K&L Wine Merchants - Michael Pires Reviews

Omnipollo+ Moksa "All The Coconuts" Barrel-Aged Coconut Imperial Stout, Sweden (11.2 oz bottle)

Review Date: 06-11-2026

Omnipollo and Moksa were not messing around on this one! The coconut is not overwhelming and plays well with the dark chocolate, espresso, and biscotti. Thick and rich with an extremely long finish!

Price: $25.99

Wonderous Brewing Company "Wonderous Pils" Pilsner, California (16 oz. can)

Review Date: 04-15-2026

I am a big fan of this one! Delicious and crisp German-style Pilsner that checks all the boxes of the style. Malt-forward and soft up front with a wonderful biscuit note that shifts to noble hop spice and clean bitterness on the back end.

Price: $5.24

Jester King "Doom Forge- Dark Matter" Imperial Coffee Stout, Texas (16 oz. can)

Review Date: 03-13-2026

Phenomenal Coffee stout! Rich, round, and full bodied with Dark Matter's coffee well-integrated into the stout. Notes of Mocha, espresso, biscotti, flaked oats, black cherry, and cacao nib. Long finish with some bitterness perceivable mid-palate. A world-class imperial stout I look forward to revisiting!

Price: $6.49

There Does Not Exist "Skeleton Trees" Imperial Stout, California (500 ml.)

Review Date: 01-15-2026

TDNE did a phenomenal job with this one! A Generous and rich stout that is silky smooth. Flavors are nicely integrated with no notes overpowering the other (as can be common with other stouts with vanilla and coffee added). Flavor notes include dark chocolate, cacao nib, biscotti, hazelnut, oats, coffee, and vanilla bean. There is some sweetness to this one, but not as pronounced as a pastry stout would have. Another wonderful beer from the crew over at TDNE!

Price: $17.99

There Does Not Exist "Coppergate" Pilsner, California (16oz can)

Review Date: 08-17-2024

Crisp, clean, and dry pilsner that really showcases the quality of There Does Not Exist's lager program.

Price: $3.99

Kloster Andechs Weissbier Dunkel Hefeweizen, Germany (500ml)

Review Date: 08-17-2024

One of my favorite Dunkelweisse beers to come to the states. A bit of an obscure style of wheat beer, but well worth trying as it tends to be more complex than lighter-style wheat beers. Full-bodied and round dark wheat ale with notes of brown banana, caramel, cocoa, and vanilla bean.

Price: Hidden

Kloster Andechs Dopplebock Dunkel, Germany (500ml)

Review Date: 08-15-2024

A world-class Doppelbock from the Holy Mountain of Bavaria. Kloster Andechs is a 12th Century monastery that has brewing records dating back to the 15th Century. Full-bodied, round, with malty sweetness up front and a slightly herbacious bitterness in the finish. Notes of dried dark stone fruits, treacle, sweet bread, and cocoa.

Price: $4.99

Laphroaig 10 Year Old "Batch 016" Original Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 08-10-2024

This is Laphroaig 10 at its finest... straight from the barrel and no chill filtering. Notes of peat smoke, sea salt, leather, and orchard fruit. This really opens up with water added. A great pick for fans of big Islay whisky.

Price: $74.99

Bruichladdich 18 Year Old Unpeated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (blue wrap) (750ml)

Review Date: 08-10-2024

Full bodied and complex whisky with notes of sweet malt, baking spices, orchard fruit, and sea salt. This is a great choice for someone looking for a special malt with no peat influence.

Price: $169.99

WA: 94

Kanbara "Bride of the Fox" Junmai Ginjo Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 01-14-2024

A complex and savory Niigata sake with a name that draws inspiration from the legend of fox weddings around Mt. Kirin. Rich and dry style sake with notes of ripe banana, jackfruit, mushroom, and malted barley. This would pair wonderfully with most meats, including pork, steak, fish, or poultry, and savory dishes.

Price: $32.99

Heiwa Shuzou "Tsuru-Ume" Natsu Mikan Orange Wakayama Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 01-03-2024

A sake mimosa that is ready to go! Heiwa Shuzou's Tsuru-Ume series was created to showcase the wonderful fruit grown within Heiwa Shuzou's home prefecture of Wakayama. The focus of this one is orange varietals. Lower in alcohol than most sake (coming in at 7% ABV) and rich in dry curacao flavor.

Price: $39.99

Huchu Homare (JoTo) Watari Bune Ferry Boat "Liquid Gold" Ibakari Junmai Daiginjo Sake 720ml

Review Date: 11-25-2023

A phenomenal Junmai Daiginjo from the Ibaraki prefecture. Rich with aromas of banana, pineapple, melon, orchard fruit, and anise. Pure and elegant! A world class sake to be remembered!

Price: $119.99

Limit of 3 per customer

Bardstown Bourbon Company 6 Year Old "Origin Series #1" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Review Date: 06-07-2023

Bardstown Bourbon Company 6 Year Old "Origin Series #1" is smooth, complex, and, delicious. This is a high-rye malt bill Bourbon with notes of baking spice, caramel, orange, and stone fruit. One of the best value Bourbons I have tasted in a long time and well worth the price!

