This week, we are delighted to be releasing an official single cask bottling which is now available online and in-store. It is cask #351, a first-fill Ruby Port barrique which was filled on the 8th May 2015. Aged full-term at the distillery, this single malt whisky was bottled on-site at 58.4% ABV on the 19th November 2021. A wonderfully rich and spicy single malt with notes of peach stones and sweet orange fondant, followed by a long, sweet finish.

Please note, orders are limited to one bottle per customer.

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A real star of Diageo’s 2021 Special releases, this is the sort of whisky made for cold evenings and warm fireplaces. Talisker has been in business supplying hearty, fortifying drams to the people of Scotland since 1830 and is rightly held up as one of the world’s great distilleries. This limited expression is bold and briny on the palate with white pepper, apple butter, nori and lots of earthy smoke. The label features a Scottish Christmas sea monster – don’t google it or anything but they’re a real and very traditional part of yuletide in the highlands.

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A Highly Limited Japanese Collectible
Hombo Shuzo Mars Shinshu Komagatake “Limited Edition 2021” Single Malt Japanese Whisky

(700ml) (Elsewhere $215) ($179.99)

“There is little doubt that this special release will disappear quickly and enter the pantheon of unobtainable Japanese legends.”

— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer—

Japanese whisky has been taking the world by storm, and demand always seems to outpace supply, with no signs of slowing down. So, when we have a highly sought-after, limited edition in stock in any quantity, it’s time to shout it from the rooftops. The Hombo Shuzo Mars Shinshu Komagatake “Limited Edition 2021” Single Malt Japanese Whisky picks up right where the best-selling 2020 rendition left off. This fabulous spirit is distilled and matured as a single malt in the small village of Miyada in Nagano prefecture, and the quality and authenticity here are unimpeachable. It’s common practice for other brands to bring in spirits from other countries and bottle them as Japanese or use a rice base to bump up production levels, so it’s often difficult to know when you’re getting true Japanese character and style. With Mars Shinshu, however, whiskey aficionados can rest assured, they’re getting the real deal. Like all previous releases, this one will disappear in a flash, so anyone looking to get in on the hottest trend in the world of collectible whiskey shouldn’t hesitate for a moment to lock in a healthy supply. While you’re at it, be sure to browse the table below for our complete selection of other offerings from this one-of-a-kind producer.

Hombo Shuzo Mars Shinshu Komagatake “Limited Edition 2021” Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml) (Elsewhere $215) ($179.95)

K&L Notes: The much-anticipated, limited-edition 2021 single malt release from Japan’s highest elevation distillery is finally here. The Mars Shinshu Komagatake is 100% distilled and matured in Nagano. It was patiently aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry American oak sitting in the shadow of Mt. Komagatake, the largest peak in the Kiso mountain range. Prunes, honey, vanilla, and tropical fruits mark the nose and blend into a palate of sweet oranges, green melon, and dusty cocoa powder. The finish is long and smooth with notes of vanilla and persimmon. The United States will see just 3,456 bottles of this highly prized release. Nonchillfiltered and bottled at 48% ABV.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 03, 2021

The Hombo Shuzo company has a complicated history. They’ve been distillers for over 100 years, originally producing Shochu. In 1949, they founded a whisky distillery based on Masataka Taketsuru’s original still designs after his famous studies in Scotland. The original stills have been moved several times and decommissioned and recommissioned over the last 70 years, but today they operate at the Mars Shinshu distillery. Shinshu sits at nearly 800 meters below Mt. Komagatake, making it the highest altitude distillery in Japan and giving it unfettered access to impeccable mountain water. It is one of two distilleries operated by the Hombo Shuzo parent company of Mars (the other being Tsunuki in the south).

While the Mars portfolio is tiny compared to the giants of Japanese whisky, their reputation for stunning quality is unquestioned. Here in the 2021 Komagatake LE release, it’s clear yet again that they are making some of the most compelling whiskies in Japan. The color is a striking liquid amber, and the smell of fruit leaps from the glass upon first pouring. There is a perfect balance to the nose—fruity, spicy, warm, lifted, and a touch floral. Fresh apricots and dried persimmons mingle with cinnamon, vanilla, and golden apples. Stone fruit blossoms heavy with sweet nectar make for a nice contrast to the lower earthy tones that shyly hide underneath all the fruit. Honey and salted nuts come to mind.

