K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2009 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/20/2019 | Send Email

I tasted this with Florent Fresse, export manager from Chateau Mouton Rothschild when he came to do a staff seminar in Redwood City. The 2009 Chateau Mouton Rothschild lived up to its billing as a super star of a super vintage, and was extremely expressive at 10 years old for a first growth. This is a chocolaty, full blown Cabernet style with deep dark fruit and vanilla aromas and flavors. This wine has lots of body and texture but does not in any way feel ponderous or fat. In fact, it finishes dry, bright and long. It is composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 % Merlot. It was an extraordinary treat.

Price: $899.99

2005 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (1.5L)

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/20/2019 | Send Email

This was the highlight of the tasting we did with Mouton Rothschild export director Florent Fresse. I loved the pure cassis, subtle cola and saddle leather aromas and flavors and was very impressed with the rich, full body and silky texture. To have so much ripe Cabernet flavor and mouth feel without heat or overweight notes is a unique experience. The wine was so aromatic and giving, yet completely dry and fresh. The finish expanded and went on forever- a truly top-notch experience! This wine is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Price: $2,799.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne

By: Cameron Price | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email

This Champagne slices and dices! Racey, vibrant, crunchy, rich and creamy white fruit makes this my new favorite right quick! I am biased as Amoureux makes my anniversary Champagne but, man oh man, this is awesome! DO IT!

Price: $49.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne

By: Cindy Westby | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email

As if fancy Alsatian Pinot Blanc and Champagne had a love child. With both white flowers, tropical fruits and the nervy backbone of champagne - this wine is truly unique. I would love to try a bottle with a simple green salad topped by grilled peaches, burrata and olive oil!

Price: $49.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne

By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email

How exciting to have an all Pinot Blanc Champagne! Beautiful florals and light brioche on the nose with a silky elegant yet somewhat tropical palate of enticing fruit. Fine and elegant in the mousse as well, with a slight touch of peach stone at the finish. An absolutely delicious and luxurious Champagne.

Price: $49.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne

By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email

Extremely aromatic and light on its feet, this champagne dazzles and delights! Lemon zest, citrus fruit, and floral notes leap and bound across the senses against a backdrop of soft minerality, and lit with accents of pale golden honey.

Price: $49.99

Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 6/18/2019 | Send Email

Woody and spicy and fruity! Oh my! This newest project from Four Roses is a special blend of six of their mashbill/yeast recipes. It is more robust and richer than the previous standards from Four Roses, lending a heavy-handed approach to a classic. Cinnamon and clove burst out of the glass with heavy oak toast scents and orchard fruits. On the palate, everything is just... more. Hotter spice is also joined by mint, while those orchard fruit notes are intensified and taste like they've been baked into a pie. The wood flavors get heavier too with well charred oak and cedar notes just barely calmed down by vanilla sweetness.

Price: $54.99

WE: 95

WA: 93

Inverroche "Classic" Gin (750ml)

By: Kaj Stromer | Review Date: 6/12/2019 | Send Email

This dead ringer for a dry London gin is actually from South Africa. The particular blend of local botanicals creates a near-perfect gin that leaves the drinker with the envious challenge of deciding whether to make a refreshing G&T or a classic martini. While the olive will work fine, I would recommend you go with the cocktail onion. Ultimately, either choice will serve you well. This bottle will be featured in my liquor cabinet for the summer. Gin & Tonics or martinis anyone?

Price: $34.99

Siembra Valles Blanco Tequila (750ml)

By: Kaj Stromer | Review Date: 6/12/2019 | Send Email

This glorious tequila smells like a vacation in a glass. As soon as I put it to my nose, the aromatics just swept me away. This super-premium tequila was the recent best-in-class finisher at our weekly staff tasting. The freshness, the fruitiness, the complexity, all make this a standout amongst peers. This is arguably one of the best all-arounders at the price point.

Price: $69.99

Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne

By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 6/6/2019 | Send Email

This bottle was more of a visual experience for me, this is what I saw while tasting it. The pale golden color is enticing. The texture was like a large bolt of silk fabric rolling out, while a thread of salinity weaved about. This is a Blanc de Noirs lover's dream champagne.

