The Finest Rendition Yet of a Coveted Whiskey Phenomenon
Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #7”
Blended Whiskey (750ml) ($139.99)
“This is easilty the best Discovery in years … What a find!”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

For a few years now, we’ve enjoyed tremendous success with the line-up of highly unique, expertly crafted whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Eponymously named for the town at the epicenter of the Kentucky bourbon tradition, this distiller maintains a healthy respect for its roots while also pushing the innovative envelope in its blending practices and collaborative ventures. Their latest release, the “Discovery Series #7” shows the blending team in its finest form. The #7 edition is a big step in the series’ evolution, as for the first time, it includes whiskey distilled outside the U.S. The results are unconventional but also undeniably delicious. The K&L spirits team is well-versed in the singular character of the whiskeys in the Discovery Series, but the seventh edition has outdone them all. Buyer Andrew Whiteley calls it “one of the most compelling whiskies to date out of Bardstown, and that is saying something!” His colleague David Othenin-Girard was equally captivated, noting, “I just about fell out of my seat when I saw that this is a blended whiskey.” Like previous releases, the #7 edition is highly coveted by the most savvy collectors, and as word of the project’s exceptionally unique results starts to get around to a broader audience, we don’t expect to see it in stock for very long.

Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #7” Blended Whiskey (750ml) ($139.99)

K&L Notes: We are seven releases in, and Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Discovery Series just gets better and better. The Discovery has always been about blending the best whiskey possible from meticulously sourced components and being transparent about what exactly went into the bottle. Discovery #7 marks a big shift in the blend and includes whiskey distilled outside of the United States for the first time. Here’s the mashbill breakdown: 31% of the blend is 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon with a mash of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. 25% is 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon from 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. 21% of the blend is Ontario-distilled, 12-year-old, 100% corn whisky. 15% is 7-year-old Indiana Rye made of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. And the final 8% is a whopping 17-year-old Tennessee distillate of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. The end result of all this is an incredibly smooth and approachable whiskey that steps outside tradition not for the sake of innovation, but because the fabulous results justify the approach.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 13, 2022

Discovery. This is what happens when you drink this whiskey. You’ll discover that names aren’t as important as thoughtful, flavor-driven decisions. Controversial? Perhaps. Risky? Definitely. Worth it? Absolutely. One of the most compelling whiskies to date out of Bardstown, and that is saying something! My hat is off to the creators and blenders involved in this one. The color is mahogany. The nose is brimming with spice, fruit, wood, and fine leather. When thinking about the component whiskies, the cohesion feels like a surprise, but upon further reflection, it probably shouldn’t. It’s no different than any other thoughtfully created blend—they have just started with a more diverse set of ingredients. The mouth-feel is big and full. No sharp edges here. Just a nice kick from the 57.25% ABV. It feels fuller and more complete than the last several batches of Discovery. It’s almost like a great chef has been cooking with one hand tied behind his back. Now that hand has been untied, and the sky is the limit.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 12, 2022

I just about fell out of my seat when I saw that this is a blended whiskey. WHAT?! What an outrageously risky thing to do! I absolutely love it when companies do crazy stuff like this. If you’re not aware, this whiskey includes a not insignificant amount of old Canadian corn whisky, thereby removing it from the bourbon category. But what it lacks in nomenclature, it more than makes up for in quality. This is easilty the best Discovery in years, handily beating the excellent #6 and definitely better than #4 and #5. What’s so impressive about the Discovery #7 is how complete it feels. It certainly doesn’t feel at all outside the category (straight bourbon) and has a very old-school vibe to it, almost to the point of feeling slightly antique in the best way possible. Let’s have a go. The nose is a gorgeous conglomerate of dense red and black berry fruit, exotic spice, antique wood (sandalwood especially), freshly ground medium roast, and hints of honey-lathered saddle. Why you’d put honey on your saddle I don’t know, but leather and honey surprisingly go together, so I’m not judging you. The entry starts very sweet and honeyed as well, before being pushed back with a bold clove spice and some caramel-covered apple. The finish is long and surprisingly spicy with this gorgeous dusty note that gives it that antique feel that I love so much. This is a very modern whiskey in every way but flavor. An absolutely exceptional diversion from the last few batches and a welcome change that exemplifies the name perfectly! What a find!

