Classic Cut: Anything But Classic

The Macallan Classic Cut, 2023 Edition embodies The Macallan’s pursuit of exceptional character and flavour. Distinctive notes of almond biscotti are highlighted with ‘one cut’ of water, the key to unlocking the essence of this exquisite single malt.

EXPLORE

A Sensorial Journey

Immerse yourself in a world of flavours, where the essence of fresh pear and almond biscotti take centre stage. Embarking on a captivating runway of sensory exploration, vivid textiles and chromatic palettes gracefully embody the essence of the distinct pear note, while the graceful drape of a golden gown personifies the character of almond biscotti, highlighted by the addition of  ‘one cut’ of water.

The Macallan Distillery Experience, The Macallan Distillers Ltd,  Easter Elchies,  Craigellachie, Moray, AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

Blanton’s Red “Takara” Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

(750ml~ Japanese Import)

$210.00

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Blanton’s Takara line is bottled exclusively for the Japanese, the home country of the brand’s owners Ancient Age International. This unique expression of Blanton’s is aged for a minimum 2 extra years over the standard Blanton’s in the famous warehouse H at the old Buffalo Trace plant outside of Frankfurt, KY. This facility is one of Kentucky’s most historical and high quality, but the Blanton’s is totally unique in there portfolio. Not only is it made using the elusive “High Rye” mashbill, but it is aged exclusively in Buffalo Trace’s only corregated metal warehouse. All the others on the property are made of brick, giving Blanton’s a unique character that only a handful of other Buffalo Trace products share. Like all Buffalo Trace products the Blanton’s stocks are heat cycled through steam injection directly into the warehouses, which remain warm and humid throughout the cold winter months. Takara Red is bottled at 93 proof with a minimum age of 8 year. It’s re-imported from wholesalers in Japan and remains one of the rarest bottles of Bourbon on the market today.

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 989 Extras – Why I dislike 50cl Bottlings 😨

Ross & Squibb Distillery Re-energizes Barrel Program for 2023 with New Packaging, In-distillery Private-Selection Option

 Revamped barrel programs showcase the depth and breadth of the Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery’s collection of high-rye bourbon and rye whiskey

ST. LOUIS (August 3, 2023) – Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based Ross & Squibb Distillery announced enhancements to its barrel programs for 2023.

New for 2023, Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel will feature updated, custom packaging. Each bottle features a new label providing more details, including the name of the purchaser/retail account, the year selected, the number and mash bill of the barrel and the proof point at which the bourbon was bottled.

The selection process has been enhanced as well. In addition to its mailed sample-kit option for barrel selection, Ross & Squibb Distillery now offers private barrel-selection opportunities with Master Distiller Ian Stirsman at the Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery on a pre-reservation-only basis. The on-site experience includes a tour of the 175-year-old distillery and a private tasting/sampling in the distillery’s tasting room and Customer Innovation Center, featuring a stunning, custom-made Indiana-white-oak table with a base crafted to resemble the nearby Carrol Cropper Bridge, which connects Indiana to Kentucky.

For 2023, Remus Bourbon barrels aged between 4-5 years have been set aside for the program. Customers can choose from among three mash bills (51% corn/39% rye/10% malted rye; 75% corn/21% rye/4% barley malt; or 60% corn/36% rye/4% barley malt), which can be bottled at three different proof ranges (103.8. 109.1 or 113.2). Each barrel of 2023 Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel selected yields approximately 30 6-in cases, with a suggested retail price of $59.99.

“We put a lot of time, energy and creativity into every barrel of whiskey we create, and we are proud to share the fruits of those efforts with our customers through our barrel program,” said Stirsman. “For those who are interested, I am especially excited to host our private selection opportunities and provide an experience as memorable as the products we create.”

