that balances intense fruits, honey and vanilla with a light spiciness that shows off the distiller’s craft. The finish is long and warm.

Anchor White Christmas White Whiskey 750ml ($49.99)
K&L was the first store to have this in stock and we took as much as we can get of it! Anchor Steam releases a Christmas Ale every year and it’s always one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. I’ve been drinking this beer with my dad every Xmas since I was 21. Last year Anchor had a few hundred bottles left over that they decided to distill secretly into a very, very, very small batch of bierschnapps, or white whiskey – depending on which title sounds more appealing to you. I got the chance to taste it this morning and, while I don’t often advocate on behalf of white dog, this tastes very much like the beer itself. That clove, nutmeg, and foresty goodness are all there within the spirit itself. Now please note: this isn’t going to go down as the best whiskey of the year. It’s just a super-limited, fun experiment from a Bay Area legend. An iconic beer distilled into something fun for fans of the brand. LIKE ME! Anchor made around 600 bottles: TOTAL. We’re getting a large chunk of that, but that’s still not very much! (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

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

New Karuizawa 1981 – On Sale Wednesday and Thursday

A quick heads up for you loyal blog readers: we have a new Karuizawa going on sale tomorrow (Nov 27th). There are a few bottles appearing elsewhere, but it’s pretty much a TWE exclusive and we’re rather pleased to have snagged this … Continue reading >>

First Friday Scotch Sipping at Six

Miner’s Delight Inn, 1st Friday, every month, 6 – 9 p.m.

no reservation required for tastings, but we appreciate advance notice for groups

Here’s what you get for $40:

♦ 5 half-ounce pours of single malt Scotch whisky:

♦♦ 3 Friday features (10% off bottles of your favorite Friday Feature)

♦♦ 2 Connoisseur’s Choices from our single malt menu

♦ hors d’oeuvres to freshen your palate between pours

Friday Features:

10% off bottles of your favorite Friday Feature 

December 6, 2013     
 
Longmorn 20

Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 (2013) Sherry Wood
 
Laphroaig Cáirdeas (2013) Port Wood Edition

January 3, 2014   

Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 (2013) Bourbon Wood

anCnoc 22

Laphroaig Cáirdeas Origins 

Second Saturdays, monthly, we feature 3 malts. You’ll roll a die and select a regional malt whisky then pick a connoisseur’s choice for your 5th dram. $25

Angels club Member story; by James R. Miller Jr. Fort Worth, TX

Prior to my wife and I leaving for Scotland, my wife commented that we needed to try some Scottish Whisky since this was supposed to be the Gold Standard. We went to the liquor store and came home with a bottle of a 10 year old Glenfiddich. Instantly I fell in love and must say it hasn’t been the last bottle I’ve purchased of Glenfiddich. During our visit to Scotland I had several “Wee BITS’ of Whisky, mainly Glenfiddich, but an occasional OBAN. I have yet to meet a whisky I didn’t love. Our Travel Agent/Friend, Liz Gillespie (mcleanscotland), told us Loch Fynne Whiskies in Inveraray was a great place to get an education on the different whiskies. We walked into Loch Fyne Whiskies, the gent behind the counter asked if he could help us. I responded with “I was told that you were the man to teach me about Whisky. He chuckled, then began to do his magic. He chose 4 different whiskeys and I began tasting each one. I ended up having 6 bottles sent home to be added to my bar. My new additions are: Glenfiddich 21 year old Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish. Auchroisk 20 Year Old. Bruichladdich Cuvee 407 PX 21 Year Old. Longrow 18 Year Old. Caol Ila 1982 30 Year Old Cask #6487 Signatory. And of course we had to buy a bottle of the Loch Fyne Liqueur in honor of Loch Fyne Whiskies.

Two of the bottles I had sent home will be put away for safekeeping. The other 4 bottles will be enjoyed and when the bottle is empty I will re-stock with the help from Loch Fyne Whiskies. I enjoy all types of whisky. The younger whisky because of picking out the individual flavors and the older ones for the richness and singular great taste. My new drink of choice is a nice ale with a wee bit of whisky or wee bit of whisky with a nice cigar.

Paul’s note; A lovely couple, we arranged their Scottish tour, including a renewal of wedding vows in a castle! I think, apart from whisky, the castle was a highlight! see more; www.mcleanscotland.com/james&nicole.asp
www.mcleanscotland.com  www.angelswhiskyclub.com

UK vlogger Joe Ellis a.k.a Whisky Wednesday reviews the ultra premium Johnnie Walker Odyssey Rare Triple Malt!

http://youtu.be/9P8B8yJ-FWk

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

This year has seen some exciting new limited releases from Jack Daniel’s.  All of these fantastic bottlings are now available on whiskyshop.com Free W Club membership and UK delivery with every purchase!

The Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select was undoubtedly one of the quickest selling and most sought after products this year. It’s now back in stock and available to buy from whiskyshop.com

Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select is bottled at 90 proof and gains its rich character from specially crafted “Sinatra Barrels” mingled with our classic Tennessee Whiskey. The Sinatra Barrels are handcrafted with the addition of deep grooves on the inside of the barrel staves. This exposes the whiskey to extra layers of oak which imparts a rich amber color, bold character and a pleasant smokiness, followed by an incredibly smooth vanilla finish.

£150 Click here to buy

Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller #1 is the first in a new limited edition series from the makers of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The package highlights the “Golden Age of Jack Daniel” when Mr. Jack’s recipe and quality craftsmanship practices were born. Gold foil accents highlight the label and neck band. The side labels tell the story of how the legend was born and how Mr. Jack’s philosophy of “Every Day We Make It, We’ll Make It The Best We Can” still holds true today.

Each bottle comes in a gift carton that mirrors the label’s gold foil accents and highlights the legendary man through an elegant and authentic image.

£44.50 Click here to buy

The Jack Daniel’s Double Gold Medal limited edition gift pack has been created to commemorate these two historic Gold Medals. It contains a special matt black 1-litre bottle of Old No.7 along with two very stylish tumblers decorated with the medals won in 1914 and 1915.

Nose: Balanced character, sweet oaky medium character. Palate: Concentrates at mid palate – balance of sweet and oak. Finish: Vanilla notes

£89.95 Click here to buy