K&L Wine Merchants - Andrew Whiteley Reviews

Glen Oak 28 Year Old Single Malt Scotch (750ml)

Review Date: 11-16-2023

This evokes a deep memory of sharing a dram with my grandfather as a young man. Not that this is what we were drinking mind you, but it just feels old school. Such rich malt flavors that are at the same time super soft and approachable. It's one of those rare personal experiences that reminds me of falling in love with Scotch for the first time. It feels like whisky from a bygone era. And in many ways it is. There surely isn't much well aged blue chip distillery stock floating around the market these days without an astronomical price tag. Let's have a go: The nose has a big display of honey drizzled freshly cut stone fruits, perhaps on a bed of toasted granola and cream. Oxidized cinnamon and nutmeg add intrigue. Baked bread and honeydew melon come through with time in the glass. It rolls around the palate, supple and thick. Sweet and malty are the predominant taste notes. There is a ton of vanilla as well and just enough barrel tannin to provide something to chew on. The finish closes out with shortbread cookies and hints of milk chocolate. While it isn't a bomb of any kind or a big bruiser high ABV crazy single cask, there is such delightful and good natured Scotch that I have to tip my hat and pour one out for Granddad with a smile.

Price: $149.99

Wild Common "Still Strength" Blanco Tequila (750ml)

Review Date: 11-14-2023

There are a small number of distilleries in Mexico that dominate the world of quality Tequila production - while the vast majority of Tequila distilleries produce spirits that are heavily laden with additives which sweeten and thicken the spirit, a small number achieve excellent natural results through hard work and traditional methods. Cascahuin is one such distillery. The few brands that have their Tequila made there all have their own tweaks in production, but across the board the quality is excellent. Wild Common is produced under the watchful eyes of master distiller Salvador Rosales Trejo and the agaves are roasted for 72 hours in small 12-16 ton brick ovens. Extractions is via a combination of stone tahona and roller mill before being naturally fermented with wild yeast on the agave fibers. Double distilled to proof on copper and stainless steel pot stills and you've got a beautiful classic Tequila at 50% ABV. The nose is a lovely combination of sweet roasted agave, citrus fruits, aguamiel, wet stone, and a little extra kick from the ABV. On the palate, a dazzling array of flavors ranging from a reprise of the aromatic components to a quite unexpected herbal and spice profile offering up cinnamon bark, mugwort, and lavender. The high ABV helps this carefully crafted Tequila stand out in a cocktail and deliver the flavors crisply in a neat pour.

Price: $59.99

Rancho Tepua Reserva Del Vinatero Palmilla Blanco Sotol (750ml)

Review Date: 11-10-2023

The pricing here is crazy, but so too is the quality. This sotol is super pure and clean, crystalline even. The nose is beautiful and feels like polished chrome. It is gently smoky, saline, herbaceous, and is reminiscent of a cedar humidor. It also offers hints of carrots caramelized in brown sugar. The palate is slick, maybe just a touch oily. It has a wonderful texture and more sweetness than you might expect from the more herbal and salty nose. At 30 bucks, this is an easy no brainer if you're a fan of interesting Mexican spirits. Feel free to do anything from thoughtful sipping to casual Margaritas and Palomas with this one.

Price: $29.99

Speyburn Arranta Casks Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 11-04-2023

The Arranta is a big surprise. Not only is the price eye-poppingly low, the whisky quality is tremendous and it’s bottled at 46% ABV to boot. Matured in 100% first fill ex-bourbon casks its got a ton of sweet vanilla and toffee notes intermingled with roasted nuts, honeycomb, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and pepper as well as smoky oak. The ethereal, but distinct, smoky quality is really a shocker. To my knowledge Speyburn only makes unpeated malt, so it was very unexpected. The only explanation I can come up with is that it comes from the barrels themselves and their interaction with the worm tub condensed malt which retains more congeners that develop in interesting ways. The weight is on the fuller side of medium and the balance of fruit, wood, and ABV is just about perfect. Take into account that it’s now 1/3 of the original price, and I have no complaints whatsoever. It’s an easy case up decision in my book, as you’ll never regret having a little extra quality malt around during the holidays.

Price: $14.99

Speyburn Bradan Orach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 11-04-2023

Old school Speyside Scotch for a steal. Speyburn has always been all about value, but this is a next level deal. Speyburn itself hasn’t really changed much since it was first established in 1897. Built by Charles Doig (the inventor of the classic distillery pagoda roof to vent the kilns) the distillery has a beautiful classic architecture but is easy to miss as it is tucked into a tiny glen just up the road from Glen Grant and Craigellachie. A key factor in the flavorful nature of the whisky is the continued use of their worm tubs - a slow and labor intensive piece of equipment that most modern distilleries have foregone in favor of the more efficient but less characterful use of a shell and tube condenser. The decision to keep the worm tubs has meant that Speyburn’s whisky retains a fuller and richer character than it otherwise would. It takes on wood beautifully as it has the structure to stand up to active casks. As for the Bradan Orach - usually for sale around 30 bucks -it features predominately ex-bourbon casks in its maturation. It has a beautiful round maltiness. It’s bright and fruity showing golden apples, ripe pear, lemon cake, and whipped cream. It’s lively and energetic in spite of its modest proof (80). For a mere $10 this is crushable, delicious, old school Speysider whisky that you won’t think twice about setting on the table for your out of town relatives this holiday season or any time you want a tasty drink without breaking the piggy bank open.

Price: $9.99

2009 Craigellachie 13 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 11-03-2023

Long before you get to the whisky you'll be struck by yet another amazing Scotch label from the Thompson Brothers. While the worms and pineapples may seem a bit unappetizing at first, it's a clever nod to Craigellachie's continued use of worm tubs for condensing their famously fruity distillate. A visual pun that I find exceptionally appealing. As for the whisky itself - there is a reason this distillery is so damn famous; the combination of a uniquely appealing character to the malt and a quirky, old fashioned way of doing things. These are intertwined as the retained use of worm tubs leads to a slow but limited amount of copper contact compared to shell and tube condensers and a higher degree of sulphur retained in the new make spirit. This is the good kind of sulphur. The kind that leads to magic with time in cask, not stinky off notes like a sulphur treated sherry cask that can ruin a whisky or the rotten eggs that can come from a lack of reflux in the stills. It's the characteristic that sets apart many malt distilleries prized for their full body and rich flavor profiles. Some become meaty like Mortlach, others intensely fragrant and rich. Craigellachie is one of the fragrant and rich varieties. Big and bold - it is a whisky that has weight and presence even at a young age and a super complex fruity profile - hence the pineapples. This lovely cask from the Thompson Brothers pours with a pale straw color and the nose is a heady array of citrus, cereal grain, exotic tropical fruit, and a phenomenal cross between gun smoke and a grease gun. The palate is expansive. Supple and mouth coating it offers nut flour pastries and concentrated honey. Hints of smoked meat tango with dried apples, fruitcake, and a deep bass line that is hard to finger - funky and compelling. The finish brings in a dollop of spicy gingerbread and toasted cloves. It’s a fantastic whisky from a special distillery at a stunningly affordable price.

