Up to 40% Off – K&L Exclusive Scotch Whiskies
With a trend towards more limited edition releases that are sold before they hit the shelves, it’s rare to see an accessible, new, and interesting Scotch whisky release without a ultra-premium pricetag. Continuing our commitment to the consumer, we decided that instead of catering to the few idiosyncratic releases of the “hottest” lables, we should instead use our long-standing relationships to bring a focus on value and quality back to the market.
Buying directly from our friends in Scotland helps reduce the middlemen between the whisky itself and you the consumer. That’s why we’re thrilled to share some remarkable prices on our K&L exclusive Scotch whiskies to once again bring order to the force. With a stable of selections from 17-29 years of age, at cask strength, for prices that haven’t been around for a long time, you can once again feel free to explore singular expressions of Scotch without a special-occasion-level premium.
1988 Cambus 26 Year Old Sovereign K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $130) $79.99
Whereas comparable single cask of editions of the now-closed Cambus distillery have sold for $200 or more, our direct import program continues to provide incredible value to customers interested in cutting out the middleman. This 26 year old beauty of a grain whisky is tailor-made for fans of the Nikka Coffey Still expression, albeit this one is much, much older and at full proof. The fruit and vanilla have never been richer, the palate has never been smoother, and the whisky never more drinkable than it is in this 26 year old Sovereign edition of Cambus. The whisky is practically begging to be consumed over ice and tossed back with reckless abandon. But that would probably do a disservice to the complexity that looms underneath all that obvious deliciousness. This is liquid butterscotch. It’s a cookie biscuit distilled into whisky form and put into a beautiful bottle, exclusively for K&L customers.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2016
Cambus Distillery has without questions produced my favorite Single Grain expressions. This bottling is absolutely NOT an exception. My favorite of this years grain selections (not withstanding the excellent 50 yo), the complexity achieved here are astounding. It’s all late summer and fall on the nose for me. A picnic surrounded by fully ripe orchards followed by hike through a forest in the Adirondacks. Yellow and orange preserves. All types of exotic oils and bursting with fruit. Medium bodied, not lacking in body at all, but not a syrupy style. It kind of reminds me of the driest version of the best cognac. An absolute gem that will change even the most skeptical mind about Grain Whisky.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2016
The defunct Cambus grain distillery has been a great source of great whisky for us over the years. Finding these 25+ year old barrels of superb softness with enticing drinkability has helped to re-craft the image our customers previously held concerning grain whisky. This is a beautiful Scotch whisky, gentle and pleasing in its inherent nature, but complex with subtle stonefruits and lithe accents of oak. From a closed distillery to boot.
1997 Clynelish 18 Year Old Hepburn’s Choice K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Previously $130) $99.99
We’re as obsessed with Clynelish here in the K&L spirits department as we are with Benrinnes, which is why we’ve locked down yet another cask of the beloved distillery’s whisky in this latest shipment. While Clynelish is widely considered a connoisseur’s choice for top-notch single malt whisky, its appreciated attributes aren’t always apparent to the unseasoned drinker. What makes Clynelish so special (and a favorite among famous blending houses like Johnnie Walker and Compass Box) is the rather diminutive profile of light vanilla, lemon zest, heather, and a bit of bees wax. It’s not a powerful or potent combination of flavors, but rather a flutter of brilliant beauty wrapped up in a biscuity core of elegance. At 55.4%, this cask strength 18 year old edition of Clynelish could use a little to help unlock all that complexity, but it’s not a necessity. It showcases its quintessential character in fine form straight from the bottle. While Clynelish will never be as popular as the more powerful and showy single malt whiskies, it will always remain the favorite of those who appreciate substance and style.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 15, 2016
Despite our best efforts, Clynelish remains one of Scotland’s most under-appreciated distilleries. Reason being, the owners don’t bother marketing this special whisky. Truth be told, it’s such an important component of their high-end blends that any traction on the single malt side could negatively affect blending stocks. Regardless, we occasionally get access to this special, rare distillate, and each time we find a great cask, I’m reminded of why it’s so coveted by connoisseurs in the first place. Vibrant and alive, this mid-aged Clynelish shows incredible richness and depth. It’s not sappy or sweet by any means, but textured and mouth-filling nonetheless. When we talk about minerals in a single malt, this should be held up as a prime example. Here, the typical bright pomace fruit of modern Clynelish taking a background to the cracked rock and mineral oil aromas at first. With a touch of water, earthen tones (fresh tobacco, rich beeswax, and hints of smoke) pop open. A little later a blast of citrus, lemon peel, ripe melon, and blistering structure. The distillery really is just a stone’s throw from the sea, and we can feel that here. Altogether a fabulous example of why I absolutely love Clynelish. The complexity is of this whisky cannot be understated.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2016
I never get tired of drinking Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most distinct single malt whiskies. That lemony, waxy, creamy profile is probably the only Scotch character I could pick out of a blind tasting 100% of the time. It’s the most distinguished and recognizable flavor in the business and we will ALWAYS take advantage of an opportunity to buy the whisky directly.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 11, 2016
This offers soft, pretty and subtle spice aromas. There is a wonderful mouthfeel that is nice and creamy. Here again, there are light spice flavors. In short, this Clynelish is subtle, light, seductive and a joy to drink.
