New Arrivals at K&L California
Ireland –
•Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old Irish Whiskey 750ml – 5 available ($59.99)
Scotland – Single Malt Scotch
•Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($69.99)
•1978 Cameronbridge 34 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($179.99)
The quantity of single grain barrel releases seems to be dwindling quite rapidly while the blended whisky business continues to make a comeback. This ancient release from one of Scotland’s best grain distilleries is soft and rich like a Cognac, but that unmistakable herbaceous note still permeates the core. A delicious whisky as well as an educational one. We won’t see much of this in the near future.
•1998 Dailuaine 14 Year Old Duncan Taylor Dimensions Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($79.99)
Dailuaine is one of the most accessible and delicious whiskies around when you find a good expression of it. Malty, lush with round fruit and creamy vanilla, this is one Diageo’s core whiskies in the Johnnie Walker Blended releases. It’s easy to see why. The round and supple palate makes this quite a crowd pleaser.
•1995 Glen Grant 17 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($115.99)
A straightforward, yet highly delicious malt from one the Speyside’s most classic distilleries. Rich malty sweetness with a strong kick from the cask strength proof. A dying breed of whisky in an industry full of cask-enhancements and gimmicks.
•1995 Imperial 17 year Duncan Taylor Single Malt 750ml – 6 available ($129.99)
•1978 North British 34 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($189.99)
•1993 Springbank 18 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Malt Whisky – 6 available ($149.99)
United States – Bourbon and Rye
◦Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey 750ml ($44.99)
When my sales rep came in with an open sample, I acquiesced and did my duty, however. Wow! That’s actually really good. There’s something rather honeyed and slightly round about the Sour Mash that I quite enjoy. It’s almost like Dickel #12, but without the woody, pencil shavings-like undertone. The more I taste whisky for a living, the more I feel like drinking things like the new Michter’s after work when I get home. It’s easy and delicious, yet with a flavor profile beyond what’s readily available. It’s pleasing to the senses and it doesn’t really require me to focus much beyond that. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)
◦Temperance Trader Barrel Strength Bourbon 750ml ($39.99)
Oregon’s TT bottling outfit managed to lock down some nice barrels from everyone’s favorite Indiana distillery, and they put a nice little marriage together. Bottled at 56% cask strength, the Temperance Trader Cask Strength Bourbon brings spice, richness, and balance. It drinks very much like a young Willett’s whiskey and is priced accordingly. If you’re in the mood for something like that, you’ll be pleased.
Back in Stock
Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)
Whisky Advocate: “A new addition to the permanent Balvenie range. Lovely bright gold color. Layers of sweetness (the characteristic Balvenie honey, along with vanilla fudge, nougat, and rich toffee) peppered with dried spice and a hint of tropical fruit (papaya, guava, tangerine). Nice viscosity with good grip on the finish. I really like the balance and complexity of this whisky. A very solid effort and the price is right. ” K&L Notes: This exciting new expression follows the acclaim of 2008’s limited edition Balvenie 17 Year Old Rum Cask, and the subsequent popularity of rum cask-finished whiskies, with a whisky that bears all the hallmarks of the Balvenie, but with an added level of complexity that comes from finishing the whisky in casks that once held Caribbean rum. After a 14 year maturation period in traditional oak whisky casks, the Balvenie is then transferred to the rum casks, leading to an exceptional Single Malt that exemplifies the signature smooth, honeyed character of the Balvenie, while adding unique notes of toffee and fruit that come from its innovative cask finish.
Balvenie 21 year Port Wood Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 11 available ($189.99)
This Balvenie, which has been matured in traditional oak casks, is transferred to a Port cask, or pipe, which has held fine Port wines. Here it is sampled every month by The Balvenie Malt Master to ensure that just the right amount of character is imparted by the Port casks, enhancing and developing the single malt, whilst preserving its original characteristics. Recent winner of the “Single Malt Trophy” at the International Wines and Spirits Competition in London, effectively voting it the best Single Malt available in the world today.
Longrow Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($54.99)
Longrow is Springbanks heavily peated line. This new batch is the finest younger Longrow I’ve had in a long time. Very limited availability.
1995 Mortlach 17 year Duncan Taylor Dimensions Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($134.99)
This meaty Mortlach comes from Duncan Taylor’s high quality “Dimensions” line. It exemplifies this rare and wonderful distillery perfectly. Bottled at cask strength, availability will be very limited.
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