Price: $39.99

Wine Club

$34.99

McKenzie Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/5/2019 | Send Email

Could this be the best wheated Bourbon in the store? You need to try it to find out, but everyone at K&L is on board with that statement. With some of the big names in wheated Bourbon, like Pappy and Weller, now impossible to come by, it's really reassuring to know we can still find something of this incredible quality and taste available. It's great to be able to support the craft distillers in this era of giant conglomerates and McKenzie's attention to detail and dedication to this spirit is evident in this bottling. Not too shabby at all.

Price: $54.99

Patrick Bottex "La Cueille" Méthode Ancéstrale Bugey Cerdon Rosé

By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 6/3/2019 | Send Email

Fun, fun and more fun! Here’s a wine bursting with raspberries and bright red apples. Very light in alcohol (8%) and full of bubbles. Rosé from gamay and the very indigenous "poulsard" . For me this wine is picture perfect for Thanksgiving— the last thing I would want is a heavy and cumbersome wine for this late afternoon dinner. Instead this is a light, refreshing, food-friendly wine, with just enough residual sugar to pair just about perfectly with turkey, cranberry and everything that goes with it. And it doesn’t give me a headache! I could give this wine nothing less than 5 stars for what it is!

Price: $21.99

RP: 90

W&S: 90

Littlemill "Old Malt Cask" 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/30/2019 | Send Email

I know we may tend to over-use the phrase "don't miss this one" at K&L, but you it really rings true on this incredible bottling from the now closed Littlemill distillery. You will LITERALLY never see an offer like this again for this whisky. With its other age statements selling in the thousands of dollars, it's a little mind-boggling we have it for $250. Our spirits buyers truly worked their magic on this one. Though we hope to see Loch Lomond Distillery open it up again eventually, nothing can compare to what this highly sought-after distillery made 29 years ago. The nose is quite sweet, with briochy, light butterscotch notes. This continues on the palate, but with a hefty kick from spice to bring balance. This is one of the best whiskys I've had in some time and it's made all the more special knowing it will never cross my path again.

Price: $399.99

Littlemill "Old Malt Cask" 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 5/29/2019 | Send Email

A lively combination of sweet fruits, candied nuts, and fresh cream are readily picked up on the nose and the palate. The whisky is supremely easy to enjoy casually without much careful thought or consideration. Add to that the excitement of drinking something that can never again be produced and you have a special night. If you move past sliding dram after dram through your lips into the realm of contemplation, you'll be enchanted by a shockingly savory array of secondary characteristics. In a proper glass with lots of time to open, there develops a very pleasant mushroom/miso umami which blends perfectly with the sweeter tones of the nose and entry. It's a combination that will last in your heart and mind long after the last drops of this closed distillery are consumed.

Price: $399.99

Probitas (Foursquare/Hampden) White Blended Rum (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 5/25/2019 | Send Email

This delicious rum has a beautiful light color. In the mouth it was very soft and drinkable. It will go well in some cocktails but drinking it straight is an excellent option. It is pure and clean with layers of flavor. I did not pick up a lot of funk from the Hampden but nuance and expressive flavors . The rums from these two distilleries work well together.

Price: $24.99

Mortlach 12 Year Old "The Wee Witchie" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email

Mortlach is known for producing some beefy, big whiskys, and though the 12 year is certainly not lacking in power, there is an elegance and lift to it I haven't seen from Mortlach in the past. A rich mouthfeel thanks to the use of French and American oak brings lingering notes of citrus, light spice, and subtle toast. There is no obvious peatiness, only perhaps a very subtle hint of smoke from the barrel char. The distillery style shows through on the finish, which packs some power, savory game notes, and hints of leather. Overall a great offering from Mortlach at a pretty unbeatable price.

Price: $49.99

Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email

It’s almost unheard of to find a 16 year old sherry-cask whisky of this caliber from such a well-respected producer at this price point. Spicy, dark, bold, and complex this is Mortlach at its finest. This bottling is a little meatier and with more chocolate notes than the 12 year because of the use of straight sherry cask. Dark, nearly dried fruits meld seamlessly with leather and tobacco notes. The smoke quotient is quite low here, but there is a roasted note coming through. This is complex, smooth, and a great middle ground between the lightness of the 12 year and gaminess of the 20 year.

