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After 18 years of buying spirits for K&L, this special parcel may be my crowning achievement. Just a few years ago, it would have been nearly unfathomable that we could gain access to stocks of this quality at such low prices. We have, of course, bottled similar whiskies before. Years back, we secured a 1991 version from Hunter Laing, and only last year we offered a Faultline barrel from 1998 that sold out almost immediately. Now, we bring you another "Single Vintage Blended Malt" a full decade that barrel's senior for exactly the same price. It is an absolute coup and, if I’m honest, may get me in a little trouble, but that surely will not stop me. My style has always been to ask forgiveness rather than permission. The true challenge with stocks like this is how you label them. We cannot, under any circumstances, place the distillery name on the label, even though it is beyond doubt where the whisky comes from. The once-accepted trade name Burnside belongs to our dear friends at Cadenhead, and out of respect (and good sense, given their well-known litigious nature) we would never infringe on it. So the question becomes, what do we call this whisky? Our friends at Duncan Taylor sold us that wonderful barrel for our Faultline label that they dubbed “The Huntley,” a reference to their hometown. That option was off the table for us. After some consideration, we settled on a playful nod to our friends in Campbeltown: “The Sideburns.” We are not the first to use the name, but ours is plural, because who on earth needs just one Side-burn? Needless to say, this is one of the most outrageous deals I have ever had the honor of brokering for our shop. It represents the pinnacle of my ongoing effort to push back against one of the most damaging trends in our industry: the erosion of value for the end consumer. If you destroy the primary market for great whisky by pushing prices beyond reason, you eventually destroy the market itself. Too many producers have forgotten the first rule of selling anything: give customers what they want at a price they can afford. Start with the customer’s experience and build the system backward from there, rather than forcing corporate projections and marketing jargon down their throats. What do customers want? Great old malt whisky. But in today’s marketplace, finding a bottle over 25 years old that delivers real value in the glass is nearly impossible. Certainly there are other ways brands create value for their customers through lifestyle, image, luxury packaging, or grand storytelling. But if the true measure is taste—and for me it always is—you will struggle to point to a single product that offers what this whisky does at anywhere near this price. This parcel is, without exaggeration, one of the finest opportunities ever presented to lovers of Scotch worldwide. I hope this is only the beginning. If we can continue to secure parcels like this through new channels, then perhaps we can begin to chip away at the barriers keeping customers from enjoying extraordinary old whisky rather than just looking at them. For now, I am confident in saying this is easily the greatest Scotch deal K&L has offered in its 40-plus year history.

I initially hoped this wine would be bottled under our Anonymous Wine Collective label. When I was presented with this incredible parcel resting in barrel, I could hardly believe the pedigree of the vineyard source, the quality of the wine, and the exceptional pricing. Alas, the wine needed to find a home more quickly than the process of creating and approving a new Anonymous bottling would allow. Rather than miss the opportunity, I decided to utilize a label design the winery already had ready to go: Root & Stone. As it turns out, the name couldn't be more fitting. This Chardonnay draws incredible mineral intensity from mature vines rooted in the extraordinary rocky, marine shale soils that define this site. The fruit comes from one of the most iconic vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills and is crafted by a winemaker with decades of experience. Under its regular label, this wine sells for $50 per bottle and has a long history of glowing critical acclaim, routinely earning 92-95 points from top publications. Stylistically, this is a leaner, mineral-driven, almost Chablis-like expression of Chardonnay, with racy acidity, bright floral and citrus notes, salty, stony minerality, hints of toasted rye and golden barley, and just a subtle framing of oak. On the palate, the wine has wonderful tension and a beautifully linear feel, carrying through to a mouthwatering finish of rock salt and citrus zest. I'm super stoked on this wine. For anyone who loves taut, mineral-driven Chardonnay rather than a richer, more opulent style, I truly think Root & Stone delivers unbeatable value.

Capacious blackcurrant, blueberry and dark cherry fruit cradled in a coffee, cacao richness which fortifies the weighty structure and strident tannins. Oozing substance and charisma. (DWWA)

This is one of my favorite Sancerre estates and they never disappoint. Their 2024, is another winner. It combines the classic citrus fruit we're accustomed to with pleasant tropical notes thanks to the generosity of the vintage. Simply put, it's complex, satisfying and outstanding as always.

Pure and precise with a fine bead and great balance. Classic Chenin pear and apple aromatics with a streak of lemon. Vibrantly textured with a lemony freshness and a hint of toast on the finish. (DWWA 2022)

Sunny, rich and ripe, offering aromas of peach, pear and quince that lead into a texture that is unexpectedly lush yet still retains an elegant balance. The cuvée is based on young vines in St-Romain - two-thirds of the blend this year - complemented by grapes purchased in the Mâconnais. The result is a charming wine perfect for current consumption. (CC)

