DECADENT DRAMS SMÖGEN – 8 YEAR OLD

The sibling bottling to our 10 year old 2014 Smögen, this is a 2016 that matured initially in two 1st fill oloroso sherry quarter casks, before being combined and re-racked into a 2nd fill sherry hogshead.

The resulting 8 year old has been bottled with a few degrees reduction to 57.1%. The result is a very sherried example of Smögen, where full sherry maturation has allowed maximum integration with the underlying heavy peat to make an amazingly intense, rich, umami and salty example with some really stunning sherry influence and power.

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As we look ahead to a new year, we wanted to wish all our Friends a very happy 2025. Your love and support for our craft and community is what drives us to keep making Laphroaig for life’s memorable moments.

It’s been another unforgettable year for us, filled with hard work and high spirits. We marked thirty years of Friendship with our exclusive 30 Year Old Anniversary Edition, while the limited edition 2024 Càirdeas Cask Favourites was the talk of Fèis Ìle (and a good deal further).

Whether you’re celebrating with a party or from the comfort of your home, we hope it’s filled with fun, excitement, and cups of kindness.

And for any aspiring first-footers, remember that a bottle of whisky is always a good idea.

Dràm Mòr 5th Anniversary Glenrothes 18 Year Old 70cl

Dràm Mòr is an independent spirits bottler based in Dumbarton, Scotland. They are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of unique spirits through their expert team and specialist cask selection process. Priding themselves on an open-minded approach to delivering good spirits. They have been bottling great whisky for five years now, this 18 Year Old Glenrothes has been released in celebration.

Bottling Notes:

£175.00

Cask: Matured in a First Fill Oloroso Hogshead

Cask Number: 7479

Limited: 330 Bottles

Tasting Notes:

55.2% ABV

70cl

Orphan Barrel (Port Dundas) “Muckety-Muck” 26 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Port Dundas closed in 2010, but small stocks still remain. The first single grain Scotch in the Orphan Barrel line, which seeks to highlight stocks of closed distilleries that remain in Diageo system. The distillery was established in 1810 and became a key component in the Johnnie Walker Blends for centuries. Per the producer: “The aroma starts with a burst of caramel and notes of baked sugar backed by the taste of crisp fruit and light toasted oak. The fruit forward flavor is blended with hints of butterscotch vanilla which carry through to the finish.”

(750ml ships as 1.5L) (Previously $230)

$139.99

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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 Hearach “Single Cask” No. 1050 K&L Exclusive First Fill Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Isle of Harris Single Malt Whisky

(750ml)

$109.99

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The very first Hearach Single Cask ever to be released in the US and one of the first-ever bottled worldwide. If you haven’t been paying attention, the little distillery on the Isle of Harris is producing some of the finest whisky in Scotland. Produced in extremely small batches in and with a focus on quality and character overall. This single cask was filled into an extremely high-quality single bourbon barrel. Lightly peated, its ocean aging environment gives this whisky an incredibly depth, but its main focus is balance. The wispy smoke and rich toasty maltiness pair perfectly with the sweet vanilla and baked orchard fruit from the ex-bourbon barrels. Only 127 bottles were produced and bottled at a cask strength of 57.8% abv without coloring or chillfiltration whatsoever. This barrel, No. 1050, is sold exclusively at K&L Wine Merchants, but surely won’t be around for much longer as the little distillery’s reputation has grown steadily since their first release in 2023.

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 546: Trip to Speyside 2024 – part 4 of 4

In September 2024, Mark organized a trip to Speyside for 13 like-minded whisky aficionados. In a short 4-part series of Ramblings, you can find out where they went and what they experienced. In this fourth and final part, you’ll find them visiting or stopping by Benromach, Glenburgie, Miltonduff, BenRiach, Longmorn, Glen Elgin, Glenlossie, Mannochmore, Linkwood, Glen Garioch and Ardmore.

https://youtu.be/hk3D4OXjJRw

The Single Cask

Imperial 25 Years Old

ABV: 52.8% 70 cL

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “K&L Clean Up Hitter” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #6714526 Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)

$84.99

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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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 537: Oban 11 Year Old Diageo Special Releases 2023

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries an Oban. The Diageo Special Releases are something whisky afficionados look forward to every year. And in 2023 there were again quite a few lovely bottles out there, like the Talisker, the Clynelish, an outstanding Glenkinchie and a surprising Roseisle. The Lagavulin, however, for Mark, was the big disappointment with it’s finish on Tequila casks. Another weird one was the 11 years old release by Oban, dubbed ‘the Soul of Calypso’ as it was finished on casks that had previously held Caribbean pot still rum!

https://youtu.be/L1sfkt4HCdc

Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask Release

This limited edition single malt is crafted by Ardnamurchan Distillery. It has been initially aged in 22 Ex-Bourbon casks for 5.5 years, then re-racked into Sauternes casks for 2.5 years. Ardnamurchan Sauternes Cask Release is 100% unpeated, has been bottled at 50% ABV, with natural colour and is non-chill filtered. Only 5990 bottles produced.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Apricot jam, almond flakes, marzipan, brioche, dried stone fruit.

PALATE Seeded bread, green peppercorn sauce, apricot, heather honey, more savoury than the nose.

FINISH Less sweet than the nose, wonderfully balanced with a dry finish.

£SOLD OUT