A 97-Point, Top-100 Single Malt from a Treasured Highland Gem

Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Côte-Rôtie Red Wine Finished Batch No: 2921 Highland

Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($119.99)

“I’m rarely impressed by red wine cask finishes on Scotch, but the Aberfeldy 18, finished in Côte-Rôtie barrels, truly wowed me.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

A critical component of Dewar’s for the past century, Aberfeldy’s signature honeyed charm is now reaching a wider audience with the recent releases of some wonderful old, age-stated barrels. This 18-year-old stunner takes an unconventional approach to aging, as it was finished in red wine casks that once held powerhouse Syrah from Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhône. A yin/yang match that shouldn’t work on paper comes together to form a truly unique dram that garnered 97 points and a Top 100 Spirits of 2021 nod from Wine Enthusiast. As spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley describes, “The natural fruitiness and sweet honey notes of Aberfeldy actually mesh perfectly with the intense dark berry fruit of the world’s best Syrah. The power of the wine brings out some of the earthier tones of the malt for an exceptionally well-balanced and pleasant drinking experience.” There are few profiles like it in the whisky world and fewer still at 18 years of age. Finally, throw in the stellar price that’s a fraction of what many big-name single malts in this age range go for, and you have an unequivocal winner that all collectors and Scotch fans need to experience.

Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Côte-Rôtie Red Wine Finished Batch No: 2921 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($119.99)

97 points Wine Enthusiast: “This starts off with earthy, oaky aromas. The palate opens dry in tones of cedar and a hint of tingly spice. Adding water brings mouthwatering vanilla forward, along with coconut and a nutty tone reminiscent of pecan pie. The finish is long and drying, with plenty of baking spice and ginger tingles. Finished in Cote-Rotie red wine casks. *Top 100 Spirits of 2021* (KO)” (12/2021)

K&L Notes: The Golden Dram, as Aberfeldy is known, is an appropriate name derived in equal parts from the marked golden honey notes of the whisky itself and the fact that gold is still panned in the Pitilie Burn, the distillery’s water source. The distillery is a critical component of the Dewar’s blend and has been since the Dewar’s built it in the 1890s. Today under Bacardi ownership (Diageo was forced to sell Dewars and its attendant distilleries in 1998 by the UK Monopolies Board), the single malts from Aberfeldy are finally getting the attention and focus they deserve. The core whisky lineup has been revamped and the extremely sought-after 18 year release has expanded from being exclusively released for travel retail, to being more widely available. Still quite limited in availability, this release is finished in red wine casks—specifically for batch #2921—the powerful Syrah wines from Côte-Rôtie. The result is a perfect mesh of Aberfeldy’s natural honey sweetness and the intense red fruits and structure of Côte-Rôtie.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 18, 2022

I’m rarely impressed by red wine cask finishes on Scotch, but the Aberfeldy 18, finished in Côte-Rôtie barrels, truly wowed me. The natural fruitiness and sweet honey notes of Aberfeldy actually mesh perfectly with the intense dark berry fruit of the world’s best Syrah. The power of the wine brings out some of the earthier tones of the malt for an exceptionally well-balanced and pleasant drinking experience. The color is a rich copper. The nose is redolent of vanilla, blackberries, plums, raspberries, and raw honey. The deep earthy tones of cedar, tobacco leaf, and a thin veil of smoky oak comes out with more time in the glass. A small addition of pure water brings forward more citrus, in particular, a sweet, zesty orange peel, which matches the luscious honey perfectly. The palate is robust. It feels thicker and more substantive than expected from the nose. Perhaps it’s a bit of the wine’s famous tannins imparting a firmer structure than you often find in Scotch. I’m not clear on where exactly it’s coming from, but I’m certain that it works. The finish has a beautiful reprise of the orange peel freshness, gobs of spice (the work of top notch French oak?), and of course, Aberfeldy’s signature nectar—golden honey.

ralfy review 911 Extras – Beginners guide to an Infinity bottle

NEW COLLECTORS FLOCK TO WHISKY MARKET AT BONHAMS HONG KONG SALE

Link to catalogue: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27715/

Karuizawa-1960-47 year old-#5627. Sold for HK$1,240,000.

Estimate: HK$ 450,000-600,000.

Hong Kong – Bonhams Whisky Sale on 21 January 2022 totalled HK$23.4 million, led by a Karuizawa-1960-47 year old – the oldest vintage known from the famed Karuizawa Distillery. It sold for HK$1,240,000, nearly tripling its estimate. Of the top ten lots of the sale, more than half sold above high estimates and nine of them were Japanese whisky.

Bonhams Director of Wine and Spirits Asia Daniel Lam commented: “The market demand for fine and rare whiskies continues to be insatiable. The January sale, held only two months after the previous flagship auction, saw strong interest and robust bidding across the board, showing that the market appetite builds fast. First-time buyers are one of the driving factors, as nearly one in every five bidders from the sale were new to Bonhams. After some very strong seasons for Japanese whisky, we are excited to see how the Scotch – now looking attractively-priced in comparison – will perform in 2022.”

The Scotch section, 80% sold, is underlined by star performers from Macallan, Bowmore and Highland Park. A Macallan Millennium-1949-50 year old Decanter sold for HK$384,400, eclipsing the high estimate.

Click here to view full results:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27715/

Sale: Whisky Sale

Location: Hong Kong, Admiralty

Date: 21 January

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

Allt-A-Bhainne 2006 15 Year Old
Connoisseurs Choice

A 2006 Allt-A-Bhaine single malt from independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, matured in a refill hogshead for 15 years, before being bottled in June 2021 as part of its Connoisseurs Choice series.

£70.45

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Glen Keith 1999 22 Year Old
Connoisseurs Choice

A 1999 Glen Keith single malt from independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, matured in a refill American oak hogshead for 22 years, before being bottled in July 2021 as part of its Connoisseurs Choice series. Aromas of vanilla pods, green apples, tangerine, lime zest and charred oak fill the nose, complemented by notes of toasted almonds, zesty citrus, pineapple, poached pear, aniseed and honeycomb throughout the palate.

£152

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Strathmill 2008 13 Year Old
Connoisseurs Choice

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Our January 2022 Auction Ends Soon!

Auction closes from 8pm (GMT) Tuesday 1st February.

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

Port Ellen – 39 Years Old 1978 – The Untold Stories: The Spirit Safe

Interested in Selling Whisky?

Click below for more information or to arrange a FREE* Bottle collection

 4.9 / 5 | 301 reviews

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Elchies Road, Aberlour AB38 9AB

Kilchoman 2011 10 Year Old Founders Cask 4th Release

Whisky lovers have been desperate to get their hands on this limited edition release of only 322 bottles! After spending ten years in an Oloroso sherry hogshead, this rich 100% Islay expression was bottled in November 2021 at 54.4% abv. It is free from artificial colouring and chill filtration. With only 322 bottles produced from cask 625/2011, you better be sure to get your hands on one before it’s too late!

£110.00
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2010 Pulteney 10 Year Old “Hart Brothers Finest Collection” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength

Single Hogshead Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival)

$79.99 View

The wonderful Pulteney Distillery in the town of Wick is one of the north coasts most well loved. While it remains under the radar to the greater drinking public the Scotch community has long sung its praises. The distillery is one of the few who still manages to sell the odd cask here and there, but until recently it was relatively unusual to see on the Independent Bottlers lists. We’ve recently picked up a few casks and very rarely do the malts from this seaside distiller ever let us down. The distillery itself, located on the eastern coast of the northern most tip of the Highlands in county Caithness, is one of Scotland’s few “urban” distilleries. Tucked among granite homes, just blocks from the bustling harbor, The Old Pulteney Distillery quietly churns out a lovely ocean flecked malt of the highest order. Built in 1826, it’s oddly shaped stills, each with a bulbous refractor ball in the neck and an hair pin turn of a lyne arm, produce a not at all typical spirits. This relatively unadulterated expression of youngish Pulteney is about a typical Pulteney as one might expect full of fresh herbs, bright fruit and salty fruit. Hints of smoke and sea air cap off a totally lovely and typically atypical Pulteney. This lovely hogshead was filled in 2010 and bottled without coloring or chillteration at the end of 2021. Only 222 bottles of this lovely malt were bottled exclusively for K&L Wine Merchants at a cask strength of 57.6% abv.

2009 Benriach 12 Year Old “Hart Brothers Finest Collection” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength

Single Sherry Butt Unchillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival)

$99.99 View

Benriach is quickly becoming one of the most attractive names in Scotch. They’ve won some huge awards, particularly for their slightly smoky 12 Year Old expression designed by the illustrious Rachel Barrie. Rachel is extremely adept at developing products that offer nuance and complexity, while not compromising on flavor. What we don’t see much out of most distilleries these days are LOUD whiskies – ones that step up and shout at you. And while we don’t always want to be screamed at, it’s impossible to deny the thrilling feeling of getting packed into a sweaty club and having a heavy metal band blow your socks off. It’s ok to enjoy it and still want to go to the Opera next weekend. You don’t have stop liking Guns N’ Roses because you love ballet. This is bold, unabashed Benriach with 12 years in Sherry butts, bottled at cask strength without chillfilteration or coloring. It might not be as punk rock as Ardbeg, but it’s still pretty cool. Most importantly it’s absolutely delicious and totally worth the door fee. We must thank Alistair Hart and his good reputation for getting us backstage passes to this event. Bottled without coloring or chillfiltration at a cask strength of 58.2% abv.

Benriach 15 Year Old “Hart Brothers Finest Collection” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength

Single Port Pipe Unchillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival)

$109.99 View

The gorgeous Benriach distillery is one of Speyside’s most unique. The distillery, built in 1898, was promptly purchased and shuttered by nearby Longmorn Distillers, where it remained silent for many decades. It was purchased in 1965 by the Glenlivet Co. and refurbished before being sold to Seagram’s in the late ’70s. It was always a hub of experimentation and remains filled with crazy expressions and unusual cask fills, with both peated and floor malted versions. It’s rather rare to see independently bottled Benriach, but it seems Alistair Hart’s relationship with former distillery owner Billy Walker has played a role here. They’ve offered us several casks from the good Mr. Walker’s current and past portfolio this year and we’ve been more than happy to take every single one of them. This delicious port pipe of Benriach was bottled at cask strength without chill filtration. The quality of the wood is paramount here, and the deep red-fruited character works wonders when paired with the gorgeous Speyside attributes that Benriach is known for. Few deals like this will be available in the future. While we can still occasionally buy barrels from the distillery, we’re not likely to get something of this stature or price in their own bottle. A true gem and proof once again that Hart Bros. should be considered one of Scotland’s very top bottlers. Bottled without coloring or chillfiltration at a cask strength of 56.5% abv.

1997 Mortlach 24 Year Old “Hart Brothers Finest Collection” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength

Single Sherry Butt Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival)

$279.99 View

There isn’t much that needs to be said about this. Mortlach meet sherry, sherry Mortlach. Two and a half decades later the marriage is still a perfect one. What’s the secret? Listening and mutual respect or raw unbridled attraction? Probably both. There may be no right answer, but no one questions that these two things belong together. The Mortlach distillery, known locally as the Beast of Dufftown, is one of those great distilleries that has never been given proper attention by its owners. The distillery has quietly been a key component in the great Scotch blends since 1823, yet few outside the single malt aficionados appreciate its prowess. Yes, the new owners have recently re-released a line of well regarded distillery bottlings, but their availability is intermittent, and the exceptional pricing the original offered seems to have evaporated. It’s been a much more successful effort to transition the brand into a proper single malt property, yet this excellent property remains in the shadows of its “classic malt” brethren. The beast, brooding down in the gully, was waiting to be unleashed. Now it finally has been! This is a big boy butt from the biggest of Speyside’s blue-chips. Robust, full of character and bottled no-holds-barred at full cask strength. It’s incredible we’re still able to get things like this out of Scotland and while it will be hard to argue with anyone that this one is “affordable,” for what it is, the price is really quite shocking.

Bruichladdich 17 Year Old Private Cask #56 Hold Fast

Now available at The Real Drinks Company! A World Exclusive! This 17 year old Islay Single Malt was produced at Bruichladdich distillery and drawn from a single sherry hogshead.  63.7% and one of only 280 bottles, get one now while stocks last.

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ralfy review 911 – Glen Scotia 12yo Seasonal Release 2021 @54.7%vol:

Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes Annie Franklin as Director of Member Services

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced that Annie Franklin has joined the historic non-profit trade group as its first-ever Director of Member Services.

Franklin, 29, comes to the KDA from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, where she specialized in the recruitment, retention and growth of food, beverage and agribusiness industries.

Franklin worked directly with dozens of distilleries and expansion projects, leading to more than $500 million in capital investment costs and creating over 340 jobs in Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry.

At the KDA, Franklin will lead and coordinate membership activities, needs, communications and recruitment for the organization’s growing family of more than 50 of Kentucky’s finest distillers.

“Annie’s experience and personal approach in working with new and existing companies made her the perfect fit for this new position,” KDA President Eric Gregory said. “It’s an added benefit that our members already know and trust her from her years at the Cabinet.

“As we expand our signature industry and attract more distillers to Kentucky, Annie’s acute understanding of business recruiting and the steps needed to grow existing facilities is a key asset to the KDA and the Commonwealth as a whole. We are thrilled to welcome her to our team.”

A native of Winchester, Ky., Franklin received her Bachelor’s degree from Morehead State University. She also has a background in sales and hospitality, and previously worked at Walt Disney World in Florida and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Franklin said she is honored to join the KDA and looks forward to working with its members and growing the association. “At the Cabinet, I witnessed first-hand the substantial growth and momentum of Kentucky’s Bourbon industry and understand its needs and challenges,” she said.

“Every person I meet who works at a distillery is passionate and dedicated to ensuring that the industry’s future remains bright. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work in an industry that touches every corner of our state and I look forward to helping foster its continued success.”

Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for Bourbon and spirits issues. Its diverse membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are building the next generation of America’s only native spirit.

Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a thriving $9 billion economic and tourism engine that generates more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.2 billion each year, over $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.

Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 435% since the turn of the century.

Kentucky now boasts more than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels in 2020 alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark.

Attendance at the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® experiences continue their rapid rebound from COVID and closures, up 160% in total attendance from last year and just down slightly from the pre-pandemic record in 2019.

Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®,, BOURBON TRAIL™, KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME®,, ORDER OF THE WRIT®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TALES®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL WELCOME CENTER®,, URBAN BOURBON TRAIL® and THE PROOF IS HERE®are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly.