The Bruichladdich Octomore 12 Year Old 2012 is an exceptionally rare and powerful Islay single malt Scotch whisky, drawn from a single 2nd fill Rivesaltes wine cask and bottled exclusively for the United Kingdom market. Distilled in 2012 at Bruichladdich Distillery and peated to an immense 156ppm, this remarkable Octomore expression was bottled at 56.3% ABV, with just 300 bottles released. Long maturation and distinctive wine-cask influence bring unexpected elegance and depth to Octomore’s famously ferocious peat profile.

£464.94 GBP

Nose Explosive peat smoke layered with red berries, smoked citrus, earthy notes, and hints of wine-soaked oak and leather. Palate Intense yet refined, delivering waves of bonfire smoke, dark fruits, charred oak, liquorice, sea salt, and subtle sweetness from the Rivesaltes cask. Finish Long, powerful, and complex, with lingering peat embers, dried fruit sweetness, maritime salinity, and warming spice.

• An incredibly rare single cask Octomore from Bruichladdich Distillery

• Peated to a formidable 156ppm, balanced by extended maturation

• Matured in a 2nd fill Rivesaltes wine cask for added depth and complexity

• Bottled at 56.3% ABV for full flavour impact

• Limited to just 300 bottles, exclusive to the UK market

The Bruichladdich Octomore 12 Year Old 2012 Single Cask is a thrilling showcase of how extreme peat, careful cask selection, and time can combine to create a whisky of astonishing power and sophistication. A must-have for Octomore collectors and lovers of bold, uncompromising Islay single malts.

Gifts For Your Valentine

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, have you thought about what to gift your loved one yet? For the whisky lover in your life, a bottle from the Cotswolds Distillery is a thoughtful way to mark the occasion – rich in flavour, beautifully crafted, and chosen with care. A gift to enjoy together, long after the day itself.

SHOP HERE

Wilderness Trail 5 Year 10 Month K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #767560 Cask Strength High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey

(750ml)

$69.99

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

ralfy review 1114 – Lindores Friar Jon Cor Chapter Three @60.2%vol:

Jura 12

Know your loved one enjoys whisky, but not sure what to gift them for Valentine’s Day? Jura 12 Year Old – the UK’s number one ^[1], award-winning Single Malt ^[2] – makes finding your perfect match easy.

Each bottle features Jura’s pioneering taste scale, designed to take the guesswork out of gifting by clearly showing the strength of its three key flavours (rated from 0–6): ripe peach (4), bright citrus (3) and lightly toasted walnut (3). It’s a whisky designed to help you discover what you love – before you’ve even cracked open the bottle.

Crafted since 1810 at Jura’s beachside distillery, it’s a dram made for slowing down and enjoying unhurried moments with loved ones.

However you toast your nearest and dearest this Valentine’s Day,  Jura 12 Year Old fits the bill – enjoy it neat, or in a Jura Scottish Island Iced Tea:

• Add 40ml Jura 12 Year Old, 50ml peach tea, 15ml lemon juice and 10ml sugar syrup to a shaker with cubed ice.
• Dry shake, then wet shake, and fine strain into an Old Fashioned glass or Jura tumbler filled with fresh ice.
• Top with ginger ale and garnish with a sprig of thyme and a slice of apricot.

Pick up Jura 12 Year Old from ASDA, Co-op, Morrisons, Tesco and specialist retailers including Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange, RRP £41.

Fettercairn 16 Year Old

For the one who loves to discover something new, Fettercairn 16 Year Old offers a refined escape to brighter, more tropical flavours.

Shaped by over 200 years of whisky-making expertise, Fettercairn’s pioneering copper cooling ring creates an exceptionally smooth Highland Single Malt. Expect vibrant layers of mango, passionfruit, Madagascan vanilla and soft spice, brought together with effortless elegance.

For an evening to remember, why not try the Fettercairn 1824 Martini? Ideal for candlelit dinners or a celebratory toast for two. To make it at home, simply combine:

• 37.5ml Fettercairn 16 Year Old
• 12.5ml kumquat liqueur
• 10ml Fettercairn honey syrup
• 15ml lemon juice
• 4 dashes banana & coffee bitters

Shake briskly with ice, fine strain into a chilled Champagne coupe, then top with Crémant sparkling wine. Garnish with a fresh lemon twist for a final touch of finesse, and serve well chilled in your most elegant glassware.

Fettercairn 16 Year Old is available from a range of retailers, including The Whisky Shop, RRP £87.

[1] Nielsen 2022, by Volume and Value [2] World Whiskies Awards Scotland 2026

CELEBRATING THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR

OF AN ICONIC HIGHLANDS DISTILLERY!

Rooted in the Valley of Forgue near the boundary between the Highland and Speyside regions of Scotland and along the Dronach Burn, The Glendronach was founded by a partnership of local farmers headed by James Allardice in 1826 as one of the country’s first licensed distilleries. Allardice was an early pioneer in the use of fine sherry cask maturation to impart richness, complexity and intensity in its whiskies Over the last 200 years, while The Glendronach’s ownership has changed several times, that sherry-rich character continues to distinguish its offerings. Today, as part of the Brown-Forman portfolio and under the skilled guidance of Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, the company crafts a broad portfolio of offerings that harmoniously marry robust Highland spirit with a combination of Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks to create the complex depth and flavor for which The Glendronach is so well known. In honor of this being its bicentennial year, we are delighted to cast our spotlight on our current collection of releases from this iconic distillery.

Cheers!