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 13, 2022

I enjoy the Bardstown whiskeys quite a lot for the flavors created through their blending techniques, but I also like them a lot because of how transparent they are about their blending. On the side of all their labels, they will tell you what whiskey is going into the batch, including info on mashbill, age, and location of origin. They don’t mention distillery names, mind you, but in any given project, they are up front about how much is coming from their distillery along with other Kentucky distilleries or even whiskey sourced from farther afield. This bottle is the seventh batch in their Discovery series, and it’s my favorite yet in that project line. The ages of the whiskeys in the blend span 7 to 17 years, and that depth and maturity really come through in the glass. One of the most fun and peculiar elements is a 12-year-old, 100% corn whiskey coming from Ontario, Canada. This ain’t your typical blend! The nose begins with big, juicy, red cherry notes, dusty oak, varnish/polish, and a touch of pine before dipping into dried mixed berries, brown sugar, and cinnamon stick. With more time in the glass and air exposure, the caramel and brown sugar notes turn to vanilla bean with building perfume-level aromatics along with a lot of allspice and clove. The palate is more fruit-forward along with more intense baking spices. More orchard fruit and dried fruit characteristics step forward, and the whiskey has a good texture, nearing chewiness. The Discovery #7 stands at an impressive 114.5 proof, so adding water would be a reasonable consideration. Happily, a little water does not diminish the whiskey at all and offers a change many might love. More salted caramel notes come out. Other dessert-oriented or confectionary flavors emerge as well, like a very tasty candy corn note, but the presence of the spice characteristics remains, especially headed into the medium-long finish. This is quite a lovely whiskey.

Loch Lomond 22 Year Old

Loch Lomond 22 Years Old Course Collection

1999 vintage limited release of 4,000 bottles to commemorate the 150th Open Golf Championship at St. Andrews. Double matured in Haut-Medoc Claret Barriques. Maximum 1-bottle per each.

Buy – Loch Lomond 22 Years 1999 Open 150th

NOSE: Oak spice, clove and star anise, berry fruit of redcurrant, raspberry and honey.

TASTE: Apple, pear and black cherry with vanilla and dark chocolate.

FINISH: Warming ginger spice and wood smoke finish.

Loch Lomond Distillery is equipped with three different types of sills and was established just to the south of the Loch Lomond in 1964. There are two pot stills, six pot stills with rectifying columns in place of swan necks, a Coffey continuous still and additional continuous stills that produce grain whisky. Thus Loch Lomond Distillery produces malt and grain whisky. Inchmurrin malt whisky is produced using malt spirit distilled in the two pot stills fitted with rectifying columns in place of swan necks. The Loch Lomond single malts include a 12 Year Old and an 18 Year Old.

LONGMORN 18 YEAR OLD

Save on our Whisky of the Month for May – a smooth and juicy single malt from Longmorn distillery near Elgin. Bottled as part of the Secret Speyside Collection, this fruity and nutty dram was matured in a combination of American oak barrels and hogsheads leaving it full of tropical aromas with notes of fudge and toasted oak on the palate.

https://youtu.be/FVbt8bHDIyA

Independent bottlers have always been a go-to for me when trying to get a different idea/identity of a distillery.

Glenfarclas, despite the robbery which took place recently, my deepest apologies to the folks at Glenfarclas; a horrendous act. That aside, I’ve never been a huge fan of the distilleries style. I haven’t tried the Family Cask Range, I can’t afford to, but at this crossroads of style are independent bottlers, Duncan Taylor specifically with their Octave range.

Double maturation in a 50 litre, hand made sherry cask by some of the most famous sherry bodegas – the Octave range allows a rather unique and oddly specific sherry influence onto distilleries which are sometimes famous for sherry use themselves, and some not.

This Iconic Speyside (Glenfarclas) is the finest rum and raisin soaked style that I’ve ever tried, Glenfarclas now has a place in my heart, via Duncan Taylor.

Dead Guillemot, Fabric Plasters and Blackened Engine Grease?

Glen Moray unveils the whisky world’s wackiest tasting notes ahead of World Whisky Day and asks if it’s time for change?

We use hundreds of words to describe the taste of whisky, from the basic to the truly weird and wonderful! To tie-in with World Whisky Day this weekend (Sunday 22nd May), Glen Moray asked the experts to reveal the strangest tasting notes they’ve encountered and suggest some modern alternatives to make life easier for newcomers and accessible to all.