Price: $64.99

2010 Domaine de Baraillon 13 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

Review Date: 10-28-2023

I often say that vintage Armagnac doesn't really start to sing until it's about 15 years old, but this 2010 Baraillon is going to be a vintage to watch in the coming decades, because it is so damn good even at a mere 13 years of age. A precocious teenager, it is already jumping out of the glass with mature notes of honey, pine sap, saw dust, and of course thanks to its youth - tons of fruit! Golden peaches in syrup, green grapes, citrus preserves all answer the roll call. Cinnamon bark and flashes of tobacco leaf hint at the complexity yet to emerge in the coming decades. On the palate its easily enjoyable flavors range across the aforementioned fruit preserves and honey and whatever the precursor to varnish is - the characteristic flavor of many mature Armagnacs isn't quite there yet, but it seems like it wants to be. The finish pings back and forth between dry tannin and sweet fruit. At 47.4%, it seems to have been reduced from some earlier bottling that made it to market which were at 49+ degrees, but it is hard to imagine it has given up any power. Presumably it will be left to rest for many more years to come and savvy drinkers will line up bottlings from this stupendous vintage over the years.

Price: $54.99

2006 Ardbeg 17 Year Old "Dramfool - Red Bag" Bourbon Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 10-26-2023

This might be the prettiest Ardbeg I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. It is one of the most integrated sets of flavors, all matched well in intensity, leading to a big, but profoundly balanced whisky that I've seen from the South Shore. In a classic ex-bourbon hogshead for 17 years and at 57.2% ABV it defies expectations from the first nosing. I admittedly thought I'd be smacked by a huge waft of smoke and meat was stunned when instead I was met with a dark honeyed richness and earthy forest floor and freshly cut peat blended with a sweeter burnt oats and freshly made caramel candies. A perfect balanced saline note ties those cereal flavors to the peat in perfect harmony. Vanilla threads throughout. The ABV which feels hardly noticeable in the aromatics jumps out at first sip, but quickly dissipates into a more spicy mouthfeel and assertive conveyer of flavors ranging from a smoldering peat bog and pork cracklings to a salt water taffy factory, cigar box, and even dipping into the floral realm. It is all framed by sweeter spices like cinnamon, clove, and candied ginger. A light oily sheen hovers over it all. It feels crazy to try and make a comprehensive list of tasting notes for this dram; I'm positive that with each revisit to this bottle over the next several months and with varying water additions I will unlock 5-10 new impressions for every pour. Such is the nature of harmonious yet intense whisky - it has more to offer than can be given in one sitting. While Ardbeg is so often lauded for it's over the topness, it is the perfect execution and balance (as well as of course it's rarity) that makes this 17 year old expression so worthwhile.

Price: $399.99

Kweichow Moutai Feitian Baijiu (375ml)

Review Date: 10-17-2023

It's hard to dance around the fact that many American palates find Biajiu (pronounced bye-joe) impossible to drink. And yet - it is the world's most popular liquor. As someone who is personally and professionally dedicated to exploring the great spirits of the world, I cannot ignore a category that is beloved by hundred of millions of people. I also cannot clam to be an expert in this particular category. In truth, the first time I tasted baijiu, I was surely in the same boat as most Americans - I found it strange and wild, overwhelming, and nearly impossible to shoot down (the customary way to serve it). However, thanks in large part to the dedicated importer of, among many other Baijius, Moutai, I found myself with a broader and more regular exposure to the category than the average American. It has grown on me tremendously. I have come to find it buguiling and complex. It offers much of what I love about the other great spirit traditions of the world - immense flavor, generations of history and cultural customs, quirks of individual production, beauty and design, and companionship and connection over a glass of liquor. While I feel I must offer a 'caveat emptor' disclaimer on the intensity and wholly different flavor profile of this spirit to the portion of K&Ls customer base that is uninitiated in the flavors of Baijiu, I also couldn't resist the opportunity to bring to our customers one of the world's most important spirits at nearly half off its regular price for the past few years. If you know, you'll know this opportunity was too good to pass up. Now, as to how it drinks: the aromatics are insane - a combination of sweet and savory unlike really anything else in the spirit world. Moutai is famous as an example of 'sauce aroma' Baijiu, and indeed there is a lot of soy sauce like flavors in the nose. A complex and nutty fermentation to be sure. But its really so much more than that. It is sweet, like incredbily overripe tropical fruit reminiscent of some clay pot agave distillations. It's funky, like the screeching of a car tire. Toasted sesame seeds and garden fresh snap peas come to mind, not unlike some of the craziest Jamaican rums. Some gnarly kombuchas comes close to mimicking the wilder aspects of the aromas. Indeed, production involves a very much alive ferment with a mix of yeasts and fungi like koji all in operation together. Instead of a mash or wort like whisky production, fermentaton and distillation take place on wet yet solid grains (sorghum and wheat). Direct steam injection into the fermented mass lifts the alcohols and they are run to a condenser. The spirit is then aged ranging from just a year or two on up to decades, mostly in sealed pottery. The process refines and blends all these flavors together. When you get around to tasting it: holy smokes. Texturally it feels almost like two different liquids. It is at once very soft and mouth coating (again clay pot agave distillation comparisons are hard to ignore), and yet the alcohol (53% ABV) gives it pinpoint focus and bite at the same time. The flavors range from sweet citrus, peel, pith and juice on down the line to complex compost/forest floor and overripe bananas. While Moutai has the undeniable reputation of being the very best, I don't feel I personally have enough breadth and depth in the category to make that claim for myself. What I can say with certainty is that it is the most "complete" spirit I've tasted in the category. By that I mean it is compelling at every stage of tasting and exudes hallmarks of quality - complexity, texture, weight, heady aromatics, clean but lengthy finish, and it leaves an impression. If you are a fan of Baijiu, you should not miss the chance to grab this bottle at the best price we've seen in years. If you regularly give it as a gift, time to case up. If you are interested in exploring the wide world of spirits but have never had Baijiu before - this is starting at the top of the pyramid.

Price: $278.88

Four Pillars "Faultline" K&L Exclusive Australian Gin (750ml)

Review Date: 10-11-2023

The single most asked for gin at K&L has returned again after a short absence. The Faultline Gin was originally conceived to showcase some of our distillery partners creativity and expertise in unique one off batches, but when our original batch of Four Pillars Faultline sold out, we struggled to find a suitable follow up. This gin had become such a staple in so many customers' drinking habits and the requests for more bottles were so voluminous, that we simply couldn't forego a second batch, and a third, and a fourth. There is a good reason it is K&Ls best selling gin - it's just about perfect in every way. It's a spectacular blend of unique Australian botanicals—a real terroir-driven gin. And of course it smacks of the beautiful citrus that is the hallmark of Four Pillars. The most special thing about this gin is the combination of texture and liveliness. It has a sultry mouthfeel, but perks up feeling fresh and zippy at the same time. It's a fascinating combination that lends itself to savoring on its own, or in a martini (but the G&Ts and Negronis go down real easy). Your wait, and mine, is finally over. Faultline Gin is back in a big way.