Ross & Squibb Distillery’s barrel program also includes Rossville Union Rye Single Barrel offerings. Select barrels of four-to-five-year-old barrels have been set aside. Customers can select from among three mash bills (95% rye/5% barley malt; 51% rye/49% barley malt; or 51% rye/45% corn/4% barley malt), which can be bottled at three different proof points (102.5, 108.2 or 112.2). Each barrel of 2023 Rossville Union Rye Single Barrel yields approximately 30 6-in cases of 700 ml bottles, with a suggested retail price of $59.99.

Customers and retail accounts interested in participating in the 2023 Barrel Program – either by ordering a sample kit or by reserving a private barrel-selection opportunity with Ross & Squibb Distillery Master Distiller Ian Stirsman – can email singlebarrelprogram@luxco.com.

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; and Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Penelope Bourbon, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, Green Hat Gin and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.

Loch Lomond 1998 25 Year Old Exclusive Cask The 151st Open

Released in celebration of the 151st Open Championship, this is an exceptional whisky from Highland legends, Loch Lomond. The liquid was laid down in 1998, and matured for 24 years in refill bourbon casks, before being hand-selected to be finished for 12 months in the finest Oloroso sherry casks. One of 151 limited-edition bottles. Presented at a cask strength of 43.2%, with natural colour and free from chill filtration.

Expect a nose full of tropical fruit and citrus scents, before leading to a palate of ripe peach, juicy pineapple, dried orange peel, raisins, toasted almonds and warming spice. The finish lingers with delectable brown sugar and vanilla flavours.

One of 151 limited-edition bottles, presented at a cask strength of 43.2% abv

£1,499.00

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Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

TRY SOME UNIQUE SPEYSIDERS

Speyside has the highest concentration of distilleries in the five regions. over forty distilleries are clustered within the Spey valley. (the river Spey is Scotland’s second-longest river, 110 miles, and its fastest-flowing.) four of the top five best selling single malts are from Speyside: Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan and Glen Grant. Speyside has no particular type or style of whisky, with bourbon and sherry casks commonly used for maturation. However, the absence of strong peat flavour is what the vast majority of Speyside whiskies have in common.

Benromach

Contrasts: Air Dried Oak

This limited-edition release has been matured in air-dried Virgin Oak barrels. This results in sweet vanilla fudge aromas with toasted cereal and citrus blossom. Smooth yet peppery notes follow, with vanilla, fresh peppermint and oak flavours. Subtle smoke lingers on the finish.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Sweet vanilla fudge aromas with mixed citrus, oak and underlying smoke.

PALATE Cracked black pepper notes are followed by citrus, toasted cereal, fresh garden mint and oak flavours.

FINISH Lingering hints of smoke.

£59.00

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Benromach

Contrasts: Kiln Dried Oak

This limited-edition release has been matured in kiln-dried Virgin Oak barrels. This results in sweet malted biscuit aromas with lemon and apple. Creamy and fruity flavours are followed by barley sugar and mixed tropical fruit—subtle smoke and menthol on the finish.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Aromas of waxy lemon peel, toffee apple, sweet hay and malt biscuit.

PALATE Creamy with tropical pineapple flavours. Barley sugar, fresh lime and ginger. Menthol undertones develop alongside oak.

FINISH  Sweet notes of smoke linger on the finish.

£59.00

Shop now

Blanton’s Black “Takara” Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)

(Japanese Import)

$195.00

View

Blanton’s Takara line is bottled exclusively for the Japanese, the home country of the brand’s owners Ancient Age International. This unique expression of Blanton’s is aged for a minimum 2 extra years over the standard Blanton’s in the famous warehouse H at the old Buffalo Trace plant outside of Frankfurt, KY. This facility is one of Kentucky’s most historical and high quality, but the Blanton’s is totally unique in there portfolio. Not only is it made using the elusive “High Rye” mashbill, but it is aged exclusively in Buffalo Trace’s only corregated metal warehouse. All the others on the property are made of brick, giving Blanton’s a unique character that only a handful of other Buffalo Trace products share. Like all Buffalo Trace products the Blanton’s stocks are heat cycled through steam injection directly into the warehouses, which remain warm and humid throughout the cold winter months. Takara black is bottled at 80 proof with a minimum age of 8 year. It’s re-imported from wholesalers in Japan and remains one of the rarest bottles of Bourbon on the market today.

