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Staff Favorites - Michael Pires
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Reviews
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:
$4.49
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 "Càirdeas Bottled 2024" Triple Wood & PX Aged Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Review Date: 08-10-2024
Laphroaig's Cairdeas releases are always special, and this one is spectacular! For those looking for a more complex and rounded version of Laphroag 10 cask strength, then this is for you. Laphroaig's classic flavor profile is still front and center, but the peat smoke is slightly muted than what is typically perceived. What makes this whisky stand out from other Laphroaig releases is the rich notes of aged pipe tobacco, dark fruit, and wet stone. Well worth grabbing a bottle while you can. These will not last long.
Price:
$104.99
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
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
Shichi Hon Yari Shizuku "Silent Samurai" Daiginjo Junmai Sake (500ml)
Review Date: 01-06-2024
A highly sought after sake that will pair wonderfully with oysters, sashimi, pork, and other meats! Notes of smoke, brine, minerality, white pepper, anise, and white flowers. Silent Samurai is a shizuku sake, which means it is an unpressed sake. This is an uncommon practice (that is much more costly to produce) that involves placing the moromi (unpressed sake) into hanging bags. The sake that drops out of these hanging bags is used for shizuko sake. Well worth trying and it will not disappoint.
Price:
$89.99
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
Heiwa Shuzou "KID" Daiginjo Wakayama Sake (720ml)
Review Date: 12-31-2023
One of my favorites of Heiwa Shuzo's KID series. Complex and well-integrated with bright notes of pineapple, honeysuckle, passion fruit, rainier cherry, and anise. Has a nice dry finish and good acid. A fantastic Daiginjo!
Price:
Hidden
Kanbara "Ancient Treasure" Yamahai Junmai Genshu Koshu Sake (720ml)
Review Date: 12-09-2023
It was a treat trying this! Full-bodied and umami forward with notes of cacao nib, almond, toasted barley, honey, with an oxidative finish. This will be fun for fans of aged Sauternes to try. A wonderful aged sake that showcases the quality of this style!
Price:
$89.99
Rihaku Namazake "Origin of Purity" Omachi Genshu Junmai Ginjo Sake (720ml)
Review Date: 12-03-2023
Bright and clean with wonderful notes of sweet barley, toasted oats, almonds, banana, pineapple, rose, and orchard fruits. A well made sake that showcases Omachi in its purest form.
Price:
$39.99
2021 Hendry "Estate - Barrel Fermented" Napa Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 12-01-2023
Rich and creamy Chardonnay with a wonderful balance of oak and fruit character. This will be enjoyed by fans of old school Napa Chardonnay.
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 |
Daishinsyu "Equilibrium" Junmai Daiginjo Sake (720ml)
Review Date: 11-18-2023
Stunning sake! Fruit forward with bright notes of orchard fruit, pineapple, nectarine peel, and anise. This sake is fuller bodied with a high level of acidity that both sake and wine lovers will enjoy. This is sure to be an experience you will not forget!
Price:
$119.99
Caol Ila 14 Year Old "Dramfool's Middle Cut" Cask #313329 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Review Date: 10-21-2023
Oily texture and good weight on the palate. Starts out with smooth, sweet barley and orchard fruit character along with smoke, iodine, and pepper notes that crescendo in intensity from mid-palate to finish. A unique expression of Caol Ila that fans should enjoy.
Price:
Hidden
Bozal Tepeztate Mezcal (750ml)
Review Date: 08-09-2023
Delicious Mezcal from Agave that grows on the sides of cliffs. Floral and fruit forward with some light smoke on the back end of the palate. Light bodied with minerality. A smooth and price-friendly introduction to Tepeztate!
Price:
$59.99
2021 Desire Lines "Winds of Change" California Syrah
Review Date: 07-07-2023
A fantastic Syrah at a great price! Notes of lavender and violets blends gently with robust notes of raspberry, plum, cacao nibs, anise, vanilla beans, and cedar. Medium-bodied, well balanced, with rounded tannins.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch A123" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
Review Date: 07-05-2023
Another great Barrel Proof release from Elijah Craig! Barrel Proof collectors hunting for higher proof releases are in luck with this batch. Batch A123 comes in at 125.6 proof. This may not be the highest proof batch ever done, but its the highest proof that Elijah Craig has released since 2020. This batch has a great balance of grain sweetness, oak character, and uncut bite. A legendary Bourbon at an unbeatable price!
Price:
$69.99
Westward Oregon Stout Barrel Aged American Single Malt Whiskey (750ml)
Review Date: 06-18-2023
What an interesting and delicious whiskey! I enjoy it more and more each sip. The nose shares notes of cacao nibs, espresso, and sweet grain. On the palate, dark chocolate, dried dark stone fruits, baking spices, and grain notes create complexity and depth. This whiskey wonderfully showcases stout and malt whiskey characteristics that work together to create harmonious balance.
Bardstown Bourbon Company 6 Year Old "Origin Series #1" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
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
2015 Bois-Malot, Bordeaux Supérieur
Review Date: 05-05-2023
Bois-Malot is a favorite here at K&L. The 2015 Bois-Malot is delicate and has a wonderful nose of fresh raspberries and red flowers with raspberry, dark chocolate, espresso, and earthy notes on the palate. This is a fantastic weekend Bordeaux that many will really enjoy, especially for the price!
Price:
$12.99
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
2019 Domaine FL "Chamboureau" Savennières
Review Date: 04-21-2023
The 2019 Domaine FL is a bright and crisp Chenin Blanc from Savennieres with notes of orchard fruits, lemon peel, yellow flowers, wet stone, and a light hint of petrol. The acidity and minerality of this wine makes it unbelievably refreshing. Do not hesitate to pick up several bottles... you will not regret it!
Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
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
2021 Bedrock Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 03-31-2023
Bedrock's Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is dense and complex with notes of baked and dried dark stone fruit, tobacco, and baking spice. Full bodied with big tannins and acidity. This wine would cellar nicely and is one of the better age worthy domestic cabs in this price point.
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
Damien Hugot Rosé Extra Brut Champagne
Review Date: 01-21-2023
The Damien Hugot Rose Extra Brut Champagne is dry, crisp, and bright. This Extra Brut is bursting with strawberry, fresh lemon, orchard fruit, and melon characterisitcs. Delicious and complex... this Rose Champagne will be a crowd pleaser for any occasion!
Diplomatico Mantuano Venezuelan Rum (750ml)
Review Date: 01-11-2023
The Diplomatico Mantuano is a smooth rum that will be enjoyed by anyone that is a fan of Venezuelan rum. It has notes of dried orange peel, caramel, cola nut, and vanilla. Mantuano is similar to Diplomatico's Reserva Exclusiva (Diplomatico's green bottle rum), but drier with bigger notes of citrus.
Price:
$22.99
Michel Arnould "La Grande Cuvée" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 10-08-2022
A high quality Champagne at an affordable price. Michel Arnauld's La Grand Cuvee is a medium-bodied, bone-dry, crisp, and acidic Champagne with notes of brioche, tangerine, almond, cherry, and lemon.
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 Traditional Jamaica Rum Plummer & Wedderburn Pure Pot Still (750ml)
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!
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:
$26.99
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.
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.
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