The palate softens even further and nose brings out more overt sherry notes and hints at fresh grass. The finish is just a skosh hot, but in a very pleasant way, not overwhelming at all, just brash enough to be noticeable. All in all, this is an exceptional dram, and unlike so many Japanese labels on the market today, it’s actually made wholly in Japan by a company with a long history of production. The high-altitude aging at the Shinshu distillery in Nagano is arguably perfect for slow and complex development of flavors. There is little doubt that this special release will disappear quickly and enter the pantheon of unobtainable Japanese legends.

Also Available from Mars Shinshu:

We’re extremely fortunate to have such broad access to what K&L spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley calls “some of the most compelling whiskies in Japan,” and while the lion’s share of attention is paid to the highly coveted Limited Edition series (and rightly so), we encourage our savvy spirits clientele to get very familiar with the depth of offerings from one of our favorite distilleries in the world.

BENRINNES DISTILLERY

25 Year Old 1996 Celebration Of The Cask

Cask #962101

£259.75

Benrinnes 25 Year Old 1996 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single sherry butt #962101 October 2021 by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers for the Celebration of the Cask. 482 bottles. You most definitely won’t be disappointed with this exceptional Speyside single malt. Luxuriously rich, yet elegant with sultanas and hints of Christmas spice that is perfect to be savoured this festive period.

Johnnie Walker

Gold Label Cracker

1 x 20cl Bottle

Gold Label was designed so that its flavours unfold in waves, with rich fruit and vanilla alongside spicy and sweet woody notes and a gentle smokiness that can be enjoyed in a classic Scotch cocktail, neat or over ice.

Encased in a branded Johnnie Walker cracker, this 20cl bottle would make the perfect gift for any blended Whisky lover.

£19.95

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ralfy review 907 – Kilkerran 12yo @46%vol: (2021)

WhistlePig Rye Whiskey kicks off UK and European focus with Moët Hennessy

Following the announcement of the international partnership between Moët Hennessy and WhistlePig in 2020, the rye whiskey brand and leading luxury drinks company are launching a full sales and marketing drive in the UK and Europe this month, with larger scale activity planned for 2022.

The collaboration includes Moët Hennessy acquiring a minority stake in the highly awarded Rye whiskey distillery and brand from Vermont.

The product focus for the UK in 2022 will be WhistlePig’s award-winning core range of Rye Whiskies: WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Aged 10 Years, Old World Rye Aged 12 Years and Estate Oak Rye Aged 15 Years. Next year will also see the introduction of more limited edition releases to the UK and European markets, as well as a younger rye to encourage new drinkers to explore the brand and rye whiskey category overall.

On and off trade activations are being planned throughout the year with specialist partners in both channels, with the emphasis on industry education and advocacy.

Jeff Kozak, CEO of WhistlePig said: “We are delighted to be taking WhistlePig to market in both the UK and Europe, having the chance to showcase our very special range of whiskies to consumers who might already know of us, but have not yet had the chance to hear our story or taste our highly decorated range of whiskies.”

“The continued interest in American whiskey from consumers within the European market, alongside the dynamism we are starting to see again in the on trade offers the perfect opportunity for our brand and whiskies to hopefully flourish.”

Since being founded in 2007, WhistlePig has been one of the driving forces in American craft whiskey and innovation, with rye at the heart of everything they do. The distillery has won multiple global awards for its range of rye whiskies, ensuring that the WhistlePig name is synonymous with world-class spirits and a pioneering leader in the creation of rye whiskey.

The core range of whiskies includes a spirit that has been matured in Vermont Oak, grown on the land surrounding the distillery. Vermont Oak is some of the most northern Oak in the world, which means more growth rings and more depth of flavour in the final matured spirit.