This is one of the most exciting Cognacs we've ever stocked, particularly now that we're able to offer it at a price that better reflects just how extraordinary the age and pedigree are. It's a total bomb, not suited for most large-house Cognac drinkers, but it will easily win over lovers of old, unobtainable American whiskey, intensely sherried malt, or cask-strength Armagnac. Lovers of dense and powerful dark spirits of any kind, take note. This is a selection from Bouju's oldest stocks, with a minimum age of around 40 years and a not insignificant proportion of brandies much, much older, perhaps 80+ years old. According to M. Bouju, it's bottled without coloring, filtration, or reduction of any kind. He insists the excessively dark color is the result of that lack of reduction, something that normally happens several times during an eau-de-vie's maturation and blending. Instead, he distills and reduces slightly before barreling, then does absolutely nothing else for the next four decades. When it reaches 100 proof naturally, it's transferred into a special vat, from which only a portion is removed for each bottling. So the young, 40-year-old Cognac mingles with small portions of every previous batch that has gone into the vat. The resulting Cognac is a force of nature. The nose puts us squarely in bourbon land: dense, dry, and woodsy, with fruit compote of figs and plums, cacao nibs, sweet herbs, and all kinds of baking spice. Relatively gentle on the palate considering the high proof, but very dry, with dark fruit and a huge minty, herbal finish. A benchmark by any standard. 5 Stars.

This long-aged bottle, from the best vintage of my career, is one of the most laughably great deals that I have been able to offer in 26 years as the champagne buyer here at K&L. The super long ageing (this is being released after Bollinger RD and Dom Pérignon P2 2008 after all!) has given this wine the fine brioche, the delicate beurre d’Issigny aromas and the pinpoint stream of fine bubbles that can’t be had any other way. The best vintage of the 21st century has given it concentration, length and a Puligny-Montrachet like lime character. This is a wine that will cellar well, and the long, detailed finish, loaded with freshness and chalk is something one does not expect even from a bottle at twice the price. Don’t wait to case up on this.

Readers will find a rich, flamboyant wine in the 2016 Barde-Haut. There is not a ton of subtlety here, but I am not sure that matters all that much given how immensely pleasing the 2016 is. Crushed rocks, graphite, lavender, blackberry, plum, and violet infuse a Saint-Émilion that offers tremendous textural richness as well as vibrancy. Most importantly of all, the 2016 is flat-out delicious. This is a decidedly opulent, dark Saint-Émilion with all of the elements impeccably balanced. I loved it. (AG)

Still very youthful and quite yeasty, this needs some aeration to open up, but the spectrum of fruit aromas goes right through the range of citrus and stone fruits, plus delicate notes of exotic fruit. Stunning concentration, racy acidity and wet-stone minerality on the incredibly focused palate. Literally breathtaking brilliance at the finish. This took more than two years to finish fermentation, but that long walk along a knife edge worked spectacularly well. *Top 10 Wines in the USA*

The 2022 GSM from Justin Willett is fleshy and floral, with great inner sweetness and lovely freshness. It's nicely lifted and full of spiced character, with blue fruit, green peppercorn, lavender, blood orange, iron and inky seaweed notes fleshing out in the glass. At only 13.5%, the 2022 has a surprising amount of textural heft. This is a lot of wine for $25. (BN)

After the smoking success of the 2022, we were thrilled to secure another small allocation and bring you the highly anticipated 2023 vintage. We returned to our friends at one of Piedmont's most legendary estates for this bottling. They continue to treat this Barbera with the exact same reverence and meticulous care as their top-tier Barolos—and it absolutely shows in the glass. Simply put, the wine is fantastic. The 2023 brings incredible energy and vibrancy, pouring a deep ruby and offering gorgeous aromatics of dark cherry, ripe blackberry, and a dusting of sweet spice. It is lush and velvety on the palate, yet perfectly lifted by that classic, mouth-watering Barbera acidity that makes it so incredibly food-friendly. It’s another rare opportunity to drink blue-chip pedigree juice at a phenomenal, everyday price.

Fragrant and herbal aromas, with pine needles, basil, green bell pepper, pea pod, black truffle, peppercorn, and smoke from smoldering dry mosses and wood shavings. It’s very smooth and refreshing, with pear, peppermint, lemon, lime, green tea, kiwi, and herbal notes, finishing with chopped mint, more herbal layers, and gentle peppery spice. A unique composition and a quintessential Japanese whisky experience. (JM, Summer-2023)

The Hyperion is the inaugural release in Redwood Empire’s new annual series devoted to exploring what is possible in American whiskey. Named for the world’s tallest known living tree, each edition will be entirely distinct and never repeated. Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn and Master Blender Lauren Patz began with Redwood Empire’s deep library of house-distilled and carefully sourced whiskey, ultimately selecting approximately 79 barrels representing more than ten mash bills from California, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The remarkably intricate final blend is composed of 32% bourbon, 30% rye whiskey, 25% wheat whiskey, and 13% American single malt, with components ranging from seven to fourteen years old. The result reaches well beyond any single category, combining bourbon’s caramel richness, rye’s spice and structure, wheat whiskey’s generous texture, and the roasted depth of mature malt. Bottled unfiltered at a commanding 110 proof, Hyperion opens with California walnut and roasted apricot before moving through pomegranate molasses, ripe stone fruit, cream, and warm baking spice. Toffee and toasted malt carry through the long, beautifully integrated finish. Bold, mature, and genuinely original, this is an extraordinary statement from one of America’s most thoughtful blending teams and a compelling beginning to a series that promises to become increasingly collectible.

The 2023 Pinot Noir The South Slope Vineyard pours a ruby red color and is lush with aromas of graphite, violets, cherry liqueur, and cedar. The palate is refined and refreshing, with a mid-weight feel, and it has finely coiled tannins, bright acidity, and a good deal of length through a wonderful and delicately salty finish. For my taste, it has a slight edge over the rest from this tasting. (AF)

The 2023 Pinot Noir Jack Hill comes from a site in Freestone-Occidental. It’s a proper standout in a range of excellent wines. The 2023 delivers so much concentration and density, yet it comes through without an iota of excess. Lavender, black tea leaves, sage, white pepper and new leather unfurl in a seriously complex, enticing picture. It’s crunchy and lively through the finish, echoing long with a lifted note of orange zest. The Jack Hill is fresh, persistent and laser-focused, not to mention a joy to taste, even in the early going. (BN)

Power, structure and complexity all come together in this spicy, full-flavored and relatively tannic wine. Wafting from the glass, black pepper, blackberries and hints of smoky oak meld on the palate with rich, saturated black fruits, grilled plums and singed sage. *Cellar Selection* (JG)

Product details coming soon.

Toasted American oak finishing follows the initial barrel aging for this Pursuit United “Double Oaked” rye, giving oak a role in two stages of maturation. Aged 10 years and 4 months, this K&L-exclusive single barrel is bottled at cask strength in a 700ml format.

This nicely dry, well-balanced and moderately tannic wine will clear the palate beautifully when eating meaty, rich dishes. Its subtle berry, sage and sun-baked earth notes are harmonious and interesting.

Founded in 1815 on Islay’s south coast, Laphroaig has more than two centuries of distilling history. Its Càirdeas series takes its name from the Gaelic word for “friendship.” The 2025 edition presents Lore at cask strength, connecting this annual release series with one of the distillery’s established single malt expressions.

Elisabeth and Jean-Marie Egrot have made one of the most elegant, textural and complete non-vintage champagnes that we carry- and it is still at an affordable price! It is composed of 80% Pinot Noir from the grand cru of Ay and 20% Chardonnay from the 1er cru of Louvois and dosed at a little under 8 grams per liter. This wine has the silky texture and tiny streamers that only patience brings and I think you will be surprised at the finesse of this bottle. That being said, the power is still there, and I love this Champagne with full flavored, hot smoked salmon!

Elisabeth Goutorbe and her husband Jean-Marie Egrot run their small-production Champagne house with minimal outside help, occasionally assisted by Elisabeth's father, René Goutorbe of Champagne Henri Goutorbe. From their 15 acres across Aÿ, Louvois, Tauxières, and Mutigny, they reserve fruit from only their best 2.5 acres—primarily in Aÿ with some Louvois Chardonnay for balance. This vintage wine is entirely Aÿ Grand Cru, two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. The 2019 vintage, perhaps the best since 2008, combined with older selected vines, marries fabulous chalk minerality with excellent structure. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer)

The 2021 Hair of the Bear is an unusual blend of 75% Petite Syrah and 25% Roussanne. It’s a combination that works so well. Inky dark fruit, licorice, cloves, chocolate and sweet spice all meld together effortlessly, while perfumed floral notes lift the finish. (AG)

Reserva de la Familia’s Private Cask Collection returns with one of the most intriguing tequila releases of the year. Edition No. 2 takes the house’s añejo, first aged in new American and French oak, and gives it a second maturation in a cask seasoned with traditional mole ingredients, including dried chiles, cacao, spices and charred elements. It’s a distinctly Mexican idea, bringing one of the country’s great culinary traditions into the cellar. The Blue Weber agave is hand-harvested in the Tequila region, cooked in traditional stone ovens and distilled at La Rojeña, the historic home of Jose Cuervo. The first Private Cask edition, released in 2023, explored Colombian oak through four different blends. This 2026 edition focuses on a single expression, with each bottle individually numbered. Only 1,200 six-bottle cases were produced, and the tequila is bottled at 80 proof. Reserva de la Familia has long given us a glimpse into the remarkable casks resting in La Rojeña’s cellars. This release finds a fresh way to tell that story, connecting the traditions of agave, oak and Mexican cuisine in a bottle that could only have come from Jalisco.

Product details coming soon.

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino has a beautifully inviting, multi-dimensional nose, with black raspberries, tea leaf, violets, rosemary, and subtle smoky accents that give way to brighter red cherry fruit with air. Medium to full-bodied, it comes across as one of the more approachable, immediate vintages from the estate in a relative sense, offering more early charm while still staying true to Biondi-Santi’s signature tension and freshness. It has ripe tannins, a sense of quiet structure, and a savory youthful grip on the finish that keeps it honest and age-worthy. This is a wine I would love to revisit with more bottle age. Drink 2027-2047. (AF)