Price: $34.99

1983 Domaine de Jouanda - Cask #179 "K&L Exclusive" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

Review Date: 10-11-2023

The difference between two casks can be extraordinary: the same vintage, the same vineyards, the same barrel type, the same aging conditions and yet; wholly different brandies emerge after 40 years of side by side aging. I love side by side comparisons like this. sometimes it's easy to pick a favorite, sometimes you find you love them both for different reasons and can't decide. This is one of those can't decide situations. Aromatics: Cask 177 leads with thick maple syrup and bramble fruit compote layered with saw dust, spar varnish, and sweet herbs like a dewy Sierra meadow in spring. Cask 179 leans more towards black cherries, tobacco, leather and mahogany, savory herbs and pepper spice but maints that varnishy characteristic that is such a hallmark of ancient Armagnac. Palate: 177 has a Pepsi-cola/Robitussion type sweetness. It's thick and very bold with a complex spice profile ranging from vanilla bean to mugwort, sassafras, mint, and mace. 179 is a nuttier more Coca-Cola type profile. It feels a little brighter and more lifted on the palate leaning into cracked peppercorn and burnt citrus peel. Candied almonds and roasted chestnuts and a light caramel drizzle. Finish: 177 is maybe more for the Bourbon lovers - despite being a touch lower in proof at 44.9% it feels warmer and sweeter relying more on the caramel, vanilla, and maple syrup and yet has a lovely bite from the alcohol right in the middle of the finish mimicing a high proof Bourbon. 179 lingers and remains super clean and bright. It's freshness drives on for nearly a minute from just a single sip. The impression is well balanced between sweet and spice, but decidedly lighter on its feet than 177. After nearly an hour with both Armagnacs in side by side glasses, I cannot come to any conclusions regarding a favorite, they're both phenomenal and of the utmost quality. I can easily see sipping cask 177 by the fire on a cold evening curled up with a book or 179 with lively conversation surrounded by friends - both situations I hope to be in this upcoming fall and winter.

Price: $109.99

1983 Domaine de Jouanda - Cask #177 "K&L Exclusive" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

Review Date: 10-11-2023

The difference between two casks can be extraordinary: the same vintage, the same vineyards, the same barrel type, the same aging conditions and yet; wholly different brandies emerge after 40 years of side by side aging. I love side by side comparisons like this. sometimes it's easy to pick a favorite, sometimes you find you love them both for different reasons and can't decide. This is one of those can't decide situations. Aromatics: Cask 177 leads with thick maple syrup and bramble fruit compote layered with saw dust, spar varnish, and sweet herbs like a dewy Sierra meadow in spring. Cask 179 leans more towards black cherries, tobacco, leather and mahogany, savory herbs and pepper spice but maints that varnishy characteristic that is such a hallmark of ancient Armagnac. Palate: 177 has a Pepsi-cola/Robitussion type sweetness. It's thick and very bold with a complex spice profile ranging from vanilla bean to mugwort, sassafras, mint, and mace. 179 is a nuttier more Coca-Cola type profile. It feels a little brighter and more lifted on the palate leaning into cracked peppercorn and burnt citrus peel. Candied almonds and roasted chestnuts and a light caramel drizzle. Finish: 177 is maybe more for the Bourbon lovers - despite being a touch lower in proof at 44.9% it feels warmer and sweeter relying more on the caramel, vanilla, and maple syrup and yet has a lovely bite from the alcohol right in the middle of the finish mimicing a high proof Bourbon. 179 lingers and remains super clean and bright. It's freshness drives on for nearly a minute from just a single sip. The impression is well balanced between sweet and spice, but decidedly lighter on its feet than 177. After nearly an hour with both Armagnacs in side by side glasses, I cannot come to any conclusions regarding a favorite, they're both phenomenal and of the utmost quality. I can easily see sipping cask 177 by the fire on a cold evening curled up with a book or 179 with lively coversation surrounded by friends - both situations I hope to be in this upcoming fall and winter.

Price: $109.99

Farolito "Horno" Nochixtlan Oaxaca Ancestral Mezcal (750ml)

Review Date: 10-04-2023

It is exceptionally rare to see Ancestral Mezcal under $100 these days. We're proud to be able to offer this at well over half off the current market average. It is a profound spirit and yet surprisingly delicate. The nose has just a hint of the vegetal markers so often found in A. americana and instead layers onto those pepper green notes with more sweet cooked agave and tons of minerality. For as pretty as the nose is, the palate is where this Mezcal really shines. Incredibly refined for clay pot distillation, it is sweet and silky on the tongue, almost milky in texture. The flavors range from confectioners' sugar to vanilla bean, fresh mint, candied ginger, and caramelized spicy peppers to milk chocolate and fleur de sel. It's a screaming deal for some of the most unique and compelling agave spirit on the planet.

Price: Hidden

Octomore "14.3 Edition" 100% Islay Barley Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 10-03-2023

14.3 is perhaps the crown jewel of the Octomore releases - always focusing on Islay provenance. It features 100% Octomore Farm, Islay grown Concerto barley from the Village and Lorgba fields that are a stone's throw from the distillery. Aged in Bourbon and ex red wine casks, like its brothers, it is also 5 years old. Unlike the .1 and .2 releases, it is however peated to an almost comical 214.2ppm. Even more than the other two release this year, 14.3 fits best "The Impossible Equation" tag line that adorns the bottles. Under no circumstances should an absurdly high proof (61.4% ABV), insanely heavily peated, and only 5 year young spirit work. But, such is the magic of Bruichladdich. It simply does. It's elegant and graceful, but never fearful. It is "the iron fist in the velvet glove" of the whisky world. Peaty, yes. Sweet, yes, Approachable....yes, amazingly so. The nose smacks of sweet barley and hints at that iodine note that Laphroiag is so famous for, but this perhaps leans a little more like chlorine - in a good way (from my ex-swimmer perspective, I find it oddly comforting). The fruit is a bit greener, more snappy apple than ripe orchard fruit, and the wood profile feels much sweeter than both .1 and .2. The milk chocolate of .1 is still here in a big way, but a few cacao percentage points darker. It also feels the most balanced of the 3, a remarkable feat given the intensity of the specs. If you're looking for the most all 'rounder profile, it's got to be 14.3.

Price: $299.99

Limit of 2 per customer

Octomore "14.2 Edition" 100% Scottish Barley Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 10-03-2023

14.2, like it's .1 variant, is also 5 years old and features Scottish mainland Concerto barley peated to 128.9ppm. However, the cask regimen is completely different and it shows in every aspect of the whisky. While .1 acts as a control whisky every year, .2 is all about maturation and its effects on the dram. A combo of Oloroso and Amarone casks with a final marrying phase in Pauillac casks produces a very complicated wine barrel profile with a surprising amount of sweetness. There is a distinct dry oxidative note from the Fernando de Castilla Oloroso barrels, but the sticky red fruits of Amarone and glossy polish of Pauillac both come through on top of that. At 57.7 feel quite a bit softer than 14.1 and fuller on the palate at the same time. Of course, it also features the intense smoke and maritime notes, but the interplay with the red fruits of wine maturation make for a completely different whisky. The smoke feels toned down while the flaky pie crust and vanilla is dialed up. Fans of wine casks matured spirit, take note, this is one of the best examples out there from the distillery that has been seriously exploring the possibilities for decades.

Price: $249.99

Limit of 2 per customer

Octomore "14.1 Edition" 100% Scottish Barley Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 10-03-2023

Octomore season is upon us. The 14th release of the world's most heavily peated malt has arrived, as always, in limited quantities. The 14.1 release features Bourbon casks and Concerto barley from the Scottish mainland. Peated to an astonishing 128.9ppm and aged for 5 years at Bruichladdich on Islay, it once again shows that even with high peat levels, the beauty of malted barley and careful wood selection will always shine bright. At 59.6% ABV it is a big brash whisky, but there is so much orchard fruit, vanilla, and fine sea salt, that you hardly notice the alcohol. The nose obviously screams of peat, but perhaps not so obviously, doesn't feel overtly smoky. It's more maritime and moist earth rather than blazing fire. On the palate however - that big bold peat fire rolls out. It's hot to the point of almost feeling spicy. Fruity and yet piquant, like a well ripened pepper. Underneath that is a bit of a surprise with a milk chocolate note that is a pure delight and carries on through the finish. 14 years into one of the most interesting experiments in whisky the Bruichladdich team has coaxed more flavor than ever out of the peat fire and malt.