Price: $99.99

WA: 91

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email

There is a high level of dedication to the purity of the product from Cotswolds Distillery and this Single Malt Whisky is no exception. Because this is the first ever whisky coming out of the Cotswolds, they wanted to make sure it showed its terroir by locally sourcing ingredients. Aged in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and red wine casks, the resulting spirit is fruity, with a touch of malty richness. The more sweet preliminary flavors of butterscotch appear on the nose, while the palate shows more influence form the barrels, bringing dark red fruits and deep caramel. If you're looking for something different and a great in between for Bourbon and Scotch, you need to pick up a bottle of this.

Price: $49.99

WE: 94

2018 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 5/17/2019 | Send Email

This was one of our last stops on the en primeur campaign and it seemed by design. This was one of the best wines of the entire trip. The power and concentration were immediately evident, as rich notes of dark fruit, graphite and minerals took over the bouquet. On the palate the fruit took more of a red tone with nice sweetness, minerals and herbs, and the structure was impeccable as the tannins and acidity were already well integrated and balanced with a beautiful fruit driven finish.

Price: $89.99

2007 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 5/16/2019 | Send Email

I drank this with a medium rare skirt steak and frites- I was in heaven! This 2007 is drinking beautifully now but will easily cellar for another decade or more. The wine is dry and medium bodied yet packs an incredible amount of dark fruit power all at just 12.5% alcohol. I loved how it had classy polish with catnip like French oak but also had the vibrant gravelly finish that can only come from the best sites in Pessac-Léognan. This has everything from subtle baking spice and new leather to earth tinged cassis fruit. A week later, I am still thinking about it.

Price: $119.99

2016 Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 5/15/2019 | Send Email

I’m perennially impressed by this wine. Siaurac is located on an extension of the Pomerol plateau and has a relatively high proportion of Cabernet Franc at 20%. The result is a very complex, expressive wine with a beautiful perfume, bright flavors of red and blue fruit with mint and herbs, and great structure from a generous but balanced oak regimen. If you’ve tried any of the recent back vintages we have (like the 2010, in stock now) you know it ages superbly.

Price: $24.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email

How can a Champagne be so toasty and yet so bright and vibrant at the same time? It's picking up huge depth of flavor from spending seven years on the lees leading to a nose that's simultaneously doughy and toasty. I pick up aromas of a medley of soft orchard fruits here with pear, peach, and apricot at the helm. The palate shows off surprisingly bright acid and fresh green apples. Take this rich yet zippy Champagne to your next gathering because the range of flavors has something to please everyone in attendance.

Price: $37.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email

Our favorite champagne DI Fallet Dart never fails with each bottling I've tasted. This Grande Selection ages 7 years on the lees, which in turn produces the small bubbles. The beautiful aromatic notes with lees-y and toasty aromatics paired with a balanced acid backbone, notes of granny apples mid-palate and a lemon citrus zest on the finish, this champagne is a great value at this price!

Price: $37.99

Ramos Pinto "Quinta do Bom Retiro" 20 Year Old Tawny Port

By: Adam Winkel | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email

Tawnies are not an afterthought at Ramos Pinto, and casks going into this wine aren't something that one would typically see declassified into a 20-year blend. This is a single-quinta wine of fine terroir which displays surprising freshness and fruit at 20 years old. The wine is a noticeable step up from producers that are famous for their vintage ports and now put their best tawny casks into single-vintage colheita bottlings. This is a flagship wine with Ramos Pinto's best grapes and it isn't to be sold short.

Price: $79.99

Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Illya Haase | Review Date: 5/9/2019 | Send Email

The Four Roses barrel selection is amazing. This special bottling will be the distillery’s first permanent product-line extension in more than 12 years. And boy, was it worth the wait! It's crafted from six Bourbon recipes OESF, OBSF, OESK, OESV, OBSK, and OBSV, with a 6 to 7 year age statement, and the seldom used F yeast strain. It imparts some very unique fruit and floral components. The candied fruit flavor is poised and balanced on the palate along with the warming spice bursting through from the heavy rye influence. This is a must have for your Bourbon collection.