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 989 – Mackmyra Svensk Rok @46.1%vol:

ON TOP OF THE WORLD: ROYAL SALUTE BECOMES FIRST SCOTCH WHISKY ON RECORD TO SUMMIT EVEREST

Image courtesy of Suze Kelly Adventure Consultants.

Adding to a year of momentous celebrations, Royal Salute – the master of exceptionally aged Scotch whisky – has released images of the moment a $25,000 flagon was successfully carried to the summit of Mount Everest. It marks a world first for whisky, as the first bottle of Scotch recorded as having ever reached the summit of the highest Earthly point.

In a true journey of celebration, this ascension mission was accomplished on Tuesday 23 May 2023, almost 70 years to the day that legendary conquerors Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first scaled the 29,030ft mountain and placed the Union Jack at the top. News of the feat reached Britain on the dawn of 2 June 1953, adding to the extraordinary heritage of that significant day which also marked the Coronation Day of Queen Elizabeth II and the origin of Royal Salute, which was created in Her Majesty’s honour and gifted to her that morning.

Seven decades later, Royal Salute continues to mark significant milestones. The flagon was carried by Ang Dorjee Sherpa – a Nepali born Everest guide who has braved the treacherous slopes more than 20 times – and accompanied by intrepid mountaineers led by Guy Cotter in support of the Everest70 celebrations. The expression selected for the anniversary expedition was a Royal Salute Coronation of King Charles III Edition; a coveted release announced in April this year.

A limited release of just 500 flagons, the Edition is a luxurious blend of over 53 rare malt and grain whiskies, reflecting the year Royal Salute was first crafted, resulting in a beautifully rich expression that has delicately sweet and playfully spicy notes. It is housed in a precious Dartington crystal decanter that withstood the extreme conditions of the mountain throughout the gruelling expedition to protect the rare and prestige Scotch.

On receiving news of the safe and successful ascent, Royal Salute Global Marketing Director Mathieu Deslandes said “Conquering Everest is a remarkable achievement; to have Royal Salute accompanying these brave climbers to the top of the world fills me with immense pride. Uniting with our partners to celebrate 70 years of shared anniversaries pays homage to the impressive comradery of the climbing teams in 1953 and 2023, while raising money for such a worthwhile cause. This is a new moment in our history that we will always remember and be proud of.”

Upon leaving Nepal, the record-breaking flagon of Royal Salute Coronation of King Charles III Edition will be taken to London where it will be auctioned to raise funds for The Himalayan Trust – a charity set up by the late Sir Edmund Hillary. Interested bidders are invited to formally submit a pre-bid via email, ahead of the live Everest 70 auction on Thursday 15^th June. Pre-bids can be sent to The Himalayan Trust UK via events@himalayantrust.co.uk, using the subject “Everest 70 auction pre-bid”. Alongside your pre-bid (in GBP), bidders must include their full name and contact details. 100% of the proceeds go directly to The Himalayan Trust UK (registered charity number 1000153) to support its work in transforming the education and improving health for Nepal’s mountain people.

This expedition would not have been possible without the support of Lisa Choegyal, Adventure Consultants New Zealand and Himalayan Guides Nepal. For more information on the anniversary expedition and details on the auction, please visit royalsalute.com or follow @royalsalute on social media.

Girvan & North British

Viking 1 & 2 Limited Editions

This weekend only – while stocks last.

Each matured in a single 1st fill Palo Cortado sherry Hogshead bottled at natural cask strength distilled at the Lowland distillers of Girvan & North British.

Commemorating the first successful landers on the Martian surface.

Shop – Girvan 30 Years – £75 | u$79* | €72*

Shop – North British 30 Years – £75 | u$79* | €72*