Leading whisky writers, including Dave Broom, Henry Jeffreys, Jim Coleman, Ian Wisniewski, Mark Gillespie, Brian Townsend and Philip Day all rose to the challenge and revealed their funniest findings, pet peeves and guilty pleasures when it comes to ‘interesting’ whisky lingo. As Henry Jeffreys confessed:

“My bete noir for tasting notes, and I’m as guilty as anyone, is being unnecessarily specific, for example saying Conference pear, rather than just pear, Manuka honey rather than just honey, wild strawberries and Columbian Coffee. I think they are used to give a false sense of exactness.

But, that’s not to say that tasting notes have to be a plain. I love silly comparisons. My favourite ever tasting though, comes from wine and it is ‘sturdier than Robert Mitchum’s trousers press’. Beat that!”

Jim Coleman revealed one tasting note that has stuck with him is ‘tastes like the left wing of a dead seagull on an Islay beach’ whilst whisky aficionado Dave Broom also has a soft spot for an avian analogy, siting Charlie MacLean’s taste of ‘dead guillemot’ as his firm favourite.

From hints of paint thinner, motor grease and Cullen Skink, to notes of rotting fish, beeswax and Germoline, Glen Moray’s findings reveal that whisky lingo is indeed an acquired taste. Below are some favourites that the experts and Glen Moray fans have flagged:

Tastes like

• Pork scratchings dusted with paprika
• Dirt
• Damp cardboard
• Spicy cigarette ash
• A touch of the tack room
• Roofing tar
• Plankton
• Driftwood campfire smoke – a tasting note that is not all together unusual, however as Whisky Cast’s Mark Gillespie points out, one he has caught holy hell for from his family over the years who always want to know “when where you ever around a driftwood campfire on a beach?” 

On the nose, with a hint of

• Sileage
• Wet Labrador
• Toilet Duck
• A wet worsted blanket
• Damp autumnal hay
• Scented candle (but which scent?)

In a word…

• Grungy
• Masculine
• Flaccid
• Inoffensive
• Gullet-warming

And the best of the rest when it comes to descriptions:

• ‘Like a young cricket bowler joining the senior squad too young: some of the delivery is wayward but the power, energy and enthusiasm is there in abundance.’
• ‘Like a liquidised Tunnock’s Caramel Log in a glass’
• ‘It’s a sit back with a cigar and show off your cufflinks kind of dram’

Dave Brooms explains: “Our sense of smell is an internalised sense and therefore the most personal. That means we all have different memories and triggers when we smell something. It depends on your background, where you live, what you eat, when you first encountered an aroma. No surprise then that you get some wild descriptors – but they are the right ones for you.

The key is to know what they mean. If I smell clean rabbit hutch/hamster cage I know I’m smelling a malty whisky …You might smell biscuits, or dusty attics … or a dead mouse…

It hinders enjoyment if you don’t allow people to relax and allow their memories to come out.”

One thing many of the experts agree on however, is that it may be time to give whisky a bit of an update by being more alive to the aromas around us and using descriptors and terms that are universally understood.

Scents of Nandos, CBD oil, candy floss, Oreo, cookie dough and peanut butter are just some of the suggestions provided in addition to considering describing mouthfeel more often, think creamy, silky, velvety, oily, juicy and delicate.

And when it comes to Scottish Whisky, Dave Broom would like to see the following used as often as possible: the Gaelic word ‘sgrìob’ which describes the itchiness of the lip when a dram is required and ‘It’s Hoorish strong/ A-hoora strong’ (used as a warning to people who are about to neck a cask-strength dram).

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ABOUT GLEN MORAY

Glen Moray is one of Scotland’s best loved single malt whiskies. It has been crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, on what was once the Elgin West Brewery site on the banks of the River Lossie. Pure waters from the river, locally malted barley, distillation in traditional copper stills and maturation in American ex-bourbon casks combine to give the whisky its smooth, well-balanced, classic Speyside character. Glen Moray has always been a place where curiosity about flavour and cask maturation has been encouraged. Records dating back to the early days show new make spirit maturing in a wide variety of different casks – a highly unusual practice at this time.

A passion for experimentation and a deep knowledge of wood have been passed down through generations of Glen Moray distillers. The result is today’s exceptional and extensive range of whiskies, offering a flavour and style to suit all tastes. Glen Moray is the 5th biggest malt whisky brand by volume in the UK and is growing in international markets.