1997 Glenlossie 17 Year Old Hepburn’s Choice K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Previously $100) $69.99
Few people have heard of Diageo-owned Glenlossie distillery, the Speyside facility known mostly by insiders for its role in Haig Blended Whisky. But that’s part of what makes single barrels like this one so much fun! It’s a chance to taste whisky from producers that normally do not bottle their Scotch as pure single malts. For fans of Glenlivet’s Nadurra series, this 17 year old Glenlossie single barrel might be right up your alley. The intensity of the oak in this concentrated cask is apparent right from the initial sip as the woodiness quickly overwhelms the palate. At 55.4%, it’s quite a powerful blast, but it soon gives way to grassy, malty, and cereal-like flavors that constitute the classic Highland Scotch style. That extra oak on the entry, however, completely distinguishes this cask from its other Highland counterparts. It’s the boldest and baddest of the Hepburn’s Choice editions we’ve brought in on this shipment.
Olivia Ragni | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 15, 2016
Glenlossie is a distillery I had never heard of until now. They don’t currently have a distillery bottling, although I’m wishing they did, because when this is gone, it’s gone. With a light golden color, this fresh Speyside single malt is light yet powerful. Vanilla, lemon and white flowers spring out of the glass. There is an intense oak spice on the palate balanced by lemongrass, green apple, tea, and a lovely savory malt quality to round it all out. If there is such thing as a daytime single malt sipper, this would be it.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 15, 2016
The mild-mannered Glenlossie is an easy whisky miss. Not bottled as a single malt by the owners, it’s producing some very high quality distillates just outside of Elgin. The style here is very classically Speyside. Sweet rich vanilla, not overpowering at all, but prominent. Nutty, sweet maltiness that balances the oaky barrels notes above. Finally, Highland flowers, wild honey, deep, complex wood tones. On the palate it starts sweet as can be. Just like you’ve diluted honey in a bit of water. It dries up as it moves to the back of the mouth with a medium body that begs another sips. The finish is neither cloying nor dry and finds a wonderful balance of sweet and savory flavors. With water this opens up quite nicely, although it doesn’t need it by any means. This could be a morning malt, but I like it in the afternoon, maybe for a sunset. Not quite aperitif style, but very generous and lively.
1988 Invergordon 27 Year Old Sovereign K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky (750ml) (Previously $130) $79.99
Fresh off our most recent delivery are two new single barrels of Invergordon, a Whyte & Mackay Highland grain distillery that sits along the waters of the Cromarty Firth north of Inverness. For those of you who still can’t wrap your heads around grain whisky, just imagine Bourbon distilled to a higher proof and aged like single malt in various types of refill barrels. It’s basically high proof, column still whisky made from corn, wheat, or unmalted barley that’s pumped out in mass quantities to mix into blended Scotch. Because of that rather dubious reputation for quality, prices for grain whisky remain low. But because of our extensive tasting and sampling in the genre, we’ve learned that very old grain whiskies. This 27 year old is textbook grain whisky, nothing more and nothing less. It’s fruity and round on the entry with a soft mouthfeel and a lovely note of vanilla on the finish. It’s no frills, no fuss whisky. It’s just flat out delicious.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2016
To Scotland’s far north, between Inverness and Brora, lies the Invergordon distillery, along the waters of the Cromarty Firth. This 27 year old single cask of Invergordon whisky is like Scotch bourbon in a sense–distilled from corn on a column still, but aged in used oak rather than new charred oak, and matured in a cool climate, rather than the flux of hot and cold experienced in Kentucky. This Invergordon has bold flavors of vanilla and toasted nuts with an accent of spice on the finish that rises with the glow from the higher proof. It’s a whisky that’s practically begging for ice (and a glass, of course).
