In Stock: K&L Liquors’ Every Drop 16 Year Old “Dawning Era”

“Our second batch of K&L Liquors is here and WOW it’s so special I can’t even believe it. I will always refer to this label as the “Every Drop,” but this batch is called “Dawning Era,” in reference to the new phase in our relationship with Kentucky bourbon – buying, blending, and bottling our own juice.

This batch was much more nerve-wracking and complex than the previous batch. It consists of 3 different lots of this famous liquid distilled contractually in Frankfort, Kentucky, and aged near Lawrenceburg for over 16 years. While the tendency in the industry is to not want to waste any of this wildly rare juice, I insisted on tasting every barrel in advance of blending. Having an idea of the volumes – which were, incidentally, ridiculously low – I made a proportional blend of the various casks to mimic the final blend using barrel samples.

But one sample stuck out like a sore thumb, changing the sweet & spicy red fruit-forward old bourbon into a wood-driven monolith. When we removed that barrel – its total volume fewer than 14 liters, so just a few drops in my desk blend – the package came together perfectly. Another barrel, which was so unique and delicious and yielded only 19 liters, seemed to add none of its unique exotic character, so that was held back as well.

The resulting bourbon is delicious beyond my wildest expectations. Now that the final blend is here, let’s evaluate this incredible bourbon.” The color is mahogany (1.6). There’s so much going on here, but you cannot tease it out instantly. This one needs and deserves time to brood and boast in the glass. Once you’ve let it rest, though, we’ve got a huge nose of cherry jam, dark chocolate, coconut, sweet stewed peaches, clove honey, sandalwood, and oiled cedar. The palate is ultra-rich and oily, with the red fruit and chocolate sticking up front and a rich vanilla, dense dark wood, powerful baking spices covering the mid-palate. The finish is long and round, giving this a very open and inviting feel, but it’s so powerful and unctuous. It really is the total package in my opinion. As contrasted by the 15 year version we have more savory complexity on the nose and less dusty tannin on the palate. The red fruit, powerful spice and lack of funky earthy tannin makes this one feel more on the Frankfort side of things compared to the last one which felt more obviously comparable to Lawrenceburg distillate. By any measure this is a stupendously delicious rare find that likely deserves the incredibly high prices our competitors are asking for similar bourbon from the same lots, but K&L Liquors is ALL about creating value for our customers and this whisky does that without a doubt..

–David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

 K&L Liquors’ Every Drop 16 Year Old “Dawning Era” Batch No. KY-02-25 Barrel Proof Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

$275.00

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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

Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown #3, 51.7%

THE REVIEW

They always say that the third release of anything is the trickiest. Well, it seems that Glen Scotia have taken that phrase and thrown it out of the window. Icons of Campbeltown Release 3 is a 12-year-old single malt, mostly matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in Tawny Port barrels for a maximum of 9 months. What has this resulted in? A single malt whisky that is dense with chocolate, hazelnuts, jammy Vimto fruits and all of the coastal Campbeltown saltiness that you could ever want.

I’ve sadly never tried the previous releases, but they’ve always had an incredible reputation behind them, so this tricky third release has very much quashed that saying with ease. Glen Scotia are not shy to experiment with their cask finishing prowess, and this is a massive indication of that. Big shoutout to The Whiskey Wash for sending this bottle over to me to review. Their website is also linked here thewhiskeywash.com

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Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Willem Dafoe Unite in ‘Unphorgettable’ Global Campaign

Inspired by two of the world’s most iconic characters, the campaign debuts with a short film, bringing to life Dafoe’s search to define Laphroaig’s undefinable taste

Islay, Scotland: For 240 years, Laphroaig has been unapologetically doing things differently. Today, continuing this uncompromising spirit, the distinctive Islay single malt is announcing its global partnership with cult actor, Willem Dafoe.

The first of its kind in the distillery’s history, the campaign includes a short film titled ‘The Taste’, global advertising, a bespoke cocktail creation and tease of a limited-edition whisky, all celebrating those who think differently and embrace a boldness of character.

The collaboration marks the latest instalment in the brand’s ‘Unphorgettable’ campaign, which launched in 2024 and celebrates the unmistakable flavour of this iconic whisky, making it ‘unphorgettable’ to all who imbibe.

‘The Taste’ brings to life Dafoe’s search to define Laphroaig’s taste – something he can’t quite put his finger on. It draws inspiration from components in Dafoe’s life and his thirst for immersing himself to get a taste of experiences, including the attempt, as a child, to get a sense of flying to space by remaining in a wardrobe for two days. With this individual and curious style, Dafoe seeks the words to describe the bold single malt, and recites humorous descriptions submitted by some of the whisky’s biggest fans – Friends of Laphroaig.

The film and full campaign will be shared globally across channels, with a focus on digital and paid social. This will be reinforced with out of home, print, PR and in-store promotions in key markets, including the US, UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Japan, Australia and Global Travel Retail.

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Suntory Global Spirits, Scotch and Irish, says: “Willem Dafoe is bold, curious, and impossible to define, much like Laphroaig itself. His uncompromising dedication to craft mirrors our own approach to whisky making. He is the ideal partner to bring to life the intense, unmistakable, and truly ‘unphorgettable’ flavour of Laphroaig, and to celebrate those around the world with character as distinctive as his.”

Speaking on the inspiration behind the film, Dafoe says:

“The first time I ever travelled overseas, I went to Scotland. I was a kid, and the first thing I thought when my feet touched down on the ground was, something feels familiar here. I feel at home. The land spoke to me, and it must be genetic because my grandmother was from Glasgow. ‘The Taste’ depicts that sort of familiarity that’s found when exploring Laphroaig. It’s the flavours and how they come together.”

Laphroaig has also enlisted award-winning mixologist, Meaghan Dorman, to create a bespoke cocktail, named ‘The Other Island’. It blends Laphroaig 10-Year-Old, fresh pineapple, lemon, spiced cinnamon syrup and Amaro Ciociaro, with a touch of prosecco, to create a smoky, tropical and gently spiced spritz, balancing Laphroaig’s familiar character with layered flavours. The cocktail will be available first to guests at The Barley Mow pub in Mayfair, London, being renamed ‘The Barley Dafoe’ for campaign launch, before appearing on menus in additional select bars worldwide.

This Dafoe partnership will also extend to a limited-edition product collaboration, set for release in 2026. Together with Sarah Dowling, Senior Whisky Maker for Laphroaig, Dafoe has developed a limited-edition, that is quietly maturing, steeped in the peat, smoke, salt and the surprising sweetness that infuses all Laphroaig whiskies.

Watch the film and behind the scenes content on www.laphroaig.com and follow @laphroaig on Instagram for more information.

About Meaghan Dorman and ‘The Other Island’

Meaghan Dorman is a globally acclaimed bartender and educator celebrated for her innovative approach to modern cocktail culture. She has been in the craft cocktail industry for more 15 years, bringing innovative cocktails and concepts to audiences looking for something refined, unique and unexpected. Currently the Bar Director & a partner at Raines Law Room, Raines Law Room at the William, Dear Irving, Dear Irving on Hudson, and the newly opened Dear Irving on Broadway, Meaghan is passionate member of the global cocktail community.

The cocktail name and ingredients, including Laphroaig 10-Year-Old, pineapple and a hint of Amaro, derive from Dafoe’s feeling of home when he’s in Scotland, combined with his preference for sunnier, tropical climes and a nod to his home in Italy.

Ingredients and method: 
45ml Laphroaig 10-Year-Old
30ml Pineapple Juice (pressed)
15ml Fresh Lemon juice
10ml Cinnamon syrup
*5ml Amaro Ciociaro
Top w/ Prosecco

Method: Shake & double strain into a coupette, then top with Prosecco and garnish with a pineapple wedge.
Laphroaig encourages responsible drinking. Always follow the DrinkSmart® rules and drink in moderation.

About Laphroaig® Whisky 
Laphroaig is the number one selling Islay single malt globally* and is synonymous with this famous whisky island. Established in 1815 by the Johnston brothers, Laphroaig has stayed true to its bold and unforgettable character for over 200 years.

Today, Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries that continues to make whisky using traditional techniques like floor malting barley. From hand turning the barley and burning the peat at low temperatures to flavour the malt with cool smoke to slow distillation to maintain quality, this is what truly makes Laphroaig.  Our single malt whisky embodies the character of Islay in every drop of Laphroaig. From the distinctive peat which gives us our unique smoky character to the steadfast confidence and passion of our people, making Laphroaig unmistakable. The gives us our distinctive taste of Islay, salt and smoke with a surprising sweetness.

Laphroaig’s commitment to bold character has earned us a dedicated following of brand fans, the Friends of Laphroaig.  Launched in 1994, the same year HM King Charles granted the brand a Royal Warrant, this global community has since grown to over 700,000 whisky lovers representing over 170 countries.

*By volume and value in 2024. Source: IWSR Global Database 2025
For more information visit www.laphroaig.com

Willem Dafoe
Having made over one hundred fifty films in his legendary career, Willem Dafoe is internationally respected for bringing versatility, boldness, and dare to some of the most iconic films of our time. His artistic curiosity in exploring the human condition leads him to projects all over the world, large and small, Hollywood films as well as independent cinema.

In 1979, he was given a role in Michael’s Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, from which he was fired. Since then, he has collaborated with directors who represent a virtual encyclopedia of modern cinema: Wes Anderson, Patricia Arquette, Kathryn Bigelow, Kenneth Branagh, Tim Burton, Scott Cooper, Anton Corbijn, Saverio Costanzo, David Cronenberg, Abel Ferrara, Mary Harron, Werner Herzog, Walter Hill, , Miguel Angel Jimenéz, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Hayao Miyazaki, Phillip Noyce, Sam Raimi, Dee Rees, Jason Reitman, Robert Rodriguez, Isaiah Saxon, Julian Schnabel, Paul Schrader, Martin Scorsese, Zack Snyder, Guillermo del Toro, Lars von Trier, James Wan, Wim Wenders, Yorgos Lanthimos, Zhang Yimou, and many more.

Dafoe has been recognized with four Academy Award nominations:  Best Leading Actor for his role as Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate (also a Golden Globe nomination), as well as Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Oliver Stone’s Platoon, E. Elias Merhige’s Shadow Of The Vampire (for which he also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations), and Sean Baker’s The Florida Project (also Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations).  He has also been awarded by the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Board of Review, as well as twice by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.  Dafoe is also the recipient of two Independent Spirit Awards, the Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup and a Berlinale Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement.  He recently was awarded the Iris Award for Best Actor from Greece’s Hellenic Film Academy for his role in Vasilis Katsoupis’ Inside.

He and his wife, director Giada Colagrande, have worked on four films together: Padre, A Woman, Before It Had a Name and the documentary, Bob Wilson’s Life And Death Of Marina Abramovic.

His natural adventurousness is evident in roles as diverse as Thomas Wake in The Lighthouse;  Marcus, the elite assassin who is mentor to Keanu Reeves in the neo-noir John Wick;  in his voice work as Gil the Moorish Idol in Pixar’s Finding Nemo;  as the notorious filmmaker in Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini;  as Paul Smecker, the obsessed FBI agent in the cult classic The Boondock Saints;  as real life hero Leonhard Seppala, who led the 1925 Alaskan dog sled diphtheria serum run in Togo;  and the notorious duality of Norman Osborn / Green Goblin, a role he reprised in Jon Watts’ record-breaking Spider-Man: No Way Home. That adventurous spirit continues with Kent Jones’ Late Fame; Nadia Latif’s The Man in My Basement; Helmer Gastón Solnicki’s The Souffleur; and Jennifer Peedom’s Tenzing. He will soon film Bárbara Paz’s Cuddle; as well as Robert Eggers’ Werwulf, marking his fourth collaboration with the director, which will be followed with Eggers’ adaptation of A Christmas Carol for Warner Bros.

Most recently, Dafoe was named the Artistic Director of the theatre department for the Venice Biennale’s 2025 and 2026 seasons.  Dafoe was one of the original members of The Wooster Group, the New York based experimental theatre collective.  He created and performed in all of the group’s work from 1977 thru 2005, both in the U.S. and internationally.  Since then, he has collaborated with Richard Foreman on Idiot Savant at NYC’s Public Theatre, with Robert Wilson on two international productions: The Life & Death of Marina Abramovic and The Old Woman (opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov); Marina Abramovic’s opera 7 Deaths of Maria Callas; and with Romeo Castellucci, on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil.

About Suntory Global Spirits
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196™ (minus one-nine-six) and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.

For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com

2014 Edradour 10 Year Old “Signatory Vintage” 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt No. 256 Cask Strength Single Barrel Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

(750ml)

$79.99

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

Johnnie Walker Blue Label x Rahul Mishra

Johnnie Walker has partnered with fashion designer Rahul Mishra to create a festive Indian release.

The intricate design pays tribute to the rich cultural tapestry of India, honouring rituals, celebrating connections, and walking boldly into a season of festivity. The exquisite celebration edition envisioned by Mishra comes alive with blooming flowers and spirited animals, symbolising a bright beginning full of hope and prosperity.