ABOUT LA MARTINIQUAISE-BARDINET

Founded by Jean Cayard in 1934, La Martiniquaise is an independent French spirits group with a large portfolio of international brands. Headquartered near Paris, the group operates in over 100 countries with 38 subsidiaries and production sites. The Group’s four pillars are Scotch whiskies, ports, brandies, wines, rums and craft spirits from France.  www.la-martiniquaise.com

THE DALMORE ANNOUNCES A

NEW CHAPTER FOR ITS HIGHLAND HOME  

The Dalmore Distillery announces investment programme

at its historic distillery in the Scottish Highlands 

Founded in 1839, The Dalmore has gone on to become an exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whisky, admired for its depth and finesse. Despite experiencing phenomenal demand for its whisky, the distillery has retained a uniquely intimate scale, nestled beside North Scotland’s great waterway – The Cromarty Firth.

The capital investment programme proposes a new whisky making facility and visitor experience, whilst retaining the distinctive character of the distillery. A beautiful Pagoda, sat elegantly atop The Old Dalmore Kiln, will mark the heart of the reimagined distillery. Existing estate will be repurposed, breathing new life into historic realms, to create an iconic distillery, home to an exceptional Single Malt.

The vision is to honour the whisky making artistry that takes place at The Dalmore. The distillery is unique; known for its idiosyncratic symphony of stills, and curation of exquisite casks, it has been the birthplace of an unrivalled catalogue of rare and aged releases. The programme will retain the character of the estate, taking great care with the unique nature of the distillery and that of its famed new make spirit. The reimagined distillery will allow The Dalmore’s whisky making artistry to shine.

The investment will ensure a sustainable future for The Dalmore and its exceptional whisky making. In 2021 the parent group – Whyte and Mackay Ltd – published The Green Print; their sustainability strategy, which set the objective to become Net Zero by 2040. This investment will create a new whisky making and production facility, built to exacting sustainability standards, and transitioning the site to a green energy solution.

The announcement is made as The Dalmore continues to enjoy unrivalled demand, becoming the No.1 fastest growing Single Malt. In 2021 The Dalmore achieved a record-breaking performance at auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, whilst industry authority Rare Whisky 101 recognised the brand as one of the world’s most investible Single Malts.

Threesixty Architecture have been appointed architects, Blyth and Blyth Consulting Engineers lead designers and whisky industry authority Forsyths are consulting on the process and the whisky making aspect of the development. Formal Planning Application has been submitted.

About The Dalmore

For 180 years The Dalmore has been a masterpiece in the making. A Single Malt Whisky like no other, overseen by an unbroken chain of visionary whisky makers whose entrepreneurial spirit and restless pursuit of the perfect whisky endures today. Whisky Making is lead by pioneering Master Whisky Maker Mr Gregg Glass, alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE, who celebrated his sixth decade in 2020.

The Dalmore Distillery was born with a noble purpose, to reimagine what it is to create an exceptional Single Malt Whisky. Our unique distillery is home to an expertly composed new make spirit, produced by our idiosyncratic symphony of stills. Our whisky makers select rare casks from the world’s finest bodega and wineries in which to mature our exceptional Single Malt.

When asked what the greatest Dalmore he has ever made is; our Master Distiller, Richard Paterson responded: “We haven’t made it yet.”

The Dalmore Single Malt Whisky is available worldwide in the finest outlets, from Harrods, London, Galleries La Fayette of Paris, Beverly Wilshire of Los Angeles, and Shangri-La, Shanghai. For those that enjoy fine travel, The Dalmore is now available at 40,000 feet with Emirates First Class, and onboard Queen Mary II of Cunard.

Worldwide demand for The Dalmore by consumers and collectors alike has continued to grow. The Dalmore is now the fastest growing single malt whisky worldwide[1] and a Top Three Whisky Investment.[2]

Whyte and Mackay – Award-Winning Whisky Makers

The Dalmore is the pinnacle of an award-winning collection of Single Malt Whiskies, produced by famed whisky house Whyte and Mackay. The collection includes Jura, the UK’s Number 1 [3]Single Malt, Tamnavulin[4], the world’s (IWSR, 2021) Single Malt and Fettercairn, home to enlightened whisky making.

In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.

Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers recently celebrated their 175 year anniversary, and were recognised as Distiller of the Year 2021. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.

[1] IWSR 2018-20, Cohort: Single Malts

[2] Citation 2: Rare Whisky 101: The 2016 and 2021 Collectors and Investors Single Enjoy responsibly, Malt Scotch Review

[3] Nielsen UK Off Trade MAT 26.03.22

[4] IWSR 2020

Celebrate Fèis ìle 2022 with Bunnahabhain

We have a limited amount of Bunnahabhain Fèis ìle bottles ready to send straight to your door with free delivery! The Islay festival is one of the biggest whisky events of the year and takes place during the last week of May when whisky lovers from all around the world come together to celebrate.