Price: $54.99

WE: 95

WA: 93

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email

This is another gem in our collection of champagnes. Don't let the low price fool you. There is a lot of work that goes into each bottle. It's made of all estate fruit and 7 years aging on the lees gives it a luscious mouthfeel and toasty aromas and flavors throughout the pallete. Makes a great gift in a classic looking bottle for only $34.99

Price: $37.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email

If you’d like a study on what “toastiness” in Champagne tastes and smells like, look no further! As most of my colleagues have already pointed out, 7 years aged on the lies adds a lot of complex yeast characteristics that pair lovingly with the simple and pure fruits. This is mostly ripe and clean apple driven, but the yeast…it’s almost as if you toasted a slab of Brioche and let the edges burn a little bit.

Price: $37.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

Franck Bonville constantly tops the staff picks charts and this blanc de blanc is no exception. The nose is clean, with a nice minerality and subtle floralness that opens up the palate with its balanced acidity with a peach blossom note. The finish is what takes the cake for me amongst other wines at this price point. Long and mouthwatering, this is a must for parties and celebrations.

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

You just can't get much better with over seven years on the lees with estate grown fruit and a 17th generation grower. With notes of toast with pear jam on the nose and a nicely balanced palate with orchard fruit and pineapple upside-down cake this is a great wine to share with friends. The finish is soft but lingers and keeps reminding you to tip that glass back. A truly great value for under $35.

Price: $37.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

Of all of the sub-50 dollar champagnes we have in stock right this moment, this is the one I'm taking home! Incredible vibrancy, amazing texture from it's seriously lengthy time on the lees, and some of the most elegant (fine) bubbles I've had in a long time. Although it's easy to consume, it's still a nicely complex Champagne that is filled with spice, and freshness in a lengthy finish. You can't go wrong with this as your party Champ!

Price: $37.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

I cannot express how amazing this bottle of Grand Cru champagne for this price. There are aromas of white flowers, golden apples, a hint of toast and finishes fresh, refined, with a touch of acid which is just enough to compliment the subtle rich and mineral texture. It's created with 50% reserves, which is a good amount to have in a bottling and aged just under 3 years on the lees. With all of these elements put together, it is really a top notch "gateway" Grand Cru champagne!

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

I am a sucker for a good Blanc de Blanc. Something about the rich, round, honeyed quality that chardonnay based champagne can bring always puts a smile on my face. Franck Bonville is an exceptional producer, and when you can get your hands on a bottle of 100% Grand Cru fruit at a price this low, it's a no brainer in my mind. The nose is fot, with notes of cherry, vanilla, and white flowers. The Palate is laden with cashew, marzipan, and a long toasty finish. This is a beautiful wine made from exceptional fruit that for the the price, is going to be hard to beat!

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

The Faillet family have been known wine growers since the early 17th century, but it wasn't until the marriage of Gaston Faillet and Genevieve Dart in 1970 that the house of Faillet-Dart was formed. the Grande Selection is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir, and the and even split of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier to round it out. The nose is toasty with notes of white florals, browned butter, and apples. The palate is rich with notes of under ripe stone fruit, apples, and a round marzipan finish.

Price: $37.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Chris DePaoli | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email

In Champagne, the law of the land processes and a systematic 7 years aging period lets the maddeningly beautiful Pinot Noir heavy Cuvee showcase wonderful toastiness. The palette of poppyseed and plum skin is carried thru a wonderfully soft mouthfeel, only matched but a lightly sweet nose. A great bottle of bubbles at any price really but one that is ridiculous at the cost.

Price: $37.99

Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email

This is a blend of six and seven year old bourbons. For fans of Four Roses it is a must try, and for those who don't already know Four Roses bourbons, it is a chance to see how good this distillery is. The nose is all sweet and brown sugar like. In the mouth it is complex with a nice richness that is on the dry side. It opens up with a little water and becomes a little softer.

Price: $54.99

WE: 95

WA: 93

Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email

I typically adhere by the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." It seems Four Roses disagrees. With three solid core offerings, they decided to double down on the small batch, offering this great, mid-tiered whiskey at a higher proof (you won't hear me complaining). On the nose I get sweet notes of candy corn and golden raisins with a slight hint of ripe green plum. The palate is definitely kicked up a notch from the regular small batch (which incidentally was my gateway bourbon). Sweet apple notes, with a bit of saigon cinnamon spice make their way forward and leave my tongue tingling with a bit of oak and a small hint of vanilla and finishing with sweet white peaches. The regular small batch got me into bourbon and Four Roses whiskey, and this new Select offering brought me back.