Price: $219.99

Limit of 2 per customer

1991 Islay 31 Year Old "The ImpEx Collection" Single Cask #700048 ex-Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 09-28-2023

While the distillery is unnamed, there is a reasonable assumption this is from the same parcel of barrels as the phenomenal Redacted Brothers 29-31 year old Islay malts we saw in the middle of last year which were rumored to be from Laphroaig. While 30+ year old Islay single malts regularly require 4 digit sums, this wonderful ImpEx cask comes in well below that mark. The quality is phenomenal. I'm now on my 3rd glass and each one hits a little bit differently. The very first pour smacked of peat smoke. Kind of shocking how robust it felt given the 3 decades of aging and the tendency for that bombastic smoke to fade in old age. The 2nd pour brought intense tropical fruits to the nose ranging from pineapple to mango and throwing in citrus for good measure. And the 3rd pour seems to present more saline/maritime. A smoldering pile of sea kelp and cold ocean spray. While I've found each pour to hit differently aromatically, the palate remains a complex and creamy mix of all 3 tied together with a rope of vanilla and warm freshly baked bread. It's exceptionally soft without being weak. At 48.7% it's no slouch for 31 year old malt. It would be easy to get lost in this dram for hours on end.

Price: $599.99

El Gran Legado De Vida "Still Strength" High Proof Artesanal Blanco Tequila (750ml)

Review Date: 09-26-2023

The new golden age of Tequila is upon us. We are drinking it right now. I am convinced that in just a few short years we will look back at the current price and availability (even if it doesn't always feel that easy to find!) of high quality, unadulterated, and delicious Tequila and shake our heads wishing we had stashed a few more bottles. The market is on fire right now and many prices are lurching upwards in fits and starts as ripe agave continues to be difficult to source and only a handful of distilleries are dedicated to producing additive free Tequila and equipped to do it well. But if you look in the right places there are still brands delivering exceptional Tequila at very fair prices. El Gran Legado De Vida is just such a brand. Produced and bottled at Cascahuin, but made with very ripe Michoacán agaves from the brand owners home town, the new high proof bottling will check all your favorite Tequila boxes. Sweet roasted agave abounds. Redolent with tropical fruits and the tiniest hint of smoke hiding in the background. The texture is thick and mouth coating with a special kick of minerality that is distinctly saline in nature. As a testament to the incredible quality of the liquid, the high ABV is hardly noticable in and of itself. It's just that it carries the fruit so well and amps the intensity up to 11 when compared to the supremely approachable standard proof version. With only 1000 bottles coming to California in this first installment, it's unlikley to be a staple on our shelf anytime soon. But for a brief moment in time it is available.

Price: $79.99

Suntory "100th Anniversary - Yamazaki" 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 09-13-2023

Yamazaki has undeniably set the standard for Japanese whisky for the past century. While there is no shortage of contenders popping up today, it seems that Suntory and Yamazaki in particular are poised to be the standard bearer for the category for the next 100 years. Adorned in a special and understated 100th Anniversary livery this latest batch of the 12 year old single malt pours a solid gold. The nose is a complex array of ripe stone fruits, warm cereals, freshly churned cream, vanilla, and tropical fruits and spices. The Mizunara oak is seamlessly integrated. Candied ginger, lemon grass and sundried raisins are carved in relief against a background of sweet baking spices. On the palate the fine balance makes it somewhat difficult to pull obvious notes at first. With a little more time in glass and several sips in the beautiful weight and texture unfolds into toasted coconuts, grilled peaches drizzled in honey, lemon curd, and nutty granola. The finish reprises the complex wood profile provided from a mix of cask types and the lovely spices that brings linger on the palate for a long time. While this is surely a collectors item to most, it tastes fabulous, so if you can bring yourself to do it, open it up and drink it!

Price: $300.00

Suntory "100th Anniversary - Hakushu" 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 09-12-2023

For my money, Hakushu is the most elegant peated single malt on the planet. It never loses the absolute perfect balance of sweet roasted malt, crisp apple that I find to be it's true hallmark, and sumptuous peat that delivers earth, smoke, and savor all at once. An uplifting pine note keeps with the feeling of forest bathing that Hakushu 12 always brings. This bottle features the elegant and understated 100th Anniversary label to celebrate Suntory's centennial. It seems that after 100 years their prowess as single malt producers only continues to grow. Bravo.

Price: $300.00

Angel's Envy "K&L Exclusive" Cask #230367 Private Select Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)

Review Date: 09-06-2023

Caramel in color with a slight tinge of garnet this particular barrel is beautiful before you even open the bottle. Pour it into your glass and you're greeted by a wide array of candied corn, toasted caramels, Madagascar vanlla, fleshy ripe plums, sweet dark cherries, charred oak, and a melange of spice ranging from Tellicherry black pepper to Ceylon cinnamon and warm East Indian nutmeg. The high ABV delivers tons of power and intensity in aroma and flavor, but paradoxically, nearly no burn on the palate. In a blind proof trial, you'd be hard pressed to place this accurately, a testament to the amount of stuffing this particular barrel of Bourbon carries. The finish is long and the red fruited sweetness from the Port barrel lingers forever. Going back to nose your empty glass you might forget whether you poured yourself a Bourbon or a glass of Carpano Antica. It pays to be choosy - we had to cycle through several rounds of barrels to find just the right fit for the store, but in the end, this barrel was the perfect blend of Angel's Envy sweet and easy going profile and the intensity we want in our single barrels.

Price: $89.99

2008 Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 08-09-2023

It's unclear how exactly this beautiful malt came to be. Bunnahabhain famously makes unpeated and heavily peated malt, but this gem sits firmly in the middle. My suspicion is that the bulk of sales to IBs come from the run after the switch from heavy peat to unpeated which explains the large variation we see across independent bottles of Bunna. This one is decidedly in the sweet spot after 14 years in refill hoggie - it has a lovely balance. Golden straw in the glass the nose offers hints of earth and peat underneath a cloak of sweet herbal notes ranging from fresh mint to honey glazed carrot. Gentle stone fruit balances out the more savory aspects and it is all set off by a kiss of salt. Golden malt stands proud in the profile. On the palate it's extremely approachable at 54.2% ABV. As you sip the peat profile steps to the front. A forest floor-esque profile of rich earth mixed with brine and barrel spice. Sweet barley tea and soft vanilla round out the palate and carry long into the finish. If you're looking for an introduction into peat or love the Oban and Highland park profiles but crave that salinity of Islay, this is a perfect dram.

Price: $109.99

Nashville Barrel Company 8 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Single Barrel #2770 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 08-09-2023

Sweet and spicy. This 8 year old is a big, big Bourbon. It's high octane. It is full of honeyed corn bread sweetness and smacks of cinnamon laced vanilla ice cream on the nose. The aromatics sky rocket from the glass. It's almost too intense to nose, but if you set the glass on the table, sit up straight, and inhale, it's an absolute pleasure. If you're brave enough you can work your way into it and pull out complex maple syrup, toasted oak, dark roasted coffee beans. The palate is just as big. One sip and you're mouth is watering from all corners and left with the impression of a fresh baked apple pie with double the cinnamon and nutmeg dusted on the apples. The sweetness of cooked fruit comes through, but is decidedly overshadowed by the oak spice. If you choose to add water you'll find you don't sacrifice power and intensity of flavor but do mitigate the alcohols volatility. A perfect feature for cocktailing or drinking on the rocks. While this is our first barrel selected from NBC, I must admit, I'm very excited to see what else they have stashed away. If even a handful of their barrels come close to this quality they have a very bright future ahead.

Price: $119.99

2011 Highland Park 10 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Cask #5434 First Fill European Oak Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 07-26-2023

This is a powerhouse single cask from Highland Park. It's the kind of exceptional cask that provides so much oomph that it could easily have been the glue to hold an entire batch together for HP. It's a miracle they sold it to us as a single cask and at a sharp price to boot. It will simply overpower your senses upon first pour. 66.1% ABV straight out of the bottle is just a little too high. With time in glass, it opens dramatically. The color is stunning deep red copper. The nose is a complex and densely packed amalgam of roasted nuts, toffee, dark chocolate nibs, glazed donut, nougat, sun dried fruits, and a bevy of exotic spices all underpinned by a bed of roasted malt and covered in a blanket of gentle smoke. The first sip at cask strength will bowl you over, blow you up, and generally knock you out. It's flavorful, but nearly impossible to tease apart. Add a healthy dollop of branch water, swirl, and sit. The rewards are great. The heather florals in the smoke come forward, plum compote provides more fruit sweetness, that dark chocolate takes a slightly sweeter turn without loosing its power - like going from 90% dark cocoa to 72%. More candied citrus comes forward, the sweet baking spices remain but also add a complex tobacco leaf component. Texturally, it's still massive and rich but the intense alcohol is gone, the European oak has imparted so much stuffing to this whisky, you can proof it at will to however you like it and you'll still have an amazing weighty and characterful spirit. The finish is long, the perfect balance between sweet spice, hot cinnamon, savory peat, sweet fruit, and gentle smoke. By every measure this cask is an A+. It is simply one of the best we've seen from Highland Park (and the entire Edrington portfolio).

Price: $119.99

Raasay Isle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 07-22-2023

The quality of the Raasay malt is off the charts. It's beautifully peaty with bright clear fruit and malt on the nose. The palate has a lot of rich vanilla and dried candied fruit sweetness with a lingering salty peat on the finish and a very pretty malted chocolate note at the very end. If you're looking for a new staple malt from Scotland, this should be it. They've managed to produce a super compelling malt as their first core release and I can't wait to see what else comes out of this special distillery in the coming years.

Price: $69.99

2010 Auchroisk 12 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 07-19-2023

Whoppers. At first blush this smells exactly like a chocolate malt ball. As you dive into it further it doesn't take long to tease out a sweet array of fruits ranging from Fuji apples to mandarins as well as a baked delights like a buttery flaky croissant and cinnamon laden scone. On the palate it has such a sweet cream profile it's hard to believe. It's a perfect combination between a refill sherry cask and this special Speysider. This cask is exemplary of what Auchroisk brings to blends and why it is so in demand in the behind the scenes market for Scotch. Every time I go back to this bottle I'm left slack jawed that we were able to get it into the US at all, let alone for the insane value price point we managed.

Price: $59.99

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch B523" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 07-19-2023

A controversial release in the Elijah Craig pantheon, B523 is the first to be released under 12 years old. At 11 years and 5 months, it's close enough for my palate. Like all ECBP it's uncut - bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtration and still delivers one of the best values out of Kentucky. This barrel proof batch comes in at 124.2 proof and delivers intense oak, sweet caramel, candied apples, and miles of vanilla all with the punch and heat you'd expect from a full cask strength bottling. To me the standout difference in this release is a distinct peanut brittle note. It's much nuttier than many releases and strikes me more like an older and higher proof version of the excellent Heaven Hill 7 year. I, like most whiskey drinkers, love to see an age statement, but most of all, I care about how a whisky tastes - and I'll be damned if this isn't just as delicious as I expect from Elijah Craig. It now fits more in line with their other premium brands like Old Fitz which has a moving target age statement, but is always an incredibly good premium pour.

Price: $69.99

2005 Domaine du Cardinat 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

Review Date: 07-19-2023

Dense, woody, cola-y, minty, and somehow, wonderfully fruity and balanced. This 2005 is just starting to sing and will be a vintage to watch for years to come from Cardinat. At a slamming 51% ABV it delivers what so many crossover fans from Bourbon are looking for - intense oak, high ABV, and yet it is sweet and approachable. Oh, and it's 16 year old spirit for $60 bucks! Something you certainly can't find in American spirits any longer. The last great bastion of value in spirits is Armagnac. The golden age is now.

Price: $59.99

Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Jamaican Rum (750ml)

Review Date: 07-19-2023

Rum is the wild west of the spirits world. It can be so many things from essentially cane based vodka to insanely weird and wild pot still hogo funk to grassy vegetal Agricole to doctored food lab concoctions and everything in between. While I find most of these styles can have their purpose and place, I'd say the question I get asked the most in the rum world is for a good "sipping rum." In this context, I find Appleton, particularly the 21, to be simply perfect. It offers a proper age statement with all the complexity that affords to aged spirits. It has a blend of column distilled spirit and super funky Jamaican pot distillate. It is expertly blended by one of the world's greatest palate, Joy Spence, to give a balanced and nuanced drinking experience and it's not pumped full of sugar and flavoring agents. In short, it brings all the best elements of rum together in a single bottle and delivers amazing value and pleasure. Let's taste: The color is stunning. Rich aged mahogany in the glass, it has immediate visual appeal. The nose is powerful. The aromas jump out of the glass in a bouquet of vanilla, butterscotch, baking spices, orange peel, candied pecans, toffee, dark cocoa, and just a hint of tobacco leaf. On the palate it is rich and sweet without ever stepping into cloying. The 43% ABV is perfect for neat sipping - robust enough for the hardcore and supple enough for the uninitiated. The finish is long, surprisingly dry, and supremely enjoyable.

Price: $149.99

WE: 97

Daimyo-No Shinobu Blended Japanese Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 07-18-2023

Expertly crafted and underpriced are not two things that go together often, but when we see it, we like to go big. This is a screaming deal, especially when stacked against the two major players in the blended Japanese category - Nikka Days and Suntory Toki. This has all of their softness, lush fruit, sweet caramels, and just a little bit more weight and texture - presumably from a decent malt content. Gentle sweet spice and just the right amount of oak balances the orchard fruits and nuttiness in what feels like a very classic Japanese whisky. Use this in highball with a lemon twist for a refreshing summer sipper or simply enjoy neat or on the rocks for something you can quaff late into the evening.

Price: $24.99

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Cask Strength Nevada Estate Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 07-15-2023

Single barrel of Frey Ranch have been pretty much unobtainable. They instantly sell out and they are always excellent. Well, the desire for cask strength Frey Ranch whiskies didn't go unnoticed by Colby and Ashley and they have started releasing this small batch uncut Bourbon made from their unique estate grown 4 grain mashbill. It's lights out. All the oomph of a single barrel, uncut and unfiltered, but with the added balance and complexity of a carefully composed blend. Big on the barrel spice and sweet tones it is also balanced by a distinctly earthy profile that I can't help but attribute to the careful farming - it is as though just a touch of earth came through with the sweet grains in the still. Sweet caramelized sugars, tons of baking spice, cracked pepper, the fire of high proof, and just a bit of balancing savor. The tiniest hint of smoke really sets off the candied orange peel notes. This is screaming to be made into an old fashioned. It of course also comes in Frey Ranch's proprietary bottle, perhaps the most stunning piece of glass on the market from any distiller. This is a showpiece both on the shelf and in the glass.

Price: $79.99

Barrell Craft 9 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #Z6B4 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 07-11-2023

If we had named this barrel it might have been "Two-Faced" or something along those lines. On the one hand - it strikes me like a proper single barrel of unstaved Maker's Mark, an off the market treat you occasionally get when visiting the distillery - soft, creamy, dominated by sweet corn and creamy vanilla tones, but on the other hand it gives off big bold spice and seems to flash between the two. This barrel offers candied cinnamon gummies, freshly cracked peppercorns, corn bread, and caramel apples rolling into a big cask strength profile. With an unusual mashbill of 99% corn, 1% malted barley you'd expect this to be all corn notes, but it really carries a big, biting spice like a high rye yet a ton of sweetness on the other side of the scale. With a bit of water added to the 55.16% ABV the sweet green apple characteristics really shine through. It tastes a bit like the county fair - sweet funnel cake with all its warm doughy sweetness and baking spices and candied apples covered in nuts and drizzled with chocolate. Summertime Bourbon drinking at its finest.

Price: $99.99

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch A123" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 07-05-2023

A complex array of caramel, burnt sugar, crack black pepper, honey mixed with saw dust, vanilla, and heat from the hefty 62.8% ABV straight from the barrel without chill filtration at a classic 12 year age statement is all on offer in ECBP Batch A123. Every sip you take offers new notes: the first might hit you with roasted nuts, the second offers cherry syrup, the third vanilla shortbread, then sawn oak, then Manuka honey, then crème brûlée, then salted caramels, wham - cinnamon dust, pow - pepper. Bam, Bam, Bam. It just keeps coming. Each taste causes your mouth to water just a little bit more and each taste brings in more stuffing to fill your palate back up. It's a slam dunk of a batch from Elijah Craig which has in many ways has set a new industry standard for quality barrel proof offerings over the last few years. Heaven Hill has thread the needle well - with 3 releases a year, it remains special, but batch sizes have grown just large enough to be able to finally offer these without limit. It's an exciting time for Bourbon.

Price: $69.99

Aberlour 11 Year Old "Hart Brothers Finest Collection" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength First Fill Sherry Butt Unchillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 07-05-2023

Just a couple months shy of its 12th birthday, this single cask of Aberlour comes from a proper sherry butt, delivering the classic Aberlour profile that so many have come to love. While the opportunity to snag first fill sherry butt is rare for any malt, to do so for a big name and sherry dominate house like Aberlour happens so infrequently at affordable prices that we had to double check our math before committing to this excellent deal. By no means a dark sherry bomb like the famous A'bunadh bottling, this is instead a sherry high wire act - perfect for those that crave balanced flavors and flawless execution. No distillery gets as big a following as Aberlour without making exceptional malt - and that malt forward sweetness is on full display here. Sitting well above the rim of the glass you're inundated with ripe orchard fruits and amber waves of grain. Each of those components is heightened by the sherry cask rather than dominated by it. The easy going nuttiness, citrus peel, and honeyed fruits provided by the cask lend themselves to highlighting the quality of the malt itself, the perfect execution of wood and spirit coming together in harmony. Oxidized vanilla underpins the fruit and barley, tying the two together seamlessly. When you taste it neat, at 52.5% ABV, it lights up your taste buds without searing them and ourpours more stone fruit and a bit of sweet crisp apple. Baking spices abound. A sly mint note offers a little herbal cut to the fruit forward profile providing just enough freshness without being green. With a drop or two of water and a little time the cut of the alcohol is rounded and the mouthfeel gains more weight and texture while the flavors remain intense. In a world marked by excess and over-the-top-ness it's nice to see balance restored by a cask such as this.

Price: Hidden

Laphroaig "Cairdeas Bottled 2023" White Port & Madeira Cask Aged Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 06-27-2023

Any Friend of Laphroaig is a friend of mine. While they are occasionally controversial, I've never had a Cairdeas that I didn't personally think was wonderfully delicious. Admittedly I was a touch skeptical going into this one as the white port and Madiera combination sounds like it could get real sweet real fast. Turns out, it's sweet, but not overly so. A very tasty dram when you're hankering for something for dessert but don't want a sherry bomb. The nose itself feels like an amped up version of the 10 year with an added strong undercurrent of stone fruit compote that was simmered for a very long time. The smoke is still robust, although it layers nicely below sweet barley and buttered biscuits with jam. Thanks to the higher proof it also shows off a bit more hot asphalt/tar type smoke than the 10 year. At 52.3% ABV it stands up to all the sweetness on the palate from the wood. The candied fruits linger for a long time on the finish in harmony with the classic salty iodine that fans of Laphroaig love. It's another excellent release in the Cairdeas lineup and has blessedly remained the same price as the last several previous releases.

Price: $89.99

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 06-27-2023

Sometimes things happen that make you think "it'll all be ok." In a world of skyrocketing prices we've managed to put together an incredible deal on one of Scotland's greatest flagship marques. Laphroaig 10 sets the standard for peated Scotch for many drinkers. It's intense and yet full of balance and finesse. We've locked in pricing on a large parcel that has allowed us to turn the clock back over a decade and offer this classic for the same price we were selling it for in the beginning of 2012! This one isn't likely to last long, but we will always fight the good fight against inflation in booze pricing and keep doing all we can to get the sharpest pricing to our customers. Whether you rely on the 10 year as a staple or you're been thinking about dipping your toe in the peated waters of Islay, now is definitively the time to buy. Let's taste! Luminous amber in color, it seems to glow in the glass. The aromatics are intensely rich. Smoke and salt mesh with golden barley and toasted bread. Saturn peaches and green apples receive a BBQ char. Sweet oatmeal laden with brown sugar and maple syrup gloss the smoke. On the palate vanilla and dew covered herbs mix with the fruit and smoke. Sweet malt stands strong as a backbone and a delicate floral nuance adds incredible depth and intrigue without being overwhelming. The palate weight is huge even at 43% ABV and the finish lingers for a long time with a pleasant bonfire smoke and reprise of sweet fruit and grain. Lovely.

Price: Hidden

WA: 92

WE: 92

1997 Ardmore 25 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Refill Hogshead Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 06-08-2023

This delightful cask is an unusual treat in a very unique style. Unpeated in its production, but with a distinct peaty bent in the final product thanks to residual peat in the stills it's a bit like someone that grew up with a Southern drawl then moved to a big city years ago and now just has a slight twang. It's a twang of peat and it's delicious. If you're a fan of Oban and the level of peat you find there you're sure to enjoy this cask. Add on top of that the fact it's 25 year old single malt at a screaming price and you going to love it. The color is bright gold. The nose is a mix of peat, ripe fruits, cut grass, vanilla extract, and Hawaiian King bread rolls. The palate is full of buttered toast, marmalade, and gentle smoke. The finish at 53.3% is surprisingly powerful for such an old spirit and the bit of smoke that is there is long and cool.

Price: $199.99

Omar Bourbon Cask Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 06-08-2023

A gobsmacking amount of fruit and vanilla hit you right off the bat. This is like a classic Glenlivet or Fiddich turned up way past 11 plus even more mouthfeel and weight. If you love that classic ex-Bourbon cask influence on high quality fruity and sweet barley malt, do not miss this exceptional deal. At 46% and without color or chill filtration, the intensity of citrus and sweet spice is huge. There is a gentle floral component that adds intrigue, complexity, and depth. On the palate it is rich and round with just the right amount of kick thanks to the higher than average proof. The finish shows off lots of malt and just a hint of sweet herbs with another reprise of citrus peel.

Price: $39.99

Omar Sherry Cask Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 06-01-2023

Taiwanese whisky as it's known in the USA has of course been dominated by Kavalan, but the Nantou/Omar distillery has been producing some of the most compelling whiskies on the island at super reasonable prices that show that same signature intensity of fruit and wood that Kavalan fans love. While we have yet to see their famed cask strength bottlings, we do finally have access to their exceptional 46% non chill filtered and uncolored Bourbon cask and Sherry Cask bottles. The sherry cask begins with an intensely bang but is packed together so tight it is closed off. After 15-20 minutes in the glass it opens up dramatically. The fruit unfolds in stunning fashion. Ripe succulent peaches, pineapple, papaya, plums, blackberries, Medjool dates, burnt orange peel, dried cherries, and more mash together with marzipan, candied almonds, Sadaf pomegranate molasses, hookah tobacco, and of course, sweet malted barley. The piquant nose of the first pour has moved into a great background old school sherry funkiness. The finish is long, sweet and oxidative. If you miss big tropical aged whisky at super sharp prices, you'll find a new favorite in Omar.

Price: $44.99

Cadenhead's 30 Year Old "7 Star" Cask Strength Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 05-20-2023

Tough to argue with this one - it's a fool proof whiskey with incredible specs from a legendary bottler with impeccable pricing and it tastes amazing. The nose is old school cool. Deep sherry that leans heavy on the chocolate and orange zest along with candied nuts and raisins. It's basically trail mix in a glass! A little dusty, a lot sweet, a touch savory, and so well balanced. Crunchy malt and sweet nougat hit the palate and a blend of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and tobacco leaf round out a complex array of fruit cake spices and fresh bread. In today's whisky landscape with sky high prices it is easy to forget that for the folks who've been in the game for decades, the cost of raw goods and long term storage of those casks is actually shockingly low. Cadenhead is basically flexing its muscle and long term cred by selling this whisky at such a low price. Surely by auctioning the component whiskies of this blend off to the highest bidder they would have made more money, but they are and have always been about the whisky and the drinker, and that is why they are so well loved by Scotch enthusiasts.

Price: $149.99

2012 Dailuaine 9 Year Old "Firkin Whisky K&L Exclusive" Oloroso & Amontillado Single Cask Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 05-19-2023

This awesome cask smells like a caramel taffy at first blush. But it's so much more complex than that. Firkin has an unusual process that leads to some truly exceptional results. They build custom casks that are seasoned in accordance with what they think the whisky needs to show its best. This approach leads to the completeness of a careful blend and yet retains all the excitement of a single barrel. This particular cask of Dailuaine saw extended finishing in a zebra barrel that offers both ex-bourbon American oak and charred French oak staves. The different species' of wood gives a complex sweet and spicy combination, but the artistry doesn't stop there. After the build the cask was filled with a 50/50 blend of sherry for seasoning delivering the familiar Oloroso notes, but also also a much more rare and complex profile of Amontillado. After sitting with a glass for several hours I've been on a journey from the aforementioned caramel chew to baked apple skins, roasted malt, candied orange peels, golden raisins plumped in milk, dried plums, toasted almonds, and baking spices. I think if I spent even more time it would keep on giving. Finally getting around to tasting it you’re rewarded with a lively and almost zippy mouthfeel, thanks in part to the 57% ABV. There is a maple syrup sweetness at first which gives way quickly to rich maltiness. The natural weight of Dailuaine is apparent, but it’s not remotely heavy, which is impressive given the big sherry tones. There is a gentle meatiness, like melt in your mouth perfectly rendered bacon. It’s wonderful all around and about 30 bucks cheaper than most Firkin casks in the market thanks to purchasing the entire cask direct!

Price: $79.99

Bardstown Bourbon Company "Discovery Series #9" Blended Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 05-19-2023

Color: Liquid Amber. Nose: Maple syrup, cherry pie, hewn oak, chocolate truffle shop, candied orange peel, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, berry compote, creme brulee, tiramisu, Nilla wafers, it's extraordinary, the list of desserts and sweet things on the nose is seemingly endless. Palate: Given all the sweet aromatics you'd expect it to be almost cloying when you actually taste it, but the 112.5 proof does a tremendous job giving it a serious kick without being hot. The flavors are a little more cola-y with a distinct nuttiness that goes with all the sweet spices. Dusty cocoa and dark roast coffee beans, tons of oak both sweet and savory, fresh juicy corn, cigar box, and sarsaparilla. The finish is lively and flavorful, a quick burst of intensity followed by a lengthy and more mellow lingering. It's another impeccable blend from BBC with top tier components and showcasing phenomenal skill in bringing together different whiskies to make something that is unique, but wholly worthwhile and delicious. It's heart breaking to think that California drinkers almost missed out on #9 entirely. Fortunately we were able to secure a small amount for those dedicated to the Discovery Series.

Price: Hidden

Suntory AO World Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 05-13-2023

A fascinating thing is happening in the whisky realm. Huge multinationals like Beam Suntory have access to epic whiskies from their many holdings around the world and they employ some of the most skilled blenders on the planet. Much like traditional Scotch blenders sourcing grain and malt from all over Scotland to make traditional blended whiskies, in today's landscape, they’re able to scour their worldwide inventories for component whiskies to bring together in a blend that is greater than the sum of its parts. While many purists might balk at the notion of blending across traditional whisky categories, it really is the natural and logical pinnacle of the blenders art to include all the colors of the whisk(e)y rainbow in their palette. Beam owns some of the most important distilleries in Japan, Scotland, America, Canada, and Ireland, and it is with these distillates that they’ve produced Ao, a truly world whiskey. Let’s taste: the color falls somewhere between lemon and copper. The nose is beguiling. While overtly ‘whisky-y’ it is perhaps rightfully difficult to pin down. Sweet fruits, both fresh and dried, lean surprisingly towards the tropical. Candied nuts, savory herbs, corn, malt, rye, barley, barrel spice, vanilla, caramel; all there, but nothing stands out particularly above the rest. The palate is a big surprise - peat seems to jump out of nowhere providing a grounding force to the whisky. Going back to the nose, I’m shocked at how much peat there is on the palate. There is a little easy going smoke here, but really it’s more peat than smoke. That peat and gentle smoke plays beautifully with the distinct spiciness I associate with a rye grains. The texture is smooth and approachable and at 43% ABV it’s not going to do anything for big proof heads, but it’s not soft and slouchy. The finish seems to focus on barrel and baking spice and is a complex picture of the whole whisky. Priced attractively, Ao is an excellent opening salvo in the budding category of world blends, and I can’t wait to see what else Beam does in this space as they surely can muster some of the most compelling raw ingredients for future blends should they choose to do so.

Price: $64.99

Villa De Varda Pinot Grigio Grappa (375ml)

Review Date: 05-13-2023

This is easily the best deal we've ever seen in Grappa. The famous Villa de Varda on the shores of Lake Garda controls every aspect of production from the farming on through to aging and bottling. This hands on approach, particularly in the farming and grape selection with the attention on the ripeness of the skins and fully developing the components that will carry into the final distillate is critical. The end result is a grappa of unmatched purity and intensity with a shocking sense of sweetness despite being bone dry. In the glass the pinot grigio grappa is crystal clear - it seems to refract light like a diamond, appearing brighter than you'd expect, almost luminous. The nose is a splendid array of sweet fruit, baking spice, yeasty bread rolls, and fresh herbs. The palate is incredibly soft and supple. A rich array of fruit and a kiss of fresh mint and pine. For anyone who has ever had a sip of grappa and thought it harsh in any way, I urge you to try this, it's delicate and round and you'll be fooled into thinking it was sweetened. A quick test of rubbing a few drops between your hands will reveal there is no sugar or added glycerol here - it's all natural, as it should be. This is where the real advantages of a careful and unique discontinuous distillation and the use of fresh, dripping wet pomace really shines. The finish is lengthy, clean, and extremely pleasant. This is a perfect way to start or end a meal and is a phenomenal deal to boot at 60% off the regular retail price thanks to a change of importer.

Price: Hidden

Wild Turkey "Kentucky Spirit" Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

Review Date: 05-13-2023

A fresh shipment of Kentucky Spirit just arrived after a long absence from our shelves. It's amazing to compare the quality of this old stalwart to most of the NDP whiskies being released for two or three times the price. There simply isn't a fair comparison - this blows them out of the water on every level. Tasted from barrel #2386 - bottled on 3-1-23, rested 30 minutes in glass: A powerful aroma lifts straight out of the glass - honey, toasted nuts, butterscotch, vanilla, cinnamon, Werther's Original hard candies, roasted corn, and cracked black pepper. On the palate it's surprisingly sweet yet never cloying. The respectable 101 proof gives it enough heat to stand up to all of that sweetness. It is both mouth coating and mouth watering at the same time. A little more maple than honey on the palate compared to the nose, great cut, marzipan, sweet style corn bread, green apple skins, and Dr. Pepper. The finish is perfectly balanced with just the right amount of burn to remind you you're drinkin the Kickin' Chicken, but better.

Price: $59.99

Caol Ila 10 Year Old "Hart Brothers" Single Hogshead Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Review Date: 05-11-2023

I love Caol Ila casks that have excellent typicity. This is certainly one - it is textbook. Sweet fruit, briny ocean notes, ashy peat smoke. It's a delightful example of why this distillery is so famous and this bottle is a 10/10 for classic notes. The color is green straw. The aromas are very clean and bright: golden apple and ripe stone fruit mixed with fresh cut grass and sea spray. The fruit gives way to a dusty sort of smoke, earthy and wet peat coated in ash. Moving onto the palate, the mouthfeel is of medium weight. The flavors are a nice blend of sweet and savory. While there isn't a huge amount of barrel influence to speak of here there is a thread of cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and allspice that weaves throughout the palate. The finish is light and ethereal, a quick impression of the aforementioned flavors and then a pleasant prickle of alcohol followed by a flavor reprise and then out of the way leaving room for whatever comes next.

Price: $69.99

Laphroaig 16 Year Old "Limited Edition" Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 05-11-2023

In a word: majestic. This whisky is flawless and worth every penny. At 16 years, the bombastic heart of Laphroaig has begun to mellow a touch, tempered by the long sleep in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, and it has become an especially pleasing dram. The 48% ABV bottling strength is just right - powerful, but still understated. The color is radiant gold. The nose is a heady mix of sweet apple, dried vanilla bean, freshly-cut peat, smoked brisket, and cracked whole grains. The palate is succulent, featuring sweet vanilla and baking spices in equal measure with malt extract, applesauce, creamy pudding, almond croissant, flakes of nori, and liquid smoke. Impeccably balanced, this teeters on the knife's edge of perfection.

Price: Hidden

Ardbeg "Heavy Vapours" Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 05-09-2023

Ardbeg has always been a little silly on the marketing side of things, and this year's Limited Edition is no different. They've created a graphic novel mystery about the missing purifier - the goofy dongle on the top of Ardbeg stills - that magically provides the fruity ballast to Ardbeg's incredible balancing act. Without it - Heavy Vapours accumulate and you're left with a much more robust smoke forward whiskey. That's not to say the fruit is gone, but the whisky is is starkly different for this one change in the distillation setup. Setting aside their marketing schtick and whatever is to be revealed in the graphic novella on Ardbeg Day (June 3rd, 2023) I must say, I only really care about the whisky itself. Let's taste: At first pour the nose is just as advertised - intense smoke and peat. Heavy Vapours indeed. It's remarkable actually. This is all about the raw materials, not a ton of wood to be found, the color is pale straw, and there is a hearty amount of sweet malt underneath all that savory smoke and wet peat. The saline reads a bit like the scent of an indoor pool - somewhere between humid chlorine air and the iodine of Ardbeg's neighbor up the road. It's a comforting sort of chemical nose that I, as a lover of all things Islay, find extremely comforting. The nose also holds sweet candied malt notes, but they are decidedly hidden and only show after many minutes in the glass. On the palate the malt jumps forward and is quite appealing - sweet barley, roasted and fresh, with a hint of green apple and vanilla. And wham - more peat, wet seaweed, salted earth, and lingering smoke. The finish is a bit of prickly pear and a mix of glycerol alcohol and creosote. It's a hell of a whisky, but buyer beware, if you don't love peat and smoke, this won't be for you. This is for those who either need to geek out on production details, or who can't get enough peat, earth, and smoke, or ideally, both. Hell of a whiskey.

Price: $134.99

Nordés Atlantic Galician Gin (700ml)

Review Date: 04-21-2023

I longed for this gin to be available in the United States for years after I first tasted it in Spain in 2017. It has finally arrived, albeit in relatively small quantities. Spain excels at elevating the humble G&T to magical heights. It is worth ordering one everywhere you go. It's no wonder they also make incredible gin. Nordes is very much a gin of place - the local grapes are used to make the base spirit, and a hearty array of local botanicals firmly places the flavor profile in Galicia. The nose is super bright and lifted - citrus-forward yet balanced by complex herbal notes from bay leaf and black tea. The whole thing is set off by just a touch of sea salt coming from beach-grown sea beans. While the flavors are all in a perfectly arranged bouquet, it is the supple texture from the grape spirit that really makes this gem shine. It's versatile for cocktailing and tastes phenomenal poured straight into a glass out of the freezer - a rare treat with just the right gin on a hot day.

Price: $34.99

WE: 92

Sassenach Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 04-20-2023

Skeptical would be the correct word. I was highly skeptical going into tasting this whisky. Sure, Outlander is a great show. Sure, it takes place in Scotland. Sure Sam Heughan is actually Scottish and looks like he can do no wrong. But that's a far cry from what I need to be able to stock a given whisky on our shelf. As a rule, we shy away from celebrity branded anything, but also a rule I'll taste just about anything to see if I'm surprised by the quality of the product itself. Indeed, I am surprised. This 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, no added color blended Scotch has a huge proportion of malt in it (over half!). That's massive compared to most blended Scotch, even on the ultra premium end. It's put together by Master Blender Michael Henry from the Loch Lomond group - one of the most versatile distilleries in all of Scotland. As far as what I'm looking for in a blended Scotch the Sassenach Whisky itself reminds me more of Compass Box than it does of Chivas or Johnnie Walker, a very good thing in my book. The nose is a pretty mix of chocolate malt and buttered toast and vanilla with a healthy dollop of ripe stone fruits and a little peach pit savory/sweet marzipan note. The palate is complete and full. Mouth filling, with just enough bite to be pleasantly engaged. The finish is medium in length and very pleasant. It won't scratch the high proof, single cask, ultra complex one off itch, but it's not designed to do that, so I can't judge it that way even though it's my personal default. It's designed to be sexy (the package looks great), sleek, approachable, and dare I say, quaffable? It's a superbly easy drinking blended Scotch that checks all the boxes for a high quality whisky and offers so much more intrigue than I was expecting. If you're a fan of the show and love having a tasty bottle of Scotch on the bar, to simply pour and enjoy glass after glass. This is perfect.

Price: Hidden

Reviewers

K&L Email Alerts

Staff Favorites - Andrew Whiteley

Reviews