We now have more information from each Masterclass vendor to pass along to you for this year’s event! Our 10th annual event is sure to be a great one!

Grand Tasting
The Grand Tasting will start at 8pm on Feb 1st. Those of you who purchase a Masterclass ticket will also be able to attend the Grand Tasting (purchase this ticket only if you do not wish to attend a Masterclass).

Shelter Point Masterclass
Terroir plays a large part of a spirit. At Shelter Point, they grow over 200 Acres of grain on the family farm in Oyster River. Established in 2011, Shelter Point Distillery is located on 380 acres in Oyster River, BC, about halfway up the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Farmed for generations, Shelter Point remains one of the last seaside farms on the Island. They are naturally blessed with the key ingredients of exceptional handcrafted artisanal spirits: fertile fields to grow their barley, a large underground aquifer to provide naturally filtered water and crisp sea air compliments of the Salish Sea. Add in skilled craftspeople, traditional Scottish distilling methods and a state-of-art facility, and the result is a world-class distillery on the West Coast of Canada. Leon Webb will be pouring Single Malt, Single Cask Virgin Oak Finish, Smoke Point, Single Cask Foch, Double Barrel Batch 4 and New Make Whisky Spirit. Leon was trained at the world renowned Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh Scotland.

Victoria Caledonia Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery Masterclass
Join Graeme Macaloney as he shares his story and his whiskey!

Enjoy Macaloney’s Twa Cask Highland, Macaloney’s Twa Cask Speyside, Macaloney’s Twa Cask Islay, Macaloney’s Caledonian Glenloy, Macaloney’s Caledonian new-make, and Macaloney’s Caledonian Peated Mac na Braiche

Blended Malts from Rare Drams Masterclass
Join Adam Bradshaw as he takes you on a tour of some limited edition, cask strength blended malts from Douglas Laing’s Regional Malt Collection and Old Perth from Morrison & MacKay.

Blue Collar & Scholar Masterclass
Presented by Adam Drummond and Dr. Gregory Cran, co-authors of Nosing & Tasting the Water of Life: Blue Collar & Scholar Guide to Whisky Pairing

This master class looks behind the dram by offering a brief history of single malt Scotch and how the ‘water of life’ generated a burgeoning industry of whisky explorers. The session explores the alchemy and language of tasting, offers an exciting selection of single malt Scotch from various regions of Scotland, and shares some musings and advice on pairing the single malt with food and numerous activities.

PMA Masterclass
Join Joel Virginillo, PMA’s Scotch specialist, on an exploration through the hand crafted arts used in the production of this small yet iconic distillery. The Balvenie is known for its eclectic cask finishing and is one of the few distilleries left utilizing its own working malting floor, cooperage and copper smithing. Taste your way through the progression of cask influences and enjoy a few very rare drams!

All Masterclasses will be starting at 7pm on Feb 1st.

Whiskey Fest Tickets!

A Stellar New Cask at a Strikingly Low Price
2010 Caol Ila 8 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)
“We love young Caol Ila…this stellar barrel ranks up right up
there with any of the great young ones we’ve done.” — David Othenin-Girard

There’s no Scotch quite as pleasing and satisfying as a young Caol Ila. This 8-year-old rendition makes the case that Caol offers the best “bang for your buck” in terms of Islay drams. While Caol Ila may not command the same level of interest as Ardbeg or Laphroaig, that doesn’t mean they aren’t crafting spirits that are every bit as compelling. This refill hogshead cask is about as classic Caol Ila as you get. Its sweet malt flavors are accented by a delightful maritime influence, wisps of smoke, and just the right amount of savory spice. Our last cask of Caol Ila flew out of the door at $70 and here we have this one at $59.99. This is an outstanding value for a Scotch of this caliber. We’ve had some pretty spectacular single malts this season, but this bottling might be the best deal going. If you love the peated, sea-influenced single malts from Islay, then you simply must add this charming rendition to your cart.