Price: $54.99

WE: 95

WA: 93

Singani "63" Bolivian Muscat Brandy (750ml)

By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email

Super aromatic and just plain pretty. This muscat based Bolvian brandy gives off aromas of tropical fruits, sweet green apples, and night blooming jasmine. The palate is soft and sweet and reminds me of a tropical fruit punch jolly rancher but with a dry finish. A fun, summery spirit that would work great in a number of cocktails (think cucumbers, limes, basil, and punches) or would be great in a spritz or just on the rocks.

Price: $29.99

2018 Pichon-Baron, Pauillac

By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email

2018 Pichon Longueville Baron is composed of 78% Cabernet and 22% Merlot and represents 50%of the crop. A big heady Cabernet with good ripeness, lot of dark chocolate fruit, no harshness, round but strong tannins. This is a classic Pauillac and a long runner. 2 Stars! Winemaker Jean Rene Matagon calls 2018 is a combination of 2009 by the weather and 2010 on the palate.

Price: $179.99

Inverroche "Classic" Gin (750ml)

By: Chris DePaoli | Review Date: 4/27/2019 | Send Email

A fantastic bottle of gin, the "Classic" offering from Inverroche doesn't lean to heavily into its designation, with spectacular results. Bright, floral notes bracing in a clean citrus beam that goes in and around the background juniper makes this a super cool G&T candidate, but also something that a cocktail aficionado could really sink their teeth into. The limestone region the botanicals are sourced from isn't super prevalent, but does lend a curious finish that is one of my favorite components of this bottling.

Price: $34.99

Darroze Les Grand Assemblages "20 Year Old" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 4/18/2019 | Send Email

The Armagnac discussion has recently been dominated by single cask, vintage, ultra rare bottlings. While that focus is well deserved due to exceptional quality, rarity, and affordability, I think that has come as the disservice of some of the classic blends. Marc Darroze and his family have been distilling Armagnac for farmers for decades. By taking payment for their services in the form of distillate, they have amassed one of the greatest collections of Armagnac stocks on the planet. Marc's prowess as a blender is unmatched and the results I think reach an apex of quality/price in the 20 year assemblages. It's nearly impossible to beat for complexity of flavor, accessibility of profile, and pure deliciousness. All for just a hundred bucks. The nose is packed with fruit, wood spice, and a touch of sweet tobacco leaf. The palate is expansive and soft without ever being flabby. An unparallelled finish where everything lingers in its purest and clearest form, is the true achievement and mark of unrivaled quality.

Price: $99.99

VN: 93

Cotswolds Non-Chill Filtered English Dry Gin (700ml)

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 4/17/2019 | Send Email

There is a lot of hand labor that goes into producing this gin and the taste certainly reflects those efforts. They peel hundreds of limes and grapefruits every week to get that fresh citrus note in there and all other botanicals are hand-selected for purity of expression. This gin is creamy and lively, showcasing floral and citrus notes, with just a touch of spice. Don't be alarmed if your gin turns cloudy after adding tonic or ice - that's just the incredible amount of botanical oils left in for phenomenal flavor.

Price: $34.99

WE: 90

2018 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/16/2019 | Send Email

Clearly the white wine of the vintage for me, with only a handful coming close. Honeydew, stonefruit, and a light touch of vanilla on the nose, the palate is textured and carries itself with a brightness that many others seemed to lack. Tasted multiple times throughout the week, it never failed to impress for its purity, density, and lift.

Price: $119.99

2018 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/16/2019 | Send Email

One of my favorite Pessac reds in the vintage, Domaine de Chevalier shows a signature textural refinement that carries a core of bright red fruit. The best examples we tried showed great layers with a bright finish and slightly chalky tannins that highlighted a great sense of place. Very compact and composed, there is a bright future for DDC's 2018 and it certainly be a noteworthy vintage for them.