Price: $39.99

Reissdorf Kölsch, Germany (500ml)

Review Date: 04-23-2023

The go-to example of world-class Kolsch. Reissdorf's Kolsch is clean, crisp, and refreshing with wonderful notes of brioche, orchard fruit, and yellow flowers. There are many American breweries producing good-quality Kolsch today, but I argue almost none of them are as elegant or high in quality as the Kolsch of Cologne.

Price: $4.99

Hakushu 12 Year Old Peated Japanese Single Malt Whisky

Review Date: 04-21-2023

The Suntory Hakushu 12 generously shares sweet notes of grain with hints of peat, white flowers, and a soothing minty coolness in the finish. This is well made, quality whisky that is smooth and very enjoyable. A must try for any fan of Suntory!

Price: $159.99

Tequila Tapatio Blanco (750ml)

Review Date: 03-22-2023

Tapatio Blanco is a 80 proof traditional blanco Tequila (made from 100% Blue Agave) that is rested for two months in stainless steel tanks. This tequila has notes of lime, bell pepper, Jalapeno, yellow flowers, wet stone, and white pepper. Smooth and delicious with floral and citrus notes up front that shift into spice and vegetal notes. The body has a creaminess and minerality to it. A delicious blanco tequila that works great on its own or will shine in any tequila-based cocktail you throw at it.

Price: $39.99

Fortuna Sour Mash Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 09-23-2022

This is one of the best sour mash bourbons I have ever tasted! The higher proof and oily texture give this bourbon more body, making it pleasant, balanced, and complex. Aromas of caramel, stone fruit, curacao, and oak spice shine, and a little water opens this bourbon up nicely. A great sipper that would pair fantastically with a cigar.

Price: $84.99

Smith & Cross "Plummer & Wedderburn" Traditional Pure Pot Still Jamaica Rum

Review Date: 08-21-2022

Smith & Cross is the classic 100% pot still Jamaican rum. This is an essential rum to try for those unfamiliar with Jamaican rum. This classic Jamaican rum has high funky esters with complimentary notes of grilled pineapple, caramelized banana, green apple, tangerine, tobacco, and vanilla bean. Smith & Cross is full of flavor and wonderful to sip and enjoy on its own, but at 57% ABV (navy strength), it packs a punch. Smith & Cross is sublime in a Daiquiri or fantastic in other rum-based cocktails (Mai Tai or Kingston Negroni for example), so grab a bottle and enjoy!

Price: $34.99

WE: 95

Planteray "Stiggins' Fancy" Pineapple Dark Rum (750ml)

Review Date: 08-19-2022

Stiggins’ Fancy is a game changer for your next cocktail! This pineapple dark rum is one of my favorite rums to use in cocktails, and the sky is the limit on what you can do with it. What makes this rum so special is its delicious, fresh pineapple flavor that does not overpower the smooth and flavorful base-rum. It really shines when partnered with Plantation’s O.F.T.D rum (in most tiki cocktails). Jungle Birds, Mai Tais, Daiquiris, and Zombies… name any rum-focused cocktail and it will add depth and complexity. This rum is truly special, so grab a bottle or a case and enjoy!

Price: $29.99

Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Jamaican Rum (750ml)

Review Date: 07-27-2022

Appleton 21 is a rare and special rum that makes for a spectacular addition to any rum enthusiast’s collection. Appleton 21 is one of the smoothest rums on the market. When comparing it to Appleton 12, it is smoother, more delicate, with increased complexity. Aromas and flavors include creme brûlée, tangerine peel, vanilla bean, allspice, Demerara sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, alligator pepper, and browned banana. Keep this one out of any cocktails and enjoy it on its own, neat, as it should be.

Price: $139.99

WE: 97

Appleton Estate 12 Year Old "Rare Casks" Jamaican Rum (750ml)

Review Date: 07-27-2022

Appleton 12 is a personal favorite of mine and is my go-to first recommendation for anyone getting serious about rum. Appleton 12 is a bourbon drinker’s rum as it is smooth with less perceivable funkiness. Jamaican rums are known to be funky, but Appleton’s funky twang is much tamer than other Jamaican rums. It is apparent on the first sip that this rum has done some barrel aging, but it is not overpowering. Appleton 12 has notes of caramel, toasted hazelnut, green apple, vanilla, caramel, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and Alligator pepper. Appleton 12 is a workhorse too. It is not only a great sipper, but it works great in cocktails. It can shine in many cocktails, but I enjoy it when make a top-shelf 1944 Mai Tai.

Price: $49.99

WE: 95

Barbancourt 5 Star 8 Year Old Haitian Rum (750ml)

Review Date: 07-23-2022

Rhum Barabancourt 5 Star is a classic Rhum Agricole from Haiti that is well worth checking out! This rhum has pronounced minerality and vegetal/grassy characteristics that are joined harmoniously by notes of vanilla, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, which come from its time in French oak casks. Barbancourt is made using pure sugar cane juice, which gives the rhum a lighter body (like the rhums of Martinique) when compared to molasses-based rums. The 5 Star is a great, affordable introduction to Rhum Agricole because it does not have a high level of funkiness that is typically synonymous with the Rhum Agricole. Besides being a great sipper, this rhum can be used to add complexity to most cocktails calling for a Rhum Agricole. I personally enjoy it in a Ti’ Punch.

Price: $34.99

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