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Johnnie Walker Blue Label x Rahul Mishra Limited Edition Design

This Limited-Edition bottle design offers both connoisseurs and collectors a whisky of distinction paired with a work of art. Bottled at 40% ABV, this intricate design featuring a bright festive night symbolises abundance and joy to come, making it a meaningful gift for loved ones over the festive period.

£230.00

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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 ❯

Autumn is a season of turning inwards, when whisky finds its natural place at the heart of the table – shared, savoured, and enjoyed. Not every dram needs to be bold or demanding; sometimes the greatest pleasure lies in whiskies that are open, welcoming, and easy to appreciate.

With our 77th Cask Collection, we present five casks that embody this sense of accessibility. These are whiskies that speak clearly of their character and origins – flavourful yet unpretentious, layered yet effortless to enjoy. Made for sharing as much as for reflection, they offer something for both the curious newcomer and the seasoned enthusiast.

Spanning a wide spectrum – from mineral smoke to orchard fruits, sweet nuts, and gentle spice – Cask Collection 77 celebrates the approachable side of Scotch whisky, without ever compromising on individuality or quality. Together, these casks form a collection perfectly attuned to the season: inviting, expressive, and endlessly drinkable. As always, each bottle reflects the principles that guide our curation: respect for the spirit, care in selection, and a belief that great whisky is best enjoyed by all.

This year, Murray McDavid turns 31 — and what a journey it has been! From our bold beginnings on Islay in the 1990s to our newest adventures in Speyside, we’ve spent three decades pushing boundaries, reviving legends, and maturing Scotch whisky in ways the world had never seen before.

To mark the occasion, we’re sharing our story in a brand-new blog: “Whisky Rebels for over 30 Years: The Story of Murray McDavid.”

READ MORE

For over three decades, we’ve been shaking things up with bold casks, creative releases, and a restless drive to do things differently.

Raise a dram with us and celebrate over 30 years of whisky rebellion!

Slàinte,

The Murray McDavid Team

WHISKY OFFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

We have standout offers on some of the world’s best whiskies. Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky, now £20 off, showcases Ichiro Akuto’s mastery over blending by using whiskies from five countries. There’s £10 off Gold Spot 13 Year Old, which brings spice, dark fruit and oak. Hakushu 12 Year Old, now £12 off, offers fresh herbs, smoke and orchard fruit, while Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel, £5 off, delivers rich chocolate, oak and dried fruit.

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Rare Find unveils landmark partnership with Bodegas Barbadillo

-a defining moment in Rare Find’s 10th anniversary year

Rare Find, the acclaimed independent bottler, continues its 10th anniversary celebrations with the launch of its Autumn 2025 collection – a release that not only showcases four remarkable single malts, but also marks the first results of a landmark partnership with Bodegas Barbadillo.

Since its inception in 2015, Rare Find has earned a reputation for uncovering exceptional distillates and elevating them through guided cask maturation, led by a philosophy of creating whiskies that are “intentionally rare by design.” Now, a decade on, Rare Find’s Autumn 2025 releases represent a pivotal milestone: the debut of a collaboration with one of Spain’s legendary sherry houses.

With almost two centuries of heritage and stewardship of some of Jerez’s oldest soleras, Bodegas Barbadillo stands as a guardian of Andalusia’s wine-making legacy. Based in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Barbadillo worked with Rare Find to create a bespoke sherry cask seasoning programme. Together, the two makers have developed casks imbued with astonishing depth and oxidative richness – vessels shaped by time, tradition, and the soul of Andalusia. Rare Find’s Autumn 2025 releases are the first chance for whisky lovers to experience that union: Scotland’s finest single malts elevated by sherry casks steeped in Spanish heritage.

To establish the ongoing partnership, the Rare Find team travelled to Barbadillo’s historic bodegas to work alongside the sherry house’s expert oenologists. Among ancient soleras and reliquia casks dating back over a century, they hand-selected Spanish, American, and European oak casks to undergo an intensive 24-month oloroso seasoning process.

Unlike short-term or superficial seasoning, this extended period ensured that every stave is deeply imbued with sherry character – rich with dried fruits, toasted nuts, and oxidative depth.  Once reracked in Scotland, these sherry-seasoned casks contributed structured oxidative complexity to selected Scotch malts, imparting concentrated dried fruit, nut, and spice notes while maintaining the integrity and core character of the spirits.

For the Rare Find Autumn 2025 release, four single-cask, single-malt whiskies finished in oloroso sherry have been selected. Three of the releases originate from the Barbadillo partnership, each highlighting a different wood type and, consequently, a distinct sherry cask influence.

