The Good Dram Show – Episode 538 ‘Affordable Blends’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. As we are all skint after Christmas I’ll be taking a look at some ‘affordable’ blended whiskies. Are they worth it? Episode 537 – Yes Minister, It’s Whisky On A Budget Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring Politician Blended Scotch Whisky 40%, Black Bull Blended Scotch Whisky ‘Peated Edition’ 50%, Old Perth Original Blended Malt Whisky 46%,  Eden Mill Guardbridge Blended Malt 46%, Gleann Mor Blended Irish Whiskey 43%, and  Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky 46%

Killowen Single Malt Rum & Raisin Wins Double Gold

Straight into 2024 with another win!

On 22nd December, The Fifty Best held an Irish Whiskey tasting in New York, where 25 Irish whiskies were tasted and evaluated to choose the ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ award of 2023.

We are very pleased to announce that Killowen Rum & Raisin 100% Single Malt Irish Whiskey was awarded a double gold medal. 

As our Rum & Raisin Whiskey has recently upgraded its bottle size from 500ml to 700ml, it was important that this was quality tested also – remember the 500ml was double gold for 2022. Due to its competitive price, it is the best value cask strength single malt on the market and is now in stock in Belfast International airport and all quality stores around the country.

What is Killowen single malt ‘Rum & Raisin?’

It’s everyone’s favourite PX sherry finish vatted with a Killowen rum cask finish, providing full bodied notes of rum and dried fruits. 

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and want to wish you all a Happy New Year, from everyone at Killowen Distillery 🙂

Nc’nean 2018 5YO Westie Sponge No.1

Westie Sponge is a celebration of whiskies form the Western Highlands of Scotland. This is where Angus’ family is from and it’s a part of the world that holds a special place in his heart. He always loved the whiskies of the west coast and western isles, they have a definite richness of character and an evocative power that makes them stand out in a modern whisky world so often marked by homogenisation.

Westie Sponge One is a marriage of two 1st fill hogsheads of 2018 Nc’nean distilled from two separate yeast recipes: Anchor & Fermentis and Anchor, Fermentis & Distillamax RM. Matured separately in 1st fill hogsheads then married together and further matured before bottling with a few degrees reduction at 55%. The result is exuberantly fruity, showing great maturity for the age, while still retaining some of the freshness and vivacity of youth.

£79.00

One-of-a-Kind Exclusive Cask from a Singular Distillery

2005 Ledaig 17 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600201 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt 

“This is truly a special whisky … An easy slam-dunk for any peat lover and an absolute must-have for Ledaig people.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

In our latest selection from Gordon & MacPhail, we’ve acquired an exceptional Ledaig cask, a standout from the esteemed Tobermory distillery on Isle of Mull. Known for its unique and debated profile among whisky experts, Ledaig offers a distinct experience. This cask exemplifies classic Ledaig qualities: robust peat, remarkable complexity, and harmonious barrel character from the refill sherry butt. It’s an early 2024 highlight, setting a high standard with its undeniable excellence.

2005 Ledaig 17 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600201 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($160.00)

K&L Notes: Ledaig Single Malt is a cherished gem from the Hebridean Isles and comes from one of the oldest distilleries in all of Scotland. Produced on again/off again since its founding in 1798 and licensed since 1823, the Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull is known primarily for its two single malt marks. Tobermory, an unpeated dram and Ledaig, with its heavily peated characteristics. Both are widely regarded as malts of outstanding quality. Both malts owe their rich character to the unusual stills that lie at the heart of the distillery—bulbous stills and curvy lyne arms offer a huge amount of reflux. Ledaig’s heavily peated malt offers a rich array of flavors from smoky to fruity to meaty and with just a whiff of green grass. Pair the malt quality with the excellent wood management and exceptional pricing from the legendary Gordon & MacPhail and we have the first entrant for Best Cask of 2024! A very active refill sherry hogshead, Cask No. 18600201 comes in at 17 years old and 54.3% ABV. Yield 310 bottles. Bottled without chill-filtration and no added color.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 02, 2024

Liquid amber in color and boasting a nose equally full of fruit, charcuterie meats, and candied smoke. This is a Ledaig like we haven’t seen in ages. Active, clean sherry without a trace of sulfur really lets the fullness of the malt shine. First the fruit: crisp apple, dried orange peel, apricots, hoshigaki, and fruit leather—it smells ripe and sweet. The meatiness is intertwined with the fruit and the smoke, an array of cured and smoked meats. Applewood smoked ham hock comes to mind almost immediately. Candied and smoked nuts make the transition into more pronounced peat smoke, which really shines once you get the whisky on your palate. The wood and malt are so evenly matched it is difficult at times to tease apart which component is contributing which flavors. The palate is thick, a blanket of fresh peat and cold ash, saddle leather, and abundant ripe fruit. A blush of cool mint and dewy grass add lift and freshness. It goes on for days, and yet you can’t help but go back for more. Salted nuts slowly candied in honey and a kiss of sea spray top it all off. Proof positive that G&M still hold some of the finest whisky stocks in Scotland.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 02, 2024

The peated malt from the gorgeous Tobermory distillery is known as Ledaig. It’s not just the same whisky with peated barley, but utilizes specific fermentation and distillation times to create one of Scotland’s most intensely flavored spirits. It’s for that reason and maybe some issues with cask management over the years that Ledaig has a bit of a love/hate relationship for some peat lovers. But when you get a great one, it’s absolutely undeniable. This is one of those barrels. Full term in high-quality (and active) refill sherry with some of Mull’s finest. Stupendous! Let’s taste it. The color is a splendid chestnut! On first nosing it’s big, meaty, sooty smoke. With a bit of air—this one needs air—we move distinctly into the old leather, kippers, sweet orange zest, marmite, apricot jam on pumpernickel, and burnt raisins. On the palate, it’s perfectly salty, savory, and sweet. Almost no sulfur but so much leathery smoke, it’s unbelievable. The long finish offers deep, billowing, ashy smoke along with powerful baking spices and nutty oloroso notes. This is truly a special whisky and highly undervalued thanks to our amazing relationship with Gordon & Macphail. Only rivaled as an exclusive Ledaig by the much more controversial and divisive Chieftain’s 21-Year, this one is so much easier to love. An easy slam-dunk for any peat lover and an absolute must-have for Ledaig people

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

Pintail combines the expertise of selecting the right whisky distillate for the right style of the sweet cask with a curiosity for flavour exploration.  

AUCHROISK 15 YEARS OLD

This unique single malt, distilled and filled at Auchroisk distillery in 2008, was matured for many years in a refill ex-Bourbon hogshead and then finished in a century-old Spanish oak cask, which previously held the rare and ancient sweet wine of the Alicante region – Fondillion. The resulting whisky carries notes of dried fruit, toasted oak, turmeric spice and orange peel.

Fondillion is regarded as a luxury sweet wine enjoyed by Spanish royalty since the fifteenth century and produced solely in the Alicante region on hills overlooking the Mediterranean sea. It gets its caramel, hazelnut, dried orange peel and ripe fig.

£110

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TEANINICH 8 YEARS OLD

This unique single malt, distilled and filled at Tenaninich Distillery in 2015, was matured for many years in a hogshead cask, then split and finished in two smaller octave casks which previously held Vino Santo from Tuscany, Italy. The resulting whisky carried notes of toasted hazelnuts, figs, dark honey, dried sultanas and apricot jam

Vin Santo is Italy’s “Holy Wine”, produced as far back as the fifteenth century in Tuscany. It is a sweet white wine which takes on a rich amber colour through a long period of maturation in European oak. Typically, it delivers sweet amaretti biscuit, bitter almond, and ripe fig notes. 

£80

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GLEN SPEY 14 YEARS OLD 

This unique single malt, distilled and filled at Glen Spey Distillery in 1009, was matured in a refill ex-Bourbon hogshead and then finished in a French oak barrique, which previously held the creamy-sweet French white dessert wine, Loupiac. The resulting whisky carries notes of honeydew melon, apple pie, acacia bloom, almond oil and peppery oak.

 Loupiac is an ancient sweet wine produced on the bank of the Garome River opposite to the better-known Sauternes. South-East of Bordeaux, the terroir’s chalky, gravelly soil, hot sun-drenched summers, and mild winters help create a “raising” action in the grapes, concentrating high sugars, deep aromas and rich sweet flavours. 

£90

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Course Spotlight: Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Immerse yourself in the world of single malt whisky when you study our flagship Diploma course. Online self-study offers an immediate start, or you can opt for guided study over three weeks from a set start date. In-person, you can join us over two days at the Port of Leith Distillery or Arniston House.💻

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The Waitlist

We are pleased to announce that we are introducing a waitlist as a new way for our loyal supporters to purchase our whisky. Access to join The Waitlist will be offered first exclusively to mailing list subscribers, giving you the first chance to secure a bottle of Double Cask, American Oak or French Oak when our limited stock availability allows.

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 516: Auchentoshan 9 Year Old 2014 Old Particular for GOS

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries another Auchentoshan. GOS is a whiskyshop in Heers, Belgium which is still a rather a long drive for Mark, but luckily the shop owner Ruben also ships his bottles, so it was easy peasy for Mark to get some bottles of this stuff to his house. It’s a young Auchentoshan, drawn from a refill barrel, that was bottled especially for the shop in the Old Particular series by Douglas Laing.

https://youtu.be/XB8U1A6sZ7c

See what’s coming this January !

Isle of Raasay Distillery of the Year Release

Matured first in ex Four Roses Bourbon casks before a second maturation in Quercus humboldtii Colombian Oak bringing you stunning flavors of butterscotch, caramel and crème brûlée. Decadent and truly delicious. A whisky born out of expertise, experimentation and progress.

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Kilchoman 16 Year Old

Anthony Wills and Robin Bignal have spent the last few years keeping a close eye on these early casks, waiting for the right moment to vat them together and form Kilchoman’s momentous Kilchoman 16 Year Old. They eventually settled on a combination of 21 casks, predominantly ex-Bourbon barrels with a hint of ex-Oloroso Sherry, creating a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

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Meikle Toir

Master Distiller, Billy Walker, has implemented his finetuned philosophies, which he has developed over an exceptional half-century career, to create Meikle Toir. With uncompromising standards, this peated whisky from The GlenAllachie offers both integrity and honesty in its bold and punchy liquid.

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Elements of Islay Beach Bonfire

Beach Bonfire is the first release from Elements of Islay since the re-launch of its core range last Autumn. Head Blender Oliver Chilton took inspiration from a bonfire night where colors, smoke, flames and sand all collided on a beach – truly representing the unique spirit and terroir of Islay. Believe us when we say, you won’t want to miss out!

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Bladnoch Alinta 47% 70cl

£79.95

We’re big advocates for embracing young, lesser-known whisky-makers. And what better way to kick off 2024 than with a new discovery?For some, Bladnoch won’t be a new name. Its history dates back to 1817, when John and Thomas McClelland were granted a license for the Lowland Scotch whisky distillery. But for much of the 20th century and beyond it flew under the radar. Until Australian entrepreneur David Prior snapped it up in 2015.Since then, it’s gone from strength to strength. From refurbishment to reinvention, Bladnoch is once again making a name for itself. Recent developments include a focus on peat, and this is where Alinta comes in.Matured in Pedro Ximénez and ex-bourbon casks, it’s rich, complex and boldly flavoursome. Honeyed sweetness gives way to charcoal-like embers – the perfect dram to cosy up with in January.Scroll on for more of our favourite whiskies from lesser-known names. Enjoy!

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Nose: A very different nose for a lowland, some sweet smoke and soft oak shavings, hints of lemon citrus and cream, orchard fruits with a touch of spiced apple.

Palate: A more forward taste on the palate of smoke and dark fruits, barbeque embers and a smouldering undertone throughout, with a hint of fruits and vanilla pushing across the mid palate before we get back to a long, sweet smoke, hints of white and soft milk chocolate, some spice and dark fruits.