Price: $89.99

McKenzie Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Robert Cash | Review Date: 4/11/2019 | Send Email

Hailing from my home state, the McKenzie Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon is a fantastic smooth sipper. Made from a mashbill consisting of local corn (70%), red winter wheat (20%), and malted barley (10%) this is a solid effort rivaling what the best names in Kentucky are producing. I thought the nose was beautiful, with notes of vanilla, honey, and subtle spices. On the palate, it's round, soft, creamy with hints of caramel with a great mouthfeel and a long finish. I really enjoyed this neat, but you could certainly add a few drops of spring water if you choose. This is a must have for any whiskey aficionado.

Price: $54.99

Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 4/9/2019 | Send Email

Mortlach Distillery, nicknamed "The Beast of Dufftown," is a very unique whisky for Speyside. Many of its neighbors produce elegant, softer Scotch; Mortlach comes to the table with familiar Speyside qualities, but it brings the weight of Highland Scotch. The nose opens with notes of raisin, roasted apples, nutmeg and cinnamon, dates, and light chocolate. The palate is rich and weighty, with notes of apples, baking spice, dried fruit, and OlorosO Sherry (likely due to its aging in ex-sherry casks). This is one of my favorite standard release (not that any Mortlach is standard) Scotches I have had in a long time. If you are a whisky lover at all, this is a Scotch that needs to be experienced.

Price: $99.99

WA: 91

Paolucci Amaro CioCiaro Liqueur (750ml)

By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 4/8/2019 | Send Email

Very interesting amaro, with delicious notes of cola, and loads of bitter orange followed by a soft sweetness that will make a perfect digestive for those new to the amaro world. Highly recommended.

Price: $34.99

WE: 90 - 95

Uncle Nearest "1856" Tennessee Whiskey (750ml)

By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 3/22/2019 | Send Email

Another whiskey with a neat little story behind it. Coming from a polytechnic schooling, I’d typically ask for sources but the juice seems to speak for itself. The nose is sweet and rich with notes of vanilla, orange peel, stewed figs and a bit of sweetgrass. The palate is soft with a light sweetness that hits the tip of your tongue. Then the sarsaparilla and oak notes start coming through and the finish is drawn out with a bit of sweet mint at the end. At 100 proof, it drinks beautifully and is something I wouldn’t mind having on my bar cart at this price point.

Price: $59.99

WE: 90

El Caballito Cerrero "Agave Chato" Blanco 46 Jalisco Destilado de Agave (750ml)

By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 3/21/2019 | Send Email

This bottle is a must-try for agave aficionados - a perfect example of the complex, rustic flavors of a properly made agave-driven spirit. Earthy, vegetal aromas create a dramatic first impression that quickly develops secondary characteristics of bright acid and tropical fruits. The palate is marvelous, marrying grassy herbs, saline and roasted peppers in a voluptuous, mouthwatering texture. The finish is remarkably clean, carrying an impressive mineral quality and a more meaty flavor than "proper" blue weber tequila. The chato displays a wonderful umami that I rarely see in the other steam-cooked spirits coming out of Jalisco. I wish we could see more products like this, rather than the homogenized recipes created by some of the stricter regulations in the state.

Price: $84.99

Gray Whale Gin (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 3/13/2019 | Send Email

A certified 1% For The Planet company, Gray Whale Gin not only makes great gin, they put their money where their mouth is and donate 1% of proceeds to Oceana, an environmental non profit dedicated to protecting the oceans. The selection of botanicals from along the whales' migratory route at first feels a bit kitschy, but one sip and you'll let that feeling go. It's a splendid combination of mint, juniper, and limes set off by a pop of fir, floral notes, and a touch of salinity from sea kelp. An interesting take on terroir (wateroir?), Gray Whale makes a wonderful martini, G&T, or even Negroni, making it a triple threat in your cocktail collection.

Price: $29.99

WE: 90

Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 3/10/2019 | Send Email

This is a much more serious bottling than the 12 Year Old, to be sure. The wood influence is ramped up considerably, leading to mature and complex flavors. Layers of dried fruit, cocoa, red berries, savory herbs -- thyme and fennel -- precede dense oak and ample spice, finishing with a meaty salinity and lingering notes of flaky pastry. The 16 Year packs a lot of sherry and malt character into a surprisingly affordable package.

Price: $99.99

WA: 91

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