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Staff Favorites - Stefanie Juelsgaard
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Reviews
Fallet-Dart "Cuvée de Réserve" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 09-05-2019
The Fallet-Dart house has a mind blowing history with 17 generations behind the line to perfect their Champagne and perfect it they have. With majority Pinot Meunier and four years of aging sur lees this bottle shows a richer, toastier style while still showcasing brightness and freshness hard to achieve with this blend. I love that Fallet-Dart is not afraid to experiment with a Pinot Meunier heavy blend, though it is not by chance it turned out phenomenally with the clear dedication and hard work in the craft they put in year after year.
Price:
$34.99
Hibiki "Japanese Harmony" Blended Japanese Whisky
Review Date: 07-11-2019
I was particularly excited to try the 'Hibiki Harmony' since it seems all of the Japanese whisky's are becoming so popular they sell out before most people get a crack at them. There is a definite sherry note present on the nose, and the palate is light, yet rich simultaneously. The Japanese whisky's generally seem to show as more elegant and prettier than those from other countries and this one fits that description perfectly. Though we did receive good stock this time, it won't last with the following the 'Harmony' has. Don't miss this opportunity because it probably won't come again and it's only going to become harder to acquire.
The 86 Co. Ford's Gin (750ml)
Review Date: 07-11-2019
With most Gin's sitting in the $30+ price range these days, it's really nice to see one of this quality at an affordable everyday price, because I will be drinking it everyday this Summer. Super smooth and full of citrus, jasmine, with a slight sweetness from the wheat, this may be the best London Dry Gin on our shelves.
Price:
$24.99
McKenzie Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
Review Date: 06-05-2019
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
Littlemill "Old Malt Cask" 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Review Date: 05-30-2019
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
Mortlach 12 Year Old "The Wee Witchie" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Review Date: 05-18-2019
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
Review Date: 05-18-2019
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.
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 05-18-2019
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.
Cotswolds Non-Chill Filtered English Dry Gin (700ml)
Review Date: 04-17-2019
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.
Jansz "Premium Rosé" Brut Tasmania
Review Date: 12-14-2018
The Tasmanian climate lends itself perfectly to sparkling wines, yet it's surprising how few people know about the phenomenal bubbles they produce. Jansz has always been one of my favorites because of this rosé. This wine is dry and crisp, but the high percentage of Pinot Noir gives great berry flavors and richness, and the barrel aging rounds out the sharp edges and gives a creamy texture and briochy taste. My colleague told me they tasted this wine as part of his WSET training and everyone thought it was Champagne. The cold, windy climate of Tasmania helps keep these wines super fresh and delicate. It really encompasses all those qualities we look for in a fantastic sparkling wine and they even use the traditional méthod champenoise to ensure the highest quality. This is a fantastic Champagne alternative at an easy everyday price.
San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore
Review Date: 08-21-2018
This is a great sophisticated take on Prosecco. It's leaner, complex, and has a more mineral-driven style than most of the others on the shelf. It tastes more expensive from its everything it has going on, but is still incredibly affordable. Clean, fresh, bright, bubbly - what more could you want?
Price:
$15.99
Woodinville Straight 100% Rye Whiskey
Review Date: 06-09-2018
I can't say that my experience with 100% Rye Whiskeys is all that extensive, mostly because it's so finicky to make, people don't usually bother. I was struck by how light the nose was and how fresh the taste. I was expecting bitterness and punch, but what I got was floral and modern. The palate was smooth and a little woodsy and herbal. If this is the style of 100% rye we should come to expect, I plan on drinking them much more frequently. I'm very excited to see something so unique on the shelves and will definitely be adding this to my bar for something original.
Arette Artesanal Blanco Suave Tequila (750ml)
Review Date: 08-18-2017
This tequila really showcases the pure, bright flavors that agave is known for when not muddled by added sugars or over-manipulation. With a lighter finish than many of the other tequilas on the shelf , this Arette Suave Blanco lends itself to sipping on its own quite nicely, without being overwhelmed by alcohol. Though I find it would do equally well in a cocktail since its lighter style can help it blend seamlessly with other elements without being an overpowering presence. The Arette is back in stock, but with its ability to appeal to such diverse tastes, it is sure to be gone again soon.
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-07-2017
I find this to be one of the most interesting Champagnes we have on the shelves right now because of how many different notes and tastes it possesses. While Bollinger is one of the larger houses in Champagne, they are absolutely one of the best. The amount of care and work they put into their Champagne is unreal and the dedication to quality is beyond almost all others. The average age of the wine in this bottle is ten years old and one third of it is barrel fermented, which is far less common in Champagne. Topping wine in this house is kept in magnum bottles, separated by cru and vintage, which means they have to pop every single one when it comes time to add dosage to the bottles. This painstaking work results in an unbelievable wine and one I would be happy to have anytime.
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-07-2017
The "La Cuvee" is one phenomenal release from well-known and highly regarded Champagne producer Laurent Perrier. Aged three and a half years on the lees, this wine exhibits the dedication LP shows to the quality of their Champagne. They have chosen to hold this wine back until it is perfected, rather than release it before it has had time to fully develop, even if that means potential years of lost income. The bottling exhibits a juiciness and fuller body than their "Brut" sparkler, but is still bright and lively from the acid-driven Chardonnay. While many Champagne houses believe great wine is made in the cellar, not the vineyard, LP shows a dedicated respect to the fruit in their bottlings, with the Chardonnay in "La Cuvee" being of exceptional quality. This is a special bottle that is still incredibly affordable and available for everyone to enjoy.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-07-2017
This Champagne hits all of the elements for me that I expect in a great sparkling and is one of the most well balanced I have ever come across, which is incredibly rare at this price. Fallet-Dart is situated in the far western, slightly lesser-known village of Drachy and this wine benefits from being made from only fruit grown on the estate. With up to seven years aging on the lees, this Champagne exhibits fantastic body and depth and the Pinot Noir heavy blend really showcases that varietal. The Chardonnay brings brightness and acidity and rounds of the palate fantastically. Definitely my favorite Fallet-Dart and at this price can be one approachable for any Champagne lover.
Price:
$37.99
ArteNOM "Seleccion 1579" Blanco Tequila (750ml)
Review Date: 02-14-2017
The sweetness derived from the higher altitude this agave is grown at really shines through and makes this an amazingly easy sipping tequila. The incredibly smooth texture accentuated with great fruit flavor and slight spice makes this blanco one to treasure. A wonderful expression of how high-end tequila could taste from an respected, established, individual producer.
Price:
$54.99