The Autumn 2025 Rare Find releases consist of: 

Longmorn 16 Year Old
Spanish oak Barbadillo 1st fill oloroso sherry finish

Tamdhu 16 Year Old
American Oak Barbadillo 1st fill oloroso sherry finish

Secret Speyside 16 Year Old

European Oak Barbadillo 1st fill oloroso sherry finish

Benriach 9 Year Old
1st fill oloroso barrique finish

Each of the four releases has been bottled without compromise – natural cask strength, natural colour, and no chill filtration – preserving the whisky’s full integrity from bodega to bottle.

Speaking of the Autumn 2025 releases, a Rare Find spokesperson said: “This collection marks one of the most important chapters in our history. Our partnership with Barbadillo has allowed us to work with some of the most extraordinary sherry casks in the world. By bringing together Scotland’s finest single malts and Andalusia’s centuries-old winemaking traditions, we’ve created whiskies that truly embody the Rare Find ethos – exceptional, authentic, and intentionally rare.”

The Rare Find Autumn 2025 releases will be available in select retailers from 13th October 2025. Further details of Rare Find stockists can be found at: www.rarefindwhisky.co.uk/stockists.

Rare Find Autumn 2025 Releases

Longmorn 16 year old

Finished for 10 months in a first fill oloroso seasoned Spanish oak hogshead from Bodegas Barbadillo

55.6%, 203 bottles

£110.00

Aromas of stewed fruit, walnuts, beeswax, and candle smoke. The palate shows sweet notes of apple pie, toffee pennies, cinnamon rolls, and glacé icing, leading to an elegant finish with both sweetness and spice.

Tamdhu 16 year old

Finished for 10 months in a first fill oloroso seasoned American oak hogshead from Bodegas Barbadillo

51.7%, 216 bottles

£120.00

Golden syrup, vanilla pod, apple, and citrus on the nose. The palate is juicy and sweet with candied orange, milk chocolate, chewy toffee, and nutmeg. The finish is warm and sweet. 

Secret Speyside 15 year old

Finished for 10 months in a first fill oloroso seasoned European oak hogshead from Bodegas Barbadillo

58.2%, 184 bottles

£95.00

A resinous nose with linseed oil, marmalade, and icing sugar. The palate shows pronounced sweet spices, caramel-coated hazelnuts, ginger, and cinnamon biscuits. The finish is medium to long.

Benriach 9 year old

Finished for 16 months in a barrique

55.1%, 301

£75.00

A rich nose of BBQ sauce, cocoa powder, and a hint of herbal tea. The palate balances sweet and savoury with dark chocolate, raisin loaf, star anise, and chilli flakes. The finish is medium-dry with clove and lingering chocolate.

About Rare Find

Each Rare Find release is an unrepeatable, limited-edition whisky sourced from sought-after distilleries. With every bottle, we celebrate liquid excellence – meticulously selecting, maturing, and finishing in the highest quality casks to deliver whisky that’s rare by design.

From the millions of casks maturing in Scotland, only a small percentage are destined for single malt bottlings, and from those, only the best become a Rare Find.

Latest Release Now Available

The Macallan Rare Cask, 2025 Release

£315.00*

The Macallan Rare Cask, 2025 Release is now available for purchase from our Online Boutique, with limited availability.The Macallan Rare Cask showcases the perfection that can be delivered when a single note shines. The intense sweet raisin note that can be found within Rare Cask is hard to find in the whisky stocks at The Macallan. Layered with notes of vanilla, dark chocolate and citrus, and enveloped in a rich, velvety mouthfeel, this exceptional single malt delivers an indulgent, sensorial experience from nose to finish.

Every cask of exceptional single malt whisky maturing at The Macallan Estate has its own personality, with subtle nuances that make it unique. From time to time, our Whisky Makers come across a cask that stands apart in a very particular way.

Rare Cask is created from exceptional oak casks which exhibit an intense sweet raisin note, coupled with an incredibly rich, smooth complexity. These hand-selected sherry seasoned oak casks are a rare and special discovery, chosen for their rich depth of natural colour, distinctive aroma and luxurious mouthfeel.

Crafted only from the finest sherry seasoned oak, this expression showcases the perfection that can be delivered when a single note shines, an extraordinary find in the warehouses of The Macallan.

Nose

Finish

PURCHASE RARE CASK

*Price includes UK VAT and Duty. Local taxes will be charged based on the shipping location.