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2016
This is the most subtle and reserved of the three single casks of Grain from this year. Light, fresh and open, slight herbal notes, medium-strong vanilla, an open easy-drinking style that can be appreciated by even the most novice of Scotch drinkers, yet will satisfy the hardened few. The palate is fresh apples and a slight note of varnish. There’s definitely that corny quality on the nose you’d expect in a bourbon yet without any of the charry sweet notes. After all, this is made from nearly 100% corn with just a dash of malted barley. This is honestly exactly what I imagine a distilled bourbon mash left in refill casks would taste like after 27 years.
1985 Longmorn 29 Year Old Hunter Laing’s “Old & Rare” Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Previously $350) $199.99
Part of our new Hunter Laing “Old & Rare” series, this incredible 29 year old Longmorn showcases the effects of light and subtle hogshead maturation over the course of almost three decades. Despite nearly thirty years in wood, the color is still a golden straw color and the aromas are still dominated by fruit rather than oak. It’s on the palate that the whisky’s age becomes clear as an oily, luscious, mouth-coating texture overwhelms the senses, coupled with poached pears, creme brulee, and a resinous note from the oak. Longmorn has long been an insider’s favorite, known for rich and concentrated malty flavor. This single barrel expression beautifully showcases the distillery’s reputation for quality and character in a rare, ultra-mature release.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 23, 2016
For $199.99 this is an absolute steal. It makes me nervous just seeing this price because I know how much it’s really worth. Macallan 18 is $250 now. Talisker 25 is $500. And this 29 year old Longmorn (better than both those whiskies, in my opinion) is older, richer, softer, more complex, more concentrated, and more decadent. This is a single barrel, cask strength edition of a Highland distillery known for classic single malt flavors and classic whiskies. The vanilla is there along with the rich malty notes and the Highland fruit, but there’s a special flavor that can only come from long-term aging in a hogshead cask and this whisky is OOOOOOZING with it. It’s the flavor of excellence. The flavor of age. The flavor of luxury. In this case, luxury is in reach.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2015
A perfect gift for someone else or yourself. There are bright floral and malty aromas that are pretty and inviting. In the mouth it is soft and creamy with hints of honey. There is a nice long finish.
Joe Manekin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 19, 2015
A fantastic, very old, classic expression, this Longmorn has it all and is a more than worthy splurge. A nose of dried grains and cream also has nuances of well worn leather. Indeed simply nosing this whiskey brings to mind a distinguished study or library, fine woolen plaid products, and any other number of quintessentially Scottish objects. Beautifully balanced and distinguished on the palate, fully dry, no Sherry or candied sweetness but more of a confident, soft, understated caress on the palate. I shall buy a bottle of this Hunter Laing bottled Longmorn and fully savour it. If you love Scotch whisky then you may want to follow suit.
1989 North British 25 Year Old Sovereign K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky (750ml) (Previously $130) $79.99
Just outside of Edinburgh sits the North British grain distillery, a facility that uses unmalted grains like corn and wheat and distills them on a column still to produce grain whisky–one of the more misunderstood personalities of the whisky universe. Most of you have had grain whisky before, you’ve just had it in conjunction with single malt whisky in expressions like Johnnie Walker or Chivas. Grain whisky is what’s ultimately combined with single malt whisky to create “blended” whisky (hence the name). What hasn’t been clear to most drinkers until rather recently, however, is how wonderful grain whisky can be on its own, especially when aged twenty years or more. This 25 year old North British cask of goodness brings a mouthful of cereal sweetness, rounded fruit flavors, and a biscuity butteriness that pleases the senses in a way that only something that straightforward can do. At 57.5%, there’s plenty of heat behind all that dessert-like flavor, allowing you to toss in a few ice cubes without really diluting the flavor whatsoever. If you’re new to the grain whisky game, this is a great place to start.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2016
North British is the backbone of a few legendary blends, but at 25 years it’s gained considerable complexity. The nose is not hyper exotic, instead familiar aromas of sugar candies, white chocolate, canned fruits and cream. The mouth is soft and open with the sugar candies turning to buttery sugar cookies. No heat and no need for water, the medium body reminds and the clean finish has a slight twist of lemon and a long soft finish. Killer price here!
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2016
Anyone out there enjoying the amazing Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese whisky? Anyone? Consider this North British expression to be a 25 year old version of that. Two and a half times the age, two and a half times the flavor, and two and a half times the concentration of oak, but for less than double the price. That’s the power of direct purchasing, folks. Hot whiskies for hot prices.
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 CA
