A Guide to Islay Whisky

The island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides is known for heavily peated whiskies with a distinctive sense of place. So, if you like your single malts on the smoky side this is the perfect place to look. But what many people don’t realise, is that not all Islay whisky is smoky.

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Benbecula Secures £1.5M Investment

We’re proud to share some exciting news: Benbecula Distillery has secured a £1.5 million investment from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland, delivered via Maven Capital Partners.

This is the fund’s first equity investment in the Highlands & Islands, and it marks an important milestone for us at the distillery and our island community.

The investment will help us scale production, expand our team on the island, and enhance our visitor experiences, ensuring we can keep laying down spirit for generations to come. It’s a vote of confidence in the Outer Hebrides’ potential and in our vision to craft a whisky that reflects this remarkable place.

Featured in Whisky Advocate

Cask Programme in the Spotlight

Since launching our 2025 Private Cask Programme in September, we’ve been delighted by the response, with strong interest from whisky enthusiasts around the world.  The story behind the programme, and what makes it unique to the Outer Hebrides, was recently featured by Whisky Advocate, one of the world’s leading whisky publications. Read the full feature here → Whisky Advocate: Benbecula Distillery Cask Ownership

Casks are moving quickly but you can still secure your 2025 Benbecula Cask — just a few months left!

The Evolution of the Pot Still in Scotland by Iain Russell, Part 1

The pot still is one of Scotch whisky’s most enduring symbols but its form and function have evolved dramatically over the centuries. In this first instalment, whisky historian Iain Russell explores how early cauldrons became copper stills, how taxation spurred innovation and how distillers balanced speed, flavour and tradition.

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THE MACALLAN SHERRY OAK AND DOUBLE CASK COLLECTIONS

The Macallan Sherry Oak and Double Cask Collections celebrate the story of our sherry journey. The Macallan Sherry Oak Collection has a character led by sherry seasoned European oak casks and reveals a rich and complex flavour profile that can be explored across the 12, 18, 25 and 30 Years Old expressions. The Macallan Double Cask Collection is the perfect combination of sherry seasoned American and European oak casks. This balance delivers a smooth and creamy flavour profile, from Double Cask 12, 15, 18 and 30 Years Old expressions. ​Explore the ranges available to purchase on our Online Boutique.

DISCOVER THE COLLECTIONS

SIGNATORY

Signatory Vintage is widely regarded as one of the most discerning and respected independent bottlers of Scotch whisky in the world. With a commitment to quality and individuality, Signatory bottles one cask at a time—highlighting the distinct color, aroma, and flavor profile that each cask uniquely imparts.

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

Hirsch (Willett) 7 Year Old “The Single Barrel” K&L Exclusive Barrel #91478 Double Oak 112.2 Proof Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

(750ml)

$109.99

View

The program being offered by Hirsch remains one of the most exciting in Kentucky today. These are famous stocks that no one is supposed to talk about. Produced at an unnamed Bardstown distillery from their famous mashbill – 76% corn, 13% rye, & 15% malted barley. Those whiskies were rebarreled and aged for a further period at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Selected by our spirits team in early Spring of 2025 and bottled at cask strength. These are still inaurguably some of the most sought-after stocks in the industry – so much so that the exact same mashbill bottled by the distillery at the very same aged, easily commands 2-3 times the price at retail. Here, we’re more interested in getting our customers this special bourbon at an incredible price. These maybe the final stocks to ever be released of these special lots of whisky. This barrel was distilled on January 11th, 2018 and bottled in late June of 2025, making it 7.5 years old. At a barrel strength of 112.2 proof, you’ll not find a better Bardstown distilled bourbon on the market for less.

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

George Dickel 18 Year Old Limited Edition Straight Bourbon Whisky (750ml) $499.99 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

The Very Rare Killowen News Update

It’s been a roller coaster of a year and somehow, it’s already late-October. In a time when the headlines often focus on the negatives, we’d like to take a moment to share some good news and heartfelt thanks with you, our community of supporters.

Here’s a look at what the team at Killowen has been up to recently…

Whiskey Shows: London & Dresden

While our schedule meant we had to miss a few shows this year, we were thrilled to attend two fantastic events last week. Brendan held the fort at The Whiskey Show London, while Patrick connected with enthusiasts at Whisky Genuss in Dresden.

Brendan was amazed by the enthusiasm for quality Irish spirits at our first ever whiskey show in England, while Patrick was delighted to see the ongoing love for poitín in Germany – a market that’s always had a special place for our small-batch releases.

And in case we haven’t sung about it enough – our Pangur Poitín won 98 points and an “Outstanding” rating at the IWSC

Killowen Gloria Now Available in Ontario

We’re proud to announce that the LCBO in Ontario, Canada has officially listed Killowen Gloria, just in time for Christmas. Available across Toronto and throughout the province, it’s a major milestone for us – proving that independent distilleries can work successfully even in monopoly markets.

Halloween in the Mournes – A Spirited Supper

In between honeymoons, Shenda has led the charge on our Halloween event, “The Distiller’s Night – A Spirited Supper in the Mournes”, which is part of the NI Spirits Trail and Food NI’s ‘Embrace a Giant Taste of October’

The event sold out quickly – a big thank you to all who booked early. We can’t wait to welcome you.

Cocktail Menu Updates & Window Displays

We’re honoured to have The Merchant Belfast feature us again on their renowned cocktail menu. Our favourite ‘Ginger’ cocktail is now joined by a delicious new serve: ‘Coffee’.

We’ve also secured Killowen window displays in two legendary Off-Licences:

• Wineways, County Monaghan
• The Wine Centre, Kilkenny

To our friends in Louth to Leitrim – contact Monaghan Bottlers to get Killowen into your local pub. Also, a huge happy 60th birthday to The Wine Centre, now officially bus-pass eligible!

Sooty Stills & Stealth Operations

After a solid nine months of distilling, it was time for a deep clean. One of the joys of reintroducing flame-fed distillation is, of course, the soot.
Brendan and Patrick went full stealth (with face camo, naturally) and carried out the clean-up mission with precision. Both stills are now gleaming and back in action.

Thank You

We’re truly grateful to be part of a growing community that values tradition, craft, and character. Whether you’re sipping poitín in Dresden, raising a glass in Belfast, or sharing Killowen with friends in Toronto – thank you for being part of our journey.

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

To say that the Four Roses Barrel Program is second to none in the industry is no exaggeration. Other programs may borrow elements of the Four Roses experience, but nobody executes it like the four flowers. That success is due in large part to the talented team led by the indomitable Mandy Brown, who learned the finer points of Kentucky bourbon barrel hospitality from the late Al Young. The process is not conducted in a dank warehouse or impersonal boardroom but in a purpose-built space designed for the experience. Mandy rolls out ten barrels, their ages and recipes concealed, and thieves the whiskey directly for tasting. After sampling all ten, selections are made before the big reveal, a system that ensures quality rises above hype. While many buyers gravitate toward older or higher proof barrels for marketing value, K&L always makes its picks blind. During this year’s spring selection, we were honored with the rare opportunity to choose four casks, all from the high rye OB recipe but across different yeast strains and warehouses. This barrel, distilled with the elusive Q yeast strain, spent 11 years in Warehouse H West, rick 56, row 2. Its remarkable depth and complexity set it apart as one of the most compelling modern bourbons we have ever offered.

Four Roses 10 Year Old “Private Select – OBSF” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #BS-89-4 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $109.99 View

Four Roses 11 Year Old “Private Select – OBSQ” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #HW-56-2 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $109.99 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