View all Bunnahabhain→

Bunnahabhain Abhainn Araig
Feis Ile Release 2022

An unpeated dram which has been matured in a wonderful combination of ex-bourbon and Pedro Ximénez octaves – a velvety rich whisky showcasing notes of milk chocolate, dried raspberries, honey, and macadamia nuts

£95.00
BUY NOW

Bunnahabhain 1998 Calvados Cask
Feis Ile Release 2022

A rare liquid aged for 23 years, including a two year finish in French Calvados brandy casks – a sweet and characterful dram with notes of pear, cereal, dried fruits and powerful spice, finishing up with a graceful floral departure

£400.00
BUY NOW

TOMATIN DISTILLERY

32 Year Old 1989 Connoisseurs Choice

Cask #4226

£635.59

1989 vintage sherry hogshead from the Highland distillery. 217 bottles. Tomatin 32 Year Old 1989 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill American hogshead #4226 bottled December 2021 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. 217 bottles

Buy Tomatin 32 YO »

Tomatin 32 Years

Nose: Dried mango and lemon peel aromasbalanced by cracked black pepper. Rich green apple comes to the fore alomngside subtle demera sugar.

Taste: Sweet seville orange intertwines with ripe banana and chilli spice. Bricght baked apples complement grapefruit zest and a hing of tobacco.

Finish: Full and slighty dry with pineapple and mature oak.

Tomatin Distillery was established in 1897 and operated with two stills until 1956 after which there were frequent and numerous additions culminating in 23 stills in 1986 making Tomatin the largest distillery in Scotland at that time. However, eleven were subsequently closed and it is currently equipped with twelve but operating with eight. Tomatin Distillery is a Highland distillery situated close to the Cairngorms National Park and, sitting at an altitude of 315m, it is the third highest distillery in Scotland. The official range includes Tomatin 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and the peated Cu Bocan range.

Don’t Miss an Aged Rarity from a Bourbon Powerhouse
Knob Creek 15 Year Old Limited Edition 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($119.99)
“Frankly, there isn’t much more I could ask of a great Bourbon.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

Having just returned from the whiskey road, the spirits team is full of Kentucky inspiration, which brings us to this sublime rarity from the inimitable bourbon powerhouse Knob Creek. The oldest bourbon to be released by the venerable distillery, this whiskey is assembled from the best barrels nestled deep in the center of the rackhouse. At 100 proof and with several more years of barrel age than Knob Creek’s standard release, this is a smooth yet powerful expression of one of America’s top craft bourbons. At 100-proof, it just sings with all the classic, aged bourbon character one expects from Knob Creek, without any overt influence from the alcohol on the impeccably balanced palate. Highly allocated and available at a market-best price, we fully expect avid bourbon fanatics to strike fast on this one.

Knob Creek 15 Year Old Limited Edition 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($119.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 05, 2022

Simply put, this is what most K&L Bourbon drinkers are craving these days: very well-aged Kentucky classics at reasonable prices and high proof. While some might argue that they really want cask strength and that prices in KY are getting out of control, I think this bottle still delivers on the parameters given the state of things in the whiskey world. It also falls squarely in the coveted “allocated bourbon” category, and we just don’t get enough quantity to put these offers on blast very often these days. The very respectable 100 proof has enough heat to carry the full load of the immensely flavorful whiskey. Butterscotch, toffee, caramel, saw dust, syrup—both maple and vanilla—and brandied cherries all fill the nose. The palate is sweet but balanced by a lovely kick and a mild pepper note. It’s full and mouth-coating, and the finish is long and bright. Frankly, there isn’t much more I could ask of a great Bourbon.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 442: Wolfburn 7 Year Old 2015 Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, sips for peace! Kudos to Belgian bottler Klubb23 who took the initiative to convince Wolfburn to release a bottling in favor of humanitarian actions for Ukraine. And although Wolfburn opened up the initiative further and bottled another 1550 bottles (with black capsule) for all markets, 112 bottles (with silver capsule) and separate label on the box were bottled for Belgium. The proceeds of the sale will go to the Solidarity Fund Ukraine 12-12. Mark knows it’s only a very small contribution that he can make by buying a bottle, but something is always better than nothing.

https://youtu.be/w9wKzZVJ6cc