SHOP GLENDRONACH

Little Book “Edition II: The Infinite” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $219.99 View

Josh Gelfand ~ Seeing an official release of an “infinity bottle” is still a fairly new concept in the bourbon world. The practice, much like a personal solera, involves a never-ending bottle or barrel that is partially emptied and then topped back up with new whiskey. The spirit is constantly evolving while always retaining some portion of the original liquid. Pour some out, top it off, lather, rinse, repeat. I have one at home, I started one at a former bar I lead that is still going strong eight or nine years later, and I encourage any whisk(e)y fan to try it as a fun experiment and a living ledger of your liquid legacy. Here we have the second edition of the legendary Noe family’s take on the concept. This blend brings together some of grandfather Booker’s bourbon, some of father Fred’s, and some of current master distiller Freddie’s. The combination differs from the first edition and offers a tasting of both the Noe family’s lineage and the history of the Jim Beam company in a single, stellar bottle. Blending young and mature whiskies can be tricky. Older liquid can overwhelm with woody tannins, while younger, brighter spirit can overpower the more rounded notes of age. This one comes together beautifully. It is deep, robust, and far spicier than expected, especially considering Booker’s typically high-corn mashbill. Cinnamon leads the nose, followed by dense wet oak, burnt caramel, stewed peaches, and a potpourri-like bouquet. On the palate, it moves gracefully between sweet and dry, opening with rich blackstrap molasses and dried plum before shifting into weathered mahogany and leather. The finish brings black cherry compote and dense barrel char, with baking spices weaving from start to finish. A small splash of water unlocks fresh roasted peanuts and blackberry jam, along with softer spices and a note of toasted pumpernickel, a welcome settling of the 120.4 proof. Overall, this is a dense, spicy, and complex bourbon that celebrates the infinite legacy of three generations from one of Kentucky’s most important bourbon families. 

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

Edinburgh’s Whisky History by Iain Russell (Part 2)

The inimitable Iain Russell discusses Edinburgh’s Whisky History, this time chronicling the Blenders, Brokers, Brands and Bars. See how many of the names you know and catch up with Part 1 here (on distilling) if you missed it.

📖 Read the Post

Welcome this week’s episode of the show which is goverend by the random nature of chaos theory! Which is a bit of a fancy way of saying that it’s a random selection! The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 622 – A Philosophical Episode of the Show.! Filmed in The Study Nottingham 

Featuring

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Inchgower 2016 (5 year old) 47.5% Carn Mor

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Arran 2011 (5 year old) 57.3% A.D. Rattray

Thompson Brothers Balmenach 2013 (10 year old) ‘Sherry Train’ 48.5% Thomson Brothers Distilling

Chorlton Whisky Glen Ord 8 year old 58.6% Chorlton Whisky 

Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve Deanston 2008 (16 year old) 49.8% Woodrow’s of Edinburgh

Douglas Laing Provenance Bowmore 2015 (8 year old) 46% Douglas Laing

Disclaimer The views, thoughts, or opinions expressed during this episode are solely those of the individual involved (me) and do not represent those of my employer. Music Krepuskule – Betrayal  Filmed & Edited by Chris Goodrum

International Beverage invests in new US hub to manage distribution of premium spirits portfolio in North America

Global spirits business International Beverage has today (Tuesday 3^rd February 2026) announced the establishment of a new international spirits hub in the US, as it moves to roll out ambitious plans for its portfolio of premium spirits brands in American markets.

Based in Manhattan, New York, the new hub marks the first time the business has owned and managed its own US route to market for over a decade.

Peter Powell, having previously served as the company’s Regional Sales Director UK, France & Germany, will take the lead role of Regional Director of North America. He will be supported by a team of newly appointed staff, spanning sales, marketing and finance, with the recruitment process of these roles now underway.

The majority of the company’s global portfolio – including PRAKAAN, The Cardrona, Balblair and anCnoc single malt whiskies, Phraya Rum and The Reid Vodka – will now be managed in-house from the New York hub. The business will be supported by leading US alcohol importer MHW.

The announcement follows on from the company acquiring full ownership of Greater China-based Asiaeuro International Beverage (AIB) in January 2025. These investments are part of International Beverage’s global growth strategy, which is driven by a plan to secure greater control of brand sales and marketing strategies in key markets.

In the USA, operations are set to run across both on-trade and off-trade channels with a focus on continuing to establish a solid market presence, whilst building foundations for sustainable growth and expansion in the years ahead.

Commenting on today’s news, Peter Powell said: ‘Our global sales strategy is tightly focused on building bespoke plans for every brand, in every market, matched to the specific needs of our trade customers and consumers in those markets. With the launch of our new spirits hub in the US, our business will have a base to deliver these finely tuned and highly effective plans in market. This is especially important for us in 2026, as some of our brands prepare to celebrate milestone anniversaries throughout the year. Whilst the global spirits industry continues to face many challenges, I’m very excited to be part of a dynamic new office, a talented new US team, and an exciting new phase of growth for our brands’.

To apply for one of the new roles, please visit www.interbevgroup.com

 Applications are now open for 4 US-based roles within International Beverage:

• 2 x Sales Ambassadors
• Channel Marketing Manager
• Office Manager/Finance Manager

About International Beverage

International Beverage is the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Limited Company. The premium spirits company’s portfolio is led by a range of high-quality brands including Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Hankey Bannister Blended Scotch Whisky, Caorunn Gin, PRAKAAN single malt whisky and Phraya Rum from Thailand, Larsen Cognac, The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky and The Reid Single Malt Vodka.

A certified Great Place to Work, International Beverage’s success is shaped by its 700-strong team based across the business’ network of nine global sites spanning the UK, France, New Zealand, and Greater China following the company’s recent acquisition of Asiaeuro International Beverage (AIB). For more information, please visit www.interbevgroup.com/.