Alexei Rosin, Managing Director at Moët Hennessy UK said: “It is an exciting time for American whiskies and our partnership with WhistlePig offers a fantastic opportunity to expand our spirits expertise, whilst building a portfolio of both luxury and craft boutique brands.”

The WhistlePig range of rye whiskies are available via Clos19.com and Majestic, as well as other specialist retailers and on trade accounts, RRP from: £80. For trade enquiries, please contact Moët Hennessy UK.

About WhistlePig:

Founded in 2007, WhistlePig has become the #1 distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury rye whiskey category in North America, featuring the bold and often untapped flavour of Rye.

As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world.

For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com.

About Moët Hennessy:

Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of LVMH, regroups twenty-four Maisons, recognised internationally for the richness of their terroirs, the quality of their products and the craftsmanship with which they are created.

Please drink responsibly.

THE GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERY WINS

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

The Speyside distillery was crowned, along with  

multiple category wins for its products 

After an extraordinary year of innovation and achievement, the Single Malt distillery lead by industry veteran Billy Walker won big at the Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards for 2022.

The awards, both run by Whisky Magazine, “celebrate the best and brightest people and places in the sector” and “commend the best whiskies from around the world”.

Having beaten out all competition at last year’s ceremony to win World’s Best Single Malt, The GlenAllachie was named Visitor Attraction of the Year for 2022. The judging panel cited the overcoming of the adversity stemming from the pandemic as the main contributing factor to the bestowing of the title.

The distillery began offering revolutionary “virtual” tours from the safety of their on-site tasting room in May 2021. The experiences included an in-depth tour video, followed by a discussion with hand-made replicas of the various stages of the production process, and concluded with a tutored tasting of four drams presented in a complimentary keepsake bag with a Glencairn glass.

The company also excelled in the product awards, scooping category wins for The GlenAllachie 12-year-old in its age banding within the Speyside Single Malt group, and MacNair’s Lum Reek 12-year-old in the Blended Malts Under 12 years class.

In addition, The GlenAllachie 15-year-old picked up a gold medal at the esteemed awards, entered by hundreds of products.

Reflecting on the monumental wins, Walker states:

“I’m beyond delighted for the GlenAllachie team for securing such hotly contended accolades at these coveted Whisky Magazine awards. The past two years have been incredibly challenging for the entire industry, however I’ve been witness to the inspiring grit and determination of our team. These incredible awards are a testament to each and every one of them. I will be proudly raising a dram in admiration this Christmas.”

In early 2021, Walker was inducted to the Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Hall of Fame in recognition of his lasting contribution to the Scotch whisky industry.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts an almost 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2021 stands at an eye-watering £1m/$1.2m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol, and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits, encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum, and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

Exceptional Rarity and a Truly Monumental Rival to Kavalan
Amrut 8 Year Old “SCWC Exclusive” Ex-Port Pipe #4672 Unpeated Indian Barley Single Malt (750ml) ($200.00)
“This stuff is TNT. It’s the type of bomb that any sherry head or even bourbon lover will appreciate. No one comes away from this one unscathed.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

For those of you who got in on our recent offer of the stunning Amrut 6 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sherry Cask (and there were many of you), you’ll be thrilled to know we got our hands on a second cask from this iconic Indian distillery that’s even more explosive. The 6 Year Old took the intensity to 11, but this 8 Year Old Ex-Port Pipe just broke the dial entirely. Originally sent to the SoCal Whisky Club, we are beyond fortunate to be able to offer it at K&L, and it stands as one of the most monumental single malts we’ll offer in 2021. Rivaling the very best South Asian cult-collectible single malts, specifically Kavalan, at a fraction of their prices, this mind-blowing bottling captures a level of complexity and extraction after just eight years in barrel that few, if any, Scottish single malts can achieve after 30 years’ ageing. It all has to do with the unbelievably hot and humid subtropical environment in which these barrels rest. Spirits buyer David Othenin-Girard declares, “the sheer power and intensity here are nearly unprecedented.” So is the price. While not inexpensive, it comes to us at a staggering bargain relative to its contemporaries, and any single malt collector should jump at the chance to add this remarkably rare and singular whisky to their repertoire.