2010 Caol Ila 8 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

Caol Ila is finally starting to get the credit it deserves in the wider whisky drinking world. Despite the extremely limited attention its owners give to the brand, we’ve seen a great number of casual drinkers begin to associate the name (however difficult it is to pronounce correctly), with excellent balanced peated malt. We’re always on the hunt for Islay’s other distillery both young and old, but we’re often seeing the prices exceeding the market’s threshold. While the quality is excellent nearly across the board, it remains true that Caol Ila doesn’t hold the weight that Laphroaig or Ardbeg might. We’d have written it off after the recent price increases were it not for the wonderful series of casks that we’ve managed to acquire from the Laing Brothers. Hopefully, it won’t stop any time soon. What’s particularly encouraging with regards to these casks is that their cost has gone down over the years, a rare occasion for any single malt. Part of this is due to the exchange rate and another part just thanks to our good negotiating skills, but it seems they’ve had good access to these stocks and so that means there’s room to play with the prices. We had no trouble moving last year’s cask of gorgeous smoldering young Caol Ila at $70. This particular cask on paper is nearly identical, but a solid 15% cheaper. The style here remains altogether coastal with tons of saltiness, sweet fruit, savory smoke and an unctuous maltiness. Easily the best value peater in the shop right now..

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 21, 2019

The excellent quality of the spirit coming out of Caol Ila is well known to the whisky drinking world, but the wider community of drinkers is lucky to try the distillery bottlings as they’ve become relatively difficult to get and seem to be constantly out of stock at the distillery. We love young Caol Ila and have bottled casks as young as 5 years old and this stellar barrel ranks up right up there with any of the great young ones we’ve done. Somehow we were able to get the price down, despite all the craziness of tariffs and other complications, and this Caol Ila is absolutely singing at $60. The nose starts with pure peat, freshly cut. Oceany, but not too much sea spray, more as if you’re sitting on a rocky beach on a very calm bay. Seaweed and driftwood. Some sweet candied elements keep it festive. The palate starts very mossy. Sweet germinating malt, strong black pepper, savory sweet seaweed candy, earthy damp wood. With water we get saltier and the peat takes over from the seaweed. An underwater adventure in your glass.

New Platinum Old & Rare Releases

Discover spectacular new additions to the Platinum Old & Rare Selection. Featuring expressions between 30 and 46 years old from Ardmore, Cragganmore, Glenrothes, Inchgower and more! Free UK standard delivery on all orders over £99

See All New Releases

‘Old’ and ‘rare’ doesn’t always have to mean ‘expensive’. From recently discontinued bottles and older presentations to forgotten vintages, interesting blends and small batches from days gone by, we’ve a veritable treasure trove of old, interesting and rarely-seen bottles. Come and have a look around!

SHOP NOW

info@whisky.auction

+44 (0)20 8838 9381

whisky.auction

Look at what your good taste has gotten us!

What a year this has been!  We have been working hard with our suppliers, making sure that we bring you the best whisky we can.  Well, our efforts and your support have paid off, big time!   Scores above mid-nineties, Double Gold medals, and even ‘Whisky of the Year’ are some of the accolades these brands you know and love have earned.  Below are some highlights, all of which are great gift ideas.  Enjoy!

LETS START ON ISLAY

KILCHOMAN KILLED IT

Kilchoman Killed It with some High Praise from the folks at Whisky Advocate who ranked STR with 93 points, ImpEx Cask Evolution 01/2019 11 yrs old First Fill Bourbon Cask (302/2007) with 92 points, Loch Gorm 2019 with 91 points, and most recently ImpEx Cask Evolution 02/2019 Single Cask Oloroso Sherry Matured (622/2011) with 93 points.

“exceptional spirit that is near the pinnacle of achievement and sets the standard for its category.”

Judge’s Tasting Notes, 100% Islay: Pit fire smoke, roasted plums, marzipan, and baking spices draw you into the glass.  The powerful aromas of smoke marry well with vanilla, nutmeg, and marshmallow on the palate.  It finishes with a whisper of vanilla and sweet spice.

Judge’s Tasting Notes, Machir Bay: The noble upstart from Islay has bloomed into a visceral character of the stony island.  This iteration of Machir Bay assumes a light straw color but packs a big maritime punch of roasted seaweed, preserved lemon, and wet stones.

UPROXX wrote about The Best New Single Malt Scotch Whisky Releases of 2019. The first Kilchoman Vintage Release with an age statement, this expression is a vatting of thirty ex-Bourbon Barrels and three Oloroso Sherry Butts filled in 2010 and matured for over 9 years.

PORT ASKAIG WAS PRAISED

Influential bloggers raved about these finely aged expressions of some of the best that Islay distilleries produce.  

Port Askaig 10th Anniversary 10 year old make quite the splash, getting the attention of prominent whisky video bloggers like Scotch Test Dummies.  Check out this video if you want to see how others enjoy this excellent expression.

Christopher Null from DrinkHacker wrote about all three expressions, giving the 10yr and 25yr A – and A,  respectively.

Ruben Luyten of WhiskyNotes gave Port Askaig 45yr 90 points, calling it a “Very classy whisky”.

Dave Broom from ScotchWhisky.com gave the 45yr 90 points, summarizing it as “Wisdom rather than brute force”.

And then Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun raved how “just extremely good” the 25yr is and giving it 5 stars! In fact, he also gave the 28yr and 45yr 5 stars each, giving the youngest to the oldest 90, 90, and 91 points, respectively.

JAPANESE WHISKIES EXCELLED

Matsui Mizunara was the star of the show this year.  Not only did it earn Jim Murray’s covetous ‘Single Malt of the Year’ in the Japanese Whisky category, but judges across multiple competitions agreed – this was a whisky made for medals, and the fine folks at the San Francisco World Spirits deemed it worthy of a Double Gold medal.

Matsui Peated was bestowed the honor of being names of the the Top 20 Whiskies of 2019 by Whisky Advocate.

WONDERFUL WORLD WHISKIES

WALES WOWED THE WORLD

with high praise from the International Wine and Spirits Competition and San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Most recently, the latest additions to the Welsh Gold Series received great reviews from Whisky Advocate with Penderyn Portwood earning 91 points and Penderyn Peated earning 90 points.

GOUDEN CAROLUS SHOWED JUST HOW GOLDEN IT WAS

with a gold medal from the prestigious New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, and 91 points from the IWSC.

If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please don’t hesitate to email office@impexbev.com

www.impexbev.com
Our mailing address is:

ImpEx Beverages Inc.

360 Swift Ave

Side B # 9

South San Francisco, CA 94080

Introducing The Loch Fyne The Living Cask Batch 9

Free UK standard delivery on all orders over £25

Here in our workshop on the shores of Loch Fyne we do just one thing, and we do it very well. Discover The Living Cask Batch 9 today. We’re so excited to finally share the ninth chapter of The Living Cask story with you!

The Loch Fyne 
The Living Cask Batch 9

50cl / 43.6% abv

£55.00 (Engraved)

BUY NOW

Click here for The Living Cask story so far….

2010 Caol Ila 8 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $59.99 View

Macallan 12 Year Old “Sherry Oak Cask” Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $59.99 View

Macallan 18 Year Old “Annual 2019 Release” Sherry Oak Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $249.99 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

375 PARK AVENUE SPIRITS STRIKES ANOTHER KEY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL EXPAND FAST-GROWING PORTFOLIO OF NEW SPIRITS

Louisville, KY (December 19, 2019)—Brand-building specialist, 375 Park Avenue Spirits, is pleased to announce that it has come to an agreement with Glen Turner Company Ltd, the Scottish  subsidiary of French group La Martiniquaise-Bardinet to act as the US importer for Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky effective February 7, 2020.

“We feel incredibly fortunate to be adding yet another industry icon, Cutty Sark, to our rich portfolio of revered brands, “said Jason Schladenhauffen, president and CEO of 375 Park Avenue Spirits. “Adding another top-20 global brand within its category to our book is a testament to the team we’ve assembled and the brand building work we’ve been able to showcase to our partners over the last several years. These opportunities are met with a conviction and obligation felt by our team to help these brands achieve the success they desire deserve in the U.S. market.”

Cutty Sark was developed in London in 1923—just before Prohibition began. The whisky takes its name from the famous drawing of the Cutty Sark sailing ship, and the iconic label got its color due to a printing error, but the company went with it! Once Prohibition took hold, the company had to get creative in how it shipped its product. Captain Bill McCoy, a smuggler of liquor to the US, was the main distributor for Cutty Sark at that time. The liquor became known as “The Real McCoy” in honor of the captain because he only dealt in the finest whisky products. Once Prohibition ended the sales of the liquor took off, and eventually became the first Scotch whisky to sell 1 million cases in the US.

“Joining the 375 Park Avenue Spirits portfolio is a fantastic opportunity for Cutty Sark” said Christophe Pichambert, international director for La Martiniquaise-Bardinet. “The rich history and glorious past of Cutty Sark in the US required an importer with the right focus, a proven track record of success and the invigorating energy to put the brand back on the forefront. We are very confident that Jason and his team will succeed in the exciting challenge of bringing such an iconic Scotch Whisky brand to the new generation of whisky drinkers in America.”

Cutty Sark will be available from 375 Park Avenue Spirits beginning on February 7, 2020. Available SKUs include the following: Cutty Sark 1.75L, 1L, 750ml and 375ml and Cutty Sark Prohibition 1L & 750ml.

About 375 Park Avenue Spirits

375 Park Avenue Spirits specializes in superior brands from around the world that drive innovation within their category. It was founded in 1981 as Luctor International, LLC and in early 2015, became an independent subsidiary yet fully integrated sales company inside the Sazerac Company.

The 375 Park Avenue Spirits portfolio spans the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and includes numerous expressions from leading international producers: Van Gogh Vodka and Gin from Holland; Tap Whisky from Canada; Dictador Rum from Colombia; Sobieski Vodka and Marie Brizard from Marie Brizard Spirits in France; Saint James Rhum from Martinique; Antica Sambuca, Limoncello Rossi D’Asiago and Dolce Nero from Italy; Saint-Vivant and Castarède Armagnac from France; Yeni Raki and Tekirdag Rakisi from Turkey; Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand; and Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India.

375 Park Avenue Spirits also represents the International Beverage Holdings Ltd. spirit portfolio including single malt whiskies Speyburn, Old Pulteney, Balblair, and anCnoc as well as Hankey Bannister blended Scotch and Caorunn Gin from Scotland. On the Pacific side, the alliance includes Phraya Rum and Mekhong – an iconic brand and a household name in Southeast Asia.

In 2019, 375 Park Avenue Spirits signed multiple agreements to act as the U.S. representative for brands including Paul John Indian Whisky, Marie Brizard Spirits including Sobieski vodka and Maison Augier cognac.

By aligning with brands that embrace the values and vision of 375 Park Avenue Spirits, the company has created an environment of growth for supplier partners in the US market. For more information on the portfolio, go to 375park.com.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit www.sazerac.com.

About La Martiniquaise-Bardinet

La Martiniquaise-Bardinet Group is a leading player in the Wine & Spirits industry and features in the world’s top ten spirits companies (source: IMPACT).

This independent French group founded in 1934 employs 2,400 people with a turnover of over 1 billion euros. Headquartered near Paris, the group operates in over 100 countries on many spirit categories and is particularly renowned internationally for its blended scotch whisky portfolio (Cutty Sark acquired from The Edrington Group in December 2018 and its two millionaire brands Label 5 and Sir Edward’s). The group also prides in being the category leader in Port with Cruz Port and Agricole Rum with Saint James.

For more information, please visit www.la-martiniquaise.com