Amrut 8 Year Old “SCWC Exclusive” Ex-Port Pipe #4672 Unpeated Indian Barley Single Malt (750ml) ($200.00)

K&L Notes: This unbelievable single cask was selected especially for the SoCal Whisky Club, but they’ve graciously allowed K&L to offer this exceptional barrel to our customers. The wonderful distillery in Bangalore has never before offered single casks in the US, so snagging this one at eight full years of age was an absolute coup. Eight years in the heat in Bangalore is like 30+ in Scotland. This whisky, more so than even the Oloroso bottled exclusively for K&L, is reminiscent of the other great tropical malt producer, Kavalan. The sheer extraction that’s been achieved, both from the wood and the wine, is simply not possible in the Scottish climate, and this is ultimately the closest thing to any of the Taiwanese cask-strength whiskies that we can get right now. And while the price may seem high, it is only a fraction of what Kavalan sells their Solist Port Cask for and more than $100 less than Amrut’s own 8 Year Old Greedy Angels bottling that we carried several years ago. For anyone looking for a powerful wine influence, and a true BOMB of the highest order, there is nothing on the market today at any store in the US that beats this exceptional barrel in terms of extractive intensity and depth of flavor.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 17, 2021

This 8-year-old Amrut is exactly the type of whisky that gets people excited about a new distillery. Not that Amrut is new by any means, but the two casks we’re offering now are the very first single casks EVER sold in the US by the venerable Indian distillery. The lack of these sorts of offerings is honestly why I believe more hardcore whisky fanatics don’t consider Amrut to be in the top tier. It’s not because that can’t make great older whiskies, but rather when they do, they’re so limited and expensive no one can get to taste them. That’s not to say that this whisky isn’t expensive, but compared to equivalents from this distillery and the few others like it, it represents a very good value. I was so happy that they agreed to sell it to SoCal Whisky Club, because they would only allow me to buy one barrel at a time! And now we get to sell both! Let’s taste it. The color is dark brown sherry with reddish glints. The nose is just a massive explosion of aromas of stewed red fruit, exotic wood, earthy bay leaf, heady nutmeg grinds, and the finest roasted arabica beans. On the palate, the sheer power and intensity are nearly unprecedented. Only Kavalan can match this absolutely explosive entry, filled with rich black cherry, pungent cinnamon, sweet and savory treacle syrup, dark roasted coffee, and pine resin. It doesn’t have the tannic bite that some of the Kavalans have but has all the length and texture. This stuff is TNT. It’s the type of bomb that any sherry head or even bourbon lover will appreciate. No one comes away from this one unscathed.

Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 03, 2021

This might be THE whisky of the Christmas season. Don’t let the 8-year age statement fool you; the extraction here leaves whiskies at triple the age in its dust. Honestly, there is so much flavor here that it’s difficult to unpack, which should tell you all you need to know about how exceptional and worthwhile it is. But I will do my best to expound further. Another bottling that fills a room with its heady, intense bouquet, this malt looks noticeably thick and sticky in the glass. Candied nuts, ripe figs, dark plum, mouthwatering licorice, and toffee all but overwhelm the senses. It drinks like a Christmas cake loaded with spice and made with the finest barley flour imaginable. It’s so decadent and rich that you don’t notice the high proof, and therefore it doesn’t really need water, but you’ll be rewarded for adding a couple of drops to lengthen everything out so you can taste it more clearly. Tea and citrus bloom from the glass, and the palate reveals dried mango, sultanas, sandalwood, berries galore, and allspice. What I can only describe as magic pulls everything together in a tightly bound package with a beautiful bow. With so much going on, I worried it would be overwhelming, but it remains not only cohesive, but also utterly delightful. Whether you’re a die-hard Scotch fan or someone looking to break into the category, this is a tremendous offering that everyone should enjoy. Happy holidays!

There is nothing more special than finding a beautiful bottle under the tree and we’ve put together a list of whiskies even the most discerning of drinkers will cherish. From rare releases and limited-editions, to bottles with a personal touch, these gifts will stand out from the rest on Christmas morning.

  EXPLORE GIFTS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR